Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Twenty-two. That was the number of job rejections cluttering his email inbox.

Seventeen. That was the number of highschool rejection letters nestled in his backpack.

Ten. That was the number of spider lilies he'd received on his desk since the last year of middle school began four months ago.

Five. That was the number of weeks it had been since he'd been allowed home.

One. That was the number of the hero who finally broke him.

~°~

Finding a tall enough building was easy. There were plenty of seven story or taller businesses and apartments in downtown Musutafu. Doing it at school would be more poetic but Izuku's calculations proved that three stories would only leave him crippled at worst unless he landed on his head. A tall bridge over deep water would also work but a part of him yearned to leave a mark on the world, even if it was just an easily cleaned up blood smear. Being homeless for a couple weeks worked to his advantage as he could scope out suitable structures at night. The hard part was getting to the rooftops.

Most of the buildings were designed so only maintenance workers or specific quirks could access the roofs. It left very few options but perseverance paid off. Eventually his wandering found a condemned apartment building. The place had been shut down because of a fire on some of the upper floors. During evacuations the fire escapes had been deployed and never reset.

Heights thankfully never bothered him. After wiggling through a gap in the fence surrounding the property it was an easy, with desperation fueled adrenaline, nine story climb to the top. The pollution-spoiled wind on his face had never smelled sweeter as he hefted himself up and surveyed the area. 

The roof was cramped due to several large water tanks and central air conditioning units but all four edges were accessible. That was a relief because he didn't want to inconvenience too many people with his plan. This building was perfect since there weren't many other structures nearby and a parking lot took up the entire west facing side. Beyond the lot was a thick line of trees. If he jumped from there his corpse wouldn't be visible from the road or nearby buildings. Fewer people would be traumatized.

He went to the west side of the roof and sat down to take off his backpack. From the bag he pulled out a flashlight and a notebook that was scorched and water damaged. The goodbye note was already written but he wanted to double check it one last time. Clicking on the flashlight, he turned to the bookmarked page signed by All-Might. The letter was opposite the signature. Bitter bile stung the back of his throat as he stared at the autograph. Eventually he forced his gaze away.

Just as Izuku settled in to reread his intended last words something grabbed the back of his shirt and yanked him to his feet. He struggled as much as he could without dropping the light or the book over the edge, it didn't do much good. A yelp escaped as his malnourished frame was dragged some distance before being thrown to the ground.

"Do we have a little spy, Kurogiri?" 

"I do not know, Master Shigaraki." That voice came from much closer, presumably the person who grabbed Izuku. Turning and peering up, two glowing yellow eyes stared down at him. 

In the light of the flashlight a second figure emerged from the darkness. Their features were obscured by messy pale blue hair and a disembodied hand over their face. They were presumably male judging by the tenor of their voice. "What have you been writing, shrimp? Were you listening in on us?" Shigaraki stalked forward and ripped the notebook and flashlight from Izuku's grasp before the shellshocked teen could stutter out a protest.

Several tense moments passed as the man leafed through the unreadable analysis pages until he found the only legible parts, the suicide letter and the pro hero's signature. Shame and humiliation coursed through Izuku. He'd poured some of his sob story into the note, intending it to only be read after he was dead. Some of it sounded pathetic and whiny even to himself. At least context clues said these men were not heroes. Izuku wouldn't need to kill himself to die of embarrassment if a hero read his words while he was still alive.

When the man finally looked up Izuku hunched in on himself with a cringe. He fully expected Shigaraki to taunt him like Kacchan would have or react with ambivalence like all the other adults he'd spoken to. To Izuku's shock the man knelt down to meet his gaze. With telegraphed movements the stranger reached out to pat Izuku's grimy curls. "I can kill you if you really want. But it seems like a waste. How about some revenge instead?" His palm stayed a warm weight in Izuku's hair but his fingers hovered shy of contact.

Revenge? The concept wasn't foreign to Izuku. It had crossed his mind before in brutal, vengeful, detail during his lowest points. But he was just a weak, quirkless Deku. He had allowed himself the selfishness of naming Katsuki culpable in his suicide so the other boy might not get into UA. It was the only power he had. The note didn't mention his lack of a quirk, he didn't want it to be thrown away by first responders before being investigated. Izuku felt compelled to point it out now. It wouldn't do to waste the inferred villain's valuable time. "I-I… I'm… quirkless." 

The quiet confession made him close his eyes tight, anticipating the pain of Shigaraki putting him out of his misery. It never came. Instead he felt four fingers curl to lightly knead his scalp. "That's not what I asked. Yes or no. Do you want revenge?"

After a moment of trying to wrap his mind around the situation Izuku bit his lip with a tentative nod. "Y-yes." There was no denying the frustration and anger underscoring his despair. He didn't think anything would come of it but a spark of hope refused to be snuffed out.

The man hummed before climbing to his feet. "Kurogiri, bring him. I don't think this place is suitable for a base, let's head back."

"As you wish." The shadowy man leaned down to help Izuku up. Though he seemed to be made of cold purple and black cloud-like particles, his hands were warm and solid against the greenette's arms. "I apologize for frightening you. Please step this way."

Izuku complied, shuffling forward into a swirling black portal that opened in front of them. The world went dark, silent, and cold before he found himself in a run-down living room. While clean, the sparse furniture seemed shabby, the carpet was threadbare, and the paint on the walls was peeling. The only new looking things in the room were a TV and a gaming console.

Shigaraki and Kurogiri stepped out of the portal after Izuku. Seeing them in better lighting put him more at ease. They were both intimidating, since he didn't know what to make of the situation or their intentions, but seeing them meant being able to better predict their physical movements. 

He tried not to flinch when the shadowy man abruptly held out his yellow backpack with a polite bow. "What may we call you?"

Izuku took the items and hugged them to his chest, fidgeting. "Izuku Midoriya. Um… j-just Izuku is fine."

"Izuku-san, are you hungry?" 

Being addressed with such respect caused a blush to creep across his face. He bit his bottom lip as he pondered. Of course he was starving, literally. The last meal he had was half a teriyaki burger from a dumpster three days ago. Kacchan had been ruining his school lunches when he could afford them. Still, it felt wrong to have his new hosts waste food on him.

The seconds ticked by as he struggled with himself. Finally, Shigaraki rolled his eyes and disappeared into the kitchen, returning after a moment to shove a plastic wrapped sandwich on top of the backpack Izuku still clutched. "Eat, shrimp." 

With that, the man flopped onto the couch and settled in to play some video games, completely ignoring Izuku. That at least was a reaction the greenette was comfortable with. Moving quietly, he placed his shoes by the entrance door and slid to the floor in front of the couch, keeping a respectful distance from Shigaraki. He then hesitantly began eating while watching the TV. At some point Kurogiri retreated into a different room, leaving the two alone. 

When Izuku was finished with the sandwich he was still hungry but kept quiet. To distract himself from the stomach pains he tried to subtly observe Shigaraki from the corner of his eye. The hand covering his face appeared to be real, if discolored by whatever preservation method was used. The fact that Shigaraki wore severed body parts as decorations should have alarmed Izuku, but he only felt mild concern. He still wanted to die, so if his hands joined the others it wouldn't bother him. Having a use after death actually made him feel better. The man held the game controller with only eight fingers, pinkies raised. That made Izuku wonder what his quirk was. Clearly it was touch activated. What skin he could see appeared dry and extremely pale. Red lines littered his neck, like he scratched often. 

A side effect of his power? Did moisturizers help or make it worse? Maybe a type of dehydration quirk? Izuku wanted to write down his observations and ask questions but feared being seen as rude or creepy so soon.

Red eyes snapped in his direction after a moment, narrowed in irritation. "What's with the mumbling?" The frown was clear in his voice.

Izuku recoiled violently, clapping a hand over his mouth. "S-sorry!" His voice shook and was barely audible. He waited with his gaze glued to the floor, expecting a blow. The eyes and tone reminded him vividly of Kacchan in that moment. To say nothing of the beatings his father doled out when he caught Izuku muttering.

After several seconds of nothing happening he gathered his courage to peek at the man. He was staring now, expression hard to read. Finally, "it was just a question. Stop freaking out." Shigaraki turned his attention back to his game, ignoring the greenette again.

With the lack of attention Izuku's heart rate returned to normal. Confusion clouded his mind. Of anyone, he expected a villain to be worse than his classmates or family. Yet so far they'd stopped his suicide attempt, took him into their home, and fed him. He'd clearly annoyed the one in charge but he wasn't punished. Izuku found himself watching Shigaraki again, this time simply trying to figure out what was going on.

At some point Izuku's eyes began to grow heavy and he had to repress a yawn. Turning his attention to the TV, he tried to ignore the growing fatigue. Asking for a bed or even the couch was out of the question. Already he was imposing, he refused to displace anyone. Before he knew it, he was asleep, head listing back to rest against a couch cushion.

Chapter Text

Izuku awoke in a state of confusion. First, he was warm. Second, he was laying on something soft and comfortable. Finally, he could smell coffee and other breakfast scents. That hadn't happened since he became homeless. It took a moment for his fuzzy brain to recall the previous night. Once it did he sat up with a thrum of alarm.

The soft surface turned out to be the couch. How he wound up on it was a mystery. Maybe Kurogiri moved him. He didn't take up much space, curled up on a single cushion, but he hoped it didn't annoy Shigaraki too much. Scrambling to his feet, he became aware of his parched throat, empty stomach, and full bladder as all three twinged.

Shyness warred briefly with necessity as he loitered by the couch. Should he stay put or explore? The decision was made for him when a yellow-eyed shadowy face peered at him from the kitchen. Kurogiri regarded him for a moment before striding out fully. "Izuku-san, breakfast is ready. Please come sit." 

The greenette shuffled in place as he hesitantly spoke up, voice hoarse from disuse. "Um… may I use the bathroom first?" 

The misty man tilted his head, puzzled. "You do not have to ask. It is the first door on the left." He gestured towards a short hallway.

Izuku bowed in thanks before rushing to complete his morning rituals. While washing his hands afterwards he caught his reflection in the mirror and grimaced. After Physical Education at school he could use the showers in the locker room but sleeping on the ground attracted grime fast. It had been a couple days since he attended classes and it showed. He sent a longing look at the shower but shook his head. All of his clothes were equally dirty so it wouldn't help. His hair at least wasn't any worse than normal, if a bit long.

After exiting the bathroom he padded silently towards the kitchen. Kurogiri had invited him in but he still hovered near the door, anxiety building in his stomach once again. Both men were sitting at the table. Kurogiri was scrolling on his phone while Shigaraki ate what looked like a traditional breakfast of rice, miso soup, and fish. Izuku's stomach gave away his presence with a loud growl. A blush stained his cheeks when their attention snapped to him. He ducked his head and shuffled in, taking an open seat between the two. 

An awkward minute passed, Izuku unsure if he was allowed any of the food. His nervous fidgeting eventually made Shigaraki huff and shove the extra dishes at him. Izuku flinched at the abrupt movement. "Eat, shrimp." The man went back to his own food with a scowl.

The greenette didn't need further prompting. "Thank you for the food." It took all of his willpower to eat at a polite pace, aching belly wanting him to scarf it down. At some point Kurogiri stood to fetch him a cup of tea, which he sipped with a grateful smile. Though he was ravenously hungry he only managed to get down half the meal before he started to feel nauseous. 

Kurogiri noticed him slowing down. "You can save the rest for a snack later, Izuku-san. You are also welcome to anything in the kitchen at any time."

The words brought tears to Izuku's eyes, to his embarrassment. "T-thank you, Kurogiri-san." He ducked his head to try to hide the swell of emotions written clear on his face. 

The man's eyes crinkled like he was smiling. It was hard to see his mouth against the shifting void of his face but something about him softened with the expression. "Just call me Kurogiri."

As Izuku struggled to get a hold of himself he also waited for Shigaraki to finish his food. He didn't want to leave the table first, it would be rude. Eventually he busied himself with combining his leftovers into one bowl for easier storage. Once he was done he felt dismayed when Kurogiri stood to put it away for him and clear away the dirty dishes. Before Izuku could even think of helping, the man waved for him to stay seated.

Soon after, Shigaraki finished his own meal. He sat back and speared Izuku with an inscrutable stare. It made the teen fidget anxiously with his hands and avert his gaze. "Tell me why you were going to jump. All of it, not just the patch notes." How the man knew to suspect that his suicide letter omitted things was beyond Izuku. Was it really so unusual for a bullied quirkless kid to kill themself? The news would have people believe it was common and encouraged. Most of the missing information was things Izuku would rather not get into with strangers. But he did owe them an explanation. The tone brooked no argument anyway. 

Taking a deep breath, Izuku decided to start at the beginning. "W-well… I'm quirkless. I was diagnosed at age four after x-rays found extra joints in my pinky toes. My d-dad didn't like that. At first he b-blamed mom, accused her of cheating on him. T-they worked it out but he was still mad. He t-took it out on me when she wasn't home." He paused to repress tears and take a sip of his now tepid tea. This was the most talking he'd done in months and his throat didn't appreciate it. "At the same t-time, my friend Kacchan found out I was quirkless and started bullying me. He used his quirk to attack me. T-the teachers didn't do anything. Some even e-encouraged it. D-dad saw the burn marks Kacchan left and s-started adding his own. H-he can breathe fire…"

A shudder worked its way down his spine, some of his scars burning with phantom pain. "When I was eight h-he took a job in the USA. K-kids and t-teachers at school still hurt me, but it was better. B-but he got laid off last year and came back… I-it was worse than before. I-I finally t-told mom about him. She d-didn't believe me. S-said I was just acting out…" Some fear reflected in his gaze as he darted a glance at the two adults. His shoulders hunched up in preparation for their reactions to the next part. "A c-couple weeks ago they… found out I was g-gay and k-kicked me out."

The expected pain at the confession never came. Instead, like the previous night, a warm hand ruffled his curls. "That doesn't matter here. Continue." Shigaraki sounded awkward but sincere in his attempt at reassurance.

"Um… s-six days ago Kacchan outright t-told me to kill myself. T-to jump off a roof. Usually it's j-just implied with spider lilies on my desk... I-I met All-Might afterwards. A villain attacked me. H-he forced himself down my throat and nose t-trying to take over my body. I-I passed out but woke up to All-Might. He saved me. I'd always wanted to ask him, so I did… Can a quirkless person become a hero? It's all I've ever wanted. But he s-said no. T-that it was impossible and I was being unrealistic. Clearly he doesn't know what realistic means for someone quirkless. S-so I decided to just take Kacchan's advice and save everyone the t-trouble."

There was silence for several moments before Shigaraki chuckled. Izuku flinched. Would they tell him to do the same now? They'd offered him revenge but now they knew the extent of his uselessness. At least the man had promised to kill him. Shigaraki continued to laugh for a few seconds before aiming a grin at Izuku. "All-Might has a record of crushing dreams. For me, it was when he failed to save me from my own father. Then he almost killed Sensei, who rescued me from the streets. I hate him, I plan to kill him. What do you think about that?"

A jolt of surprise went through Izuku. Kill All-Might? The thought of killing anyone made his stomach churn, let alone his former idol. And yet… anger bubbled up in his chest. The number one hero had hurt him and apparently other people as well. Thinking objectively and without desperate hero worship clouding the topic, the recklessness and lack of regard or empathy while rescuing Izuku came to mind. How many victims had he abandoned to die without getting them medical attention? How many deaths were blamed on the villain but were actually caused by him collapsing a building or catching people in air pressure attacks? All-Might was so powerful that his collateral damage was likely higher than even Endeavor's. Yet because of his status everyone turned a blind eye. Endeavor at least acted like the asshole he was, All-Might hid behind a righteous smile.

Green curls bounced as he nodded even before a conscious decision could form. "I think I'm ok with that, Shigaraki-san." If anyone besides himself had to die, Izuku was fine with it being All-Might.

The man chuckled, reaching out to pet his hair again. It was strange, Izuku wasn't used to being touched in a nice way. It felt good though. He leaned into the warm weight, wanting it to continue. Shigaraki gave a small, genuine smile. "Friends get to call me Tomura."

Chapter Text

Later that day found Izuku sitting on the couch next to Tomura watching him play another game. There was only one controller so he couldn't play too. That was alright, Izuku wasn't very good at console games. The man did offer to take turns but Izuku declined with a shy smile. He was still trying to figure Tomura out and didn't want distractions. The man seemed explosive and caustic one moment and then friendly the next. It was a little scary, being similar to how Hisashi Midoriya acted. But so far he hadn't hurt Izuku in one of his outbursts. Seeing the greenette flinch seemed to actually curb the tantrums.

At some point Kurogiri disappeared into the back rooms, emerging a short time later with a stack of folded clothes. "Izuku-san, you may bathe if you wish. I am doing laundry so please fetch your soiled garments as well." The greenette sprang to his feet and snagged his backpack, setting it on the couch to dig through more easily. He had to pull out the analysis notebooks he'd saved from his father's wrath, numbers 7, 9, and 12. Tomura had kept a hold of 13 and Izuku didn't know where it was. He set them aside to access the clothes before taking the bundle to Kurogiri. 

The man offered him the clean stack in turn, nodding towards the bathroom. "Go bathe. Leave your garments outside the door so I can wash them too." Izuku didn't need to be told again. He didn't know how Tomura could stand to touch his hair. It was filthy, tangled, and his scalp crawled as he thought about all the times he had to sleep under dumpsters. Retreating into the washroom, he disrobed and handed the items to Kurogiri through the door. He tried to keep the shower quick but ended up loitering under the hot spray while letting conditioner sit in his curls. He wouldn't be able to brush it otherwise. The green-black strands touched his shoulders while slicked down and turned into a frizzy mess when dry.

After stepping out and drying off he regarded the clothes with dismay. A simple black v-neck shirt like Tomura's and gray drawstring shorts were the only options. They would leave some of his scars and injuries on display. Normally he favored long sleeves and pants to hide them. Until laundry was done they would have to do, however. They were a bit too big on his scrawny frame, the neck trying to slip off his shoulder and revealing more scars and bruises. He was just thankful Tomura wasn't much broader in the shoulders than him or he would completely swim in the fabric. 

Realizing he forgot his comb, he crept out to grab it from his bag. Tomura was absorbed in his game and Kurogiri was in the kitchen so they didn't see the marks yet, some still fresh from school. Once his hair was tamed it took all of his courage to head back out. Padding over to the couch, he curled up small, tucking his legs beneath him and hugging himself to hide his arms from view. Side-eye from Tomura made him shrink even more, causing a frown to form on the man's face. Izuku fidgeted when he paused his game and turned to him. "Stop cowering like a dog. What are those?" He gestured towards the notebooks that were still on display. 

Wincing at the tone, Izuku reluctantly uncurled to pick up one of the books. He fussed with it a moment before offering it to the man with a blush. "Um… t-they're notes. O-on hero quirks." He ducked his head, not wanting to see Tomura's reaction to the childish scrawls.

Several minutes passed, paper rustling occasionally as Tomura read some of the entries. Finally the man paused. "You're so cool, Izuku!" There was an obvious grin behind the words. 

It startled the teen into looking up. "Huh? T-they're n-not that good..." That was definitely not what he was expecting.

The man eagerly paged through more entries, ignoring Izuku's embarrassed protests. "I think Sensei will really want to meet you. Kurogiri!" He raised his voice to get the shadowy man's attention. "Go see if Sensei is up for visitors today!"

"As you wish, Master Shigaraki." One of his own warp gates opened beneath his feet and he sank through.

Tomura turned his attention to Izuku with a smile. "I'm glad I didn't kill you, shrimp." Most people would be unnerved by the statement. Izuku felt warmth bloom in his chest. It was the first time anyone had ever genuinely praised his hobby. Most who found out about it called him a creepy stalker. But Tomura thought it was good and useful enough to introduce him to his sensei! 

The realization gave him a small boost of confidence. "U-um… c-can I ask what your quirk is?" 

The smile took on a slightly manic edge as the man nodded. He flipped to a blank page in the notebook and carefully ripped it out. He held it up for Izuku to see before placing all five fingers on it. It crumbled to dust in under a second. Green eyes widened at the display.

"That's amazing!" Izuku's fingers twitched, wishing he had a pen. "Does it dehydrate the object? Does it work with water? Can you control the spread?" The litany of questions was cut off by Tomura's laughter. The greenette covered his own mouth with an apologetic expression, belatedly recalling the man's irritation from the previous night.

Tomura waved it off this time. "I call it Decay. I don't know how exactly it works but it only works on solid objects. I can't control it… Maybe you could give me pointers." He offered the book back to Izuku, pinky raised to avoid destroying it.

The vote of confidence made tears well up. He ducked his head to hide them, wiping his eyes with a forearm. "I-I'll try my best to help." A couple sniffles escaped before he forcibly changed gears. "D-do you have gloves? I-I mean, I notice you're careful when you touch things but… there are these special gloves artists use that only cover two fingers..."

The man blinked and stared for a long moment. Izuku fidgeted nervously, hoping he didn't overstep with the suggestion. Finally Shigaraki spoke. "You know, that never occurred to me." He sounded stunned. A giggle escaped Izuku before he could stop it. His hand went over his mouth again and he hunched over, hoping Tomura wouldn't think he was mocking him. There was a tense pause before fingers threaded through his hair, kneading lightly. "I'll ask Kurogiri to get a pair when he gets back. For now, let's have lunch."

While Izuku reheated his leftovers, Tomura prepared sandwiches. It felt oddly domestic for a villain but Izuku supposed they had to eat too. They ate in comfortable silence. The greenette managed to get down all of his leftover breakfast and half a sandwich before the nausea came back. As he wrapped the sandwich for later, Tomura spoke up. "Do any of those need treated?" He gestured to a burn on Izuku's wrist. 

The attention made Izuku shuffle in place anxiously. When he tried to hide his arm Tomura grabbed it with a ginger touch. A reflexive flinch made the man frown but he didn't let go, leaning closer to get a better look. Careful fingers prodded the edges of the burn. "This is second degree… Come on." Tomura tugged him to his feet, ignoring his stuttered protests as he pulled Izuku down the hallway and into one of the bedrooms.

From the messy state of the room it was Tomura's. Dirty clothes littered the floor despite Kurogiri doing laundry earlier. Manga, magazines, and clean clothes took up most of the surfaces. The only furniture was a desk and chair, nightstand, and a mattress on the floor. The lack of a dresser at least explained the clothes. 

Izuku found himself pressed to sit on the mattress while the man dug through a drawer on the desk. He fussed and fidgeted nervously with the hem of his shirt while he waited. The situation left him embarrassed and he wished Tomura wouldn't bother. There was no reason to waste supplies on him. "Fuck!" The greenette startled and peered over in time to see a folder disintegrate from where Tomura accidentally touched it. More curses followed before he finally seemed to find what he was looking for.

Seeing the ire on the man's face, Izuku couldn't help but shrink away when Tomura stalked over and slumped to the bed next to him. A first aid kit was dropped between them before Tomura speared him with a glare. It softened the tiniest bit when the greenette shivered and tried to curl in on himself. "Take off your shirt, shrimp. I doubt your arm's the worst of it." His tone left no room for argument. A stern stare was still required before Izuku stopped fidgeting and drew the fabric over his head. 

It took a bit of fussing with the shirt and one impatient frown from Tomura before Izuku finally dropped his arms to his sides to let the man see the extent of his injuries. Blue, yellow, and greenish bruises littered his chest and back, most indistinct but some tracing the vague shapes of shoes. A couple easily visible ribs were broken, canted at unnatural angles under his skin. There wasn't much that could be done for those. A few more second and first degree burns stood out on his upper arms, with a leathery, black, third degree burn on one shoulder blade. Interspersed throughout his exposed skin were scars, most notably burn scars and clear whip marks across his back.

There was a tense silence as Tomura took it all in, during which Izuku slowly curled in on himself while unable to lift his gaze from the floor. Finally the man seemed to shake himself, pulling the kit into his lap to dig around for what he'd need for the burns. Several moments later he got to work applying antibiotic ointment and gauze to the worst of them. After an initial startle at his touch, Izuku docilely let himself be posed to make the process easier, still avoiding eye contact.

The blackened patch gave Tomura pause. He examined it carefully for a few moments before muttering and pulling out this phone to look up how to proceed. A curse made Izuku twitch away and finally glance at the man. "We'll need to wait for Kurogiri to deal with this one." Tomura explained with a scowl. "The dead junk needs to be scraped off. He'll know how to do it painlessly."

Biting his lip, Izuku shifted in place with an uncomfortable expression. "I-it's ok. What you've done already is enough… Thank you." The last was said with clear gratitude. But he wilted under a disapproving frown.

" All of it is getting healed." The tone Tomura used was threatening despite the topic. It was as if the burn had personally offended him. The greenette chose not to argue. Wrapping his arms around himself, Izuku tried to make himself as small as possible. The man ignored him for a few minutes as he put the kit back together and threw away used packaging. Once that was done he settled back on the bed. They sat in tense silence before Tomura scrubbed a hand through his hair, agitated. "No one is going to hurt you here. Unless I kill you. And even then I'll make it painless."

The words had the intended effect. Izuku relaxed in slow increments, uncurling after several minutes. After some fussing he pulled the shirt back on. A knock on the door interrupted any more discussion. Tomura called out and Kurogiri poked his head in a second later. "Master Shigaraki, Izuku-san. Sensei would like to meet with you."

Chapter Text

Nerves twisted Izuku's stomach and made him queasy as he stepped out of Kurogiri's portal. Shigaraki and Kurogiri at his back provided as much comfort as strange acquaintances could as he took in the new surroundings. The cold of the void was almost longed for by Izuku for many reasons the more details he noticed.

The room was uncomfortably warm. Even in Izuku's light clothing he could feel sweat beading down his back. It appeared to be a study, books lining the walls and a large ebony desk near the center. The lighting was dim with only one lamp on the desk turned on, casting deep darkness into the corners. From what Izuku could tell the walls were a rich burgundy color, accentuated by black bookshelves. The floor was white granite broken up with intricate crimson rugs.

A man sat behind the desk, appearing to type on a laptop and not bothering to greet them as he finished his work. The most striking thing about him was his lack of eyes, upper face heavily scarred. Medical tubing lined and disappeared under his skin and clothes. He wore a black tailored suit, broad shoulders filling out the jacket despite the heat.

After several minutes the man finally seemed to finish what he was doing. A small smirk twisted his lips. "Tomura, introduce me to your friend." His head lifted and Izuku got the sense that he was being scrutinized despite the supposed blindness. 

Before Izuku was ready a shadowy hand fell on his shoulder to gently urge him forward. Tomura stepped closer to the desk with him, an eager grin and bright eyes making him seem younger. "Sensei, this is Izuku Midoriya. I want him to join us!" He sounded like a child excited to show off to a parent. "He has these books," he waved to Kurogiri, signaling the other man to place Izuku's analysis books in front of Sensei. "He could help us figure out how to bring down All-Might!"

Being praised for a hobby made Izuku squirm in embarrassment. He also had a sinking feeling in his chest that he was getting in over his head in meeting this man. His anxiety spiked and he kept his eyes glued to the floor as Sensei picked up one of the notebooks to page through. Tomura's hand landed on his shoulder lightly, offering silent support. It didn't really help but Izuku appreciated the thought.

Finally, "Exemplary work. A little rough, but promising." The man turned his attention back to Izuku, closing the book and placing it on the stack. "If I didn't know better I'd say you have an intelligence quirk."

The words jolted Izuku into looking up. Sensei was regarding him with a smile, though something about it was unsettling. Even if he had eyes the teen suspected it wouldn't reach them. It made him shiver. Ducking his head, he rubbed the back of his neck. "It's n-not that good, sir. Just what I've seen f-from public hero fights."

Sensei chuckled while waving a hand dismissively. "Let me be the judge of that. These books seem old. As a test I want you to investigate and analyze a hero of your choosing. If it's to my standards Tomura can train you. For now you're free to go. Tomura, you stay."

The younger man shot Izuku an encouraging glance, patting his shoulder. "You'll do fine, shrimp. You can use my computer if you need to." He seemed happy with his sensei validating his decisions.

Not sure what else to say and wanting to escape the oppressive atmosphere, Izuku nodded. Kurogiri collected the notebooks before opening a portal. "Come, Izuku-san." He lightly guided the greenette with an arm across his shoulders, stepping through with him into the apartment. "Izuku-san, I must return to Master Shigaraki. Please get something to eat and rest." The shadowy man waited for assent before setting the books down on the sofa and disappearing back through the portal.

Not sure what to do, Izuku loitered in the middle of the living room. The solitude was refreshing for sorting through his thoughts but restlessness had his hands twitching at his sides. Deciding to take Kurogiri's advice, he padded into the kitchen to reclaim his half eaten sandwich. He really wasn't hungry after the meeting but it was something to do. As he nibbled on a piece of crust he contemplated his options, few though there were. 

Sensei was scary in the same way Hisashi was when Izuku was bad but his mom was around. Pleasant but with a menacing aura that promised punishment once they were alone. Izuku knew that if he messed up there would be pain despite what Tomura assured him. He could ask the younger man to kill him but he hesitated now. Tomura and Kurogiri had shown him more kindness in two days than anyone else had in years. He didn't want to ruin their efforts before anything happened just because of some second thought jitters.

To the opposite he didn't think he could stomach killing heroes indiscriminately. Those that deserved it, yes. But there were genuinely good heroes out there that did their best to uphold equality and justice. Best Jeanist, for example, regularly donated to homeless shelters and had very few complaints against him. Compared to All-Might and Endeavor, Best Jeanist was a saint. Thinking of it objectively, Izuku couldn't believe he'd idolized the number one hero so blindly. Never again. 

He stood and cleaned up crumbs before snagging a notebook and pen. Making his way to Tomura's room he hesitated a moment before sitting at the desk. A vague plan formed in his head but it needed research first. Logging into his accounts on various hero forums, he caught up on recent news. Mirko was apparently involved in a scandal at the moment for punching a fan. A little searching yielded the information that said fan had groped the Rabbit Hero during a photo. Izuku thought that punching him was justified, so kept tabbing through discussions. Any promising tidbits were written down in his notebook for further research. 

An aching back and stiff shoulders drew him out of his searching some time later. He stretched with a quiet noise of discomfort, glancing at the time. He'd been at it for four hours. The fact startled him to his feet and he wandered into the living room. Kurogiri and Tomura still weren't back. Wavering with indecision, his growling stomach eventually led to him creeping into the kitchen. Kurogiri had told him to help himself but it still didn't feel right to just take their food. Several minutes were spent fidgeting before he peeked into the fridge. Maybe he could make up for it by cooking them dinner too? He was investigating the cupboards when his stomach made the decision for him.

Gathering what he'd need, he got to work. An hour later he was plating three dishes of katsudon when the front door opened and closed. Izuku nearly dropped a cutlet in surprise. "Something smells amazing." Tomura's quiet comment was followed by footsteps. The man peered into the kitchen and raised an eyebrow in surprise. "The shrimp can cook!"

Izuku blushed as Kurogiri appeared behind Tomura with a pleased hum. "Thank you, Izuku-san. Let us get cleaned up and we will join you."

"T-take your time." The greenette sat down to wait. 

It only took the two men a few minutes to return. Kurogiri looked surprised and pleased to see a setting for himself. "I don't really need to eat but I enjoy it." He explained as he took a seat. 

After a chorus of "thanks for the meal" they all dug in. It wasn't the best katsudon Izuku had ever had but it was undeniably good. As he ate he noticed Tomura now wore gloves, the same that Izuku had described to him. He felt a small swell of happiness that his advice had indeed been helpful.

Before he knew it he'd eaten everything but some of the rice. The other two polished off their entire plates before Kurogiri stood to put away Izuku's leftovers and clear the dirty dishes. The greenette made to help but was waved off. "It's quite alright, Izuku-san. You cooked, so it's fair that you rest."

"I want to talk to you anyway, shrimp." Tomura leaned forward with his elbows on the table. "Did you make any progress on Sensei's assignment yet?" 

"Oh, yes. L-let me get my notes." He stood to retrieve the notebook from Tomura's room, feeling a little awkward now that the room's owner was home. He sat it down on the table, open to the correct section.

The first page consisted of a numerical list of names.

• Death Arms

• The Fly

• Snatch

• Herculos

• Native

• Mount Lady

• Figaro

• Kirin

• Mr. Brave

• Uwabami

When he received a blank stare, Izuku rushed to explain. "I-I looked into some things while you were gone. These heroes… w-well they're bad. S-so I made a list of easiest to hardest to… um…" He trailed off before gathering his resolve. "Kill."

"Bad how?" Tomura seemed less enthusiastic now. 

It made Izuku clam up for a moment but forced himself onwards. He tapped Death Arms' name. "He… ah… there's a rumor online that he's working for quirk traffickers. His debut was breaking up a trafficking ring but afterwards some of the victims went missing while in his custody. T-they turned up dead. He claimed they ran away to avoid deportation but there was no real investigation. Then he started taking more trafficking cases but key witnesses or informants always wind up dead or missing after he interviews them." The greenette let his rambling sink in, fussing with his hands anxiously. 

The light sneer Tomura had adopted faded the slightest bit. He seemed to mull the information over. "If you're staying with us you can't always target just the 'bad guys'... But I suppose we can work with baby steps. Any dead hero works for me. Sensei just might notice the pattern."

The warning was clear. Izuku was just relieved that Tomura was understanding about it. He was right though, Sensei probably wouldn't be as tolerant of morals. Something of his thoughts must have shown on his face, because the man reached over to ruffle his hair.

"Don't worry about it. For now just focus on what he asked for." 

And so he did. Once Tomura settled in for his nightly gaming Izuku hesitantly returned to the man's room to continue his research into Death Arms. Thankfully his fights tended to be public so there was no shortage of material. After scribbling down four pages of quirk observations, including weaknesses, he turned to interview footage. After years of bullying and abuse he'd gotten fairly good at reading personalities. It was difficult due to public personas but not impossible to notice some tics and sore topics. 

By the time he started to nod off in the chair he had ten pages, front and back, of analyses on the one hero alone. There was more he could likely dig up but for initial observations it was impressive compared to his efforts when he was younger. But for now, the book and pen slid from his fingers and onto the floor as exhaustion claimed him.

Chapter Text

Awareness returned in stages as Izuku fought against the invisible claws of a nightmare. He felt sweaty and anxious but his eyes stayed firmly glued closed. Would his eyes open to his bare room in his parents house, a dirty alley, or Shigaraki's apartment? He didn't want to find out just yet in case it was the former. After a few minutes he finally shook off enough of the lingering terror to open his senses to his surroundings. First, he was on something soft and he was warm. That thankfully disproved one aspect of the fear. Second, he could smell coffee. Hisashi hated coffee so it was unlikely that he was at the Midoriya residence. Finally, Izuku registered the voices talking in another room, both sounded male.

At last he opened his eyes. Tomura's room was just as messy as the previous night but two stacks of clean clothes now sat at the foot of the bed. The bed that Izuku was laying in. Tomura's bed. The realization sent him scrambling to his feet. Hopefully the villain wasn't upset! Shuffling out into the hallway, Izuku stopped in the bathroom to complete his morning rituals before following the scents and sounds to the kitchen. 

Kurogiri was in the process of setting the table for breakfast. The greenette's notebook was open by Tomura's elbow and the two seemed to be discussing his work on Death Arms. They both glanced up at him, the pale man with a pleased grin. "If you're done with this Kurogiri can take it to Sensei."

Izuku sat down with a shy smile. "O-oh i-it's just what I found last night. B-but if you t-think it's good enough…" 

"It's more than good enough, Izuku-san. It takes even professional analysts days or weeks to summarize what you've done in mere hours." The shadowy man placed food in front of him and motioned for him to eat. It seemed to be a full English breakfast with eggs, potatoes, bacon, sausages, and biscuits. Way too much for Izuku to eat at once but it smelled delicious.

"While Kurogiri talks to Sensei we'll be scoping out a new place. We need underlings if we're going to act on any plans, that means more space." Tomura explained in between bites of his own food. "That's what we were doing when you found us. Sensei gave us a budget but left the location up to us."

Nodding, Izuku focused on eating while contemplating the topic. After he'd been kicked out of the house he'd wandered around Musutafu and some parts of Tokyo. He had a good idea of which districts a villain group might be ignored in, going by how a fourteen year old sleeping in shop doorways was treated. Musutafu has too many big hero agencies, so does Hosu. But not far from Hosu is Kamino Ward, where I've had heroes kick me for sleeping on the sidewalks and almost got mugged multiple times. There are plenty of abandoned buildings that might be for sale...

"We'll check out Kamino, then." The pale man sounded amused. Izuku flushed in embarrassment and shoved a biscuit into his mouth to quell his own muttering. Some part of him felt warm and fuzzy that Tomura actually paid attention and took his ideas seriously. But he knew it was a creepy habit that he needed to break. Most people found it off putting. 

A short while later Kurogiri left with Izuku's notes in hand. Once the greenette and Tomura were done eating they donned coats, paper face masks, and shoes before heading out as well. The apartment turned out to be above a pawn shop in the Musutafu slums. The nearest train was an easy fifteen minute walk. They sat side by side in companionable silence while Tomura played a mobile game for the hour-long ride to the station closest to Kamino Ward. Once there they wandered around, keeping an eye out for promising hideout locations. It was oddly relaxing and a little fun chatting with Tomura about buildings or street art that caught their interest. The pale man even insisted on buying Izuku some food from a street vendor after a couple hours of walking.

Eventually they found themselves in a run-down warehouse district. There were a few restaurants and clubs but it was mostly off the beaten path, with light foot traffic and a vaguely menacing vibe. Izuku found himself walking closer to Tomura after receiving unsettling looks from some of the people loitering around. "We'll need to work on your fighting ability, shrimp." The pale man chuckled upon noticing. In contrast he seemed to fit in well with the atmosphere.

They were about to move on when something caught Izuku's eye down a narrow side street. A battered neon sign stuck out from a storefront that looked boarded up. It was a two story building that seemed decently sized. He tugged Tomura's jacket lightly to get his attention. "H-how about down there?" 

The man followed his gaze and made a thoughtful noise. "Sure." He changed direction to investigate the closed down bar. A messy, handwritten, 'for sale' sign was tacked to the main door. A second doorway was barred off, blocking a stairway that went to the second floor - probably apartments. The two exchanged a look.

"I-it wouldn't be odd for people to come and go at all hours from a bar…" Izuku offered tentatively.

Tomura brought out his phone to note down the contact information and address. "You're right. It would be a good idea. And might bring in extra cash." He tapped away on the phone for a minute before a warp gate opened beside them. "Let's head home. Kurogiri will handle the rest and verify if it's a good idea." 

The portal dropped them off in the living room. Kurogiri was waiting for them, eyes crinkled in what appeared to be a pleased expression. "The Master greatly appreciated your work, Izuku-san. He would like you to continue at your leisure." He turned his attention to Tomura. "I received the information you sent. I will secure the property as swiftly as possible."

~°~

The next few days followed a lazy pattern for Izuku. Wake up, eat breakfast, analyze heroes, eat lunch, analyze heroes, eat dinner, analyze heroes or watch Tomura play games, and fall asleep wherever he happened to be at the time. More often than not he woke up in Tomura's bed. He was too embarrassed and nervous to mention it since the man had yet to bring it up.

The two villains made for easy companions. Tomura often lost his temper but, true to his word, he never took it out on Izuku. They sometimes talked about inane topics while the pale man gamed. Through their discussions he learned that Tomura liked dogs, shojo manga (though Izuku already saw those in his room), and sweets. He never would have expected that from a villain but Tomura did threaten to decay him if he told anyone. The man didn't seem to be joking. All in all they got along and Izuku eventually began thinking of him as a tentative friend.

Kurogiri kept to himself. He seemed to mostly enjoy reading or cleaning when he wasn't fussing over Izuku and Tomura or running errands. Izuku occasionally helped the shadowy man cook despite protests that he should rest. It was nice and the greenette was becoming more comfortable around them as time passed. Some part of him was still waiting to be kicked out or killed but in the meantime he liked their company and the domesticity he was never allowed to have before.

Things changed about two weeks into living with them. Kurogiri informed them one morning that the purchase of the pub building was finalized. They now owned the bar and the above apartments. He dropped a bunch of boxes into the living room and put them to work packing and moving the boxes through a portal. 

The warpgate took them to a new apartment. It was just as run down as the last one but clean and with a little bit more space. The kitchen was separated from the living room by a breakfast counter rather than in its own room. The counter had bar stools set up and Kurogiri told them to leave the table when they started shuffling furniture over. Tomura complained the entire time. Once or twice Izuku saw him decaying stuff he didn't want to carry. Kurogiri eventually caught wind of it too and scolded him. All in all it was an eventful and exhausting day. It was made worth it when they stepped through the portal for the final time to find takeout waiting for them.

They were halfway through the meal when Kurogiri stiffened. "The Master summons me. Without another word he disappeared through a gate. Tomura didn't seem concerned by it so Izuku shrugged it off. They finished eating and cleaned up before beginning to sort out the boxes. Izuku was helping Tomura set up his computer when a portal opened in the doorway of the room. Kurogiri stepped out, eyes squinted seriously and shoulders tense. "The Master wishes to test Izuku-san's loyalty."

The greenette didn't know what that meant but didn't like the sound of it. Tomura looked confused as well. "Why?" It seemed rhetorical since he didn't give Kurogiri time to answer. "The shrimp's given us information on a dozen heroes and he hasn't even been with us for a month." 

"I wish I had answers. I have been instructed to bring him. Alone." 

Chapter Text

Apprehension made Izuku tremble as he stepped out of the warp gate into Sensei's study. Kurogiri followed but stayed back, not offering any form of encouragement this time. The greenette felt cold despite the overly warm room. It took all of his resolve to approach the desk when beckoned, knees alternately weak and wanting to lock up. He regretted eating before the summons as his stomach clenched with unease, joining the rest of his body in a visceral rejection of Sensei's presence.

This time around there was a palpable aura of malice surrounding the man. It was as if without Tomura there he didn't have to act. Just like Hisashi. The pleasant smile was still in place on the man's sightless face but the civil mask was thin. "Izuku, it's good to see you again. How have you been getting along with Tomura?"

Fighting not to fidget or shake too badly, Izuku adopted the habits he'd built around his father at his mom's house. Keeping his eyes on the ground, he bowed slightly. "T-Tomura has helped me alot, s-sir. I hope he t-teaches me to fight soon."

The man chuckled, sounding pleased. "So polite. It's refreshing to see in younger generations. But there's no need for such formality, my boy. Call me Sensei." He reached down and glided back from the desk. "I trust Kurogiri informed you why you're here?"

Izuku was shocked to realize Sensei was in a wheelchair. The movement aid did nothing to diminish the man's intimidation factor. At the question Izuku straightened up but kept his gaze on the floor. "Ah, y-yes, Sensei."

A pleased hum escaped the man as he maneuvered around the desk and stopped by the greenette. "You've done a fantastic job on analyzing the heroes. I think it's finally time you took the next step. A simple task to solidify your place here." Sensei reached out a hand towards Kurogiri and black tendrils erupted from his arm to spear the shadowy man. A sharp cry of pain left Kurogiri as his quirk activated, a portal opening in front of Izuku and Sensei. With a sense of dread the teen realized Kurogiri's quirk had been forcibly triggered. "Come. I have such fascinating things to show you." A hand on his back guided Izuku through the gate. He couldn't refuse even though he desperately wanted to. 

The portal let out into a stark white hallway. It wouldn't look out of place in a hospital if it weren't for the unnatural silence. The only visible doors were straight ahead where Sensei was leading him. A quick glance over his shoulder showed another set of doors but nothing else to identify where they were. He noticed that Kurogiri didn't come with them.

The double doors swung open automatically when they approached, opening into what looked like a laboratory. Counters along two walls held science equipment like microscopes and centrifuges. In the center of the room was a metal table that looked like it belonged in a morgue. Near it sat a long desk that held multiple computer monitors and a switch board. The thing that caught Izuku's attention was along the two remaining walls. His stomach dropped and he felt nauseous as he processed what he was seeing. Massive tubes, five per wall, were set up. Green liquid flooded the containers, suspending grotesque creatures in various forms. Some were noticeably human but with obvious unnatural mutations like half formed beaks and disproportionate limbs. Others were clearly "complete" with hulking muscles, sharp claws, and multiple eyes. All had their brains exposed, electrodes attached and leading to the switchboard.

Sensei observed his reaction with a smirk. "These are called nomu. The perfect anti hero creations. They're almost ready for field testing. But of course we always need new subjects to improve the design." The threat and warning was crystal clear to Izuku. Succeed in whatever test Sensei had concocted or end up in a test tube. There was no other reason to show the monsters to a new recruit. Having Tomura decay him was sounding more and more appealing by the second.

The man turned and exited the lab, leading back where they entered. Izuku had no other choice but to follow. The facility was a maze of twists and turns that he quickly lost track of. There were no windows and seemingly no other people present. The atmosphere was oppressive. Eventually they turned into a hallway lined with heavy metal doors. All of them were bolted from the outside. They were prison cells. Quiet noises of pain and distress emanated from some of them as they passed. Trepidation filled him as they stopped in front of one of them.

"While it's desirable to have living test subjects, sometimes dead will do." As Sensei talked he reached into a hidden pocket in his suit and withdrew a hunting knife. "Kill the person behind this door and your loyalty will be unquestioned."

Fear lanced down Izuku's spine and his hand shook as he took the blade. This was it. No going back now. Was it a hero? Was that why Sensei had Izuku choose just one to report on at first? If it was Death Arms he might be able to do it without too much guilt, knowing what the hero did to advance his career. There was only one way to find out. Drawing in a deep breath to steady his nerves he stepped forward to pull the lock back. He then reluctantly pried open the door. It was heavy and took all of his weight to budge. 

The cell was just as blindingly white as the rest of the building. The floor was concrete instead of tile, with a drain in the floor in one corner. Not even a futon was provided. In the center of the room was a metal chair bolted to the ground, chains ending in manacles held wrists and ankles in place. And in the chair sat -- "M-mom?!"

The figure stirred and it took all of Izuku's willpower to keep the knife from slipping out of numb fingers. Familiar green eyes opened then widened in shock when they landed on the teen. His mother tensed and strained against the bonds, face twisting in fear. "Izuku? Baby! W-what's going on?" Tears gathered in her eyes and Izuku had to look away as his heart clenched.

Behind him Sensei spoke up in a disappointed tone. "Not even asking if your son is alright? Not urging him to escape? Though of course I wouldn't expect much from the woman who knowingly allowed her husband to abuse their son. Who turned a blind eye to years of bullying. Who kicked him to the street without remorse simply because of who he might fall in love with. For being quirkless. You haven't even reported him missing." With each word Izuku knew he was being manipulated by Sensei. It angered him as much as it hurt because it was all true. 

During his homelessness Izuku had still gone to school when he could. Inko could have tracked him down there if she regretted letting Hisashi kick him out. No doubt they notified her of his absences. That meant she'd probably lied to them. If she'd told the school he was missing or had run away they would have said something to him regardless of their opinion on quirklessness. Just like over the years she hadn't asked any questions about the wounds he acquired or the first aid kit that needed refilled almost daily. When he went against her wishes and tried training for self defense it was always tears and pleading that he was too fragile, guilt tripping him into giving up for her sake. The same tears and pleading presented to him now as she begged to be let go.

The simmering outrage sparked by Sensei's transparent machinations was slowly outpacing the horror at what he had to do. His mind latched on to it and swaddled itself against the situation. If given the option would he ever want to go back to Inko? To that suffocating cage of loneliness, pain, and despair? No. Never again after tasting the freedom offered by Tomura. A mental image of the nomu solidified his resolve. He took a step forward. Inko seemed to finally notice the knife because she started struggling even harder against the restraints, sobbing and imploring him to save her.

The wheelchair bound man talked over the woman - Izuku struggled to mentally distance himself from her - to offer encouragement, voice coaxing with kindness. "With this you'll be a precious member of our family. Tomura has been so much happier since you came to us. Kurogiri enjoys someone else to dote on. We will never abandon you. We will never begrudge you the power previously denied you. Simply break free from the shackles of your old life and start over cleansed of toxic ties."

The rage boiled over, as much at Sensei as at the memories of his mother. Had Sensei twisted Tomura with his silver tongue like he was trying with Izuku? He was furious at himself for finding them tempting. Closing his eyes, he let the emotion take over. His vision flashed white as he lunged forward, weapon extended.

There was no resistance as the blade pierced Inko's skin but his arm jarred as it glanced off bone. Pulling the blade free as she screamed in pain, he tried again. Cold numbness enveloped his mind and his body seemed to move on its own. He watched, detached as the knife plunged into her chest over and over again until she finally went silent and still. After one last stab he left the blade protruding out of her.

"I'm proud of you, Izuku. Your life can finally begin." Enjoyment was clear in Sensei's voice. Izuku felt nothing.

Chapter Text

Izuku couldn't remember how he got home from the facility. One moment he was there in that cell, the next he was in the new apartment with Kurogiri and Tomura staring at him in concern. He blinked rapidly, feeling like he just woke up from a fitful sleep - disoriented and exhausted. He wavered on his feet and Tomura reached out to steady him. "... Let's get you cleaned up." The pale man was subdued, a frown making the scars and lines on his face appear more severe. 

Izuku allowed himself to be led into the bathroom. Dimly he noticed it was a traditional style rather than western. A tug on his shirt prompted him to raise his arms, letting Tomura pull it over his head. It was soaked in blood. Some spots had become so saturated that it stained his skin. His chest, hands, and arms were coated in red. After stepping out of his shorts Tomura pressed him to sit on the shower stool. The man spent a few moments fussing with the water temperature before seeming satisfied. Izuku hissed, the first sound he'd made since he got back, when the water made contact with his skin. It wasn't that it was too hot, he was just too cold.

Several minutes were spent rinsing off the crimson gore until pink water ran clear. Tomura paid special attention to Izuku's hands, gently rubbing to get all the blood out of the lines and creases and scraping under his fingernails. He didn't seem to care that his gloves and pants were getting wet. The careful ministrations coaxed some warmth back into Izuku. Bone deep weariness replaced the detachment. He found himself leaning back against Tomura while the man washed his hair. Eyes slipping closed, he fought to focus on the massaging fingers on his scalp rather than the images burned across his eyelids.

Eventually the water shut off and the pale man moved away to grab a towel. Izuku shivered at the loss of contact and hugged himself. After drying him off as best he could Tomura scooped the smaller teen into his arms and carried him into his bedroom. Normally Izuku would be mortified, right now he simply burrowed under the blankets when he was laid out on the bed. The mattress dipped next to him and he curled up against Tomura, craving any comfort he could get. Fingers carded through his damp locks, lulling him into unconsciousness.

The next week was a blur for Izuku. He'd wake up screaming or crying with Tomura or Kurogiri shaking him awake. From there the days bled together into a mosaic of disjointed images and half remembered actions. Eating, staring at a TV, moving bar furniture. The waking world seemed like a fuzzy dream. He came back to himself on the eighth day only because Tomura slapped him. The sting of pain across his cheek had him blinking rapidly, hand reaching up to feel the heated skin. They were seated at the breakfast counter and there was an uneaten array of food in front of him. 

"Are you finally back, shrimp?" The man sounded angry but there was a softer note hidden in his scowl. On Tomura's other side Kurogiri was staring at the younger man with disapproval for smacking Izuku.

It took a few moments to orient himself before Izuku nodded hesitantly. He felt like he was waking up from a feverish sleep. "I think so…" His voice was scratchy from disuse, making him grimace and sip from a cup of cold tea that sat next to his food. "S-sorry."

The shadowy man stood to fetch Izuku a fresh cup. "You have nothing to be sorry for… What the Master did was… excessive." His voice was strained like he was holding back stronger words or emotions.

A shudder crawled up Izuku's spine. Sightless green eyes and scarlet splashed clothes flashed in his mind. He shied away from the memory, not wanting to get hit if he got… lost again. It was also disconcerting to realize he couldn't remember anything concrete since he got home. A different memory came to him after a moment. "T-Tomura?" Izuku turned to peer at him with a serious frown. "You still promise to kill me? I-I don't want to end up like those things…" A pleading note crept into his voice. The real question he wanted to ask showed through. Would the pale man disobey Sensei if Izuku messed up?

For a heart-rending minute the man looked away in silence. Before despair could worm its way up Izuku's throat, Tomura reached up to pet his hair. He finally looked at him with a nod, warm palm resting heavy in green curls. "A promise is a promise." Blinking away relieved tears, Izuku leaned into the touch. The man kept his hand there while the greenette ate. It tasted like ash on his tongue but little by little he was coming back to himself. He was feeling more human as the food settled and he focused on the sensation of fingers in his hair rather than the phantom blood caking his hands.

"Izuku-san, when you're finished please bathe and get dressed. Now that you have your own room we can finally pick you up new clothes and belongings." The teen paused, chopsticks halfway to his mouth. He had a room? That was news to him. Or likely he just didn't remember. 

Seeing the confusion, Kurogiri chuckled. "This flat has three bedrooms. I've procured furnishings for you but it's rather sparse. You will need more than just three outfits and there is enough money to spare if you find decorations you like."

The prospect of going out was less than appealing but it would be nice to have shirts and pants that weren't stained and full of holes. He also needed more notebooks. The one he had been using was almost full. He'd also like to start one for analyzing the quirks of allies to help them improve. Though for that he'd want to come up with a code. He didn't want information on Tomura and Kurogiri to fall into the wrong hands. With that thought bolstering him, he finished his meal and left for the bathroom to get ready. 

After a shower he felt much better, less out of it. Padding into the hallway he tentatively investigated the rooms until he spotted his backpack. As Kurogiri had said his room contained a dresser, desk and chair, a bookshelf, and a mattress on the floor. It was depressingly bare except for his notebooks on the shelf and the plain bedding. After changing and struggling to tame his hair he met Tomura in the living room. They donned jackets, shoes, and face masks before heading out. 

Kamino, for all its skeevy faults, did have a decent shopping district. They wouldn't have to venture far to get what they needed. The first stop was a second hand store for clothes and miscellaneous items. Izuku was small for his age from genetics and malnourishment but he didn't mind since it meant he still fit into kids sizes, which had the most fun designs and hero merchandise. Tomura scoffed at his selection, a mix of ironic sayings and graphic 'good' hero t-shirts. Despite an alarming eye twitch the man insisted he get at least six. The pants, boxers, and socks at least were less controversial. 

Eventually they moved on to non-clothing items. Izuku ended up with two lamps (Tomura low-key decayed an All-Might themed one), some desk supplies like organizers and pencil sharpeners, and a used laptop. He tried to stay practical, still not comfortable having money wasted on him. Though at some point when his back was turned a pack of glow in the dark star and planet vinyl wall stickers and some books appeared in the cart. After paying they were laden with six heavy bags. Izuku assumed that would be the end of the outing. He was proven wrong when Tomura urged them into an alleyway so he could call Kurogiri to collect the haul. 

The next stop was a stationary shop for notebooks, pencils, and file folders. Finally, the man paused outside of a liquor store. "Stay here. I need to put in some orders for the bar." He disappeared inside before Izuku could respond. The teen felt painfully awkward loitering directly outside the door so he paced further down the block to lean against a brick wall. It was still the same building but it hopefully looked less like he was waiting for someone to illicitly buy him alcohol. Several minutes into the wait the door opened and someone stepped out with an arm load of two paper bags. The greenette perked up, hoping for Tomura, until he realized it was someone else.

The man had messy black hair and piercing electric blue eyes. Discolored scars lined his face from pierced ears, to lips, to neck, and disappeared out of sight under his clothes. Similar scars beneath his eyes gave him a perpetual look of exhaustion. Surgical staples stood out on his chin, looking more like a fashion statement than practical. Izuku's ploy to look casual didn't seem to be working because the man slowed to a stop a couple feet away and smirked. "Ain't you a bit young to be waiting for booze?" His voice was rough and gravely like he smoked cigarettes.

A blush crawled onto Izuku's face as he shook his head frantically. "N-no! T-that's not-! I'm j-just wait-ting for my f-friend! H-he owns a b-bar!"

The smirk crept into a teasing grin. "That's what all the delinquents say." 

The greenette buried his face in his hands, mortified. That drew a laugh from the man. He paced closer and patted Izuku on the head. "Don't sweat it, kid. It's not like I'd tattle on you even if you were." A sly look crossed his face as he adjusted both bags to one arm to root around. A moment later he slipped a small bottle into Izuku's stationary bag with a wink. "Delinquents gotta stick together." He walked off before Izuku could stutter out a protest. He was afraid to look at what the scarred man gave him.

When Tomura finally emerged something must have shown on Izuku's face. The man paused and looked quizzical. "What?"

Guilt made the greenette duck his head and scuff the toe of his shoe against the ground. "S-someone gave me alcohol. T-they thought I was waiting for…"

The man blinked and chuckled. "Is that all? Just don't let Kurogiri see you drinking it." With a shrug Tomura wrapped an arm around the stunned teen's shoulders to guide him down the street towards home.

Chapter Text

When they returned home all of Izuku's purchases from the thrift store were put away in his room. Even the books, which he thought Tomura got for himself or Kurogiri, and the stickers were stuck to the ceiling above his bed. The bag from the stationary shop went on the desk and Izuku stared at it warily. He still wasn't sure what to make of getting gifted liquor by a stranger. Curiosity eventually won out. He opened the bag to pull out the bottle. It was smaller than others he'd seen through the door of the shop, with a fancy green and gold label proclaiming the contents to be Chartreuse. The liquid itself was a violent shade of yellow-green, looking more like poison than something he'd want to drink.

He sat it aside with a grimace to contemplate later. Maybe Tomura would want it. Sitting down, he got to work organizing his desk to suit his tastes and putting away supplies. Once done he opened the laptop to double check that it worked and to set it up. He wasn't overly familiar with the inner workings of computers but he wasn't illiterate. He knew enough to reformat the hard drive on used ones and to run virus scans before anything else.

A knock on the door startled him a while later. Tomura entered without waiting for an invitation, glancing around curiously. "Lunch is almost done." He wandered closer to look over Izuku's shoulder. "That program is shit. After we eat I'll help you install better."

Izuku aimed a shy smile at him. "Thanks. It's b-been a while since I've had to set one up." 

The man grunted and shrugged, getting distracted by the bottle. He reached out to pick it up with a low whistle. "Nice. You musta made an impression." Tomura unscrewed the cap and took a drink before offering it to Izuku. "Only small sips at first. Some people are allergic to it in higher doses."

The warning didn't do much to assure the greenette but he took the bottle anyway. Sniffing the opening, he was pleasantly surprised that it was nothing like he expected. It smelled sharp but sweet with heavy herbal notes. He glanced at Tomura, who made an encouraging gesture with his hands, and took the tiniest of sips. The flavor matched the smell, sweet with complex minty and bitter hints. It went down smooth before it started to faintly burn and warm his insides. Izuku blinked. It was good! He took a bigger sip before handing it back to the man, recalling his words about allergies. 

Tomura grinned, capping it after another drink. "Put it in the back of your desk so Kurogiri doesn't find it." He offered the bottle back and Izuku followed the instruction, shoving it in the bottom drawer behind a stack of fresh notebooks. Just in time.

The shadowy man interrupted further discussion by popping his head in. Izuku tried not to look guilty, ignoring a snicker from Tomura and focusing on the computer to avoid looking at Kurogiri. "Lunch is ready."

While they ate Kurogiri outlined his plans for the building. As Izuku had suggested, it would look like a normal bar and be open for business. It gave them a cover for recruitment and meetings that wouldn't raise suspicions. He was also planning to rent out the empty apartments for extra income. Anyone looking at them would just see an entrepreneur and his family. Though of course all their permits were forged.

The storage rooms in back were large enough that Kurogiri suggested they use an empty one to begin training Izuku to fight. That got the teen excited. The subject had been brought up before but with everything happening it got sidelined. He wanted to be able to pull his own weight if he needed to, not just sit around all day analyzing. He'd look up exercises later. 

Seeing Izuku's eagerness, Tomura rolled his eyes. "How about we get started after this, shrimp? It'll take a lot of work to get some muscles on those noodle arms. Just don't expect me to go easy on you."

The greenette couldn't even refute that. He was fast thanks to avoiding Katsuki and other bullies but not very strong. With a determined frown he nodded before turning back to the meal. It took all his willpower to keep pace with Tomura rather than scarfing it down. Once everyone was finished Tomura led Izuku downstairs and into the bar. Behind the counter was a doorway which led to the manager's office, an employee break room, and storage spaces. The building was a lot bigger than it looked from the outside. The pale man opened one of the doors to reveal an empty room. It wasn't large enough for elaborate training but brawling and working out would be fine.

To start, Tomura stood in the center of the room. His stance was relaxed and his expression bored. When Izuku just stood there staring in confusion the man huffed in annoyance and made a 'come hither' motion. "Attack me."

Dismay made Izuku hesitate. This… was just going to be Tomura beating him up all day, wasn't it? Yes, yes it was. When Izuku finally rushed forward to punch him, the man sidestepped and kicked his feet out from under him. The greenette landed painfully on his tailbone and bit his tongue.

"Watch my chest and hips to see how I'll move." Tomura moved back into place. The cycle repeated three more times before Izuku managed to follow Tomura's movements and adjust accordingly. Just before the hit could land the man grabbed his wrist, leaned to the side, and yanked while sticking a foot out to trip him. Izuku's small size made it easy for Tomura to overpower and manhandle him.

And so the next two hours went. Every time Izuku adapted to Tomura's moves, the man added a new curve ball. It was frustrating and painful though he did get advice after every failed attempt. Izuku didn't land a single hit. By the time Tomura called a halt Izuku was bruised and sore while the man still looked unimpressed and a bit smug.

The greenette could grudgingly see the merit of learning to fight by doing rather than getting distracted by theory or choreographed sparring. During a real fight there wouldn't be time to think and opponents wouldn't follow a set pattern. That knowledge didn't keep him from mentally complaining as he limped back upstairs to shower and change. Despite being exhausted, later that night Izuku looked up exercises he could do on his own to help speed things along. A lot of strengthening routines called for equipment but he could start with the basics. Eventually he could ask Kurogiri for smaller pieces of equipment once things felt easier. 

Ignoring aching muscles, he went through sets of pushups, squats, and sit-ups in the morning. After breakfast Tomura took him into the supply room for training for two hours. After training he'd help Kurogiri with things in the bar or around the house until lunch. Afternoons were when he'd research heroes or other topics of interest to the villains. After dinner he'd do more research or watch Tomura play games until bed. 

While sleeping Izuku still had nightmares but they were tapering down to a level he could deal with alone. Waking up screaming was becoming a rare occurrence, much to everyone's relief. It helped that Sensei never specifically summoned him again. He got away with sending his notes with Kurogiri and Tomura.

The routine continued with only minor deviation for the better part of six months. The bar was opened to customers about a month after they settled in, meaning he and Tomura had to make their own dinner while the shadowy man tended the business. The official hours were 3pm to 3am, which is how Izuku discovered that Kurogiri didn't need to sleep. It seriously made him wonder about the man's origins but he never got the nerve to ask. 

At around the same time the bar became operational Kurogiri put a 'for rent' sign up for the empty apartments. There were six units in total, with all the others being one bedroom or studios. They filled up fast with a mix of low level criminals and students due to the cheap rates. Izuku didn't pay much attention to their neighbors, except for one. A hulking guy with a red mechanical eye lived directly next door. He creeped the greenette out whenever they met in the hallway or the bar. There was no specific reason for the reaction that Izuku could pinpoint. The other criminals didn't set him off like that man did. It was puzzling and made him more cautious when exiting the apartment without one of the others accompanying him. It was in late January that Izuku found out why that specific man unsettled him. 

It was an overcast day that threatened freezing rain if not snow. Despite being early afternoon it was dark and cold enough that most locals were holed up indoors. The streets were deserted as Izuku trekked to a nearby grocery store. Tomura was supposed to go with him to restock their food but he complained about the cold before faking having a meeting with Sensei. He'd disappeared through a portal hours ago. Kurogiri was tending the bar which was busier than usual because of the weather. So it fell on Izuku to go out alone if they wanted more than just assorted dagashi for dinner. He vowed to force Tomura to buy him a new bottle of Chartreuse for the trouble. Maybe two. He'd burned through it on bad nights that he couldn't sleep. It turned out that he could have the equivalent of three shots before his skin got itchy and he had to stop for a few days.

Shopping went by quickly thanks to strictly following a list. He only bought extra snacks for himself to spite the pale man, who'd demanded matcha mochi and melon soda. Izuku got Tomura psoriasis moisturizer instead. By the time he was done he was laden with eight heavy bags. Thanks to training it felt like nothing. Halfway back to the bar he inexplicably started feeling anxious. His heart raced and the hair on his arms and neck stood on end. He struggled to remain relaxed, like Tomura taught him to increase his reaction times, but his knuckles were white around the bag handles. A subtle glance around yielded no clues.

He was just passing a recessed shop entrance when someone grabbed him from behind and dragged him into an alleyway. A massive hand covered his mouth, choking off any cries. "You're a hard one to get alone. But I'm patient. If you can beat me, I'll leave you alone. If not..." Bile rose in Izuku's throat when another hand dipped down to roughly squeeze the front of his pants. 

Tears of pain and fear sprang to Izuku's eyes and he dropped the bags to struggle wildly. He gripped the hand covering his mouth and yanked down until he could bite flesh, at the same time he stomped back on the man's toes. With a growl the attacker ripped his hand away and stepped back. Izuku was satisfied to taste blood. Acting quickly, he whipped around with a loud yell for help and kicked between the man's legs. The man stumbled but stayed standing. 

Pain exploded in Izuku's face and he was knocked to the ground by a harsh blow. Blinking rapidly, when he turned to regain his bearings he was horrified to realize the person was his neighbor. He lashed out towards the man's knee only for him to block it and grab his ankle in a crushing hold. "Show me your blood and cry for me!" Vertigo twisted Izuku's vision as he was thrown into a wall. He blacked out for a few seconds when his head made contact. When he managed to pry his eyes open again the hulking figure was looming over him. Dizziness had him seeing double as he tried to scramble away. A kick to the side sent him back into the wall and he felt something crack.

"Are you ready to come quietly?" The guy sounded excited after beating Izuku to a pulp. The realization made nausea turn in Izuku's stomach and the blooming concussion made it difficult to keep the bile down. In a last ditch effort he yelled again while kicking with all his strength at the man's ankle. The man staggered with a grunt and there was a sickening grating noise when he instinctively put his weight on it to catch his balance. Rather than go down, his leg muscles writhed and extended to support the broken ankle.

Before he could advance again blue light flared to illuminate the alley. Izuku cringed and snapped his eyes closed against it. Intense heat followed less than a second later, painful against chilled skin. The man started screaming and someone seized the back of the greenette's jacket to haul him away. The cries died down fast. When Izuku cracked his eyes open all that was left was a smoldering pile of ash and bones, with lingering cerulean flames cremating even those. 

Turning to look at his rescuer, concerned blue eyes met exhausted green. "Let's get you home, kid." Strong arms hoisted him into a bridal carry and Izuku instinctively burrowed into the warmth radiating from the new man. He dimly recognized him as the one who gave him the Chartreuse months ago. He smelled like cigarettes, smoke, and cheap shampoo. 

"W-wait. Th'bags." Izuku's words slurred through rapidly swelling cheeks and a split lip. He heard a curse but then felt the man bend down to awkwardly gather them around the greenette. 

"Where do you live?" 

"Th'bar. 'S down th'street. Leap a Faith." Izuku named the place 'Leap of Faith' in a fit of dark irony. He was rather proud of it. Kurogiri insisted on it since it was the greenette's idea to buy the place. His thoughts wandered a bit chaotically until the gentle sway of being carried lulled him into unconsciousness.

Chapter Text

Everything was pleasantly numb until Izuku tried to move. Stabbing pain in his side and chest foiled an attempt to roll over. It had been months since he'd had to deal with such injuries and it left him stunned for several moments in a groggy daze. The fuzziness of sleep slowly melted away as his brain awoke enough to recall what happened with his former neighbor. A shudder of disgust slithered up his spine and he struggled to focus on his current physical state rather than what almost happened.

A rib or two were definitely broken. His shoulders felt stiff and his back ached in a way that told him it was one massive bruise. His face throbbed in time with his heartbeat and he discovered a split lip when he licked them to alleviate the tacky dryness. There was also a dull pang in his ankle when he flexed it. It wasn't the worst beating he'd ever had but it was thorough. With a glance around he realized he was in his room. The door was ajar, letting light filter in from the hallway. The light threw deep shadows behind the door, causing an irrational surge of anxiety. 

It seemed late but he could hear people talking in the living room. Tomura's familiar voice soothed Izuku's fear. "-don't care what you do with his shit. Sell it, burn it, whatever." He sounded pissed. Whoever he was talking to said something in response but it was too quiet to pick up. Curiosity, hunger, and a full bladder eventually drove Izuku to climb out of bed. Someone, hopefully Tomura, had stripped him to his boxers to wrap his chest and check for hidden wounds. The pain was easy to ignore once he got used to it though he hobbled a bit due to his swollen ankle. 

Once in the bathroom he caught a good look at the damage. His face was puffy and almost no part of him was unblemished. Not even the delicate skin between his legs, he noticed with queasy horror while relieving himself. Swallowing down bile, he went back to ignoring the incident as best he could. When he emerged into the living room he spotted Tomura and the scarred man who saved him sitting at the counter. They both looked up when he padded closer. Izuku paused and hugged himself self-consciously at the attention, wishing that he'd put on at least a shirt. Though in hindsight he probably couldn't lift his arms very high at the moment.

It was the stranger who broke the silent staring contest. "I'm surprised you can move right now. I'm Dabi by the way. Your new, non psychotic neighbor. Your old one couldn't take the heat." The terrible joke was delivered in a perfect deadpan tone. Izuku was torn between laughing and groaning. He settled for rolling his eyes and limping around the counter to investigate food. 

"There's stir fry in the fridge, shrimp." Tomura pointed out, ignoring their guest's attempt at humor. Izuku found it and opted to eat it cold after trying and failing to lift his arms towards the microwave. There was a stool empty between Tomura and Dabi which he stubbornly tried climbing on to. The pain made him grit his teeth before hands on either arm helped hoist him up.

"You really shouldn't be moving around." The pale man sounded aggravated with an undercurrent of concern. Izuku peered at him and noticed new red lines on his neck. He'd been stress-scratching again. It had been a while since that happened.

Trying to assure the two men, Izuku shrugged. "I've had worse, it's ok." The words had the opposite effect. Dabi frowned darkly and Tomura scowled with a faintly manic glint in his eyes. Izuku shrank down in his seat at having the looks directed at him. Seeing the reaction, Tomura ground his teeth together but reached out to pet Izuku's hair. The greenette leaned into the touch. Over the months it had become a sure way to calm both of them down. Struggling to divert the tense mood, the greenette peeked at Dabi in curiosity. "Why are you moving in so quick?"

The man shrugged, pushing Izuku's food closer pointedly. "I've been to the bar a few times. I was actually waiting for a spot to open. Saving you expedited the process. My current place is being demolished in spring."

Izuku took the hint and started eating. The two men continued talking over his head. "Kurogiri will need to approve it, but whatever. Move your stuff in whenever. It saves us the headache of looking for a replacement."

"I'll get rent to you by the end of the week. Will you guys replace the locks? I kind of melted the keys." The scarred man seemed amused.

"Sure, whatever. Come pick up the new ones tomorrow." Tomura sounded fed up and tired. 

Picking up on it, Dabi stood with a stretch, joints popping. "We've got a deal then." The man gently patted Izuku's back before meandering to the door. "Don't get into any more fights 'til I get back, kid."

Izuku and Tomura were left in silence. The teen finished his food while the man brooded. Once he pushed the container away the pale man spoke up. "What exactly happened?"

He dreaded this discussion. All he wanted to do was forget it even happened but he knew Tomura wouldn't let it go without explanation. Licking his lips he fidgeted before hugging himself. "That man… He… grabbed me on the way b-back from the st-tore. Said… if I es-escaped he'd let me go b-but if n-not… I-I think he was going t-to r-rape me." His voice trembled and wavered with a vengeance, worse than it had been in weeks.

Next to him Tomura was deathly still and silent. When Izuku mustered the courage to glance over he flinched at the expression of fury pinching the man's features. Gloved hands trembled in clenched fists, fingers flexing like he was imagining strangling someone. The greenette started shrinking away, drawing the man's attention. Tomura studied him for a moment before forcibly relaxing his expression. After a pause he reached out to rest his hand in Izuku's curls again. "No one has the right to hurt you. And only I'm allowed to kill you. Remember that, shrimp." 

Blinking back tears, Izuku nodded and melted into the comforting pets. He needed to get stronger so that he could help Tomura keep the promise. The encounter highlighted just how useless he still was. Someone wouldn't always be around to save him. They spent several minutes like that before Tomura drew his hand away. "You should get back to bed. It's late and you need to heal." He stood to help Izuku up.

The greenette was reluctant, recalling the menacing darkness and isolated feeling of his room. It was childish but he didn't want to return to it. He was slow to adjust to let the man lower him to the floor.

The obvious hesitation made Tomura frown. "What?"

"I-I… Could..? S-sorry, n-never mind." He ducked his head to hide an embarrassed blush. 

The verbal fumbling made a frown twist the man's lips. He kept a hand on Izuku's forearm, keeping him gently in place when he tried to move away. "Spit it out, shrimp. I thought we were past this."

It was true. Izuku's confidence around Tomura and Kurogiri had grown in spades. They were his trusted friends now. The days after nightmares always brought the stutter back but nowhere near this bad. Then again, he wasn't at his best. Summoning his courage, he tried again. "Can I st-tay with you tonight?" The words came out in barely a whisper. The request was mortifying but he found he hated the thought of being alone more.

Crimson eyes stared at him, baffled, for a long moment before Tomura shrugged. "I don't care. Just don't hog the blankets." He huffed and urged Izuku to move. The greenette complied this time, relief making him feel wobbly. He hadn't realized how tense with apprehension he'd been until Tomura assented. The man guided him into his room before leaving to use the restroom. Izuku shuffled over to the mattress and lowered himself down with a wince.

The man's room was a little neater than it had been at the old apartment. A dresser and bookshelf had been added to his collection of furniture so only dirty clothes littered the floor. His desk was still messy but with papers and files instead of just clutter. Izuku was amused to notice the moisturizer he'd gotten the man sitting on a corner of the surface. That probably meant he hadn't offended Tomura too much with it.

When the pale man came back he closed the door and turned off the light. The glow of his computer monitor was bright enough to illuminate obstacles as he made his way over to the bed. "Pick a side, I don't care which." He sounded grumpy more than truly irritated but Izuku quickly crawled to the side closest to the wall. He didn't touch the blankets for now. He didn't want to annoy the man while invading his space. Tomura stripped to his boxers as well before sliding under the covers. After a pause he threw a corner of the blanket over the greenette with a grumble. It was awkward but nice.

The bed wasn't suited for more than one person but Izuku was small enough to not take up much space. Their arms touched when both of them were on their backs. When he curled up facing the wall he was close enough to feel the heat radiating from Tomura but not touch him. He wanted to cuddle but he wasn't sure if the man would appreciate it.

The quiet breathing and warmth next to him made his eyes grow heavy after only a few minutes. If he'd gone back to his room he probably wouldn't have been able to sleep. As he dozed he dimly noted Tomura adjusting before an arm wrapped around his waist and pulled him into a firm chest. A content sigh escaped him as he drifted off in comfort.

Chapter Text

The next day Kurogiri forced Izuku to stay in bed. The shadowy man was appalled when he heard what happened and made it his mission to smother the teen with comfort foods and advice. Tomura kicked Izuku out of his room because Kurogiri's hovering was annoying him while he was doing something on the computer. The greenette caught a glimpse of a police logo before he limped his way back to his own room.

Despite Kurogiri's fussing orders Izuku did stay in bed but he dragged his laptop and notebooks with him to work on projects. The shadowy man wanted him to rest and not work but being bored would drive him insane. He wasn't even tired like he normally was during the day so he couldn't nap. Waking up snuggled in Tomura's arms was embarrassing but restful. 

It was a relief when Kurogiri had to leave to tend the bar. The doting had been nice for the first two hours, now Izuku just wanted to be left alone for a while. Without distraction he wanted to make progress on analyses he had started for high ranked heroes. They would be tough to figure out - they didn't make the top ten for nothing. But their fights were usually the most televised. The problem was that their private lives tended to be on lockdown. Digging up personal dirt on All-Might, for example, was proving difficult. No one even knew his real name. He needed to see if Tomura would teach him how to hack. 

At the moment he was focusing on the easiest target, Endeavor. Public records alone should have seen him arrested ten times over yet he barely received collateral damage fines. There was even video evidence of him murdering bystanders with careless aim. It really made Izuku want to take the fucker down. Typing furiously, he was too absorbed to notice he had a visitor until knuckles tapped his door frame. The sound made him flinch and startle badly enough to almost knock his computer off his knees. 

An unrepentant chuckle husked from just outside the threshold. "Shigaraki let me in. I wanted to see how you were holding up." Dabi leaned against the jam with a smirk. "I also brought you something to help."

Izuku blinked owlishly before hesitantly waving him closer. The man shot Tomura's door a glance as he stepped in and the greenette was immediately suspicious when he eased the door closed, though he left it cracked. He gave off mischievous vibes rather than dangerous ones, easing Izuku's spike of concern.

"Don't want trouble with the landlords before I even move in." He stepped closer but kept a respectful distance, side stepping to leave a path to the exit clear for Izuku. He rifled through the pockets of his overcoat, eventually bringing out… A cookie? Seeing his confused expression, the man laughed. "Can I sit?" Dabi gestured to the floor next to the mattress. 

"Um… s-sure." Izuku gingerly sat his laptop down next to his legs and adjusted to keep a better eye on his guest.

The man moved slowly, telegraphing his actions as he settled beside the bed. The gesture made the tension ease in Izuku's frame, relaxing against the mountain of pillows Kurogiri had foisted on him. Dabi dropped the cookie on the edge of the bed, letting Izuku choose whether or not to take it. He did so out of curiosity. It looked like chocolate chip but the scent it gave off was strong, herbal, and minty. There were hints of pungency that reminded him of American skunks he once saw in a zoo during a class field trip. Strangely, it smelled good despite that. He glanced at Dabi with a quizzical head tilt.

"You ever tried weed before? I dunno how old you are. Dealers usually target upperclassmen in middle school and highschool."

Izuku blinked and shook his head. He knew what it was because of anti-drug campaigns at school. The negative claims about it always seemed blown out of proportion. He'd never really cared to test it in any case. But after Dabi's alcoholic gift he was curious. Belatedly he realized there was a subtle question beyond the obvious in the man's words. "I'm fift-teen." He blushed at the stutter even though Dabi didn't seem to care.

"Huh. I thought you were younger…" He looked contemplative before shrugging and gesturing towards the sweet. "It helps me sleep and controls my anxiety and pain. I figured you could use the same right about now." He slowly reached out to break away a tiny, crumb sized, piece and showed it to the greenette. "It's strong so only have about this much just before you lay down. A bit more won't hurt but too much and you'll end up on the floor unable to move and crying about wanting a sandwich." It seemed like that example had a hint of personal experience. Dabi popped the fragment into his mouth, letting Izuku absorb the information.

"I-it won't do anything bad?" Official opinions were that it killed brain cells and caused depression among other unsavory things. It was painted as worse than alcohol and meth. After the gestures of goodwill and saving Izuku, he sort of trusted Dabi but not entirely his judgment yet.

The scarred man snorted, shaking his head. "Nah. Well, you might eat more but that's about it. You look like you work out so you probably won't put on weight. Aside from that, when it first kicks in you'll probably get sleepy and fuzzy. Though it gives some people an energy boost instead. Let me know if that's the case and I can get you a new strain to try."

Pondering it all for a long moment, Izuku finally nodded. That sounded appealing. He felt bad dragging others into his problems, even if sleeping next to Tomura had been the best experience of his life. It felt like he was burdening the man by being needy. If the cookie could help him deal with things on his own he would try it.

Dabi winked and gave a lopsided smile. "Keep it hidden. And if you get caught with it, you didn't get it from me." They lapsed into comfortable silence. While Izuku contemplated where to hide the illicit baked good the scarred man looked around curiously. The teen found that he didn't mind.

Eventually Dabi spoke up, tone a bit dark. The contrast startled Izuku until he realized the man had seen his laptop screen. "You an Endeavor fan?"

Nose wrinkling in distaste, Izuku shook his head. "No. He's worse than dog shit. He should be rotting in Tartarus but the Hero Commission keeps covering up his crimes."

The answer clearly shocked the man. Piercing eyes widened and he barked out a startled, pleased, laugh. "No kidding. Most people don't seem to care."

The greenette frowned. "I care. He and All-Might are the worst. I've been studying their numbers. In the past five years they've killed more people than the three top ranked villains combined."

"You know… on HeroTube there's been a vigilante posting propaganda making similar claims." Dabi grimaced. "He idolizes All-Might but makes some good points, like yours. I think his name's Stain."

Grabbing his computer, Izuku searched for the name. Dabi leaned in close to watch the video the greenette pulled up. The man in the video hid his upper face with a white bandana but his features were distinct. Long disheveled black hair, red eyes, and a flat span where a nose should be. The vigilante was certainly… passionate. He denounced heroes who pursued selfish goals while harshly criticizing society for allowing 'false heroes' to flourish. Past the fanatical ranting Izuku could see the message's appeal. The logic behind the reasoning was flawed but the overall goal was sound in theory.

While he watched he subconsciously muttered corrections, fingers itching for a pen. Heroes needed to get paid to live, just like civilians. It's unreasonable to expect otherwise… Why name heroes with good records? Did he not research them first? Maybe I should send him the list… The Hero Commission is a bigger problem since they cover up so much and lie to the public. Less people would tolerate bad heroes if they knew…

When the video ended he was left with a lot to think about. Dabi's laughter broke his concentration. He glanced at the man, confused. "That was adorable, kid. Cutest plot to overthrow the HPSC ever." The teasing caused a deep blush to heat Izuku's face.

Waving his hands wildly in a placating gesture, he rushed to try covering the slip up. "No! That-t's not- I-I was just sp-speculat-ting!"

A hand patted his knee, making him fall quiet in embarrassment. Dabi looked amused, sly grin playing across his lips. "Relax. Delinquents, remember? Ain't gonna rat you out or something. But lending a hand, theoretically, would be on the table." A buzzing sound from Dabi's pocket interrupted further discussion. He pulled out a phone and tapped at it. "I gotta go. Think about it. Eat your cookie. And this time next week you'll know where to find me." He stood, ruffled Izuku's hair, and strode out without waiting for a response.

Mind reeling from the information, Izuku closed his computer and sat it aside. Several minutes were spent staring at the ceiling before his gaze drifted to the cookie. Maybe he'd give it a try sooner rather than later. His brain needed a break.

Chapter Text

Consciousness returned in fuzzy starts and stops. Izuku felt like he was laying on a cloud and, for once, nothing hurt. His muscles felt like putty. When he cracked his eyes open he found himself lying on the floor in the middle of his room. How'd that happen? Wracking his memory he recalled eating a sliver of the cookie before realizing he needed to find somewhere to hide it. Then he remembered he needed to put it in something to keep it safe from dirt. Then… nothing. Feeling around blindly, he couldn't find it in his immediate vicinity. At least he succeeded? Maybe? He should double check in case Kurogiri came in.

Sitting up with a stretch, he glanced around the floor. Nothing. He could vaguely remember thinking the bookshelf would be a good spot. Not wanting to ruin the pleasant muzziness, he crawled on all fours to paw through the books. No cookie. Next he shuffled over to the dresser. Alarm took hold when he couldn't find it. Giving up, he hauled himself to his feet using the furniture for support. He could still dimly feel the pain but it was muted. Limping to the door, he opened it and made his way to the living room. Tomura was lounging on the couch playing a game. 

Dithering for a moment, Izuku hesitantly posed his concern as a question, recalling Dabi's warning to keep it a secret. "U-um… has Kurogiri been in my room?"

Tomura looked up and squinted at his mildly panicked expression, no sympathy in sight. "Next time put it away before eating it, dumbass. It's in your drawer."

Izuku squeaked and retreated back into his room in mortified shame. When he opened the desk to check he found only half of the baked good. It looked like it had been ripped in half. Did… Tomura steal his drugs? He was disappointed but chose to see it as a bribe. Dabi did say he could get Izuku more if needed.

Checking the time, Izuku realized he'd only been asleep for a couple hours. He felt like he'd slept for a full night. Fussing around for something to do, he settled for light exercises since the pain was manageable. Nothing strenuous but he didn't want to fall behind. As he stretched and went through a light routine his thoughts kept straying to Stain and what Dabi had said. He should talk to Tomura about letting the scarred man help them. And about the hero commission. If they wanted to change hero society that really would be the best target. He knew Tomura's views were mainly 'salt the earth' after listening to him rant a few times. That was dangerously nihilistic and self destructive. He needed to convince the man of something more goal-oriented.

The problem was that Tomura didn't do anything without Sensei's approval and Izuku doubted Sensei's goals were as simple as just killing heroes and watching the world burn. The man was too cunning and ruthless for that. Izuku just knew too little about him to predict his real intentions. With the nomu he could safely guess a hostile takeover was planned. But that was just as short-sighted and simplistic as Tomura's ideals, which made it unlikely. Feeling frustrated with his circling thoughts, he wandered back into the living room and plopped down next to Tomura. It was chilly enough in the open space that he sat directly next to him rather than the other end of the couch. The man had in some type of fantasy RPG. For hating heroes so much he liked playing them a lot.

"Hey Tomura?" Izuku bit his lip, picking at a loose thread on his boxers. 

The pale man side-eyed him before reluctantly pausing the game. "What, shrimp?" He adjusted to give Izuku his full attention.

The fact he and Kurogiri listened so attentively still gave Izuku warm fuzzy feelings, even after months of experiencing it. "Dabi seems like he'd be a good recruit. And he pointed out a vigilante who's edging towards villainy."

A thoughtful frown crossed Tomura's lips. After a moment he nodded. "I was thinking similar about him. What makes you think so?"

Izuku briefly summarized their discussion earlier. He also went into more detail about Dabi murdering the neighbor to rescue Izuku. (The lingering screams and scent of scorched hair and charred meat bothered the greenette's nightmares but he was happy the scarred man interfered so decisively.) And Dabi didn't seem bothered by the act, even joking about it later and taking advantage.

As he spoke Tomura nodded at his points. When he was finished the man smiled at him in approval. "Those are a lot of what I noticed too. Plus what you picked up alone with him. I was going to feel him out already but that cements it. Good job, shrimp."

Seeing Tomura so genuinely happy about something did strange, fluttery things to the teen's stomach and had for several weeks. The pale man's smile was so rare that it boosted the greenette's mood as well every time it occurred. Trying to shrug off the feeling, he focused back on the conversation as best he could. "Should I talk to him or do you want to?" He bit his lip as he pondered. "He's worried about making a bad impression because of the apartment."

An eyebrow inched up at him. "And giving a 12 year old booze and pot normally makes a good impression?"

The greenette scowled at him. "I'm 15! I don't look that young… do I?" He was short but having two different people call him a kid was insulting.

He realized he'd fallen into a trap when Tomura reached up to lightly pinch one of his cheeks. "You've filled out a bit from training but you still got a baby face going on." Izuku flailed and pushed his hand away with an outraged squeak, face flushing. The man grinned at his reaction and ruffled his hair. "And I'll talk to him. You focus on tracking down the vigilante. I'll trust your judgment." The man stood, stretching his arms over his head with a groan. Izuku tried not to stare at a sliver of skin that the action exposed. "Get some food and then go to bed. Sensei called a meeting for all of us tomorrow morning." He patted the teen on the head before wandering into his room and closing the door.

That news killed any good vibes Izuku had. It had been months since he'd seen that man and he liked it that way. Why now, just after a traumatic event? … Did Sensei have something to do with the neighbor attacking Izuku? The thought was undeniably paranoid but there nevertheless. He tried to soothe himself with the knowledge that it was probably a coincidence. The neighbor had been living next to them for months without any indication of a threat. Likely he was a predator that got bored and targeted the nearest convenient victim.

Unhappiness dulled his appetite but he padded into the kitchen to have a small snack anyway. Once he was done he prolonged the inevitable by taking a long shower. His hair, when wet, touched his shoulders now. Should he cut it or let it grow out? The mental debate briefly distracted him, staring into the mirror and fiddling with the thick curls. The strands had been tamer since they grew out, it was harder to comb though. Shrugging, he decided to leave it for now. It was harder to grow out hair than cut it, he'd give long a try.

Finally there was nothing else keeping him from returning to his room. He dreaded what nightmares he'd have but opted to not have a bite of the cookie. He needed to have a clear head dealing with Sensei in the morning. Curling up under the blankets, he drifted off fairly quickly despite the worries bouncing around in his head. But as predicted a couple hours later he jolted awake with a whimper. The scent of burning hair and blood lingered in his nose, making his insides twist. Anxiety heightened the reaction and he scrambled out of bed to limp for the bathroom.

After heaving up the meager contents of his stomach he sat on the tiles shivering. It had been months since he had a dream that vivid and visceral. He should have expected it with recent events. He was glad the neighbor was dead but his brain decided to act otherwise. Stupid brain.

A door opened in the hallway and light from Tomura's room made him squint. The man peered in with a frown. "Nightmares again?" At Izuku's miserable nod he let out an annoyed huff. "Come on. Up."

Cool hands gripped under his armpits and hauled him to his feet. Tomura led him to the sink to rinse his mouth before tugging him into the man's room. Izuku shuffled over to the bed and collapsed face down into a pillow. "M'sorry." The words were muffled but audible. 

After a moment a finger roughly poked him in the side until he scooted over to make room. The man grunted as he settled next to him. "Shut up and go to sleep." Despite the rough words arms soon wrapped around him, tugging him against Tomura's chest.

This time when he slept it was dreamless.

Chapter Text

This time, to Izuku's further displeasure, they stepped out of Kurogiri's warp gate and into a pristine white lab. Not the lab he'd been subject to before but probably the same facility. This one seemed to be an office of some type, with an area that looked disturbingly like a surgery studio on one side. The office portion housed a wall of monitors situated above a desk. The desk held a switch board, PA microphone, some text books, and unidentifiable things floating in jars. Sensei and another man were conversing too quietly to hear. They stopped when the little group got close enough.

Shock jolted up Izuku's spine when the other man looked up. Short and portly with a thick mustache and round spectacles. It was the doctor who diagnosed him quirkless when he was 4. The name escaped him but the man's face was inscribed in his memory for his caustic words and dismissive attitude when breaking the news. Now he guessed he knew why, if he was working for Sensei. The two men smiled with faux warmth as they nodded in greeting. Sensei spoke up first. "I'm sure you all remember Dr. Garaki. Or as Izuku knew him, Dr. Tsubasa."

Tomura shot him a confused glance. Before he could explain, the Doctor butted in. "Oh, yes. The quirkless one. You were quite fascinating but ultimately useless. Do you know that you're only one of three I've ever seen outside of the older generations? And I've been around a long time!" The man chuckled like he'd just told a joke.

The casual insult didn't phase the greenette. Though, curiously, it made him angry rather than the usual apathy he felt when he'd heard it from his father, Katsuki, and other bullies in the past. It was funny how being treated like a human being for six months improved his self-worth. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Tomura's hand curl into a white knuckled first though his face remained impassive. Warmth washed away the anger at the notion that Tomura was upset on Izuku's behalf.

"Now, now, Garaki. There's no need to be crude. Izuku has proven his importance to our cause." Sensei turned to the greenette and he felt like he was being appraised. "Though you would be even more so with a quirk. I could fix that for you. With an intelligence quirk on top of your natural gifts you could be unstoppable. Or perhaps a physical ability for defense? You seem to be struggling with Tomura's training." The last comment was presented in a mild but condescending tone.

Once again the ugly suspicion of Sensei's involvement in the recent assault came to mind. Though it was overshadowed as he processed the rest of what he'd said. "... What do you mean you can give me a quirk?" It sounded too good to be true. Months ago he would have jumped on the offer without question, now he was just wary.

The man hummed quietly. "Exactly as I said. I can give you a quirk. It's my own power, you see. I can transfer them from one person to another. However, your situation makes it difficult." Sensei gestured towards the Doctor, who vibrated in place with excitement.

"Your body can't handle the strain of a quirk. You lack the proper genes and mutations necessary for one to manifest and present. Quite frankly you'd die in agony." He sounded a bit too enthusiastic about that. "But! I am a geneticist! With proper manipulation I could give you the right genetics to successfully hold one."

The nomu flashed to mind and a spark of fear lanced through his gut. Some tell must have given away the thought because Sensei leveled a smirk at him. "Not like the nomu, dear boy. That process requires quirks."

But if Izuku went through with it then he could be turned into one of those grotesque abominations. That added very little to the offer's appeal. Not that he wanted a quirk anymore to begin with. Despite the jab about his physical abilities he knew he was improving. That man in the alleyway was able to manipulate his muscles to augment his strength and endurance. Very few people, even with quirks, would be able to beat him in a melee fight.

Thinking quickly, Izuku adopted a thoughtful expression. He glanced at Tomura as if seeking guidance before turning back to Sensei. "Can I think about it? It's a big decision. I need to figure out the best type of quirk that would help augment my skill set."

The Doctor looked disappointed, opening his mouth to argue. Sensei cut him off. "Of course. Talk it over with Tomura. He'll be able to say what would be most useful to us."

"Of course, Sensei." The pale man finally spoke. "I'll help him sort it out."

The leader nodded. "Good. Now, there was something else to discuss. It has come to my attention that All-Might will be teaching at UA in the coming year. One of the nomu is ready for field testing and it would be the perfect opportunity. I want you to figure out his schedule and plan an attack."

Some manic eagerness crept into Tomura's face. "Gladly! With the nomu he won't stand a chance!"

"Let me know the final details and the Doctor will program one to follow you. You may go now."

As soon as they were back in the apartment and the portal closed Izuku finally allowed himself to tremble. Everything hurt again from holding himself so tense during the meeting. Kurogiri entered the kitchen and returned a few minutes later with tea and painkillers for him while Tomura guided him to sit on the couch. They both looked grim.

"It's another t-test, isn't it?" To Izuku's shame his voice wobbled. "I don't wa-want a quirk. But I'm worthless without one."

Before he could spiral into a panic attack Tomura flicked his forehead. "I don't care what the Doctor thinks and neither should you." Distaste was clear in his voice. He clearly didn't like Garaki.

"But even Sensei agreed." Izuku wrapped his arms around himself. He'd thought he was proving his worth with the analyses but apparently not. He'd even shown his willingness to kill but it still wasn't enough. In this world the only thing that mattered was quirks. Bitterness laced his thoughts.

An arm wrapped around his waist and hauled him against Tomura's side. The man's lips were twisted in a nasty sneer. "Am I useless?" His eyes were squinted in anger.

The question shocked Izuku. Shaking his head frantically, he curled up tight against the man. "No!"

"Have I wasted months of my precious time on a lost cause?"

Izuku meekly shook his head again. "No."

The man pinched Izuku's side sharply to ensure his full attention. "Then you're not useless. I'll tell Sensei you don't need one. It's insulting that my work with you would be rendered worthless and wasted for the sake of elitist pride. If you needed a quirk I wouldn't have bothered. I'd have killed you and found quirked party members."

The proclamation rendered Izuku mute. Tears welled up and spilled over. The man huffed in disgust but hauled him into his lap to squeeze him in a hug with a muttered "cry baby". Izuku wrapped his arms around his shoulders and hid his face in Tomura's neck. The pale man had commented similarly on his worth before. But hearing it stated in such plain terms made it more real and immutable. It didn't magically cure Izuku's internal thoughts but for now those were blessedly silent. 

A knock on the door interrupted the moment. Tomura shoved Izuku off his lap and pressed the forgotten cup of tea into his hands while Kurogiri went to see who it was. Dabi's voice filtered in. "I've got the rent for next month."

"Ah, thank you. Would you like to come in? There was a matter we wished to discuss with you." The scarred man made a sound of assent and entered, raising an eyebrow when he caught sight of Izuku's red blotchy face. The greenette ducked his head in embarrassment and busied himself drinking the tea before it could go cold. Dabi invited himself to sit in one of the chairs across from them. The shadowy man joined them on the couch a moment later.

It was Tomura who spoke up first. "I overheard your conversation with Izuku. We want you to join us in reshaping society. Heroes have become too powerful, too self-important, and absorbed in appeasing their fans more than doing their jobs. It makes them ignore the people who truly need them. Like me, like Izuku, and I suspect you, just because it's not glamorous or high profile. We want to change that."

The speech surprised Izuku. He'd talked to Tomura about his own ideals a few times but never realized he'd actually listened to them. Did he actually believe in it or was he just trying to appeal to Dabi? Izuku would ask later. He was also thankful the man didn't throw him under the bus by telling Dabi that Izuku told him about their talks.

A few minutes of silence reigned as the scarred man pondered the offer. Finally he tilted his head. "Would that involve killing Endeavor?"

Both Izuku and Tomura nodded their heads resolutely. A dark grin crept across Dabi's lips. "Then I'm in."

Chapter Text

It happened that one week after Dabi joined the League of Villains (Izuku was against the name, suspecting it was just a rip off of League of Legends which Tomura played obsessively), Izuku made his first more or less deliberate kill. How it happened was an accident but he couldn't bring himself to feel bad about the end result. It did make him realize he should probably train with and carry a weapon if such incidents were going to become common.

The teen had been hanging out on a rooftop trying to get a better view of a fight. The immediate area had been evacuated but one of the heroes he was analyzing was against an interesting new villain so he risked standing out in order to see it. Notebook out and sitting on the edge, Izuku was caught off guard when someone called out behind him. The sudden, loud, noise nearly made him pitch himself over the edge. "What do you think you're doing, kid? You shouldn't be up here!" The hero was dressed in a garrish orange and red checkered suit that made him look like a clown. The greenette didn't recognize him which meant he was either an underground hero or a new graduate from a minor school.

Irritation replaced Izuku's instinctive fear. As he climbed to his feet the hero stalked forward with his chest puffed out for intimidation. The action made the teen roll his eyes, something he picked up from Tomura. "If I was suicidal right now you probably would have killed me."

The hero looked confused before shaking his head with a scowl. "If you were suicidal you wouldn’t be sassing me. Everyone was told to leave the area. Do you know how many stairs I had to climb to get up here?" 

Izuku’s eyebrow lifted sardonically, at this point deliberately baiting the man. “Do you see wings? I had to get up here somehow too.” 

An angry scowl lit the man’s face and he lunged forward to grab Izuku’s arm. The greenette pivoted on his heel, ducked to lower his center of gravity, and seized the hero’s wrist. He yanked with all his might, sending the hero sailing over Izuku’s shoulder - and off the building. Apparently the man wasn’t lying about not having a flying quirk. The teen turned to watch the free fall’s progress with morbid fascination, which ended abruptly in a splatter of gore as flesh and bone met concrete.

Letting out a huff, Izuku reluctantly opted to make himself scarce. He was annoyed at missing the fight but inevitably someone was recording it. There was no telling how long it would be before the body was found. It would be best if he was home before that happened. Reclaiming his notebook and pen from the ground, he pulled out a phone - Tomura finally decided he needed one - to text Kurogiri for a portal. Stepping through the gate, he looked around the living room to see Tomura and Dabi playing a fighting game on the couch. That was becoming an increasingly common sight. 

Seeing them together sent tingles up his spine. And when they both stared with curiosity at his rumpled appearance he blushed and felt warm. Covering up the awkward reaction, Izuku fidgeted and rubbed the back of his neck. “Um… I kind of… killed a hero.” He peeked at them through his bangs sheepishly. “It was an accident. Well, I meant to do it but I got angry and just reacted without thinking when he tried to grab me so… yeah.”

The nervous rambling tapered off at their incredulous expressions. Kurogiri broke the silence. “Which hero was it? And did anyone see you?” The shadowy man looked him over before striding into the kitchen to make him tea. That was the man’s default when he thought Izuku was upset. 

“I’m not sure. He had on a checkered red and orange suit. He was aggressive with wanting me to leave the area.” A dark frown crossed his lips. “I brought up the fact that I could have been a jumper and he didn’t care. So I threw him off the roof. We were high up and it was in an evacuation zone so I don’t think anyone saw me.” He accepted the tea when Kurogiri offered and shuffled over to sit in a chair. Examining his own feelings about the incident, he felt fine. Satisfied even. That hero was exactly the type he hated. 

The scarred man hummed thoughtfully. “That sounds like Ignition. He was an asshole from what I saw of him during heroling work studies last year, so good job.” Dabi gave a lopsided grin of approval. Izuku’s stomach twisted pleasantly. Tomura also offered a slight smile and a nod. The twist turned into butterflies.  

Standing abruptly and almost spilling his tea, Izuku fussed with the cup. “I should go keep an eye on the news feeds, just in case. And since he made me miss the fight I need to find a video of it...” There was an uneasy - for him - pause before he padded quickly down the hall and into his room.  

Throwing himself face down on the bed, he let out a dismayed groan into his pillow. Why did teenage hormones have to be so humiliating? And confusing. He thought Tomura and Dabi were attractive. He liked both of them. But weren’t people only supposed to like one person at a time? To say nothing of the fact that they would never return the feelings. Neither gave any indication of liking him as more than a friend and he didn't know if they were gay or bisexual. Well, he was decently sure Tomura was at least bi just from the search history Izuku glimpsed while using the man's computer one day. But that meant nothing in relation to the greenette. Plus they might disregard him for being underage and he didn't want to put them in an awkward spot morally. On top of that Izuku remembered hearing somewhere that teens were fickle. What if he confessed and the feelings passed? He’d never live it down and it would ruin perfectly good friendships. He nodded to himself, decision made. 

Mental gymnastics out of the way, he sat up and pulled his computer into his lap. Typing rapidly, eventually he found a video of the fight. It wasn’t the best since it was shot from a distant window but enough was there to give him an idea of what happened. The villain appeared to be a buff woman in sunglasses, carrying what looked like a battering ram? The hero was Figaro, the Barber Hero. Wielding scissors that he used to cut his own hair, the strands lanced out like needles towards the villain. The villain did something with the object and Figaro glowed blue before flying away from her, head meeting the side of a building. The man went down and the villain rushed forward to use the ram to bash in his skull. Whoever was filming let out a horrified gasp and dropped their phone. The feed ended. 

Izuku sat back with a thoughtful frown. Some type of telekinesis? But the object wouldn't make sense in that case. Most telekinetic quirks were mental, not emitter types. It looked shiny, so it was metal. Metal manipulation? But nothing seemed to physically happen. Magnetism? That seemed most likely. What a useful ability! He wished he could have seen where she'd gone. There were so many questions he wanted to ask about her quirk. Plus seeing if she was open to recruitment. Pulling his notebook over, he made a rough sketch of the woman. The others could help keep an eye out.  

Ever since Sensei gave Tomura the All-Might assignment the pale man had been going out every night to look for criminals and villains to join them. The problem was he was just gathering every random thug he found. Having henchmen wasn't a bad thing but too many became a chore to coordinate. That and if there was no personal loyalty they'd bail out at the first sign of trouble. If they got arrested they'd talk to save themselves. Izuku wanted to help form the League in a more nuanced way.

The teen also had plenty of issues with Sensei's plan to target All-Might at the school. It was the top hero academy in Japan, employing only the best teachers. Most of said teachers were underground and twilight heroes which meant finding information on them was difficult. To say nothing of the students themselves. They could pose just as much threat - they were wanting to be heroes after all. Their best chance within the school would be to target him during first year training. The first years were taught by Vlad King and Eraserhead.

The Blood Hero was an outspoken twilight hero whose quirk was easy to figure out. He could manipulate his own blood as a weapon, capture tool, or self healing boost. Mostly he was known for his campaign for hospitals and morgues to provide ethically sourced human blood, meat, and organs to people with quirks that required them to live. A noble goal in Izuku's eyes. There were a few complaints against the hero but those seemed to stem from bigotry over his blood based quirk more than any real violation. Izuku was reluctant to paint a target on Vlad's back when his record was so good.

Days of research had only yielded shaky night time clips of Eraserhead. The man was elusive and had a legendary distaste for the media, meaning not even his real name was known. There were no marks on his public hero record aside from claims of excessive violence against those he detained. Most of those claims came from sex offenders or thugs with a history of violence in turn, which Izuku dismissed. Eraserhead's fighting style is what fascinated the greenette since it relied on trained agility and strength rather than a quirk. He studied every video of the man he could find and was eager to train in a similar style. He even had designs on a specific weapon that he fell in love with after watching HeroTube channels of people training with various tools similar to the capture scarf. 

The weapon in question was called a kusarigama. It consisted of a long chain with a weighted metal ball on one end and a sickle-like blade on the other. It provided both midrange defense and melee stopping power. Perfect for a smaller than average quirkless teenager who wanted to avoid getting physically overpowered by a foe. The two main issues were it needed open space to practice with and he needed to do so without accidentally killing himself. Kusarigamajutsu was a focus of several legitimate martial arts. If he looked hard enough he could probably find a trainer who could get him into shape and teach him. Money was the main inhibitor. A secondary factor was time. A proper teacher would require him to start at the basics and work his way up which could take years. Hence wanting to learn on his own.

The wandering thoughts eventually prompted him to return to the living room. Kurogiri was beginning lunch and the other two were still gaming on the couch. Entering the kitchen, he began helping the shadowy man prepare the food. "Kurogiri? Is there a warehouse I could use for training?"

A thoughtful hum escaped the man. After a few minutes he nodded. "Weapons I assume? There is one not far from here that may be suitable. Do you need me to procure you anything?"

"A wooden practice kusarigama and some type of targets?" It came out hesitantly. He still felt uncomfortable asking for things for himself.

Glowing eyes crinkled at him in a smile. "Consider it done. I'll let you know when it's set up."

Chapter Text

Roughly a week after making his request to Kurogiri the shadowy man informed him that a space was ready at the warehouse. The only stipulation was that Tomura go with him for safety until he could competently handle the weapon. Izuku was more than fine with that and, for once, the pale man didn't complain about being dragged out one cold morning. He actually seemed interested when the greenette explained what he was going to try. 

Halfway to the warehouse they ran into Dabi, who was in the middle of selling a baggy of suspicious white powder to an unkempt and skeletal looking woman. After she left he caught sight of them and winked. "Just getting a start on next month's rent. What brings you this way?"

The two opted to ignore the interaction. Izuku personally didn't like drug dealers but while living in a slum he understood the appeal of it a bit better from observing people. For a lot of the buyers it was an escape from terrible aspects of their lives. For the dealers, like Dabi, it was the only way to stay housed and fed. Even if Dabi wasn't a villain, Izuku suspected no legal job would hire him because of his appearance.

"I'm starting weapons training. Home was too cramped." Izuku bounced lightly on his feet. He was excited to start. He'd spent hours studying the basic moves and miming through them. All he needed now was real practice.

Much like Tomura, Dabi tilted his head curiously. "Oh? Mind if I tag along? I got some knife skills if you need pointers." He smirked at the pun and the two started walking away without him. The scarred man had to jog to catch up.

Wrapping his arms around himself, Izuku shivered when a bitter gust of wind cut through his jacket. Smirk still in place, Dabi matched their strides and draped a warm arm over his shoulders. The heat radiating through his trench coat surprised the greenette into leaning into the man's side as they walked. A blush stained his cheeks but he glanced up at Dabi quizzically. "Are you regulating your temperature with your quirk?" The blue flames intrigued Izuku but the scarred man hadn't used his quirk around him since the rescue. From the burn scars littering his skin, Izuku could guess why. He was itching to study Dabi's power but didn't want to overstep without an invitation or encourage self harm.

The scarred man tilted his head to glance at him. "A little, yeah. Though if I overdo it I get heatstroke. It's just fucking cold today." The arm squeezed his shoulders lightly, rumpling the thin fabric of his oversized hoodie. Izuku was touched when he inferred it was for his benefit that Dabi was doing it. On Izuku's other side Tomura inched closer until the greenette was sandwiched firmly between them. The pale man got cold easier than even the small teen. Dabi grinned at the not so subtle demand, adjusting his arm so it was around Tomura's shoulders instead. The awkward position left Izuku flustered and made it difficult to walk for multiple reasons but he didn't complain.

When they finally reached the warehouse he was feeling toasty and frustratingly hormonal. Investigating the space proved to be an effective distraction.The area set aside for Izuku was at the back of the cavernous building, partially obscured with large boxes and shelves. The nook was almost as big as their whole apartment. Padded dummies were set up against one wall and the requested rope and wood practice kusarigama rested on a makeshift bench of crates. Next to it was a pallet of water bottles, a rack of towels, and a hamper. Kurogiri had thought of everything!

Taking off his jacket, he picked up the weapon, careful to hold it like he’d seen in the videos. It weighed like the real thing. It could still do serious damage if he was careless even though the wooden blade was blunted and the ball was padded with leather. After getting a feel for it he went through a basic warm-up routine while getting used to moving with it. After easing into the exercise he dragged a dummy into the middle of the area. The pointy end of the weapon was self explanatory but he needed to be able to gauge distances against the length of chain, or rope in this case. He started with the most basic maneuver, whirling the ball above his head before releasing it. It gave a satisfying thump when it struck the target in the head.

The next toss barely clipped the edge. The timing was off on the third and he ended up with a bruised hip when it swung back around. It was very clear the first try was beginner's luck. A determined frown in place, he kept at it, hyper focused and blocking out Dabi's and Tomura's heckling every time he hit himself. By the time he finally had to pause he was sweating like a racehorse and sore. Tomura had a water bottle ready when he returned to the bench. "You're improving. It's been three hours though. Kurogiri texted that he's starting lunch."

That made Izuku start in surprise, not realizing he'd been at it for so long. After drinking down the entire bottle of water he peeled his moist shirt off with a grimace. He'd have to walk back in just his jacket if he didn't want to get too chilled. Grabbing a towel, he started wiping himself down. When he looked up to toss the soiled towel in the hamper he became aware of Dabi staring at his chest and arms. There was a mild frown on his face. It made Izuku self conscious when he realized the man was observing his scars. The only time he'd seen him shirtless was when the greenette was bandaged up after the assault.

Finally, Dabi tilted his head. "Who did those?"

Izuku fidgeted and hugged himself. "M-my d-dad. And bullies." A surge of anxiety washed over him like ice water when he realized he'd never told the man he was quirkless. He didn't know what he'd do if Dabi rejected him for that. "T-they, um… I don't have a quirk. They didn't like that." 

A couple seconds passed before the scarred man shrugged. "Sometimes I wished I didn't have a quirk. The grass is always greener on the other side, huh?" A joyless grin crossed his lips, looking more like a snarl. "My father gave me these, too." He gestured to his discolored neck. "He only ever cared about power. My quirk is more powerful than his. He trained me non stop even though my body isn't suited for prolonged use. When my little brother was born he threw me away like trash to train him instead. One day I lost control and attacked him because he broke Shoto's arm and still insisted on training without taking him to a doctor."

The greenette and Tomura listened with rapt attention. The pale man looked angry, gloved hand creeping up to scratch his neck. Absently, Izuku reached out to snag it, pulling the hand down and threading his fingers through Tomura's. The action startled the man into halting his self harm. Izuku was upset too but hid it better. Dabi's story was similar to his own. Hisashi initially started beating him to try forcing a quirk manifestation. He didn't understand the science behind the diagnosis and thought Izuku could activate a power if he was distressed enough. In his own twisted way, his father was trying to help him unlock a quirk.

As he spoke, Dabi flexed his fingers, absently summoning and dismissing his fire in an agitated tic. "He burned me and I tried to retaliate but I was too emotional. My own flames lit me up like a torch. When I woke up I was in some woods near Mount Fuji and the news was running a story about how an accident killed me." His expression twisted before relaxing into an easy smirk. "I look damn good for a corpse, huh?"

The pale man hissed, eyes widening as some detail caught his attention. Dabi lifted an eyebrow at him and flashed a knowing grin. Clearly Izuku was missing something. He'd ask Tomura later, not wanting to pry at the moment. The man squeezed the greenette's fingers almost painfully before speaking with conviction. "We'll kill him for you. And your dad too, shrimp."

Chapter Text

Another week passed before Izuku finally heard about the death of Ignition. The police kept it quiet while they investigated, not wanting to start a panic. They were blaming the mystery villain for both deaths. The villain in question was still unidentified beyond a basic physical description. The fight apparently started because a civilian refused to serve her at a street cart. A hero patrol, consisting of Figaro and Ignition, happened by during the argument and sided with the worker. It was a relief to not have to worry about it. Though he did feel bad that someone else was blamed. At least she wasn't innocent. He did still want to track her down but she was understandably elusive for the time being.

At the same time, the HeroTuber vigilante, Stain, finally replied to Izuku's messages. The man was paranoid and refused to talk online. That was probably a good policy but it was frustrating. Tomura refused to let the greenette go to meetings alone until he was better at using the kusarigama but that was exactly what the vigilante wanted. So, for now, that plan was shelved as well. 

Then there was the business with UA and All-Might. That gave Izuku stress migraines. After researching the teachers as much as possible he concluded that any plan executed on campus would fail, nomu or not. It was now the second week of February, giving him only eight weeks to convince Tomura to ignore Sensei's demands. No easy feat when All-Might was involved. That was why he was currently digging up every obscure scrap of information he could find on All-Might.

Izuku had researched the number one hero before but with no goal in mind. Now he was hunting for a civilian identity. His appearance was distinct, meaning that people would have seen him wandering around residential neighborhoods where he might live. Izuku was searching under the assumption that the man could change his appearance in some way. With that in mind, he was going through old UA sports festival footage. All-Might's age and school weren't public knowledge but based on how long he'd been an active hero Izuku was estimating late forties or early fifties. And in an early interview he used the school motto, Plus Ultra. It was only once that Izuku could tell but it was enough. The problem was not knowing his exact age. When the blonde hero first debuted he was in his late teens or early twenties. That still left a few years worth of footage he had to watch.

He was noting down every blonde haired and blue eyed student he could see who had a strength related quirk. There were several, owing to UA's international popularity and immigrants to Japan. If he couldn't find anything from that he'd move on to everyone with a strength quirk. It was an exhausting venture. While combing through the videos he noticed there were three years worth of footage missing from the archive. Everything he could find about the discrepancy claimed that an equipment malfunction corrupted the files. That would be believable for a single year but three years consecutively? On a hunch he wrote down the dates and exited his room in search of Tomura.

The man wasn't in the apartment so he made his way down to the bar. It was crowded for a Thursday evening, most of the tables full. Dabi was actually helping Kurogiri behind the bar to keep up with orders. Both men greeted him when he approached. "Izuku-san, what can I do for you?" The shadowy man was multitasking quite easily with his portals while he spoke.

The greenette still opted to make it quick to not distract him. "Is Tomura here?" 

"He's in a meeting." Kurogiri nodded towards a back room near the restrooms. "I'll let him know you need him once he's done."

Nodding with relief that the pale man wasn't out, he retreated after bidding the two goodbye. He was threading his way around tables to make his way back to the apartment when something caught his attention. A person sat in a back corner facing the entrance, beer in hand, and a large, canvas-wrapped object leaning against the wall next to them. It was the villain who killed Figaro. Excitement thrummed through Izuku. At last, something was going right in his plans! Adjusting course, he approached the table, beaming at her brightly. If she didn't have sunglasses on it might have blinded her.

Confused wariness crossed her features as she took in his appearance. "Aren't you a bit young to be in here, kid?"

The familiar slight about his height couldn't dim his determination. "I need to talk to you. It's about something that happened two weeks ago."

Tension coiled in her frame and he saw her hand twitch towards the wrapped object. Realizing how his words must have sounded, he 'eeped' and waved his hands in a wild placating gesture. "It's nothing bad!" He leaned forward and lowered his voice to a murmur. The chatter of other patrons kept the words private. "Ignition's swan dive off the roof was interesting to watch."

That caught her interest, head tilting to the side. "... Got anywhere we can talk, kid?" Izuku had to repress a cheer. He needed to make a good impression for recruitment and so she'd tell him about her quirk. Nodding, he gestured for her to follow him back to the bar. 

The other two paused to stare quizzically when he walked behind the counter to lead her into a back room but didn't stop them. There was a break room that had furniture and snacks beyond just alcohol and pretzels. It was mostly used for storage but Kurogiri was contemplating the idea of hiring employees so they wouldn't have to close down if he was busy with villainy. Waving her into a chair, he fetched bottled waters for them both. Once they were settled he began. "I'm the one who killed Ignition. I was on a roof watching your fight and he tried grabbing me to drag me away. He was also incredibly rude. So I threw him over the edge. I hate fake heroes." The explanation was concise and blunt. 

It seemed to shock her for a moment, mouth dropping open but no sound escaping. After a moment she closed it with a frown but nodded. "So do I. Do you follow Stain too?" Her tone was still cautious but she was warming up to the conversation.

Izuku hummed and made a wavery 50/50 gesture with a hand. "Yes and no. He has some good ideas. But he's only going after the symptom, not the cause, of bad heroes. His definition of 'bad' is also unrealistic. If he truly wanted to make a difference he'd target the Hero Commission." 

The woman leaned forward despite herself, elbows on her knees. "Why is that? It seems like killing the problem heroes is a good thing."

He paused to take a drink before explaining. "That's true but not the entire story. It's the HPSC ranking system that forces heroes into popularity contests for money instead of saving people. It's their coverups keeping the public from judging heroes by their bad actions. It's their training standards that allow unsuitable hero candidates to get licenses. The only cure for this society is to dismantle and rebuild the Commission into the beacon of integrity it's supposed to be." After his little speech he was embarrassed. Sales pitches were usually Tomura's thing. But it seemed to work. 

After a couple minutes of mulling it over she nodded and cracked a smile. "Alright kid, what's your plan?"

Rubbing the back of his neck, Izuku shrugged sheepishly. "For now we're just gathering support. In the meantime we're working on getting rid of the worst offenders. Once we have enough people we'll make a power move to shake public confidence in the Commission."

She sat up and cracked her knuckles menacingly. "As long as I'm killing fake heroes I don't mind waiting." A chuckle escaped her after a moment. "Call me Magne. What's your name?"

The greenette's bright smile made a comeback. "Izuku. Do you have a phone so we can stay in contact? Also, do you need a job? Being a fugitive probably isn't the best for getting food and a place to stay."

The last question stumped her mid reach for her phone. She shot him a strange look. "... Yeah, I could use one. I'm laying low in a half finished housing complex but they'll start working on it again in spring."

Looking thoughtful, Izuku absently brought up his number on his phone so she could copy it to her contacts. "Let me talk to Kurogiri. All the apartments are full but there's a college kid in one who's probably going to get evicted soon for late rent. He could also use help in the bar."

After exchanging numbers and promising to keep in touch Magne left. The greenette stayed in the break room lost in thought. That was where Dabi found him a few minutes later. "Was that the chick you wanted us to watch for?" He invited himself to plop down beside Izuku, draping an arm along the back of the couch. "Oh and Tomura stormed off. I just got done cleaning blood and dust out of the meeting room so I'm guessing it didn't go well."

A disappointed sigh rushed out of Izuku at that. He'd needed the man's computer skills. "Yeah, that was Magne. She's the one who took out Figaro. She's interested in joining us but needs stable housing and a job first."

The man chuckled. "Found another stray? Replacing me already?" It was said in a teasing tone.

Izuku missed that fact in the rush of dismay he felt. "No, never! I like you too much to ever replace you!" The vehemence behind the words surprised both of them. A deep blush warmed the greenette's face and Dabi looked shocked. They spent a few seconds staring at each other, Izuku wishing the floor would open to swallow him. Hopefully the man took it to mean as a friend even if it very much wasn't.

Finally a small, soft smile curled across the man's lips. "I like you a lot, Tomura too, you know. I don't say sappy shit often but I'm glad we met." Fingers threaded through Izuku's hair and kneaded his scalp briefly. He closed his eyes and leaned into it. Dabi eventually spoke again, changing the subject. "Why were you looking for Tomura anyway? I don't think I've seen you in the bar this late before."

"Hmm? Oh. I need him to hack into UA if he can get around Nezu's security. There are three years worth of sports festival footage missing. I think it has to do with All-Might and when he was in school."

Icy blue eyes narrowed in thought. "My dad once pitched a bitch fit because he couldn't find video of his performance at the festival…" 

They exchanged a look of realization. "Do you think he still has his yearbooks?" Izuku sounded hopeful.

"I mean, the guy's a sociopathic narcissist. So, probably."

"Dabi, how tight was the security at your house?"

Chapter Text

Tomura was less than happy when he returned to the apartment to find Izuku and Dabi conspiring to sneak onto the Todoroki estate. His ire was only somewhat mitigated when the greenette rushed to explain their reasoning, as well as the fact he got them a new recruit. Still, it triggered a rant about reckless behavior that could jeopardize their goals. He only stopped because Dabi shoved a pot cookie into his mouth twenty minutes in. The pale man nibbled on it sulkily, stealing Izuku’s laptop from the coffee table. He spent several minutes reading the notes the other two had compiled about Endeavor, his family, and what Dabi could recall of the house layout. 

There shockingly wasn’t much to keep people out. There was a large fence and locks on the doors, that was about it. The number two hero relied on reputation alone to keep villains and criminals away from his home. And there was no surveillance because the pro wouldn't want to catch evidence of his own activities. That lapse in judgment worked perfectly for their intentions. For the time being they decided not to try killing the hero. That would require serious planning and effort unless they got lucky and he was a heavy sleeper. They knew too little to risk trying yet. Plus, if they pulled it off undetected it would have the bonus of driving Endeavor mad trying to figure out why his old yearbooks were missing.

Endeavor kept a rigorous schedule that had him out of the house for most of the day. Fuyumi, Dabi’s sister, worked as an elementary school teacher and was reliably absent until 5pm. Natsuo, the oldest son (excluding Dabi), was attending college across the country. Someone needed to talk to him about posting everything publicly on social media. The only wild card was Shoto, who was Izuku’s age. Dabi didn’t really know much about his youngest brother beyond the fact that their father completely isolated him from the siblings as soon as his quirk manifested at age four. Endeavor moved him to a separate wing of the house and home schooled him. The scarred man only interacted with the estranged sibling while trying to save him from the abusive bastard. 

The study most likely to contain the school books was located in the private wing reserved for Endeavor and Shoto. If needs be they could incapacitate the teen. Izuku would prefer to avoid confrontations. After hearing how the supposed hero treated his family the greenette had other ideas for the youngest Todoroki. No one went through that much abuse without some deep resentments forming unless their will broke. Hopefully Shoto was like Dabi.

The plan was simple. Mid morning they would go to the house and Kurogiri would warp them in. It was best not to rely on anything too in-depth since it had been years since Dabi lived there. Who knows what could have changed. If Izuku’s and Dabi’s hunch was correct the books would contain All-Might’s student information, including his civilian name. It was too big a possibility to pass up and they didn't know anyone else from that UA class to ask. Eventually Tomura was brought around to their way of thinking. Though mostly due to the pot cookie kicking in. The two conspirators still counted it as a win. 

The sooner they got it over with, the better. Time was ticking away and soon it would be too late to put his own schemes in motion. With that in mind, Izuku texted Kurogiri that there would be a 'family outing' after breakfast tomorrow. Izuku and Tomura were supposed to be his adopted kids so they tried to stick with the theme when communicating electronically.

When Tomura started grousing about being hungry the other two decided to call it a day. Dabi helped Izuku make a basic dinner of ramen, Tomura criticizing the slow service the entire time. They ate on the couch since the pale man refused to budge. It took Tomura twice as long to get the food down because he kept getting distracted staring at their reflections in the blank TV. Then he whined when the broth was cold. It was at that point that Dabi, getting tired of the complaints, stood, hefted the other man over a shoulder, and marched into his room to throw him on the bed. The pale man didn't really protest, too lazy to put up a fight. When Izuku peeked in behind Dabi, Tomura was imitating a starfish face down on the mattress. The greenette couldn't help but admire the view.

When he looked up at Dabi the man was staring at him with a smirk. A blush worked its way onto his cheeks at getting caught looking at Tomura in such a way. Anxiety fluttered unpleasantly in his belly, worried at the man's reaction. After a brief pause Dabi just ruffled his hair, fingers lingering to give his scalp a light scritch. "You know, if you want something you gotta speak up. We're not mind readers." The man's tone was deceptively conversational.

Izuku found his gaze drifting back to Tomura, who was now snoring lightly into the blankets, and then back to Dabi. Biting his lip, he shuffled his feet while struggling with indecision. Opening his mouth, it took a couple tries to murmur out a shy response. "I-I don't want to ruin things…" He hoped he read the situation correctly.

The man's expression eased into an almost wane smile. "I dunno about him," he nodded towards Tomura. "But it wouldn't ruin anything for me." His lips quirked back into a smirk. "I also don't mind sharing."

Cheeks stained pink, Izuku peered at the man in confusion. "Y-you mean I'm not weird?" Realizing that was a loaded question even before Dabi could snark at him, he hesitantly amended. "Liking more than one person at a time I mean…" He fidgeted with his hands.

A rude snort was his answer. "Nah. If everyone agrees to it, it's not cheating or being greedy or some shit. As long as everyone's happy it's no one else's business." The scarred man wrapped an arm around Izuku's shoulders and drew him into a light side hug. "Is this what's been bugging you?"

Relaxing into Dabi's warmth, the greenette nodded. He felt equal parts relief and apprehension at one of his crushes now knowing. But how would Tomura react? Did he feel the same? Even if he did, would he agree to sharing too? What about Izuku's age? A rap on the top of his head broke him out of his spiraling thoughts.

"As soon as the princess is awake and coherent I'll talk to him. Stop freaking yourself out on 'what ifs'. It'll get you nowhere. If it's messing with your head so much to not ask something, then ask. I at least will never put you down for it and the worst I'll say is 'no'. I doubt the princess would either." 

Emotions choked Izuku speechless. The scarred man peered down at him and chuckled when he saw him rubbing his eyes. "Enough of that. Come on, let's get a cookie for you too. Don't want to be too tired tomorrow." The man steered him into his room and pressed him to sit on the mattress. He disappeared briefly to grab the promised drug from his coat in the living room. While he was gone Izuku struggled to compose himself while stripping to his boxers for sleep.

Weeks of repressing and worrying were done away with by five minutes of conversation. It was both relieving and nerve-wracking since it now meant that if Tomura agreed he'd have to figure out what his emotions meant in practice, not just theory. What did someone do with one boyfriend, much less two? Would they even want labels? Would it just be casual for them? What about sex? 

Worries bounced around his head as he settled under the blankets. When the scarred man returned he paused in the doorway to frown at Izuku. The greenette's expression must have given something of his racing thoughts away. Heaving a sigh, Dabi strode in to hand over a small fragment of the cookie. "Would it make you feel better if I stayed?"

The offer made Izuku pause mid bite. Giving it some serious thought, he nodded. He really didn't want to be alone while so troubled. The man clicked the light off, throwing the room into darkness aside from a street light outside filtering through the blinds. Izuku watched and listened to the dark outline as the man stripped out of his jeans and shirt. A moment later the mattress next to him dipped and warm arms wrapped around to pull him snug against a firm chest. Dabi ran hotter than Tomura, soothingly so. 

Izuku dozed off to hot fingers brushing gentle patterns on his hip.

Chapter Text

With Kurogiri's help getting into the traditional Japanese manor was laughably easy. All it took was the shadowy man looking in a window for him to make a portal bypassing the door. Once inside the small group followed Dabi through the hallways. It had been years since he'd been in the house so the finer details eluded him but he led them to the correct wing and pointed them in the right direction. One of the rooms had American rock music emanating from the closed door, giving a decent indication of where Shoto was. Dabi muffled a laugh as they crept past. Tomura elbowed him to keep him on track. 

They tried one door that opened into a mostly empty room. A butsudan cabinet was the only object taking up the middle of the space. Izuku couldn't help snooping in the religious shrine. It held an ornate but standard statue of Buddha surrounded by offerings and candles. Colorful tapestries decorated the walls of the box along with a photograph and a tablet. A red-headed child with icy blue eyes stared coldly into the camera. The name on the tablet read ' Touya Todoroki '. Behind Izuku, Dabi scoffed. The man leaned in to spit into one of the offering plates. "Fucking bastard. Fuyumi probably had to add that." The scarred man hissed. The greenette hurriedly closed the cabinet doors before Dabi could think to vandalize it. That would give away too much about their identities. 

Retreating from the room, the next door they tried proved to be an office. The walls were covered in bookshelves. It would be a pain to find the yearbooks. The four men split up, each taking a separate area. Izuku focused on looking for thin spines or UA colors. Most of the thick tomes appeared to be on hero law and history. Growing frustrated and hyper aware of their lapsing time he tried to imagine where Endeavor would keep them. 

He was obsessed with surpassing All-Might as number one hero. He was arrogant to a fault and self centered. He hated being reminded of failures. Would Endeavor count his time at the school as a success or a loss? The one sided rivalry with All-Might had to have started somewhere. Turning to the desk in the middle of the room, Izuku paced over to rifle through the drawers. One or two documents caught his attention. He brought out his phone and snapped pictures of them before moving on. Pausing to look around, he spotted a smaller shelf tucked under the desk in the leg cubby. Kneeling, he turned on his phone's flashlight to see better. Jackpot.

The three books were lined up next to several unmarked volumes. "Found them." He pitched his voice in a quiet murmur, not wanting it to echo through the walls. The others gathered around him as he pulled the books free. He handed them to Kurogiri for safe keeping before pulling out one of the others. It turned out to be a ledger but not knowing anything about Todoroki finances he couldn't tell if there was anything interesting. He replaced it and stood.

"Let's go." Tomura shifted in place while glancing at the door. None of them wanted to get caught.

Kurogiri created a portal and the other two filed through. The greenette hesitated. "I'll be a minute. Wait here." Before the shadowy man could protest, Izuku vanished out the door and into the hallway. Backtracking, he found Shoto's door and paused to fish a piece of paper from his pocket. After slipping it through a gap in the frame he hightailed it back to the gate and rushed through.

As soon as everyone was back in the apartment Izuku, Tomura, and Dabi huddled around the coffee table. Kurogiri moved into the kitchen to start lunch, not mentioning Izuku's side trip to the others. The pale man opened the third year book and paged through to the heroics section. They were tense with anticipation as they skimmed the photographs looking for anyone familiar. Finally, Dabi pointed out a blonde haired blue eyed teen with a familiar megawatt grin. Leaning forward eagerly, Izuku almost cracked his head against Tomura's who was doing the same. Under the picture was the name. Toshinori Yagi . They had it.

Popping to his feet, the greenette jogged into his room to grab his computer. With all the trouble of finding the name in the first place he wasn't expecting to find much publicly accessible. He still had to try. Sitting between the two men so he could use the table, he started his search. As he tried term after term Tomura offered suggestions. After a full hour nothing popped up connected to the name. 

The pale man hissed and moved to scratch his neck, the lack of information on All-Might frustrating him. Izuku grabbed his hand before he could start digging, carefully lacing their fingers together to keep him from pulling away to claw his neck anyway. "Do you think you could hack into the UA archives? Even if everything public was scrubbed they must still have his student details. A former address would be a great start." The greenette fought down a blush when Dabi nudged him pointedly with an elbow. He didn't let go of Tomura's hand though.

Further discussion was interrupted by Kurogiri calling them to eat. The three moved to sit at the counter while the misty man dished out a stir-fry for them. There wasn't much talking as they ate though towards the end Dabi spoke up abruptly. "Hey, Tomura. Wanna date me and Izuku?" The aforementioned greenette choked on a mouthful of rice while the scarred man idly sipped his tea. Both Izuku and Tomura stared at Dabi like deer in headlights. Somewhere in the background Izuku swore he heard Kurogiri cut off a laugh, the traitor. When the scarred man said he'd talk to Tomura, he didn't think it would be over lunch with everyone present.

He became aware of silence stretching on next to him. A surge of trepidation crawled up his spine like icy fingers. Tomura was awfully quiet. Izuku set his chopsticks down when his hands began trembling. Mustering all of his courage, he turned to peek at the man's expression. Lines furrowed between Tomura's eyebrows in a mild frown. His gaze was directed at the counter and he was fiddling with his utensils, making him seem confused and thoughtful more than upset. Finally, he glanced up at Dabi and Izuku. "Why?"

Dabi raised an eyebrow, leaning closer and wrapping an arm around the greenette's shoulders. Cerulean eyes were focused unerringly on the pale man even as he rubbed the teen's shoulder soothingly. "Why what? You're hot and Izuku's got it bad for you. If you like us back then date us. Or just him, if you don't mind sharing his time."

Even with the explanation Tomura still seemed perplexed. "... Are you blind?" A hand strayed up to trace the scars and wrinkles around his mouth. He pushed back from the counter and stood, shaking his head. "Do whatever." He retreated into his room, leaving the common area in silence.

Izuku felt like his world was crashing down around him. The man seemed so dismissive and uncaring. But something about the reaction bothered him. Replaying it in his head, sudden clarity struck him. Tomura didn't think they were serious about wanting him. Before he could hop up to follow, Dabi adjusted to hug around his waist, holding him back. "Let him be for a little bit. He'll lash out if we crowd him about it." A ghost of warm breath against his ear made Izuku shiver and lean back against the man. "For now, you need a break. Play Mario Kart with me. I've been trying to beat his high score for days."

Chapter Text

After a couple rounds of games in which Izuku lost every time, Dabi had to bow out. As he explained it, he had to see a psychopath about a dog. The greenette didn't want to know what that meant. The sadness he felt at the man leaving was delayed when Dabi leaned down to press a kiss to his forehead before heading out. The spot above his right eyebrow tingled pleasantly with a lingering phantom touch for several minutes afterwards.

With Kurogiri down at the bar and Tomura still locked in his room, it left Izuku with more time alone in his own head. To stave off a fresh spiral of depression, he pulled his computer into his lap and started reviewing the information he had on the number one hero. He was getting sick of reading about him but it needed to be done to make sure he didn't miss or forget anything. There was also something bugging him about the hero's recent public appearances that he couldn't quite put his finger on. And what was with him teaching at UA? He didn't have a license that anyone knew about. Why would the principal or board of education allow it if he didn't? So many questions, so few answers.

While reviewing interviews and fan sightings the dates attached to them started catching his attention. It was subtle but the length of time between appearances was increasing. Not sure what to do with the knowledge but feeling it was significant in some way, he opened a spreadsheet to start tracking the times. It could be that the hero was just slowing down with age, which could be beneficial to them. If there was a pattern then something else might be going on. 

Awareness slipped away as he zeroed in on the task. The world became a blur of numbers and obnoxiously grinning blondes. Before he knew it the apartment was dark save a light in the kitchen. His fingers and neck were cramped in painful knots and his eyes burned from squinting at the screen. A look at the time made him cringe. Five hours. Shoving the laptop to the side with a noise of disgust, he climbed to his feet. Stretching with a grimace, he glanced around. It didn't seem like Tomura had come out while Izuku was engrossed in data. As Dabi said, he wanted to give the man space but it was nearing dinner and Izuku was still worried. 

Padding into the kitchen, he put together a sandwich with the pale man's favorite ingredients. Next he started a kettle of soothing tea. Once it was done he grabbed the cup and plate and shuffled to Tomura's door. He tapped lightly but insistently. Behind the barrier he could hear only silence. He knocked again more firmly. A couple seconds later Tomura's desk chair creaked. Izuku took a step back from the door just before it opened, wary of any bad moods. A single crimson eye glowered at him through the barest crack. "What?"

The greenette tried to hide a hurt flinch and failed. It had been months since Tomura was so terse and cagey with him. Had he read the entire situation earlier wrong? Dropping his gaze to the floor, he held up the offerings. "It's al-almost time for dinner." He shuffled from foot to foot uncomfortably. "But s-sorry! I should have asked first. It's okay if you do-"

The door swung open further and a pale hand darted out to grab the plate. Tomura's hiss interrupted his anxious stuttering. "What have I told you about apologizing? Shut up and come in." The man returned to his chair, leaving the door open. Izuku dithered for a moment before entering and closing the door behind him. Fussing with the cup of tea he still held, he observed the man's hunched shoulders and evasive demeanor as he tore into the sandwich. Tomura seemed… Defensive? That wasn't something Izuku was used to seeing from him.

Uncertain of how to handle the situation, he silently padded forward to set the cup on the desk before going to perch on the bed. Pulling a pillow to his chest, he curled around it while waiting for Tomura to acknowledge him. He was too far out of his depth to want to risk making things worse by bringing up the earlier conversation first. 

Several tense minutes passed before the man broke the stalemate. "Dabi was just messing with me… Right?" He sounded resigned. "I'm not mad at you ."

The words made Izuku jolt in dismay, shaking his head. "No! He - we mean it, I promise." Scrambling to his feet, he moved to try catching Tomura's eyes. The man was stubbornly staring at his blank monitor. Trying another tactic, Izuku crouched beside the chair and rested a hand on his forearm.

"I like you. A lot." Heat crept onto his face and threatened to tongue tie him. Dropping his gaze to the floor, he mowed forward after a deep breath. "I never thought you would like me back in the same way. You could find someone so, so much better than me if you wanted. And I was scared of the rejection if I confessed. Then Dabi showed up and I liked him in the same way too and it was confusing. I-I thought something was wrong with me so I really didn't want to say anything then. But he noticed and we talked… I was too shy to say anything so he did."

At some point during his rambling attempt to get Tomura to understand his eyes slipped closed. Talking to the void behind his eyelids was easier than seeing a negative reaction as it formed. As the quiet stretched on his shoulders sagged and he started to wilt. Before burning disappointment could completely crush him, cool fingers brushed his chin and urged his head up.

Gathering his courage, Izuku opened his eyes. Rich red darted between vibrant green, the man's expression inscrutable as he tried to gauge the teen's sincerity. The greenette attempted to convey his feelings with just his face. The pathetic hopefulness must have done the trick because after a pause Tomura's eyes dilated and the hesitant touch turned firm, cupping Izuku's cheek with three fingers and his thumb petting just under his bottom lip. "If this is what you really want… I won't half ass it. It won't just be a fling. He better know that too, I won't hesitate to kill him if he hurts us." The tone was deathly serious. Unable to find his voice, Izuku nodded in agreement. For all of Dabi's faults and joking he seemed to mean what he said. And if he was toying with them... Izuku would gladly help Tomura make him regret it. 

The mute response seemed to be good enough. Before the greenette could fully register the action, he was hauled up into Tomura's lap. Hands trailed down to knead at Izuku's hips to hold him in place. The man stared at him, marveling with a soft look for a moment, before leaning his face closer to hesitantly press his lips to Izuku's. The pressure of lightly chapped lips against his own made Izuku's mind blank. The sensation was new and warm and left him craving a 'more' he couldn't fully fathom with happiness and lust clouding his mind. Moving his lips clumsily, he returned the kiss while wrapping his arms around the man's shoulders and trying to snuggle impossibly closer. Time lost all meaning as they explored the foreign sensations. 

❤️❤️❤️ Sex Ahead ❤️❤️❤️

Soon air became an issue for both of them and they separated reluctantly. Foreheads pressed together, they gazed into each other's eyes as they caught their breath. Both were flushed, riding the high of returned feelings and first kisses. Izuku eventually threaded his fingers through Tomura's soft hair, leaning back in for another melding of lips. The man tightened his grip on the greenette's waist in return, digits migrating to play with the hem of his shirt. 

Unthinking, Izuku canted his hips to encourage the wandering fingers. A gasp escaped when the action made him aware of the growing interest in certain body parts. An answering hardness pressed against his thigh. Tomura took advantage of parted lips to experimentally swipe his tongue against Izuku's. The teen returned the action, a breathy moan escaping as they languidly explored each other's mouths. The sound prompted Tomura to slip a hand under his shirt, trying to elicit other noises. Callused fingers made Izuku shiver and mewl when they brushed over sensitive scars. When the light drag of nails was introduced on his lower back his hips jerked involuntarily, making both of them groan. 

After a moment Tomura reluctantly pulled back, movements going still. "If you don't want more yet, say so now." His tone was serious as he took in Izuku's disheveled state with an appreciative leer.

Izuku licked his own lips, marveling for a second at how tender they felt after the makeout. It was a struggle to focus on anything but Tomura's solid warmth pressed against him but the seriousness of the question nagged him to attention. A light frown tugged his lips. He wasn't ignorant about what 'more' meant in theory. He was a teenager with access to the internet after all. Was he ready for it? With Tomura? "Yes." He answered his own thoughts out loud. When the man tilted his head in mild confusion Izuku clarified, "I want this."

Enlightened, an eager grin overtook Tomura's face. He adjusted to scoop Izuku into a bridal carry before standing up. The teen was unceremoniously dropped on the bed with an 'oof'. Before he could think to complain the man was pulling off his own shirt and fumbling with the zipper of his jeans. Izuku couldn't look away, licking suddenly dry lips as the fabric was pushed down to reveal Tomura's tented boxers. His own erection gave an almost painful thrum, the sight causing liquid heat to pool in his belly.

After kicking his pants out of the way Tomura knelt next to Izuku. He crowded in to capture his mouth in an urgent kiss. Hands invaded the front of his shirt, pushing the offending article up until the man could rub and tweak a nipple. Izuku moaned, arching into the faint tingle of pleasure it caused.

At an impatient tug Izuku sat up to let his shirt be pulled off. Immediately afterwards he was pressed back to the bed. This time Tomura crawled on top of him, straddling his hips and leaning in to lick and delicately bite one perky nub. Breath hitching, the greenette tangled his fingers in pale blue locks in encouragement.

The man rocked his hips, rubbing their clothed erections together. Both groaned in pleasure though Izuku's had a pained note as the sensitive head pressed against the zipper of his pants. Letting go of Tomura's hair, he adjusted to undo the fastenings, shoving the fabric down as far as he could with the position. Growing desperate, his boxers soon joined them bunched down to his thighs.

Glancing down between them, Tomura licked his lips at the sight of the engorged flesh already leaking precum. The man gave one last nip to Izuku's chest before sliding downwards, leaving a trail of kisses and nibbles. When he got to the sensitive band just above the thatch of green curls, Izuku squeaked and bucked his hips when Tomura latched on to bite and suck a deep bruise over his pubic bone. The man let out a lustful chuckle once he was done before continuing the descent.

Warm breath ghosted over tender flesh, making Izuku gasp and tense in anticipation. Tomura teased him by blowing on the throbbing skin, kneading his hips and scratching lightly over spots that made the teen shiver. Eventually the man adjusted to pull Izuku's clothing off fully and remove his own boxers. Once done he ran a hand up the greenette's thigh, urging his legs to part so he could settle between them.

Before Izuku's brain could catch on to what was about to happen, moist heat enveloped his length. The man pressed on his hips to keep him from moving as he explored every inch with his tongue. Light suction had the teen flexing against the hold, desperately needing more as pressure built in his abdomen. When he lifted his head to glance down the sight alone nearly sent him over the edge. Pink lips glided along his shaft, pursuing around it to increase the tightness as he worked. One hand was fondling and stroking his own cock in time with his actions on Izuku, lustful crimson eyes half closed in pleasure at the task. 

The smooth glide and wiggle of Tomura's tongue quickly took on a desperate edge, picking up speed. The man let out breathy moans that sent vibrations through Izuku's length. Squirming and trying not to buck into the sensations, the teen tugged on his hair with a lewd whine. "C-close~ah!"

The warning prompted the man to tighten his lips even more, pulling up to suck and lap greedily at his tip. In seconds the tension peaked, intense tingles and fluttering sensations making him cry out as he came. Tomura moaned around him, swallowing the release eagerly. He continued lapping at the tip until Izuku whined and squirmed at the overstimulation and his skin started to soften.

The man let him go with a quiet slurp and sat up. Evidence of his own release dripping from his hand. Before he could wipe it on the sheets Izuku grabbed his wrist and curiously brought his fingers to his mouth, darting his tongue out to experimentally lap at the bitter essence. His nose wrinkled at the taste but he didn't stop until he got every last drop. Tomura watched with a pleased smirk before leaning in to kiss him, swiping his tongue along Izuku's to taste himself.

🚨🚨🚨 End of Sex 🚨🚨🚨

The exchange stayed lazy, both too tired to do anything further. The man pulled away to arrange himself pressed against Izuku's side. He tugged a blanket over them and gathered the teen up in a firm hug. They quickly drifted into the best sleep they'd ever had.

Chapter Text

Wakefulness occurred in groggy stages. Izuku felt like he'd eaten half of a pot cookie from how boneless and content he felt. No nightmares, no sleep paralysis, no insomnia. Just pure, restful, sleep. He stretched with a quiet groan, wiggling into the solid heat curled at his back. Arms tightened around his waist and something hard pressed against his hip. The previous night returned in a flash, making his face heat up. That really happened. His teenage brain rejoiced while his anxious half fought off panic. All he did was lay there and let Tomura do all the work. Was that ok? He didn't even touch the other man. Was that insulting?

The fretting was derailed by what sounded like a camera shutter going off. Lifting his head, a dismayed squeak escaped when he noticed the door was open. Dabi lounged against the frame, phone in hand with a smirk. "I see you two worked things out. Without me, I might add. I'm hurt. So I need a little something to feel better."

The movement and voice caused Tomura to stir. "Fuck off and delete it." His voice was muffled and hair unkempt when he squinted a glare at the invader. His arm tightened almost painfully around Izuku before he let go to sit up. The teen pulled the blanket tight over his lap, not wanting to flash the room.

Dabi 'tssked'. "Gotta ask more nicely than that. You had your fun, let me have mine. How about a kiss?" His eyebrows wiggled suggestively. "I helped you get together after all."

"How about you delete it and I won't decay your dick. It'd be tough being involved with us without it." 

It was the second part more than the threat that brought the scarred man up short. He seemed surprised. "You actually want me too? I figured you'd stick to the pretty one. It's why I gave options." 

Tomura scowled at him, climbing to his feet and not seeming to care about his lack of clothing. Dabi leered appreciatively but it was toned down as he pondered the situation. The pale man stalked closer, somehow managing to be intimidating while naked. "Unless you were lying, in which case we'll have a problem. I mean what I say."

The greenette fidgeted nervously, eyes darting back and forth between the two men. He leaned over to grab his boxers from the floor, pulling them on under the blanket. The movement caught the scarred man's attention and broke their staring contest. He huffed out a laugh, shrugging and stuffing his hands into his jeans pockets. "So do I. We're a bunch of emotionally stunted idiots, huh?" 

The man caught Tomura by surprise, leaning in to plant a lingering kiss on his lips. It took a moment but the pale man pressed in to return it, wrapping his arms around Dabi's waist and pulling him into a tight embrace. The sight had Izuku blushing among other things. A cough from behind Dabi made them all startle and whip around to stare owlishly at Kurogiri, who stood just outside the door. "Congratulations, all of you. But Master Shigaraki is late for a meeting."

The pale man looked confused before realization dawned. "Fuck!" He scrambled to throw on clothes, tripping over with pants half up to kiss a stunned Izuku goodbye, before disappearing through a portal. 

The abrupt departure caused an awkward silence before the misty man spoke up, sounding amused. "Izuku-san, I have the burner phone you requested the other day. It's on the counter. You'll also be pleased to know that Magne-san will be starting work tonight." 

"That's great! Thank you!" The greenette stood to finish getting dressed. "Um, I'll be going out a little later. Just to a cat cafe in Musutafu, near the first train stop." The villains were protective since the assault but never demanded he stop his independent wandering. Still, he liked letting them know where he planned to be just in case something else happened. 

Kurogiri nodded while Dabi looked curious. "Want company? You seem to get into trouble alone." The scarred man paced closer and pressed a kiss to his cheek. It caused his face to go red, shy and embarrassed at him doing so in front of the shadowy man. Dabi grinned at the reaction. "It could be a date. Catch a movie, kill a couple heroes..." His tone was teasing with a serious undercurrent.

The greenette ducked his head, feeling bad despite the lack of pressure. "I'm meeting someone for recruitment. They probably wouldn't like anyone else showing up. Sorry! But, um, maybe tomorrow?"

An easy-going shrug and another chaste cheek kiss was his answer. "It's a date, then. Maybe we can convince Tomura to take a day off too."

The teen returned this kiss shyly, privately marveling at the contrast between supple but leathery scars and silky skin, making Dabi hum in appreciation. The moment was interrupted by Kurogiri calling them to breakfast. Izuku didn't mind since his stomach chose that moment to let out a loud gurgle. The scarred man chuckled, wrapping an arm around his shoulders to guide him to the kitchen. The casual touches made him feel warm and fuzzy, much like they always did with Tomura.

A couple hours later found the teen laying on the floor of a coffee shop with three cats purring on his chest and lap. A forgotten cappuccino was long since cold by his head. He took it back. This was what bliss felt like. Not that he'd ever tell Tomura that. 

The place was surprisingly empty but Izuku had timed the meeting between morning and lunch rushes. The shop was also off the beaten path despite its proximity to the busy transit station. There were three other customers tucked into their own separate areas, the barista was dozing against the register. Hands Up Radio was playing softly over hidden speakers. The atmosphere almost had Izuku drifting off himself, if it weren't for his hyper focus on his surroundings and the door. It was five minutes past the set time and he hoped it was just the person running late. Not setting up a trap or blowing him off. He'd really like for this to go well.

Finally, at fifteen minutes after, the door opened with a cheerful jingle. In shuffled Shoto Todoroki, looking lost and awkward. His mismatched eyes darted around to the other patrons, skipping over Izuku's unobtrusive form. The teen would have been insulted if melting into the background hadn't been a hard won life skill.

Once the other boy ordered a sugary monstrosity that could barely be called a drink Izuku raised a hand and waved. Shoto startled, genuinely not noticing him. The greenette regretfully shooed the cats away so he could sit up. Before he could stand, Shoto plopped down next to him on the floor. He looked deadly serious even as he scooped a cat into his lap. "How can you take down Endeavor?" Thankfully he had the presence of mind to keep his voice down. Clearly subtlety wasn't the teen's strong point, Izuku would have to keep that in mind.

Tilting his head to the side, he shrugged. "That's up to you. If you're willing to help me. If you're willing to see it through to the end. If you aren't intending to turn me in to further your own heroic career." The last was a testing barb.

It had the desired effect when the heterochromic boy's blank look morphed into anger. His jaw clenched as he tried not to pull the cat's fur. "I don't want to be a hero. That's what he wants. He killed one of my brothers and drove my mom insane. If that's what heroes get away with then I want no part of it. But I don't have a choice."

Izuku rolled his shoulders in a shrug, reclaiming his cold drink. He grimaced into a sip but didn't want to leave Shoto to get a new one. "There are always choices. I'm living proof of that. It's just hard to see them sometimes until you're offered a hand." Putting the cup down, he observed the other boy keenly. Years of reading body language made it easy to see that Shoto was genuine. If confused by Izuku's words. "If you help me, I can free you. It will just take time." A wry smile twisted his lips. "I'm not sure either of us wants heroes ripping apart the country looking for you if you just disappear."

A deep frown made Shoto look years older. After considering it for a long moment he nodded. "How do I help?" He finally took a gulp of his drink. He looked unphased by the sugar content but Izuku's teeth hurt just watching him.

"Strengths and weaknesses. Not what's televised but personal tics, allergies, sore subjects, and the like. What makes Endeavor, Endeavor? Who is Enji Todoroki?" The greenette pulled out his new burner phone and opened the settings to show the number. "Text me everything. And don't hesitate to call if you need help." Izuku wanted an information source, not a dead teenager if the number two hero lost his temper like with Dabi.

The two tone boy pulled out his own phone to copy the number. He looked grim but there was a little bit more life behind his eyes. "You're the first person to ever believe me. I told other heroes about Touya but they never investigated."

A slightly Dabi-ish smirk crossed Izuku's lips. "We'll deal with them too, eventually."

Chapter Text

Izuku and Shoto spent an extra hour at the cat cafe. After conversation turned away from Endeavor it was difficult to get the solemn boy to open back up but they bonded over playing with the felines littering the shop. During casual conversation Izuku found out the heterochromatic boy loved cold soba, because he very seriously dubbed a nameless cat Soba. Then he named another one Metallica which, predictably, the boy admitted to liking. Apparently he listened to American rock music to piss off his father but found a genuine fondness for some bands. Shoto didn’t seem very imaginative. Izuku could forgive him because he knew how sheltered the other teen was.

When they parted ways Izuku found himself wandering the district. It was cold but sunny, heating his skin enough to make it tolerable. The detour was part nostalgia and part intent. It had been months since he’d stepped foot in Musutafu. That was by design. He’d rather avoid killing old bullies or his father if he ran into them. At least for now. 

His primary goal was to see if he could track down an old acquaintance. When he'd first been kicked out of the house he'd found himself in a local homeless shelter. There he'd met a young woman only a couple years older than him. When he found her in the alley behind the shelter with a mutilated body and drinking the blood he'd panicked and fled to the areas near Tokyo. Now, thinking about it with a clear head and more experience, he was curious. He only hoped she wasn't dead or in prison yet. When looking for the murder online there was no mention of a suspect. Just that a body was found. No one really cared because the guy was homeless. It made his blood boil but was helpful in this case.

Over the months more corpses had turned up fitting a pattern. All the victims were young men and sometimes their families. If the others knew what he was doing they'd have strong words about it. But Izuku was confident in his abilities now and had a real kusarigama (courtesy of Kurogiri) tucked under his jacket. He could handle a fight. The main reason he was alone was because Tomura and Dabi were memorable. If they accompanied him it would make any encounters with civilians stick in their minds. But alone, as far as people had to know, Izuku was a student writing a school report about crime.

He started with the shelter, sitting down with the workers with a notebook in hand. No one could remember specific details but the site manager did have records of a name. Himiko Toga. It was more than he could have hoped for. From the shelter he traveled across town to the last murder site. It was a middle class house in a nice neighborhood. The deaths had happened three weeks ago but there was still police tape blocking the door. 

Two neighbors slammed the door in his face when he asked for an interview. It was still too fresh and they'd already talked to reporters. But a kindly old woman two doors down invited him in. She bustled around the kitchen making tea while chattering, Izuku didn't even have to prompt her past his student speil. "It was a terrible shame what happened. But I told Tsune-san that girl was trouble. Did they listen? No. And look where that got them. Cops wouldn't listen to me either. I'm old and clearly my eyesight and mind are going." The last was said sarcastically. Clearly she'd been holding a lot in since the incident.

Izuku frowned in sympathy. "They don't tend to like hearing things that don't fit their assumptions. What did you see?"

The woman scoffed in agreement, sitting drinks and some homemade cookies on the table. "Let me tell you, my husband was killed by a coworker for being quirkless. They called it an accident and closed the case in less than a week. They're useless for things that matter." 

As she took a fortifying gulp of tea the greenette grimaced. That would have been him eventually if he hadn't been kicked to the street. He would have suffered through school and either killed himself or been killed by quirkists like Bakugo. He was brought out of brooding thoughts when she continued.

"Anyway. Tsune-kun got a girlfriend. Cute thing with blonde pigtails. She'd hang around every day. I even saw her while she was supposed to be in school. One day I was in the backyard feeding birds and I saw her drinking blood out of a dead cat in the woods back there." Her voice took on the sharp quality of disgust and Izuku mirrored it with a nose wrinkle. Maybe he didn't want this person after all, if they killed animals.

"So I call the cops but by the time they get here she's long gone and that poor cat with her. Then the night of the murder I was locking up windows before bed when I saw Tsune-kun. He was covered in blood and skipping down the street! But the police said I was nuts because the Tsunes were all dead by then."

The greenette scribbled furiously in his notebook at that. While not helpful in the long run, he now had an idea of Toga's quirk. "Thank you so much, obaasan! I might change my report to one about police corruption instead, with all you've told me. I've got to go now, I have a scheduled interview I need to get to." He stood and bowed. 

"You're very welcome. Here, take some of these with you." She found a baggie and deposited most of the cookies into it. They exchanged goodbyes before Izuku was off again. 

By the time he was done it was beginning to grow dark. Checking his phone, he found separate texts from Dabi and Tomura wanting to know that he was still ok. As he walked towards the nearest train station he assured them he was on his way home but would be a while longer. Since Kurogiri was working at the bar by now he couldn't ask for a portal. 

A two hour transit ride later and he was back in Kamino Ward. He pulled his hood up and donned a medical mask on the train. Tomura had drilled an English saying into his head: don't shit where you eat. In this case it meant giving people as few identity clues as possible near the bar. And was also why Izuku did his sleuthing outside the district.

It was fully nightfall and the usual assortment of thugs and barcrawlers were out. Keeping his eyes peeled for trouble, he walked with purpose. Shoulders back and eyes forward like Tomura told him. If he acted like he belonged there fewer people would cause issues. It worked the previous nights he'd gone out alone. Apparently not tonight. 

As he was walking past an alley three blocks from the bar someone grabbed the back of his jacket and yanked. It caused a nasty flashback of the last time that happened. He was starting to loathe alleyways. Reacting on instinct he reached for the kusarigama and whipped around, slicing the hand gripping him. A masculine voice yelped in pain. Retreating to take stock of the situation, he found himself cornered in a dead end by three casually dressed and shabby looking men. They were looking pissed as their fourth companion stood behind them trying to stop the bleeding. "What the fuck, I thought you said he'd be easy?" One snarled. 

"Boss said he was just an egghead!" The bleeding one whimpered. His voice sounded faint and the greenette suspected he'd pass out soon. The blade had caught him on the side of the wrist and hit bone.

As they bickered Izuku pulled the full length of the chain free from his belt. It was abundantly clear that someone wanted him dead or kidnapped. He wasn't going to find out the hard way which one it was. As one lunged forward with a blue glowing hand Izuku chucked the iron ball at his face and was rewarded by a yelp when it struck his temple. Keeping tension on the chain, he swung it around to deflect a knife that grew out of another's hand. The third darted forward with some type of speed enhancement. A blow crunched into Izuku's nose and made him see stars. Flailing out with the blade, the edge caught the man across the throat. Warm blood erupted from the severed artery and sprayed the teen. 

Grimacing, he risked wiping his eyes clear. The remaining two thugs were retreating with disbelieving expressions, one looking dazed from the earlier blow to the head. Izuku scowled. What the hell were they expecting from attacking someone? But letting them escape wouldn't do. He needed answers. Whipping the chain out in an arch, it wrapped snugly around a soft neck. A sharp tug brought the man to his knees, fingers clawing desperately as his air was cut off. The other man tried to help but the distraction cost him. Izuku darted forward to plunge the blade into his back. 

The greenette wrenched the kusarigama free of a rib and then watched dispassionately as the last attacker suffocated. He kept a careful count in his head. Seven minutes to death. Four minutes to brain damage. Izuku kept tension on the chain for two minutes to ensure the man stayed down with less risk of death. He'd researched suffocation for this exact reason but it wasn't exact. 

When all the bodies ceased movement he reached into his pocket for his phone. Tomura picked up on the third ring. " What is it, shrimp? If you're going to be later we're not saving your food. " 

An inappropriate giggle was suppressed. Clearing his throat, he made a negative noise. He tried to keep his voice clear through his broken nose. "Actually I need some help. Um… is Dabi still there? And I'll need Kurogiri."

That made the man pay attention. " Where are you ?" In the background he could hear Dabi's concerned inquiry but Tomura brushed him off, telling him to go get the shadowy man.

"Um… I think I'm in the alleyway between that Indian restaurant and the strip club. Please hurry, I don't want to have to explain all the blood to a hero."

" What the fuck did you do? " The man sounded alarmed. Izuku tried to appease him.

"It's not my blood. Mostly. But I was attacked. One's still alive. They said they had a boss, so… Questioning him?"

A long string of curses was cut off as Tomura hung up on him. The greenette would have been offended if not for the gate opening nearby almost immediately. The three villains stepped through and looked around at the bodies with wide eyes. Izuku scuffed a shoe on the ground and waved sheepishly. 

Chapter Text

Careful application of Cremation to the bodies and blood spatter in the alleyway took care of the evidence. Aside from new scorch marks it was difficult to tell a fight and murders happened unless you were specifically looking for signs. 

The four villains, hauling the unconscious thug between them, hastily ducked through a portal. They exited into what looked at first glance to be a dilapidated house. The floors were rotting and the heavy scent of mold and mildew made Izuku let out a miserable and painful sneeze even through the swelling of his broken nose. Dabi called fire to his fingertips so they could see and to provide some warmth in the drafty room. The fire user and Tomura dropped the body carefully, wary of breaking through the boards.

"We are currently in Matsuo." Kurogiri explained. A smaller portal opened to deposit a set of cuffs into his waiting hands. "It's an abandoned mining village in Iwate Prefecture. No one will disturb us here." The greenette caught a glimpse of needles studding the inside of the manacles when the misty man snapped them closed around the thug's wrists. He was impressed. Quirk suppressing cuffs were expensive from the black market. But with Sensei's backing he shouldn't be surprised. Now they just had to wait for the man to wake up and hope he wasn't too brain damaged to talk. 

Izuku winced when he finally peeled off his blood soaked mask. Even just light touches made it twinge. Tomura paced over to prod the tip, making Izuku yelp and cringe back. The man's mouth pulled into an apologetic grimace at the reaction but he stayed focused. "What happened?" Tomura was grouchy in just a thin long sleeved shirt and sweatpants. He'd left the apartment in a hurry. The teen felt a surge of guilt when he noticed that the man's shoes were untied as well. 

Ducking his head, Izuku's gaze dropped to the floor. "I was on my way home, like I said. They grabbed me and dragged me into the alley. I… wasn't thinking, I just reacted. I stabbed the closest one and they attacked me. Then they were talking about a boss wanting something. They didn't say if they wanted to take me or kill me."

A heavy sigh left the pale man and he stepped over to kneel next to their captive. Dabi stayed close to Tomura, likely to keep him warm in the frigid mountain air and provide extra intimidation. Izuku was shivering but stayed back next to Kurogiri to let them work. And he wasn't sure he could stomach what was about to happen on his suggestion. They needed to know what was going on though.

Several hard slaps finally caused the thug to stir. When the man opened his eyes he seemed to panic at seeing the two villains looming over him. He tugged desperately at his bound wrists before Tomura grabbed his face and slammed his head back to the floor. "Who sent you after Izuku?" A pained groan was the only response. The pale man slapped him again harshly. "Tell me a name and we'll let you go play messenger."

That got the man's attention. Blinking with a dazed expression, his words were slurred but discernible. "Boss'll kill me anyway. M'not a rat."

"You can tell us now and have a chance or we can pull it out of you piece by piece. Who's your boss?" The man spit blood at Tomura. The pale man went deathly still. "Izuku, take off his boots." As he said this he peeled off one of his gloves.

The greenette jumped to comply despite his reluctance to participate. When he got close the captive kicked out but was stopped by Dabi kneeling on his legs. After divesting him of shoes and socks, Izuku backed away again. Dabi stayed holding the man down while Tomura changed position to crouch near his feet. "One last chance. Tell us."

"Fuck you." A scream tore from his throat when Tomura grabbed one toe with all five fingers. Izuku fought not to gag as the skin turned gray and seemed to flake and melt away.

"Who's your boss? You have nineteen more chances. Though I can't control the rate of decay. I'm sure Dabi can cauterize it before it spreads too far on its own." The pale man sounded bored and conversational.

The man renewed his struggles but froze up when Dabi brought his flames close to his face. Features twisted in fear, the thug still resisted. "Go to hell!" Another toe was grabbed. The process repeated six more times, rot slowly creeping up his first foot to his ankle. Izuku forced himself to watch every second despite nausea curdling his guts. He had asked Tomura to do this. At long last, sobbing, the man broke. "C-Chisaki! Fuckin' Kai Chisaki! S-stop!"

The name meant nothing to Izuku but Dabi froze with a strange expression on his face. Before Tomura could respond, the scarred man took over. "Why?"

"I d-don't fuckin' k-know! B-boss wanted the kid, that's a-all he said, I sw-swear!" He trembled violently and flinched when Dabi moved but the villain only stood up. "He doesn't know anything else. He's just a yakuza henchman." The fire user grunted as he stepped over to join Izuku and Kurogiri.

Tomura stared at the terrified captive a moment longer before cracking his neck with a sigh. "See, was that so hard?" He straightened up and made his way around to the man's head. Leaning down, he pressed his entire hand to his face. Before he could even scream he disintegrated into a pile of dust, blood, and other fluids. Kurogiri huffed at the loss of the expensive shackles, Decay spreading to the metal and making it rust. "Let's get out of here. The shrimp needs a shower and I'm freezing." He pulled his glove back on as a gate was summoned. 

Tilting his head, Izuku observed the remains. Tomura really had meant it when he said it could be a quick way to go. The thought warmed him as he followed the pale figure through Kurogiri's gate. The apartment was blessedly heated when he emerged on the other side. Tomura was already beelining for the bathroom, shooting a pointed look over his shoulder. The greenette knew better than to argue and wanted out of his blood caked clothing anyway. Everything would have to be bleached or burned, even his beloved but tattered red shoes. Maybe he would get new red converse to match Tomura's. Or would that be too tacky with the relationship so new? They were friends first though so it might be ok.

After shucking off his hoodie and slipping off his shoes he followed the pale man into the washroom. The shower tap was already running, heating up the tiles and thawing his frozen skin by proximity. Tomura was already stripped naked, making a blush creep across Izuku's cheeks. He'd been too caught up in a lustful haze last time to admire that view. The man's frame was wiry with lean muscles built for speed. Silvery scars criss crossed his skin, some from blades and others harder to place. Much like Izuku's, his pale blue hair reached his shoulders in messy waves. He was gorgeous. Despite keen interest, the teen was too exhausted to have a physical reaction to the sight. 

Abandoning his own clothes in a corner, Izuku joined the man under the spray with a shy shuffle. They huddled under the water together to finish warming up before Izuku was pressed onto the shower stool. Tomura grabbed a loofa to help wash the blood away with gentle care. It was reminiscent of after Izuku killed that woman. It was so soothing that he found himself leaning against the man in a light doze. Arms wrapped around him and gloved fingers worked shampoo into his hair, scritching and kneading his scalp. It took Izuku a long moment to realize there were two sets of hands on him. Startling, he looked up to see Dabi's smirking face.

"How's the nose? Should prolly ice it before you pass out."  He leaned in to kiss the tip of said nose, making Izuku go cross eyed. The teen nodded, only half listening as he let his eyes roam. He was very thankful for the hot steam excusing his deep blush. 

If Tomura was gorgeous Dabi was hot, no pun intended. He was lean like Tomura but with softer muscles, likely from relying on his ranged quirk instead of working out. The discolored scars extended down his neck to his shoulders before turning into normal pale burn marks mottling his chest and upper arms. The discoloration returned on his forearms and the outside of his hips. Lighter scars mottled his thighs and perilously close to his groin. There were other scars on his unblemished skin, a couple looking like old gunshot wounds. His nipples were pierced, Izuku noticed belatedly. The man grinned at his lazy scrutiny. "Like what you see?" 

Dropping his gaze to the floor, he nodded bashfully. Dabi chuckled, reaching out to scritch his scalp. The water shut off, to the greenette's disappointment. Tomura offered him a towel. "Come on. You still need to eat." He glanced at the scarred man with a frown. "And we need some explanations."

Dabi hummed while drying himself off. "It's nothing too complicated. I get my supply from the Shie Hassaikai. I only deal with their distribution warehouse though. I'm not behind on payments or anything so I doubt it's about me." A fresh set of clothes was handed to the teen, Dabi having brought them in. "I'll do some subtle asking around to make sure."

The pale man nodded, satisfied with the answer for now. "I just want to know how they found out about Izuku." That was indeed the biggest issue. The teen was pretty sure he'd remember pissing off a yakuza family. He'd also been extra careful with his identity since joining Tomura.

Once they were dressed they made their way to the living room where the greenette was forced to sit. Tomura reheated leftovers for him while Dabi fetched an ice pack. The two men squished him between them on the couch, settling in to destress with video games. After eating, Izuku pressed the ice pack to his face. He found himself leaning into the fire user to counter the chill. It was there, surrounded by warmth and listening to the two trash talk each other, that he drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Text

A couple days later Dabi had discovered nothing from his contacts in the Shei Hassaikai. The higher ups were staying tight lipped about anything big they might have planned. It was annoying but not unexpected. When Tomura tried digging around in their files he found them locked down tight, in addition to discovering the organization was already under close scrutiny by the Nighteye Agency.

Izuku's hunch about All-Might's appearances turned out to be correct at least. So far he'd tracked a steady decline in his public displays beginning five years ago. He disappeared after specific hour increments a day, also declining. Something occurred five years ago, perhaps an injury, that was negatively impacting him as he aged. Looking into the dates, the greenette found that the number one hero took a several month hiatus. The problem was he had no documented reason for it, not even a villain encounter beyond Toxic Chainsaw, who was taken down without landing any blows. It left Izuku at another dead end. Tomura was still trying to track the hero's real name but after his debut even address changes were scrubbed clean. Something huge was going on with All-Might, something that gave Izuku a bad feeling when contemplating the ever approaching deadline Sensei gave them.

When the teen presented his findings to the pale man, his caution was brushed aside. It caused Tomura to look excited and determined. "If he really is wounded then he'll be even easier to take out. Don't worry so much, shrimp. Sensei knows what he's doing. If he thinks the nomu will help us defeat the UA heroes, I trust him."

Izuku was almost frustrated to tears. They'd had similar arguments before but it seemed the new information just cemented Tomura's resolve. "But the nomu is untested, he said so himself. It would be far less risky to ambush him on his way home. Or better yet, find some way to spy on him so we can get him at home alone."

A scowl was directed at him. Izuku could tell the man's patience was wearing thin. "Sensei wants it done at the school. If you don't like it, take it up with him." Tomura dismissively turned to unpause his game. 

Repressing the urge to stomp his foot like a child, Izuku gave up. Loath though he was to deal with Sensei, perhaps he would listen to logic. Tomura worshiped the ground the man walked (rolled?) on despite subtle efforts to make him see reason. But the blinders weren't budging an inch. The only concession was him refusing to force Izuku into taking a quirk.

Entering Tomura's room, Izuku spitefully raided his stash of alcohol for a swig of liquid courage. He then left the apartment without a word. The bar was deserted, only having just opened. Kurogiri and Magne looked up from a quiet conversation behind the counter to greet him. "What's up, kid?" The woman smiled warmly at him. She seemed to have a soft spot for him since he helped her. With everyone else she was gruff and reserved.

Izuku slumped onto a stool with a grimace. "Tomura's being an ass." He thumped his head onto the surface.

She snorted. "When is he not? Do I need to deck him for you?" 

The idea was tempting but he heaved out a sigh and shook his head. "No." He peered at Kurogiri. "But I do need to talk to Sensei."

The man hesitated but gave a short nod. "I will see if he's up for visitors." A portal opened under his feet immediately and he sank into it.

Magne chuckled. "Still getting used to that." Leaning her elbows on the bar, she stared at him for a moment. "You ever thought of getting an undercut?"

The topic change threw him. "Uh, not really." He ran a hand through his hair. "I'm actually liking it this way aside from brushing it. If it gets too annoying I'd consider it."

"Well let me know. Believe it or not I used to be a stylist." A faint scowl worked its way onto her face. "I was pretty good at it until the place realized I was trans. Then they fired me and blacklisted me for employment."

Shock made Izuku sit up. "That's terrible! Aren't there protections against discrimination?"

"Theoretically yes. But in practice all they have to do is claim they fired someone for performance issues. If I wanted to fight it I'd need evidence and money to drag them to court. Same for if a landlord kicks me out because of it."

The thought made the teen's blood boil. Further discussion was cut off by Kurogiri's reappearance. He emerged from a full sized portal and nodded to Izuku. "The Master is available now…" There was another moment of hesitation. "Please be careful, Izuku-san. Text me when you need to come back." He didn't expand on the warning, not that the greenette needed it when dealing with their boss.

"I will, thank you." Drawing in a fortifying breath, Izuku hopped off his seat, circled the counter, and stepped through. Thankfully he exited into the study rather than the lab. 

Sensei was waiting for him, a faux warm smile in place. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit, Izuku? I was planning to set up a meeting between us soon so your timing is perfect."

Approaching the desk, the teen bowed respectfully. "I'd like to discuss the upcoming mission to UA." Straight to the point. He'd worry about why Sensei wanted to meet him later.

The man steepled his fingers, elbows on the desk. The casual gesture didn't suit him. "Oh? Do you have concerns? It is an ambitious undertaking, I admit."

Steeling himself, the greenette made a noise of agreement. "I think it would be better to at least wait until after the sports festival so we can assess the students abilities in case they interfere. I'm also unsure of our chances for success if the other teachers get involved."

"As I understand it Tomura has pulled together a veritable army. Plus the nomu. Do you doubt their abilities?" The question was deceptively casual.

Choosing his words carefully, Izuku suspected there was a right and a wrong answer. "I believe that waiting would increase the odds. While I trust Tomura's judgement, UA employs some of the best underground heroes in Japan. Plus, though they're only students, heroes in training have proven themselves capable just by making it into the hero course. I'm concerned that our own recruits might not be as well trained."

There was a moment of silence before Sensei chuckled. "Those are all valid. You have a good head on your shoulders." His tone gave nothing of his real thoughts away. "I fear that it's up to Tomura. I gave him full autonomy with this project. I'm sure if you expressed such things to him, he would heed your advice."

Izuku bit the inside of his cheek hard enough to taste blood. That was the boldest lie the man had ever told in the greenette's presence. They both knew Tomura would bend over backwards to please Sensei. And the man would never cede real control of anything to anyone. He wouldn't be head of a shadow organization of villains otherwise. "You're right, I'll talk to him. Sorry for bothering you." Izuku's hopes of fleeing quickly were dashed when the man spoke next.

"It's quite alright. As I said, I wanted to speak with you anyway. There's someone I'd like you to meet." He reached out to press a button next to his computer. A few seconds later the door opened.

Turning to see who it was, Izuku froze as ice coursed down his spine. Standing in the doorway was one of the subjects of his frequent nightmares. Hisashi Midoriya. He took an involuntary step back when the man approached. A plastic smile spread across Hisashi's lips. "Aren't you going to greet me, son? I thought you'd be excited to see where I work."

Chapter Text

Frozen terror coursed through Izuku when Hisashi took another step closer. Seemingly ignorant of their history, though the greenette knew otherwise, Sensei smiled. "Why don't you two go catch up? I'm sure you have many things to discuss." 

Trembles wracked Izuku's frame and he flinched when a heavy arm draped across his shoulders. The fake grin on his father's face grew wider. "Of course. Thank you for this opportunity, Sensei."

Before Izuku could protest he was being dragged out the door. Outside the study was a sitting room with a smaller desk stationed in front of Sensei's door. He observed it all with a sightless gaze as he was pulled down a hallway and into an ornate foyer with a grand staircase leading to a second floor. He dimly realized that they were in a mansion. A rough shove at his back sent him stumbling to the floor. Tomura's training kicked in and he rolled to pop to his feet. Hisashi's face twisted into a snarl, smoke curling from between his lips. Izuku backed away when the man began to advance, adrenaline coursing through him and making him hyper aware of the man's every move.

"Imagine my surprise when my boss told me that my useless faggot of a son was riding on his protege's coat tails. You're fucking him for status, aren't you? And don't think I'm not aware that you murdered Inko." The enraged tirade ended in orange flames erupting from his mouth.

The teen reacted on instinct, ducking and side stepping out of the way. That only pissed the man off more. He backpedaled, scrambling for his kusarigama only to realize he'd left it at home in his ire at Tomura. Panic took hold when his back met a wall. He dug his phone out of his pocket and dropped into a fetal position facing the barrier. When flames seared his back he gritted his teeth and bore the agony with ease, out of practice withstanding such attacks but his body numbed itself quickly. A kick over the fresh burns stunned him momentarily before he speed dialed Kurogiri with shaking fingers.

Several more blows followed until finally they ceased. Hisashi let out a surprised yelp, making Izuku cautiously peer over his shoulder. The shadowy man stood between him and his father. The wisps wafting off of him were a shade of black so dark they seemed to consume the light in the room. "What the hell? This has nothing to do with you!" His father raged, sending a jet of fire at the man. Kurogiri easily deflected it into a small portal.

"On the contrary, Master Shigaraki has given me strict instructions to protect Master Izuku. If you do not cease I will be forced to follow protocol." His tone suggested he would relish the opportunity.

That finally gave Hisashi pause. He glared for a long moment before scoffing. "Sensei will hear about this." His gaze shifted to Izuku, making the teen shudder. "And we're not finished." The man turned on his heel and stalked out of the room.

Almost immediately Kurogiri turned to kneel next to Izuku. The mist slowly bled back into his normal dark purple wisps. "Izuku-san, let's get you home." A warp gate opened beneath them, making them sink into the floor. The sensation of falling without moving left Izuku feeling nauseous and thankful when he was gently deposited onto the living room floor. Tomura stared in shock from the couch before rushing to his side in a flash.

"What the fuck happened? I thought you just went to see Sensei?" Concern laced his voice when he saw the damage to his back. Thankfully the shirt hadn't melted, just charred. 

A humorless laugh escaped Izuku before he could censor it. "I did." He bit the inside of his cheek harshly. There was so much he wanted to say but would Tomura even listen? That's what got him into the mess in the first place. His dad was right, he was worthless. When a hand reached for his face he instinctively recoiled and clamped his eyes closed. A trickling sensation on his cheeks made him realize he was crying. Gentle hands eased around his arms to help him up. He relished the sting as the movement pulled at his wounds, it gave him something concrete to focus on.

When he opened his eyes they met Tomura's. The man looked conflicted but his movements were careful and slow as he led Izuku to his bedroom. "Kurogiri, get Dabi. He should have stuff for burns."

Once to his bed he gingerly knelt to crawl onto it before lowering himself to his stomach. The pale man hovered, fussing with his gloves. For once he looked like he was at a loss for what to do. There was a strange expression on his face, halfway between distress and rage. It made him look constipated to Izuku. "Did… did Sensei do this?" The question came out quiet and small, like from an anxious child. It struck Izuku how similar they really were. The only difference was he'd tried escaping his abusive father, while Tomura embraced his own twisted father-figure. He didn't blame the man. After all, hadn't Izuku latched on to Tomura with unwavering loyalty out of desperation? Who was he to say it wasn't the same for the man and Sensei.

The thought was depressing. As was what he was about to say. It would either hurt Tomura or hurt Izuku, depending on which side the pale man chose to believe. "My father works for Sensei. Sensei let him take me away alone even though he knew… He told me he knew when he had me kill my mom." His voice was wobbly with tears but the assertion was unwavering. A fact.

The man stood stock still, face going blank as he processed the words. Izuku braced for more pain or at least a swift decay when Tomura just stared. The front door of the apartment slamming made both of them startle. It broke the man from whatever trance he'd been in. His lips twisted in an ugly look Izuku had never seen on him before. Abruptly, he turned on his heel and stalked out. Dabi's voice called out in concern but the door slammed again. Izuku knew Tomura was gone. 

The fire user entered a moment later, a frown in place that only grew bigger when he saw the greenette. A black duffel bag was hanging from one shoulder. He plopped it down next to the mattress before sitting. "This is going to suck, I'm sorry." He seemed to decide to focus on the immediate issue first.

All Izuku could do was nod. He turned his face away to bury it in a pillow. The tears wouldn't stop but he needed to be still for the man to work. Biting his lip to bleeding, he repressed the sobs that wanted to escape. The ruined shirt was cut away first, making him shiver as his wounds were exposed to the chilly air. The area slowly heated up and Dabi's hands felt noticeably warmer a moment later. Kurogiri's light footsteps entered the room. Dabi thanked him for something before a hand ran through Izuku's hair to get his attention.

"Izuku-san, you need to sit up for a moment." To his surprise it was Kurogiri. The shadowy man wasn't the touchy feely type normally but his tone was soft. It made the greenette lever himself onto his side so he could follow the instruction. Dabi helped steady him as he sat up.

Kurogiri offered him a handful of pills and a bottle of Oral Rehydration Solution with a straw sticking out of it. "These will help with pain and prevent infection. Finish the entire bottle, please, you're going into shock." The teen did so, grimacing at the taste but forcing himself to sip it until it was gone. Blinking, he noticed a bowl of water and a cloth next to Dabi. Both men stayed in place while he did so. The scarred man rubbed his shoulder and Kurogiri crouched nearby observing him. Kurogiri spoke up again a moment later. "I must deeply apologize, Izuku-san… Had there been a way to warn you, I would have. My… programming-" He spat the word. "Does not allow me to disobey direct orders from The Master or Master Shigaraki. There are things I cannot tell you because of that."

That confirmed another suspicion Izuku had. With every new piece of information he learned about the man, his curiosity had grown but he never asked. Now there was an opening that provided a welcome distraction and focus. "You're a nomu aren't you?"

"I cannot say." That was as good as confirmation.

The teen tilted his head thoughtfully. "Is there a way to break their control?" 

Again Kurogiri stated, "I cannot say." But then added, "You may direct inquiries to Master Shigaraki when he returns." If the pale man was still on speaking terms with Izuku. Still, it was something to ponder. The man claimed the empty bottle before setting a new one on the floor next to the mattress. "Drink this one as well." He turned to Dabi next. "I trust you to keep care of him. I must return to the bar but call me if you require anything else."

The fire user grunted in assent as Kurogiri left through a gate. A kiss was pressed to Izuku's cheek. "Lay back down for now. Let me know if you get thirsty."

After Izuku got resituated on his stomach the man resumed tending the burns. The sound of liquid trickling preceded Dabi gently cleaning his back with a moist, tepid, washcloth. The almost cool water soothed inflamed skin. Once that was done the man opened the bag to pull out bandages and tape. He applied no-stick burn dressings first before covering them with gauze and fastening them in place. It was all done with practiced ease.

The fire user shoved the mess of empty packages in the trash before settling in next to Izuku, stretching out beside him. "Get some rest, if you can. I'll be here if you need me." 

Sleep was the farthest thing from the greenette's mind with all the stress. But exhaustion was setting in, likely aided by whatever Kurogiri gave him. Adjusting, he plastered himself to Dabi's side as much as was comfortable. The man chuckled, a warm hand threading through Izuku's hair to soothe him into a doze.

Chapter Text

Every couple hours Dabi would wake Izuku up to force him to drink and sometimes take more medication. Not once did the scarred man seem to leave his side. The few times consciousness returned on its own heated fingers would caress through his hair and lull him back to sleep. It was disorienting when he finally woke up for good. The series of naps was by no means restful but some energy had returned. When he opened his eyes Dabi was still there fiddling with his phone. As the teen stirred the man looked over and his lips twitched into a smile. "Sleeping Beauty awakens." 

A blush stained Izuku's cheeks at that. When he tried to move his back twinged and ached but it didn't hurt. Whatever meds Kurogiri brought were good and left him feeling floaty. They also cocooned his thoughts from straying down dark paths since he had to focus on even simple tasks.

The man helped him when he made to roll over and sit up. Walking didn't seem like the best idea but his bladder was full from the drinks and his stomach was empty. He must have muttered something to that effect because the man chuckled and stood, holding out a hand to pull him to his feet. A firm but gentle grip on his arm kept him from tipping right back over.

Using the restroom was a chore and a half since he refused to allow Dabi in with him. It was a good thing he was only in his boxers or it might have been more complicated. Once he managed to reach the toilet he zoned out in a blank daze for several minutes after finishing his business. Only a knock on the door startled him out of it. "What'd Kurogiri give me?" He managed a sloppy but coherent sentence when he emerged.

The scarred man laughed while leading him over to a kitchen stool and helping him sit. "Hydrocodone. I think he popped into a hospital or something for the stuff he brought." He sat a bowl of raman in front of Izuku. "Eat. You've been out of it for a day and a half."

The teen made a humming noise of agreement before digging in. He felt queasy but the mild broth helped sooth it and clear some of the groggy fluff out of his head. Once he was finished he glanced around. "Tomura back yet?" Unease tried to form but the loopy feeling from the pain killers kept it to a small simmer.

"No, but I've been texting his dramatic ass." Dabi rolled his eyes. "He told me to fuck off so he's fine. Probably just brooding on top of a building somewhere." His expression turned serious after a moment. "Kurogiri told me what happened… I can't tell you that it'll all work out but I can say that I've watched you two the past few weeks. I doubt he'll take anything out on you. He's just as fucked in the head as we are so he needs some space to think and calm down."

"What if he kicks me out?" Izuku's voice wobbled at the thought.

The man sighed and stepped over to wrap him in a light hug, mindful of where his arms rested on Izuku's back. "Then you move in with me. I like him too but if he thinks you're not worth it then clearly he isn't." 

The declaration made the greenette's eyes water and he snuggled his face against Dabi's shoulder with a sniffle. "But I'm trouble. And can't do anything right. I'm useless."

"You're perfect." The man kissed the side of his neck. "Beautiful." Another kiss. "And amazingly smart." Izuku's face grew red with every word and accompanying press of warm lips on his skin. "And you terrify me with how well you've taken to that weapon of yours." The arms carefully squeezed him before the fire user reluctantly pulled back to press their foreheads together. Electric blue eyes peered at him, their noses barely touching. "I wouldn't spend so much time with anyone else." Dabi closed the distance to brush his lips feather light against Izuku's, lingering and letting the teen choose to reciprocate or not.

Izuku didn't need to decide past being self conscious of his blotchy face from crying. He closed the gap, pressing his mouth to Dabi's shyly. This wasn't like kissing Tomura, who led the entire encounter eagerly. The scarred man moved his lips with lazy intent, drawing out the experience and savoring it. If Izuku wasn't dizzy before, he certainly was now. Wrapping his arms around the man's neck he leaned against him, craving more contact. 

An amused hum low in Dabi's throat preceded hands roaming down his sides and firmly squeezing his butt. With a shocked squeak the teen found himself hoisted up. He wrapped his legs around his waist on instinct, not wanting to fall. "You're supposed to be on bed rest. I can think of a few things to keep you occupied in there." The fire user playfully nipped Izuku's ear while carrying him into the bedroom. 

Rather than drop him onto the mattress Dabi turned and plopped down so Izuku was sitting in his lap. The position made him flush red as it allowed him to feel the man's interest through the thin fabric of his boxers. Before he could get too embarrassed a warm mouth descended onto his again. This time a hot tongue swiped questioningly across his bottom lip. His own darted out to meet it, inviting the man to stroke against it and explore his mouth languidly. After a moment Izuku noticed something small and hard as it brushed against his palate. He fiddled with it curiously with the tip of his tongue.

The man pulled back with a chuckle. He grinned and stuck his tongue out at the teen. A shiny silver stud pierced it. How had Izuku never noticed it when Dabi was talking? Then again he was always more interested in other features of the man. 

A mischievous smirk replaced the grin. "I have more, if you want to see. You'd have to move for a minute though."

Confusion made the greenette tilt his head. He'd seen the nipple piercings already. Unless - oh. Oh! He 'eeped' and darted a glance at Dabi's lap. The man shook with quiet laughter and urged Izuku to slide onto the bed so he could pull his shirt off and unbuckle his belt.

♥️♥️♥️ Sex Ahead ♥️♥️♥️

It felt like Izuku's face was about to combust from blushing as he watched the man strip. He'd seen Dabi naked before but context was everything. The outline of his erection was visible through his boxer-briefs as he shimmied free of his pants. It made Izuku's own twitch almost painfully. Once he was fully naked Dabi sprawled out on his back, giving Izuku a teasing come hither look. "I'm at your mercy. What are you gonna do to me?"

The teen was flustered into ducking his head. His brain was stubbornly blank at the open invitation. After a pause the man took pity on him. "We don't have to do anything you don't want to. But if you want this a good first step is taking off these." He reached out to tug lightly on Izuku's boxers. 

That got his brain rebooted, though he was still hesitant as he reached for the waistband. He very much wanted this but being put on the spot and let to decide was leaving him bashful. When his shorts joined Dabi's on the floor he bit his lower lip before inching over, eyes roaming over the man's body. When no more help was forthcoming he gave into the desire to run a hand over the scars on Dabi's chest. They were smoother than the surrounding unblemished skin and made the man shiver when he petted over them feather light with his finger tips. The path led to one of his nipples. Izuku curiously played with the bar he found there, fiddling with it and gently rolling the hard nub between his fingers to feel where the metal laid beneath. The action earned a quiet groan of encouragement.

Emboldened by the positive reaction, his other hand joined the first, playing with the metal bar on the opposite side as well. The man arched into the sensations with a breathy moan, reaching up to mold his hand over Izuku's. "Don't have to be so delicate." He encouraged the smaller fingers into a harsh pinch, gasping at the mild pain.

The greenette did as instructed, tugging at the piercings in progressively harder increments. The noises that escaped the man sent pleasant tingles straight to his groin. No wonder Tomura didn't mind pleasing Izuku without reciprocation if it felt this good just getting reactions from someone. Feeling a bit braver, he leaned in to lick and delicately nibble at one of them, letting his now free hand roam over Dabi's warm stomach and side. When the man rolled his hips in demand, Izuku finally skimmed his fingers down to curiously wrap around his hard length. The action drew a louder moan and the fire user arched into the touch. 

Trailing his fingers over velvety soft skin, he traced the shape from root to tip. He paused and pulled back to peer down when he brushed over a series of bumps along the underside. Three bars pierced through the shaft in a ladder. The bead caps were slightly bigger than they should be, sticking out noticeably when he experimentally closed his fingers and dragged his hand up. Dabi let out a moaning chuckle, twitching into his hand. "Told ya. They feel divine when put to proper use. Wanna see?" A mischievous smirk crossed his face when Izuku nodded hesitantly. "Switch with me, then. On your stomach, don't want to hurt your back."

Biting his lip, Izuku complied, shuffling around to lay down as the man sat up. A startled squeak left him when an arm wormed under his pelvis to lift his hips. A pillow was stuffed under him, keeping his lower half at an angle that had him blushing vividly as he realized what Dabi wanted to try. When he shifted his weight nervously he was momentarily distracted by his length dragging against the soft fabric.

The man leaned over to rifle through his bag, setting a small bottle next to him before settling behind Izuku. "We can stop at any time, just say the word. And it's not supposed to hurt. Tell me if it does." 

The teen startled when warm hands caressed and squeezed his backside. The man simply kneaded the firm muscles, trailing his fingers around to dig into tense knots in his lower back and flank. The actions slowly forced him to relax, nerves abating slightly at the more innocent than expected touches. "That's it. Try to stay calm. Remember you can stop me at any time." The words were soft but serious. 

It took a moment for Izuku to register that hot breaths were ghosting down his lower back. By the time realization hit something slick and hot was already probing at his entrance. A tingle of shock and pleasure ran up his spine when he realized Dabi was licking him. Instinctive protests died on his lips when moist heat engulfed one side of his balls before a broad lap from perineum to hole had him moaning into the blankets. He never imagined those spots could be so pleasurable!

Light suction around the sensitive rim had him gasping and arching his hips with a whine. Dabi let out a pleased hum at his reactions, licking with more and more pressure until the tip of his tongue penetrated the tight ring of muscles. The sensation was odd but made his erection throb where it was trapped against the pillow. The man spent a moment lapping at him and pressing as much of his tongue in as the tight pucker would allow. Izuku moaned and twitched back into the pressure, wanting more. The sound of a cap opening preceded something thinner and firmer probing in alongside his tongue. It took the teen's addled brain a minute to realize it was a lube slicked finger.

The deeper intrusion made his muscles clench instinctively. Dabi murmured wordlessly, free hand massaging and kneading a cheek as he paused to focus solely on licking around and alongside the digit. When the greenette relaxed enough the finger slid in completely before pulling out to repeat the process. When he grew used to the sensation enough to not tense up a second finger was added. Once the new addition was fully inserted Dabi curled his fingers and rubbed around. The teen gasped and shivered when the man found a spot that sent a pleasant tingling sensation through his lower half. An involuntary whine escaped when instead of exploring that spot more, the man began pumping his fingers in and out to stretch him. 

It made Dabi let out a husky laugh. "Patience. We don't want you getting too sensitive too fast." He nipped at the small of Izuku's back and added a third digit. This one was easier still. The greenette grew to enjoy the sensation and relaxed under the careful preparation, muscles feeling like putty. A few minutes later the fingers withdrew, leaving him feeling achingly empty. His hips twitched unconsciously, rutting lightly against the pillow. A hand gripped his hip to stop the movements and he let out a needy whimper. That drew a satisfied chuckle from the man. "Just relax a minute and I'll make it feel good again."

Any protest died on his lips as something bigger than fingers rubbed slick little circles over his hole. The nerves came back when he realized what it was. Would Dabi even fit? He felt so big pressed against his ass. Before he could tense too much skilled fingers caressed and rubbed down his sides. "It's alright. Do you want to continue?" 

Biting his lip he gave a hesitant nod. Despite the surge of anxiousness he was still rock hard and throbbing. He'd probably cry if Dabi stopped. The man hummed in acknowledgement but kept still, petting and kneading over taut muscles until they eased again. Only then did he start applying pressure with his hips, pressing the head of his cock against the tight ring of muscles until his tip was nestled in.

Izuku gasped and trembled at the feeling of being stretched so much. It didn't hurt but it was intense as Dabi gave shallow little thrusts to work more of himself in. It felt like he'd split open, and there was still more! The man paused every time the teen started to tighten around him. "That's it. You're doing so good." The fire user purred. "Wish I could see your face. Bet you're making all sorts of pretty expressions right now." The greenette whined in embarrassment, panting into the blankets. He was glad his back prevented this experience being face to face. From the sweat prickling his forehead and the little grimaces he couldn't stop he knew he looked far from sexy. 

As if sensing his thoughts, Dabi chuckled. "Believe me, if I think your crying face is gorgeous, your sex face is probably divine." The man groaned as he eased more of himself in, this time keeping gentle force behind the movement until Izuku could feel the man's hips against his backside.

The knowledge that the man's entire dick was buried in his ass made him shudder in pleasure. Reaching back with a shaky hand, he caressed around his tight hole in wonder. Dabi felt so big! The fire user held still to let him explore for a moment before lightly gripping his hand and urging him to brace it on the bed. He laced their fingers together and leaned in to press a kiss to one shoulder.

"Remember to breathe." With that reminder the man adjusted to withdraw to the tip before easing back in. Izuku let out a breathy moan at the torturously slow glide. Now that he wasn't worried about Dabi fitting he could feel every bead and ridge from the man's piercings as they dragged against his prostate. It sent fluttery tingles through his frame with every careful thrust.

The leisurely pace quickly had Izuku's legs feeling like jelly as the tingly pleasure turned into shivery sparks that made his toes curl and his muscles twitch. Letting out a whimper he arched his hips to try encouraging Dabi to go faster, needing more. The man grunted in strained amusement as the action made him flex around his length. The hand clutching his squeezed before disentangling. Dabi sat up to grasp both of his hips in an almost bruising hold. The mild pain from the grip was quickly lost as the next thrust rocked his frame. A loud exclamation spilled out at the firm drag along that bundle of nerves combined with his dick rubbing against the bedding. He flexed against the man's hold, trying to meet the harder movements.

Dabi's restraint seemed to crumble at the eager response, hips snapping forward with progressively more force. His moans and grunts quickly joined Izuku's, driving the teen's enjoyment impossibly higher. Shudders wracked his frame as his balls tightened and muscles tensed under the harsh shocks of pleasure. A keening cry erupted from him as the pressure snapped into waves of heady euphoria that left him dizzy and gasping for air. Each additional thrust brought tears of ecstasy to his eyes as Dabi forcefully ignored contracting muscles chasing his own completion. The man shouted a moment later, hips stuttering flush against Izuku's ass as something hot flooded his insides. 

For several moments all the teen could do was tremble in a blissed out daze, fighting to catch his breath. It was only when Dabi began to grow soft that he slowly pulled out with a satisfied hiss. The loss made Izuku whimper at the sensation of emptiness it left. The man chuckled breathlessly before caressing his hips and urging him to roll onto his side. It was only then that Izuku noticed how soaked the poor pillow was from a mix of precum and jizz. He'd cum a lot more than normal during his orgasm. The realization made him flush in pleased embarrassment. The fire user made an amused noise, leaning over to kiss Izuku languidly. "Be right back."

♥️♥️♥️ End of Sex ♥️♥️♥️

Dabi stood to wobble towards the door, uncaring about his lack of clothes. He returned a minute later with a fresh pillow and a damp cloth. The pillow case looked suspiciously like Tomura's but Izuku was too exhausted to comment about the petty theft.

The man spent a few minutes cleaning both of them up before he flopped over behind the greenette. Warm arms wrapped Izuku in a firm hug, drawing him carefully to Dabi's chest. Both let out content sighs in tandem as they enjoyed the innocent closeness and boneless relaxation. It wasn't long before they drifted into restful sleep.

Chapter Text

Consciousness returned slowly, Izuku becoming aware of aches and pains that, for once, he was happy to have. Flailing out an arm yielded the knowledge that he was alone in bed but the spot next to him was still warm and divotted. Quiet voices filtered through the door from the living room, making him pry open an eye with great reluctance. A bottle of Rehydration Solution was sitting next to the bed alongside a small cup of pills. His back and hips twinged uncomfortably when he forced himself to sit up. His lip curled up in a grimace of distaste as he claimed the bottle to sip and take the medication. He was starting to loathe the taste of the salty electrolyte water. Once the tacky feeling in his mouth went away he pulled on his boxers and stood with a waver, beelining for the bathroom.

While finishing his business he absently tuned in to the voices. One was clearly Dabi's rasping baritone. Kurogiri murmured something in softer, more refined, tones. The other was… Tomura. A surge of nerves made Izuku queasy as he hovered by the door. Dabi's pep talk from before was forgotten as previous worries came back in force. It was tempting to stay locked in the washroom but he knew they no doubt heard him. He hesitated before gathering his courage and padded out.

The conversation paused when he crept into view. Dabi and Tomura were seated side by side on the couch. Both looked serious but neither seemed upset by whatever they'd been discussing. Kurogiri sat on a kitchen stool with a cup of tea and his phone next to him. The shadowy man shot a strange narrow-eyed glare in Tomura's direction, something Izuku had never seen before. The pale man shifted uncomfortably under the look before climbing to his feet and properly facing the teen. He avoided meeting the green gaze. "I'm sorry." The apology startled Izuku. Behind the pale man's back Dabi and Kurogiri looked satisfied. "I shouldn't have left like that while you were hurt. I believe you and I'm not mad at you." The words sounded rehearsed but sincere.

Chewing the inside of his cheek, Izuku took a tentative step closer. Despite the assurance lingering anxiety made him hesitate. Were the other two forcing him to apologize? Did the man still trust Sensei despite evidence that he wanted Izuku gone? A few months of friendship didn't magically erase years worth of conditioning. Even if Tomura believed Izuku, was there even anything they could do against the powerful boss?

Seeing the internal conflict, Tomura closed the distance and flicked him on the forehead. The familiar mild sting brought him out of the spiraling thoughts. Strong arms wrapped around him in a firm hug, further distancing the situation from those his brain conjured. After a second Izuku buried his face against the man's chest and held him tight, afraid he'd disappear again if he let go. "I'm sorry." The man murmured quietly into green curls. This time the words were just for Izuku, reconfirming that he meant it. 

Tomura eventually tried stepping back but the teen clutched him stubbornly. With a huff the pale man bear hugged him and picked him up, awkwardly shuffling over to the couch and collapsing with Izuku draped between his legs. The greenette adjusted to curl up in his lap once the man settled. He was embarrassed by his own clinginess but couldn't help it, relief leaving him feeling weak and close to tears.

A throat cleared before Kurogiri spoke. "Izuku-san had inquiries about my existence while you were away." There was an unsubtle hint of insistence in his voice. "I will be in the bar while you talk." He stood and disappeared abruptly through a portal.

Both Izuku and Dabi stared in surprise at the empty spot before turning questioning gazes on Tomura. Neither had ever seen the normally proper man so brusque. The pale man looked a touch unsettled as well but shrugged it off with a sigh. "If Sensei orders him to, he'd have to tell him everything we discuss. It's safer if he doesn't hear us."

"Is there a way to break the control?" Izuku repeated the most pressing question he could remember. 

A thoughtful frown pulled at Tomura's lips. "Yes. The problem is I don't know what would happen if it was." He ran a hand through his hair, letting out a frustrated note. "He's an early nomu and Sensei always said he was flawed. That keeping him under command was the only thing keeping him docile. When I asked, he always implied that releasing him would be dangerous."

Gears turning in his head, Izuku made to reply when Dabi cut him off. "Dangerous for who? Because he seems to really hate being on a leash even though he's supposedly subdued. He found a way around orders to tell us about it, at least." 

"I don't know. And Sensei would be alerted if it happens." That statement left all of them brooding.

Knowing what he did of Sensei, Izuku suspected that the only thing that made Kurogiri dangerous was his intact mind. He thought and felt and tried to circumvent commands when it suited him. That was a far cry from the mindless puppets the current generation of nomu were implied to be. The greenette's main worry was if the shadowy man would lash out at them if released. "Are… are you still planning on doing the UA raid?" The teen fussed with a loose thread on the pale man's shirt.

A heavy sigh answered. "I don't have a choice. He could - will kill you and Dabi to make me obey." The words were slightly forced as he admitted out loud that his mentor would take such actions against them. The physical evidence and Kurogiri's testimony meant he couldn't ignore the manipulation anymore. It was clearly painful to acknowledge though.

The greenette leaned up to kiss the man's cheek, hand seeking out his to lace their fingers together. The gloved digits flexed and twitched like Tomura was fighting not to claw his neck. "What if… What if during the fight something happened to Kurogiri?" Izuku licked his lips as he tried to articulate his thoughts. "What if a hero did something to break the control?"

"If that happened and he stayed with us Sensei would just demand he be collared again." Dabi pointed out. Both men looked thoughtful as they pondered the idea. Despite the potential for failure if there was ever a time to try freeing the shadowy man and have it look like an accident that was it. 

"How is it actually done?" Izuku inquired.

Tomura shrugged. "There's a physical collar under his gorget. I don't know how it works but I should be able to decay it off."

The scarred man grunted, looking grim. He clearly found the concept of Kurogiri's situation distasteful. With his past it was understandable. Now that Izuku knew, he wanted to free the shadowy man who'd been so kind to him too. "If he goes berserk we can point him at the heroes at least. Sounds like we have a plan."

They spent a few moments contemplating before Tomura leaned down to kiss Izuku's forehead. The greenette leaned into it with a content sigh before a yelp escaped him. The pale man shoved him off his lap to claim a video game controller. "Your bony ass was digging in." He justified. Dabi, the traitor, just laughed. Izuku pouted while extracting himself from the couch. Despite the rude action he felt lighter with the familiar teasing and cat-like attitude Tomura displayed towards him. The man didn't seem to resent the teen like he'd feared.

Retreating to his room, he sat in his desk chair with a sigh. He was feeling better but was still easily fatigued. Noticing both his phones sitting by his computer, he decided to check his messages. There was one from Magne expressing concern and well wishes. On the burner phone Shoto had provided the information that Endeavor was scared of wasps. The heterochromatic boy also let him know that the entrance exam for the heroics recommendation students had happened. That shocked Izuku into checking the date. It was already the 4th of March. With everything going on he'd lost time. 

In five days the support department exams would be held. In nine, business and general studies. Finally, in just twelve days, the heroic exams. The school staggered the tests so students could apply to multiple departments as backup plans if they failed one. A week later students were informed of their results. The first day of school was April 1st.

Pulling his curls in distress, he opened the laptop and started typing furiously while muttering to himself. He had so much research to catch up on. Goddamn yakuza and Hisashi. Fucking Sensei. His unconscious monologue railed against the various distractions that forced the lapse, some of Dabi's and Tomura's colorful language slipping in. 

That's how the two men found him some time later. They tried coaxing him out of the room for food but he protested the interruption. It took Dabi surprising him with a heated kiss while Tomura stole the computer before he grudgingly agreed to a break. And if one of them slipped a fragment of pot cookie into an offered sakuramochi, Izuku wasn't awake long enough to care.

Chapter Text

The next day Kurogiri came to Izuku with an odd request. The shadowy man wanted him to sit in on an interview with a prospective new tenant. One of the other residents had died of an overdose in their apartment while Izuku was unconscious. The teen gave Dabi serious side-eye upon hearing that but the man just shrugged with an innocent smirk. Izuku didn't understand why his opinion was wanted until he stepped into the closed bar later that morning. A petite brunette girl sat across one of the tables from Kurogiri. She couldn't have been older than the greenette and appeared nervous, fidgeting with a bracelet that had space themed charms on it.

"Ah," Kurogiri motioned him over, tone mildly surprised as if his appearance wasn't prearranged. "Uraraka-san, this is my son, Izuku Shigaraki. I believe he is your age." Hearing the man introduce him like that made warm fuzzies bloom in Izuku's chest. He'd seen the relationship on paper but they never had reason to acknowledge it to strangers before. It made him feel happy.

The girl popped to her feet and bowed, catching him off guard. "Shigaraki-san, it's a pleasure to meet you!" 

He waved his hands wildly in a placating gesture, blushing at the formality. "N-no, just Izuku's fine. Sorry, I didn't know d-dad was interviewing someone." 

The girl let out a relieved sigh before sinking back into the seat. She smiled sheepishly at them. "Then call me Ochaco. Sorry, this is just my first time on my own." That explained the jittery enthusiasm.

Kurogiri's eyes crinkled in a smile. "It's quite alright. Your parents told me the situation when I spoke to them." He turned to Izuku and explained. "Uraraka-san is going to be taking the UA entrance exams for general education and heroics."

That surprised the teen for multiple reasons. He stuck to the safer subjects. "Isn't that a bit far from here?" 

Her head bobbed in acknowledgement. "It's about an hour away. But home is five hours - six from UA. Long stay hotels are expensive and so are apartments closer to school. If - when I get in I'll need long term housing anyway." Determined resolve colored her voice.

Multiple thoughts clogged his mind at once. This could be a great opportunity or a massive risk, probably both. But having a student so close was a prime information source. Perhaps even more so than Shoto since Izuku could interact with her regularly and build a relationship. He and Shoto were friendly and talked about more than just Endeavor through texts but there wasn't the same connection they'd had while face to face. He needed to make sure she passed the heroics exam.

"If you don't mind me asking, what's your quirk?" Izuku sat down at the table next to her. His fingers twitched, wishing he had a notebook.

The topic change made her beam. Reaching for a glass of water next to her on the table, she touched all five fingers to it before letting go. The cup began to float. Before it could drift away she touched all ten fingers together and it sloshed back down. "It's called Zero Gravity!"

Genuine excitement coursed through him at the display. "That's awesome! It's perfect for rescue and villain apprehension!" He ignored Kurogiri staring at him for saying so. Just because they were villains didn't mean he couldn't appreciate the applications of hero quirks.

"That's what I'm hoping." She peered at him quizzically. "Are you applying to UA too?"

The enthusiasm he felt sputtered and died. Dropping his gaze to the table, he shook his head. "I'm quirkless." 

Sensing the shift in mood, Ochaco frowned. "Why would that stop you?" She sounded honestly confused. 

That was a far cry from the reaction he'd grown used to from people his own age. Fussing with his hands, he snorted, unable to curb the bitterness that welled up. "They don't allow quirkless to apply. They claim it's because of liability. Apparently someone with the ability to change their hair color is more durable than someone without a quirk." That was entirely true. In snooping for information on the school he'd stumbled across an internal policy document leaked by someone claiming to be a teacher. The school board didn't advertise the fact but they enforced it. The person claimed that a quirkless kid with a high IQ lied about having a mental quirk and passed the business course exam with high marks. When it was discovered they were expelled despite being first in their class.

The girl looked upset at the explanation. "That's horrible! Quirks have nothing to do with ability!" 

Some of the foul mood evaporated at that. He managed a small smile. "That's just how it is. But hopefully things will change eventually. I wish more heroes thought like you."

"When I get in I'm going to give the teachers a piece of my mind." Her cheeks puffed up adorably as she huffed. If Izuku wasn't gay he might have fallen in love a little.

Kurogiri interrupted with a delicate cough. "Your support of my son is admirable, thank you. I don't see a reason why I shouldn't approve your application. There is an opening if you'd like to move in immediately."

Her sour expression morphed into a surprised grin. "Really?"

"Yes. You will just have to fill out the paperwork and I will confirm with your parents for payment. Do you require aid moving your belongings?" 

A blush stained Ochaco's cheeks and she shook her head. "I already have everything with me." She self consciously nudged a backpack by her feet that the greenette hadn't noticed before. It looked depressingly slim for supposedly containing a few days worth of clothing and supplies.

Kurogiri's eyes narrowed a bit as well but he remained professionally detached. "Very well. After going over everything I'll fetch your key and show you to the unit. Furnishings are included free of charge. The previous tenant abandoned them. Izuku, please have Dabi do one last walkthrough to ensure nothing personal was left behind."

The greenette nodded, smiling at the girl before leaving to do just that. The previous occupant had papers just as fake as the "Shigaraki family's" so the fire user had just cremated the body after robbing the apartment of valuables. Kurogiri wanted to double check that nothing incriminating or dangerous remained before such an innocent-minded person moved in. He texted the man while jogging up the stairs and was met by him in the hallway. While Kurogiri squared away the paperwork, the two rooted around the studio apartment one last time. Izuku found a small stash of heroin inside a vent, which Dabi immediately absconded with. Aside from that the place was clean and tidy with most of the furniture and kitchen equipment still there. Ochaco would be set when she got into UA.

As they were exiting the unit Magne's door opened and she peered out curiously. "Fresh meat?" There was amusement in her voice. She was the recipient of a brand new used rice cooker from her former neighbor. Ochaco's apartment was situated between Dabi's and Magne's. 

Izuku would worry for the girl's sanity and drug record but Dabi spent most of his time with the greenette and Tomura. "She's a new highschool student. UA." He explained with a significantly raised eyebrow. The woman wasn't privy to all of their schemes but she knew they were planning something for the hero school. 

"Ah. I'll help keep an eye on her when I can. This isn't the best area for girls to be alone." The two males nodded in agreement, Izuku's own close calls coming to mind. It technically wasn't safe for anyone in this part of town. 

Footsteps on the stairs halted further conversation. Kurogiri led Ochaco up, pausing to bow respectfully to Magne. "Uraraka-san, this is Magne-san and Dabi." The fire user pouted faintly at the lack of honorifics for him. "Both work for me in the bar. If Izuku or I are unavailable please rely on them if you need anything."

The girl looked intimidated but, to her further credit, not about their physical appearances. "Please, call me Ochaco. I'll try not to disturb anyone." She smiled meekly, eyes darting uncertainly between the older figures. It was clear to the greenette that she didn't know how to act around adults on her own. 

He was about to speak up when Magne beat him to it. "Don't worry about that. When I'm home I'm usually bored so I'd welcome the company. Plus it's nice seeing another woman around here, the rest of the building is a sausage fest."

That shocked a giggle out of Ochaco. Her shoulders relaxed slightly and she shot the woman a grin. "I have three older brothers so I completely get it." 

Magne chuckled with an understanding nod. "Well, just like older brothers, don't be afraid to give this lot hell if they annoy you. Except Izuku. He's a good kid." She smirked when Dabi flipped her off. 

"And you let me know if anyone gives you trouble." The scarred man finally jumped in to defend his own reputation. "Or if you don't feel safe going out alone. I'm usually hanging out in their apartment." He nodded towards Izuku and Kurogiri. The big brother vibes made the remaining tension leave Ochaco's frame. A happy grin lit up the entire hallway. Was that what Tomura meant when he said Izuku's smiles were blinding? The greenette understood now. 

"We'll let you settle in now. Please don't hesitate to ask if you need help, Uraraka-san." Kurogiri bowed while handing her the key before herding Izuku and Dabi towards their apartment. 

"Thank you so much!" Ochaco seemed excited now rather than nervous as she turned to investigate her new home.

Chapter Text

When Izuku saw Ochaco two days later in the hallway she was sporting a new pixie bob haircut. It suited her far better than the shoulder length style she used to have. He received a happy grin when he complimented it. "Thank you! Magne is amazing! She invited me for dinner yesterday and we had a girls night. She did my hair." She also showed off pink painted nails. "I thought I'd be alone when I had to move here but everyone's making me feel so welcome." A strange expression stole over her face. "Well, except the weird guy with the light blue hair. He glared at me when I tried to introduce myself."

The greenette had to bite his cheek to keep from laughing. "I'm sorry about Tomura. He's not very social. He's my bo-brother. Foster brother." He blushed at the near slip. They hadn't discussed it yet but Izuku had taken to thinking of him and Dabi as boyfriends.

Thankfully the brunette didn't seem to notice the stutter. "It's ok. Everyone else seems great!" She turned to lock her door, reminding Izuku of why he ventured out in the first place.

"I was just going grocery shopping. Do you need anything?" He tried to sound casual. Recalling her lack of belongings, he realized she probably couldn't afford much food. Kurogiri filled him in on the fact that her parents were poor, running a failing construction company with four kids and three grandparents depending on them. He'd filed the information away as leverage but that didn't mean he didn't care about her wellbeing.

"Oh, that's what I was doing. We can go together!" The suggestion was readily agreed to despite shopping not being the greenette's only intention. He'd wanted to stop by the warehouse for some training first but he could go later. They walked in companionable silence for the most part. Izuku occasionally pointed out places to avoid after dark. Admittedly that was half the district. Ochaco seemed grateful for the advice nonetheless.

At the store they opted to share a cart but Ochaco was adamant about separating their items. When he caught her staring longingly at certain foods but passing them by he slipped some into the basket. And at the checkout counter he snuck some of her items into his purchases, calling it an accident when she noticed. On the walk home he broached one of the subjects he'd been wanting to bring up. "Do you know self defense?"

She looked surprised but nodded. "Yeah, at least a little. My oldest brother works part time at a dojo and taught me the basics." 

The greenette hummed. "Would you like to train with me? Tomura, dad, and Dabi taught me so it's not the same as what you probably learned but it could help when you get into UA."

That earned him a beaming smile. "I'd love to!" 

"There's an empty back room in the bar that Dad keeps free for sparring. How about tomorrow after breakfast?"

She pumped a fist in the air. "Great! I'll beat you for sure." She teased.

Izuku flashed a slightly toothy grin at that. "We'll see."

When they returned to the apartments Izuku handed her the bags of additional groceries he'd bought her and ducked into his unit before she could protest. When she knocked on the door he ignored her and locked it so she couldn't sneak the food in. When he turned around Dabi and Tomura were watching him with raised eyebrows.

Rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, he shrugged. "Ochaco needs to eat more so I got her extra."

The fire user nodded in understanding while Tomura frowned. "You shouldn't get attached. If she's in training with All-Might she'll be our enemy when we attack. We can disguise ourselves but Kurogiri can't."

The reality check cut into Izuku's good mood. Intellectually he knew that. But he was reluctant to admit it because she was the first person his own age to not care about his quirklessness. She'd even been upset on his behalf at UA's policy. Yet if she found out about their activities they'd probably have to kill her. When he tried to walk past the couch to sulk in his room Dabi grabbed his wrist and tugged him into his lap. Arms wrapped around him securely when he flailed to try getting away. After a moment he went boneless to snuggle into the heat radiating from the scarred man, seeking comfort.

"It's not a done deal yet. Who knows, maybe Izuku can recruit her." Dabi spoke to Tomura. "He seems to have a knack for inspiring loyalty." The other man grunted noncommittally but let the subject go. The fire user adjusted the greenette so that the two men could resume their game. Depression and warmth quickly had Izuku dozing against Dabi's shoulder. An occasional kiss to the top of his head or caress lulled him even more.

An indeterminate amount of time later he was pulled from the nap by a tickling on his ankle. He cracked an eye to see Tomura absently running his fingers over the sensitive joint while the two waited for a cut scene to end. Letting out a tiny noise of contentment, he stretched his legs out to rest across the man's lap. After a brief pause nimble fingers began kneading the sole of one foot. A squeak escaped and his leg twitched when Tomura tickled the arch. Curling his toes defensively, he tried to pull his feet away only to have the man grab one to continue teasing and massaging. 

Warm breath ghosted along his neck and Dabi's arms tightened around his waist to keep him in place. The scarred man nibbled the tip of his ear, making him gasp and flush red. Dimly he heard a 'game over' tone from the TV but no one paid it any mind.

♥️♥️♥️ Sex Ahead ♥️♥️♥️

A moan escaped when Dabi's attention migrated down his ear to the pulse point under it. Light suction sent tingles of pleasure down his spine and his hips twitched, instinctively seeking out relief for his growing interest. An arm pinned his thighs, reminding him of Tomura's presence as the man leaned in to undo the button and zipper on his pants. Hands wandered under his shirt, scratching their way up to his nipples and tweaking the perky buds. He gasped and whimpered when at the same time fingers reached in to caress and squeeze his fabric trapped length. The arms across his body and thighs prevented him from arching into the touches he so desperately craved.

Half lidded crimson eyes peered up at him while the man fondled him through the boxers. The observance made the teen blush and squirm bashfully. That seemed to be what Tomura was wanting, as he leaned in to mouth the shape of Izuku's erection. The hot breath and dry friction drew a needy whine, making the man chuckle before drawing back. "Do you want me to suck you off, or do you want something else?" He kneaded the outside of Izuku's thighs.

Licking his lips, the greenette struggled to think past Dabi's attention to his nipples and the almost painful tension in his groin. The bulge in the scarred man's pants rubbed against his backside, distracting him. It reminded him of the delicious sensation of being fucked into his mattress. When he failed to articulate his wants Tomura adjusted to pull his own shirt over his head, pants quickly following. Next, he started peeling Izuku's pants and boxers down his legs. He leaned in to nip and kiss the skin as it was exposed but ignored where the greenette really wanted attention. The actions didn't help the teen answer any quicker. 

Dabi's frame vibrated with a laugh as he similarly tugged the fabric of Izuku's shirt to pull it off. The man nipped his exposed shoulder and husked into his ear. "Do you want me to fuck you again? Or maybe give Tomura a turn? Unless you want to fuck us…" He purred, "You gotta tell us, beautiful." He punctuated the questions by rolling his hips against the greenette's ass.

Biting back a moan, Izuku finally stuttered out in a shy murmur. "Wa-want Tomura to f-fuck me." His face felt like it was on fire from voicing the lewd request. Red eyes smoldered with desire as the man leaned in to capture Izuku in a heated kiss. The teen surrendered with a mewl to a demanding lick across the seam of his lips, opening his mouth to let Tomura in. His fingers found their way into long pale blue locks, tugging lightly and trying to draw the man closer.

Under him, Dabi chuckled and pinched his hip, making him startle and squeak into the kiss. "You need lube and I need less clothes." The reminder made Tomura pull back and a whine of dismay left Izuku at the loss of contact. It didn't last long as the man sat down and drew the greenette into his lap. The teen adjusted to straddle his hips, eliciting moans from both of them as the move rubbed their lengths together. 

It was Izuku's turn to capture Tomura in a kiss, lapping at the scar on his bottom lip before angling for a passionate twining of tongues. Neither noticed when Dabi left until a bottle of lube was dropped in their laps. When the scarred man sat next to them on the couch he was already naked and stroking himself idly while watching.

"Don't mind me." He licked his lips with a grin. "Enjoy yourselves."

Tomura shifted his weight to roll Izuku to the side. He arranged him so his head was against Dabi's thigh while his legs were spread wide, one hooked on the back of the sofa so the man could nestle comfortably between them. The pose gave the man easy access to his ass, a slicked finger teasing the tight ring of muscles as soon as the greenette settled. 

The teen was less nervous, knowing what to expect, but still tensed in anticipation when the digit pressed in. The man let out a lusty groan at the gripping heat, going slow but not stopping until he was knuckles deep. He gave a few pumps, letting Izuku relax, before adding a second finger. The stretch had the greenette panting lightly, canting his hips to encourage Tomura to find that delicious bundle of nerves. When the man crooked his fingers just right a keening moan wrenched from Izuku at the pleasant friction against his prostate. He dug his heel into the man's hip, demanding more. A whine was quickly stifled by warm lips when the fingers retracted. Tomura crowded closer until he could rub the slick head of his dick against Izuku's entrance. The teen stilled, struggling to stop his needy squirming to relax. 

The pressure increased, stretching him open wider until the head slid in. They moaned in tandem at the snug fit, Izuku's walls flexing around the man greedily. After a brief pause Tomura gave shallow little thrusts to ease the way until he was fully sheathed, hips flush against the teen's ass. He leaned in to capture the greenette's mouth in a passionate kiss, muffling noises of pleasure as he withdrew almost to the tip before slamming back in. He set a bruising pace that left Izuku breathless and digging his nails into the man's shoulders. Each thrust rubbed firmly against the cluster of nerves and had him flexing to meet Tomura's movements as best he could. The pleasure built quickly under the frantic slap of flesh against flesh, leaving him dizzy and desperate for more. 

A keening cry escaped him when a calloused hand wrapped around his dick, squeezing and stroking in time with the thrusts. Cracking his eyes open he saw a scarred arm reaching down between him and Tomura. Dabi was jerking him off. The combination quickly made the pressure explode and he came with a loud cry, clenching around Tomura's length and forcing the man's own completion after only a few more snaps of his hips. The pale man slowed to a stop, still buried in Izuku's gripping heat. He adjusted to gather the greenette in his arms, holding him tight as they both struggled to catch their breath. He lavished the teen's cheek and neck with lazy kisses that had Izuku sighing with contentment as he came down from the blissful high.

Eventually Tomura adjusted to pull out, making the teen whine in disappointment at the empty feeling. Dabi chuckled, brushing fingers through Izuku's hair as the pale man stood to fetch a washcloth for them. "That was the hottest thing I've ever seen. You were beautiful." The words brought a blush back to the greenette's cheeks. A fluttery ball of warmth formed in his chest as he snuggled against the man's thigh. It grew when Tomura padded back out of the bathroom still looking flushed and satisfied.

♥️♥️♥️ End of Sex ♥️♥️♥️

As they cleaned up and got dressed Izuku contemplated the pleasant feeling he got when he looked at the two men. It was similar to what he felt when he first started realizing he liked them but this was stronger and harder to ignore. He didn't think it had to do with sex, though that certainly helped. When he was with them, even platonically, he felt happy and light. But when they were absent it felt like a gnawing darkness was consuming him.

Squished between them on the sofa, his mind worked overtime trying to figure it out. A surprised squeak escaped him when it finally clicked. It drew their attention, making him duck his head bashfully. "Care to share, shrimp? Did you hurt that big brain of yours?"

Chewing his bottom lip he glanced between them. "I… um… IthinkIloveyou." The confession came out in a rushed jumble, making both men look briefly confused as they sorted through it.

"Huh?" Dabi's lips twitched and the teen suspected the jerk understood him the first time.

Drawing in a steadying breath, Izuku repeated himself slower but in a quiet, shy, tone. "I think I love you."

He closed his eyes against anticipated rejection. They were silent for a moment before a heavy hand ruffled his curls. He peeked to see it was Tomura. Faint pink stained his cheeks as he leaned down to kiss Izuku softly. He leaned their foreheads together so crimson eyes were all the greenette could see. "I love you too, shrimp."

Dabi nuzzled against Izuku's cheek with his nose until he turned his head enough to receive a kiss from him too. "I love you, beautiful." They spent a few moments with their heads resting together, all three sharing the same breaths. Eventually Dabi inched forward to kiss Tomura, smirking a bit. "And I kind of like you." 

Chapter Text

One evening a couple days later, while walking home from the warehouse a quiet scuffling in an alleyway made Izuku freeze in his tracks. Past experience urged him to about-face and go in the opposite direction. Curiosity nagged at him to investigate. A choked off yell had his feet moving without conscious thought. Inching towards the opening, he peered around the corner, already digging his phone out to call Tomura or Kurogiri. What he saw gave him pause. A large man with a dog ear mutation was spasming on the ground. Blood soaked the asphalt under his head and shoulders in a rapidly growing puddle. Straddling him with a knife in hand was a petite blonde girl in a gore stained light blue dress.

As he watched she leaned in to lap at the blood spilling from an exposed trachea. Izuku's head tilted in thought. That was a highly inefficient way to drink blood, most of it was being wasted. Then a wider realization set in as he studied her appearance. "Toga-san?" The question slipped out before he could help it. The blonde startled and whipped around, knife raised. Izuku held his hands up in a placating gesture. "S-sorry! I didn't mean to interrupt! I've just been looking for you."

Gold eyes, slitted like a cat's, blinked at him in confusion. "Who are you?" Her expression took on a more predatory look as she eyed him up and down. "You're cute." She climbed to her feet and took a step closer.

Blushing, Izuku waved his hands in a flustered manner. "T-thank you but I'm gay. Um, I just wanted to talk. I have an offer you might be interested in. You can call me Sutegobana." The name slipped out in his scramble to come up with one. Tomura and Dabi had both scolded him for using his real name with Magne before they knew her.

That seemed to get her attention. Glancing between him and the corpse she lowered the knife. "I'm listening. But I'm also getting cold and blood dries all crusty and gross."

Scratching the back of his neck, Izuku took off his hoodie and offered it to her. She looked stunned before breaking into a fit of giggles. "No, no, it's fine." A happy grin showed off fangs. "What did you want to say?"

The rejection left him relieved, it was still cold out at night. As he pulled the article back on he pondered how to go about this recruitment. "Well, you probably don't remember me but almost a year ago we met at a shelter. Since then I've gotten back on my feet with the help of some people." He tilted his head thoughtfully. "We don't care about quirks, even the messy ones." He gestured towards the cooling body. "We only care about correcting society's broken rules and unfair standards. Forcefully if needed… I remembered you after reading about your kills. You need blood to survive, right?"

Shock stole across her features. "How did you know?" 

"Well, I did some digging and a lot of blood was always missing from the scenes. Then I spoke with someone who saw you drinking from a cat." He shrugged, hoping he wasn't wrong. "I figured that you'd have to be desperate to kill animals too."

To his dismay her bottom lip began trembling. Panic set in when she sniffled. "I-I didn't want to hurt the pets. But I got so hungry and couldn't think straight." Tears spilled over and she hiccuped.

Scrambling a bit, Izuku searched in his pockets before pulling out a clean tissue. He offered it to her with a sympathetic grimace. "I'm sure we could find a way to get you a steady blood supply. Do you have a place to stay?"

She shook her head while blowing her nose. "I-I'm at another shelter." Another hiccup made her stutter.

"Ok. Let me call someone and see what I can do." All he got was a nod as she wept into the tissue. Izuku pulled his phone back out and speed dialed Magne. He desperately hoped the bar wasn't too busy. To his relief she picked up just before it went to voicemail.

" What can I do for you, kid?" She sounded brusque and in the background was a dull roar of voices. He winced at pulling her away from her job.

"Ah, sorry to bother you. I was wondering if you'd be open to letting someone crash on your couch. She's having trouble with her quirk and staying at a homeless shelter." He cringed at a full minute of silence.

Finally, " Bring her by the bar and I'll decide. I gotta go. "

Relief coursed through him. "Ok, thank you!" She said a brief goodbye before hanging up. During the exchange Toga had gotten ahold of herself and stopped crying. She peered at him with a hopeful, blotchy, and blood smeared face. "My friend wants to meet you first. She's at work but said we could stop by. While you two talk I can see about getting you some blood." 

The blonde let out a cheer and pounced him in a hug. He startled violently at that and had to halt a move towards his kusarigama. Thankfully she didn't notice. He patted her awkwardly on the back while keeping a wary eye on the blade she still held. "Come on, it's not far."

Reluctantly she let go and nodded. "I'll be on my best behavior, promise. He'll keep me happy for a few days." She gestured towards her unfortunate meal. Leaning down, she pulled a purse out from under a dumpster and tucked the knife away. "Lead on!" 

They received some strange looks during the trek but most people wisely gave them a wide berth. When they entered the bar no one batted an eyelash at Toga's appearance. They did rather quickly catch the attention of Kurogiri, Magne, and Dabi, who appeared to be drinking and keeping the other two company. 

The shadowy man waved them towards the back rooms behind the counter without a word. Magne followed behind them as Izuku led the way to the employee lounge. Once closed away, he glanced sheepishly at the bemused woman. "Magne, this is Toga-san. Her quirk makes it so she needs blood to live. I was hoping we could help her."

The blonde jumped in with a cheerful wave. "Just Toga. I can also take the appearance of whoever's blood I drink. Sutegobana is super smart for figuring it out!"

Magne raised an eyebrow at the name but smiled at the girl. "Let's get to know one another to see if we'd mesh as roommates. Sutegobana can fill everyone else in."

The dismissal was clear. Izuku shot the woman a sheepish, thankful, smile before slipping out. He needed to get her something nice for doing this. Dabi had taken over for her behind the counter and turned to stare expectantly when he returned to the front. 

"Uh…" The greenette looked around to make sure no one was close enough to eavesdrop. He lowered his voice to a murmur. "New recruit. Can you get a hold of bagged blood?"

The scarred man's eyebrows arched incredulously at the request. "I dunno. I never asked my suppliers what all they sell. I can…" He trailed off when Kurogiri drifted closer.

"I will procure some. The lab has plenty to spare. I'll leave it in the refrigerator after closing tonight." He just as swiftly returned to his bartending duties.

Dabi blinked and a slow grin crept across his face. "Don't tell Tomura. I wanna see if he notices."

The thought of the pale man's potential reactions had Izuku smiling as well. He nodded in agreement, earning him a chaste -they were in public after all- kiss on the forehead before Dabi went back to work. The greenette leaned against a shelf by the door, waiting for Magne to return with a verdict.

It took longer than expected but eventually the two women emerged. Both were smiling, which he took as a good sign. Magne patted him on the head as she passed. Toga glomped him with a happy squeal, almost sending him to the floor. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! We're testing it for a week to see how it goes!" 

Izuku patted her back awkwardly. "That's great! And hopefully tomorrow I'll have some blood for you to try." That made her hug him tighter, almost cutting off his airway.

The older woman let him suffer for a moment before prying the blonde off. "Go get your stuff from the shelter and come get me when you're back. Then I'll show you the place."

Toga nodded enthusiastically before turning to skip out of the bar. They watched her go before Magne turned to him with a smirk. "You have the weirdest way of picking friends."

Chapter Text

A breathless wheeze wooshed out of Izuku's lungs as his back hit the wall, leaving him dazed. His opponent took advantage by rushing in to grab his arm. In one smooth motion he was slammed into the floor with a grunt. Weight pinned him down as Ochaco sat on his back with a victorious cheer. "Hah, I beat you!" She got off him when he squirmed and canceled her quirk so he wouldn't float away.

Rolling to his back with a wince, he laid there catching his breath. When he'd offered to fight her he'd forgotten one key fact about her. She had older brothers and with it came a scrappiness he wasn't expecting. It provided a nice challenge when they fought normally but he still tended to beat her. When quirks were introduced to their sparring he consistently got his ass handed to him because he couldn't defend against five point contact without his weapon. Zero Gravity was an amazing ability.

It was the night before the heroics entrance exam and he was helping her blow off steam for the big day ahead. Technically they both should have been asleep but she'd texted him in a panic at midnight thinking she'd missed the test. It was now one in the morning and they were both sweaty and exhausted. He only hoped it wouldn't backfire for her. "One day I'm going to win against your quirk." He sat up with a wince and stretched his neck. Once he made sure nothing was broken he rolled to his feet. "You kept it up longer without yacking."

A brilliant grin formed and she stared at her hands. "You're right! And I only feel a little nauseous!" There was wonder in her tone at the realization. Her time had been subtly increasing the more she used it with Izuku in combat. He doubted she'd have trouble with the entrance exam robots as long as she didn't freeze up or overdo it too early.

"You should go get some rest. And if I don't see you in the morning, good luck!"

She stretched and yawned widely. "You're not heading up yet?" 

The greenette shook his head. "I need to talk to my dad first." In actuality it was Tomura he wanted to see, who was in a meeting with yakuza in one of the other rooms. They were still searching for why the Shie Hassaikai wanted Izuku, and Dabi had wrangled a favor from a rival family.

"Ok, I'll see you tomorrow!" He followed her out to ensure no drunks harassed her but returned to the bar once she was up the stairs. Magne low key slid him a rum and coke when Kurogiri's back was turned. The teen grinned at her in silent thanks and sipped the drink at the counter while exchanging memes with Shoto on his burner phone. The other boy had a rough 'training session' with his father and was in too much pain to sleep. It boiled Izuku's blood but there wasn't anything that could be done about it yet. Without a doubt he would get Shoto out of there eventually, one way or another. The illicit drink was almost gone by the time Tomura exited the meeting room followed by four well dressed men. That none were decayed gave him some hope. 

The strangers left the bar while the pale man beelined for the counter, taking a seat next to Izuku. Magne gave him a glass of whiskey and refilled the greenette's rum and coke. "They don't know shit about you." The man murmured after taking a large sip. "But they had some interesting intel." The bar was empty this late so they didn't bother moving to the apartment for the discussion. Kurogiri and Magne gravitated over to listen. "The Shie Hassaikai used to be small fry but Kai Chisaki took over after the old leader got sick. A couple months ago they suddenly surged to the top for quirk stimulant manufacturing and trade. No one knows how he suddenly got the resources for it."

"Quirk stimulants?" Izuku tilted his head in confusion. 

Magne made a noise of disgust, answering before Tomura could. "Stuff like Trigger. It can temporarily enhance a quirk's strength but it's highly addictive and the side effects are nasty. The last big distributor of it was taken down a few years ago."

"Mmhmm." The man hummed through a drink before swallowing. "Now there's rumors that he's trying to get backing for a new drug that supposedly suppresses quirks. No one's taking him seriously so far because quirk suppressing cuffs are already a thing."

That caught Izuku's attention. He drank from his own glass as his thoughts kicked into overdrive trying to sort out why it would be important. But Magne had been heavy handed with the alcohol and his already tired brain was growing fuzzy. He must have zoned out because a touch to his arm startled him. Tomura smirked at him. "Time for you to go to bed, I think." 

The man's glass was empty and so was Izuku's. He'd been unconsciously sipping at it while lost in fruitless thought. A yawn worked its way out and he stretched before slipping off the stool. The pale man stood as well and wrapped an arm around the greenette's shoulders to guide him out of the bar and up the stairs to their apartment. 

Dabi was lounging on the couch watching TV when they entered. He perked up and raised a questioning eyebrow. "How'd it go?"

The pale man sighed and rolled his shoulders in a shrug. "I'll fill you in tomorrow. This one needs sleep." He squeezed Izuku to his side in a one armed hug. The teen snuggled against him, struggling to keep his eyes open. A chuckle from Dabi made his ears perk. The man's laugh was nice. He was barely cognizant of being herded into a bedroom. Two pairs of hands worked to undress him before he was lowered onto a bed. A moment later two warm bodies pressed against him on either side. He was asleep in seconds, a content smile on his lips.

The next evening the three were curled up on the couch together watching a movie when a knock came at the door. Izuku was being hugged like a teddy bear by Tomura so it fell to Dabi to untangle himself to answer it. The man made a surprised noise when he opened the door.

"Hey kid, you ok?" He stepped aside to let in a very gloomy looking Ochaco. 

She made straight for Izuku and, ignoring a growl from Tomura when she touched him by proxy, glommed on to him. "I think I failed!" She sounded close to tears, making the greenette pat her back awkwardly.

"Why do you think that?" He was genuinely confused. The odds were in her favor after all.

Dabi disappeared into the kitchen and returned a moment later with something that looked suspiciously like a glass of Kurogiri's wine. He sat down next to the girl and offered it to her. Reluctantly she let go of Izuku to claim the drink. She sputtered a little in surprise at the first sip but didn't question the contents. "I was doing ok but some small boy with purple balls on his head kept stealing my points and making perverted comments at me. And then they released a huge zero pointer robot that started destroying everything. I got pinned under rubble and couldn't move it from overusing my quirk. No one bothered to help so I didn't get any points the last five minutes." She glurped more of the wine once she was done rambling out an explanation.

Even Tomura frowned at the description. The greenette rubbed her arm comfortingly. "I'm sure the teachers wouldn't let in a creep. And even if you don't get into heroics right away the sports festival allows other students a chance to move up. You won't know for sure until the letter comes so it's no use putting yourself down so soon." Internally he was guiltily hoping she failed into General Education. It would simplify a lot of problems with attacking All-Might if she weren't present in the targeted class. He wanted to keep her in ignorance for as long as possible, Tomura's warnings still clear in his head.

The brunette didn't look convinced. But after downing the rest of her drink she slapped her cheeks to psych herself up. "You're right! I shouldn't assume. I did way better than a kill stealing perv and the teachers should recognize it!"

"Good, now get out." Tomura grumped at her. He grunted and scowled when Izuku elbowed him.

"You can stay and watch the movie with us if you want." The greenette offered to counter the sting of the pale man's words.

Choosing to follow Izuku's advice, Ochaco ignored the man. She peered at the TV curiously. It was an old, pre-quirk horror movie called Kansen. Izuku had paused it on a scene where they were wheeling in a new patient, presumably the catalyst for things to go wrong.

"Oh, I think I've seen this one! It's really good!" That seemed to cement her place on the couch. Dabi sulked at being separated from Izuku but didn't seem to mind her staying. He draped his arm across the back of the couch so he could toy with the greenette's hair. Tomura tried to stay mad but soon got distracted by the TV as people started to hallucinate and die.

Ninety minutes passed in an enjoyable blur of green blood and death. It was nearing eight thirty at night when it finished. "So it was all a hallucination?" Tomura was puzzled.

"Yeah, the corpse had an airborne virus that made them go crazy and kill each other." Ochaco supplied.

The man hummed. "But what was the apple at the end about?"

"I think it was to show that she was still infected. So even if help arrived the nightmare would continue." The brunette seemed cheerful about it. For being so upbeat and kind she seemed to like horror movies.

"That makes sense..." Tomura seemed to realize who he was chatting with because he suddenly scowled. "We gotta make food. You go get your own. Somewhere else."

The hostility was ignored once again but she nodded agreeably. "I am hungry. Thank you so much for letting me stay. I feel a lot better now!" After Izuku and Dabi said their goodbyes she saw herself out.

The dower look stayed on the pale man's face despite her finally leaving. He leveled a disapproving frown at Izuku. "We can't keep her. She's not like the others you keep bringing back."

Ducking his head, the greenette nodded while biting his lip. "I know. But… she's just the first person my own age that…" He trailed off, knowing the man was right and not wanting to argue.

The arms around him squeezed and Tomura kissed his forehead. "... Sorry." He sighed. "We'll try keeping her ignorant as long as possible." 

The apology warmed Izuku. It wasn't something the man did often. He knew Tomura was just trying to protect his feelings in the long run by warning him away from Ochaco. Losing her friendship to betrayal would hurt. But he wanted to enjoy her company until the time came. He snuggled into the man's embrace and threaded his fingers through his hair. Dabi rubbed his back briefly before kissing his shoulder and standing. "I actually am hungry. I'm gonna start some grub."

They sat there listening to the scarred man putter around the kitchen for a few moments. Reluctantly, Izuku disentangled himself from Tomura. He kissed the man's cheek before standing to use the restroom.

When he reemerged the pale man was still brooding where Izuku had left him. The frown he wore made his scarred lips look pouty in a way that had the greenette wanting to lick the scars on them. He approached but rather than reclaim his spot on the couch he slid to his knees.

♥️♥️♥️ Sex Ahead ♥️♥️♥️

Tomura looked startled and confused at the move until Izuku reached forward to undo the button on his pants. Scarlet eyes dilated and a gloved hand came up to caress the greenette's cheek. "You don't have to…"

Nuzzling against the warm palm, Izuku lowered the zipper as well. "I want to." A shy blush crept onto his face despite the bold assertion. He still felt bad about not touching Tomura during their first time together and wanted to return the favor. Plus he was curious.

Pushing the fabric aside, his fingers slipped under the band of Tomura's boxers and pulled them down until his semi hard dick was exposed to the air. It was a darker shade than the rest of the man's body, flushing a pretty dusky pink. He'd never really looked at either man while they were hard before, being too distracted previous times. Leaning in, he rubbed his cheek against velvety soft skin before turning his head to experimentally lap at the foreskin shrouded crown. A quiet gasp left Tomura, emboldening the teen to draw the tip into his mouth. As he suckled delicately he could feel it firming and growing under the attention. The knowledge that he was causing the reaction sent a tingle of pleasure up his spine.

Fingers threaded through his hair, kneading in encouragement. He drew more past his lips and wormed the tip of his tongue under the edge of the foreskin, eliciting a breathy moan. When the skin grew taut he withdrew his tongue to take more of the length in. Relaxing his jaw he eased down until his nose was nestled in coarse pale blue curls. His nostrils flared at the faintly musky scent. It should have been unpleasant but he found himself enjoying it because it was Tomura's. A strangled note came from the man and his fingers tightened in Izuku's hair. The teen felt a shudder go through Tomura's frame and his hips twitched before he got himself back under control. 

The greenette sucked lightly as he eased back up, the swelling erection growing too long to comfortably hold the full length in his mouth. Adjusting, he braced one hand on Tomura's thigh while wrapping the other around what wouldn't fit. He stoked in time as he bobbed his head in slow, smooth motions, finding a comfortable pace that made the hands in his hair clench. The sting was easy to ignore as he focused on the mildly pleasant friction along his palate. 

He startled with a muffled squeak when arms wrapped around him from behind. The tightening of his mouth drew a louder moan from Tomura. Dabi's warm breath on his neck made him shudder and he whined when the other man fondled the front of his pants. Now that attention was called to it he realized he was achingly hard. "You like sucking his cock? It's pretty fuckin' hot." The whisper in his ear made him moan and suckle Tomura's tip lewdly. Dabi chuckled while unfastening Izuku's pants, fingers teasing down to tickle the sensitive area just above his curls. "What do you think of me fucking your tight, pretty ass while you finish him off?" 

A needy whimper was all the articulation the teen could muster around Tomura's dick. He arched his hips to rub against Dabi's front, feeling the hardness of him through the layers of clothing. The man's breath hitched and he pushed Izuku's pants down around his thighs. A moment later he heard a zipper. A slick digit eased into his hole without warning, wrenching a moan from him that was echoed by Tomura. As soon as he relaxed a second finger was introduced. They curled as they sought out that bundle of nerves that never failed to drive the teen wild. When Dabi found it he pressed and rubbed firmly. Izuku jerked at the jolt of pleasure and had to pull off Tomura's length to avoid biting him. 

The scarred man chuckled at the reaction, continuing to abuse his prostate with hard strokes. Izuku trembled and thrust his hips back as a tingly fluttery feeling settled in his abdomen. All he could do was press his face against Tomura's thigh to muffle loud noises of enjoyment. Dabi's front pressed to his back as the man leaned over him to nuzzle his neck. 

"Don't leave him out, beautiful." The scarred man nipped his ear before stretching further to lap at Tomura's dick himself. The sight had Izuku clenching around the fingers still buried in his ass. They were relentless in rubbing that spot, making it hard to think past the waves of pleasure roiling through him. It felt like he was going to cum and his aching length hadn't even been touched yet.

A strangled whine wrenched from him when the attention abruptly ceased, the fingers withdrawing to leave him feeling empty. Dabi slurped Tomura's tip before sitting up. The loss of his heat at his back made Izuku shiver and whimper. Warm hands returned to squeeze and knead his ass cheeks. "You think you can keep from biting?" Dabi's voice was rough with lust. Three fingers briefly penetrated his gripping heat but withdrew almost immediately when he didn't respond. The greenette nodded frantically, needing to be filled again. "Want Tomura to fuck your mouth, since you can't concentrate?" The thought of being speared between them made the teen let out a needy whimper and nod again.

One of Tomura's hands shifted from Izuku's hair to his jaw, caressing and urging him to tilt his head just so and open his mouth. He did so eagerly, licking and suckling as the man eased his dick past his lips. The angle was awkward but let Tomura thrust into his mouth without gagging him. He was rewarded a moment later when a blunt tip pressed through his tight ring of muscles.

The smooth stretch had him trembling again, hyper aware of the beads on Dabi's piercings as they caught on his rim before sliding in. As they pressed over the bundle of nerves he whimpered and canted his hips, wanting more. The scarred man let out a husky laugh and dug his fingers into Izuku's hips to hold him still. "Easy, sweetheart. Just relax and enjoy yourself." Lips ghosted down his back leaving butterfly kisses until his muscles finally eased. "That's it. You're so sensitive, I love it. But you got so tight it almost hurt." 

The teen whined but struggled to focus on Tomura instead for a moment. The slow glide of his shaft along his tongue was enjoyable in its own right. It tickled and rubbed the delicate roof of his mouth and the sensitive inside of his cheek, sending muted notes of pleasure down his spine. Even his lips tingled pleasantly when he tightened them around the man's shaft.

When Dabi started moving again it was slower than before, easing in until the man's hips nestled against his ass. Izuku reflexively clenched in anticipation before forcing himself to relax. After a brief pause Dabi withdrew, the beads and ridges of the piercings dragging over his prostate in a slow glide that made Izuku's knees feel weak after the earlier abuse. When he thrust back in just as slowly Izuku mewled and his front half melted against Tomura's legs. The pale man matched Dabi's careful movements though his hips occasionally twitched like he wanted to go faster. 

The teen trembled with muffled, needy, whimpers, the delicate pace just as maddening as the rough stimulation after a few moments. His legs felt like they were turning into jello as liquid heat built agonizingly slowly with each move, fluttery tingles lancing through him as his climax climbed at a snail's pace. Eventually Izuku reached behind him to grip Dabi's hip, trying to urge him faster in desperation. 

That seemed to be what Dabi was waiting for as with the next thrust he slammed in. A keening cry wrenched from Izuku, the vibrations making Tomura moan and jerk his hips roughly to match. All Izuku could do was dig his nails into Tomura's thighs and hang on as Dabi set a brutal pace that had his toes curling and overwhelmed tears stinging his eyes. The unrelenting friction against the bundle of nerves with each thrust made his balls draw tight and his muscles spasm. Just as he thought he couldn't take anymore the pressure snapped and fluttering waves of intense pleasure rolled through him. A muffled scream of ecstasy wrenched from his throat as sparks flashed behind clenched eyelids.

A few more harsh thrusts prolonged the euphoria before heat flooded his insides as Dabi slammed in one last time, grinding into his ass as he came. Tomura's length twitched in his mouth and warm cum spurted across his tongue. He was too blissed out to mind the taste, swallowing it down with a tired mewl and suckling the tip for every last drop as he struggled to catch his breath through his nose. Tomura eventually hissed and pulled his softening length out, Izuku's lazy attention overstimulating him. Fingers kneaded and petted his scalp, making him purr and nuzzle the man's thigh. Dabi stayed buried in his ass, leaning in to lavish his shoulder blades with kisses and light nips. The teen sighed with boneless contentment at the gentle affection, enjoying the sensation of the scarred man's dick slowly shrinking inside him.

When the man finally pulled out the greenette shivered at the loss of his warmth. Without Dabi supporting his hips he relaxed onto his haunches with a note of discomfort. The aches and pains of the rough activities were becoming apparent without pleasant distractions. Despite that he found himself dozing in the hazy afterglow. 

♥️♥️♥️ End of Sex ♥️♥️♥️

He barely registered the scarred man returning with a washcloth to carefully clean him up. Nor did he stir when he was adjusted and scooped up into strong arms. He was happily dead to the world when the two men wrestled him out of his clothing and bundled him into bed.

Chapter Text

Roughly a week later Izuku was startled from mindless research on the couch by a scream echoing in the hallway outside. Dropping his laptop on a cushion, he bolted for the door. He wrenched it open in time to see a holographic projection of All-Might wink out of existence. A stunned looking Ochaco stood there clutching a letter. He relaxed when he realized what must have happened.

"What is it, what's wrong?" Toga's head poked out of Magne's door to inquire. She had a knife at the ready and a fierce pout in place.

"I… I got in. I got in! " Ochaco hugged the paper to her chest and grinned widely. 

Toga squealed and pounced the unsuspecting brunette in a hug that sent them both to the floor. "Congrats!" The blonde straddled her and stole the paper to snoop. "Fifth place, that's great!"

The greenette stepped forward to read over Toga's shoulder. 25 villain points and 40 rescue points. That was impressive even though she'd had other examinees working against her. His eyes scanned the information and he tried to hold in a breath of relief. She was being placed in 1-B. All-Might was expected to work with both classes but Izuku anticipated that his ego would focus on 1-A.

"Ocha-chan," Toga ignored the brunette's squirming. "This calls for a girls night celebration!" She rolled off and popped to her feet with a peel of laughter before Ochaco could slap her with five fingers. "I'm gonna go get Magne!" The hyper blonde disappeared down the stairs, still with the girl's results in hand, ignoring that the woman was supposed to be working tonight.

The greenette offered Ochaco a hand up. "I knew you could do it." He patted her on the back. "You should go tell your parents."

The reminder made her startle. "You're right! Thank you, Izu-kun!" While he was trying to parse the nickname she slipped into her apartment and closed the door. 

That was the first genuine nickname he'd ever been given. Even 'shrimp' as Tomura called him was meant to be insulting when they first met. He felt light and warm as he returned to his own unit. When he reclaimed his computer he noticed he'd missed a message on HeroTube while out. It was from Stain. He and the vigilante still talked but they were at an impasse about meeting and the man still refused to discuss things online. It was because of that that Izuku was surprised to see a request to meet that wasn't unreasonable. He finally agreed that the greenette could bring a companion and that they could chat at a park rather than a dark alleyway.

It should have been a satisfactory arrangement. But the abrupt flip set him on edge. What changed to make the man suddenly give in after weeks of digging in his heels? Clicking over to the man's channel he found nothing new. Nor did a search bring up anything beyond the hero deaths he already knew about. Next he did a search about himself. There still wasn't even so much as a missing persons report. His various usernames also brought up nothing. Whatever caused it wasn't public knowledge.

He was still brooding at the screen when Tomura exited his bedroom. The man hadn't bothered budging from his own computer at the feminine sounding scream. He paused to take in Izuku's serious frown before continuing his path to the kitchen. "What's up?"

The teen briefly filled him in on the message, standing to join him by the fridge. Tomura rooted around for something to eat but came up empty. They needed groceries again since Dabi routinely stole their food while he was there. They were even out of olive oil since the scarred man used it as lube that one night.

"It could be a trap. Set up a time but I'm going with you. Also, you're going shopping." He snagged the family credit card from the counter and shoved it at Izuku with a lazy yawn. 

Resigned to Tomura's antics by now, the greenette tucked the card into his pocket with a sigh. "Fine but I'm not getting you anymore squid jerky. It turns your breath rancid." He should have been proud that the man trusted his ability to defend himself going out alone. But at times like this it felt like a burden.

After pulling on his shoes and tucking his weapon in his belt he stole Tomura's warmer hoodie as petty revenge. It was early evening and growing colder by the minute. The frosty air had the streets largely deserted, especially with it still getting dark early. He only passed a couple business men and a drunk with a paper bag over his head on the route to the store. He was two blocks away when he was grabbed from behind and yanked into an alley. Reacting instinctively he jerked around and elbowed his attacker in the chin. It was deja vu as he found himself cornered against a dead end. 

"Why the fuck is it always alleyways?" He muttered sourly while pulling out his kusarigama and whipping the chain around the neck of the guy who grabbed him. He yanked the man to his knees and held the sharp blade to his eye. The action made the others freeze. Izuku stared at them coldly. "Who are you?"

They exchanged looks with each other. When no answer was forthcoming he inched the point closer, a hair's breadth from slicing into the pupil. The man's breath came in panicked pants, fingers clawing at the chain but not daring to move. One finally spoke up. "Our boss wants you."

An impatient snarl curled Izuku's lips and he jabbed the blade forward. A scream wrenched from his hostage but was quickly choked off as the teen pulled the chain taut. "Let me guess. Overhaul? The last guys he sent after me didn't fare well." He ignored the faint nausea that puncturing out someone's eye caused. It was them or him. 

The talkative one smirked. "Their failures are our successes." His cocky attitude sent alarms blaring in Izuku's head. Too late.

Pain lanced through his right shoulder blade. The world seemed to speed up around him as one of the goons rushed forward. Or, he realized as his face met concrete with a crunch before he could react, he was being slowed down. The kusarigama was wrenched from his fist and a boot ground into his hand until the bones grated together and snapped. The agony hit a moment before something slammed into the back of his head, knocking him blessedly unconscious.

When he came to it was with a splitting headache and throbbing hand. Cracking his eyes open caused him to hiss as bright light made his head explode. Attempting to move yielded the fact that his wrists and ankles were restrained. He seemed to be upright in a cold, hard, metal chair. Panic left him feeling short of breath and faint. He'd been captured and Tomura wouldn't know where to find him. Wouldn't even know to worry until a couple hours later. By then who knows what would happen to him.

The spiraling thoughts were abruptly halted by the sound of a door opening. Calm even footsteps approached, the owner unhurried. Izuku opened his eyes again and squinted through the pain. Before him stood a man who's most striking feature was a magenta plague mask embroidered in gold. Short auburn hair was stylishly tousled in a casual look. Narrow gold eyes stared at him impassively. The man wore a black dress shirt, pressed black pants, and a maroon tie. Aside from the mask and white gloves he would look like any other businessman.

"You're awake, good. I wanted to see the runt who's given my men so much trouble. If you had come quietly the first time this would have been far easier on you."

So this was Kai Chisaki. Licking dry lips, Izuku let out a cough before trying to speak. "Why?"

The man's eye twitched at the uncovered hack. The mask apparently wasn't just a fashion statement. Chisaki kept a six foot distance from him despite trying to appear cool and intimidating. "Quid pro quo. Someone wanted you gone and I needed funding. That they're letting me keep you is a bonus. Having a quirkless from this generation will be a boon for my research. Your kind is a dying breed. It's the deepest of shames."

The greenette felt ill as he processed the words. His mind automatically went to Sensei. The man clearly didn't like him and had the money to back a quirk suppressing drug. The suspicion was perhaps paranoid but apt given recent circumstances.

Chisaki continued when Izuku remained silent. "He even lended me a geneticist who helped speed up production. I admit the arrangement sounded too good to be true but the results speak for themselves. I've been informed you've already met Doctor Ujiko."

A sensation like ice ran down Izuku's spine as the door opened once again. In ambled Dr. Garaki, who beamed at him with clear joy. "I'm quite familiar with young Izuku, Chisaki-san. I've known him since he was a child after all." 

Chapter Text

Ice cold fear shot down Izuku's spine and he began struggling against the bonds as Dr. Garaki moved closer. Behind him, Chisaki headed towards the door. "Let me know if you break him. It would be a good test for Eri to see if her quirk works on him." The door swung shut with a loud click of finality.

"Now then. Where to begin? So many tests, so little time!" The doctor chuckled to himself as he bustled around the room preparing equipment Izuku hadn't noticed in his panic. "To imagine All For One just wanted to turn you into a nomu!" He sounded scandalized. 

Izuku's wrists started to sting from his efforts to escape the straps. Grasping for anything to delay the inevitable, he spat out the question burning on his mind. "Sensei knows?" He inferred that Sensei and All For One were the same person, which answered the question by itself but he wanted explicit confirmation.

Doctor Garaki tapped the side of his nose and winked. He approached without answering, pulling an IV stand along with him. Izuku went lax. There was no use, the bonds weren't budging even an inch. Struggling with a needle in his arm vein would be stupid. He couldn't stop a cringe as the man touched him. "That's it." Garaki expertly inserted an IV into the back of Izuku's hand. "Now, I must apologize. This isn't going to be pleasant since I don't want to waste painkillers." He didn't even try to sound sincere. "Feel free to scream, I hear it's quite cathartic."

Numbness washed over the greenette at that. He startled and gritted his teeth when the doctor pressed a button and the chair started moving to form an operating table. Soon all he could do was clench his eyes closed against the blinding overhead lights. "First some blood samples." The doctor thankfully used a port in the IV tube for that. "And some hair samples." Izuku's scalp stung as a few strands were ripped out. "Then I think some tissue samples to test against Eri's. It's quite exciting having both of you under one roof!"

The doctor wheeled over a stainless steel cart. Izuku took deep breaths, trying to prepare himself for what was coming. It couldn't be worse than what Hisashi did. Or Bakugo's beatings. He was helpless then too. Even so he flexed against the restraints and his breath hitched in fear when his shirt was cut away. Bile tried crawling up his throat as Garaki used a marker to draw lines and measurements on his skin. When the man picked up a scalpel, Izuku shrank against the table as much as possible.

"I wouldn't do that, you'll throw off my precision. Here." He sat down the knife and rooted around under the table. A moment later he drew leather straps out and cinched them tightly over Izuku's hips and upper chest. "There we go."

The greenette's breaths came in panicked pants as he tried squirming and couldn't budge an inch. The sadistic doctor reclaimed the blade and this time there was nothing stopping him from slicing it into the skin of Izuku's abdomen. The scalpel was so sharp that at first he didn't feel anything. Then as deeper incisions were made they slowly started to burn and twinge. His teeth ground together so hard they squeaked as a sharper pain crested among the burning sensations. He didn't dare lift his head to see what was happening. Tears gathered in his eyes, adding an additional sting that was quickly lost among the rest. He wanted Tomura and Dabi.

~°~ POV: Tomura ~°~

An irritating sense of worry nagged at Tomura as he stared blankly at the League of Legends login screen. The shrimp had been gone for two hours. Not unusual when the pale man was too lazy to go with him. But texts went unread and ignored, which was odd. Izuku usually answered within a few minutes. Struggling to shrug off the uncomfortable feeling, he switched to a FPS game to blow off steam. The obsessive greenette had probably just found a hero fight to fanboy about. It wouldn't be the first time he was late because of something like that.

Despite quickly finding a few noobs to corpse camp he couldn't focus on the game. His attention kept drifting between his phone and the time. At the three hour mark he logged out with a disgusted huff. Where the fuck was he? Climbing to his feet he stomped out to the living room to pull on his boots. When he moved to pull on his hoodie he found it gone. "Stupid brat." The mutter had a fond note that he would decay anyone for pointing out. He grabbed the greenette's instead, grimacing at how thin it was. He really needed to get him a new one.

His first stop was the bar on the off chance Izuku found a new stray to drag home. Tomura would almost prefer animals at this point to spare him more of Toga's hyperactivity and Magne's sass. But, he supposed, Dabi was ok. Just outside the door to the bar he spotted a weirdo with a paper bag over their head. They seemed to be muttering but unlike Izuku's it seemed like they were having a literal argument with themself. Tomura was about to pass them by when he registered what they were holding.

A familiar black hoodie was clutched in one hand, a chain with a ball on the end dangling out from the bundle. The person was holding an ID card in the other and seemed to be glancing between it and the building. Alarm shot up his spine and lodged in his chest. It felt like something was squeezing his heart. It pissed him off. Before he registered his own movements he slammed them against the wall and pinned an arm across their neck. "Where the fuck did you get those?" He snarled while adjusting to pull a glove off.

A choked gurgle was his only answer and he realized he was pressing a bit too hard on their windpipe. He grudgingly relaxed his hold but hovered a bare hand close to their covered face. They coughed and gagged before managing a coherent, if hoarse, answer. "Alleyway by the grocery store. (None of your business)." The contradictory statements were said in different masculine tones, like two different people were speaking. "I was gonna rob him but someone beat me to it. (They threw away the loot - wasteful)!"

The back and forth was quickly giving Tomura a headache. "Where is he?" A foreign annoying feeling was making him nauseous and giving him goosebumps. It made the crawling sensation in his neck come back, like ants writhing under his skin. His fingers twitched, wanting to claw them out.

"They took him. (Six against one is bad odds). Five were generic henchmen but one was weird. I didn't even see him until he moved. (Spooky). Wore a bird beak mask and a white trench coat. (Bird faced freak stabbed him with his hair)."

Despite his growing irritation Tomura eased his grip on the man. He was all too familiar with that description thanks to his research. The Eight Precepts of Death were the only ones who wore plague masks, like Overhaul. "Why did you bring his stuff if you were gonna rob him?"

The voice sounded affronted. "I saw a kid get beaten up and snatched. I'm a thief not a monster. (Traffickers need to die)!"

The pale man let his arm drop but grabbed the weirdo's collar with his gloved hand. Ignoring a yelp and protests, he dragged them into the bar with him. Seeing that there were patrons he raised his voice in a snarl. "Everyone get the fuck out!" The entire bar startled and the regulars familiar with Tomura jumped to immediately follow the order. Those less knowing wisely followed the others. Kurogiri, Magne, and Dabi stared in surprise from behind the counter. 

Tomura shoved the weirdo into a stool to keep an eye on. The information was likely valid but they might not be what they seemed. Turning to the others, his eyes unconsciously sought out and locked with electric blue. "Overhaul took Izuku. Magne, go get Toga."

The reaction was immediate. Spines straightened and expressions turned flinty and cold. The woman rushed out with long strides, almost running. Blue sparks flashed around Dabi's clenched fists, giving away his feelings even if his face was carefully blank. "Who's that?" The scarred man nodded at the weirdo.

Before Tomura could explain, Toga's surprised voice piped up from the door. "Twice?" 

Chapter Text

~°~ POV: Dabi ~°~

Cold bitter rage simmered in Dabi's chest when Tomura's words registered. Izuku was gone. It echoed in his ears and made his hands itch with the urge to cremate something. He clenched his fists and let out controlled bursts of cerulean embers to keep from burning down the building. His gaze met crimson and he could see the same turmoil in the pale man's eyes. He barely registered Toga's arrival, too busy getting his emotions and quirk under tight control. Movement from Tomura caught his attention, the man bringing a hand up to viciously scratch his own neck. Before Dabi could help it he was reaching across the counter to lightly grip Tomura's hand and pull it down, as he'd seen Izuku do a hundred times before.

It caught Tomura off guard, making him freeze for a moment before turning his hand over to lace their fingers together. The contact was grounding and helped Dabi refocus on what was going on around him. Toga and the schizo guy - Twice were chatting about some shelter they'd met each other at. Irritation surged at their lack of urgency. "That's great. But how are we going to find Izuku?" That nicely shit on their reunion. The brief satisfaction he felt at Toga's crestfallen expression was hollow.

The blonde chewed her bottom lip before brightening up. "Twice will help!"

"I aim to please! (Wait, what)?!" He shrank back in his seat as Toga rounded on him with a grin.

"Your quirk! Eight heads are better than six!" She bounced on the balls of her feet and turned to them. "He can make copies of people. I saw him do it to rob a store once. He can copy someone so we have more people!"

The man wilted as they all turned to stare at him. "Fine! (Fuck off)! But it's not perfect. They have independent thoughts and can't take a lot of damage. (And sometimes try to kill the creator)."

Tomura leaned forward, crowding Twice with an impatient scowl. "How long do they last?" Dabi squeezed his hand in warning. The guy agreed to help, best not make him piss himself and run away. It made the pale man grudgingly lean back.

"Until they're killed. (They turn to mush, it's gross). They can also use the quirk of the person they're copied from. (It can get messy). The limit's two though." 

That was… perfect. He and Tomura exchanged a look, a nasty grin tugging his lips and pulling his scars tight. It was slowly mirrored by the pale man as he pondered the information. "Copy us. Me and Tomura."

"Hi-ho righty-o! (This is a terrible idea). Anyone got a tape measure?" Twice got to his feet and patted his pockets, pulling out a black mask with white accents after a moment. He pulled off the paper bag to reveal a tired looking man in his thirties. Days old stubble shadowed his face and his blonde hair was unkempt. A nasty looking scar bisected the center of his forehead. They only caught a glimpse as he immediately shoved the new mask on.

What followed was a highly awkward affair wherein Twice got up close and personal with him and Tomura with a measuring tape. Dabi grunted in uncomfortable annoyance as the inside length of his legs was scrutinized but kept his snark to himself for once. He wanted it done so they could find Izuku. Once the measurements were taken Twice insisted on using his quirk in private. Kurogiri pointed him into a windowless back room so he couldn't sneak out. If Toga vouched for him and he turned tail, Dabi would torch them both.

Several minutes passed during which Tomura grew progressively more twitchy. Magne had reclaimed her place behind the bar and passed out shots but they weren't helping. Finally, the door opened and out stepped… himself. That would take some getting used to. Twice had even copied their clothes, down to at least the visible piercings.

A clone of Tomura followed with Twice exiting last. The two - four villains examined each other before Dabi's double stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Let's get this show on the road. I'll go talk to Jumpei and try to get an address from him." Before anyone could say otherwise, he stalked out of the building.

Yup. That's exactly what the original Dabi had wanted to do since the mess started. The original Tomura pointed at his clone. "Go talk to Sensei. Get him to give us a nomu." The clone sneered at being given orders but disappeared through a portal summoned by Kurogiri. Apparently Izuku trumped pissing contests. Good to know.

As Tomura turned to speak to Kurogiri the door to the bar creaked. They all glanced over and Dabi fought not to cringe when he spotted Ochaco. She'd clearly been eavesdropping, by the guilty and worried expression she wore. His clone was probably in too much of a rush to notice. Tomura started to move towards her with a dark look. Dabi quickly stepped between her and the pale man, making the other villain growl. Good boyfriends didn't let their boyfriend decay their other boyfriend's friend. Or something. Izuku would never forgive Tomura when they rescued him otherwise.

Turning on her himself, he couldn't keep the annoyance from his tone. "Hey kid, we're in the mid-" 

She cut him off, slipping in fully and closing the door. "I want to help. I followed Toga down and heard everything." Her face was set in a determined frown. 

A growing headache made him rub his forehead. "You got any yakuza contacts?" The frown on her face deepened and she reluctantly shook her head. "Ever killed someone?" Another shake of the head had her resolute pose crumbling.

Stepping forward, he placed his hands on her shoulders and squeezed gently. "I know you wanna help but -"

"You can." Tomura paced over to stare at her. He had a manic smile that Dabi didn't entirely like but it was better than blind anger. More cold and calculating. "Toga's going to take some of your blood. She's going to go to Nighteye Agency and report the kidnapping. And while that's going on you're going to be up in your apartment staying out of our way like a good little hero."

Surprisingly, under Tomura's harsh gaze she gained some steel back in her spine. "What if Sir Nighteye uses his quirk on her? He'd know she's fake, his quirk is Foresight. Izuku told me about him once." Her hands clenched at her sides and Dabi really hoped she didn't have a big enough temper to try fighting the cranky villain. "Besides. Unless you report it anonymously they'll demand personal details. And then what if they contact me and I can't answer a question right? But if you report it anonymously they won't act as quickly because they'll be trying to identify the informant to make sure it's not a setup." 

Grudgingly he had to acknowledge that the girl brought up a valid point. Dabi was impressed. It left them at a frustrating crossroads. Tomura was hoping news of a kidnapping would prompt a hero raid on Overhaul's base. The police would provide a perfect distraction for them to sneak in and grab Izuku. And hopefully kill Overhaul as painfully as possible on the way out. But to increase the odds Ochaco might be put in harm's way if Chisaki escaped and found out her identity.

Tomura seemed to realize it too because he wheeled around to slap a chair with his bare hand, letting out an almost feral snarl as it disintegrated into dust. Ochaco startled at the aggression but held her ground. "Please, let me do it. Then I'll stay out of the way. Izuku has done nothing but help me. I want to return the favor."

There was one glaring problem with the proposed plan as Dabi pondered it more. The realization made him grimace. "They'll wanna confirm he's missing first. Interview family and shit. We'd be on their radar after that." He turned to stare seriously at the girl. "And you'd be an accomplice. As in, say bye-bye to UA and a hero license."

A look of confusion crossed her face, followed closely by surprised understanding. To her credit she didn't budge or immediately try to call the cops on them. Her gaze drifted from him to Tomura and then to Toga and Magne, who were looking worried and grim respectively as they watched the argument unfold. Finally, "Then so be it. I wouldn't make a very good hero if I didn't do my best to help people in need. And right now Izuku needs help."

Chapter Text

~°~ POV: Izuku ~°~

Time lost all meaning as Izuku languished in an all consuming haze of agony. He suspected whatever was in the IV was keeping him conscious but his awareness blessedly kept drifting. He couldn't really tell when new incisions were added, aside from the sensation of layers of skin slowly parting under an increasingly dull blade. It was almost a sound rather than a feeling echoing through his body, the 'schliiiiiiiiiick' of layers of skin and sometimes organs being parted. At one point he thinks he has a seizure, muscles painfully tensing all at once in trembling twitches. Only to dimly register Garaki muttering about voltage levels. He hadn't even noticed the painful zap of electricity. His chest and left arm throbbed after that and his heartbeat seemed wrong when it pounded in his ears.

Breathing became increasingly difficult as his body struggled under the torture. It felt like he was suffocating and drowning at the same time. His extremities became tingly and numb, replacing the pain with a bone deep coldness that left him shivering violently as it crept slowly towards his core. He hoped it was death. Just before it reached his torso everything stopped. The cold, the agony, everything. The abrupt switch made him sob in relief though his tears had dried up long ago. Daring to crack an eye, he squinted and turned his head towards where he heard voices. His mind struggled to listen under the sudden reprieve.

"His pain tolerance is amazing! The older quirkless died much sooner to shock. And now we know that Eri's quirk works on them. I can begin experimenting with his DNA to see if it can be merged with Rewind to make the serum permanent." The doctor sounded excited.

As his vision cleared Izuku could make out Garaki and Overhaul near the door. A shock of white drew his gaze closer to the floor. His chest ached for a different reason when red eyes met his. That shade reminded him of Tomura's. A little girl with deathly pale skin and long white hair stood demurely by Chisaki's leg. She was small enough to barely reach his hip. She was dressed in a hospital robe and bandages were wrapped around too-thin arms and legs. A small horn stood out from her forehead. 

Inappropriate amusement surged and he couldn't keep in a strained chuckle. "U-unicorn." The word was hoarse and felt like lead on his bone dry tongue. It apparently was quiet enough for the adults to not hear, or they were ignoring him. It earned him a small frown and curious head tilt from the child.

When she took a tentative step towards him Chisaki grabbed her shoulder. "You've done well, Eri. It's getting late, go get some rest." His tone was pleasant but hid a steel edge. Eri shrank away and shuffled out the door when he opened it for her.

"Though I'm loath to leave a new specimen, that's a splendid idea. I have a lot of new data to comb through in the morning." The doctor turned towards Izuku and the teen flinched instinctively. "Sleep tight, young Izuku. We have an exciting day ahead of us!" The two men exited the room. Overhaul flipped a switch by the door as he passed, turning off the lights and shrouding the room in oppressive darkness. It was a blessing after so long spent in blinding brightness. 

The lack of distractions allowed his mind to wander. Eri looked remarkably similar to Tomura, if his hair was white instead of pale blue. The thought led to imagining that the restraints were the pale man's arms. The cold metal table became their couch. For acting so aloof most of the time, he liked cuddling while watching TV. Dabi would often press against them with an arm draped across Tomura's shoulders. One of the few times they touched each other outside of sex and sleep. The daydream warmed him and soothed the fear and turmoil plaguing the back of his mind. They would find him. They already knew Overhaul wanted him, they just needed an address. He just had to hold on until then.

A creek from the door jolted him to awareness. Frame tense, he waited with anxious dread for it to open. Had he drifted for that long? Before anxiety could cloud his mind he noticed a soft green light emitting through a crack. It was close to the floor and whoever held it was struggling to open the heavy barrier further.

Finally, there was enough of a gap for a small body to slip through. The glow turned out to be from a fuzzy green western dragon plushie clutched to Eri's chest. It provided just enough light to avoid bumping into things. She padded forward on hesitant bare feet.

Swallowing thickly, Izuku's mind raced with possibilities. "Little unicorn, you're Eri, right?" It hurt his parched throat to keep his voice at a scratchy, but steady, whisper.

The little girl gave a tentative nod but stayed silent. That was ok, Izuku had a lot to say and not much time. "They hurt you too, don't they?" The glow briefly went out as she clutched the toy too tight. A fearful gasp left her before it turned back on. Once they could see again she nodded once more.

"My friends will rescue us. Dabi and Tomura, that's their names. Can you get to a phone?" At another nod hope surged. He rattled off a number, repeating it a couple times. "Can you remember that?"

There was a pause before her mouth opened. "Y-yes." The word was so quiet he almost missed it. She repeated the number back haltingly. Her voice was soft and sweet, making his chest ache. No kid should have to go through what she probably had. 

"Can you ca-all that number and tell the-them where we are?" His voice was starting to give out. Eri nodded, expression apprehensive but slowly gaining hope. "I-It will be alright. They'll sa-save us. Go, b'fore they fi-ind you here."

The little girl turned and left on silent feet. She paused to pull the door closed and then she was gone. The darkness was more comforting this time. If Eri was successful he'd be back home soon.

~°~ POV: Tomura ~°~

Pacing circles around the bar, Tomura fought the urge to go out and decay every yakuza he could find. It was only Kurogiri's words of caution that stopped him. If they went out tearing the city apart Overhaul would probably just move Izuku. But after his plan was shot down the only thing they could do was wait. 

It had been hours since the clones had left. Kurogiri had helpfully portaled down their equipment and kept a gate open for his double but there was no activity. Twice assured him they were still alive. Magne had turned on the TV and switched it to the news so they could make sure the copies weren't going on a rampage like the originals wanted to do. Toga had taken Ochaco aside and they were conversing in a corner too quietly to hear. He'd enjoyed the look of horror on the girl's face when he put on the hands of his family. He could tell the wait was grating on Dabi too. The sparks and embers from his hands got worse as the night progressed. The scarred man left charred hand prints seared into the counter the one time he leaned against it. Now he was standing by the door like a guard, shoulders tense and electric eyes shadowed.

Tomura's fingers spasmed and clenched at the maddening crawling sensation under the skin of his neck. Izuku always calmed the impulses to mutilate himself with physical affection. In the beginning it pissed him off to no end, having his life and habits disrupted. Now the shrimp wasn't here and it felt like there was a black pit gnawing at his guts. Like his entire world was ending. He didn't know how to handle it.

It was nearing dawn and he was about to snap when the gate finally flared. A hulking shape shambled out. It towered tall enough for its exposed brain to almost scrape the ceiling and it knocked tables aside as it stopped in the center of the room. It was the tank meant to take out All-Might. The clone followed a moment later. He looked disheveled and angry, with a few scrapes and bruises visible. An uneasy feeling twisted Tomura's guts. "What the hell happened?"

"Sensei wasn't there so I went to the lab. The doctor was gone too so I had to improvise." In other words he stole the nomu and set off security protocols. Tomura couldn't care less, all that mattered was the result. He'd deal with the fallout once Izuku was back.

They were interrupted by Tomura's ringtone going off. Ripping the phone from his pocket, he stared at the strange number for a moment before answering. A very select few people had his number and most of them were in the room. "What?"

" I-is this To-mur-a or Dabi? " An impossibly young sounding voice whispered on the other end. She stumbled over his name.

"How did you get this number?" He didn't bother answering the question. Impatience and something else strange sparked in his chest. Something in his expression made Dabi pace closer and lean his head against Tomura's to listen in.

There was a pause before the little girl responded. " Izu-ku said you'd save us. I d-don't know where we are. " Her breathing hitched like she was crying.

He gripped the phone so hard the case creaked ominously. "What can you tell me?" He fought to keep the bite from his tone to not frighten her into hanging up.

A sniffle made his lip curl in a grimace. " T-the walls are ro-rock. And there a-are a lot of mean men. The door to the h-house is a dr-dragon but I'm not al-allowed up there."

"A basement." Dabi murmured. Adjusting forward, his lips ghosted against Tomura's. "Sweetheart, are the walls smooth or rough?" He spoke up, tone strained but gentle.

" B-both. And the dragon wo-won't open the do-or unless you poke it right."

A hidden entrance to a likely undocumented basement. Probably in a yakuza compound. "Fuck." The door opened and interrupted his train of thought. 

Dabi's clone sauntered in looking singed and smelling heavily of smoke but smug. "I got an address. Let's go get our boy." There was a flurry of activity as everyone leaped to their feet and rushed to crowd around Kurogiri and the double. The shadowy man already had his own phone out looking up coordinates and satellite pictures to pinpoint the best place to drop them.

The pale man almost ended the call in the sudden rush of eager mania that news caused. But a voice that sounded suspiciously like the greenette nagged at the back of his mind. "We're coming now. When things get scary there, hide." He swiped to hang up after that. A feral grin was quickly hidden as he slipped Father over his face.

Chapter Text

~°~ POV: Izuku ~°~

At some point Izuku must have fallen asleep because he was jolted awake by a sharp searing pain in his foot. He bit the inside of his cheek hard enough to taste blood to hold in a scream. Screaming was bad, screaming meant pissing off Hisashi, which meant more pai-. Garaki's cheerful voice cut through the exhaustion induced panic, only to cause a new surge of anxiety as he remembered where he was.

"Good morning, Izuku! I decided to jump right in bright and early. I can go over your results later. We have quite a lot to do today and I just couldn't wait!" 

The sound of the metal tray rattling made the greenette choke back a sob. Please, not again. Now he knew they wouldn't let him die, there would never be any real reprieve. His breaths came in short pants, leaving him dizzy.

"Ah, I see the implant is working, excellent!" Another flash of shooting pain lanced up his foot to punctuate the words. "You did so well yesterday that I decided to test your adrenal and psychological responses. Try not to disrupt the electrodes or we'll have to start over." 

An intense stinging from his pinky toe had him tensing and trying to jerk away. There was a strange pulling sensation before something popped. His vision flashed white and then red as burning agony shot up his leg. A scream tore from his throat despite his clenched jaw. The doctor tapped his cheek, making him flinch violently and cringe away. "Open your eyes, please. Or I'll have to hook your eyelids open."

Izuku's eyes flew open at the threat. The sight that greeted him made him numb with horror. Garaki was holding up a bloody toe gripped by pliers. Bile surged up his throat and he spasmed as gravity gave it nowhere to go. He gagged and sputtered until a small tube was forced into his mouth and the trapped acid was suctioned out.

"There we go. Perfect!" The man sounded giddy. "You know," A sly note entered his voice as he bustled around the table to drop the severed digit into a jar filled with clear liquid. "This is the same process living subjects go through to become nomu. The brain is a strange organ. It likes holding on to silly memories and emotions unless certain measures are used to repress them. And we can't have cognizant nomu, it would defeat the purpose!"

The greenette's mind reeled as the awful information slowly registered. An intense loathing for Garaki surged harsher than the physical discomfort and fear. Had Kurogiri gone through this too? But he hadn't broken so they leashed him like a dog instead. Every nomu he'd seen had undergone this miserable process. Garaki and Sensei were pure evil, not just villains but monsters. He would kill them for what they were doing.

"Hmm. Interesting!" The doctor was staring at something behind Izuku's head. "That made you angry, not what I was anticipating. It seems the implant will need some adjustments." He walked out of sight and the sound of a keyboard tapping filled the silence.

While the man was distracted Izuku flexed and tested the restraints. The ones on his ankles had been removed but his legs were still strapped down at the thigh. His wrists were still bound but his previous struggling had loosened them. Drawing in a steadying breath, he bit his lower lip, tucked in his thumb and pinky, and yanked. His thumb joint burned as he repeatedly put all his strength into pulling his hand through the loop, seething anger strengthening his resolve. His ears were hyper focused on every noise the doctor made behind him. A popping sensation and spike of pain made his vision flash as his thumb dislocated but when he tugged again his wrist was free. 

Slowly feeling along the edge of the table, his fingers brushed over the release mechanism for his shoulders. He fiddled with it until the bruising pressure across his upper body went slack. Next, his opposite wrist and legs. The victory sent a bigger surge of adrenalin through him. Glancing around, still keeping his movements sluggish to not draw attention, he spied the surgical tray down by his feet. 

The tapping sounds ceased, making him tense up in anticipation of being caught. The doctor ambled into view muttering to himself. He grabbed the tray and wheeled it up near Izuku's waist. "I'll need some brain tissue to analyze. And more blood to check hormone levels. But for now I'll want some seminal fluid just to cover all the bases." The man glanced towards him distractedly. "Probably a 21 gauge needle." He approached a counter situated along one wall of the visible room, pulling open a drawer and rooting through it.

Izuku's heart was in his throat as he quickly grabbed a scalpel from the tray of tools. He gripped it tight and hid it against his pants leg as Garaki turned back towards him. Pulse pounding in his ears, he saw the doctor's mouth move but couldn't hear what he said. The man was holding a sealed packet containing a needle and syringe. 

Garaki wandered back over, preoccupied with opening the packaging. He paused next to the tray. Izuku's vision tunneled as he struggled to hold on to the fury that was sustaining him. The doctor's head turned to look at the tray almost in slow motion. Izuku lunged. The scalpel lodged deeply into the man's throat and warm blood splattered the teen as he ripped it free.

Time sped back up to normal for Izuku as the man stumbled back with a gurgling cry of alarm. The greenette threw his weight against him when he leaned against the table for support, sending them both to the floor. He landed on Garaki's chest. He scrambled to raise the scalpel again and brought it down repeatedly on the man's neck. Even when the body stopped spasming and blood flow ceased he didn't relent until he could see pale bone peeking through the gore. Panting heavily, he rolled off the corpse, not caring that he was now laying in a pool of blood. His eyes burned with tears of relief as his brain slowly caught up with the situation. Garaki was dead. A hoarse bark of hysterical laughter escaped. Now he just had to fight his way through an army of yakuza.

After a few minutes of struggling under the onslaught of emotions he pushed himself up to sit. Standing was a herculean effort but he managed, leaning heavily against the table to look around. Behind the head of the table was a large area taken up by a computer desk and various pieces of scientific equipment. A couple monitors faced the table, showing graphs and readings that made no sense to the teen. An industrial stainless steel sink caught his attention. Limping over, he turned on the tap and shoved his head under the flow to gulp down mouthfuls of water. His throat stung at first before the tissue rehydrated and the cold numbed it. It took all of his remaining willpower to wrench himself away before he could make himself sick.

Next, he shuffled over to the desk and grabbed a lab coat draped over the back. He swam in it but it made him feel less exposed and it was warmer than nothing. Falling heavily into the chair, he searched around with trembling fingers for a phone. He found one in a drawer but it was fingerprint locked. Nothing else stood out as important. He was resting for a moment when what sounded like a muffled explosion went off and the room vibrated from the shockwave. Confused fear clouded his mind before he fought to think past the forced reactions from the implant. Last night. Eri. Had she gotten through to Tomura?

Renewed hope had him surging to his feet again. Making his way over to Garaki, he leaned down to grab his hand. Pressing one of the cold fingers to the sensor, the phone unlocked. Izuku experimentally turned off the display before trying to turn it on. It was locked again. With coldly calculated movements the greenette grabbed a bone saw from the tray of tools. Pressing it to the corpse's wrist, he got to work detaching the hand from the body. Both phone and hand went into a pocket. Turning back to the surgical equipment, he grabbed everything useful that would fit in the coat pockets. He kept a scalpel out and ready before heading for the door.

Chapter Text

~°~ POV: Dabi ~°~

The warp gate dropped them into the central courtyard of the traditional Japanese manor the Shie Hassaikai inhabited. It was early enough in the morning that the sun had yet to breach the horizon, lending them some cover in the murky twilight grey of pre-dawn. Most sane people were still asleep. There were no visible guards but a quick glance yielded at least two surveillance cameras. Moving quickly, the group jogged to the main doors. Tomura tried the handle and when it didn't budge he pressed his entire hand to one side. It crumbled to dust in seconds. Dabi's clone stuck his head through and looked around before signaling that it was safe. They filed in and formed a loose semi-circle, keeping wary gazes on their surroundings.

"Twice and Toga, to the right." Tomura murmured orders. The odd new addition to their group gave a jaunty thumbs up, now decked out in a body suit to match his mask. Kurogiri had fetched it for him while they were stuck waiting. "Clone Me and Magne, left." Crimson eyes leveled a nasty glare at a stubborn looking Ochaco, who had rushed through the portal with them. Dabi was pissed at her too but they had other issues to deal with first. "Little Hero and Clone Dabi, upstairs. Kill everyone you find but try not to set the house on fire yet." That earned a flinch from the young brunette but she didn't protest. Tomura's reality check for the girl was cruel but necessary. What happened after the mission was up to her.

"Dabi, Kurogiri, and I, straight ahead. Look for a dragon statue or painting. If you find it or Izuku text the group." For lack of enough coms units for all of them they'd set up a chatroom. It was crude but beggars couldn't be choosers. Tomura glanced at all of them, frowning behind the hand on his face. "We don't know their quirks so be careful." It was as close to admitting he was worried as he'd get. The Eight Precepts had a well deserved reputation and their abilities were kept a closely guarded secret. It gave even the scarred man pause to go up against them. He wished the nomu hadn't been left at the bar as backup.

The group dispersed swiftly, everyone rushing in their assigned directions. The three headed down the hallway beneath the main staircase. All the rooms they checked seemed to be for storage, letting them continue with ease. They encountered one unfortunate maid who was too frozen with shock to defend against Tomura's hand grabbing her face. As they turned a corner Dabi could hear voices coming from an open doorway. They paused out of sight to listen. "-hy the hell you gotta drag me up so early too. The sun's not even up. And there are servants to do this." 

A calmer voice was accompanied by what sounded like pans being moved on a stove. "He who gives food, gives longevity, pleasant complexion, happiness, stamina, and intelligence." 

"Then give food to someone else." There was a scraping along the floor as the person stood. "I'm going back to bed."

Heavy footsteps stomped closer and all three villains readied themselves. As a hulking form appeared in the doorway Tomura ducked low and Dabi aimed high, unleashing a concentrated burst of flame at the thug's face while the pale man grabbed an upper thigh. The combined sneak attack sent the yakuza recoiling into the kitchen with a pained roar.

"Rappa!" The other sounded alarmed as he tried to figure out what was happening. When Dabi stepped in to unleash more fire it was in time for a golden dome of light to encase half the room and both occupants. The blue flames struck the dome and were harmlessly dissipated. Fractures appeared in the light but were quickly repaired. 

Behind him, he heard Tomura order Kurogiri to check everyone's statuses. Smart, Dabi noted as he saw the big guy rip off a half melted leather mask. Apparently some of the Precepts were early risers. The man's smaller companion had on a plain brown leather plague beak and seemed to be the source of the shield.

Rappa recovered quickly and seemed to fly into a rage. He pounded on the barrier while barking for Hekiji to let him out despite a slowly spreading wound on his leg. The blonde sighed before allowing a gap for the other to escape through. "I must contact security anyway. Do try not to destroy the kitchen." He reached into the yakuta he wore and brought out a phone. The shield shrank and condensed until it covered only a corner of the room, giving his companion more space to move.

"That was a nasty, unmanly trick. Only cowar-" Dabi cut him off with more fire, jumping out of the way as it made the hulk charge. Tomura tried an opening and was punched in the gut so hard he went flying into a large stack of crates and sacks. A plume of powder erupted from the bags, obscuring Dabi's vision. A gate opened beneath Tomura and dropped him back into the hallway next to Kurogiri just as Rappa rushed at him. The man struck the baking supplies and exploded the rest of them, blinding himself and making him pause to cough and hack out what he inhaled. 

Unrestrained glee brought a wide grin to Dabi's face as he watched the flour particles drift thick in the air. His gaze briefly twitched towards the industrial sized stove, where half of the gas burners were on in preparation for breakfast. Keeping his eyes trained on the Precepts, he tilted his head and murmured to Tomura, "Run." The man looked like he was about to argue when he caught sight of the fire user's expression. Without a word he stepped through a portal supplied by Kurogiri.

"Your ally has abandoned you. Give up now and I will grant you a swift death." The blonde's words, meant to be intimidating, caused Dabi to burst into maniacal laughter. He briefly relished the look of bafflement on the man's face before stepping backwards until he was just outside the gate. Pivoting on his heel he turned to jump through the dark portal, at the same time he aimed a hand out to loose one last jet of flames at a recovering Rappa. Almost immediately the kitchen erupted in an explosion that rocked the house and almost threw him into a wall as he emerged on the other side. 

"You will be pleased to know," Kurogiri commented blandly. "That the others were on the other side of the house. Your clone and Ochaco have found a statue upstairs." A bigger warp gate opened next to them, depositing the nomu into the middle of the entrance hall. "I advise we hurry since our presence is now known."

The fire user helped Tomura to his feet, the pale man still stunned from the direct hit. He managed to hiss out an order to the monster once he was upright. "Nomu, kill all yakuza you find. Once you can't find any more, bring the house down."

The lumbering creature silently plodded forward, looking around with its dead black eyes. It unsettled Dabi on a visceral level. There had to be some intelligence in there for it to understand complex instructions but it was completely under Tomura's will. Repressing a shudder, he focused on helping the pale man up the stairs. A couple ribs were probably broken by how he was holding his middle.

They followed Kurogiri's directions, passing a few crispy corpses along the way. All the rooms along the way were open, most with charred beds inside. His double had been busy. Towards the middle of the house they encountered the others gathered around a statue of an eastern dragon. Clone Dabi was facing the other direction, keeping henchmen at bay with strong jets of flame. Ochaco was huddled between Toga and Magne looking pale and sickly. It was difficult to tell if it was because of the witnessed mass murder or because of the small hoard of floating objects she was throwing at enemies when the copy had to pause to cool down. Either way she seemed to still be with them for now.

After doing a quick head count, Tomura pressed a hand to the statue, decaying it to dust in seconds. As the heavy base crumbled the debris fell into a revealed stairwell. It was dark and seemed to disappear further down than just the first floor. Magne went first, pulling out a small flashlight to lead the way. Dabi and Tomura followed, their clones lagging behind everyone to make sure no yakuza joined them. After four flights of stairs they found themselves in a tunnel made of smooth concrete walls and rock floors. He could see why Eri was confused about describing it. Dim lights dotted the ceiling, letting Magne fall back so Dabi could go first.

Everything was quiet until they reached a crossroads. Dabi paused just out of sight of the intersecting hallways only to be knocked back as a crystal encrusted fist exploded through the corner next to his head. His ears rang and he could feel wetness trickle down his forehead as someone grabbed him to haul him out of the way. A huge man, larger than Rappa, turned the corner and placed himself in the middle of the corridor. Crystalline growths all over his torso and arms glinted and reflected the light as he moved. "You will go no further, League of Villains. Overhaul has had an eye on you for a while. We know your weaknesses." 

Toga threw a knife which bounced harmlessly off his defenses. Magne began glowing pale blue, mimicked by the Precept. When the man lunged forward to strike at Tomura she raised her magnet between them and brought the north end down on his arm. The effect was immediate, the man being repelled away violently until he exited the range of her quirk some ways down the opposite hallway. "Go, he was probably guarding something." She stepped forward to keep up the repulsion, giving them time to filter down the corridor he came from. Clone Dabi clapped her lightly on the shoulder.

"I got this." He glanced at Twice. "When I die you can make a new one, yes?" The odd man gave a thumbs up. "Good, get away from here." The clone grinned at the original and winked. "Prominence Burn ought to hit the melting point of crystal easy."

Eyes widening, Dabi turned to urge the others to run. They were confused but followed his shoving as the temperature in the hallway skyrocketed and a cerulean glow emanated from his clone. Prominence Burn was a theoretical super move he'd come up with that concentrated and condensed his flames into a supercharged beam meant to vaporize tough targets like Endeavor. But he knew it would be fatal to himself as well so never tested it. Part of him wanted to see how effective it was on the Precept but another part that sounded suspiciously like Izuku told him to keep focused. If the move caused a flashover or tunnel collapse he'd be toast along with the clone if he stayed too close. As if to confirm his thoughts, a blast of heat hit his back and the tunnel rattled ominously around them as the double unleashed the attack.

As they barreled down the hallway a door up ahead opened and out stepped another Precept. The group slowed to a stop, wary about his quirk. This one was scrawny compared to the others, with a burlap bag over his head. When he spotted them he let out a demented laugh and charged, not seeming to care about their numbers. "Eat, eat, eat, eat!" The chant was accompanied by gnashing teeth. When he was close enough he launched himself face first at Toga.

The blonde lashed out with a knife while jumping aside. The blade was ripped from her hand as the man bit it. Rather than hurt him, he… ate it? Tomura tackled the psychotic man before he could recover, landing on top of him and pressing both hands to his chest. A knife flew at the pale man's head from the open door but was redirected by a small portal centimeters before contact. It reemerged through a second portal and speared back into the room. Someone yelped and Twice dove through the opening after it. Razor thin flexible tape measures shot out from mechanisms on his wrists, slicing cleanly through the neck of a second yakuza who'd thrown themselves out of the way of their own projectile. They all paused to regain their breath and assess the room. 

It appeared to be a small child's bedroom. Decked out in pastel colors, it was filled to the brim with plushies and stereotypical little girl toys. Dabi looked around with concern as he connected the dots. "Eri? Are you in here? It's Dabi and Tomura."

They all held their breaths when a large pile of toys in the corner began to move after a moment. A small hand was revealed first, followed by the rest of a small body. Red eyes, remarkably similar to Tomura's, peered at them warily from over a green western dragon plush she clutched to her chest. She flinched when Tomura approached her too quickly. "Eri, where's Izuku?" His voice seemed to calm her, likely recognizing it from the phone. She stepped forward and latched on to the pale man's leg.

"The mean doctor has him." Her voice was almost too soft to hear. She tugged the fabric under her hand, trying to lead Tomura back to the door. "He'll take him apart again." 

Again. The word made a sensation like ice water roll down Dabi's spine. A snarl formed on Tomura's face as he caught it as well. Before he could snap at the little girl Ochaco scooped her up. "Point in the right direction." The brunette shoved past Tomura's clone to carry the girl outside. Everyone followed immediately, the sense of urgency increasing.

Eri pointed a shaking finger down the hallway, thankfully not where they came from. As they began moving Dabi leaned in to murmur quietly to Kurogiri. "Get them both out of here when the fighting starts again." The shadowy man nodded wordlessly.

They encountered a couple more intersecting tunnels, which the little girl guided them down. The place was built like a maze. Finally they stopped in front of a door. "In there." Eri hid her face against Ochaco's neck, trembling.

The door in question was ajar. The interior was lit but quiet. Clone Tomura stepped forward to peek in before wrenching it open with a curse. It was a crude operating room, complete with a blood stained metal table in the center. It was also completely empty aside from a corpse laying on the floor in a large puddle of congealing blood. Both Tomuras stared at the body with disbelieving eyes. "Is that the mean doctor?" The clone asked roughly, rising fury making his voice shake. 

The little girl peeked before nodding. The pale man's pupils shrank to manic pin-pricks at the confirmation. "Garaki." He snarled and decayed the table with a trembling hand. The original whirled around and got in Kurogiri's face. "Did you know?!"

"I am unable to say." Was the impassive reply. Just like he'd used on Izuku when the teen realized he was a nomu.

The programmed response made Tomura growl and reach out to grip the steel gorget around Kurogiri's neck. It flaked away to reveal a tarnished gold collar beneath. The pale man latched on to the collar with both hands, channeling his rage into freeing the man from the control device. Dabi put an arm in front of Ochaco and pushed her and Eri behind him. They didn't know what would happen if Kurogiri was freed but Tomura was too angry to care. The others warily backed away as well, looking confused and alarmed.

The shadows around the man writhed chaotically and a pained cry tore from his throat as the collar cracked and crumbled away. Kurogiri crumpled to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut, gold eyes flashing rapidly between blue and red as more noises of agony wrenched from him. He clutched his head and curled up until his forehead touched the floor. Even Tomura took a startled step back as the shadows lashed chaotically, spearing through monitors like blades and knocking equipment off the counters. An alarmed shout left Dabi and he tackled the youngest girls to the floor when several tendrils lanced towards the three of them. A gurgling noise from the door made the fire user's head shoot up. Another large Precept choked on his own blood, pinned to the wall outside like a bug. He'd been sneaking up on Ochaco during the confusion. 

The noises from Kurogiri slowly tapered off and the shadows calmed until they wisped off him like normal. His frame trembled but sluggishly uncurled, letting go of his head to brace against the floor. When he finally looked up his eyes glowed a pale violet that occasionally swirled with sky blue. "T-thank you." His voice shook and seemed less cultured. Less robotically polite. That more than anything seemed to smother Tomura's anger for the moment. He hesitantly stepped forward to offer the man a hand up, keeping his pinky carefully raised. After a pause it was accepted. The shadowy man wavered on his feet but quickly caught his equilibrium.

"I… There is much I have to tell you. But we need to find Izuku first." The lack of honorifics was almost disturbing but refreshing.

Dabi climbed to his feet as well, helping Ochaco and Eri stand. The pale little girl was crying silently in fear. "Can you still warp us out?" The scarred man inquired. 

Eyes narrowed in a frown, Kurogiri nodded after a moment. Dabi gestured towards the two girls. "Good, send them home." He turned to them, catching Ochaco's gaze and holding it. "Don't leave the apartment. There's a black duffel bag in Izuku's room. It has first aid supplies. Tend her and keep it ready for when we get back. You can use his clothes to change." The brunette swallowed thickly before nodding, eyes scared but burning with determination. Dabi's respect for her rose. She'd be one of the good heroes Izuku was adamant about sparing. If she lived that long. Hopefully she would choose wisely in regards to her knowledge of the League. He patted her shoulder before ushering her through a gate that appeared. 

That seen to, everyone got back on track. Clone Tomura was rifling through files on the desk while Twice and Toga rooted through cupboards for anything useful. He saw the blonde pocket several thick bottles filled with colorless liquid. A gasp drew his attention to Magne. She was peering into a refrigerator with a look of horror. With a sinking feeling in his gut, Dabi strode over to look at what she found. Row upon row of blood vials took up the top shelf, all marked with Izuku's name. The middle shelf held a steel tray that contained several strips of skin. Next to it were test tubes with what looked like chunks of organ tissue. On the bottom shelf was a jar containing a pinky toe, another with a length of intestine, and a tray with a full kidney.

Dabi's stomach rebelled at the sight and he stumbled away to heave into a sink. Rage warred with despair as he contemplated what the greenette went through. Trembling, he rinsed his mouth out before turning to address the room. Cold calm washed over him. "Everyone out. Now." His tone brooked no arguments. Even the Tomuras exited without comment. Once everyone was clear he unleashed a wall of fire that swept through the room like a wave. It consumed everything in its path and even the walls and floor began to crack and melt under the intense heat. When it burned out only ashes were left. The burning pain from using so much power only added to his rage.

Wordlessly, Twice pointed to the floor. Bloody footprints led away from the room. They'd missed it in their rush to investigate. As a single unit they moved to follow, Tomura and Dabi jogging ahead while Clone Tomura brought up the rear. The prints disappeared as the blood likely dried but as they reached a turn off a mutilated corpse pointed them in the right direction. A broken scalpel stuck out of the masked Precept's chest. The blood was still fresh enough to glisten in the dim light. The scarred man exchanged a vicious, prideful, grin with Tomura. The greenette wasn't taking things lying down. The only negative was that they would have found him by now if he'd stayed put. Dabi couldn't blame him for wanting to leave though. 

A fresh trail guided them and they moved faster out of eagerness. The droplets ended near another door, the handle smeared with fresh blood. Tomura was about to yank it open when his clone stopped him. "He's probably scared and might lash out." Gritting his teeth, the original stepped aside to let the double crack the door open. "Izuku?" Something clattered inside and a hitching sob reached their ears. "Izuku, it's us. We're here to get you out. Talk to us so we know we're not about to get stabbed."

"T-Tomura?" A faint wavery voice responded. It was all the confirmation the clone needed to finish opening the barrier. The room inside was pitch black and seemed to be a large supply closet. In a far corner a shape uncurled before standing shakily. Louder sobs reached them, making Dabi's chest constrict. A green, red, and white blur slammed into the clone, almost knocking him off his feet. Dabi winced, thankful it wasn't the real Tomura because of his wounds. Izuku clung to him with a white knuckled grip on his shirt, frame shaking as he whimpered and cried into his chest.

The real Tomura took a step forward before halting with a pained grimace. "Kurogiri, get us out of here." 

The thought of letting Overhaul live grated on Dabi's nerves but Izuku was more important. There would be plenty of time to hunt him down like a rabid dog once the greenette was safe and tended. A warp gate opened beneath all of their feet, lowering them down until the hellish tunnels disappeared and their warm apartment greeted them. 

Chapter Text

~°~ POV: Izuku ~°~

The familiar sensation of sinking into Kurogiri's warp gate did wonders for calming Izuku's racing heart. He still stayed firmly glued to Tomura, hiding his face with eyes clenched shut in case it was all a dream. A familiar heavy hand rested on top of his head, petting carefully with a raised pinky. When hands on his shoulders tried urging him away he gripped the pale man tighter, refusing to budge as the thought of being separated again made fear surge. Tomura's frame vibrated in a quiet chuckle. "I missed you too, shrimp. But you're clinging to the wrong one."

The odd statement prompted him to reluctantly look up. Amused crimson eyes smirked down at him before the man urged him to turn around. He did so grudgingly, only to freeze in confused shock as a second Tomura stared at him with irritated concern. He did a double take to make sure he wasn't seeing things. Nope, still two. "T-Toga?" A giggle made him peer around the second Tomura to see the blonde waving from a kitchen stool. "Good guess but nope!"

Taking pity on him, Dabi nudged the grumpy man out of the way to pull Izuku into a crushing hug. It pressed on various wounds but the greenette returned the embrace just as hard. "Twice can clone people." The fire user finally murmured into his hair. That… answered nothing. Who was Twice? But the additional questions were pushed aside as he was tugged over to the couch. Dabi sat first before pulling Izuku into his lap. Ochaco immediately rushed over with the first aid bag floating next to her. Eri was clinging to the brunette's pants leg.

The teen offered the little girl an exhausted smile. "I told you they'd find us, little unicorn." The smile turned into a grimace as the scarred man started peeling the bloody lab coat away from his front. The Precept he'd run into had a gun and a knife. Probably the only reason the greenette was still alive was because he took the yakuza by surprise rounding a corner. 

"Oh." The teen grabbed the coat before Dabi could toss it away. He rooted around before pulling out the hand and phone. He held both out to the most irate looking Tomura, surmising that to be the real one. Ochaco looked green at the severed limb but shuffled aside so Tomura could claim the items. "G-Garaki…" His heart rate spiked just saying the doctor's name. When he shivered Dabi raised the temperature around them, thinking he was cold.

The pale man cut him off before he could finish. "We know. We found the… where they were keeping you." Like Izuku, he used the severed hand's finger to unlock the device. He paced over to the counter to set the limb down and scroll through the doctor's phone.

Looking around, Izuku spotted Magne quietly conversing with a masked stranger in the kitchen. She seemed to be making food. Someone was missing. He peered up at Dabi with concern. "Where's Kurogiri?"

The scarred man exchanged an unreadable look with Tomura before clearing his throat. "He went to get the nomu we used. He'll be back soon." There was a note of doubt in his tone that Izuku didn't like.

Before he could question further, Ochaco caught his attention by trying to wipe away the blood coating him with a washcloth. His skin crawled at being touched even though she was trying to help. The gunshot and stab wounds were still bleeding sluggishly but she was having trouble finding them under the layers of grime, prolonging the contact. He tapped the back of her hand with a shaky smile. "I think I just need a bath."

Dabi took the hint, adjusting to keep a hold of him as he stood. Tomura passed the doctor's phone to his clone before wordlessly snagging the duffel bag from the girl and following them into the bathroom. Izuku was lowered onto the shower stool while the other two disrobed. The pale man was moving gingerly and the greenette could see deep bruises forming on most of his chest and back. Even still, once he was naked he knelt in front of Izuku and wrapped him in a tight hug that was eagerly returned. Tomura was trembling faintly as he buried his face in the teen's grimy hair. Izuku thought he was crying but when he sat back on his heels he was dry eyed and his expression was impassive.

The man pressed their foreheads together and spent a few moments gazing into his eyes as Dabi turned the water on to start heating up. Finally, Tomura leaned in to kiss him sweetly, fingers gently carding through his hair to untangle the messy curls. "I'm sorry." There was more emotion in the near silent words than on his face.

The tension drained out of Izuku at the careful actions, basking in the attention and presence of the two most important people in his life. "It wasn't your fault." His voice was hoarse but insistent. There was no world in which he'd blame Tomura for someone else's actions.

"If I'd believed you from the start none of this would have happened. You tried to warn me so many times..." One hand stilled to rest comfortingly on top of Izuku's head.

Frowning, the teen cupped the pale man's face and kissed him lightly. "Or it could have happened anyway. Or been worse. We can't know. And it's their faults not yours, either way."

"I hate to break this up, but you're kind of still bleeding." Dabi interrupted further arguments. "And if you wanna believe Izuku then listen to him and stop blaming yourself." He passed the shower head to Tomura before going to paw through the first aid supplies. 

The pale man's lips drew into a thin line and the greenette knew he'd have a hard time convincing Tomura otherwise. For now he leaned against the man and melted under the warm spray of the water. The ache of the wounds was negligible compared to all else he had experienced, even as they stung and burned from careful touches once they were revealed. A hiss escaped Tomura when he found the gun shot on the greenette's upper arm. It had hurt when it happened but strangely hadn't bled as much as expected. When the man lightly pressed and felt around the area Izuku grimaced and tried not to shy away at the fresh spike of pain. "There's still a bullet in there." Tomura muttered to Dabi. 

"Fuck. We don't have the shit to deal with that if it's sitting on something important." The scarred man paced over to look and take stock. "Get him cleaned up but don't touch that. We'll deal with the cuts first." They were bleeding the most, still staining the water pink. "And you," he addressed Izuku, who blinked at him in a mild daze. "Don't fall asleep."

The exhaustion he felt wasn't purely physical. And sleep was the last thing he wanted, knowing what waited in his dreams. But it tugged at his brain, making him want to curl up with his men under a warm blanket and never leave the apartment again. If he had his way it would be after they were out of the bathroom and he was patched up. A tug at his waistband brought him back to the present. Tomura was cutting away the heavily soiled pants and boxers with a pair of scissors from the pack rather than disturbing him to wrestle them off. It made warmth bloom in Izuku's chest at the care. Once the man was done all it took was a little shimmy to be free of the fabric.

Dabi checked the pockets before throwing the scraps away. There was nothing in them. All of his personal possessions were missing when he woke up. The reminder made him frown and peer at Tomura apologetically, happy feeling evaporating. "I'm sorry I lost your hoodie." It was the man's favorite and the warmest one they collectively owned.

Red eyes blinked at him in confusion before the man flicked him on the forehead with a quiet growl. "Priorities, shrimp… Besides, Twice found everything in the alley. It's down in the bar." There was that name again. Seeing his puzzled expression, Tomura finally explained. "He saw it happen. He thought they were traffickers and found us with your ID. His quirk lets him make two clones at a time, hence Clone Me out there." 

"But there was just one?" He saw the hesitant look the two men exchanged and a nauseous pit formed in his stomach. "One died?" The thought made him shiver and hug himself. They could have died rescuing him. Someone did die, it didn't matter if it was just a quirk copy. The knowledge left him feeling shaky and cold. What if it had been one of the real ones? Tomura's bruises told him they had some close calls. A whimper escaped before he could stamp it down and his eyes burned and blurred with tears.

He swallowed thickly and bit his bottom lip desperately to keep the waterworks at bay. He was sick of crying, it seemed like it was all he'd done since he got captured. Two firm bodies pressed against him and he was enveloped in a warm hug. The two villains pet and caressed him comfortingly until he got a grip on himself.

"It's alright, beautiful. We're both here. We're all fine. My clone would have survived but he decided to test out a super move I've never tried before because it's fatal." Dabi murmured against his shoulder. "No one but you got seriously hurt."

Trembling fingers reached out to trace a particularly deep bruise on Tomura's side. The pale man snagged the hand and pressed a kiss to his palm. "Just some cracked ribs." He reassured. "Let's get you dried off and stitched up, then we can all rest.

They coaxed him to his feet and Tomura carefully dried him off while Dabi prepared a needle and heavy thread. He sat through the stitches while leaning against the pale man and trying not to doze off. Every time his eyes slipped closed for too long one or the other of them would pinch him awake. It was irritating enough that his lingering fear and sadness morphed into annoyance.

Once he was done, Dabi wrapped a towel around his waist and stepped out to gather them fresh clothes. The pale man carefully applied gauze and tape over the gunshot wound. They'd decided to leave it be unless it got infected or other complications happened since it wasn't bleeding anymore. 

Clean boxers and one of Tomura's long sleeved shirts felt downright luxurious as they finally emerged from the bathroom. The apartment smelled amazing thanks to Magne. The three claimed their usual places on the couch, Tomura glaring at Ochaco until she scooted out of his spot with Eri. Dabi didn't mind sitting next to them and even offered the little girl a faint smile.

Once again Izuku looked around and couldn't see Kurogiri. Worry knotted his stomach. A touch on his leg startled him into flinching. Tomura peered at him with an inscrutable look at the reaction. "I freed Kurogiri." He explained. "He's… different now." 

Izuku didn't like the sound of that. The anxiety over not seeing the shadowy man slowly built. What if he didn't want them anymore? What if he was hostile? It was Izuku's fault for getting captured, then Tomura wouldn't have had to do it yet. A crawling sensation made him shiver and scratch his neck. The feeling grew until it felt like bugs were writhing under his skin. He didn't realize he was clawing at himself until Dabi grabbed his hand.

Both men had strange expressions as they stared at him. The pale man touched his own neck before reaching out to press and feel where Izuku had been scratching. The greenette whined in discomfort when it made the sensation worse, hand twitching and wanting to lacerate himself to get the feeling to go away but Dabi kept a firm grip on it.

Finally, Tomura sat back with a grim expression. "There's something under his skin there."

Chapter Text

Having a scalpel held to his throat was not the best feeling in the world regardless of how much Izuku trusted the one holding the blade. Especially while already on the verge of a panic attack. His heart pounded in his chest and he twitched in Dabi's embrace every time Tomura tried pressing the edge against skin. This had been going on for fifteen minutes and he could tell it was wearing down the pale man's patience. Which of course spiked the anxiety higher and thus made the crawling sensation under his skin worse.

After discovering the anomaly in his neck the trio had moved to Izuku's bedroom. The greenette was grateful for the lack of an audience for his impending breakdown. They were sitting on his bed, Dabi hugging him from behind and keeping his arms pinned. Tomura was in front and slightly to his right using a rubbing alcohol sanitized scalpel the teen had stolen from the yakuza compound. 

"It's the size of a rice grain. You probably won't even feel me take it out." The pale man growled when he shied away from the metal again. Tomura had put his gloves back on, which was a wise decision judging by how hard he was gripping the handle.

A pathetic whimper escaped the greenette. "I'm sorry. I can't help it." He shivered and tried burrowing further back into Dabi's warmth. The scarred man adjusted so he could lean around on Izuku's left to look at his face. It prompted him to look in that direction when the man spoke. 

♥️♥️♥️ Dirty Talk ♥️♥️♥️

"Hey, beautiful. I've been thinking. When you're feeling up to it, you wanna try taking both our cocks at the same time? I bet you'd squeal in the best ways with both of us filling your tight ass." 

He leaned in to nibble the teen's ear. "Pound you so good you'll cry and pass out from pleasure." He sucked on the lobe. "Not be able to walk for a week. How's that sound?"

♥️♥️♥️ End Dirty Talk ♥️♥️♥️

The completely unrelated topic froze Izuku's thoughts and all he could do was stare at Dabi with a dumbfounded expression. Then when his brain started working again he squirmed in place as the suggestion processed. He bit his lip and the scarred man made a noise of amusement before capturing him in a lazy but passionate kiss. While he was lost in the heat of dueling tongues and wandering hands he barely felt a sting on the right side of his neck. When he tried pulling away Dabi nipped his bottom lip and held him still with a firm but gentle hand on the back of his head. The sting turned into mild burning pain as Tomura used tweezers to root out the object. 

And then it was over. Izuku still felt anxious but now there was a tinge of embarrassment at his own overreaction. Tomura smeared antibacterial cream on the spot before covering it with a bandaid. When he was allowed to look back over the pale man was examining the thing with a grimace. It really did look like a grain of rice but it had the color and shine of surgical steel. Miniscule red threads dangled off of it, some tangled with small blood clots. As they watched a viscus clear fluid seeped out of the base of the threads. Tomura grimaced and dropped it into an empty soda bottle. 

They sat in brooding silence for a moment before Dabi kissed the greenette's neck and shifted away. "You next." He was looking at Tomura. He snagged the scalpel and bottle of rubbing alcohol to clean the blade. 

The other man shook his head and rubbed the side of his throat. "I don't feel anything there. Mine might have shifted as I grew." 

"Fuck." Dabi set the supplies aside and reached out to feel for himself. When he couldn't find anything he cursed again. He kept his hands on Tomura's neck, thumbs caressing in comforting circles. "I think I know someone who can look at that thing and see what it does. Maybe there's a scan or something that can pick it up." He didn't sound happy despite the potential lead.

Izuku shifted to cuddle against him, stifling a yawn as he did. There was a sharp pain as his toe stump rubbed the blanket but he ignored it. He didn't want them stressing out even more if they noticed the missing pinky toe. He'd tend it himself once he could get some time alone. "Who is it?" He asked tentatively.

The scarred man grimaced and ran a hand through his hair. "Natsuo. My little brother. He's studying to be a bioengineer in Aomori." 

The name rang a bell from back when they broke into the Todoroki estate but the greenette didn't know much about him. He mentally added cyberstalking to his to-do list. Right between begging Kurogiri not to abandon them and worrying about retaliation from both Sensei and Overhaul. Both of whom knew where they lived. But that was future Izuku's problem. Present Izuku was exhausted and dozing against Dabi while the two villains were too distracted to keep poking him awake.

As it turned out he could strike one task from his list. When Izuku dragged himself from the comforting tangle of limbs his bed had become, and after slipping on some thick socks, he found Kurogiri making breakfast/dinner. Everyone else, who seemingly decided to have a slumber party, was still sound asleep on the furniture or floor. Squinting at a window, it was pitch dark outside. Everyone had slept the day away after rescuing him that morning.

The shadowy man looked up from chopping vegetables and the teen was mildly taken aback by his eye color. But when they squinted in a familiar smile it eased some of Izuku's worries. Not all though. After learning what he had of nomu he needed to have a serious conversation with him.

"I'm sorry for not seeing you right away." Kurogiri's manner of speaking was still polite but notably less rigid and cultured. That would take some getting used to but the greenette liked it. It felt less like talking to a butler, which always made him uncomfortable when they first met. He spoke quietly to not wake the others. "The nomu had to be retrieved and…" He paused, frowning as he searched for a fitting term.

"And you had to have a private mental breakdown?" Izuku supplied helpfully while limping over and hauling himself onto a stool.

That earned a surprised chuckle and the wisps moved around as Kurogiri nodded. "That's one way to put it." The man poured him some tea before resuming his food preparation.

The greenette shrugged. "I'm still waiting for mine too. But you're probably years overdue." He fiddled with the cup while waiting for it to cool enough to drink. "... I didn't think you'd come back, when Tomura told me." His voice hitched with lingering upset at the thought. He coughed quietly, trying to cover it up.

"Honestly? I thought about it. But there's nothing left for me. I was declared dead thirteen years ago and now not even my family would recognize me much less believe me." Only the rough vigor with which he cut up ingredients gave away Kurogiri's true feelings.

Izuku made to ask a question that burned in his mind but bit his lip before it could escape. He ducked his head and sipped his tea, feeling ashamed for wanting to pry into the man's obviously painful past so soon. Several minutes of silence stretched on as the man put together a stir-fry. Just as the greenette was beginning to think he should retreat back to his room, Kurogiri sighed and turned to give him his full attention. "My name was Oboro. Oboro Shirakumo. Please don't meddle in my old life." 

The pointed, blunt, request stung. Izuku only ever tried to help when he 'meddled'. Especially for those few people he considered family. Had he read too much into everything? Perhaps having to call Kurogiri 'dad' made him lose sight of their situation. Especially now that the man was free. After all he did say he only came back because he had nowhere else to go. That alone told the teen that he had been deluding himself.

At the sudden clarity his eyes ached in an all too familiar way that usually preceded waterworks. Biting the inside of his cheek hard enough to taste blood, he stood abruptly and bowed. "S-sorry. I wo-won't interfere." The old habits were easy to fall back on when he was distressed at someone he viewed as an authority figure. While mentally cursing the slip, he turned and beelined for the bathroom, ignoring Kurogiri's soft calls for him to wait. 

After locking the door he turned on the shower but curled up in a corner by the sink. The water noise nicely muffled his self pitying hiccups and quiet sobbing. He lost track of time but eventually turned the water off when he regained enough control to cry silently. Blinking through the tears, he decided to multitask while being useless by tending his foot. The spot where his pinky toe once was had been stitched closed in a half-assed way by Garaki. It was a surprising courtesy until Izuku thought about it and realized the man just didn't want him to die of blood loss too soon for Eri's quirk to recharge. His men overlooked it because they were searching for bleeding wounds that needed tended immediately.

Izuku's captors called Eri's ability Rewind and judging by his lack of new scars it did just that. Time quirks were incredibly rare and notoriously unreliable because so much could go wrong in children newly manifesting them. Most kids died or disappeared before they could control it. The rest ended up killing or vanishing someone and were usually detained indefinitely by the HPSC under the guise of teaching them in a safe environment. While dabbing iodine over the stitches he frowned in thought. They needed to figure out exactly what Eri could do before she accidentally triggered the power on someone. And if it could be destructive instead of just restorative… they'd need to figure out how to suppress it until she could control it.

Focusing on the more pressing issue helped him get his emotions back under control. After bandaging his foot as best he could and hiding it with socks again he splashed water on his face and drew in deep breaths. He could hear others moving around in the living room so he could avoid Kurogiri easily enough until they left. After that he could hide in his room under the guise of healing. 

Studying his reflection, he winced at the red blotchy patches caused by the crying fit. They stood out against his pale skin and clashed with his hair. Maybe heading straight to his room instead. But ignoring them would be rude after they all helped him. The decision was made for him when a soft knock came at the door. Ochaco's worried tone called out that food was ready. Struggling to keep his voice normal, he responded. "I'll be right out!" He arranged his expression into a practiced mask and mentally psyched himself up to seem fine. He didn't want to burden anyone else with his trivial problems after they'd already done so much for him.

Chapter Text

The next week was an exhausting juggle between avoiding Kurogiri's attempts to talk, seeming normal - but not so much as to raise suspicions, and trying not to wake the entire building with his nightmares. The screaming night terrors were back with a vengeance. Even laying sandwiched between Dabi and Tomura didn't ward them off. As a consequence he found himself burning through pot cookies so that everyone else could rest. They didn't stop the dreams but they relaxed him too much to physically react in his sleep.

There were also their two new tenants to worry about. Toga insisted that Twice join them and, even though he already had a place to live, pressured him into moving into the building. No one had the will to turn her down after he'd helped Izuku. He was now sleeping on Magne's couch while Toga had staged a hostile takeover of Ochaco's. Not that Ochaco protested too hard. The two teen girls seemed closer since the rescue.

Eri refused to leave the Shigaraki unit even though Kurogiri and Tomura seemed to scare her. Both Magne and Ochaco offered to look after her but she always found her way back into the men's apartment. After the fifth set of locks had to be replaced because she Rewound them into ore nuggets and dust they gave up. Kurogiri abandoned his bed so she wouldn't have to sleep on the couch too, though often the three villains would wake up to her curled up on the end of Izuku's mattress. Thankfully he was in no state to want sex or they might have traumatized her further.

The display of stubbornness did answer Izuku's question of if Rewind could be destructive. All it would take was one tantrum and someone could be erased from existence. So far she was quiet and demure but once they could coax her out of her shell there was no guarantee. The problem was that the only reliable methods to control it were ones Izuku refused to use on a child, like the suppression cuffs. Though the recharge time and power of her quirk seemed to coincide with her horn growing so it was at least predictable.

It was after noon on March 31st when Ochaco invaded his room and closed the door after making sure he was alone. Her expression was serious as she approached the desk where he was working on tracking Kurogiri's past. Regardless of what the man said and how hurt Izuku still was over their last talk, he wanted to understand the man's new persona better and maybe help him if he could. When he didn't immediately give her his full attention the brunette absconded with his laptop, making him yelp in protest.

"Izuku." She sat on his bed, putting the computer aside next to her. A deep frown made the dark bags under her eyes more apparent. "You're not ok." Before he could even open his mouth to deflect the statement, she held up her hand to silence him. He sank back into his chair, unease bubbling up as he realized there was no avoiding the coming conversation. "I know you're not ok because I'm not either." That caused a thrum of surprise. Every time he saw her she seemed her usual upbeat self.

"Toga moved in with me because I kept having nightmares and waking her up through the walls." She hugged herself but continued resolutely. "I saw Dabi's clone murder dozens of people in their sleep. I understand why it happened. But I can't get the smell and images out of my head." 

Recalling his own nightmares after Dabi saved him from being assaulted, Izuku winced. The burning hair scent was the worst and stuck with him. Pulling his desk drawer open, he snagged a bottle of cherry schnapps Dabi had gotten him before his kidnapping. It was half gone already. Easing out of his chair, he plopped down next to Ochaco and offered it to her. She took it without a word and sipped experimentally. Her nose crinkled at the flavor but she took a larger gulp before passing it back. Drawing in a deep breath, she continued. "I try not to show it because I don't want to stress anyone out when you're all going through so much already." 

The sentiment shocked the greenette because it mirrored his own thoughts. It must have shown on his face because she shot him a knowing look. He fidgeted with the bottle before taking a deep drink to stall. The thought of her going through the same thing disturbed him. And that she hid it so well was concerning. Finally, "I… Most of my life I never had anyone who cared. Showing I wasn't alright was a weakness that got me beaten down even more. A-and now… I don't want anyone hurting because of my problems."

The girl bit her lip before sighing. "But you're hurting them more by not saying anything. You were kidnapped and tortured. Everyone is worried that you're not seeming affected by it. And it makes it seem like you don't trust us. Toga and Magne noticed. I can guarantee Tomura and Dabi have too. We just want to help you."

The words resonated in his head. Intellectually he knew she was right. But the thought of burdening them made his guts twist with guilt. Since he met Tomura and Dabi it seemed like all he did was cause them trouble. Constantly getting assaulted. Getting kidnapped. Upsetting their entire lives. 

A touch on his arm startled him and he flinched. Ochaco reached for his hands and held them tight while peering at him. Her face was sad and compassionate. It made tears well up and he closed his eyes to try suppressing them. He'd even gotten her mixed up with villains out of selfishness. But here she was trying to help him and ignorant of his schemes to use her as an unwitting spy. He was the worst.

The hands shifted from his before arms wrapped him in a hug. She sniffled into his shoulder, making him feel worse. "Tomorrow," her voice wavered before gaining strength. "I'm going to talk to the school nurse. I'm going to see if she can get me medications to help. And I'm going to ask If she'll see you too, even if you're not a student." He pulled away to protest but she shook her head. A familiar determined expression fell into place and he knew there was no arguing with her. "If she agrees, you're going to go see her with me. You need more healing than just bandages and stitches."

Ochaco slapped her own cheeks before popping to her feet. She grabbed his hands again and pulled him up as well. "You're also going to talk to Kurogiri-san. I heard you last week and avoiding him won't do either of you any good."

That made him dig his heels in, shaking his head as anxiety surged. The man had made his feelings crystal clear. There wasn't much more that needed said. The brunette frowned mulishly before bringing her pinky down on his hand as well. The feeling of weightlessness made him whine in dismay as she tugged him out of the room like a balloon. Four pairs of eyes turned to watch as Ochaco pulled him into the kitchen where Kurogiri was sipping tea and scrolling on his phone. Dabi, Tomura, and Eri were on the couch, a three player game of Mario Kart on the TV. They'd scrounged up a third controller after realizing the little girl was there to stay.

They stopped in front of the shadowy man and Ochaco leveled a glare at him. Violet eyes widened in surprise at being on the receiving end of such a look. "Apologize and talk." She ordered before literally handing Izuku over to the stunned man. She then turned and marched to the couch, slumping down between Dabi and Eri. The scarred man offered her a glass of whiskey he had sitting on the coffee table. She accepted without a word.

Kurogiri and Izuku stared at each other in awkward silence before the man sighed. "Maybe taking this to my room."

The greenette nodded silently, clamming up. Following Ochaco's example, Kurogiri towed him, perhaps realizing he'd run away again if given the chance. Once they were safely behind closed doors the girl released her quirk and gravity returned. He dropped to the floor with a grunt, wincing as it jarred his remaining wounds.

Awkward silence reigned, neither knowing quite how to proceed. Finally the man waved for him to sit at the desk while he took a seat on his bed. Izuku complied, fussing with his hands and avoiding his gaze. The room was kept neat and clean. No dirty clothes or clutter in sight. The shelf by the desk was full to the brim with a variety of books, from quantum physics to trashy romance. That last surprised the greenette.

The shadowy man finally spoke, drawing Izuku's attention back to the uncomfortable situation. His voice was strangely soft, reminiscent of after the teen was attacked by Hisashi. "I'm sorry. What I said that night was uncalled for. Especially after everything you'd just gone through. I was upset and confused and you were unfortunate to be the one I snapped at."

"N-no, it's ok. You we-were right." His voice wavered and he couldn't lift his gaze from the floor. "All I do is m-mess up people's lives."

A quiet noise made him peek up. Kurogiri was staring with a strange expression, eyes wide. The man stood before kneeling next to the chair, reaching out to touch his hand. "I was wrong. Izuku, you're the only reason I'm not a puppet anymore. Since you came into our lives they changed for the better . Tomura has never been so happy before and you're helping undo All For One's brainwashing. You convinced him to free me when before the thought had never crossed his mind. To say nothing of what you've done for everyone else."

The contradiction made Izuku frown in confusion and he shook his head. "I-I almost got everyone killed. And now yakuza and Sensei probably want us de-dead. They know where we live." He stared at his knees, avoiding Kurogiri's efforts to catch his gaze.

The shadowy man huffed before warm arms enveloped Izuku in a hug. The physical contact from the normally reserved man shocked the greenette. A hand rubbed his back soothingly and he found himself leaning into the body heat. The wisps drifting off the man were cool where they touched him and made his skin prickle like fog but dry. "That doesn't matter." Kurogiri murmured. "The yakuza were always going to be a problem if All For One was funding them. And you were right about our chances of attacking UA. That would have gotten the heroes out for our blood. Capture or death would only be a matter of time. Especially with how mentally unstable Tomura was before you found us. His sanity was deteriorating day by day under All For One's influence. I did what I could to mitigate it but it was never enough. You brought him back."

The man pulled back but kept his hands on the greenette's shoulders. "When I said what I did that night…" He shook his head. "I was just lashing out. I came back because you are my family now. You, Tomura, and even Dabi. Even though he keeps giving you kids drugs and alcohol." Izuku's eyes widened at the claim, though he ducked his head guiltily as he registered the rest of the statement. Kurogiri shot him a knowing look before continuing. "But he makes both of you happy and that's enough for me. And my past is in the past. I don't need it to find my own happiness... What I mean to say is I'd be honored if you'd keep calling me 'dad'." 

The teen's guts twisted with an odd mix of disbelief, shock, and hope. The words conflicted with his internalized beliefs but Kurogiri looked and sounded sincere. Tears stung his eyes and he blinked rapidly to clear them. A choked laugh escaped after a moment of warring with himself and he leaned in to hug the man.

"Ok, d-dad."

Chapter Text

The morning of April 1st saw their apartment crowded. The previous night Toga demanded that they have a party to celebrate Ochaco's first day of school. Izuku negotiated her down to just a big breakfast when Tomura looked like he might decay the blonde. Everyone was there including Twice. Izuku had yet to talk to the strange man beyond thanking him for his part in saving him. He wanted to remedy that soon.

Kurogiri and Magne were teaching Eri how to make pancakes and eggs. The shadowy man had been bribing the little girl with sweets throughout the week to lessen her skittishness around him. It seemed to be working. Everyone else nursed coffee or tea in the living room while trying to wake up. The reality of a group breakfast was that they had to get up before the sun because the brunette's commute was so long. Even Toga looked cranky as she slurped on a blood bag between sips of tea.

The greenette was squished between Tomura and Ochaco on the couch. She'd beaten Dabi to the spot because he'd tried resisting waking up so early. He was dozing on her other side and listing against her, not seeming bothered as his scalding coffee slowly dribbled into his boxers clad lap. Being a fire user apparently had its perks. Or maybe he just couldn't register such a mild burn compared to his own fire.

The TV was tuned in to cartoons to keep Eri entertained when her wandering attention span grew bored of cooking. There was a marathon of old Sailor Moon episodes. Despite himself Izuku found himself watching it and becoming mildly invested in Zoisite's story arc. So was Tomura though he'd initially grumped at it, wanting to watch a slasher movie that was playing on a different channel. When it was implied that Kunzite and Zoisite were lovers, Tomura threaded their fingers together and squeezed gently. It made Izuku blush and feel fluttery but he side-eyed Ochaco nervously. Thankfully she was absorbed in the show as well. The greenette didn't want to shock her with the knowledge that he was dating two older men when she was already processing that they were all villains.

Once breakfast was ready the brunette elbowed Dabi awake and they all ate in the living room. Even Kurogiri, who was unable to say no when Eri (with Magne's help) made pancakes specially for him upon realizing he'd not made enough for himself. It was a sleepy affair but Izuku found himself enjoying listening to the others talk and banter between bites. Especially when Twice and Toga got into an argument about who could pull off a Sailor Moon cosplay better. "I'm telling you, I'd be able to do it. (Hairy legs are in, baby)!" For once Twice's split personas were in agreement. "I could be all the Sailor Scouts at once. (What's a little bloodshed among friends)?"

The blonde pouted. "You don't have the hair for it though. I totally do for Serena." She twirled a strand of her long locks between her fingers. "You'd need five different wigs. That's a lot to steal. You could be my Luna instead."

"Izuku would rock a Sailor Neptune outfit." Dabi threw in his two cents. He grinned over Ochaco's head and winked. "School girl outfits are easy to get." It felt like his face was on fire as he picked up the inference. The scarred man smirked before turning back to his food. Next to Izuku, Tomura's eye twitched as Dabi's comment prompted the two instigators to begin comparing everyone else to the anime characters. The pale man was unanimously deemed Sailor Jupiter based on personality. Thankfully before he could snap Ochaco's phone chimed, signaling that it was time for her to leave. 

It cut the conversation short as Toga bounced to her feet and pounced the brunette in a hug. "Break a leg! And some hero legs! And if anyone bleeds could you get me some?"

Ochaco looked weirded out, politely refusing to take some vials the blonde tried giving her. "I'm sure today will just be introductions, no fight training." She pulled on her shoes and jacket before grabbing her backpack. Toga looked disappointed but nodded.

Mild nerves had Izuku climbing to his feet as well. "I'll walk you out." Before anyone could protest he paced over to open the door for her, slipping out behind her. The brunette regarded him curiously. He swallowed thickly before scuffing his foot on the floor. "Are you still going to talk to the nurse?"

A frown tugged at her lips as she nodded resolutely. "I'm not budging on this." 

"But what are you going to tell her? She can't know about any of this." He gestured towards the apartment to indicate their group.

"The truth." Alarm shot up his spine but before he could speak she held up a hand and explained. "I'll tell her that you're quirkless and that people are cruel. That you've tried getting help but been rejected by normal clinics. Since meeting you I've looked up the statistics. If a hero won't help you..." She trailed off, biting her lip.

A shaky sigh escaped him at that. So much could go wrong. He wasn't worth the risk but he knew Ochaco wouldn't back down. The only comfort was that the nurse would probably decline either because he was quirkless or not a student. He nodded in resignation. He was taken by surprise when she stepped forward to hug him tight. "I won't tell anyone about the LOV, I promise." The words were solemn and sincere. "I'll see you later." With that she released him and continued on her way.

The greenette watched her disappear down the stairs before heading back in. Worry and depression ate away at his mind despite her assurances. Tomura was frowning at him when he looked up. His expression must have given his mood away because the man stood and pointedly nodded towards the bedroom. Izuku gladly followed.

Once they were safely closed away the pale man drew him into a warm embrace. The teen sank into it and buried his face against his chest. They spent several moments pressed together, Izuku drinking in his scent and letting the comforting familiarity relax him. Tomura smelled like the coffee he'd had earlier, musky sweat, and the floral shampoo he pretended not to like but used anyway. It was all mixed with a faint smokiness from his time with Dabi.

When the man started to pull away Izuku tried to resist but gave up when a hand rested heavy on top of his head. He gazed up into crimson eyes that held a rare softness. Fingers kneaded his scalp as Tomura finally spoke. "Let's go back to bed. You need more rest."

The greenette couldn't find it in himself to protest as gentle hands began helping him undress. Once they were both down to their boxers they slipped under the covers. Tomura hugged him to his chest from behind and pressed a few light kisses to the back of his neck. Calloused fingers traced comforting circles on his chest and stomach. The light touches made him sigh softly and snuggle into the man's warmth. 

As he drifted off he faintly registered a quiet, "I love you."

~°~ POV: Ochaco ~°~

Nerves made Ochaco's hands shake as she approached the classroom door. It was huge to accommodate large mutations but she'd seen a girl slide it open easily. The '1-B' over the doorway glared at her and something darker twisted in her chest as she hesitated outside. While trying to find the correct room she'd happened past the 1-A door in time to see the perverted grape haired boy from the exam enter while leering up a girl's skirt in front of him. He'd passed the test and gotten into the class she'd been aiming for. She also saw the blue haired boy with glasses who'd ignored her cries for help when she was pinned by rubble with the zero pointer bearing down on her. And the psychotic ash blonde who was setting off explosions regardless of who was in his way while cackling.

Izuku had told her about Eraserhead when they'd gotten into a discussion about underground heroics one night. He was supposed to be the strictest teacher in UA, who only allowed the best to enter and stay in his class. So why would he allow those three, and likely others, who clearly weren't hero material? Was she not good enough? Strong enough? Was it because she hadn't been able to save herself? Was her quirk not flashy enough? The questions gnawed at her.

A shove against her shoulder jarred her from the spiraling thoughts. "Out of the way!" A blonde boy sneered as he passed, opening the door to 1-B. Ochaco's heart sank. What would the next three years be like with people like that and the 1-A students training with her?

Drawing in a deep breath she slapped her cheeks. She was doing this for her family. They'd wasted too much money on her just getting to the exam. Backing out now was out of the question. Especially since Izuku, Toga, and Magne took time out of their lives to help her train as well. That helped solidify her resolve and she stepped through the door. None of them had given up on her, she refused to give up on herself then too.

As she predicted there would be no training that day. Once everyone was seated their teacher entered and introduced himself as Kan-sensei. "Welcome, class 1-B. After homeroom we will be attending an assembly to introduce you to your teachers and familiarize you with school policies, services, and what is expected of you as students. After that you will come back here for your academic classes." The hero spent a moment looking them over before continuing. "For now let's go around the room and introduce yourselves. Please state your name, your quirk, and a hobby you enjoy." He pointed to a girl with green vines for hair who was in the first seat. 

It wasn't much different than middle school. Ochaco found herself only half paying attention, preoccupied with trying to think of something that counted as a hobby. She was always too busy helping her family at home and they couldn't afford things like collectibles or instrument lessons. And after moving to Kamino Ward the only things she really looked forward to were brawling or talking with Izuku and learning how to knife fight from Toga. That last was a bit shaky since the excitable blonde liked drawing blood.

When it was her turn she stood with a forced, upbeat smile. "I'm Ochaco Uraraka. My quirk is called Zero Gravity. I can make objects float when I touch them… I don't really have any hobbies." A blush stained her cheeks as she sat back down. There was an awkward pause before the next student went.

Her attention wandered again, this time drawn by movement outside the window. Class 1-A was jogging across the lawn towards the practice fields in gym clothes. They were starting training already. Anger burned in her chest when she saw the grape boy lagging behind everyone else. She forced herself to avert her gaze. Maybe Izuku was right and Eraserhead would expel him after seeing how inept and creepy he was.

After homeroom the assembly dragged on for two hours while various heroics teachers and the principal went over everything that she'd already read from the handbook. The irritation surged again when the chimera claimed that UA embraced diversity, equality, and justice. She recalled Izuku's words the first day they met. How could they claim such things when the strongest, smartest, kindest person she'd ever met was barred from even applying because of something he couldn't control?

It stuck with her for the rest of the day, souring what should have been an exciting experience. Living with villains had disillusioned her after hearing some of why they turned to crime in the first place. Society had rejected them so soundly because of their quirks, or appearance, or their very identities that it was the only way to survive. And the statistics about quirkless people made her heart hurt. Most were killed or committed suicide before adulthood. It was the reason why they were rarely encountered now rather than the popular theory that their births were declining.

At the end of the day she was packing up her bag when Kan-sensei called her to his desk. Nerves fluttered in her belly as she approached. He waited until everyone else had filed out before regarding her with concern. "Uraraka, are you alright?"

The question surprised her. She'd been quiet all day but had been trying to pay attention in class. "Yes, sir. I'm fine." She mustered a bright smile but the man simply raised an eyebrow.

"You've seemed preoccupied and haven't interacted much with the others. Is something wrong?" 

"I…" She paused, pondering how to explain since he clearly wouldn't accept a flippant answer. "Kan-sensei, can a quirkless person be a hero?" It was what she'd intended to ask Eraserhead if she was in his class.

The man looked surprised, brows lowering in a frown. To his credit he seemed to be genuinely contemplating the answer. Finally, "I don't believe so. There are just so many dangerous quirks out there that require equal power to combat. Even with training they couldn't hope to match against villains."

Disappointment crashed into her and she blinked rapidly to quell angry tears. She'd thought UA would be different, that maybe Izuku was just too jaded. But he was right. "What about heroes who fight without quirks? Like Aizawa-sensei and Kayama-sensei." Her voice was tight but controlled, not wanting to yell at a teacher like she desperately wanted to.

A heavy sigh left Kan and he shook his head. "They have quirks to fall back on if they get in over their heads. What is this about?" His tone was patient, trying to understand. It hurt worse that he didn't see the problem to begin with.

The brunette took a moment to compose herself. "Nothing, sir. I was just curious. I'm sorry for not paying attention in class. I'll do better tomorrow." She turned on her heel and left, ignoring his calls for her to come back. Exiting the room she almost ran into a man dressed head to toe in black. He was scruffy and disheveled, long hair messy like he'd just woken up from a nap. But his dark grey eyes were sharp as he sidestepped out of the way. He examined her for a moment before nodding and wordlessly entering the 1-B classroom.

Shaking out her hands, she tried to put the conversation and weird encounter behind her. There was still one more thing she had to do before she could go home and curl up with a tub of ice cream and some of Dabi's liquor. Rubbing her face vigorously, she marched towards the infirmary. If Recovery Girl wasn't compassionate enough to even just meet Izuku then maybe UA really wasn't what she thought it was.

Chapter Text

~°~ POV: Ochaco ~°~

The walk to the infirmary was a familiar one since Ochaco had ended up there after the entrance exams. The halls were mostly deserted by now aside from some upperclassmen and teachers she didn't recognize. It let her gather her courage in peace before the clinic door came into view. She had no clue how to approach the subject with Recovery Girl despite the confidence she'd shown Izuku. It was the first day of class and she was planning on imposing and begging for exceptions right off the bat. It left her feeling queasy but it needed to be done. There was nothing in the student book about needing to be a student to see the nurse. It was a bit of a stretch but she'd try it.

She had fibbed to the greenette a little. She was going to ask for sleeping aids and an appointment with the school councillor for herself. Toga was helping her work through the worst of the trauma from rescuing Izuku. The blonde acted ditzy and crazed when she needed blood but was intelligent and astute otherwise. The bulk of the reason for visiting the nurse was for Izuku. She knew he would never accept the help if he thought it was an inconvenience. It made her chest ache that he thought so little of himself despite the care and love being heaped on him. Depression wasn't something to mess around with and he'd been suffering for years.

Drawing in a steadying breath, she pushed the door open and stepped inside. The warm colors and faint scent of gummy candy soothed some of her nerves. The beds were thankfully empty, lessening the chance of the coming discussion being overheard. The woman was behind her desk shuffling through paperwork though she paused when Ochaco entered. "What can I do for you, my dear?" Recovery Girl snagged her cane and climbed to her feet. Shrewd eyes looked her over as Ochaco approached the desk. "Are you still having problems with your leg?"

The question prompted a smile and Ochaco shook her head. "No, it's fully healed thanks to you! I'm… well, I have something else I need help with." 

The old woman made a thoughtful noise before gesturing for her to sit. Ochaco did so, fidgeting with a strap on her backpack nervously. "What is it?" The nurse shuffled around the desk to take a seat in the chair next to Ochaco, giving her full attention.

"Um… I… Something happened to me and a friend recently that… I'm not comfortable sharing. But I'm having problems sleeping and focusing. And my friend… well… he had problems to begin with and it made everything worse. I was wondering if you have anything to help or can get me an appointment with the councilor."

A small frown formed on Recovery Girl's face as she contemplated. "Well, I can give you some melatonin and tea but anything further needs approval from Inui-kun. He's the school therapist. I can message him to contact you tomorrow. As for your friend, I'd need him to come in too and probably talk to Inui as well. What's his name?"

There was the question Ochaco was dreading. She wrung the strap of her bag nervously as she mentally rehearsed what she was going to say. "Thank you, I'll look forward to hearing from Inui-sensei. Um… but my friend isn't a student. He's my neighbor and he's quirkless."

The woman blinked in surprise, lips pursing with some unidentifiable emotion. It made Ochaco's heart sink before Recovery Girl could even open her mouth. "Normally he needs to be a student to receive treatment here."

Biting her lip, Ochaco blinked away tears. This was expected after her earlier conversation with Kan-sensei but it still hurt. "It's just… he's tried getting help from normal clinics but they turn him away for being quirkless. He wanted to be a student here but wasn't even allowed to apply…" she couldn't hold back a sniffle as she lost the battle with her emotions.

A warm hand patted her arm before gummies were thrust under her nose. The old woman scoffed. "Enough of that, dearie. I wasn't finished. Now," once the gummies were accepted, Recovery Girl climbed to her feet and puttered back around the desk to type at her computer. " Normally being a student is required. But everyone employed here keeps up their hero licenses, even this old bag of bones. Those say that we can act in the interest of health and safety as we see fit within the law. The school board would say otherwise but we're still heroes first and foremost." Hope bloomed in Ochaco's chest at the words. "I'll need to run it by Principal Nezu before your friend is allowed on campus but I should have a sure answer for you tomorrow after your lessons. I'll have those sleep aids for you then too." 

The brunette popped to her feet and bowed low at that, blinking rapidly to clear her vision. "Thank you!"

Recovery Girl waved her off. "No more of that either. It's my duty to help when I can. And I can in this case, very easily." She gestured for the girl to eat the candy, which Ochaco did gratefully. "My sister was quirkless, you see. Even way back then when it was more common it was hard on her. I can't even imagine how bad it's gotten for newer generations."

The past tense kept the girl from prying about the woman's sister. She was very matter of fact about it but Ochaco knew a sore topic when she heard it. Recovery Girl looked up from the monitor and was about to say more when the device chimed. She blinked and scanned over the screen before smiling. "Would he be able to come with you tomorrow morning? The first week of classes are always slow so seeing him during lessons is fine."

Happy shock almost made Ochaco choke on a gummy. She coughed while nodding emphatically. Recovery Girl chuckled at the reaction before making a shoo'ing motion. "Good. When you get here a teacher will be waiting at the gate to escort him. For now you go home and rest." 

The brunette bowed again, relief leaving her giddy. Maybe first impressions were deceiving after all. The ill feelings from earlier were still there but clearly some of the school staff were understanding. Now the hardest part would be convincing Izuku to go with her tomorrow.

Or, she discovered upon returning home and invading the Shigaraki apartment, the hardest part would be convincing Tomura. 

The pale man, Dabi, and Eri were playing a zombie FPS game together while Izuku tapped away on his computer. Ochaco tried pulling him away to talk in private but the greenette was stubborn and obsessive when he was tracking information. So she shoved him over to sit next to him on the couch. Maybe it would help for the others to know he was seeking mental help. His depression had to be stressing them out too.

The villain trio was not as subtle about their relationship as they thought they were. Even before Izuku was kidnapped it wasn't exactly normal for two grown men to share a room with a fifteen year old, as she'd inferred from all their clothes and belongings strewn about. Or for foster brothers to share passionate kisses in the hallway when they thought they were alone. It had disturbed her at first until she realized how happy the greenette was around them. And how much even ill-tempered Tomura took care of him on his bad days. They cared deeply for each other and it showed.

"I talked to Recovery Girl. She wants to meet you tomorrow." The declaration made Izuku freeze up, fingers hovering over the keyboard. The two men paused the game and looked up. Dabi's expression was curious while Tomura frowned.

"W-what? But I'm not a student." Izuku looked nervous and dismayed, hands clenching reflexively as he shrank in on himself. 

Ochaco drew in a deep breath to ready herself for the coming argument. "She wants to try helping because a family member was quirkless. She understands how hard it is. You just have to come with me tomorrow. If you don't like it you won't have to go back."

"Absolutely not." Tomura's rasp cut in. He leveled a nasty glare at Ochaco. "What did you tell the heroes about us?"

The brunette frowned right back at the veiled accusation. "Nothing. I just implied something traumatic happened and asked if she would see my quirkless friend. Izuku needs help. You can't tell me you haven't noticed."

That made the man's mouth snap closed before he scoffed. "We're helping him." The words sounded weak and defensive past the hostility. "Heroes have never done us any good before. Why would we risk trusting them? All they do is escalate everything to violence so they can-"

"Besides," Dabi cut in before Tomura's rant could take off. "He can't go out alone anymore. There are still people after us who could recognize him."

Frustration made her hands clench but she fought to keep it from showing. They had every right to worry about it. "Kurogiri could portal us. There's a small town close to campus with plenty of places not to get seen. And he could call once he's done. You don't have a reason to trust them but the teachers have no idea who he is to care. They'll just see a quirkless charity case." She winced at Izuku to soften the blunt words but he waved them off. The argument had him looking uncomfortable but thoughtful. "And I've heard you say yourselves that he's not in any police systems even if they look it up. That's why you have fake documents in the first place."

Before they could respond further Izuku climbed to his feet. It made everyone look at him. He fretted with his hands and shuffled his feet while staring at the floor. "I-I'm not ok. But I wa-want to get better. So… I'll go." He carefully didn't look at the two men as he gathered up his computer and retreated into his room. 

Silence descended over the living room after that. Everyone realized how difficult it was for the teen to directly oppose the two men. Much less admit there was something wrong at the same time. It made Ochaco bite her lip and have to resist going after him. Tomura growled quietly after a moment, scrubbing his hands through his hair. "If things go wrong, it's on you." He leveled a nasty glare at Ochaco before standing to go check on Izuku. All the brunette could do was nod. She'd accepted that risk already in joining their raid and knew she would die if it made their situation worse.

A nudge at her side made her look up. Dabi was frowning but pressed Tomura's abandoned controller into her hand. "Izuku has good instincts. I hope that holds up."

Chapter Text

~°~ POV: Izuku ~°~

Nerves left Izuku jittery and on edge as he followed Ochaco towards the entrance of UA. He'd never imagined stepping foot on the legendary campus before. And here he was, about to do so for being a basket case. It seemed oddly fitting to what his life had become. Not that he would trade Tomura or Dabi for the world.

He pulled his hood lower over his face as they joined a procession of other uniformed teens filtering through the gate. His ragged black hoodie and face mask stood out and earned him some confused looks. It didn't help his anxiety much. The only reason he hadn't turned tail and run was because Ochaco had a stranglehold on his hand. Maybe if he cut it off and sprinted…

The opportunity slipped away as they stepped over the threshold. The only true comfort was the weight of his kusarigama concealed beneath the oversized jacket. And that was fleeting when he saw who was waiting to escort him to the infirmary. Hooded dark grey eyes stared from over top a large paper cup from a local coffee shop. Messy black clothes and rumpled hair implied lack of care but Izuku felt like a bug being eyed up by a calculating predator as they stopped in front of Eraserhead. He suddenly wished he'd left the weapon at home, feeling inadequate before the inspiration behind his fighting style. 

Struggling to keep outwardly calm, he bowed. "I-I'm Izuku Shigaraki. I-I was to-old Recovery Girl wanted t-to see me. S-sorry to im-mpose." A dark flush of embarrassment at the stuttering stained his cheeks. He was grateful for the mask hiding most of it. So much for keeping calm.

The man observed both of them for a moment before grunting. "Aizawa. If you were imposing you wouldn't be here." His tone was sleepy and matter of fact. The blunt logic did make the greenette feel a smidge better.

The man eyed Ochaco blandly before gesturing toward the building. "Get to class or Kan will try having another heart to heart with you."

Brown eyes, already wide from hearing the teacher's name, got impossibly bigger. Izuku was afraid they'd fall out. Her face was also turning red. He was curious what had her so flustered and what the hero's comment meant. Had she not realized who the dark teacher was? She shook herself when Izuku squeezed her hand in concern. Turning to him, she pulled up one of her bright smiles. "Aizawa-sensei is right, I don't want to be late. But call me if you need anything, ok?"

He nodded in agreement. If anything went wrong he already planned to warn her right after a call to Kurogiri. "I'll be fine. Have a good day." He was pulled into a brief hug before she turned to jog off. And then he was alone with the very last hero he could consider an idol. After All-Might's swift crushing of his dreams he wasn't eager to talk to Eraserhead. He'd learned the phrase 'never meet your hero' the hard way already. But the man probably already knew he was quirkless so it wouldn't come as a surprise if he thought less of him. 

Thankfully, but awkwardly, Aizawa didn't say a word as he nodded for Izuku to follow him. It did give the greenette the opportunity to look around as they navigated the hallways. It seemed like any other school he'd been in, but cleaner and with more consideration for mutation quirks. The students they passed were also less rambunctious. Anxiety surged when he spotted an arrow for the infirmary at one intersection but they turned the opposite way. He fussed with the cuff of his hoodie. "A-are we no-not seeing the nurse?" He couldn't keep a suspicious note from his voice.

Aizawa paused and turned to him, hiding a frown under the edge of his capture weapon. "We are but you need to be signed in first. Administration is this way."

"O-oh, right." He ducked his head. Of course they wouldn't let anyone wander around without recording the visit. It still left him feeling jittery and on edge. A muted explosion went off somewhere else in the building, making him startle violently and instinctively reach for his weapon. Aizawa remained unaffected though his eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the teen. Izuku tried to play the reaction off with a strained chuckle, rubbing his neck. It didn't work but the teacher didn't comment before turning to continue the trek.

The administration wing was just as normal as any other. Except the computers could put Tomura's rig to shame and there were a lot of potted plants littering the visible desks. There were several general workers puttering around and tapping away at their computers. Izuku knew from his thorough research that the image of office dredgery was an illusion. Everyone employed by UA, from the principal to the filing clerk, held hero licenses. The people doing administrative duties were Nezu's sidekicks. Half the stations were empty, probably belonging to teachers with morning classes. It made Izuku wonder about Eraserhead's homeroom but he couldn't muster the courage to ask.

They stopped at a messy desk in a far corner and Aizawa took a seat behind it. He faced the rest of the room and exits, leaving Izuku to sit with his back exposed to the room. His apprehension skyrocketed and he found it hard to sit still, startling and glancing over his shoulder every time someone moved behind him. He was keenly aware of the teacher's perceptive gaze but he couldn't help the reactions. Finally the man seemed to take pity on him. Aizawa stood, stepped over to steal someone else's office chair, and wheeled it over to the side of the desk facing the room. He gestured for Izuku to switch seats before reclaiming his own. The greenette did so gratefully, surprised at the considerate action.

"You'll need to remove your mask and hood. And I'll need your ID." Aizawa woke up his computer and logged in. He brought up a program and clicked over to a blank form.

Fumbling for his wallet, Izuku pulled out his identification first. Then, with trembling hands, he pulled down his hood and face mask. He was hyper aware of how messy his hair was despite being pulled back in a short tail. He was also paler than normal thanks to nerves. Not that the man seemed to notice or care as he typed in the ID information. Being ignored for a minute helped him rebuild some veneer of confidence. "U-um, you're Eraserhead, aren't you?" He knew that most people probably wouldn't know the hero but he couldn't help himself.

The teacher paused but then nodded. "I am." An appraising look was shot Izuku's way but Aizawa seemed content to let him get his thoughts in order.

The greenette fussed with his hands. He was prepared for disappointment again but, much like when he met All-Might, he couldn't help himself. "You in-inspired me to t-to want to be a hero." The statement was half true. Eraserhead had been on his radar even back when he worshipped the egotistical blonde. But it was after joining Tomura that he really scrutinized the underground hero. He and others like him were part of what gave Izuku hope that the hero system could be reformed.

The man was silent for a moment before turning to give Izuku his full attention. His expression was set in a serious frown, making the teen shrink a little. Had he said the wrong thing? But finally, Aizawa sighed. "Unfortunately you'd never be allowed to get a license even if the school board allowed you to attend. It would upset the status quo." A hint of bitterness was clear. "And even the entrance exam here is catered to flashy, marketable, quirks. Nezu had to fight tooth and nail just to let students advance up from the sports festival."

That was… refreshingly blunt. And not what the greenette was expecting. There was no mention that Izuku couldn't do it because of his quirklessness. Just that he couldn't because the system would work against him from the start. The last statement also struck him. It implied that the principal was at odds with the school board. He supposed it made sense with the chimera's origins. Nezu wasn't human and was appointed head of the school before the HPSC started trying to control the hero academies. The realization left him having to revise his opinions and assumptions.

He was shaken from his thoughts when Aizawa stood and motioned for him to follow. They exited the administration wing, this time following the arrows for the infirmary. During the walk some more confidence returned. The hero was brusque but honest and curiosity was slowly replacing his jitters. "Um… i-if you don't mind me a-asking, don't you have a class right now?" 

The man slanted a glance at him and shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pockets idly. "I'm passive aggressively protesting. I submitted four expulsion requests yesterday and only two were approved."

That came as a surprise. Who knew Eraserhead could be petty. "Didn't you ex-expel your entire class last year?" 

A hum was his only response for a moment. "One is a hot head who got in exclusively on villain points. That's always a red flag. But his quirk is too 'promising'. The other was caught peeping in the girls locker room but he's related to a board member."

The description brought to mind Ochaco's rant about her exam. "I-is one a small grape headed boy?" 

That made Aizawa pause and look at him directly. "Yes. How do you know?"

Under the intense stare Izuku wilted a little. He fussed with his sleeves, wondering if he should mention it. But the teacher seemed just as irritated with the situation. "Ochaco said... a-after her exam she was upset because someone like that was stealing her points and acting creepy."

"I'll review the exam footage." There was something dark in his tone and Izuku had to repress a shudder. He didn't want to be around when Aizawa confirmed the accusation. The man turned to continue leading the way.

Further discussion was placed on hold as they stopped in front of the infirmary. Eraserhead turned to nod at him. "Another teacher will escort you off campus once you're done." With that he strode off with long strides. It made Izuku realize he'd been walking slower for the teen's benefit.

Turning towards the door, the anxiety reared up again. He couldn't quite bring himself to reach out. Thankfully he didn't have to as someone opened it from the inside. Surprise jolted through him when he saw who it was.

"Izuku?"

"Shoto."

Chapter Text

The two teens stared at each other in surprise before Izuku slowly began to register Shoto's full appearance. A bruise covered half of the heterochromatic boy's face from right eye to jaw. It was slowly fading and would soon be gone, likely courtesy of Recovery Girl's healing. As he shuffled out of the doorway he had a mild limp. Concern made the greenette frown. "Are you alright?" It was a stupid question but his conscience demanded he ask.

Shoto shrugged while adjusting his backpack straps with a barely perceptible wince. "I'm fine." His tone and expression were deadpan. "I tripped down the stairs last night." 

Except Izuku was uniquely aware that the other boy was lying. His fists clenched as anger ignited in his chest. The most likely reality was that Endeavor beat the shit out of him. It made him feel guilty to realize he hadn't looked at his burner phone since the kidnapping. "I… I'm sorry I haven't texted you in a while. Something happened. It's, um." He swallowed thickly. "It's why another friend convinced the nurse here to see me." 

Something shifted in Shoto's expression at that. He finally seemed to take in Izuku's appearance as well. From the hunched shoulders, to the pale skin, and nervous fidgeting. After a moment he nodded. "I need to get to class. Call me later."

Not text, call. The greenette disliked making phone calls but agreed anyway. "I will." As the heterochromatic boy turned to leave Izuku came to a decision. "Ah, my friend is in 1-B. Her name's Ochaco Uraraka. She's having a rough time too and could use more than just me looking out for her." 

A look of confusion crossed Shoto's face but he nodded. "I'll do my best." With that he continued on his way. 

Izuku hoped the subtle prod would get them talking to each other. Ochaco needed a friend her own age who wasn't a villain. And Shoto needed a ray of sunshine and someone else to maybe open up to since the greenette was so unreliable. The teen also needed to advance his plans to get the other boy somewhere safe, intel on Endeavor be damned. He stood lost in thought for several moments before a delicate cough made him startle. Recovery Girl stood in the still open doorway and beckoned him in. After a false start where his knees locked up, he stepped in and slid the door closed. The woman pointed towards a bed that had a hospital gown folded at the end. Izuku hesitantly took a seat on it.

"You're Uraraka-kun's friend?" She pulled a tablet out of a pocket and tapped away on it. 

"Yes. Izuku Shigaraki, ma'am." He fussed with his hands, nerves making a comeback in force.

The nurse scoffed. "So polite but it's not necessary. Call me Recovery Girl or Shuzenji." She looked up from the device to offer a small smile. "Now, I'm guessing it's been a while since you've seen a clinic. If it's alright with you, I'd like to give you an exam and run some diagnostic tests before handing you over to the school counsellor for a mental health evaluation."

The notion didn't sit well with Izuku but he nodded anyway. He hadn't been seen by a real doctor since he was five. The thought of being prodded with medical equipment made him break out in a cold sweat but it was necessary. He couldn't let Ochaco down.

Recovery Girl didn't press him for a verbal answer, thankfully. Instead she gestured to the gown. "Go ahead and put that on." She reached out to pull the curtain around the bed closed. "First I'll just check your heart and lungs, then your reflexes. Do you have any current injuries?" She talked through the divider.

It took a moment for him to unfreeze. Letting a stranger see his scars hadn't occurred to him as a risk. But it was too late to back out and refusing would raise suspicions. He disrobed with trembling hands, making sure to carefully conceal his weapon out of sight inside the hoodie. Belatedly, he recalled that she'd asked a question. "U-um… Yes." He didn't elaborate as he pulled the hospital gown around himself and tied it off. Drawing in a deep breath, he pulled the curtain aside to signal that he was done. He reclaimed his spot on the bed after an awkward pause.

The woman looked him over with a critical eye, gaze lingering on his foot that was still wrapped in gauze. She put on exam gloves and gestured towards the appendage. "I'll start with that, then." She pulled a stool over and sat before pulling his foot into her lap. Expert fingers untied the clumsy bandaging. To her credit, she didn't outwardly react upon seeing the missing toe. "How did this happen?" She quizzed while examining the inflamed stitches.

Izuku jerked away instinctively when she tried touching the spot. The question made his mouth go bone dry. He'd only been expecting a mental evaluation, not a full medical exam. He couldn't get his tongue to work.

At his silence Recovery Girl glanced up with an unreadable expression. "Are you safe at home?" 

That made him jolt with dismay, shaking his head emphatically. "Yes! I-I'm only safe be-because Dad adopted me. We… we live in a bad neighborhood." That was true, if misleading. 

It seemed to satisfy Recovery Girl for the time being. "Wait a moment." She stood and disappeared into a room behind her desk, emerging after a few minutes with a steel tray of supplies. The greenette tried not to visibly flinch at the sight of it but couldn't help shying away when she sat it on the bed next to him. It contained a bottle of disinfectant, gauze, a tiny pair of scissors, and various other things. No scalpel or pliers in sight. Still, it took a minute to get his heart rate under control.

"These stitches need to come out. Were they done at home?" She sat, draping a towel across her lap before reclaiming his foot. 

He shook his head again, some irritation replacing the anxiety at her veiled questions. "I-I saw a d-doctor but… He was cruel. Didn't l-like quirkless p-people. D-dad was furious but couldn't af-afford a new clinic."

The woman tutted, frowning deeply at that. "It's unconscionable for healers to do such things. But unfortunately not uncommon." She claimed the scissors and began carefully snipping away at the thread. Izuku felt queasy when puss oozed out from the wound. No wonder it still hurt. He'd been concealing it from Dabi and Tomura by wearing socks. He had kept tending it when he could but lint and bacteria might have worked its way past the closures and caused infection.

Recovery Girl remained impassive as she continued to extract the stitches, dabbing away the fluid as she went. "I can heal this but it needs to be cleaned up first. My quirk speeds up healing but isn't very good against infections. I'll give you some antibiotics to take, just to be safe." She picked up some gauze and a smaller bottle. "This is a topical anesthetic. It will numb the area so I can sanitize it and get a better look." She waited for him to nod before soaking the gauze in the solution and dabbing it around the outside of the wound. His skin tingled after a few seconds and he could only feel a deep ache when she experimentally poked around the spot.

As she tended it she explained what she was doing every step of the way. It did wonders for calming his rattled nerves. With her efficiency it was done quicker than anticipated. She kissed the top of his foot to use her quirk. Warmth bloomed from the spot and spread to envelope the entire limb. "You'll still need to take it easy. My power only speeds up the body's natural healing. You might feel a bit tired for the next day or two. Eat and drink frequently to counteract the energy loss." While she was bandaging it up someone knocked lightly at the door. Recovery Girl glanced at a clock on the wall and hummed. "That will be Inui. Do you mind if he comes in while I finish looking you over?"

The greenette nodded hesitantly. When she raised her voice to call the visitor in, Izuku was surprised to see it was the hero Hound Dog. The bestial man's real name had come up in his searches but he'd dismissed the councilor to focus on the teachers so it had slipped his mind. The man was holding a clipboard stacked with papers. He approached and nodded slightly in greeting. "I hope you don't mind. I thought to speed up the initial process for you. It's mostly paperwork before we talk." 

"I-it's ok. Thank you for a-agreeing to see me." Izuku fidgeted with his hands.

Inui shook his head, muzzle wrinkling in an approximation of a smile. "It's no problem, I promise. Do you mind if I sit and go over some of this while Shuzenji finishes the physical exam?" When the teen agreed he took a seat on the bed next to Izuku's. Recovery Girl bustled around cleaning up the used equipment, giving them a moment. "First, I like going over family history." Inui pulled out a pen and gave the greenette his full attention. "Does anyone in your family have depression?"

After a pause the greenette nodded. "M-my birth mom. A-after my diagnosis… S-she started binge eating a-and was sad all the time."

The counselor made a note on the top sheet of paper. "And your birth father?"

Izuku couldn't hide a flinch as he thought of Hisashi. His fingers clenched into fists where they rested in his lap. "I-I don't know. He le-left when I was eight. Um…" He clammed up a bit but forced out an explanation. "He drank a l-lot and hi-hit me. He was a-angry that I was quirkless."

Both adults paused at that but quickly hid any further reactions. Inui wrote more while Shuzenji took his temperature and blood pressure. The latter was a bit high but she didn't comment. The man politely waited while she checked his heart and lungs with a stethoscope. Thankfully she didn't need to open the gown much to do so.

"Do you smoke, drink, or do drugs?" The question made him hesitate and fidget in place. The counselor looked up, somehow conveying a reassuring look with his inhuman features. "We aren't here to judge you." His tone was gentle. "We just need to make sure you're not placing yourself in risky situations. Everything you say will be kept in strict confidence."

Rubbing the back of his neck, Izuku nodded. "I-I drink and use po-pot edibles. O-only at home. Dad doesn't know, I hide them. I get ni-nightmares and it's the only w-way I can sleep."

"And are you sexually active?" 

That one made a dark blush form across his face. All he could do was give an embarrassed nod. It was Recovery Girl who spoke up after that. "I'll add an STI test, just to be safe." She bustled over with a basket full of vials, gauze, and blood draw equipment. "Can I take some blood? I'll just be checking for certain infections, and stuff like hormone and cholesterol levels. I imagine you also need your vaccines."

The sight of the all too familiar tools made him shrink in place. He fussed with his hands before nodding reluctantly. The adults didn't miss the reaction and Recovery Girl had to coax him to let her access the crook of one elbow. He broke out in a cold sweat when she finished cleaning the spot and opened up a packaged butterfly needle for the draw.

"Izuku, look at me, please." Inui caught his attention. It took a minute to peel his gaze away from hyper focusing on Recovery Girl's every move. Once he met the man's eyes, the counselor nodded. "Take slow, deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth."

It took a moment to catch his breath enough to do so. When had he started panting? He couldn't recall. "Good. Now, name five things you can see." The man's voice was soft with an oddly soothing growl. 

Blinking rapidly, Izuku glanced around without moving his head. "Y-you. The beds. The cu-curtains." His breath hitched at a sting on his arm but Inui gestured for him to continue. "T-the desk. A-and computer."

The man's muzzle wrinkled in a smile. "Now, name four dog breeds." 

That threw him. What did dogs have to do with anything? Still, he struggled to answer. "Shi-shiba inu. Akita. Um… Terrier and shikoku."

"Excellent. Name three heroes you like." 

The greenette's nose crinkled in distaste at that. "Eraserhead…" He struggled to think of any others he could tolerate. "Ha-Hawks. And Best Jeanist."

"Two of your favorite foods." 

That one was easy. "Katsudon and American pancakes." He loved it when Kurogiri made American style pancakes with blueberries for breakfast. The shadowy man liked testing foods from other cultures.

A quiet bark-like laugh left Inui. "I enjoy katsudon as well. Lastly, name one thing you like about yourself."

It took a moment of thought to come up with that one. There were more things that he disliked. His hair was unruly, his eyes reminded him of his mother, and he was too short. Still, eventually one thing did come to mind. "M-my scars. Um… o-one of my boyfriends to-told me once that they show t-that a person survived. That they show strength i-instead of weakness."

The counselor hummed. "He's very right." Inui lifted his head and pulled down the neck of his shirt. His fur was patchy and bare around the base of his throat, showing off a faint scar. "My own family wasn't the best. My mutation is new in the bloodline and they reacted poorly to the physical traits. They treated me like a household pet instead of a child, collar and all." He righted his shirt and speared Izuku with a serious look. "Know that you aren't alone, and nothing that happened to you was your fault."

Tears stung Izuku's eyes at that. He swallowed hard before nodding. A light touch on his knee caught his attention and he peered at Recovery Girl. She smiled sadly. "All done. Even the vaccines."

Glancing down in surprise, he saw that his arm was already bandaged and there was a bandaid further up on his shoulder. He hadn't even noticed while talking with Hound Dog. The nurse busied herself with cleaning up and labeling the vials of blood. 

"Now then," Inui spoke again. "While Shuzenji finishes your exam, let's continue with the questionnaires."

Chapter Text

By the time Hound Dog and Recovery Girl were finished with their respective exams it was nearing lunch. Izuku's stomach ached with ravenous hunger and he felt drained both physically and mentally. The nurse kissed his forehead to ensure his general health which contributed to the physical fatigue. He'd insisted that there were no more pressing injuries but Inui called him out, likely smelling the still healing bullet hole and cuts. Thankfully they didn't press for answers or to see the wounds.

The man checked the time and grunted. "I'll show you to the cafeteria. Lunch Rush always makes too much food so an extra mouth is nothing." He gathered the clipboard and stood with a stretch. "Time got away from us. After lunch stay in the cafeteria and someone will escort you off campus. I want to see you back here on Monday, if that's alright."

That surprised the greenette, who nodded after a moment of thought. He found he liked chatting with Inui despite the topics. And so far all the adults he'd met were kind and understanding of his tics and habits. "I-I think I'd like that." He mustered a small smile.

"Get dressed and I'll have your antibiotics ready." Recovery Girl chimed in before disappearing through the door behind her desk. Inui pulled the curtains closed for him and moved to wait outside the infirmary. As promised, Shuzenji was waiting with a prescription bottle in hand when he emerged fully clothed. She passed it to him along with a bundle of papers. "These are care instructions and information on the medication. Four pills a day every four to six hours for five days. Start it today at lunch. It's a bit more aggressive than I normally like but your foot was bad." 

He offered a meek smile while folding the papers enough to fit in his pocket. The bottle followed after a brief look at the label. Unlike most prescriptions it only had his name, the rest was Shuzenji's information. He bowed gratefully. "Thank you so much."

The woman scoffed and herded him towards the door. "None of that. You're very welcome, though. I want you back on Tuesday so I can check your foot again and go over your test results." She didn't give him room to protest before closing the door on him.

That was two days he'd have to come back to UA. He didn't know how to feel about it. He knew Tomura would have Opinions. But as long as things continued going smoothly he didn't see why not. So far he'd gathered a lot of information just from a few minutes spent with Eraserhead. 

Hound Dog led him through the maze of hallways, following arrows for the lunch room. The bell hadn't chimed yet so the corridors were deserted and there was no line when they arrived. Inui flagged down the person behind the counter, which was already laden with a large assortment of amazing smelling foods. The person was clothed in a chef's outfit, white gloves, and a metal face mask. "Izuku, this is Lunch Rush. Lunch Rush, Izuku is a guest of UA, please treat him well." The person gave a thumbs up and handed the teen a tray. Inui patted Izuku on the back. "I need to return to my office. Breaks tend to draw students to me."

"Thank you, Inui-san." Izuku bowed. The man smiled before walking away. Turning his attention back to the banquet, Izuku felt a bit lost. There were so many options. Seeming to realize his indecision, Lunch Rush gestured enthusiastically to certain dishes. With no other preference, the teen took what was pointed out. It seemed to make the quiet chef happy.

Next was finding a seat. He opted for a table close to the doors but with a clear view of the room. It made him feel safer having his back to a wall. He was all too aware that others would be descending on the cafeteria soon, which had him on edge. The last time he'd been around other kids in a school it hadn't ended well. Trying to take his mind off the worry, he pulled out his phone to text everyone that he was fine, that the heroes hadn't arrested him, and he would let Kurogiri know when he needed a portal back. By the time he was done replying to Dabi and Tomura a bell chimed the start of break. His hands trembled as he tried to focus on eating rather than the slow trickle of students entering the room.

The greenette was hyper aware of the curious looks he received from those trying to find places to sit. Thankfully none approached him. He kept an anxious eye out for Ochaco or Shoto, desperately hoping they'd sit with him to field interest. When a familiar figure decked out in black entered he relaxed a little. Aizawa didn't seem like the type to put up with bullying if Izuku encountered problems. He watched as Lunch Rush offered the teacher a large mug of coffee along with a tray already stacked with food. Aizawa said something that Izuku couldn't hear but he could infer what when the chef pointed in his direction. The dark hero meandered over to the greenette's table and sat a couple chairs down on the same side. They nodded to each other but the man didn't seem inclined towards small talk.

As more ravenous teens filtered in the tables grew more densely packed. Eventually the other seats near Izuku started to fill up. With the teacher's presence it seemed to mostly be other quiet teens but it made him shrink in on himself when they stared. Appetite dwindling, he kept his gaze glued to his tray as he pushed his food around. 

A loud voice right next to Izuku made him startle violently and snap a chopstick. When he looked up he found a tall boy with dark blue hair and glasses glaring at him. "Why are you out of uniform? This is a clear dress code violation! Your lack of respect for these hallowed halls is disgusting." He made a chopping motion with his arm as he spoke. Being confronted so aggressively made Izuku freeze up. His fingers itched to reach for his kusarigama but he was all too aware of the large audience. Out of the corner of his eye he saw something grey lash out and wrap around the other boy from mouth to chest, abruptly halting the tirade. 

Aizawa unfolded from his seat, drawing the teens attention. He gripped his capture weapon with both hands, keeping the student tightly restrained. "Iida," his voice sounded deceptively bored and casual. "Three days detention for lack of situational awareness and manners. This person is a guest and therefore none of your concern."

It would have been comical watching the boy's face go pale if Izuku wasn't trying to fend off a panic attack. Struggling to recall Inui's method, he went down a list of inane things in his head while taking deep breaths. Top five heroes to kill: Endeavor, All-Might, Death Arms, The Fly, and Snatch. The flaming trash can was now above All-Might because of his treatment of Shoto. Four types of snake: Python, boa, viper, and cobra. Three favorite drinks: Coffee with sweet creamer, chocolate milk, and chartreuse. Two-

He was interrupted a second time by the rude boy as soon as Aizawa unwrapped him. This time he bowed low and apologized profusely. It irritated the greenette, causing him to glare. "Y-you're only so-sorry because you were caught. Next ti-time ask first." There was venom in his tone, making the student retreat hastily. 

Eraserhead huffed and reclaimed his seat while wrapping the capture weapon back around his shoulders. "Feel free to defend yourself non lethally if anyone else harasses you. It's only logical if they seem hostile. My students should know better or risk learning the hard way." 

The permission threw Izuku for a loop. Did the hero realize he was armed? Or was it just a general statement? The questions came close to the tip of his tongue but he swallowed them back. In a world of superpowers telling someone to defend themselves included using their quirks, some of which were more dangerous than a sickle and chain. Aizawa seemed smart enough to know that already.

The spectacle did have the benefit of calling him to the attention of both Ochaco and Shoto. They stood from where they were sitting across the room and beelined towards him. They reached him at the same time despite not having been together. They looked at each other curiously before claiming the chairs on either side of him. "That was the boy who ignored me while I was pinned at the entrance exam." The brunette explained with a nose crinkle. "I got your text. I'm glad everything went well!" 

He filed that information away for later. Offering her a small smile, he nodded. "I'm coming back next week. Oh," he realized he was being rude. "Ochaco, this is Shoto. We met at a cat cafe a couple months ago."

The boy nodded silently. He had his icy mask up but that didn't stop Ochaco from beaming at him. "Nice to meet you! I live next to Izuku, that's how I know him."

Heterochromatic eyes flitted between them briefly. When they landed on Izuku the greenette gave an encouraging look. It made Shoto shift in place uncomfortably but he spoke up after a moment. "Pleased to meet you. Let's be friends?" He glanced at Izuku again, as if not sure he said the right thing. 

Ochaco chimed in before the greenette could. "Yeah!" She cheered. "Hopefully 1-A and B have some joint training so we can hang out more than just at lunch." She didn't seem to mind when the other boy stayed quiet and simply nodded.

To try making it more comfortable for him, Izuku brought up the topic of their classes. It got a couple comments from Shoto but Ochaco and Izuku did most of the talking. Not much was happening since it was only day two of lessons but the girl weaseled a promise out of the greenette to help her with Foundational Hero Studies homework. All-Might had been absent, leaving it to the homeroom teachers to go over. Izuku couldn't repress a sneer upon hearing that. "I bet you 10,000¥ there's a news article about him saving a kitten from a tree instead of teaching." 

The brunette shook her head. "I know better than to take that bet." She wisely steered the topic away from the blonde idiot after that. 

An hour passed quickly and soon the warning bell chimed. It prompted a mass exodus of students returning to their classrooms. Ochaco and Shoto stayed where they were until the cafeteria was nearly empty. Aizawa didn't move either, cluing Izuku in on who his escort was. Finally, when the second warning bell sounded, Ochaco hugged him tight. "I'll see you at home!"

He returned the hug, enjoying her sunny aura after his stressful day. "Have a safe commute later. Remember you can call Dad if anything happens." 

A hum of agreement was her response before she grabbed Shoto's arm to drag him out with her. A small smile tugged at the greenette's lips as he watched them go. Hopefully his not so subtle scheme would help the heterochromatic boy. 

Chapter Text

Upon stepping through a warp gate into his apartment Izuku was speared with an accusing crimson stare. Surprisingly not from Tomura. Eri frowned deeply in a pout from the floor near the coffee table. She had a coloring book open and crayons littered the surface around it. Not sure what he'd done to warrant such a reaction from the little girl, he pulled off his hoodie and shoes before padding over to sit next to her. "What's up, unicorn?"

The sour look wavered at the nickname. After a moment of thought she scooted closer to cuddle against his side. "Tomura scolded me for wanting a drink."

Brows furrowing, Izuku glanced around for the pale man. His door was closed, hinting that he'd shut himself away. "What drink did you want?" He had an idea. Tomura could be an ass but he would only deny her things that could hurt her. Kurogiri already got after them for letting her have coffee.

"I wanted to try his drink. It smelled like apples." She fidgeted. "I drew him a picture to trade. But he didn't let me have any and took the picture anyway." She sounded sad and confused.

"I doubt you'd like it. It tastes bad even though it smells good." He wrapped an arm around her in a hug.

She peered up at him skeptically. "Why drink it then?" 

Lips twisting in a wry smile, he shrugged. "We're not very smart. And anyway it could make you sick. Why don't I just get you apple juice instead?"

A thoughtful look crossed her face before she nodded solemnly. "Please." She reluctantly shifted away so he could move.

Standing with a quiet groan, he was reminded of his exhaustion after the brief rest. Nevertheless he ruffled her hair and shuffled into the kitchen. Kurogiri already had some juice waiting, having been eavesdropping while being lazy before work. Izuku smiled thankfully as he snagged the sippy cup. It was one of a few they'd gotten for Eri themed with unicorns, dragons, and rainbows.

Returning to the little girl, he offered it to her with a teasing hint of ceremony, bowing slightly as she took it. It earned him a weird look but her lips trembled slightly as if trying to repress a smile. They had yet to get her to smile though they'd come close. "I'm going to take a nap in Tomura's room. Knock if you need anything once Dad leaves." He patted her head before turning to do just that.

He didn't bother knocking before entering. It wasn't like they had anything to hide anymore. The pale man looked up from his computer, which had police records open. Izuku pretended not to notice a messy new crayon drawing on the desk. It seemed to feature Izuku, Eri, Tomura, Dabi, and Kurogiri. Though it was difficult to tell for sure beyond hair color. There was a dead and bloody beaked person at their feet, likely Overhaul.

"How'd it go?" Tomura turned to watch him as he shed everything but his boxers and socks before collapsing face down on the bed. 

Izuku grunted and burrowed under the blankets. "Fine. Recovery Girl healed what she could. And Hound Dog wants to talk more…" He hesitated before continuing. "I like them. So far they seem good. I even met Eraserhead and he let slip some interesting information."

The chair creaked and a moment later the mattress dipped next to him. Arms wrapped around him in a firm hug. "Oh?" 

"Mmh." He snuggled into the hold and flailed an arm free of the covers so he could lace their fingers together. "The principal is fighting with the board of education. They've been interfering even to the point of refusing expulsions. I'd bet they're why All-Might was allowed in. Ochaco said he hasn't bothered teaching his classes yet."

The man scoffed but was thoughtfully silent for a few moments. "Do you think they'd care if we bump him off?" There was genuine curiosity in his tone. Since coming to terms with Sensei's betrayal he'd slowly been coming around to Izuku's way of thinking. He still detested heroes but he was more inclined to listen to the greenette's advice about them.

"Honestly? I don't know. They seem to be true heroes. But the principal isn't human and a lot of them have their own reasons for hating the HPSC. If they did forcefully appoint All-Might as a teacher I suspect the school wouldn't interfere unless students and civilians were involved. But I can do some snooping while I'm there to make sure." Pondering his experience in the school, he swallowed hard. "But my main concern first is getting rid of Endeavor." As he remembered Shoto's wounds he squeezed Tomura's hand tight. "He's still beating the shit out of his kid." He hesitated before soldiering on. "I got into contact with him. Shoto, I mean. He's ready to turn if we help him get away from Endeavor."

A sharp breath from Tomura made him hasten to explain, sensing an incoming rant. "He's been feeding me private information about his dad. If we can find a way to publicize the abuse it will discredit him and make people doubt the hero system. When the HPSC moves to cover it up I'm thinking we can kill him and place suspicion on the commission." He held his breath as the man absorbed the word-vomit. If he couldn't get Tomura on board he had other options but he'd prefer to have the support of his boyfriends. 

Finally, Tomura sighed heavily and gave Izuku's side a harsh pinch. The greenette whined and shied away. "This is one of those things that you tell me before they become relevant, shrimp." He soothed over the stinging spot. "But it's not a bad idea. You get to tell Dabi though. It's his family after all."

Warmth flooded him at the unquestioning agreement. Rolling over to face the man, he pulled him into a sweet kiss. "Where is Dabi anyway?" Izuku eventually murmured against his lips.

"He's setting up a meeting with a black market broker. Sensei always got our equipment for us. But now we need our own source." Tomura caressed his jaw, coaxing him into another kiss, which he leaned into happily. Hands mutually began wandering as the kiss grew more passionate. A knee found its way between Izuku's legs, parting them slowly to rub against him. A quiet mewl escaped the teen as his fingers sought out skin and roamed down to tease just under the man's waistband. Tomura adjusted his weight to press the greenette to his back.

Just as a warm hand gripped his thigh a soft knock came at the door. They both froze, staring at each other with dismay. The tapping sounded again, louder this time. Tomura groaned in annoyance, resting his forehead against Izuku's. The teen sighed and patted his back. "Better see what she wants before she Rewinds the lock again."

The man grumbled but reluctantly disentangled himself from the greenette. The loss of his warmth made Izuku shiver and cacoon back in the blankets. He watched as Tomura adjusted his clothes before going to open the door. "What?" He sounded strained but was making an effort not to snap at the little girl.

Her soft tones were apologetic even though Izuku had told her it was ok to bother them. "Um… Kurogiri had to leave early. And... I'm hungry."

A hand scrubbed roughly through pale blue hair. "Fine, what do you want?" He glanced over his shoulder at Izuku. "Get some rest. I'll handle this." He stepped out and partially closed the door. 

Izuku hid a smile as he listened to them move into the kitchen. She wanted a sandwich with apples and chocolate. But Tomura was trying to negotiate her down to just peanut butter and apple, saying that it was too close to dinner to spoil her appetite with chocolate. The compromise was that she could have chocolate cookies after supper. He could hear the pout in her voice but she eventually agreed.

As annoying as it was to have their private time interrupted, he was glad they were finally getting her to say what she wanted. In this instance as well, he wanted Tomura but sleep was quickly beckoning him without the pleasant distractions. He drifted off to the sounds of the domestic activities in the other room. For the first time in ages he didn't dream.

Chapter Text

Later that evening Dabi returned. Izuku was teaching Eri how to make Katsudon while Ochaco and Tomura played some type of fighting game. From the pale man's growling he was losing. The greenette couldn't recall how the two ended up playing together but it was nice to see. Them getting along would do wonders for Izuku's stress. The scarred man paused in taking off his trench coat to stare at the duo as well before shrugging. He meandered into the kitchen and snuck a kiss to Izuku's lips since Ochaco was distracted. 

The teen leaned against him with a soft purr of contentment. They reluctantly parted when Eri almost dropped a cutlet on the counter. "After dinner I need to talk to you." Izuku murmured while rescuing the little girl's attempt at battering the pork. 

Dabi raised an eyebrow. "That's not ominous or anything." He stole an apple slice from a plate Eri was grazing off of. He smirked when she pouted at him and patted her on the head.

"It could be a good thing. But we'll see." He was waiting until later to call Shoto so he'd hopefully be alone in his room. Depending on how his conversation with both Todorokis went they could start putting plans into motion as early as Monday. He was anxious to get the other boy somewhere safe before Endeavor snapped like he had with Dabi. With people like the number two hero it was only a matter of time.

The scarred man gave him one last peck on the lips before wandering over to slump between the two on the couch. It wasn't long before he started taunting Tomura about losing to a girl to rile him up. Izuku shook his head and smiled fondly before turning back to the stove. 

After they ate supper Izuku talked Ochaco into watching Eri so that the three villains could conspire in peace in Izuku's room. It wasn't a difficult task since the little girl was sleepy after food and the brunette just had English homework. Camping out on their couch with cartoons on wasn't a great burden. The three settled on the bed with Izuku's laptop open in front of them. A document with Endeavor's information was featured on the screen. After drawing in a deep breath the greenette filled Dabi in on his contact with Shoto. As the man listened a look of disbelief crept onto his face.

"So," he hummed once Izuku was done. "You've secretly been talking to and becoming friends with my little brother while compiling information to take down our father?"

The teen gave a tentative nod. Dabi had an inscrutable look as he processed the news. It made the greenette fidget anxiously as he waited for a real reaction. Eventually a grin tugged at the scarred man's lips and he leaned in to kiss Izuku. "I love you." The soft proclamation made him melt against the man's side, warmth surging in his chest.

They spent a moment pressed together in peaceful silence before Tomura cleared his throat. "What's the plan?"

It made Izuku reluctantly straighten up so he could scroll through the document on his computer. "In terms of raw power we'd never beat him in a head to head fight. But I have some ideas to weaken his support network and whittle down his resolve. With enough pressure he'll either snap or get arrested. In either instance we can use the distraction to take him out or permanently cripple him."

Pausing on one section in particular, he motioned for the two to read. It outlined the first stages of his plan. First was documenting the abuse with pictures, reports, and testimonies from family members. That would be the hardest part. The Todoroki children were tight lipped and their mother was institutionalized. To say nothing of Izuku doubting any official reports would be properly recorded. The key there would be getting heroes on their side, namely the UA teachers. He was confident of at least three Shoto could easily get in his corner, after his own experience at the school. That was if the other boy would tell them.

Pondering it, he glanced at the time. It was late enough that he could text Shoto to have him call. He shifted the laptop so the two men could keep reading before climbing to his feet. The burner phone was on his desk. Claiming the chair, he did just that. While he waited for a reply he observed Dabi. A small smirk played across scarred lips, pulling the staples in his chin and crinkling his nose. His electric blue eyes glowed in the light from the screen as they scanned over the words. He was leaning against Tomura, one arm wrapped around the man's waist and fingers lightly stroking over a sliver of exposed skin. Their differing colorations complimented each other beautifully, dark and tan against white and fair. 

Izuku shifted in his seat and had to look away as his mind started to wander down lecherous paths. With both Ochaco and Eri in the other room sex was off the table until further notice. They really needed to find a babysitter the little girl would stay with overnight. She liked the others but refused to sleep far from the men. Lost in thought, he started when the phone rang. He answered after checking the number. "Shoto, what's up?" The words caught Dabi's and Tomura's attention.

" How soon can you get me out? " The other boy forewent greetings. His voice was strained and nasally. He spoke quietly, likely to not be overheard. 

Alarmed, Izuku was all too familiar with what a broken nose sounded like. "We were just discussing that. How injured are you?" 

There was a lengthy pause that spoke volumes. " I'm fine. "

"Shoto, send me pictures." There was a cold edge to the greenette's tone. "All of it, not just the bruises. If I'm going to help you without being hunted by pros you need to document it."

"... Fine. Just a minute." The call ended, much to Izuku's dismay. But before he could panic a video call came through. With some trepidation he accepted it.

He couldn't stifle a gasp when it connected and the picture loaded. Shoto's face was one big bruise, his left eye swollen almost completely shut. Burn marks were visible on the cold side of his neck, making Izuku shudder with his own memories of such things. The other boy's nose was slightly crooked and there were still hints of blood under his nostrils. The most unsettling thing about it all was his perfectly blank expression. 

"The fuck?" Izuku glanced over to see Dabi hovering over his shoulder. An ugly snarl twisted his lips. "I'm going to kill that motherfucker." Cerulean embers dripped from clenched fists. Tomura had to stamp out a spot on the carpet that tried catching fire.

A strange look crossed Shoto's face, being able to see the display behind Izuku's back. His focus switched back to the greenette and he frowned. " Who are they? " Subtle wariness colored the words.

Glancing askance at Dabi over his shoulder, he settled for the simple truth until the man could calm down. "My boyfriends. They're helping me figure out a plan for you. We'll need outside help if you want to stay out of Endeavor's reach for good." 

The other boy visibly drew in a deep breath before schooling his expression again. " What do you need me to do? "

Frowning seriously, Izuku sighed. "Like I said, pictures. Document every bruise and every break. Hell, even every stubbed toe. Make sure there are time stamps on them. Send them to my phone so there are backups if he finds them on yours. Monday I'm going with you to Recovery Girl and we're telling her and Eraserhead. Then I'm telling Hound Dog when I meet with him."

Wariness stole over Shoto's features. The greenette cut off any protest before it could form. His tone was firm, tolerating no refusal. "I can't guarantee it will yield results but the more people who know the better. Monday after you get out of school we're visiting your mother. I also want you to put me in contact with your siblings. We'll play it by ear from there."

Shoto opened and closed his mouth a few times before his shoulders slumped in defeat. " I've told people before. Fuyumi lives with us and even she's in denial. But I'll try it your way. I'll send pictures once we hang up… " He paused and licked his lips, a cold calculating look crossing his face. It reminded Izuku of Dabi. " Endeavor is deathly allergic to buckwheat. " With that he ended the call.

The room was silent for a long moment as they all processed the conversation. It was the first time Shoto had provided any information useful to aid his father's demise. It told Izuku how committed the boy was now. It made him feel darkly satisfied that one scheme was finally yielding results. Another part of him was also relieved to be putting an extraction plan into motion.

A chuckle made him swivel around to look at Dabi. The man still looked pissed but morbid amusement was slowly replacing it. The chuckle turned into a full blown laugh that was a tad on the demented side. Izuku didn't mind, standing to wrap his arms around his waist. The fire user was running hotter than normal thanks to his temper. Eventually Dabi got himself under control, though giggles still occasionally spilled out. He kissed the top of Izuku's head and grinned. "I'd prefer to rip him apart piece by piece on live television. But if all else fails anaphylactic shock works too. The great number two hero, Endeavor, killed by soba noodles!"

Chapter Text

Monday morning dawned dark and rainy. A perfect fit for Izuku's mood as he and Ochaco trudged towards the gates of UA. He was not looking forward to the coming conversations, regardless of the potential good they could do. It also had the potential to blow up in his face if his instincts about the people he met at the school were wrong. Shoto had agreed to wait for him and his escort, hopefully Aizawa again, outside the infirmary. Whether the other boy would hold to that remained to be seen. Izuku was fully prepared to march into the 1-A classroom to drag him kicking and screaming to Recovery Girl if he backed out.

As luck would have it, it was not Aizawa who greeted him at the gate. Instead it was the hero he recognized as Snipe, by his tan gas mask, blood red cloak, cowboy hat, and holsters. Disappointment warred with his inner fanboy. The marksman was so cool! But he needed Eraserhead. The man tipped his hat in greeting. "Shigaraki, right? I'm s'posed to take you to Inui." He had a drawling accent the greenette couldn't place.

Bowing, Izuku looked apologetic. "Yes, tha-thank you very much. I n-need to see Recovery Girl first though." He straightened up and rubbed the back of his neck. "If it wouldn't be t-too much trouble."

The man tilted his head but nodded after a moment of thought. "Sure thing. Ain't no trouble at all." He motioned for Izuku to follow him into the building. Ochaco parted ways with them at the heroics wing with a wave. The walk to the infirmary was made in silence. The greenette wanted to ask Snipe about his quirk but needed to stay focused.

When the clinic came into view there was no heterochromic boy in sight. Ire made Izuku frown until he noticed the door was ajar. Voices filtered out, Shoto's among them. Snipe tapped on the frame and the conversation abruptly cut off. A second later Aizawa slid the door open. He looked exhausted with a hint of worry and anger. 

"This a bad time, Aizawa? Shigaraki needed to see Shuzenji." Concern colored the marksman's voice.

An inscrutable look was directed at Izuku, making him shrink back a little. The teacher's expression eased at the reaction before he reluctantly stepped aside to let them in. "Your timing is perfect, actually. I need you to run a message to Nezu."

One bed was curtained off and Recovery Girl was talking softly to, presumably, Shoto behind it. The other boy must have gotten the ball rolling on his own. Pride welled up in Izuku. It must have taken a lot of courage to do on his own after years of silence. Izuku's attention was drawn to the two men when Aizawa spoke again. "Tell him to blacklist Endeavor and open a child abuse case for Todoroki. Until further notice he will be a ward of UA."

Despite being unable to see Snipe's expression, he stood up straighter and tension coiled in his frame. His head tilted in Izuku's direction and the greenette could guess why. Normally such things wouldn't be discussed openly in front of unrelated ears. Aizawa caught it as well and motioned for the teen to go through the curtains. "He asked for Shigaraki, it's fine." 

Taking the dismissal for what it was, the greenette ducked through the fabric as the teachers moved into the hallway. Shoto laid on the bed looking pale but unmarred thanks to the old hero's quirk. He was in a hospital gown and looked like he'd be there a while since he was under the blankets. Seeing the concern plain on Izuku's face, the boy explained quietly. "There was a lot to heal. I'll have to sleep some of it off." 

Edging around the hero, the greenette sat on the foot of the bed to stay out of the way. She was tapping away on her tablet with a grim expression. Opting to not pry into medical details uninvited, Izuku pondered a moment. "Do you know where you'll be staying? I wasn't expecting it to go so fast so I hadn't thought of that yet."

"Aizawa-sensei offered." He shrugged one shoulder and long blinked. It was clear that the exhaustion from healing was getting to him. "But he said it would depend on what the principal says and how quick they can start investigating." 

Biting his bottom lip, the teen fidgeted. "If you need it, my dad has an apartment that's going to be vacant soon." That was a lie. The person in Unit E was in good standing on rent and had a year lease. But if push came to shove Izuku could make it available one way or another.

It was Recovery Girl who replied. "There's a lot of legal stuff that needs to happen before talk like that. If the principal agrees that Todoroki should become a ward he'll need to stay with a teacher until court cases are settled. Unless we can get his mother released from the hospital to take over custodial rights it'll be a long fight."

A sleepy hum left Shoto. As Izuku watched his eyes dropped closed and his head listed back against the pillow. It was only a few seconds before he started snoring softly. The greenette's lips twisted in sad amusement. He hoped the other boy rested well but he knew different from personal experience after getting away from his own abusers.

The nurse motioned for him to follow, leading him to a bed on the opposite end of the infirmary. "I let Inui know you'll be late. Since you're here anyway let me look at your foot."

Taking a seat, he pulled off his shoe and sock before rolling up his pants leg. The old hero pulled over a stool to sit on while looking at the injury. Surprisingly it was mostly healed already, save a scab down the middle of where the incision had been. The rest was shiny new scar tissue. Recovery Girl let out a pleased hum and patted his calf before standing. "It looks good. Still, take it easy and finish the meds I gave you." She pulled out the tablet to write notes, presumably of his progress. 

After putting his clothes back to rights he stood and bowed. She had expressed disdain for formal niceties but it was habit to be polite. "Thank you, I will." His gaze drifted towards the cordoned off bed. He was reluctant to leave the other boy alone after pushing him to seek help. But he did have his own appointment to get to. "How l-long will he be here?"

A thoughtful frown crossed her face. "I don't know. At least until lunch, then he might be well enough to return to class."

Nibbling his lower lip, Izuku nodded. "I'll ch-check back before I leave. W-we were going to visit his m-mom today after school but…" He trailed off, mentally calculating and adjusting his plans for the day. 

"You'll have to talk to Aizawa about that. Which, he should be waiting outside for you. Best not keep Inui waiting much longer." She made a shoo'ing motion towards the door.

Taking the hint, the greenette nodded and turned to leave. As Shuzenji predicted, the dark hero was leaning against the wall across from the infirmary. He looked even more exhausted than a few minutes ago and was tapping furiously on a phone. The teen loitered awkwardly, not wanting to break his train of thought since it likely involved Shoto's situation. After a couple moments the man glanced up and pushed away from the wall. He kept his phone in hand but gave Izuku his full attention. It was a smidge intimidating when paired with Aizawa's perpetual deadpan stare. "Inui's office is by administration. If your visits become long term I'll push to get you a student ID so you won't need to wait for an escort."

That was a shock. The greenette never would have expected to get free access. A limited visitor's badge, yes. A student pass? Never. "B-but I'm not a st-student? I-I can't be because I'm quirkless." 

The statement earned him an appraising look. "I have a student right now who's only ability is that she's invisible. Quirks have no bearing on hero potential. If I had my way the school board's discriminatory policies would be overturned." He scratched his head and turned to begin walking. Izuku had to jog to catch up, stunned by the teacher's words. "Besides, it will all be unofficial." Aizawa slanted another look at him. "You have two different students vouching for you, who didn't know each other until your first visit. And your records appear clean. Nezu will likely approve it after an interview."

The prospect of actually meeting the chimera gave Izuku pause. Nezu's intelligence was practically an urban legend, from everything the teen could find on him. Paired with his animalistic origins it was difficult to predict his motives and intentions. No one quite knew how or why he was even appointed principal of a hero school to begin with. Being on Nezu's radar directly could be a very bad thing for the League. And yet backing out now, after being informed of it, would look incredibly suspicious. It would just get him scrutinized by the principal even more. At least if he stayed he could try to misdirect any skepticism if his fake information was unearthed. He wouldn't even have to lie directly since they already knew he was abused as a kid and now lived with an adopted family.

During his mental scramble to come to terms with the information he almost walked past a door that Aizawa stopped in front of. It looked just like all the others in the building but had a name plaque for Hound Dog on it. The teacher stuffed his hands in his pockets and nodded towards the door. "He'll arrange a new escort once you're done. I have training to oversee today and probably won't be available."

Before Izuku could get a word in, he was gone. The teen huffed at long legged people and sighed. He supposed that he could ask Shoto at lunch if he wanted to visit his mom. The other boy would probably know by then whether or not he could leave campus alone. Decision made, he drew in a deep breath and knocked on the counselor's door. He still wasn't looking forward to getting into the gritty details of his mental state with the bestial hero. Now though he had the incentive of a student pass to not deliberately mess up his chances of returning to the school.

Chapter Text

Inui was easy to talk to. He had a calming and attentive air while sequestered away in his office. That was both good and bad, as most things are. They began with the cliche of discussing his childhood, mostly because it's where most of Izuku's issues came from. Inui said it was to help him understand the greenette's early growing conditions and ingrained mindsets.

They were discussing Izuku's father when he accidentally let slip that Hisashi was a villain. The tidbit of information made the man's ears literally perk up. To a normal psychologist it wouldn't be a big deal beyond potentially kicking out the client. But Hound Dog was also a hero who could access the Hero Network. The network was an online database for licensed heroes that detailed cases and known villains among other things. 

"What is your birth father's name?" It was the first piece of personally identifiable information anyone at UA had asked for directly. It also put Izuku in a tight spot because the forged documents didn't have his birth parents or last name listed. They said he was an abandoned street kid until Kurogiri rescued him. It was technically true and a valid issue for quirkless people but if the counselor looked into it too deeply he'd wonder why Izuku lied to the 'social workers' who took his 'case'.

On the other hand, it would get Hisashi on their radars if he wasn't already. And if Inko's death or disappearance was on record his father would be blamed for it. It might also have the bonus of getting Sensei recognized if his father still worked for him. If the fib on his documents was brought up he could claim, rightly so, that he feared for his life because of the man and didn't want to be tracked by him.

Fidgeting nervously with his hands, the teen reached a decision. "Hisashi Midoriya." The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as he anxiously hoped he didn't just make a huge mistake. The hero had assured him their talks were confidential but that probably didn't extend to villains.

Keen eyes watched him closely and after a pause to write the name down Inui tilted his head. "Saying his name upsets you. As your primary aggressor that's a normal and valid response. Do you need a break?"

The reason was incorrect but Izuku appreciated the sentiment. Drawing in a deep breath, he shook his head. "N-no, I'm fine." He pried open fingers that he couldn't recall clenching and fought to relax.

"Did you have breakfast this morning?" The man queried. 

The inane question threw Izuku off. All he could do was stare for a moment before reluctantly shaking his head. That distraction tactic was effective even if it made his brain short circuit every time Inui used it. "No." He finally admitted. "I was to-too nervous. Dad m-made me toast but I gave it to Ochaco."

The counselor's muzzle wrinkled in a smile at his reaction. "Whenever you begin to feel anxious I want you to try distracting yourself with questions like that. Or listing things, like I had you do Friday. It won't always help but the goal is to take your mind off the thing you're worried about, even if just for a minute." 

Nodding in understanding, the greenette's lips twitched into a small smile of his own. "So-someone was rude to me that d-day at lunch. I-I used the lists to stop a p-panic attack." He blushed in embarrassment when Inui looked proud.

"That's great! With more practice it will become second nature." He glanced at a clock on the wall and did a double take. "I hadn't realized it was getting so late. Let's stop here for today."

Izuku blinked at the time as well. Two hours had passed while they'd talked. It was still a while before lunch, making him frown. They'd probably want him to leave campus immediately but he still needed to talk to Shoto. 

Seeing his expression, the man tilted his head quizzically. "Do you not want to go?"

"Ah, I just p-promised to check in with Shoto d-during lunch. He was i-in the infirmary this morning." Ducking his head, he shrugged. "I-I could just te-text him later." 

Inui hummed thoughtfully. After a moment he smiled. "You could text him." He agreed. "Or we could see if someone would let you sit in on their class until then. It would be boring to loiter around for hours."

Heart skipping a beat, Izuku's head shot up and he stared with wide eyes. The man chuckled and stood. He stretched with a groan before motioning for Izuku to follow. The greenette scrambled to do so, almost tripping over his own feet as he grabbed a backpack he'd brought with him from the floor. 

"Relax. It's only general education." Inui sounded amused and patted the teen on the shoulder. "I'd ask Aizawa but it's a liability issue to have a guest around heroics training without Nezu's approval and several waiver forms."

Nodding in understanding, Izuku was excited nevertheless. Being able to sit in on any UA class was a dream come true. They could be in the middle of math and he'd still be riveted because Ectoplasm taught it. He even had a notebook this time! Nervous energy coursed through him when, after a dizzying walk through the many corridors, Inui paused outside a door labeled 1-C. He knocked before sliding it open and stepped through. The greenette shuffled in after, trying to repress the sudden wave of jitters at having twenty one pairs of eyes looking at him. He tried to pay attention to Inui as he spoke with the teacher, who turned out to be Present Mic.

"This is Izuku Shigaraki. He's a guest. Do you mind if he sits in on your class, Yamada?"

The energetic Voice Hero gave an enthusiastic thumbs up. "The more the merrier! Little listener, pull up a chair next to Shinso. Put your hands up so he can see you, dude!" His boisterous tone made both Inui and Izuku repress winces, being right next to him.

An unenthusiastic hand half raised in the very back. A boy with wild indigo hair was face down on his desk, looking like he was trying to nap. He didn't bother looking up when Izuku dragged a spare seat over next to him as instructed. The greenette was just thankful that being in the back of the room didn't leave his back exposed. He wondered if Yamada knew or if it was just a lucky coincidence. He suspected all the teachers were aware of his presence as a general security measure but couldn't guess if anything specific would be shared.

The counselor waved before prowling out of the room. The sudden change in body language made Izuku curious what he was on his way to do. He shrugged it off as Present Mic launched into a lesson on the English alphabet. Unable to help himself, the greenette pulled out his writing supplies to take notes on both the class topic and the students with visible quirks. 

By the time lunch rolled around his hand was cramping and his notebook was half full of almost illegible scribbles. At some point his unwilling desk mate had sat up to pay attention. Izuku was aware of irritated glances being sent his way but he opted to ignore it. The boy seemed cranky in general, which was fair considering the dark bags beneath his eyes. When the bell chimed there was a rush of activity as everyone put away their belongings and beelined for the door. Izuku took his time, hoping to discourage anyone from talking to him and not liking crowds. The other boy was doing the same and didn't seem inclined to talk.

Yamada approached once most of the room had emptied. "Hey, are you sticking around for lunch?" 

The greenette straightened up and made a wavery gesture with his hand. "I-I need to ch-check on a friend at the in-infirmary. But if he was r-released I'd like to look for him in the ca-cafeteria."

The loud man bobbed his head in understanding. "There's a teachers meeting I've gotta get to but someone'll find you in the lunch room when it's done. Have some food and hang out, ok? Shinso, buddy!" He abruptly turned to the other boy, who startled. "Do you mind showing Shigaraki how to get to Recovery Girl from here?"

Violet eyes widened and then narrowed. It looked like he might refuse but under Mic's hopeful stare he sighed. "Sure." He slung his bag over a shoulder and slumped with his hands in his pockets.

Yamada cheered, making both boys wince. "Awesome! Thanks, little listener!" He herded them out the door before heading in the opposite direction.

The greenette smiled sheepishly. "S-sorry. I th-think I remember the way i-if you wanted to go." He shifted from foot to foot, uncomfortable under a tired glare.

Eventually Shinso huffed and shook his head. "Come on." He started off with long strides, not caring that Izuku had to almost jog to keep up. Thankfully the corridors were mostly deserted by then.

They were just entering a section of hallway that the greenette recognized when a door opened in front of them. Izuku was prepared to ignore the person but stopped dead in his tracks when he realized who it was. Icy fear tingled down his spine as he suddenly recalled one of Aizawa's rejected expulsion requests. The person glanced at him before doing a double take as well. Lip curling into a disbelieving snarl, Bakugo took an aggressive step forward. "Deku? The fuck are you doing here?" Small explosions popped in clenched fists as he advanced.

Instinct had Izuku flinching and backing up, hands reaching for his kusarigama. The indigo haired boy had continued a ways down the hall, not realizing the greenette had fallen behind. The noise finally made Shinso halt and turn around. Bakugo was between them, cutting off escape. "You disappear for months and then dare show your face here ? The fuck do you think you're doing?" He was practically yelling in his anger, still trying to bear down on the smaller teen. "Answer me, freak!"

Simmering anger surged up to replace the fear as something clicked in Izuku's brain. The bully was the least of the greenette's problems. Not once had the blonde featured in his nightmares since he left Musutafu. Compared to Hisashi, Sensei, Garaki, and Overhaul, Bakugo was pathetic. Forgettable. The realization made his spine straighten and he glared. "I don't owe you anything, Bakugo. Move or I will defend myself." 

The sudden change in attitude made the blonde pause. He looked surprised before his features twisted with rage. "Hah? What can a worthless piece of shit like you do? You think you're better than me now?!" His arms started to raise, sparks flying from his palms as he built up sweat for a bigger explosion.

Izuku reacted without thought. Pulling the weapon from under his hoodie with practiced ease, he whipped the ball and chain out with the same motion. It tangled around one of the blonde's legs and he yanked harshly to send Bakugo sprawling to the floor, stunned. Izuku darted forward, lashing out in a kick when Bakugo recovered enough to try using his quirk again. Bone gave a muted crunch as it connected with the boy's forearm. A snarl of pain left Bakugo and he aimed an explosion point blank at Izuku's torso with his other hand. Unable to dodge, the blast seared through the fabric to scorch skin. The greenette didn't react to the pain, instead shaking the chain free and whipping it around the bully's wrist. He yanked until the joint gave an audible pop and a yelp escaped Bakugo. 

Taking advantage, Izuku knelt on the boy's chest and finally pressed the blade to his neck. The touch of steel made the blonde freeze, red eyes going wide. Every fiber of Izuku's being wanted to drive the blade home. But he restrained the urge as the sound of pounding feet reached his ears. Instead, he leaned in close to ensure he had Bakugo's undivided attention. "If you ever raise a hand to me again I'll cut them off."

When the rush of foot steps grew closer Izuku stood and stepped away from the downed blonde. Calmly, he wound the chain back to rights and returned the kusarigama to its place at his waist. As the adrenaline from the scuffle wore off he started to feel the familiar sting of the burns. Glancing down at his chest, he grimaced. The hoodie, which had survived numerous prior attacks, was beyond saving now. As he moved he could feel that his shirt was melted in the wounds.

"What do you think you're doing?!" The loud voice behind him made the greenette startle and whip around. An impossibly tall but emaciated blonde in an ill fitted suit towered over him. A deep frown made his already skeletal face look more grim. "I am confiscating that weapon and taking you to the principal. Weapons and fighting are not allowed on school grounds!"

As Izuku took in more of the man's appearance suspicion nagged the back of his mind. It was set aside as the words processed. A laugh of disbelief left his mouth before he could censor it. "Are you going to confiscate his hands, too?" He gestured to Bakugo, who was still curled up in pain on the floor.

The man recoiled with a confused frown before shaking his head. "Hand over the weapon. This is your last warning." More teachers were arriving from both ends of the hallway but Izuku stood his ground with a glare. "Over my dead body. Which, by the way, he nearly killed me with his quirk." He motioned towards his chest.

"Sir, that kid attacked first." Shinso finally stepped forward to stand next to Izuku, pointing at Bakugo. He'd kept his distance when the fight broke out. Izuku dimly recalled him trying to talk to the enraged blonde but he'd been too focused to pay attention to it. Someone else must have called for help. "Shigaraki was just defending himself." 

The teacher drew himself up taller. "That doesn't matter. Weapons are an expellable offense."

"Actually, Yagi, it does matter." Aizawa looked and sounded irritated as he stepped around the man to stand on Izuku's other side. He spared Bakugo a dismissive glance before focusing on the other teacher. "And a melee weapon is nothing compared to some of the students' quirks. To say nothing of the fact Shigaraki isn't a student. He was granted special permission to be here. You'd know that if you did your job."

Triumph bubbled up in Izuku at the name. It confirmed what he already suspected from appearance alone. He now knew what All-Might looked like when out of costume. The knowledge made him feel giddy but he tried to reign it in to concentrate on the immediate situation.

Aizawa's words finally flustered the defunct hero. His shoulders slumped and he took a step back. "That is, I-"

"You also ignored protocol while accosting an injured teenager and ignoring another." The bland tone held a veiled current of anger. As if on cue a pair of robots rolled over to Bakugo with a stretcher between them. They lifted the blonde onto it before zooming away, presumably to the infirmary. Before All-Might could get a word in, the dark hero continued. "I will escort Shigaraki to get his wounds treated. Then I will take him to review the security footage. Then, with the facts , I will take him to speak with Nezu." With that Aizawa turned on his heel and lightly guided Izuku with a hand on his shoulder in the direction the robots had gone. 

Chapter Text

Getting melted fibers picked out of burns was not on Izuku's list of fun lunchtime activities. He was laying on a clinic bed while Shuzenji methodically peeled away the mess. Despite using a topical anesthetic he could still feel the deeper aches and stings as she worked. He had to list things in his head almost nonstop to quell instinctive panic every time surgical tweezers or snips appeared in the old hero's hands. The only thing keeping him from a full blown panic attack was the fact she let him keep his weapon after cutting off the shirt and jacket. 

Eraserhead stood guard at the foot of the bed. Not, the teen didn't think, specifically to keep Izuku in line but to ensure Bakugo didn't try to attack him if he woke up. The ash blonde was knocked out on a bed across the infirmary. All things considered he got off light since the break was clean. By the time the greenette and teacher arrived his wrist was already popped back into the socket and the arm set. It must have been a common injury in the hero school.

Despite not being a student the nurse had called Kurogiri. Rather, she did so because he wasn't a student and hadn't signed the standard waivers about injuries. The shadowy man was waiting an appropriate amount of time before showing up to not give away his warp gate ability. Once he arrived he would meet them at Nezu's office.

The entire reason for the mess, Shoto, had been released earlier in the day. He would have been in the lunchroom not the infirmary. Not that Izuku blamed him for anything. It had been the greenette's decision to stay after his appointment after all. The adults were just unwilling to let him talk to students until the current issue was sorted out. It was annoying but he could see that it wasn't a malicious restriction, they just wanted to keep everyone safe.

When Recovery Girl was done and the burns were treated as best she could without kissing him unconscious, Aizawa briefly disappeared before returning with a black tank top and UA gym overshirt. The man handed them to Izuku wordlessly. He'd been unnervingly silent aside from telling Shuzenji to keep the two teens separated. It set him on edge but he tried to ignore the anxiety bubbling up over the, hopefully unintentional, silent treatment. 

The greenette was grateful to find that the gym shirt was oversized enough to hide the kusarigama again. That alone eased his misgivings about the teacher's silence. He didn't seem inclined to disarm Izuku like All-Might had been. He belatedly recalled the man's words to him at lunch the other day and realized why he shouldn't be too worried. The dark hero had told him to defend himself. Tension eased from his frame at the recollection. He'd only been following instructions. And if they kicked him out anyway it would solve some of the problems he'd made for himself in being at the hero school. His forte was apparently not subterfuge, he was realizing too late.

After putting his clothes to rights he was confused when he looked up to see a weird expression on Shuzenji's face. When she noticed his curious gaze she shook her head and handed him some gummy candies. "I want you back here tomorrow so I can check on that. There's a chance I missed some fibers, which might slow down healing or cause infections." She briefly consulted her tablet. "Inui also forgot to tell you he wants to see you again on Thursday."

Izuku nodded gamely. If he was still allowed on campus tomorrow he wouldn't mind making his appointments. After brief farewells he followed the dark hero out. They took the now familiar route to the administration wing. Aizawa was still quiet but seemed less tense the further away from the clinic they got. Maybe he just didn't like medical facilities? The teen could relate if that was the case. 

They arrived in the office section but instead of taking Izuku further into where he assumed the Principal's office was, Aizawa beelined for his desk. The one next to his was occupied by Midnight this time so he stole a different chair for Izuku so he could sit facing the room. The gesture still made the greenette feel embarrassed and grateful as he sat.

The R-Rated Hero watched it all with open curiosity. "Are you the one who knocked that brat down?" She finally spoke up. "Mic was right, you are adorable!" She braced her elbows on the surface to lean forward. It gave a decent view of her cleavage. The comment brought heat to Izuku's face and he ducked his head. It made her croon. "Aww, I want to eat you up. Shota, look how red he is. Cute!" 

The man sighed. "Nem, stop sexually harassing the minor." His monotonous tone implied it wasn't the first time those words had left his mouth. 

Not sure what to do under the fawning, Izuku fidgeted uncomfortably before bowing slightly. "I-it's ni-nice to meet you, M-Midnight-san."

That drew a muted squeal from her. "So polite, too! Why do they always have to be too young?" 

The plaintive question made the teen's face feel like it was on fire. "U-um… I-I'm gay an-anyway. Sorry." There was silence at that. He peeked up shyly to see her pouting. 

A smirk was forming on Aizawa's normally blank face. "Nemuri, you have work to do and so do I." He finally reminded her. 

She huffed before sending a good natured grin at Izuku. "It's nice to meet you, too." With that she turned back to her own desk.

With the intense attention diverted Izuku shot Aizawa an openly grateful look. It earned a faint lip twitch. The man turned his attention to the computer, pulling up a security program and logging in. As he'd told Yagi, he was indeed looking up the camera footage. It only took seconds to find. 

Seeing his scrawny (muscles hidden beneath the baggy hoodie) self walk into view, Izuku fussed sheepishly with his hands. No audio played but there were subtitles implying it was recorded. He paid attention when Shinso tried interjecting. He was asking Bakugo questions while pacing forward indecisively. A few were rude, meant to provoke a response, but both Izuku and the blonde were too focused on each other. A call and response based quirk? The greenette was intrigued. Was it mental or an emitter type? If it was mental that would be interesting. Most mental quirks were IQ based but some, like telekinesis or mind reading, were rare hybrids between mental and emitter. It would explain why Shinso didn't physically intervene.

When Aizawa slanted a glance his way he slapped a hand over his own mouth with a squeak. He was getting better about the mumbling but it still happened when he got into analysis. The man glanced back at the screen in time to see Izuku's threat spelled out while he held the kusarigama to Bakugo's throat. He paused the feed to give the greenette his full attention. Izuku wilted under the inscrutable look. "You two have a history." It wasn't a question and there was no denying it. "From where?"

Licking his lips nervously, Izuku darted a glance towards Midnight who was blatantly eavesdropping. The man sighed at her and stood up, motioning for the greenette to follow him into a small meeting room. As the door shut behind Aizawa they could hear the woman's disappointed groan. When they settled across the table from each other Izuku drew in a steadying breath. He knew Eraserhead wouldn't appreciate having his time wasted. He began hesitantly. "We… We went t-to the same primary schools. He was my f-friend until a t-teacher told everyone I was quirkless when we were five." He clammed up a bit thinking about that time in his life.

Keen grey eyes observed him for a moment before the man pushed a water bottle towards him. There were a couple supplied at the end of the table. That was nice of the school. His hands trembled as he claimed it to take a drink. He wished it was something stronger. 

"He bullied you." It wasn't a question but the greenette nodded anyway to confirm it.

A bitter smile twisted Izuku's lips as he pondered Aldara elementary and middle schools. "Him and everyone else. But he was the worst at school. The t-teachers encouraged it. I think they wanted me to drop out or kill myself s-so they didn't have to bother with the NEET quirkless kid."

A dark look crossed Aizawa's face at that, though he quickly hid it with a mild frown. "Did he give you those burn scars?" 

The pointed question startled the teen. When had…? Oh. Aizawa and Recovery Girl saw the scars while she was healing him. It made his guts twist unpleasantly but he saw no use deflecting when they were aware of his past home life. "Him and my b-birth father. Hisashi can breath f-fire. He blamed his on Bakugo when an-anyone bothered to notice."

Tension coiled in the man's frame. It confused the teen until an unrelated, but relevant, question was posed. "Why were you homeless? Your files have no personal details. Did you run away?" It was said with an intensity that told Izuku it had been on the man's mind a while.

Shaking his head, the teen sighed. "Hisashi co-convinced my mom to kick me out w-when they found out I was gay. I tried to keep going to sc-chool but Bakugo kept ruining the lunches I could af-afford. He told me to jump off the school roof so I stopped going. D-dad found me in Tokyo intending to give it a try. I-I didn't tell the caseworker because I didn't want Hisashi finding me."

Aizawa's eyes narrowed dangerously but his gaze was over Izuku's head and to the side, not directed at him. It was strange having someone other than his family upset on his behalf. But it was nice. Especially coming from one of the few heroes he still admired. A few minutes passed as the teacher wrestled his thoughts back into order. He made to speak again when a knock on the door interrupted him. Standing with a frown, he opened it to reveal Snipe.

"Sorry to bother you but Nezu's ready to see you." He tipped his hat towards Izuku. "I'll cover your classes til you're done, Aizawa."

Chapter Text

Trepidation made Izuku lag behind as the teacher led him through the administration wing to a pair of double doors. He hadn't intended to meet Nezu so soon or under poor conditions. The only thing keeping him moving instead of locking up with anxiety was the fact that Kurogiri should be there and Aizawa seemed to be on his side. The dark hero entered without bothering to knock since they were expected. The office was done in warm earthy tones and bookshelves lined the walls. There was a lounge area with plush chairs and a sofa in front of a sleek modern style desk. It seemed homey rather than designed to intimidate like other principal offices he'd been in. But he was all too cognizant of the fact appearances were deceiving.

A familiar wispy figure was seated in a chair across from a smaller white rodent-like person. There was a tea set on the coffee table between them. Kurogiri looked tense but didn't outwardly seem worried. Both looked up when the pair approached. The principal's snout wrinkled in a smile as he motioned for them to sit. "Shigaraki-kun, it's good to finally meet you!" His voice was mildly squeaky and friendly. Like they were having brunch instead of discussing Izuku almost killing a student.

The greenette bowed to the chimera. "N-nice to meet you, s-sir." He took the side of the couch closest to the shadowy man while Aizawa slumped on the opposite end. It was Kurogiri who kept catching the teen's attention. When he spotted Aizawa he went rigid and violet-blue eyes widened. He seemed to make an attempt to ignore the teacher but kept darting glances in his direction. Izuku filed the reaction away for later.

"Now," Nezu clapped his paws together to signal the start of the meeting. "In regards to the incident earlier. I reviewed the footage and must commend you on your excellent fighting skills!" He sounded cheerful. "How would you feel about helping Aizawa teach quirkless fighting to the heroics first years?"

All Izuku could do was gape wordlessly at the chimera for a moment. That was… not at all what he imagined. Finally he got his tongue working again. "But B-Bakugo?..."

"Ah, yes. Bakugo-kun will be transferred to class 1-C and undergo mandatory anger management classes and therapy." Nezu paused to sip his tea before continuing. "He will be under strict academic probation and may rejoin heroics class 1-B if he demonstrates sufficient improvement by the sports festival." He leaned forward. "But about the offer. You will be compensated with a teacher's salary for your time. All unofficial, of course."

Izuku was still trying to process that Bakugo was being punished and almost missed the topic change. Floundering, he shot Kurogiri a helpless look. The man was still distracted by Aizawa but his eyes crinkled in amusement. "While we waited we discussed your self defense training." He explained, not sounding surprised. "Quirkless combat isn't taught here."

The chimera piped up again. "The school board has rejected numerous attempts to make it a requirement. Even though there are heroics students whose quirks aren't offense based. It's a bit unorthodox but some students might require a demonstration that their powers aren't infallible."

Side-eyeing Aizawa in confusion, Izuku tilted his head. "But Erasure…?"

"Is limited." The man himself finally spoke. "Prolonged use has negative sideaffects. In a class of eighteen students, now seventeen, I can't be everywhere. And some will be inclined to use their quirks regardless."

"Indeed. Some will require a lasting impression which fighting a trained hero can't entirely provide. You would be perfect! And with the added bonus of exposing them to a quirkless person in a positive light." The chimera sounded excited at the prospect.

The proposal floored Izuku. He felt tingly and light, like he was dreaming. His gaze drifted to Kurogiri, so far out of his villainous depth that he knew his expression was openly pleading for the man to say something. Thankfully the shadowy man took pity on him. "It would help us financially. I've been looking into moving us to a better part of town but it's a slow process." In other words, without Sensei's financial backing they were struggling to obtain a new business front where he and the yakuza would have a harder time tracking them. He'd heard Kurogiri and Tomura discussing it but hadn't realized money was such a dire problem. He supposed it didn't help that half the apartment units, their main income, were occupied by unemployed League members.

"It is of course up to you." Nezu interjected. "You can take all the time you need. But I could provide you a loan so that you would be closer to campus. It's preferred that all staff be within a half hour commute in case of emergencies."

Suspicion started to build in the back of his mind. It all sounded too good to be true. The chimera was bending over backwards to illegally employ a quirkless teenager he'd just met and who assaulted a student. Seemingly on a whim. "What do you get out of it?" He couldn't stop the question from slipping out.

A somewhat vicious smile crossed the Principal's muzzle. "I am a selfish and petty creature at heart. The HPSC has been pressuring the school board to wrestle control away from me. They dislike how independent UA is under my authority." He topped off his tea cup before continuing. "And wouldn't it just spit in their eye if I exercised that authority to bypass their anti quirkless and quirkist policies by appointing someone like you? They forced All-Might in illegally. It seems reasonable for me to do the same."

So Izuku was a convenient pawn. The notion irked him. His first instinct was to reject it. But they needed to move before anyone after them regrouped enough to attack. His fists clenched tight with anxious indecision. "What if I change my mind later?"

The chimera looked pleased with the question. "Then no harm, no foul. And you can keep the property you settle on. You won't be beholden to anyone."

Drawing in a deep breath, he finally nodded. It was too important, for multiple reasons, to pass up. They needed money, a new place to live, and intel. All of which could be had working for UA. "I'll do it." 

It felt like he'd just signed a deal with the devil when Nezu beamed at him. "Excellent! Shigaraki-san," he turned to Kurogiri. "If you provide me your banking details I can transfer the funds directly. Please add me as a reference on any homes you apply for and I'll happily expedite the process."

The shadowy man finally hesitated. "I run a bar currently. I would have to sell it and begin a new business in Musutafu. There are also a number of extended family members who live with us." 

"Rest assured, you may choose any dwelling you wish. Running a school doesn't leave much time to spend my earnings so money is no object. And helping your family is a good cause!" Izuku sardonically wondered if the principal would say that if he knew they were planning to assassinate the top two heros in Japan and topple the government. Granted, the small glimpse of the principal he was getting at the moment painted an interesting picture. He just dreaded what Tomura would have to say when they got home. He repressed a shudder imagining the tantrum the new development would cause.

"Aizawa-kun, why don't you show Shigaraki-kun to his new desk while Shigaraki-san and I sort out the details? I'd like for you to start after your appointment with Hound Dog Thursday. It seems like it would be an easier adjustment that way." 

The teen didn't bother wondering how the chimera knew about the appointment. He was probably kept updated on everything. He nodded and stood when Aizawa did, following the man out. The thought did occur to him whether or not the man was consulted about it all. He didn't seem bothered but what if he didn't appreciate working with a kid? He couldn't bring himself to ask, dreading the answer. 

"You'll get used to it." The dark hero finally spoke as they entered the office area. "He's not malicious but he doesn't always understand that humans have a different thought process than him."

The assurance did ease some of his misgivings but not all. "Won't my age c-cause problems?"

"Yes." Came the blunt reply. "But any who undermine or ignore your authority can be sent to me or Nezu." Aizawa paused next to his desk while eying the surrounding ones. A couple were clearly not being used by anyone but they were towards the front of the room. The man seemed to dismiss those and strode over to Midnight's. 

The woman was still working but looked up quizzically at his looming. "Can I help you?" 

"Switch desks." He said it like it was a perfectly reasonable demand.

An eyebrow inched up and she peered over her glasses at him. "Why?" She glanced at Izuku, who just shrugged helplessly.

Aizawa sighed impatiently. "Because Nezu hired Shigaraki and he can't have people behind him."

Her lips formed into a surprised 'o' before she blinked and nodded. "Alright, but you owe me yakitori and sake." The fact that her boss hired a teenager didn't seem to bother her as she began shuffling her things to one of the empty stations.

While that happened, the dark hero turned to Izuku. "I want to test your skill level. Do you have a practice weapon?"

That drew a reluctant nod. He still had the wooden kusarigama but disliked using it now. Compared to the real thing it felt too light and less responsive. Plus he'd realized over time that it was mildly off balance. "Good, bring it to the 1-A classroom tomorrow after school lets out. We can use one of the gyms." He was about to add something else when Kurogiri emerged from talking to Nezu.

The shadowy man froze at seeing Midnight, much like with Aizawa. After a moment he visibly shook his head before turning to Izuku. "Everything is arranged. We should return home." He hesitated before bowing to Aizawa. "Thank you for taking care of my son." His voice sounded strained but sincere.

The action was incredibly odd. Kurogiri hadn't bowed to anyone since he was freed. The greenette really needed to ask him what was wrong when they got home. He grabbed his backpack where he'd left it by Aizawa's desk and joined the shadowy man in heading for the exit.

Chapter Text

From his vantage point on the couch Izuku watched Tomura pace in agitated circles around the living room. An occasional 'what the fuck were you thinking' or 'goddamn it' were audible. The greenette and Kurogiri, who sat next to him, knew better than to respond. As predicted the news didn't go over very well. Dabi, the traitor, had found an excuse to flee the second Kurogiri told them what happened, anticipating the blow-up.

Eri was watching it all with huge eyes from a kitchen stool. She'd seen the pale man rage at video games before and now didn't run to hide when it happened. She still didn't like it though. Eventually she shimmied off the stool while carefully balancing the plate of apple slices she'd been snacking on. When Tomura stalked back around she stepped in his path and held the tray up like an offering. "Toga-chan says not eating makes people go bat-shit. I think that means mad. So you can have my apples." It was said so solemnly that Izuku had to bite back a laugh.

The pale man stopped in his tracks and stared. His expression was a strange mix of upset, amused, and puzzled. Under the expectant, matching, red gaze he reluctantly grabbed a slice before slinking over to throw himself into a chair. He nibbled it while trying to rein in his temper. The little girl followed and climbed into his lap, settling the plate to where they could both eat. Tomura froze and looked bewildered. He clearly wasn't sure what to do. That was fair. It was only Izuku and Ochaco that she tended to do that to. She still erred on the side of caution around the pale man and Kurogiri.

When Tomura finally relaxed and accepted another apple slice Izuku felt confident enough to speak up. "It will just be until we get a new base. Then I can cut ties. You know we need to move soon. We've been here too long as it is."

That earned a grimace. "But we still need to find my implant before that. We don't know if Sensei can track us with it."

"I'll call Shoto later." He pulled out his phone to check the time. It was nearing the end of the school day. "He can introduce me to Natsuo and I can see if he'll help us. I was intending that today but then everything happened." While he was at it he texted for Dabi to come home since it seemed like Tomura was done.

Only a few minutes later the scarred man sauntered back in, confirming Izuku's suspicion that he was only in his apartment. He paused and did a double take at seeing Tomura with Eri. Not bothering to hide a grin, he sat next to Izuku and pulled him into a one armed hug. The tension the greenette was hanging onto eased away at the contact. Snuggling into the solid warmth, he gave a content sigh. It had been a day.

Kurogiri cleared his throat, drawing all of their attention. "In the meantime I'll look into buying another property in Musutafu. Preferably another bar with housing. Izuku was right, they do provide a good cover for odd activity." He smiled at the greenette. "You'll just have to think of a new name for it."

Izuku was disappointed that 'Leap of Faith' would have to be scrapped. But he knew better than to leave naming things up to Tomura. It would end up named after a video game or something, like the League of Villains. "I'll think of something." 

They sat in companionable silence for several minutes. It was a calmer Tomura who broke it. "So," his tone was deceptively casual. "Who was the kid you fought?" 

Already knowing how that conversation would go, Izuku shrugged. "A nobody. They were just anti quirkless. The principal is dealing with them. If they cause more problems I'll take care of it myself."

The arm around him squeezed and Dabi chuckled knowingly. "Just kill them off campus. Too much surveillance." 

The greenette nodded agreeably. "That will be the perk of working there. I can figure out their security for stuff like that. Our goals have changed but it's still worth knowing. And as soon as I'm trusted enough I want to see if they have All-Might's address on file."

That seemed to perk up Tomura. He clearly hadn't thought of that possibility during his meltdown. He gently shooed Eri off his lap and stood with a stretch. "Hey, you ever hear back from that vigilante you were talking to?"

It took a moment of blank staring before Izuku remembered what he was talking about. "I never replied." He slapped a hand to his forehead and reluctantly disentangled from Dabi. "It was just before the shit with Overhaul. I need to see if he's still willing to meet." He beelined for his room, the pale man following behind. Dabi stayed in the living room, discussing something about potential new properties with Kurogiri. Throwing himself onto his mattress, he pulled his laptop over and brought up HeroTube. Tomura settled next to him, using his shoulder as a pillow and reading the message from Stain when he brought it up.

"Does he know how old you are?" The question came out of the blue just as Izuku started typing a response. 

Fingers hovering over the keyboard, he shook his head. "No. I always use fake birthdays to bypass age restrictions. Even if it's visible he thinks I'm older."

The pale man grunted. "Tell him to meet you down in the bar tomorrow at midnight. We're moving soon anyway if he turns aggro."

"What's one more person wanting us dead while knowing where we live?" A wry grin curved the greenette's lips as he followed Tomura's advice.

"Mmhmm. Plus easier to clean up the corpse." He pressed a kiss to Izuku's cheek. "I love you."

The rare declaration made Izuku's cheeks heat up. Turning his head, he pecked the man on the lips. "I love you, too." The words and soft look on Tomura's face always made his stomach flutter with butterflies. He reluctantly turned back to the computer to finish and send the message before he could get too distracted.

Once he was done he was about to focus back on the pale man when his burner phone started ringing from the desk. Frowning in confusion, he stood to grab it. Shoto's name flashed on the caller ID. Concern had him answering it right away. "What's up?"

" I wanted to let you know I'm staying with Aizawa. Also, are you the one who got Bakugo kicked out of heroics? " 

Settling back on the bed, Izuku shrugged even though the other boy couldn't see it. "He attacked me and I defended myself. The punishment wasn't up to me."

" Good. He was obnoxious. " 

The conversation puttered out into awkward silence on Shoto's end. They really needed to work on his social skills. "I was going to call you later. Could you still put me in contact with your brother?"

" Oh, right. I texted him yesterday after talking to you and he said it was ok. " He rattled off a phone number and Izuku scrambled to type it out. " Fuyumi said no. But she's on my father's side anyway. " Bitter distaste was clear in his voice.

"That's ok. If the investigation gets that far the cops will ask her the same questions I was going to." It very much wasn't ok. How could the Todoroki sister ignore years of abuse and the murder of one of her siblings? But he tried keeping the anger out of his tone. He drew in a calming breath. "Will you be allowed to visit your mom?" Talking to Rei about her long detainment in the psych ward was important for figuring out Shoto's situation. And how to deal with Endeavor. If she was being unjustly held it would further help build the case against the flaming trash can.

" Aizawa says we can go after school on Wednesday. I need an escort to go anywhere, in case Endeavor tries anything. " He sounded put out.

"It's understandable. They don't want him taking you back or attacking you." Glancing at the time, Izuku hummed. "Thank you for letting me know. I'm going to go now so I can call your brother before it gets too late." They said their farewells and Izuku hung up with a sigh. He hated making phone calls but Tomura's health and their security were on the line. Said man petted his hair in silent support as he dialed the new number.

It turned out that where Shoto was quiet and reserved, Natsuo was loud and friendly. As soon as Izuku introduced himself the Todoroki brother spoke like they were friends instead of strangers. The reason why soon became apparent when the greenette asked for a favor. " Shoto's never had friends before. And he told me you're helping get him away from that bastard! So anything you need, I'll try to help. "

Pondering how best to go about explaining, Izuku decided the truth would probably be best. "My foster brother and I recently had a run in with a villain. He injected some sort of device under our skin. Shoto said you're studying bioengineering so I was wondering if you could help identify what it is and extract my brother's."

That brought a moment of silence. Nerves made Izuku feel nauseous. Had he said too much? Finally, " Sure, but I'm a long way from Musutafu or Tokyo and I'd need the university lab. "

Letting out a quiet sigh of relief, Izuku hummed in agreement. "That's ok. We can come to you. The sooner the better since we don't know what they do."

" I'm free this Saturday, if you can make it that soon. " He sounded puzzled but agreeable.

"That's perfect, thank you so much!" 

" It's no problem. Anyone who helps Shoto is a friend in my book. " He gave Izuku the lab address and a time to be there. After saying goodbye and hanging up, the greenette stared at the information. Tentative hope made him feel almost giddy. If Natsuo could find and remove Tomura's implant the pale man would be one more step towards freedom from All For One's influence.

Chapter Text

Walking through the halls of UA while they were completely deserted was both creepy and a bit of a relief. Per Aizawa's instructions he was on his way to the 1-A classroom so the teacher could test him. The wooden kusarigama was weighing down his backpack, unwilling to give up the real one to stash it at his waist. The door was open when he arrived so he stepped in. It was deserted aside from Aizawa and Shoto, who looked surprised to see him. The greenette waved awkwardly while approaching Aizawa's desk. The hero glanced up and nodded before putting aside the papers he was grading to stand.

"Both of you follow me. Todoroki, you can participate or not, I'm just testing Shigaraki." The teacher made no mention of why. 

When Shoto glanced at Izuku, the greenette just shrugged. It would be pretty funny to see his and Ochaco's reaction to him helping teach the heroics classes. They trailed after Aizawa into a separate wing of the building. It was mostly concrete with very few windows in the open rooms they passed. Finally he motioned them into a large gymnasium. The floor was padded and there were wood and canvas target dummies lining one wall. The rest was open space, likely to contain entire classes or train mobility while fighting. 

Aizawa made his way over to the dummies and pulled one to the middle of the room. "Start with a basic demonstration and we'll go from there." He moved away to stand against a wall. The greenette and Shoto joined him a moment later. The heterochromatic boy still looked confused but intrigued. Izuku shucked off his backpack and jacket before pulling out the practice weapon. He'd thought ahead and wore his normal workout tank top and shorts to save time.

Pacing over to the dummy, he began an easy warmup routine to get used to the wooden kusarigama again. It consisted of striking at the air with the ball and blade using various techniques. When he finally targeted the dummy he graduated to precise strikes with the ball, hitting the head, shoulders, and chest in alternating patterns that gradually increased in speed until it was a blur. No movement was wasted. When Aizawa called a halt the dummy was dented and splintering despite the ball being padded.

The man approached to examine it, nodding slightly in approval. He pulled the dummy off to the side of the room before returning to Izuku. "Your control is good. Now for a moving target. Attack me." As soon as the words left his mouth Izuku struck, whipping the ball and rope in a low arc to tangle the man's legs. When he jumped to avoid it the greenette increased the tension to change the direction of the swing, clipping Aizawa's hip with the ball instead. He tried to control the strength of the strikes to not seriously hurt him.

They danced around each other for several intense minutes, Izuku getting a few hits in while keeping the hero from entering melee. He and Aizawa were roughly matched for speed but his weapon gave him the advantage. The hero didn't bother using his capture weapon, it would get tangled in Izuku's and if the blade were real he could just cut himself loose. And even if the man got in close he'd still have the blade to contend with. It nicely illustrated why Izuku chose that weapon to begin with.

Finally the man called a halt. He stretched with a nod. "Good. You'll do." He moved back over to Shoto, who was wide eyed as he stared at Izuku. "Your control is good enough that I'm fine with you using the real thing from now on. Just don't kill anyone on campus. Too much paperwork."

The last comment might have been a joke but it was hard to tell since the delivery was deadpan. Izuku still had to bite his lip to avoid laughing at the irony of having discussed the very thing quite seriously last night. Still, the greenette felt warm and fuzzy at the praise. He already knew he was good but it was nice to have acknowledgement from his favorite hero. Coiling the rope up, he put the practice weapon back in his bag. He then snagged a water bottle to guzzle down. A grimace tugged his lips as he noticed the sweat moistening his shirt. Pulling it over his head, he wiped himself off with the few dry spots. 

A startled noise from Shoto was steadfastly ignored. The other teen was no doubt looking at his scars. As much as it made his ears burn in embarrassment he realized he would have to get used to it if he was going to be training others. He wouldn't be able to avoid changing after sparring with them. For his part, Aizawa simply glanced at him before dismissively pulling out his phone. He'd seen the numerous marks in the infirmary so they were old news to the man. He tapped away for a moment before grunting. "Yamada is driving us home." That was addressed to Shoto. "Do you need a lift?" The question was clearly for Izuku.

Even if he did need one, remembering how loud Present Mic could get had the greenette wincing and shaking his head. Aizawa smirked with a knowing look at the reaction. Izuku dug out a fresh shirt from his bag, ignoring the hero. He was surprised the man wasn't deaf from being in enclosed spaces with the Voice Hero.

It was good that Aizawa's test only lasted an hour. He wanted some dedicated research time before the meeting with Stain. He'd completely forgotten about the vigilante and wasn't sure what, if anything, he'd been up to. It was best to be informed before he showed up. A thought occurred to him as he donned his backpack. "Ah, Shoto." The greenette turned to him. "If you still don't mind, when and where should I meet you tomorrow to visit your mom?" 

The heterochromatic boy glanced at the teacher with a questioning look. "We'd discussed going at around six, after school." Aizawa nodded to confirm. Shoto looked uncertain and lost for some reason. "You could meet us there... I'll text you the address and room number." 

Concerned but not wanting to pry, Izuku hummed in agreement. "I'll be there. Let me know if you need anything. I should get going so dad doesn't worry." They exchanged goodbyes before parting ways. 

During the walk to a safe spot to text Kurogiri he wondered if Shoto had ever visited his mother in the hospital before. If not that would explain his reaction. He felt slightly guilty for not asking before demanding the other boy go. A commotion on the street ahead startled him and had him voluntarily ducking into an alleyway. A quick peek around the corner showed a group of sidekicks swarming in front of a jewelry store along with police. 

Glancing around, he spotted a fire escape and kicked off the wall for height enough to pull himself up the ladder. Scaling the building was easy from there. After getting onto the correct roof he hunkered down at the edge to listen. From their shouting he was able to discern that someone stole an impressive assortment of expensive jewelry from the shop. Frowning, he pulled out his phone to text the group chat. They'd moved it to an encrypted app and added Izuku after the rescue. It was quite convenient.

' Did anyone rob a jewelry store in Musutafu? ' He wanted to make sure before he moved on. One could never tell with Twice and Toga.

It was Toga who responded first. ' Not recently. '

The others checked in shortly after with denials, even Twice. He got separate messages from Tomura and Dabi wanting to know what he was doing. Tomura's had a lot of threatening emojis that the greenette took offense to. For once he wasn't involved with the criminal activity below, thank you very much. He told them as much and let them know he'd head home as soon as he could safely call Kurogiri. He was just tucking his phone away when he had to eat his own words. 

Turning towards the next building over he spotted two figures fighting. One was The Fly, a hero on his kill list. The other was a villain in a tan trench coat. He wore a stylish black top hat and black and white mask. As he watched, the villain threw something that expanded into a car. It nearly crushed the hero as it fell but the man was too quick. The wing-like appendages on his arms flared out and began vibrating, creating an obnoxious high pitched buzzing noise like his namesake. The vibrations increased in frequency until the villain crumpled to the ground clutching his head. 

Izuku gritted his teeth together as the noise made his skull pound and feel like it would explode. He couldn't imagine what it was like directly in front of the sound attack. A quick peek around showed that they were still alone. He guessed the sidekicks and cops were just for cleanup. 

After checking that his hood and paper mask were still in place he crept forward while bringing out the kusarigama. As soon as he was in range he struck. The hero managed to choke in surprise as the chain wrapped around his neck before Izuku yanked him off balance. He used the momentum to pull himself closer, driving the blade into the top of The Fly's head. The buzzing finally ceased, to his relief. After yanking the blade free he cautiously approached the villain. "You need to move. The rest will be up here soon."

The man groaned and looked up. He obviously looked between the teen and the corpse a couple of times before chuckling. "Wish that I could." His speech was slurred and when he tried to push himself up he toppled back over. "You're a friend, yes? Could I trouble you for a ride?" Before the greenette could get a word in, the man disappeared in the same flash that preceded the car appearing. In his place sat an innocuous blue marble. Biting back a curse, Izuku grabbed it and stuffed it into his pocket before taking off at a sprint. He needed to be away from the scene before anyone saw him.

Several rooftops over he climbed down another fire escape after ensuring the coast was clear. From there he walked calmly, but quickly, towards a park he knew was in the area. It was in the opposite direction from the shop. While not ideal, there were trees dense enough to hide Kurogiri's portal. He'd just have a tough time explaining the stowaway.

Chapter Text

As soon as Kurogiri stepped through the gate and saw Izuku's expression he sighed. By now he and the others knew the guilty look meant trouble. "What happened?" His voice was exasperated.

Scuffing his foot on the ground, Izuku shrugged. "There's a villain in my pocket. Maybe send us to the bar?" He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

That earned him a narrow-eyed stare. Without a word the shadowy man opened a new portal and waved him through. It exited into the empty room they used for hand to hand sparring. Once Kurogiri closed the portal he turned to spear Izuku with a clear look of disappointment. "Tell the others to come down."

The teen meekly did so, sending a text to Dabi and Tomura. Only a couple minutes passed before they both rushed in. "What the hell, shrimp? You said you wouldn't get involved!" 

The irate question made him wilt and drop his gaze to the floor. "I know, I'm sorry. But they were right there and I moved without thinking. The Fly was fighting someone and was distracted. I couldn't pass up the opportunity." He fished the marble out and peered at it in confusion. "Um… it's safe to come out now?" A few seconds passed before the little orb twitched and rolled off his palm on its own. As it hit the floor it expanded into the villain he saved. 

The theatrical bow the man adopted as he landed was ruined when vertigo struck and he had to abruptly sit down to avoid falling over. "Oh, that was unpleasant." He reached up to remove his hat and mask, revealing a ski mask beneath. That too was shed, giving an unobstructed view of his features.

Short black curls stuck up messily after being freed from the cloth. Almond shaped brown eyes squinted against even the dim lighting as he struggled to catch his bearings. Streaks of blood trailed from a pointed, hawkish, nose and when he turned his head to look around there were matching smears on his ears as well. The Fly's sound attack was nasty. Once some color returned to his face he nodded to Izuku. "Thank you. You probably saved my hearing with that quick thinking. Mister Compress, at your service. And you fine gentlemen are?" 

The greenette fidgeted in place. Since the man hadn't given a real name neither should he for now. "Sutegobana." The code name he'd given Toga initially was as good as any other. He should get used to using it anyway, for once they were able to enact key plans.

Tomura stayed silent but the other two introduced themselves. There was a span of awkward silence before Dabi broke it. "So, you robbed a jewelry store. Why?" It seemed like a loaded question but Izuku was curious as well. Was the man arrogant or stupid, or both? Robbing a shop in the middle of the day near a hero school. Just the thought had the teen shaking his head. 

"I wanted their curtains." The sarcasm was deflected a moment later. "The owner of that fine establishment has a nasty habit of trading blood diamonds and goods stolen from indigenous populations. While I'm unable to return them, I can fence them and donate the profits to deserving organizations."

That was unexpected. The claim reminded him of a modern Ishikawa Goemon. He could respect the sentiment but still… "Why during the day?"

A chuckle and playful grin tugged Compress's lips. "Why not." He hummed thoughtfully after the flippant words. "Honestly I'm nothing if not an entertainer. And what better way than to humiliate the heros with another daring escape? This is their seventh attempt at catching me." He tilted his head while peering at Izuku. "Though I fear they'll add murder to my record now. Not that I'm complaining." He rubbed gingerly at one ear.

Biting his lip, Izuku ducked his head when Tomura leveled a look at him. "Oh… S-sorry about that." Compress waved him off with a good natured smile but he still felt guilty about pinning another murder on someone else. "I killed The Fly." Izuku explained for the benefit of the others. 

Dabi looked baffled. "Why him? He's a nobody with a decent record. Aren't you gunning for frauds?"

The words brought a frown to Izuku's lips. "Yes and he was. Six years ago he immigrated to Japan from Greece. He was under investigation for several child rape and molestation claims but used his influence as a hero to escape before charges could be filed. The HPSC refused to extradite him. Some of the children were struck deaf with bleeding ears and noses." He nodded pointedly towards Compress. His skin crawled just explaining the dead hero's crimes. There had been rumors of his pedophilia in Japan but anything concrete was quickly shut down. Izuku had dug up old foreign news reports after realizing The Fly wasn't born a Japanese citizen. Thankfully online translators existed or he never would have realized the rumors were true.

The others grimaced and Dabi spat on the floor. "Good riddance then." He ignored a glare from Kurogiri for the action. The scarred man offered Compress a hand up when he moved to try standing again. 

"Thank you." He wavered a little but stayed on his feet this time. "Am I to understand you're also fighting against injustice?" His gaze drifted over them curiously. When they all nodded he looked pleased. "I'd like to offer my services then. It's only fair to repay the kindness of saving me. And if our goals align long term, all the better."

Everyone turned to look at Tomura. Thus far he'd been quiet and assessing. He scrutinized Mr. Compress for a moment before nodding. "Sure. We'll need all the help we can get if we're taking down the HPSC." He scratched his neck, fingers tensing and curling into a fist before he could maim himself. The entire affair had him agitated on top of all the stress he'd been under.

Another surge of guilt twisted Izuku's guts. His antics and independent michanations weren't helping anyone. Despite everything, he still tended to fall back on thinking like a loner instead of someone with people who could be hurt by his mistakes. And it was only a matter of time before something came back to bite them. It was a shitty thing to do to people who'd done nothing but help and support him. To people he loved.

The pale man glanced at him and frowned before focusing back on their new addition. "Magne and Toga can fill you in on the minor details for now. We have things we need to do." He turned to exit the room, Izuku and Dabi following him out. Kurogiri stayed behind to talk more with their new colleague.

The trio made their way upstairs. As soon as they were closed away Tomura flicked Izuku on the forehead before pulling him into a hug. "Whatever you're thinking, stop. I'm not mad at you." Leaning against the man's chest, he felt the tension seep away. He wasn't worried that Tomura was angry. He was afraid of disappointing or hurting him. A moment later a warm body pressed against his back, sandwiching him firmly between the two men. 

"You scare the shit out of us sometimes." Dabi murmured against his hair. "But you're not doing anything we wouldn't do if our situations were reversed." A chuckle and kiss to the top of his head preceded his next words. "You just have fuck all for luck."

A hum of agreement left Tomura. "Or maybe insane luck. But either way, you're our black rabbit." He pulled back enough to coax the greenette into a soft kiss.

Izuku returned it with a sigh. He didn't know how to feel about being compared to a luck symbol. Much less one that implied bad luck. But the message was clear. The reassurances smoothed over the loudest of the self deprecating thoughts, at least for the moment. Once the kiss with Tomura ended he was urged to turn around to receive one from Dabi as well. His was no less sweet but quickly turned more passionate. It left Izuku feeling fluttery and weak in the knees. A quiet whine escaped when the scarred man broke it.

Before Izuku could complain, Dabi cupped a hand behind Tomura's head and pulled him in for a similar kiss over the greenette's shoulder. Something in Izuku's brain short circuited in a good way while watching them. It wasn't the first time the two shared touches and kisses but usually they were reserved for sex. Since the kidnapping he'd noticed them doing so more casually. He wholeheartedly approved. 

Just as the exchange was turning more heated and hands began to wander, the apartment door opened. They froze and stared when a pouty looking Eri wandered in. The little girl paused to give them an odd look before throwing herself on the couch. It was with great reluctance that the three separated. Tomura retreated to his room while Dabi abruptly claimed to need a shower. That left Izuku alone to deal with the small interloper. He beelined for the kitchen to make her a snack. While slicing apples and other fruit he brought up a mental image of Endeavor in a thong. It did the job of quelling his hormones almost too well.

Walking over to sit next to Eri, he sat the plate on the coffee table. "Why are you upset, unicorn?" 

The nickname made the frown reluctantly melt away. "Twice said he could make copies of people, like Tomura at the bad place. It sounded cool! But then he wouldn't show me." She grabbed an apple piece and nibbled it sulkily.

The 'bad place' meant the Shie Hassaikai compound. Pondering how to explain, Izuku sighed after a moment. "You know how you get tired and yucky feeling after using your quirk too much?" 

He waited for her to nod before continuing. "Twice gets like that too when he copies people. Only, he feels yucky in his thoughts instead of his forehead and stomach. Does that make sense?" 

A look of intense thought made her brows furrow. "Like you, when you get sad? Ochaco said your thoughts hurt you sometimes. Mine do too." She went back to frowning and fidgeted with a grape. "I'm sorry for being mad at Twice."

The comment about herself was concerning but more than understandable given her past. Izuku wrapped her in a one armed hug. "You should apologize to Twice, not me. And you know all of us are here for you. Sometimes talking about the hurtful things helps."

The little girl snuggled into his side and nodded. "I'll go do that now. I don't want his thoughts to hurt." She pulled away and hopped to her feet, then grabbed the plate. "Apples made Tomura better, so I'll take these." Nodding to herself resolutely, she hurried out the door before the greenette could get a word in.

He chuckled at her eagerness but shook his head. She'd clearly missed his point about her talking about her feelings. He'd have to clarify that later. Once he heard the muted sound of Magne's door opening and closing, he stood with a stretch and retreated into his room. Time was running short to look into Stain's latest activities thanks to all the distractions. In four hours he'd have to head down to the bar to wait. 

Chapter Text

The bar was mostly empty so close to midnight on a weekday. Only a couple alcoholic regulars occupied tables. It was for the best since the entire League, sans Ochaco and Eri, were present. The fewer civilians in the way the better if the meeting went south.

Kurogiri and Magne were behind the counter looking bored. He'd been cleaning the same few glasses for the past twenty minutes while Magne chatted with Toga about makeup. Dabi and Tomura occupied a table between the bar and the door. They were nursing drinks and playing games on their phones. Twice was arguing with himself in a corner with Mr. Compress watching on in amusement from the next table over. The greenette himself was at the counter a few stools down from Toga. One of his notebooks was open in front of him and he scribbled notes in-between glances towards the door. Magne had given him a rum and coke which he sipped sparingly, wanting to keep a clear head. 

As the time ticked closer to midnight nerves had him turning around on the stool to watch the door and room more closely. He still had no clue why the vigilante turned villain wanted to meet with him. The man was firmly in the villain category now, owing to what Izuku dug up on him. It was good that he'd been able to research for a little bit before the meeting. During the period of no contact news had broken connecting Stain to several attacks on heroes around the country. Seven died and twenty two were permanently crippled. Some were deserving of the fate but others confused Izuku. Eleven of them had been genuinely good heroes with clean records.

When the door finally opened Izuku fought to appear relaxed. A couple of the others looked over before returning to their previous activities, appearing like normal patrons. The man who walked in was a bit more intimidating than his videos could convey. Not bothering to hide his nature, Stain was wearing body armor and bristling with bladed weapons, a cloth mask hiding his upper face and missing nose. If Izuku hadn't known about Stain's wanted status he would have been alarmed and anticipating an attack. Instead he was just concerned and wary. 

The confidence the man exuded despite his slouched shoulders, as well as his kill count, said more than anything that they didn't want to risk fighting him. Even out numbering him eight to one it was too risky. They didn't know what his quirk was and he clearly knew how to fight. Dabi was their only ranged fighter and he'd risk burning down the building if he had to step in to keep Stain away from someone. With those realizations in mind, Izuku hopped off the stool when their guest paused to assess the room. The movement drew Stain's attention away from being able to look too closely at everyone. "You wanted to speak with me?"

Red eyes widened a bit as the former vigilante looked him over. " You're Sutegobana?" His lips tightened into a deep frown. "I don't have time for games."

The incredulity in his voice and automatic dismissal made anger simmer up in the greenette. "Neither do I." His tone came out sharper than intended. Trying not to sabotage the meeting before it could even start, Izuku gestured towards the public manager's office next to the restroom. Kurogiri kept it empty aside from a desk for illicit business. "We should talk about it in private."

With obvious reluctance Stain followed him when he turned his back and strode towards the room. While far from comfortable with not being able to keep an eye on the man, it was a deliberate show of assertiveness. The former vigilante was a guest and nothing more. He moved around to behind the desk but stayed standing when the man seemed disinclined to sit after shutting the door.

Izuku couldn't see, but knew it was there, the small gate Kurogiri opened under the desk to monitor the conversation. They'd developed the cautious plan after he filled them in on the news he'd read. If things started going south he'd say 'I need a drink' and the others would break the door down. They were also supposed to kick the civilians out as soon as the two were closed away.

Adopting a blank mask, the greenette tilted his head. "You resisted meeting me before. Why the change?" 

The shift in demeanor made Stain stand up straighter. "You seemed to know what you were talking about. I'm running out of clear prey and need intel." The last was said in a grumble. He was irritated with needing outside help.

The opportunity to influence Stain's agenda was finally in Izuku's grasp. It was why he contacted the man in the first place. Still, he had to repress the eager urge to start spouting off names. "First, tell me why you attacked these heroes." He pulled a folded up paper from his pocket and tossed it onto the desk. It contained the names of those who had been unjustly targeted.

It was grudgingly picked up and read. "They were sellouts who placed profits above their duty." An edge of mania crept into his tone. "They were unworthy to be called heroes."

Not bothering to hide a frown, Izuku shook his head. "Megawhat's only crime was accepting a role in a commercial. Claritia gave exclusive interview rights to one news network for extra income to send her child to school. That's not dereliction of duty, that's needing money to survive."

"It's a failure of society. They enable such selfish acts. And if someone dies because a hero was too busy signing autographs or giving interviews, who cares? A hero's only job should be helping people." The fanaticism apparent in his videos made an appearance. He was certainly passionate, Izuku could give him that much.

Choosing his words carefully, the greenette posed the question that always came to mind in regards to Stain's ideology. "You believe All-Might is the only true hero?" He had to fight to keep the derision from his tone.

The man drew himself up taller and lifted his chin. "Absolutely. He's the pillar of peace that all should strive for."

The conviction in his voice told Izuku more than anything that Stain wouldn't be swayed on that topic without proof. Trying a different tactic, he pretended to think for a few moments. Just when the man started shifting his weight with impatience the greenette spoke again. "I'll help you on one condition." 

He waited for acknowledgement before saying anything more. He was stringing Stain along and the man probably knew it. But the nation's current most wanted villain wouldn't bet on a nobody from the internet unless they were out of options past killing indiscriminately. It was probably because of that status that he needed outside help, being unable to move around freely to investigate his targets. When the man gestured brusquely, Izuku finally continued. "I'll give you one name a week along with their list of crimes. You take them out, but no one else, and you publish the provided documents on your social medias."

That earned a sneer but Stain didn't automatically reject the offer. "And if I do attack someone you don't approve of?" 

"Then I cut ties with you. Your mission goes back to a slow crawl. And while you hunt heroes who try their best to help people - rapists, abusers, and murderers continue to do as they please while protected by their hero license and the HPSC." He kept his tone matter of fact. Letting emotions and opinions get in the way would just amp Stain up to refuse.

The words seemed to get through to him. His posture relaxed a little and the sneer melted into a thoughtful frown. Just as he opened his mouth to respond a deafening crash shook the building. They both startled, eyes widening. Izuku reacted before Stain, pulling his kusarigama out as he vaulted over the desk and slammed the door open. The sight that greeted him made his heart stop. The entire front wall of the bar was gone. Nothing but rubble and rebar was left. Two hulking nomu stood just outside the destruction, swaying dumbly as their exposed brains parsed their orders. 

The League members were in various stages of shock and recovery. Kurogiri and Magne were the only ones still on their feet and unharmed. Dabi, who'd been closest to the door, was on the floor with his legs pinned under a chunk of concrete. Tomura was crawling towards him to decay it off, blood trickling from his hairline. Toga had a cut on her face and looked stunned. In the corner Mr. Compress was releasing Twice from a marble. The chair where the blonde had been sitting was crushed under a pile of debris. If the magician hadn't acted Twice would have died. 

As Izuku watched, the nomu began advancing on Tomura and Dabi. Acting without thinking, he sprinted forward to intercept, lashing out with the blade to slice through a thick wrist as one of the nomu lifted its arm to punch the trapped villain. Adrenaline gave him strength to cut through bone and the monster recoiled with a piercing shriek. Before he could feel any sense of victory the partially severed limb began mending itself back into place. They could regenerate. Cold fear surged in his throat but he stood his ground as Tomura's Decay crept through the cement and steel covering Dabi. Behind him he heard Magne yell for Kurogiri to get Ochaco and Eri out. He prayed this wasn't a two-pronged attack and that the girls were safe.

As the second nomu began to charge at Izuku and the first recovered a blur of red and black flew past. Stain was a whirlwind of movement as he cut off the charging nomu. Twin katanas shredded the creature's chest and severed one of its arms in the blink of an eye. It still took all the man's focus to keep it at bay as it healed and regrew limbs almost as fast as the wounds were made. 

The first one switched its focus to Izuku, two black eyes and two green eyes squinting from the front of its brain as it reared back to punch him. Darting out of the way, he used his size to his advantage. It was fast but Izuku was faster. When it tried charging at him he tucked and rolled between its legs. Springing up behind it he whipped the chain around its neck and started climbing. It howled and snarled, jerking around to try grabbing him. While it was distracted Twice and Compress joined the fight. Razor sharp tape measures extended from Twice's wrist guards to wrap around one of the monster's arms while Compress threw a marble at its opposite shoulder. When the orb hit his quirk activated and the limb and half its collar bone disappeared, leaving behind gaping wounds.

Gritting his teeth, the greenette finished scaling the nomu and drove the blade home into its brain. Vicious determination had him slicing and cutting until he could lever half the organ from its malformed skull, not trusting that it wouldn't regenerate minor damage there. As it started to sway and fall he hurriedly untangled the chain and moved to jump. Before he could, pale blue light engulfed him and with a tugging sensation behind his bellybutton he found himself being pulled towards Toga. He braced for hitting the other teen but Magne canceled her quirk in time to drop him to the floor instead.

Kurogiri had a gate ready for their retreat behind the bar and was opening mini portals to redirect the last nomu's attacks away from Stain. It seemed a lot more calculating in its movements than the one Izuku killed, trying to maneuver the ex-vigilante into a corner and whipping around to avoid exposing its back. It had learned from the other's mistake.

As Magne finished drawing everyone but Stain to the portal, movement outside the broken wall caught Izuku's attention. The color drained from his face when he realized it was another nomu. But this one was sickly grey and stalked on all fours. Lethal claws dug into concrete and a barbed tail lashed behind it like a cat as it prowled forward. Glowing red eyes like Kurogiri's stared fixated on Izuku. The others noticed as well and with a curse Tomura, who was carrying Dabi, grabbed the greenette and hauled him through the portal. The last glimpse of the bar he had was Stain throwing a knife at the feline nomu as it broke into a loping run when it realized that they were escaping. The portal closed, leaving the injured and rattled group to catch their breath.

When Izuku turned to check on Dabi and Tomura he was relieved to see that the scarred man was conscious. Though one of his legs was hanging at an unnatural angle. Tomura's head was still bleeding but it had slowed. His pupils were different sizes in the dim light they found themselves in. Looking around to do a head count on the others, Izuku realized that they appeared to be in a deserted parking garage. Fear jolted through him when he only counted eight people. "Where are Ochaco and Eri?" His voice wavered as the adrenaline leached out of his system, leaving him feeling weak and shaky.

The shadowy man made a placating gesture. "Somewhere else but safe. I didn't want to risk them if the nomu followed us through a portal."

"What do we do now? Everyone but Compress lived in that building." Magne spoke up with the most pressing issues. "And Dabi needs a doctor." They fell into silence, everyone trying to think of a viable solution. 

They were homeless, injured, and needed a place to lay low that Sensei wouldn't anticipate. One desperate solution kept circling in Izuku's brain. As he watched faces fall in dismay and Dabi groaned in pain, he made up his mind. "I need to make a phone call."

Chapter Text

~°~POV: Aizawa~°~

While normally a night owl and insomniac, Shota managed to fall asleep without problems for once. Protecting Todoroki demanded that he give his overnight patrol route to another underground hero. Focusing solely on his day job was letting him recover some much needed energy. He would never tell Nemuri or Hizashi that, he'd never hear the end of it. They'd been trying to get him to cut back his hero hours like they had for years.

He was having a good dream, also rare, of his first year at UA. Oboro was teasing him about something, maybe letting Hizashi pick his codename. They were outside and the sun was making his friend's azure eyes sparkle as he grinned broadly. The clouds wisping from his pale blue hair were a deep purplish black instead of white but that didn't strike dream-Shota as odd. A deep sense of relief and contentment settled over him and he found himself leaning forward to hug the weird colored Oboro, like he'd always had the desire to do but never got the courage while the other was alive.

Urgent knocking on his bedroom door jolted him awake. He felt the loss of seeing Oboro again like a vice around his chest but pushed it away. Grabbing his capture weapon from the bedside table, he jumped up and ran to the door. Todoroki was quiet and unobtrusive, he would only wake Shota up if something was wrong. The teen was standing in the hallway holding his phone, a concerned expression on his face. That alarmed the hero since the most he'd ever seen Todoroki emote was a small smirk when he told the class Bakugo was being demoted to gen ed. "What's wrong?" His eyes scanned around for threats out of habit.

"Izuku and his family were attacked by villains. They had to evacuate and some of them are hurt. They can't go to a hospital." The last was stated reluctantly.

Scrubbing a hand over his face, Shota sighed. He knew Shigaraki would be trouble the second Nezu hired him. That some of his family couldn't seek official help highlighted that. Still, he couldn't ignore a literal call for help. "Tell them to come here. Did he mention Uraraka?" He recalled overhearing that she lived in the same building.

The heterochromatic boy nodded while swiping on his phone to call Shigaraki back. "They're all safe and she's coming with the-. Izuku, he said yes." He got distracted by the greenette picking up.

As he rattled off the address, Shota returned to his room to get dressed and call Shuzenji. While uncommon, situations like these were why Nezu demanded that staff live close to the school. It ensured if anything happened they were never more than an hour away from each other. He even bought most of them their houses. Thus why the ravenette told Shigaraki not to worry about it when the boy seemed worried. The chimera was rolling in money from winning several lawsuits over his creation on top of his salary from running UA.

By the time he emerged into the living room Todoroki was off the phone and waiting by the door. Shota was about to tell him it would take a while for the displaced group to arrive when someone knocked on the door. Approaching it warily, he was surprised to see a very bedraggled and blood spattered Shigaraki when he opened it. The teen gave a shaky bow. "Sorry to intrude. You're just the only one I could think of to help us." There was no stutter but he sounded exhausted and distressed.

Shota stepped aside and waved him in. When the hero heard the word 'family' he expected the teen, his father, and his brother. Maybe with a grandparent or two since Shigaraki senior had mentioned extended relatives in Nezu's office. That was a reasonable and logical assumption. What he got instead was an interesting assortment of young adults, one of which he recognized as a criminal wanted for murdering two heros. Uraraka was also holding a young girl when she filed in behind Shigaraki senior. Someone wearing a paper bag on their head topped off the parade. Most of them sported cuts and bruises, with one clearly concussed and another being carried with a broken leg.

Ignoring the villain for now, since she seemed just as shaken up as the others, Shota directed them to lay the scarred man with the broken leg on the couch. The greenette also pressed the concussed man to sit in a chair when he wavered on his feet. Turning to Todoroki, the hero pointed towards the hall closet. "Get the duffel bag on the floor in the back."

While the teen grabbed the first aid supplies Shota watched as the blonde girl removed a knife from her waist band and started cutting away the jeans the one on the couch wore. His upper thighs that weren't covered with boxer briefs were turning disturbing colors as bruises rose to the surface of his skin. There were also some cuts and scrapes that would need to be debrided and cleaned before Shuzenji could try healing them. Uraraka sat the little girl down and rushed over to use her quirk on the man. It made fully freeing him from the fabric easier and relieved the pressure from his leg. A pained grin was directed at her for the quick thinking. 

The little girl's lip began trembling before the villain scooped her up to cuddle. "There are juice pouches in the fridge." Shota told the woman. She nodded in thanks and took the little girl into the kitchen. He could hear her talking softly but couldn't make out words. Later he would question her and Shigaraki but for now there were more pressing issues.

When Todoroki returned with the bag the hero took it and started handing out alcohol swabs and bandages. It seemed like everyone else had gotten off light. "What happened?" He stared at the greenette since he was the one who orchestrated the invasion of Shota's home.

Some of the familiar nervousness returned to the teen's demeanor as he visibly wilted under Shota's scrutiny. It was while observing him that he noticed the blood drying on his kusarigama. The chain was openly wrapped around his waist for easier access, leaving the handle of the blade within hands reach. "W-we were in the bar, it's un-under our apartment, and these… things s-smashed through the front of the building. T-they attacked us." He paused to look uncertainly at his father. The wispy man nodded at whatever silent question was being asked. "Dad can m-make portals and got e-everyone out. It's how we g-got here so fast." Green eyes trailed over to the injured men and his fists clenched. "D-Dabi was trapped under s-some debris so we distracted them until he was f-free and escaped."

There were some obvious details left out, like whether or not they knew who did it and where all the blood came from. But Shota decided not to pry until he could get the teen alone. And after the reports of the incident came in. Something so destructive would be noticed quickly even if the group didn't call the police. "Make yourselves comfortable but stay out of my office." It was locked so he didn't bother telling them which room it was. The house was only three bedrooms so it would quickly become obvious. "Todoroki, lend Shigaraki a change of clothes for now." 

The two boys looked each other up and down before Todoroki cracked a tiny smile. That was perhaps the most shocking thing about the night. "I think I have sweat pants that will fit but you'll have to roll up the legs." He disappeared into his room and returned a moment later with the requested items.

"Thanks." The greenette looked grateful and padded into the bathroom to change. 

One of the unfamiliar men turned and bowed to Shota. "I'm Atsuhiro, at your service. We're terribly sorry for imposing at this hour." The others nodded in agreement.

With a sigh, the hero waved them off. "It can't be helped. A healer is on her way. The same one Shigaraki saw at UA. She's good and discrete." As intended, the assurance made a couple of them relax. Dabi and the concussed man exchanged a wary look. They picked up the inference that Shota knew some of them weren't hero-friendly.

Luckily for them a lot of underground heroes were morally grey enough to not arrest every villain on sight. They dealt with the worst society had to offer and knew that nothing was ever clear cut black and white. Shota among them. His instincts were screaming that there was something more going on than just a random attack and he wanted to know all the facts before acting. At least so long as his guests stayed civil.

It was going to be a long night.

Chapter Text

~°~POV: Izuku~°~

After Recovery Girl left, half of the League had fallen asleep from the energy it took to heal them. The other half were dead tired from the fight. They were spread out in various spots on the floor, with Ochaco and Eri curled up in the last free chair. Tomura and Dabi had passed out in the other chair and couch respectively. Both would be fine but the school nurse had cautioned the scarred man specifically to not use his leg for a couple days while the bone mended. She hadn't seemed phased by the eccentric gathering or request for secrecy.

Izuku wished he could join them in slumber but paranoid vigilance kept him startling at every little noise that filtered in from outside. It got to the point where Kurogiri, who had been watching over them all, dragged him to the kitchen for some tea. Aizawa mostly only had coffee but the shadowy man dug out an ancient looking tin of jasmine from the very back of a cupboard. It had never been opened so it was deemed fresh enough. While they waited for the water to boil they sat at the table talking quietly. "In the morning I'll go to the apartment and fetch our important items. Like the computers and your notebooks. Since the units weren't involved, hopefully the heroes and police won't break in."

"What are we going to tell them?" The greenette propped his head up with his palm. 

A quiet sigh reached his ears before Kurogiri shrugged. "I'll play it off as a random attack and say we were on a family trip when it happened. Stain might have to take credit for the dead nomu if All For One couldn't retrieve it."

The reminder about the monsters made Izuku shiver. The one he'd killed had a pair of green eyes… He squashed that nagging suspicion for now. There were more important things to ponder. "How do you think he managed to reprogram them without Garaki?"

"I don't know. Much like I don't know how he's still alive when it was the doctor keeping him so. But he's been around for a long time. Inevitably he has resources not even I or Tomura were privy to." A frustrated note entered his voice towards the end. 

They brooded in mutual silence until the water started to steam. The dark hero didn't own a kettle so Kurogiri was using a pan. He stood to tend it while Izuku laid his forehead on the table. He was so tired but knew he wouldn't be able to sleep without Dabi and Tomura. That wasn't an option for the time being. He doubted Aizawa would tolerate him snuggling between two grown men on his couch. A floorboard creaked near the doorway. Before he could fully register the action, Izuku was on his feet with his weapon poised to strike. An unamused looking Aizawa leaned against the frame, staying carefully still until the greenette blinked rapidly and lowered the kusarigama. He sat back down with an apologetic expression. "S-sorry." His heart was beating a mile a minute and he struggled to mentally summon Inui's calming techniques.

The hero grunted before beelining to the coffee maker. It was three in the morning but he started making a pot of dark roast like it was perfectly normal. From the perpetual bags under his eyes it probably was. At the stove, Kurogiri was tense and avoided looking at Aizawa. He was focusing on the tea like his life depended on it. 

It brought to mind his odd reaction at the school as well. The greenette never had gotten around to asking about that. Everything else kept getting in the way. Instead, he hazarded an attempt at a safe topic, leery of how much Aizawa overheard before making himself known. "Have you gotten any leads on houses in the area, dad?" 

The man's shoulders relaxed a bit in relief. Turning, he sat the cups on the table and focused on Izuku like the hero didn't exist. "Yes, actually. There's a manor house not far from campus. It's cheaper than normal due to needing a little work. But it would comfortably fit everyone. The realtor said no one wants it because of some murders that happened a couple years ago. It dropped the price significantly. Given the circumstances, I should be able to get the process expedited."

The teen hummed thoughtfully. "What about a new business?" He sipped at the tea despite it still being too hot. The pain of a scalded mouth helped further ground him after the scare. 

Kurogiri sat down next to him and sighed. "That is being more problematic. But once we're fully moved I can dedicate myself to finding a suitable location."

As they talked Izuku was keenly aware of their silent audience. The hero was loitering by the coffee pot with a mug at the ready, seemingly ignoring them. But the greenette imagined that if the man had cat ears they would be twitching. The mental image brought a tiny smile to his lips. "Aizawa-san?" He caught the man's attention. When he turned to pay attention Izuku continued. "Thank you for helping us. I wish more heroes were like you." The last slipped out before he could censor it. Mental fatigue was setting in as the warmth of the drink relaxed him. 

"Drop the honorifics... And I wish so too." He turned back to pour himself coffee as soon as there was enough in the pot to fill his mug. After a moment of clear consideration he sat down across from the two villains. "Your friend - Magne. Why did she kill Figaro and Ignition?"

The question, while not unexpected, still made a thrum of fearful alarm shoot up Izuku's spine. Some of it must have shown on his face because the hero shook his head. "Depending on what you say, I won't report her." He sipped from his cup even though it was too hot, much like the greenette had.

Fussing with his own mug, Izuku fought the urge to gulp it as a way of stalling. A glance at Kurogiri showed that he was tense again as well, violet eyes zeroed in on Aizawa. "A street vendor refused to serve her because she's transgender. They were on patrol and when she tried arguing they jumped in and used unnecessary force trying to arrest her. It got out of hand from there."

His heart was lodged in his throat as the hero seemed to consider the words. With his blank expression it was hard to tell what he was thinking. Just as nerves were beginning to make him feel nauseous the hero nodded. "I won't turn her in. But I can't prevent others from doing so. And I will be forced to if I see any of you committing more crimes."

Shoulders sagging in relief, Izuku nodded. "Thank you." He fidgeted with his cup, no longer wanting the tea but needing something to occupy his hands with. It was surprising the strict seeming man was granting a murderer leeway. But he did seem openly opposed to certain regulations and laws. And maybe he was aware of the two heros' track records of using excessive violence while capturing even low level criminals. It was part of the reason Figaro had been on Izuku's list despite mostly being an underground hero.

Before anyone could muster another topic, quiet feet padded towards the kitchen door. Eri peered at them with a tired frown. When she spotted Izuku she wandered over and assertively climbed into his lap. "Dabi says if you don't sleep he's going to knock you out with his crutches." The message was delivered solemnly before she curiously stole what was left of his tea.

A fond smile curled the greenette's lips. "And what are you doing up, unicorn?" 

"I had to pee." She stared curiously at Aizawa's cup. "Is that coffee?" The question was innocent but Izuku knew she was a fiend for the stuff ever since Tomura let her try some. 

The dark hero raised an eyebrow and nodded. "I don't think you'd like it though." He pushed the mug towards her, inviting despite the gruff expression he wore.

Her face brightened at the offer and, before Izuku or Kurogiri could warn Aizawa about her burgeoning caffeine addiction, grabbed it. The first sip made her grimace, smacking her lips in consideration. After a moment she perked up and took a bigger gulp. The greenette tried coaxing it away from her but that just made her guzzle it down to the dregs.

The shadowy man sighed. "If she's up the rest of the night you're taking care of her, Sho- she loves the stuff even though she shouldn't have it." He snagged the mug from her and gave it back to the hero, clearly hoping no one noticed his slip. Aizawa's eyes narrowed a little but he didn't call Kurogiri out.

Growing realization dawned in Izuku as he glanced back and forth between the two men. Thirteen years ago Aizawa would have been around seventeen. And while the man had never said anything, he assumed Kurogiri was younger when All For One captured him. He seemed world weary but not that old since being freed. Did they know each other? The staring, the avoidance, the odd hesitations - it would all make sense if that were the case.

Remorse curdled his stomach. If he'd known he would have made a bigger effort to keep them away from each other. Now it was too late and the shadowy man was clearly uncomfortable and distressed. Still, if it was too late anyway… determination slowly edged out the guilt as a plan began to formulate.

Chapter Text

Eventually that night Izuku did make an attempt to sleep. He sat against the couch leaning his head back on Dabi's hip. The man grunted sleepily before threading his fingers through the greenette's hair. It wasn't much but the minor contact let him at least doze lightly in-between bouts of vigilant wakefulness. 

Only a couple hours after settling down, Aizawa emerged from his bedroom and knelt next to Ochaco's chair to gently shake her awake. The girl whined tiredly and hugged Eri, who had crawled back into her lap at some point, tighter. "J's a few more m'n'ts dad." She garbled out without fully waking. Aizawa's expression was a priceless mix of exasperation and surprise.

"Uraraka, it's time for school." The hero pitched his voice to try not to disturb everyone else. When that alone didn't work he tapped her cheek. 

That made her startle and blink groggily. "Wha'?" Rubbing her eyes, her brain finally caught up. "Oh, sensei. I'm up."

Watching the exchange, Izuku had to bite his lip to keep from laughing. He knew from experience that Ochaco was a terrible morning person before caffeine. Once he was sure she wouldn't just fall back asleep the ravenette wandered into the kitchen where the scent of breakfast was already emanating, probably thanks to Kurogiri. 

The girl carefully shifted Eri off her lap before getting up to stumble into the bathroom. In the few minutes she was gone Shoto also shuffled out looking exhausted and frumpled. He knocked on the door and handed a stack of what looked like a UA uniform to her when it opened. They exchanged a series of grunts that were probably meant to be 'thank you' and 'you're welcome' before the boy stumbled into the kitchen to finish waking up. Ochaco followed after changing. Shoto's spare uniform was way too big on her even with the pants and sleeves rolled up but it would work until Kurogiri could fetch her belongings.

The movement around the room, despite being quiet, caused Twice to stir. The paper bag had come off in his sleep but he seemed too groggy to care as he stood and beelined for the restroom. His short blonde hair was a mess and there were bruises on his cheek and forehead where debris had hit him. He'd refused to remove the bag to let Recovery Girl treat him. 

The sight of his face gave Izuku an idea. Once the bathroom was free he stood to occupy it, deciding that he could be up as well without getting scolded since everyone else was. His discarded clothes were still in the corner where he'd dropped them. There was a section of his shirt that had avoided getting soaked with nomu blood. After doing his morning rituals he snooped around until he found a pair of small scissors in a drawer. 

When he exited a few minutes later he held the section of cloth that he'd vaguely cut into the shape of a bandana. He entered the kitchen and strode over to where Twice leaned against a cabinet and offered it to him. The man looked surprised and confused. "For your head." Izuku explained.

It took a moment for the meaning to process before the man's expression brightened. "Put it on for me? (It looks kinda refugee chik)." He stooped a bit to make it easier for the short teen. The greenette wrapped the cloth around his head, making sure it covered the scar, and tied it off. Once it was in place the man shot him a grateful smile and ruffled his hair. "Thanks. (Now I could really go for a cigarette)."

That earned a tired glare from Aizawa. "Not in the house."

Twice held his hands up placatingly. "Nah, not around the rug rat either." He motioned vaguely towards the living room where Eri was still curled up. Kurogiri had already given them all an ultimatum on smoking around her. The drinking and drugs were on thin ice but it could continue as long as she didn't get a hold of any.

"Once you're done with breakfast, Izuku, can you wake the others and text me a list of items they need?" The shadowy man handed him a plate of pancakes and eggs. The greenette nodded dutifully while digging in. "I already called back the detective handling the bar investigation. They gave me permission to clear out the apartments. I'll rent a storage unit for everything that's not immediately useful." He spoke to Aizawa without looking at him, pretending to be busy at the stove. "If you prefer, I can also get us rooms at a hotel. It will still take at least a week to get the paperwork for the new house sorted enough to move in."

The hero grunted. "It would be illogical to waste so much money. Just don't trash my house or bring me trouble and it's fine." He finished off his coffee before standing to herd the students towards the door to get their shoes on.

Tomura wandered in a moment after. He still looked exhausted but his head seemed to be healed. As soon as the front door opened and closed, signaling the hero's departure, he beelined to Izuku and swept him into a crushing hug. "You scare the shit out of me getting in front of the nomu like that." He mumbled into the teen's hair. 

Setting his plate carefully aside, the greenette returned the embrace. Tension drained from him at finally being able to cuddle one of his boyfriends. "I'm sorry." The words earned him a flick on the forehead.

"Don't apologize for saving Dabi." The man squeezed him one last time before reluctantly letting go. "What are we going to do about the implant?"

The reminder made Izuku startle and pull out his phone. The others looked confused but the teen ignored them as he peered at the time. It was before dawn but this was a tad more important than Natsuo's beauty sleep. The first call went ignored. The second rang a couple of times before being sent to voicemail. The third was picked up with an irate, " What?! "

"This is Izuku, Shoto's friend. Sorry for bothering you so early." He'd been apologizing a lot recently and this was the first time he didn't mean it. Whatever helped the man listen. "That villain I told you about found us and attacked our house last night."

There was a moment of silence before, " Fuck. What do you need? " The sleepiness abruptly left his voice and Izuku could hear him moving around.

Drawing in a deep breath, the greenette let it out in a sigh. "Would you be able to see us after your classes today?" It was a lot to ask but they needed the potential tracker gone. They were already placing Aizawa and Shoto at risk if the nomu hunted them.

Nerves had him fussing with a sleeve while he waited for a response. Finally, " I have a two hour lunch break. Be at the lab by noon and I'll do what I can. "

After saying their goodbyes Izuku filled the others in. No one looked particularly happy about also putting Natsuo in the line of fire but it was better than the alternatives. To distract himself, he padded into the living room to wake up the others and compile the list Kurogiri requested. When he leaned over Dabi to poke his face the man grabbed him and pulled him down. Izuku flailed with a surprised squeak that was soon silenced by a pair of smirking lips. The quiet commotion roused Magne and Compress, saving him the effort. 

"Morning, beautiful." The scarred man murmured after finally letting Izuku come up for air. 

Cheeks flushed pink, the teen scrambled to get out of the man's lap. "You should be careful with your leg." He scolded while fussing with the throw pillows keeping it padded. 

"Mmh. Worth it." Dabi winced as he adjusted to sit up. "So, what did I miss?"

The greenette briefly filled the late risers in on the earlier discussions after Magne woke Toga as well. Once he was done, Compress succinctly summarised what everyone was sarcastically thinking. "A bunch of villains living with a hero. What could go wrong?"

~°~POV: Aizawa ~°~

There was a lot on Shota's mind as he escorted the two students to school. It was earlier than he could usually tolerate being on campus but there was a lot to do on account of his unwelcome house guests. He split from the two teenagers and beelined for Nezu's office the second they entered the building. To his surprise he encountered Inui just outside the chimera's door. The normally calm counselor was growling and letting out little snarls as he waited to be let in. Usually he only got that way when student safety was in question. A bundle of papers was only barely avoiding being shredded by the man's claws. His anxious pacing halted when the heroics teacher spoke up.

"What's got your tail in a knot?" Shota leaned against the wall a few feet away. 

An angry bark was his only verbal answer, though Inui stalked closer to shove the papers into the tired man's hands. It took a moment of staring at the top sheet before his sleepless brain processed what they were. It was a villain profile from the Hero Network. A rather substantial one at that. The name, Hisashi Midoriya, struck him as familiar. Villain codename: Homusubi. Wanted internationally for a large variety of crimes ranging from human trafficking, rape, and murder, to unpaid parking tickets and credit card fraud. He was heavily active in Japan a few years ago before he fell off the map. He used to be the top most wanted villain in the country before the HPSC demoted his threat level.

Some concern boiled up as he glanced at Inui. "Relevance?" It was an old case and nothing new had been added to it recently.

The councillor stopped and scrunched his eyes closed, doing deep breathing exercises to calm himself enough to talk. Once he was no longer edging into feral territory he looked around to make sure they wouldn't be overheard. "Shigaraki's birth father."

All at once several questions Shota had in regards to the odd teen were answered. Meanwhile hundreds more new ones popped to mind. He was about to question the man more when the principal's door opened at last. When the dark hero saw that it was All-Might who emerged he dropped the hand with the papers to his side to hide the text from view. The blonde idiot couldn't be trusted with sensitive information relating to a teenager he was arguing to ban from campus just the previous day. All the staff knew he was an HPSC plant and resented him for it. That and his lack of interest in actually fulfilling his role as a heroics teacher.

All-Might attempted a friendly smile at his colleagues but the two stepped past and closed the door in his face. Nezu already had a fresh cup of tea and coffee waiting when they sat on the vacant couch. "Aizawa, Inui, what can I do for you fine gentlemen?" 

Waving for Inui to go first, Shota sat the papers on the coffee table and claimed his cup. "What I'm about to say mustn't leave this room. Information was given in confidence during an appointment. But it is concerning enough to require some action." The bestial man waited for the other two to nod before going on. "Izuku Shigaraki told me his birth father was a villain. In due diligence I researched the information he gave me." He gestured for the chimera to look at the report.

Alarm jolted up Shota's spine as the name finally clicked. He almost dropped the coffee in his lap as he unapologetically yanked the papers from his boss's paws and flipped through them to find the last reported sighting. It was from years ago, not lining up with what his memory was saying. The drink soured in his stomach as once again several lines of comparison popped into his head. 

When he finally looked up it was to see Inui and Nezu staring askance for the odd behavior. "After the incident with Bakugo, Shigaraki told me he was homeless because his father kicked him out of the house. That happened this past year." He held up the papers to punctuate before offering them back to the chimera. "He and his adopted family showed up on my doorstep last night because a villain attacked their home. He refused to tell me who it was but I later overheard him and Shigaraki-san discussing the events and naming names when they thought they were alone."

Even the normally unflappable principal looked disturbed as he perused the contents of the file. "Can you recall the names?"

"All For One and Garaki."

The chimera froze and Shota could swear his white fur grew even paler as the names processed. Finally, "... Oh dear." 

Chapter Text

Stepping onto the Aomori university campus with Tomura was both a relief and a source of anxiety. Being the middle of the week, it was bustling with activity as students rushed from class to class or hung out together. The weather so far north was still chilly and Izuku shivered in his borrowed hoodie. It took several wrong turns to find the building housing the lab, almost making them late.

They didn't know what Natsuo looked like but it soon became obvious when they arrived at a security door to find him waiting. Standing at just over six foot-two inches, he was broad shouldered, tan, and wore his white hair in a tail. He clearly inherited Endeavor's physique but also some of Dabi's rebelliousness. He grinned broadly when he spotted the greenette. "Shoto's description was dead on. Izuku, right?" He held out his hand in greeting. 

Hesitating, the teen shook the hand with a nod. "Thanks for doing this. Hopefully it won't take too long." They had transferred Izuku's implant to a plastic baggie for easier access in case Natsuo needed to calibrate equipment to find Tomura's.

The man waved them through the gate after scanning his student ID. "It should be easy. I'll start with some x-rays and if that doesn't find it there are other scans I can try." He led them into a room that was a strange mix of medical and robotics. Mechanical prosthetics lined climate controlled racks on one wall, while another was taken up by typical medical lab equipment. Seeing Izuku's curiosity, the man chuckled. "Bioengineering has disciplines all over the place. Those focusing on body improvement share with the med students when things get to the testing stage." 

Nodding in understanding, the greenette fished the implant out of his pocket and offered it to him. "This was in my neck. We're pretty sure it's in Tomura's too but we can't find it by feel."

The man took it with a frown. "And you think it's a tracker?" He paced over to the mechanic side of the room to pick up a strange hand held device. After switching it on he waved it over the implant. A hum escaped after a moment. "This one isn't giving off signals or electrical impulses." 

Striding over to Tomura he hovered it over the skin of his neck. The device beeped a second later. "This one is. Follow me, I'll get an x-ray to figure out where exactly it is so we can get it out." Waving for the pale man to follow, he disappeared through a side door. The two villains rushed after him. Even Tomura struggled to keep up with Natsuo's long strides. 

They were led through a door labeled with warnings about scans in progress and radiation. There was a little booth in the room with the controls that Natsuo ushered Izuku into before focusing on the pale man. Once Tomura was posed with a machine aligned with his throat, Natsuo joined the teen. He fiddled with the controls before pushing a button that made the x-ray machine click to life. After a moment it powered down and the man left to collect Tomura. It became cramped when the pale man joined them in the small room.

One of the monitors populated an image of Tomura's neck. There, nestled just above his collar bone on the right side, was a rice sized anomaly. A dense cluster of tissue surrounded it, highlighting why they couldn't find it manually. 

A frown tugged Natsuo's lips. "This one's been there a while…" He side eyed Izuku but didn't comment further. After deleting the images he herded them back out to the lab they started in. "It'll be easy enough to get out." He pulled up a stool and motioned for Tomura to sit while he collected a surgical tray and filled it with what he'd need. "I'm not authorized for medication use so this will suck. But I can use a non-prescription topical numbing agent." After cleaning the pale man's skin with iodine and the aforementioned anesthetic he began cutting into the area where the implant rested.

Izuku had to look away, fists clenching as he recited lists in his head. If being under a scalpel set off his anxiety, apparently watching his loved ones endure the same brought out the violent urge to end the source of their discomfort. He had to remind himself repeatedly that Natsuo was helping when his fingers twitched towards his weapon. Just as the teen started getting a hold of his impulses, it was done. Much like extracting his own at home, this one was almost anticlimactic after the trouble they went through to locate it. Tomura's was the same as Izuku's but the red threads were longer and the substance it secreted was a noxious brown instead of clear. The sight had them all grimacing.

Natsuo gave the pale man two stitches and cleaned up the site before picking up the petri dish he'd dropped the device in. He beelined over to the mechanics side of the room and shoved it into something that looked like a large toaster oven. Seeing their curious looks, Natsuo chuckled. "Autoclave. It'll sanitize and get rid of his DNA on at least the exterior and hopefully kill the signal. I'm guessing you want this visit as undocumented as possible."

"Thank you." Tomura finally spoke. Thus far he'd been content to let Izuku do the talking.

The other man waved him off. "It's no trouble." His expression turned serious as he pulled off and threw away his rubber gloves. "Just, whatever you're involved in, keep Shoto safe."

"We'll do our best." The words were just as solemn. "Keep your eyes peeled and call Izuku if anything happens here." Tomura stood and stretched with a sigh.

There wasn't much more to say after that. Natsuo escorted them from the building and they walked to meet up with Kurogiri at a park not far from campus. It was surreal how easy it had all been. Izuku felt giddy from relief even as a nagging sense of disbelief kept him glancing over his shoulder. Yet, for all his paranoia, they arrived back at Aizawa's house without issue. A small round of cheers left the group loafing around the living room when Tomura commented on their success. Dabi waved him over and captured pale lips in a brief but searing kiss in celebration.

Standing together in the kitchen doorway, Kurogiri lightly squeezed Izuku's shoulder. "I'm going to resume clearing the apartments. Text if you need anything." At the words Magne and Compress stood to join the shadowy man.

"We'll help. It'll go faster that way." The woman rolled her shoulders. "Plus I know where Dabi's stashes are."

That drew a curious look from the greenette and Magne chuckled. "We hang out sometimes on my days off." Enough said. The scarred man had hooked most of the League with his edibles. Not unsurprising considering their collective personal issues. 

Tomura, Dabi, and Eri settled in with a video game to entertain themselves. Kurogiri had brought their computers, notes, and gaming console first during his initial trips. For his part, Izuku set up his laptop in the kitchen so he could research while making everyone lunch. When he checked HeroTube he was surprised and a little relieved to see a message from Stain. He hadn't been sure the man made it out unscathed. The note was simple and to the point, a user ID for the same encrypted chat the League used.

Pulling up the app on his burner phone, the greenette sent a message under the name Sutegobana. ' What's your decision? ' He didn't bother with niceties, suspecting the Hero Killer wouldn't appreciate it. While he waited for a reply he searched around for news about the attack. There wasn't much since the police were still investigating but some news outlets speculated it was a drunken rampage by a patron. Given the unsavory area it was a valid assumption and suited the villains well. There was no mention of a body so Sensei likely recovered the dead nomu. Unless the cops released any juicy details the story would fall off the map soon enough.

After serving everyone a generous helping of okonomiyaki the greenette checked his phone again while eating his share. He was pleased to see a response already. It was just as to the point as the last one. ' Yes. '

Dark satisfaction coiled in Izuku's chest. After consulting his list, he sent a name along with an encrypted file detailing the hero's sins. Death Arms hopefully wouldn't be hurting anyone else any time soon. 

Chapter Text

It came as a surprise when Izuku received a text from Shoto asking where he was. Staring at the phone in confusion, it took a second for his brain to catch up. They were visiting Rei Todoroki today. With everything else going on he'd completely forgotten. Thankfully, with Kurogiri done moving their things for the day, it only took a couple minutes to exit a warp gate near the hospital. Aizawa and the heterochromatic boy were waiting for him just outside the psych ward. Izuku bowed apologetically. "S-sorry! Tomura and I had to visit someone in Aomori unexpectedly." 

The explanation made Shoto tilt his head curiously but he didn't comment in front of the hero. Visiting hours ended at 7:30 so they continued on without further delay. Though the closer they got to the room the slower the other boy's steps became. Eventually he stopped altogether, seemingly frozen. 

Knowing it was a stupid question, Izuku still had to ask. "Are you ok?" Of course the other teen wasn't. They were going to see his mother, who he probably hadn't spoken to since he was five. Rei had been in the hospital for a long time.

There was a pause where Izuku thought he hadn't heard but finally Shoto nodded. "Yes…" Shoto licked his lips as if preparing to say more before simply shaking his head. He started walking again, using long strides to catch up to Aizawa who was standing outside a door. He'd been giving the teens some privacy while keeping an eye on them.

It was the hero who knocked, perhaps realizing Shoto wouldn't be able to. A soft voice called out for them to enter. Aizawa slid the door open and stepped inside first. He nodded his head in greeting to the woman sitting in an overstuffed armchair by the window. "Todoroki-san, I am Aizawa, your son's teacher and a pro hero. I spoke with your doctor on the phone and he said you'd be expecting us."

"Yes, he said you wanted to talk to me about Enji and Shoto. Please, call me Rei." She stood and, upon realizing it was more than just the hero there, gestured for them to enter. A look of shock crossed her face when Aizawa moved to reveal the heterochromatic boy. "... Baby?" Tears choked her voice and she rushed forward to pull him into a no doubt bruising hug. 

After a beat the teen returned the embrace just as hard, burying his face against her shoulder. "Mom." Both their frames shook with emotion as they soaked in each other's presence for the first time in a decade. 

The two interlopers stood near the exit doing their best to not intrude. The hero looked awkward and uncomfortable. If Izuku had to guess, Rei's doctor didn't mention that Aizawa would be bringing others for their meeting. While the reintroduction was happening Izuku was observing the woman. Rei Todoroki was slim with soft rounded features, though long years in the psych ward made her face slightly gaunt and tired looking. She stood eye to eye with Shoto, placing her at about five foot-nine. Her irises were stormy grey and her sleek hair was pure white. Looking at her, Izuku could see that Dabi inherited most of his physical traits from her aside from natural hair and eye color.

At last they parted. Both their cheeks were tear stained and Rei rubbed Shoto's with a choked laugh. "I can't believe how big you've gotten. Here." She grabbed a box of tissues from the bedside table and offered them to him after taking some for herself. 

Once he deemed that it was safe, Aizawa lightly cleared his throat. "I'm here as Shoto's temporary guardian. It has come to the attention of UA that he might not be safe at home. That's why I wanted to speak with you."

A dark expression crossed her face and she nodded jerkily. "Please, sit." She left the chair for Aizawa and pulled Shoto over to sit on the bed. It was only then that she noticed Izuku loitering by the door. His innate talent for blending into the background struck again. Considering everything going on in his life, it was a relief to know he still had it. "Oh, I'm sorry. Who are you?"

Rubbing the back of his neck, he summoned a sheepish smile. "I-Izuku, ma'am. I'm a fr-friend of Shoto's." Before she could stand again to try finding him a seat he invited himself to rest on the arm of the chair. Aizawa frowned at him but didn't comment at being crowded.

"Izuku's the one who convinced me to tell the school nurse and Aizawa-sensei about father." The other boy noted solemnly.

Shoto was a sometimes-traitor like his brother, Izuku decided as Rei leveled a tearful smile at him. The gratitude made him shrink in embarrassment and duck his head. Striking deals one on one with serial killers was easy. But dealing with being the center of positive attention was still difficult for his ingrained shyness. Especially when it was from the mother of one of the guys he was fucking. Who she and her family also thought was dead. Somehow that fact had evaded him until that moment. Maybe it was because both Rei and Shoto were staring at him. He blinked and covered his mouth to make sure he wasn't mumbling but neither looked horrified, just confused about why he clammed up.

The teacher side-eyed him in bemusement before deciding to pick up the awkward silence. He really was Izuku's hero. "The primary reason we're here is to notify you of the investigation into Enji Todoroki's domestic abuse. We'd also be grateful for your cooperation."

"Absolutely." She didn't even need time to think. An edge of steel crept into her voice. "It's gone on more than long enough. No one would listen to the crazy woman grieving a son's death, against the reputation of a rising top ten hero. It's why I'm still in here even though my breakdown was years ago." A pale hand gestured to encompass the hospital. "Enji pays the staff well so long as I don't recover enough to speak against him and be heard."

That made Aizawa and Izuku sit up straighter, though for different reasons. The mention of paying bribes brought to mind the hidden ledgers he'd seen in Endeavor's study. He had to bite his tongue to keep from asking about them just then. The hero's question was more immediately important. "A death?" The ravenette brought out his phone to begin tapping notes. Izuku didn't even bother to pretend he wasn't reading over his shoulder.

Rei swallowed thickly before nodding. "Touya. He was my oldest… One night he got between Enji when he was beating Shoto. They… they fought. A twelve year old facing down a pro." A humorless chuckle escaped. "Only, Touya lost control of his quirk while defending Shoto and burned himself. Badly. I… he... Enji took the body somewhere. He wouldn't say where. But later he claimed Touya cremated himself in a training accident. He threw money at the investigators to make them go away."

Bile crept up the back of Izuku's throat. He knew where Touya had ended up. Dumped in the forest around Mount Fuji like illicit trash. Somehow hearing Rei tell it made it more real. Dabi deflected with humor and skipped details. Like the fact that he was younger than the greenette when it happened. Stinging in his palms made him realize he was clenching his fists painfully tight.

The other boy looked grim while staring at the floor. It hadn't even occurred to Izuku that Shoto could remember the incident. From the way his hands were flexing, it would seem so. For his part, the hero was stone faced aside from a tic in his jaw. "And the breakdown?" 

This made Rei glance at the heterochromatic boy before looking away in shame. "After… after Touya I wasn't in my right mind. I loathed Enji. I wanted him to suffer. I was on the phone with my mom in the kitchen. I wanted to get a divorce but she was berating me even after I told her everything." There was a long pause as the woman drew in deep breaths to calm herself. 

Finally, she continued. "Shoto came in. All I could see was the red hair and blue eye. Just like Touya. Just like Enji. I snapped. There was a kettle of boiling water on the stove and I-I…" She choked up and buried her face in her hands.

"And she poured it on me." The affected teen finished. His hand crept up to the scar on his face. "When she realized what she'd done she tried cooling the burns with her quirk but she was panicking and it was too cold. It scarred my fire side like dry ice." The words were said dispassionately but he reached out to squeeze Rei's shoulder. 

There was a long pause as Aizawa processed the information and Rei got her emotions under control. When she finally looked up her lips were twisted in a snarl. It was amazingly reminiscent of Dabi's pissed off expression. "Enji has done nothing but destroy my family. Even from the start it was a quirk marriage. He gave my parents money and bought me like a broodmare when I was seventeen. It was one long eugenics experiment for the perfect fire user to surpass him."

That was something Izuku already knew from the scarred man. It still made his guts twist and his chest simmer with rage to hear it from Rei as well. The greenette was beginning to wonder if death would be too kind for Endeavor. He'd have to brainstorm with Dabi and Shoto for a fitting punishment.

Before much else could be said there was a knock on the door and a nurse stuck his head in. "Rei-san, it's almost time for visiting hours to end." He took in the atmosphere of the room and frowned in concern. "I'll prepare your medication as well." 

Once he disappeared it was like an oppressive weight was lifted. The woman sniffled and scrubbed her face before drawing Shoto into another hug. "Please come visit again. I want to know what I've missed." She glanced at Aizawa. "And I'll gladly answer more questions."

Nodding, the hero got to his feet. "Thank you. This will help and be more than enough to proceed. I'll also see what can be done to get you released. It would make everything easier if you could resume your custodial rights."

They exchanged farewells before departing. Silence reigned as they made their way to a bus stop to head home. As soon as they arrived back at the house Shoto disappeared into his room and Aizawa into his office. Izuku took the opportunity to beeline for Dabi and pull him into a tight hug. 

The man started to protest since he was in the middle of a game but when he saw the greenette's expression he shut up and returned the embrace. "Who died?" The joke fell flat when it just made Izuku sniffle, eyes burning as he contemplated what he'd learned.

"You."

Chapter Text

The trio ended up in the bathroom together after Izuku started having a breakdown in front of everyone in the living room. If anyone heard his comment to Dabi they kept it to themselves for now. Once sequestered away the flood gates opened and he found himself squished between the two in an almost suffocating hug. Dabi shouldn't have been walking without crutches yet but Izuku was too clingy to scold him.

Eventually Tomura broke the embrace to start the shower heating up. Dabi tried to move to undress the greenette but the teen refused to let him go. A huff left the scarred man. "Hey, I'm right here and not going anywhere anytime soon. Whatever my mom said doesn't matter." He kept his voice at a murmur so it wouldn't carry over the sound of the water.

When Izuku pulled back enough to look up at Dabi, the man took advantage of the slight distance to start pulling his shirt off. The greenette had no choice but to let go or get hogtied with the arm holes. "I know. But you've been through so much…" Once shirtless he scrubbed his face, trying to stop the tears. "Endeavor needs to suffer just as much."

"And he will. Until then I don't want anyone crying over me. Especially you." Dabi kissed his forehead. "You're cute when you cry but this isn't worth it."

That made Izuku frown, displeasure coiling in his guts. Before he could respond Tomura beat him to it. The pale man paused mid strip and reached over to flick Dabi on the forehead. " You're worth it, so both of you shut up and wash off. We all reek." The scarred man's expression of surprise at having Tomura say so was almost comical. Usually the 'mushy stuff' was reserved just for Izuku. The two followed the order after a pause. The greenette took deep breaths to try calming himself as he finished undressing on his own.

Tomura and Izuku bullied Dabi into taking the shower stool when they noticed him limping. The two focused on pampering the scarred man for once regardless of mild protests. While the greenette washed his hair with light scritches and kneading, Tomura let his hands wander under the excuse of scrubbing him with a washcloth. The greenette enjoyed the role reversal of spoiling one of the men instead of the other way around. He wished such things could happen without one of them being injured and needing the help. After Endeavor was dealt with they'd take a short break, he decided. They'd need to lay low anyway to keep off law enforcement radar while planning the next step. 

When Tomura's touches grew less innocent Dabi let out a strained laugh and grabbed his wrist lightly. "Let's save that for when there's not an entire circus outside the door and a hero down the hall." A pained expression turned sly and he turned his head to peer at Izuku. "Our green bean is loud even with his mouth occupied anyway."

That made heat flare in the greenette's cheeks. As punishment for the teasing he sprayed Dabi in the face with the shower head before turning away to start washing his own hair. The scarred man chuckled, not bothered by the snub. After that they finished up quickly to avoid more temptation. When they emerged it was to find dinner ready. All three claimed the couch while Kurogiri fetched them bowls of curry.

No one brought up earlier, for which the teen was grateful. They watched cartoons to keep Eri entertained while everyone ate. Quiet chatter from Toga, Twice, and Compress kept the atmosphere light. Subtly watching everyone, mild contentment eased the last of his fears and anxieties. Everyone was together and healing. Everything was going to be okay. 

Eventually Shoto joined them, lured out of his room by the smell of the shadowy man's cooking. He accepted a dish and plopped to the floor next to Ochaco's and Eri's chair since everywhere else was occupied. The last holdout was Aizawa. Kurogiri kept shooting glances towards the hall but he stayed where he was leaning against the kitchen door. When Izuku was finished eating he stood and collected a small round of dirty dishes to take to the kitchen. 

The shadowy man straightened up to take them but the teen simply tilted his head, keeping a hold of them. Gears turning, Izuku looked confused. "Did Aizawa-san not want any?" He looked at the hero's closed office door. 

Violet eyes widened slightly at the question. The man actually fidgeted with his hands, something he must have picked up from the teen. "Oh, I didn't want to disturb him." 

Showing no mercy, the greenette pressed on. "If he's working he might not eat before it gets cold. I'll wash these while you take him some." He side stepped past the man and beelined for the sink, not giving him time to find another excuse.

There was a pause before Kurogiri sighed and put together a meal for the hero too. He looked like he was walking to the gallows as he drew in a deep breath and moved to tap on the door. The interaction that the teen could hear over washing the dishes was brief and stilted but he counted it as a win when the shadowy man returned less tense than he left. "Don't think I don't know what you're doing." A narrow glare was directed at him. The greenette was kicked out of the kitchen before he could summon a defense against the accusation. 

He returned to the couch, settling in to watch Eri and Ochaco destroy Tomura and Dabi at Mario Party. That was a dangerous game to play but there were plenty of people around to stop the pale man from Decaying someone. As food settled his eyes grew progressively more heavy until he dozed off to Eri calling Tomura a 'noob bitch' in a solemn tone.

The next morning he woke up when Aizawa started trying to rouse Ochaco for school. The man was quiet but Izuku was still hyper vigilant in the new setting. He was curled up with his head in Dabi's lap and his legs draped over Tomura's. No wonder he'd slept the whole night. His neck and back were sore from the awkward angles but he felt rested. Sitting up drew Aizawa's attention. He'd apparently learned from the previous morning because he shoved a cup of coffee in Ochaco's hands as soon as she was coherent enough to hold it without spilling. On the way back to the kitchen the hero paused. "Get ready too. It saves me a headache if you come with us so I don't have to wait at the gates."

The logic made Izuku nod and he stood with a stretch. "I'm still meeting you after talking with Inui-san?" He glanced at Ochaco, still not sure if he was allowed to say he was working at the school yet.

A grunt of agreement was the response as Aizawa rushed to claim his own coffee before anyone else woke up and drained the pot. It turned out to be an even split between coffee and tea drinkers in the house but that still meant six people vying for the bitter drink whenever it was made. With that in mind, Izuku followed to grab a cup for himself when he saw Twice beginning to stir. The blonde man could go through an entire pot before breakfast was over if they let him.

They drank and ate the food Kurogiri had set out for them in companionable silence. The shadowy man was nowhere in sight but he'd been in and out at all hours dealing with the move, investigators, and getting their forged documents redone to include Eri. The broker Dabi got in contact with, Giran, was both discrete and quick but with the nature of his business his hours were chaotic.

Once Shoto and Ochaco were awake and fed, Aizawa ushered them towards the door. Izuku paused to grab his kusarigama and pull on his shoes and jacket. After a moment of thought he also took his bag after ensuring there was a fresh notebook and a clean change of clothes inside. He wasn't sure what his first day on the job would entail but he wanted to be prepared.

Chapter Text

The appointment with the UA counselor ended early thanks to the bestial man being called to Shuzenji's office for someone with a destructive quirk having a panic attack. Izuku felt bad for feeling relieved that it wasn't just him causing the staff headaches. That's why only a half hour into the school day he found himself loitering awkwardly outside of the 1-A classroom. Nerves made him nauseous as he eyed it like it would bite. Was he really doing this?

Yes. The choice to flee was taken from him when Aizawa grumped at him through the window. His waffling had been noticed. Drawing in a steadying breath, he reached out and slid the door open. 

Eighteen pairs of eyes snapped up to stare at him. Wait, eighteen? He did another quick count and spotted the extra. Ochaco was sitting at a desk near the back, just in front of Shoto. She looked surprised and confused to see him too.

"This is Izuku Shigaraki. You will address him as sensei." Aizawa droned out in a bored tone. "He will be assisting me until further notice. You will treat him with the same respect you would me or you will be expelled." His gaze lingered on a few key students.

Turning his attention to Izuku, he nodded towards a second chair behind the teacher's desk. "Have a seat." To the students, "First period will be choosing codenames. After that we will begin combat training." That successfully distracted most of them. Excited chatter broke out and Aizawa followed him to the desk. Speaking low so the students couldn't overhear, he slumped to the floor to wrap himself in a yellow sleeping bag. "All-Might will be here but so will I. If he treats you as less than a colleague, tell me."

Nodding dutifully, Izuku had no issues with ratting out the number one hero. To distract himself, and because Aizawa seemingly fell asleep, the greenette pulled out his fresh notebook and began scribbling notes on the visible quirks and mutations he could see. He kept a hand over his mouth to hopefully keep himself from mumbling. Before he knew it the classroom door was opening to admit Midnight. She shot him a cheerful grin but was firmly in 'teacher mode' as she turned to begin lecturing about the importance of fitting and appropriate hero names. He tuned her out as he finished a theory about a student with fleshy wing-like growths coming out of his sides. Izuku itched to know what they could do when he saw one tentacle form a mouth for the boy to speak to his neighbor covertly.

The presentation of student names finally caught his attention. Listening curiously he was amused by some of the rejected attempts. Though he didn't see why 'Alien Queen' was denied for the bright pink girl with insectoid antennas. He couldn't help beaming at Ochaco for her clever play on words. She blushed and grinned back before reclaiming her seat. Most of the names were approved quickly. A lot of them had clearly given it previous thought. It was the rejected ones that took up the lesson block until Midnight was satisfied with the rewrites.

The Erasure Hero finally stirred and sat up from his nap when Midnight exited the room. He observed everyone silently for a moment. When he finally made to speak he was interrupted by the door flying back open. It startled Izuku into almost drawing his weapon until he saw the grin and blonde hair of the number one hero.

"I am here!" He boomed out obnoxiously. "Entering like a normal person!" Some students looked overjoyed and excited. Others rubbed their ears with annoyed expressions. Izuku took special note of those who seemed unenthusiastic. Aside from Shoto and Ochaco, the tentacled boy, a bird headed boy, and two dark haired girls looked indifferent or outright irritated by All-Might's presence. He couldn't really tell what the invisible girl thought. He made a mental note to ask her if there was any way to make herself visible. Thermal goggles at the very least would pick up her heat signature. Maybe body paint? That would wash off easily before combat or stealth exercises. It was easy to ignore All-Might as he pondered the theories.

Preoccupied, he almost missed it when the pompous hero finally noticed him. He was glad he didn't, since All-Might froze and looked like he was sucking on a lemon for a moment. Some pettiness made Izuku give a fake smile and wave. The man had only met him as Yagi. He couldn't say a word without outing himself.

"And who is this, Aizawa?" All-Might sounded strained.

The dark hero rolled his shoulders in a shrug. "You'd know if you bothered to attend the staff meeting yesterday." Turning to the students and ignoring the question, Aizawa addressed them. "Get changed and meet in Gym Gamma. You have-"

All-Might interrupted. "Actually, since this is my lesson, we are meeting at Battleground Beta. Please get on your costumes." He pressed a button on a remote and racks of suitcases emerged from the back wall.

For a moment Aizawa's eyes glowed red as he glared at said suitcases. It was a shame he wasn't looking at All-Might when it happened. The more intelligent students stayed in their seats eyeing their home room teacher carefully. They didn't budge until they received a curt nod of assent from the dark hero.

As everyone filed out with their cases to head to the locker rooms the hero motioned for Izuku to follow him. "Grab your bag too." They went the opposite direction of the class, making their way to the administration wing. "You can store your things at your desk. No one will bother them." As the greenette did so Aizawa rooted around in a drawer and pulled out a badge. It had Izuku's image from his first visit on it along with the proclamation that he was a teacher. Seeing it spelled out plainly made the teen feel a little light headed. 

"Put it in your wallet." The man explained. "It will let you through the exterior gates." He still seemed irritated about what happened in the classroom but was making an effort not to transfer it to Izuku. "I'll show you how to login to the servers. Outside of combat training you'll mostly be helping to grade papers and enter them in the system."

The teen suspected he'd be doing most of the grunt work while Aizawa slept. Not that he minded. It would be fascinating to see the coursework. That and the hero did need more sleep. Despite seemingly not patrolling recently he still had massive bags under his eyes.

After pulling his chair over to Izuku's desk the next two hours were spent showing him the various systems he'd be using. It was a bit hard to keep them all straight since each had unique login credentials for security. The hero commented that if he had problems he could ask any teacher but All-Might for help. The fact that the teacher didn't like All-Might either made Izuku's opinion of him soar. Then again, Aizawa seemed very logic driven and practical. Him not turning Magne in highlighted that. He acknowledged that she was a villain only because of self defense and deemed it too much of a hassle to bother, hero killer or not.

It was what made Izuku want Kurogiri to confess his identity. Despite the shadowy man's insistence that the League was his family now it was clear he missed at least Aizawa. And the dark hero would probably accept the new Oboro if given the chance. Some of it was selfish manipulation of the hero to see if he'd join them but it was mostly for his adopted dad's sake.

A buzzing noise broke the teen from his musings. Aizawa brought out his phone and shut off an alarm. "Time to head back." He stretched with a sigh before standing. Izuku followed suit, leaving his bag but reclaiming his notebook. He saw the man eyeing it curiously but didn't offer an explanation since he didn't ask.

When they arrived back to the 1-A room it was to find a somber and disgruntled class. Izuku was concerned to note that even those previously enthusiastic about the number one hero now looked grim. Ochaco and the invisible girl were missing. Aizawa observed them all for a second before pointing at Iida. "Explain."

The uptight boy jumped to his feet immediately. "Sensei. All-Might wanted us to work in pairs with one group as heroes and the others villains. Only…" He trailed off, briefly at a loss for words. "He deemed it too dangerous for Hagakure to participate." 

One of the girls scoffed. She had dark purple hair and audio jacks for ear lobes. She was one of the two who hadn't liked the number one hero's presence. Not bothering to censor herself, it was clear she was pissed. "What Iida means to say is All-Might is a quirkist asshole who made her sit out because her quirk is passive. She's crying in the locker room, Uraraka stayed to help her."

The boy looked scandalized by the language and disrespect for a teacher. Before he could scold her Aizawa interrupted. His expression was downright icy, making the front row of students shrink back in their seats. "Yaoyorozu, go fetch them and bring them to administration. I need to go have a chat with the principal. Shigaraki is in charge until I get back." He turned on his heel and stalked out of the room. A moment later the other dark haired girl rushed out to follow his order.

Thus left Izuku staring like a deer in headlights as all attention shifted to him. Don't stutter. Don't stutter. Don't stutter. "He-Hello." He stuttered.

A hand went up in the back row and the frozen greenette could have kissed Shoto when the other boy stood. "We're supposed to be having a lesson on hero fundamentals right now. But All-Might left after training."

"Ha-have you had it before?" Izuku fussed with the notebook still clutched in his hands.

The heterochromatic boy shook his head. "This was our first class. There's a syllabus." 

At those words a blonde in the front row waved a paper in the air. "Here, sensei." The boy had a bubbly French accent. The paper was scribbled on in glitter gel pen. Izuku was afraid to touch it but did so anyway with a nod. 

The lesson plan was… a mess, to put it politely. Six year old Izuku could have structured it better and made the notes more coherent. It was obvious All-Might put it together and not Aizawa. After spending a few moments trying to make sense of it he gave up and handed the sheet back.

"U-um…" He rubbed the back of his neck before an idea struck him. Glancing up, he made a concerted effort to straighten his spine. Regardless of age he was in charge here. The reminder and the fact that almost no one seemed to mind gave him a mild confidence boost. "What makes a hero?" He posed the question to the entire class.

After a minute of thought hands started going up in the air. He called on a blonde boy with a black streak in his hair to start. "Defending the helpless!" The enthusiastic proclamation made a hand or two go down. 

Pondering a moment, Izuku turned to start scrawling the answers on the whiteboard. He kept calling on students until all the hands went down. All of the responses were typical. Defending the weak. Enforcing laws. Stopping villains. There wasn't a lot of critical thought behind them, just words parroted from primary school lessons and TV. 

"Now, what makes a villain?" That got a bit more thought but the answers were still shallow. Breaking the law. Preying on the weak. Hurting people. The antithesis of a hero. Izuku felt frustrated. Such black and white thinking was part of what was wrong with hero society.

Racking his brain, he pondered how to get their minds working. "What if, say, a civilian hurts someone while stealing money in order to feed their children? By your definition," he pointed towards the notes on the board. "They are villains. But your ideas of what a hero does means you should help them, not arrest them."

That earned some frowns as the class puzzled out the contradiction. It was Iida who put his hand up first. "It doesn't matter, they are still breaking the law and subject to arrest."

"But it's not very manly to punish them for trying to help their kids." A red head interjected. "I mean, sure, arrest them for hurting the person they robbed but the reason is forgivable." That earned some nods of agreement. 

Izuku turned from where he wrote the question and answers on the board. "Logically, wouldn't it be better to prevent the crime before it could happen?" That they were taking him seriously eased his lingering doubts. At the very least they feared Aizawa's wrath more than they wanted to disrespect Izuku.

Before he could call on anyone the door slid open and the missing students shuffled in with Aizawa behind them. The teacher's face was a bland mask but his hands were clenching and unclenching in anger. Whatever Nezu had to say obviously hadn't been satisfactory. The man paused to take in the writing on the board and the serious but thoughtful faces of the students. Nodding in approval he turned to address the room. "Take an early lunch. And tell me if you witness any more discriminatory acts from staff or fellow students. UA has a zero tolerance policy but unfortunately some believe they are above it." 

For a moment no one moved but then the grape headed kid hopped up. "Is he really a teacher?" Throughout the impromptu lesson he'd been silent. Now Izuku knew why. "He doesn't act like one and he doesn't know the approved curriculum." His tone was disbelieving and snobbish.

Dark eyes glowed red and Aizawa's hair began to float above his head. "Yes. And if you question his authority you will answer to me. Go." He blinked and deactivated his quirk. It prompted everyone to start moving. Most were frowning at and avoiding the kid, especially the girls.

As everyone filed out Ochaco and Shoto loitered behind together under the guise of collecting their things. While the small group waited for privacy the hero sighed and brought out a bottle of eye drops to use. "Good job." He commented to Izuku.

The praise made him duck his head to hide a blush. "I-I didn't know what I was doing."

Aizawa scoffed and raised an eyebrow. "That's fifty percent of teaching for the first time. It gets easier." A dark expression broke his indifferent mask once the last of the stragglers left. "Watch yourself around Mineta. He's the nephew of a board member."

The greenette vaguely recalled him mentioning that previously. "There's not going to be any punishment for All-Might, is there?" It was a loaded question that they all knew the answer to.

Instead of replying the man grunted. "The rest of the day is academic lessons with the other teachers. Usually I use the time to grade and do paperwork but it's the beginning of the year. You can sit in on the classes or go home." He slumped to the floor and rolled himself up in his sleeping bag, effectively ending the conversation.

The two students took that as permission to finally approach. Ochaco lightly punched him on the shoulder. "You never said you'd be teaching here!" It was accusatory but with an excited edge.

"It was kind of spur of the moment. We were going to tell everyone about it but then the attack happened. Nezu offered to help us move to a safer neighborhood if I did." He was mindful to censor himself with Aizawa in the room.

Thankfully Ochaco nodded with a frown, knowing better than to pry at the moment. "Are you going to stick around?"

"No, I think I'll head home. I want to make sure Dabi is following Shuzenji's orders. Tomura's too much of an enabler to stop him." It was the truth. But also he wanted quality cuddle time with them both while the opportunity was present.

The girl nodded and pulled him into a hug. "I'll see you then. Shoto can catch me up on what I missed!" Said boy nodded in agreement. He was slowly opening up around them. Very slowly. But progress was progress. 

They parted ways outside the door. Izuku headed to the administration wing to collect his pack and the two headed for the lunch room. He almost bumped into someone coming out of the main office. "S-sorry!" Glancing up, he blinked. It was the indigo haired boy who'd tried helping him against Bakugo.

Chapter Text

Stepping aside, Izuku waited for the sleepy eyed teen to pass. He did so slowly with a thoughtful expression. "The other day… you took that kid down without a quirk." Halting, he speared Izuku with a serious frown.

The greenette blinked and nodded at the statement. He wasn't sure if he wanted to know where it was going. Usually people didn't praise quirkless combat. Especially from a quirkless person.

"He ended up in my class, 1-C." A grimace formed as he paused. "His quirk is powerful but you handled it like it was nothing. Teach me."

That threw Izuku for a loop. Of all the things he was expecting that wasn't it. "U-um… Don't ge-gen ed students learn some c-combat too?" It was an honest question, he didn't know much of what the other classes were taught.

When the other boy shook his head, Izuku frowned. "Only heroics are allowed combat training. But I want to win the sports festival and get promoted. Everyone's afraid of my quirk. They think it's villainous. I want to prove them wrong."

The irony of him asking Izuku to help achieve that goal wasn't lost on the greenette. "It's a ca-call and response m-mental type, right?" The greenette couldn't help satisfying his curiosity despite intending to turn him down.

Surprise stole over the teen's features and he nodded hesitantly. "If someone responds to me I can control them." 

Fingers twitching and wishing he could scribble in his notebook while they talked, Izuku perked up. "Do you have to give verbal commands or can it be in your head? What about if someone responds in a language you don't understand? Sign language? Is it like hypnosis? Oh, and what's your name? I'm Izuku Shigaraki." The flood of questions spilled out before he could help himself.

The other teen looked overwhelmed and confused by the barrage. He latched on to the last one. "Hitoshi Shinso… So, are you going to help?"

Disappointment crashed into Izuku. It seemed like he wasn't going to get answers until he responded. Racking his brain for a moment, he perked up. "Yes but not directly." 

Shinso's lips pressed into a thin line and his frame tensed. Before he could get the wrong idea Izuku pressed on. "I have a lot going on right now and not a lot of time. But I can introduce you to two of my friends from the heroics course who might agree to help get your hand to hand abilities up to par. You didn't try to physically intervene with Bakugo so I assume you don't have a lot of experience. Once they're happy with where you are I'll help you find a support weapon that fits your style."

It took a few moments for Shinso to process the information. He still didn't look entirely happy with being foisted off on someone else but he finally nodded. "If they'll accept me, I'll do it."

The agreement made Izuku beam. Normally he wouldn't mind training someone, like he helped Ochaco polish her sparring, but he really did have a deficit of free time. He motioned for Shinso to follow and turned to track down Ochaco and Shoto.

Thankfully they were in the lunch room with the rest of class 1-A. Aizawa had let them all out twenty minutes early so they were the only ones there. It made him wonder why Shinso wasn't in class but he didn't pry since he didn't know the other boy. Ochaco and Shoto were sitting together with Yaoyarazu, Hagakure, and Jiro. As Izuku and Shinso approached they seemed to be having a serious conversation in quiet tones. They paused and Ochaco looked pleasantly surprised when they spotted Izuku. "I thought you weren't staying?"

Rubbing the back of his neck, the greenette shrugged sheepishly. "I was leaving but then I ran into Shinso." He pulled two chairs over so they could sit while talking. 

"Hitoshi Shinso, these are Ochaco Uraraka and Shoto Todoroki." He remembered to make introductions first this time. The three teens exchanged nods. "He wants to transfer into heroics via the sports festival but gen ed doesn't have combat training. Do you think you could help him?"

The inquiry caught the attention of the other girls. "Wait, they can transfer up but don't learn how to fight? How is that fair for them when we learn combat from the start? They'd have next to no chance unless their quirk made up for it." Jiro sounded annoyed. 

Recalling Aizawa's words to him on the topic, Izuku nodded. Keeping his voice low since he didn't know if it was supposed to be repeated, he explained. "It's not fair. And it's designed to not be fair. The school board didn't want students to be able to transfer at all but Nezu pushed for it. The board is the reason why the entrance exam favors offensive quirks. They also bar quirkless people from even applying."

"But I fight quirkless." Hagakure sounded strained. "The only difference between me and a quirkless person is that I'm invisible." 

A frown tugged Izuku's lips. He glanced around to check for eavesdroppers but the nearest other students were absorbed in their own conversations. "And that's why All-Might made you sit out. The school board and the Hero Public Safety Commission are highly discriminatory despite their public claims."

His two friends nodded grimly in agreement. The girls looked just as solemn as they digested the information. Next to him, Shinso looked darkly knowing. Glancing at him made Izuku recall the reason he was there to begin with. "But we can talk about that more later if you want. About Shinso...?" He peered at Shoto and Ochaco.

"We'll do it!" Hagakure answered instead of the expected parties. At his surprised expression she pumped a fist in the air, her gloves letting them see the action. "It's what real heroes would do! No one should be disadvantaged just because of their quirk. So I'll help." Jiro and Yaoyarazu nodded as well.

The sleepy eyed boy looked shocked by the show of support. "But you don't even know what my quirk is."

It was Shoto who spoke up. "It doesn't matter. If you want to try, we'll help." He turned back to his meal, viewing the topic as closed in his usual socially awkward way.

"Great, thank you all! I'll see you tomorrow." With that he stood and resumed trying to get his bag so he could go home. He managed to make it inside the administration wing before he was interrupted again.

"Ah, Shigaraki-kun! Just the person I was looking for!" The cheerful voice of Nezu made him freeze halfway to his desk. Midnight was working at her new station and shot him a sympathetic smirk after catching his resigned expression.

Turning, Izuku bowed politely to the chimera. "Nezu-san, how can I help?" He gripped his notebook tight as he wondered what he could have done already to warrant the principal's intervention.

"No need to be so formal. I just want to have a chat with you after your first official class." He motioned for the greenette to follow him to his office. Inside, there was already a cup of coffee and a cup of tea waiting in the sitting area. The principal hopped up into a chair and claimed the tea while Izuku sank gingerly onto the couch. After a moment of observing each other silently the teen picked up the coffee, expecting he'd need it and something stronger later. 

The chimera was hard to read because his features weren't human but it wasn't impossible. Some things were universal. There was a subtle current of tension in the mammal's frame and his tail tip flexed occasionally. While he smiled, it showed a little more teeth than previous times the greenette had seen it. Something had Nezu agitated.

Once the quiet began to turn oppressive the principal broke it. Some of the cheer leached out of his tone, leaving it serious and nearly, but not quite, cold. "I'll cut to the chase, Shigaraki-kun. Your medical visits were brought to my attention and I approved them. Nothing specific about your condition was shared but both Shuzenji and Inui had concerns."

Dread made the coffee turn to lead in his stomach. He had wondered how long it would take before something came back to him. The chimera stood to grab a file from his desk and it came as no surprise when Hisashi Midoriya's smirking face stared up from the top sheet when it was set on the table. What did surprise him were Nezu's next words. "Do you have knowledge of where this villain is? Has he contacted you or hurt you at all since you left home?" There was no accusation, just concern. 

After struggling with himself a moment, Izuku nodded. It was best to be as honest as he could get away with. Weaving too many lies ran the risk of catching himself up and there was no reason to in this case. "O-Once, a few we-weeks ago."

The chimera leaned forward in his seat. "Where and why? And was he responsible for why you had to see Shuzenji?"

Thinking carefully, the teen fidgeted with his cup. "An ac-acquaintance hired him as a p-personal assistant. T-they left us alone together. He… he beat me and b-burned me. Dad showed up and stopped him. I-I cut ties with that person afterwards and l-lost touch." He sidestepped the second question, knowing it would get messy if he had to explain the recent injuries without fully lying.

Black eyes narrowed slightly as they observed the greenette. "What was the name of this acquaintance?"

Fingers tightening around the mug, Izuku ducked his head and looked sheepish. "I-I… didn't live in a g-good area. S-sometimes I ha-had to make ends meet un-unconventionally." He peeked at Nezu with an anxious expression that he didn't need to fake.

The principal waved a paw dismissively. "You and your family will not be in trouble for anything you might mention to me. My main concern is ensuring this man doesn't harm anyone else. To be blunt, it's amazing he didn't kill you. His record is disturbing and it's only through you that we know he's back in the country."

Genuine curiosity had Izuku reaching for the file. He knew what Hisashi had done to him and suspected what he was capable of but this was the first he was hearing about the man having a record. The chimera didn't stop him as he skimmed over the numerous charges against his father. None of it was particularly shocking to the teen now that he knew Hisashi worked for All For One. Biting his lip, he sat the folder down with a shuddering sigh. "T-the person called himself Sensei, and a subordinate c-called him All For One. I-I don't know a real name. T-they reached o-out to me because I'm g-good at quirk analysis and needed money. I met Dad and he helped me get stable and g-gave me a home so when I ran into Hisashi I st-stopped answering requests. I-I don't know what they did with the work I g-gave them."

Silence reigned for a long moment as the principal mulled over the information. Nerves were making Izuku nauseous and jittery when finally, "Thank you for being honest. As I said, you won't be in trouble for telling me. In fact, I will keep your name out of it. You are still a minor so it's an easy fib. My only goal is ensuring that Midoriya and All For One don't hurt anyone else." 

A genuine smile graced Nezu's snout. "You may go now. Please let me know if there's anything you or your family needs for your upcoming move. And my door is always open, even if you just want a non-work related chat."

The teen tried not to rush out the door the second permission was granted to go. He stood, bowed, and shuffled out. Once the door was closed he drew in several deep breaths to calm himself. That wasn't too bad. It was even an expected interrogation. He just really needed that cuddle with Tomura and Dabi now.

Wishing he could turn invisible like Hagakure, he at long last claimed his bag. Just as triumph washed through him, out of the corner of his eye he saw Present Mic approaching his desk. Despair and irritation had him forgoing politeness as he turned his back and power walked towards the exit. He ignored the Voice Hero when he called out Izuku's name, pretending not to hear the almost ear-splitting exclamation. 

Once he was outside he broke into a jog to escape campus quicker. Maybe before the chat with Nezu he wouldn't have minded interruptions but now he wanted to go home and day-drink with his men. 

Chapter Text

As soon as he stepped through the warp gate Izuku beelined towards the couch where Tomura and Dabi were playing a fighting game. They paused to stare in confusion when the teen squished himself between them. It was an awkward feat since they were sitting with their thighs touching. He sat on their knees and just oozed into the small divet until they relented and moved. He belatedly glanced around once he was nestled in place. Of the other residents, it was just Magne and Toga in the living room. They'd already guessed the trio's relationship weeks ago after they caught Tomura and Izuku making out in the apartment hallway. Eri was curled up napping on a sleeping bag Compress had enlarged from a marble. With that knowledge in mind he snuggled freely.

"Everything alright?" The scarred man wrapped an arm around both him and Tomura after setting the controller aside. He sounded wary. The greenette couldn't blame him after the week they'd had. Hell, after the month they'd had.

Letting out the massive sigh he'd been holding in all morning, Izuku shrugged. "I'm not in trouble. I think. Aizawa said afternoons so early in the year are boring and that I could go home." He got side tracked and made grabby hands at Magne when he realized she was drinking sake.

The woman raised an eyebrow but stood from her chair to root around in a box Kurogiri had brought back from her apartment. He nearly cried with gratitude when she handed him a bottle of cinnamon whiskey. Uncapping it, he took a deep drink. The burn and warming sensation as it settled had him relaxing almost boneless. This was what he'd been craving since the All-Might fiasco. "That much of a day?" Magne patted his head sympathetically before reclaiming her seat. "Didn't kill anyone on campus did you?"

The greenette shook his head and let Tomura have the bottle when he reached for it. "I just had a reminder of how much of an asshole All-Might is. And got interrogated by Nezu." Feeling both men tense up, he rushed to explain. "Apparently Hisashi is a bigger issue than we thought. They found out he was my father and wanted to know where he was. I told Nezu what little I know and set them on Sensei's case too." 

He snagged the bottle back for another drink before continuing. "I didn't say anything about us. I implied I was still a street rat when I met Sensei and saw Hisashi again. They didn't know he was back in the country." A bitter snort escaped. "Even though he's been back for almost two years. He didn't even bother changing his name or moving with mom."

Dabi squeezed with his arm in an attempt to calm an irritated Tomura and comfort Izuku. "Did they mention a nickname? I can get Giran to look into it a bit more."

"Nezu let me see his file. The arrogant bastard goes by Homusubi." Izuku grabbed Tomura's hand and laced their fingers together when he noticed it twitching towards his neck. With the implant gone he shouldn't have the crawling sensation anymore but after so many years the self mutilation was a habit when he was upset.

The blonde finally chimed in. She'd been listening quietly while trying to put her hair up into buns. "You mean like the god of fire?" Her nose wrinkled in a grimace of distaste. "That is a bit high reaching. I'll cut him down to size for you, Izu-kun." A manic grin showed off her fangs. If her hands weren't occupied she probably would have started playing with one of her knives.

It made a smile tug the greenette's lips. "I look forward to it." Unrelated to the alcohol, content warmth bloomed in his chest. Never in his previous life had he anticipated finding so many loyal and supportive friends. Now he was surrounded by them and two amazing boyfriends that he loved with every fiber of his being. The realization made him squeeze Tomura's fingers and snuggle against Dabi. He wouldn't trade it for the world despite the trouble following them.

~°~POV: Aizawa~°~

A resigned sigh escaped Shota when he entered the administration wing after lunch only to be waylaid by Nezu. He already knew what it was about. The principal had been intending to question Shigaraki about his father. The ravenette only learned about it while reporting All-Might for discrimination earlier in the day. It was why he'd tried sending the greenette home early before the sentient rat could sink his claws in. While not opposed to underhanded or illegal tactics if the situation called for it, the dark hero thought the chimera's plan was too much and too invasive when they hadn't even tried just asking first. Instead, the principal was scheming to trick a recently attacked, PTSD and anxiety ridden, teenager. It was times like this that reminded him that Nezu wasn't human.

When he followed his boss into his office he tried keeping his face blank at seeing Detective Tsukauchi already waiting. He had nothing against the Human Lie Detector normally but today he fought not to glare. His opinion of the man had plummeted since the officer agreed to Nezu's request. "What's the verdict?" He forewent niceties, wanting to know if he'd have to arrest his house guests. 

The detective had been eavesdropping on Shigaraki and Nezu's conversation from behind a bookcase that opened into a panic room. Tsukauchi, to his credit, didn't look happy to be there either. "A couple points were inconclusive but the important information was true. Midoriya is back and working with All For One. Shigaraki doesn't know anything further." He sounded grim and had a deep frown.

"Who is All For One to cause you to break the law?" The barb made the man wince but Shota couldn't even feel satisfied by it.

The two conspirators exchanged a look before the detective sighed and scrubbed a hand through his hair. "That's classified. But I can tell you to keep an eye on Shigaraki. If All For One was involved in the attack on his home then they're still in danger."

Anger simmered in his chest at the bullshit answer but he bit his tongue. 'Classified' usually meant the HPSC was involved. He would question Nezu later when Tsukauchi wasn't present. And Shigaraki when he got home. There was no way he was going to tell the teen about the ruse, it would probably make him and his sketchy family flee. But he needed to know what was going on if he was going to protect them. "Should I expect illegal surveillance of my house and theirs as well?" He didn't bother curbing the bitter accusation in his voice. Normally he wasn't an emotional man but the situation was pressing all of his buttons. The deceit, the invasion of privacy, the red tape, the vague threat that they refused to share information on. Dealing with the HPSC was one aspect of being a hero that he loathed.

Tsukauchi shook his head with a sigh. "No. Nezu told Shigaraki that his involvement would be left out of the report. I'll honor it."

A scoff of disbelief escaped. "Shocking." Ignoring the detective he turned to his boss. "Unless there's anything else, I had things to do."

The chimera looked sheepish and shook his head. "That was all, you may go." 

Turning on his heel, he stalked out. A couple other teachers who were doing paperwork shot him concerned looks when he returned to his desk. He ignored them in favor of pulling up the security program to snoop on Shigaraki's time alone with the class. He didn't doubt the teen did a good job but he was curious. Some pride welled up as he watched. It was the beginning of a hero ethics discussion that was sorely needed. The change in Shigaraki's demeanor was fascinating to observe. When it came to topics he was familiar with or passionate about, the teen's social anxiety took a back burner and the confidence he exuded was palpable. He even had Kaminari's undivided attention for almost two hours, the electric boy had ADHD because of his quirk. 

"Shoootaaaa!!!" Hizashi wailed from across the room and beelined for him. 

The dark hero winced and paused the feed. After years of friendship he knew the loud blonde would just get more annoying if ignored. He swiveled in his chair with a frown. "What?"

Stealing Shigaraki's desk chair, Hizashi slumped into it. "Am I annoying?" He sounded dismayed and put out.

"Yes." He ignored the wounded look the other man shot him. "Why?"

"Earlier I wanted to invite Shigaraki to eat with me and Nem and he ran away from me!" At this point the sad outrage was mostly fake. Even now Shota occasionally did the same thing when he couldn't handle the extroverted hero.

Having an inkling as to why, he sighed and rubbed his face. He could really do with a drink and a nap. "Nezu spoke with him about something that probably upset him. Try again tomorrow."

That caused a concerned frown to form. Before he could open his mouth to pry, Shota held up a hand to stop him. Hizashi tilted his head quizzically. "I'll fill you and Nemuri in later." He murmured almost silently, cognizant of the surveillance audio recordings. Recognition lit the other man's features and he nodded. It was well known to the teachers not to discuss things on campus if they wanted it to stay private. Mostly Nezu didn't care what was said but Shota was being extra cautious on the topic of the greenette and his family now.

The blonde nodded slightly before brightening up. "Hey, the green bean's living with you isn't he? I could buy everyone takeout and we could hang out after school!"

Dread at the chaos that would incite made Shota shake his head. He knew it was a lost cause when Hizashi popped up to pester Nemuri with the idea before he could respond. Pondering for a moment, he pulled up Shigaraki's number in the staff database and texted him a warning about the unwelcome guests. Hopefully the known villains among them would take the hint and disappear for a few hours. He had too much of a headache forming to want to explain to his two friends why he was harboring criminals just yet. Though at this point he was starting to suspect all of them were in one capacity or another, even the innocent looking greenette.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he stood to drag the displaced chair back to the correct desk. Something on the floor behind the station caught his attention. It was the notebook Shigaraki had been scribbling in all morning. It must have fallen out of his backpack in his hurry to leave. Shota picked it up to take home to him.

Boredom ate away at him when he returned to his own desk. He filled out official complaint forms against All-Might but after that there was nothing to do. It was the first week of classes and most homework wasn't due until next week. He wasn't even required in homeroom for the rest of the day. Normally he'd go home and sleep before patrolling but he had two students to escort home once classes were over. His apathetic gaze kept drifting to the notebook. The urge to ask about it earlier had been strong but Shigaraki had already been nervous about his first day helping to oversee the class. Shota hadn't wanted to make it worse if the notebook contained anything too private.

Now he was tempted to pry for something to do. He resisted by napping in his chair for three hours. When he woke up to see the time he mindlessly clicked through security feeds for several minutes. The last hour of the day crawled by at a maddening pace. What felt like tens of minutes turned out to be mere seconds. At long last he broke. Picking up the notebook he opened the cover to skim the first page. If it contained anything personal he'd stop. To his surprise it was a comprehensive quirk analysis of the students in 1-A with visible mutations. There had to be twenty pages front and back. The kid had done all that just from a casual observation during homeroom? Shota was beyond impressed.

Most of it was speculation and theory, like wondering if Shoji could form bone with his appendages or if it was only sensory related transformations. Another entry accurately guessed Tokoyami's sentient shadow and made the connection that light would weaken it. There was even a ruthless dissection of Mineta that included ways to nullify the sticking power of his head growths and psychologically eviscerate him. Shota would have been very concerned if he hadn't been pondering the same things about the entitled little pervert. He was just reading a section that wondered if Ashido's quirk was related to moths when the bell chimed signaling the end of the day. Letting out a relieved sigh, Shota closed the book and stood to go meet Todoroki and Uraraka before they could head to the gate. If Hizashi was still intending to invade he was at least giving them a ride home too.

The hero intercepted the students in the hallway and led them towards the teachers parking lot. As he did he explained that Present Mic and Midnight were coming with them. That made both teens exchange a leery glance before they pulled out their phones in tandem, likely to text Shigaraki as well. It confirmed his suspicion that the two weren't ignorant of their friend's family.

What followed was a thirty minute ride from hell. Hizashi and Nemuri were already waiting in the car, the R-Rated Hero predictably taking the front seat. Without access to the radio buttons Shota couldn't turn the music down as he normally would. The loud hard rock made his head pound as it exacerbated his previous headache. Normally the drive to his house only took ten minutes but Hizashi insisted on stopping for food. By the time they pulled up in front of the small house he was so done. As they piled out of the car he vowed to arrest his house guests himself if the wanted villains were still present. He glanced back and forth between his two friends and the house. Uraraka eyed him for a moment before turning to Hizashi.

"Yamada-sensei? I'm really liking English so far. Could you walk me through what these are called?" She indicated the bags of food.

The blonde looked overjoyed. "Sure thing, little listener!" True to form, he got distracted and started spouting off English words while pawing through the assortment then and there. Nemuri was held up as well since she had the rest of the food. Taking the golden opportunity, Shota strode into the house to double check that Shigaraki got the texts.

Chapter Text

~°~ POV: Kurogiri ~°~

When the tone for the group chat chimed on his phone Kurogiri almost put off checking it. Toga and Compress had been spamming it with memes out of boredom all day. But on the off chance it was something important he opened the app. The blood drained from his face when he read the message from Ochaco. 

FallingUp: Present Mic + Midnight coming home with us. 

The shadows wisping off him writhed chaotically and began lashing out at the surrounding kitchen as various emotions surged. The sound of shattering glass startled him out of staring at the message. Closing his eyes, he took deep breaths to get his twisted quirk under control. Thankfully he was at the old apartment finalizing packing with Twice and Compress, not Shota's house.

Thoughts of his old friend made his chest twinge and feel like a vice was squeezing around it. It hurt to have him so close again after so many years. And now Hizashi and Nemuri as well. It was so tempting to open his mouth and let his old name fall from his lips but fear kept him frozen every time the urge struck. They wouldn't accept him. A distorted shadow of Oboro Shirakumo who, now, willingly conspired with and helped villains. Who cared for the two de facto leaders of their little rebel group like his own sons. If given the opportunity to go back to his old life he would refuse. And what then? His former friends would be his enemies. It was better to stay at arms length for their sake and his. To keep his emotions out of it.

That was easier said than done with his own desires and Izuku conspiring against him. The idealistic greenette was not as sneaky as he thought he was and some part of Kurogiri hoped the teen was right. Izuku was good at reading people and tended to latch on to those he deemed promising and 'safe'. Shota seemed to be winning him over despite being a hero, not an easy feat.

The chime sounded again, bringing him back to the present. It was Magne asking about a portal. Letting out a shaky sigh, Kurogiri summoned one to the house living room and poked his head through. The woman and Toga were already waiting to enter the gate. The blonde wasn't technically on the heros' radar but she did murder several people and drink their blood. 

Violet eyes narrowed when they landed on the couch. Tomura, Izuku, and Dabi were passed out with an empty bottle of Fireball in the greenette's lap. Following the direction of his glare, Magne grinned. "Let 'em nap while they can. They can explain themselves to our hero friend and maybe learn a valuable lesson on moderation." Throwing them under the bus probably had nothing to do with the fact they drank all of the woman's whiskey. 

Normally Kurogiri would intervene on their behalf but in this case he agreed with the assessment. They needed to learn that there was a time and place for everything. Getting drunk in a hero's house was neither. It was a minor enough infraction that the shadowy man wasn't worried. Shota would probably just lecture them, if he had the energy for even that. The real punishment would be putting up with Hizashi while sporting a hangover. 

"We'll finish up here if you want to make sure Tomu-chan doesn't kill anyone." Toga's cheerful words distracted him from closing the gate. That was a valid point. The younger man was getting better about impulse control but he still had his moments of pique. They probably hadn't gotten the messages about the invading heros. And he didn't want to leave Eri without an emergency exit around strangers-to-her with her unpredictable powers. Neither was he willing to bring her back to the apartments when they'd been compromised.

Drawing in a steadying breath, he nodded and stepped through into the house. The trio were still dead to the world and hadn't moved. Aside from Izuku's hand migrating down the front of Dabi's pants. Shaking his head, Kurogiri sighed. He wasn't nearly old enough to have to deal with horny young people. How in the world did Shota get talked into teaching teenagers by age thirty?

Debating what to do, he threw his hands up in a rare physical display of overwhelmed frustration. Making up his mind, he strode over and knelt next to the sleeping bag to wake Eri first. He gently shook her shoulder and leaned back. It wasn't unusual for her to lash out when first waking up. Thankfully not with her quirk yet. A whimper like a kicked puppy escaped the little girl and she flailed an arm out to hit him before even opening her eyes. With the pale hair and wide red gaze it reminded him of Tomura when he was younger. When Kurogiri was first tasked with taking care of him. 

All For One claimed his charge had no memories of his previous life but the then seven year old Tomura had shown clear psychological signs of abuse beyond the twisted methods Sensei used to make him pliant. The monster sank his claws into those existing cracks and molded them to his whims. It was what he was best at. And where footholds didn't exist, he made them. It was why Izuku infuriated All For One so much. The teen's mental wounds and scars were plainly visible but protected with sharp intellect and an iron will that he couldn't sway. 

The shadowy man dimly wondered if Izuku's father would have done the same if the greenette hadn't found them on that rooftop so many months ago, or if Tomura hadn't offered to take him in on a whim. If he didn't jump, would they have later met a new puppet slipping into madness under the control of Hisashi or Sensei, like Tomura? Would black-green hair have faded to silvery aqua and then white from the stress and trauma? Tomura's hair used to be sleek black before All For One began his manipulations in earnest. Had Eri's hair always been white? 

Blinking rapidly to clear the memories and overlapping what-ifs, Kurogiri forced a smile to soften the shape of his eyes. "There will be guests of Aizawa-san visiting soon. Please go wash up." He kept his voice quiet to hide the emotions plaguing him.

Once the little girl rubbed sleep from her eyes and caught her bearings she nodded and got up to enter the bathroom. That was task number one dealt with. Numbers two through four looked peaceful for once. None of the three had slept well since the attack that displaced them. It was almost a shame to disrupt them but it was kinder, and safer, to do so now. He tried the lightest sleeper first. "Izuku, time to get up." He raised his voice but kept it soft to not startle them. It got a grunt and the teen's hand slipped into Dabi's pants further while he snuggled against Tomura.

Heaving a sigh, Kurogiri pinched the bridge of his nose. He wished he still had Cloud so he could wake them from a distance. He didn't trust his newly found control over the shadows to try it. Stepping closer, he lightly shook Dabi's shoulder, poised to jump back and summon a portal if needs be. At this point he was versed in the art of waking hyper vigilant people who possessed powerful quirks or strong right hooks.

The scarred man jerked awake, hand raised to summon his fire in an instant. Once he opened his eyes and saw where he was he lowered his hand with a sheepish grin. "What's up, pops?" He rubbed his eyes groggily.

The term of address made Kurogiri's hidden eyebrows raise. "..." Deciding not to question it for the moment, he sighed for the umpteenth time that day. "Aizawa is bringing work friends home. You should get up and get decent." He glanced pointedly towards the younger man's lap. There wasn't much to be done about the reek of alcohol on them but he had no desire to have to explain why he was letting his teenage son be in a relationship with such an age gap. He couldn't exactly say that he wasn't interfering because he didn't want to rip apart the only real happiness the three damaged males had. Plus they balanced each other in a way that kept each other stable in a healthy/unhealthy codependency. That would invite too many follow up questions and headaches. 

Looking down, Dabi smirked but gently tapped Izuku's cheek until he whined and blinked his eyes open. "Morning, beautiful. We gotta get up." He gripped the teen's wrist and extricated his hand.

Just in time, as the door clicked open to admit one disgruntled hero. He paused to take in the scene. The three cuddled on the couch with one still asleep. The empty bottle of liquor. Kurogiri standing over them. The lack of known villains. A huff left the man but he seemed to relax as he looked over his shoulder to check the progress of his tagalongs.

All was well. Then Tomura began to stir. He squeezed Izuku in a hug as he stretched, making the greenette squeak in dismay. The noise caught Shota's attention just in time to see the half asleep Tomura give Izuku a sloppy kiss.

Kurogiri facepalmed.

Chapter Text

~°~ POV: Izuku ~ °~

Muzzy warmth clouded Izuku’s mind as he lounged between his men. Dimly, he heard Kurogiri call his name but ignored him in favor of keeping the content air a moment longer. Waking up meant responsibilities and stress. It was only when he heard Dabi’s smoky voice and something tapped his face that he whined and stretched, regretfully blinking his eyes open to reacquaint himself with consciousness. Glancing around, he saw Kurogiri standing in front of the couch with hands on his hips. That meant they were in trouble. He resisted the urge to burrow back into Dabi’s side and ignore the world when he also spied Aziawa standing in the entranceway to the house. Uh-oh. That was less ignorable than shadow-dad.

Just as he was summoning the urge to care, arms tightened around his waist like a vice. It made him wheeze as it cut off his ability to breathe. Then a pale face entered his view and lightly chapped lips captured his in a messy, moist, undeniably drunk, kiss. Unable to help himself, he returned it for half a second before remembering that Aizawa was one who shouldn’t witness their illicit shenanigans. With much regret, the greenet ‘eeped’ and flailed dramatically, trying to push Tomura away while scrambling to put distance between them. That simply succeeded in landing him in Dabi’s lap. A Dabi who was shaking with suppressed laughter at the failed attempt at acting. A peek towards Aizawa told Izuku that he really shouldn’t quit his day job. 

The dark hero was staring at them with dead eyes that simply grew dimmer with existential dread as Present Mic’s voice boomed through the neighborhood behind him. That got a genuine reaction out of the teen, making him startle and fall to the floor with a yelp. What was going on? The question was answered when the shadowy man tapped through his phone before shoving it in Izuku’s face. 

“You would have known if you weren’t so busy getting drunk.” Kurogiri’s tone was acidic, making all three delinquents cringe as they read the warning messages about having company. They knew that some of the ire was amped up for the heroes’ benefit but there was an undeniable edge to it that said not all of it was faked. 

Remorse twisted in Izuku’s guts, or maybe it was that fifth drink of Fireball. Either way he felt bad. He had intended just a few sips to take the edge off, not the entire bottle and passing out. The interrogation by Nezu earlier had gotten to him a lot more than he thought. Still, it was no excuse. Standing, the greenette gave a wobbly bow. “S-sorry d-dad. A-Aizawa-san.” His voice shook and the stutter came back in force as he wondered if Kurogiri would have to punish them for appearances sake. How did one get punished for underage drinking? The only example he had of parental punishments were Hisashi and he doubted, hoped , those weren’t real-hero approved. 

Movement behind him made him peek and he was surprised to see Tomura and Dabi bowing as well. That was slightly less impactful since the scarred man had to keep Tomura from keeling over while doing so. Finally, Kurogiri sighed and shook his head. “No video games for a week.” The pale man grunted. “Parental restrictions on all of your phones will be turned on.” The scarred man winced. “And you’ll do dishes and cleaning for this entire house until we leave.” The greenette blinked. That was surprisingly more mundane than his jaded mind was thinking. Izuku already tried helping Kurogiri with dishes and laundry so it wouldn’t burden him much. It was mostly just the men that would be inconvenienced. 

“Aww, no spankings?” Midnight crooned while peeking around Aizawa. She eyed the three up and down before winking at Izuku. “I’m always up for a little corporal punishment if you need pointers, Shigaraki-san.” She addressed Kurogiri playfully. “But really, who didn’t raid their parents liquor cabinet at that age? You’re only young once.” Rudely shoving the dark hero out of the way, she invited herself in. She was followed by an all too amused looking Yamada, who caught the tail end of the situation. “Aww yeah. Hey Sho, remember that summer when your dad left us home alone for a week? Me neither!” He cracked up at his own joke while hauling takeout containers into the kitchen.

Following the entire disaster, Shoto and Ochaco entered and closed the door behind them. Ochaco sent the three males an apologetic look but Izuku shook his head slightly. There wasn’t anything for her to be sorry for. They’d dug their own graves with this one. Shoto glanced back and forth between Izuku and Kurogiri with a faint worried frown. He was perhaps wondering the same thing the greenette had been about the punishment but missed the verdict since they were stuck behind everyone. 

Trying to head off any lingering problems, Izuku bowed again to Aizawa who was looking like he was contemplating murder as he kicked off his boots. "S-sorry Aizawa-san. Thi-this won't im-impact my work." Nerves had sweat beading down his back. Would the hero play the kiss off as a drunken mistake or be disgusted by their ages? Would he arrest the two men? Kick them out?

The panic must have shown on his face because Aizawa glanced at him and huffed. "I think your dad covered it." He rolled his shoulders with a sigh, looking like he could use a drink too. That there was no mention of the previous awkwardness implied he was ignoring the kiss even happened. That worked for Izuku. 

Further discussion was interrupted when Eri crept out of the bathroom and latched on to Izuku. She was staring towards the kitchen like the hounds of hell were ransacking the place instead of just two loud teachers bearing food. The greenette could sympathize. "U-um… Eri doesn't li-like strangers…" Izuku picked her up and hugged her close. With more than a little concern he noticed her horn was bigger than it was that morning. "M-maybe she could eat in Shoto's room?" He glanced towards said boy for permission.

As the other teen nodded, Eri tugged on Izuku's shirt to get his attention. "I want big sis Mag." There was a whiny undertone that was new. That the greenette had been dreading hearing even though it would normally be a good sign that the little girl was healing.

Exchanging a panicked look with Kurogiri, Izuku kept his tone gentle. "Unicorn, big sis is busy tonight. She's making sure we have everything for the move so the bad guys can't find us again." 

"Why don't you eat with me and Tomu-chan tonight, kiddo?" Dabi picked up the coaxing when she just frowned. "He's not feeling well and could use the cheering up."

Eri peered at Tomura just in time to see him grump at Dabi for using Toga's pet name for him. It got on his nerves every time. That seemed to soften her resolve. Finally she nodded solemnly. "Ok. For Tomu-chan." She allowed herself to be transferred to Dabi's arms and the two men shuffled down the hall to Shoto's room. The two loitering teens divested themselves of their outdoor gear before Ochaco followed the three with an awkward mumble about seeing what they wanted to eat. That left Shoto looking very lost, crowded out of his own room and still in his school uniform.

Deciding to bite the bullet, Izuku slapped his own cheeks like the gravity girl tended to. The sting helped mute the lingering swimmy feeling of the alcohol in his system. Turning, he shuffled into the kitchen where his two colleagues were making a mess out of the counters and table. “Yamada-san? I’m s-sorry for earlier. I-It was rude of me to ig-ignore you.” 

"Nah, don't worry about it! And call me Hizashi when we're not working." The exuberant blonde beamed at him.

"Nemuri." Midnight got out around a mouth full of curry rice. 

The two seemed very at home in Aizawa's house. Honestly, to the point of rudeness. But Izuku knew the grumpy hero wouldn't tolerate it if he really minded. It spoke of a closeness that he wondered if Kurogiri was once a part of. As if the thought summoned him, the shadowy man appeared and loitered in the doorway. "Eri would like some of the ramen, please." He sounded stilted and held himself tense, looking at Izuku even though he addressed the other two.

"Another little listener?" Curiosity brimmed in Hizashi's expression.

Taking pity on Kurogiri, the greenette intercepted the question. "My adopted sister. She's really shy and her quirk is unstable so she's calming down in Shoto's room."

That brought a frown to their faces. "Aww, did we scare her?" The Voice Hero seemed genuinely dismayed. It earned him some points. 

"Your face scares everyone." Aizawa's exhausted tones piped up. The shadowy man startled, not having noticed the dark hero sneaking up behind him. "Let Shigaraki-san take her dinner."

The reminder had Nemuri pawing through the bags until she pulled out the requested food. "And what do those two delightful eye-candies want?" The question was purred. 

A dark little coil of discontent simmered in Izuku's stomach even though he knew her interest was mostly feigned. Mostly. He had to resist the urge to go cling to them possessively to make sure she knew that they were his. It was a very strange feeling since he'd never had it before. He never thought he was the jealous type. What would he do if Dabi or Tomura wanted to see other people or add someone to their trio? They'd never talked about it but Izuku had researched what they had. A polyamorous relationship. Something that sometimes went hand in hand with that was open relationships. The idea didn't appeal to him personally but what if the others wanted it?

A hand lightly covered his mouth and he went red with mortification when he glanced up to see it was Aizawa. He'd started mumbling! Before panic could set in the hero patted his shoulder with a blank expression and moved past him further into the kitchen to grab some food for himself. The other two teachers were chatting at each other, oblivious to the near slip. Kurogiri gave him serious side-eye when he shuffled in to grab food for the others. It made Izuku shrink in on himself a little and the man's gaze softened. "Get something to eat and rest." He murmured before retreating.

It took Izuku a moment to realize that he'd been abandoned. Even Shoto had squished himself away with the others in his room and Kurogiri didn't return. Resigned, he padded over to the table and sat next to Aizawa. Their silence didn't seem to deter Hizashi and Nemuri from filling the air with idle noise. It would be a long evening.

Chapter Text

The evening passed in a blur of listening to Hizashi and Nemuri chirp about random topics while they ate. After a while a headache began throbbing in the greenette's skull because the blonde didn't know what 'inside voice' meant. Thankfully they seemed used to Aizawa's gruff silence and knew Izuku was shy, so didn't really expect them to join in. The two spectators exchanged glances of mutual suffering when the greenette winced and rubbed his forehead at a particularly excitable story of a villain take-down that resulted in the Voice Hero having to sprint home naked. Normally it would have fascinated Izuku but the alcohol had finally given way to a hangover. He nearly cried in relief when four hours later Nemuri glanced at the time and commented about needing to head home.

"We'll see you tomorrow, Izu-kun!" She grinned and patted him on the head. "Don't forget to drink some water." The croon had a sadistic edge that said she knew he was flagging and didn't care. She'd make a terrifying villain.

The ringing silence after the front door closed behind them was almost oppressive but felt like a blessing. After a few moments of enjoying it as well, Aizawa grunted. "You can call back your friends. Though I want to talk to you before bed."

That was far too ominous for Izuku's liking. His stomach flopped as he wondered if it was about the kiss finally. Though he knew there was a mountain of other issues the man probably wanted to go over without Izuku's dad hovering around. The prospect made him feel ten times his age but he nodded, standing to go give the all clear to the party in Shoto's room. When he tapped lightly on the door it was opened almost immediately by Kurogiri. 

A glimpse of the sparse interior showed Ochaco, Shoto, and Eri curled up asleep on the bed. It looked like they'd started out sitting side by side but had mutually listed over at some point with Eri between them. It settled his mind that the little girl trusted the heterochromatic boy enough to sleep around him. His men were similarly passed out on each other in a corner. Tomura was on his side with his head in Dabi's lap and the scarred man was slumped over with his head awkwardly on the other's shoulder. Izuku winced, imagining the pain he'd be in once he woke up even as he pulled out his phone to snap a few pictures of the adorable sight. New background image set.

Kurogiri followed him out into the hall, shutting the door quietly behind him. They kept their voices low to not disturb the others. "It's safe for them to come back."

The shadowy man nodded, darting a glance towards the kitchen where they could hear Aizawa cleaning up the discarded food containers. "I'll text them." He was still tense despite the two interlopers being gone.

Impulsively, Izuku stepped forward to hug him. There was a pause of surprise before Kurogiri sighed and returned it, patting his back. The greenette still wasn't comfortable initiating contact with anyone but Tomura and Dabi so it was an odd occurrence. "I'm sorry." The teen murmured. Tonight had been rough for Izuku but he couldn't even imagine what it had done to Kurogiri. "If I'd known this would happen I would have rejected Nezu's offer…"

The man pulled away to peer down at him in confused concern. "You couldn't have known… I did. I agreed to it even knowing he was working there. Seeing them again… It's painful but it's not your fault." He stressed the words.

Resisting the urge to shake his head, Izuku knew there was no use arguing the point. It was his fault. His actions and choices had led them to this. Under the watchful gazes of heroes, his cover story nearly being blown, putting Magne and the others at risk… Digging and pushing at Kurogiri's past without regard for the man's feelings.

Before anything else could be said a floorboard creaked in the living room, signaling the dark hero's approach. The two separated and Kurogiri pulled out his phone, muttering about summoning the others back. He passed Aizawa to head into the kitchen, keeping his eyes glued to the screen. Despite the earlier talk of punishment Izuku knew that the kitchen would soon be immaculate without the three guilty parties lifting a finger.

He and the hero stared at each other for a moment before Izuku was waved into his office with an unreadable expression. A surprised note escaped him when a glass of water was pressed into his hand. He'd been too stuck in his own head to notice Aizawa had it. The insidious voice in the back of his mind whispered that if the man was hostile he'd be dead, and his peacefully slumbering men along with him. If the heroes discovered their ruse it was a likely possibility. Bile lodged in his throat at the thought and he choked down a sip of the cool liquid as he sat in an armchair near the hero's desk. He dimly noted that it was kept a bit neater than the one at school. That made sense since it was probably where Eraserhead worked on cases. 

Aizawa paced around the desk, which was situated in a corner facing the room and single window. Rather than sit right away, he dragged the chair around so it was next to Izuku's. It gave the teen the option of looking at him or the heavy grey blackout curtains. The greenette chose to keep his gaze locked on the glass, fidgeting with it to occupy his nervous energy. Finally, a heavy sigh reached his ears. "Nezu told me about his interrogation earlier. He believes you and so do I. But I know it isn't the full truth." 

The statement hung heavy over Izuku's head, feeling like a guillotine. One wrong move and it would fall. The feeling left his tongue paralyzed even as he recognized that silence was the worst answer he could give. Tremors in his hands made the water in the glass ripple as he struggled with himself. What did the man want him to say? What could he say? A hysterical part of his brain wondered where Aizawa wanted him to start. Murdering his own mother? The suicide attempt? Being tortured? Maybe killing his heroic co-workers? He almost wished the hero had led with whether or not he was fucking two grown men, it had an easier answer.

He became aware that his hands were empty at the same time that dark grey eyes swam in front of his vision. Aizawa was kneeling in front of him with a concerned frown. Dizziness and unpleasant tingling in his extremities made him realize that a panic attack had snuck up on him. One of his hands was clenched in a tight fist against the hero's chest as the man took exaggerated and slow breaths. After what felt like an eternity he calmed enough to pull away, embarrassment creeping in as he tried to look anywhere but at Aizawa. 

The man stayed where he was, giving Izuku a few minutes to compose himself. When he spoke again his voice was softer, tone less stern. "The most important question I have is, are you safe right now?" 

It took a long moment for the teen to decipher what he meant. Once he did, a flash of anger swept away the lingering jitters. A glare was directed at the once again impassive hero. "They have never, and will never, hurt me. I'm the safest I've ever been in my life. They've almost died for me and I would do the same in a heartbeat."

A decisive nod preceded the next words. "Then nothing else you tell me will leave this room. No matter how incriminating or sensitive." His lips twitched slightly despite the topic. "I'm already harboring fugitives. That alone would get my license revoked and me thrown in Tartarus. What I need to know is how to keep you, Todoroki, Uraraka, and Eri safe. That means I need information that official channels are blocking."

Hearing the stakes from Aizawa's perspective both eased and heightened Izuku's anxiety. The greenette was even risking ruining the life of the only hero he still admired. He was beginning to wonder if a god of chaos was favoring him. Cursing him? Cursing him, he decided. The silence stretched on before Izuku finally got his racing thoughts under control. Pondering what he'd told Nezu, the teen licked his lips nervously. "Nomu. That's what attacked us." He paused to take a drink when the water was offered back. Aizawa returned to his chair, giving him some space. 

"W-we used to work for someone called All For One. His quirk is that he can steal other peoples quirks. He can use them for himself or give them to other people and… things. The nomu have multiple quirks because of him. They're experiments created by him and a geneticist called Garaki…" He trailed off to organize his thoughts, trying to keep them in order so he didn't confuse Aizawa with a landslide of disjointed information.

The man waited patiently, face blank and not giving anything away. The lack of feedback helped Izuku focus. "Most commonly he gives them super strength, speed, and regeneration. The only way to kill them is to kill the brain. I killed one at the bar but either they retrieved the corpse or the authorities are keeping it hushed up. Most of them are mindless. They have to be programmed to take orders from specific people or they don't do anything. B-but…" He drew in a steadying breath. "Others are intelligent. They can think and plan. Take action without explicit orders. He probably gives those an intelligence quirk for strategizing during missions. I've only seen them have a human base before. But at the bar one showed up that looked and acted like a big cat. It hung back to observe the fight and seemed to have independent reasoning."

The greenette paused, wondering how much more he should say. Before he could decide, the hero finally spoke up. "Why did you stop working for him?"

The question threw Izuku off. He would have thought the man would focus on the outlined threat, not minor details. "He was hurting Tomura and Kurogiri. He didn't like me interfering. He… He gave me to Garaki and a yakuza group he has working for him, for experiments because quirklessness is rare in new generations. The others rescued me and during the escape I killed Garaki. There was no going back after that, not that we wanted to." Belatedly realizing he'd said more than intended, Izuku struggled to get back on track. "Because of the attack on the bar we know he has other doctors or scientists working for him. Garaki was the one making and programming the nomu, or at least we thought so. But that's clearly not the case anymore."

"And do you know why such information would be classified?" That caught Izuku's attention.

With a frown, he started shaking his head before a thought occurred to him. "All-Might. He's involved somehow. All of his civilian information is classified too. I had an easier time finding personal dirt on Endeavor. All For One was fixated on him." 

The hero shot him a suspicious look but thankfully didn't question why Izuku was digging into hero backgrounds. He was smart enough to probably infer the intent and equally smart enough to want to stay ignorant. They sat mutually brooding for a few minutes before the man sighed. "Go get some rest. I'll keep you apprised of any new developments from Nezu."

Relief washed through Izuku and he didn't need to be told again. Stepping out of the office, he heard Magne and Twice talking in the living room. Rather than go greet them he beelined to Shoto's room to curl up with Tomura and Dabi. He was too emotionally drained to be able to sleep any other way.

Chapter Text

Shota knew he was in for a bad day even before he rolled out of bed. For starters, he hadn't been able to sleep a wink. Shigaraki's words from the night before plagued him. All the scars he'd noticed when he was getting healed by Shuzenji made disturbing sense with the image he was getting of the boy's distant and more recent past. Along with his skittish mannerisms and hair trigger reflexes. Pain tolerance too. He recalled the greenette not even flinching after Bakugo's attempt to kill him. Not to mention the all too serious and, he suspected, likely threat of permanently crippling the hothead. 

There were still a great deal of issues the kid was keeping from him but he knew better than to push all at once. The man hadn't been lying, he really was more concerned with protecting the kids and his students than turning the weird family in for villainy. So long as they kept the ceasefire around him. At least now he wasn't as worried about the younger Shigaraki and Eri's safety. The anger and conviction when Shota implied otherwise was too emotional and knee-jerk to be fake. It didn't escape his notice that the greenette's confidence and the painfully shy girl's demeanor changed for the better when in the presence of the others. They were being treated well. 

A bit too well in Izuku Shigaraki's case, if that kiss was anything to go by. Shota wasn’t blind or stupid by any means. Sometimes he wished he was. It rubbed the hero the wrong way but he'd seen the looks the three exchanged when they thought no one was paying attention to them. He suspected the two men would literally and figuratively tear the world apart for the greenette and vice versa. As long as it stayed consensual he'd keep his nose out of it. It seemed like Shigaraki senior knew about it so it wasn't Shota's business. They all needed acting lessons though.

As he dressed for the long day ahead he huffed, thoughts shifting to the shadowy man and the conversation he'd overheard. It was his house, he knew quite well where all the creaky floorboards were in the event someone broke in. Call him paranoid but it clearly had advantages. That discussion was also… concerning. The implication of knowing Shota, and presumably Hizashi and Nemuri as well, without any of them recalling such distinct features… It nagged unsettlingly at the back of his mind when paired with the other man's poorly disguised avoidance of, and nervousness around, the heroes.

He shuffled into the kitchen to start coffee and then made his way to Todoroki's room to wake him and the others camping inside. The frown pulling at his lips eased slightly when he caught sight of the sleeping arrangements. Uraraka and Todoroki were curled up hugging each other with Eri between them. The two men and Izuku were similarly tangled with each other on the floor. The greenette was half pinned by Dabi using his chest as a pillow while Tomura had his arm thrown over both of them. If Shota took a few pictures with his phone for later blackmail no one was awake to prove anything. 

A light tap on the doorframe had four sets of eyes snapping open to stare at him. It was unsettling how alert Izuku, Tomura, Dabi, and Eri were straight upon waking. But again, it was understandable with their backgrounds. He only wished he knew how Eri fit into it all so he could try to help. The three males glanced around for threats before relaxing at realizing it was only Shota. 

The greenette rubbed his eyes and reluctantly shoved at the two to let him sit up. “I can get Ochaco and Shoto up, Aizawa-san.” Hearing the honorific made him have to repress an eyeroll. He’d told the kid multiple times to drop it but he was too damn polite. 

Nodding his assent, he gratefully reached the coffee pot just in time to block the blonde man with the forehead scar. He’d introduced himself as Jin but he’d heard the others call him ‘Twice’. Probably because of his personality disorder. Because of him and the others the hero had to buy more coffee grounds already. And god help anyone around Shota when he didn't get his coffee. 

The man still wore the makeshift bandana Shigaraki had made him. It seemed to help keep him stable… enough. When Shigaraki and Uraraka emerged to claim their own cups, Jin ruffled both of their hair playfully when they passed him. The two grunted, making the man chuckle. They, even Uraraka despite supposedly only renting from them, really did seem like a family.

With Kurogiri MIA already Shota, Izuku, and the two students made due with leftover takeout for breakfast before heading out the door. None of them were morning people so it was a blessedly quiet trip to the school. He could almost trick himself into forgetting the inevitable headaches to come. 

After homeroom that day was an academic Foundational Hero Studies. Due to the blonde oaf's horrendous first lesson with 1-A Shota was under strict orders to stay and observe all lessons involving All-Might for the foreseeable future. He was not going to stand for discrimination against his students. But he was going to pretend to nap for as much of it as he could to conserve energy. Seeing Izuku's sour expression at the murmured information during homeroom made him contemplate getting the problem child his own sleeping bag for such times. For now though he was relegated to the desk chair or the floor. He opted for the chair, notebook open and scribbling with his hand over his mouth. It made the hero remember that he'd forgotten to give him his other book back. It was at home in his office.

The kid tensed and his hand twitched towards his concealed weapon in a glaring tell when the door slammed open and the number one hero loudly announced his presence. There was no love between Izuku and All-Might. Taking his words the previous night into account, he could guess it was a touch personal for the greenette from the reaction. That would perhaps be his next topic to touch upon. Though he loved plausible deniability he at least wanted the story behind the hate.

The students were silent as the grave, in stark contrast to their previous excitement at having the pro teach them. Shota concealed a smile under the edge of his sleeping bag. He knew there was a reason he kept most of them, even the rowdy jokers. The frosty reception made the hero falter and clear his throat. "Right, today's lesson: hero history!" His tone was enthusiastic, trying to ignite such interest in the kids. Not a peep was heard. Shota could almost imagine Kaminari picking his nose and staring into space like he tended to when bored. Definitely not a flattering image but one he relished in this case.

The lesson started off solid enough, with a brief overview of the Dawn of Quirks and the following societal upheavals. He even briefly touched upon the Quirk Wars. It was simply a review of what they should have already learned in primary school so it advanced quickly and smoothly. At least until he got to more modern history. "The Hero Public Safety Commission was founded 225 years ago in the aftermath of the Tokyo Riots. It stood, and still stands, as a bastion of justice and equality. They passed the first law guaranteeing that no quirk should bar someone from housing, employment, or government assistance."

Shigaraki's desk chair squeaked. It was the first noise from the kid except for furious scribbling all class. It made Shota crack his eyes to peer out of his cocoon. The greenette sat rigid, his sole focus on All-Might now. As the man droned on about all the good the HPSC had done, the dark hero heard Izuku's pencil snap and clatter to the desk. Not good. Warning bell blared in his head and he began sitting up just as the short teen stood.

"All-Might. I believe you skipped a few relevant details." The tone he used was deceptively calm as he interrupted the teacher mid sentence. That combined with a lack of stutter and honorifics sent a hint of alarm through Shota. Someone was about to die.

The blonde hero turned with a deep frown, opening his mouth, but the kid interrupted again before he could utter a sound. "225 years ago, the same year as its founding, the HPSC passed the Mutant Protection Act . Despite the name, the law barred people with mutation quirks from serving in government or public service positions. They were not allowed to have children without state approval and doing so was a criminal offense. Mutation quirks were labeled as animalistic, subject to anti-bestiality laws, and as such cross-quirk relationships or marriages were also criminally prosecuted. Anyone found in violation underwent forced sterilization and were sent to prison."

Shota was on his feet in time to see most of the class exchange horrified looks at the information. He had to hide a proud grin under the edge of his scarf. Both at Izuku and the students. Still, he could see the situation turning ugly at the drop of a hat. He could, and would, break secrecy and use his quirk on All-Might if he attacked but it wouldn't stop the teen from gutting him in retaliation.

All-Might was tense, fists clenched at his sides. He was angry despite his face only looking mildly annoyed. "Shigaraki, I would thank you to remember this is my class to teach. No government is perfect. I admit that some earlier laws were misguided but the primary intention was good. Such laws were, of course, lifted."

"You know what they say about good intentions." The kid wasn't backing down. "The laws were only overturned seventy years ago. That means that the grandparents of some of your students had to petition to even have their parents. At the whim of a bureaucrat they might not have been born to sit here today. There are still discriminatory laws in place, and enforced, that prevent quirkless people from working in government or armed forces. That makes it a criminal act for a quirkless person to not disclose their status on employment, schooling, and housing documents when quirked people aren't required to. They also aren't allowed to utilize certain government assistance programs that aren't restricted for quirked people. How is that just or equal?"

Readying his capture weapon, Shota cleared his throat loudly. It got Izuku's and the class's attention but the blonde ignored it. "That is for their protection! They are weak and a liability in this society!" The hero took a step forward to tower over the teen, trying to intimidate.

The dark hero saw the killing intent blossom in the teen's face just as his hand whipped down to grab the handle of the kusarigama. Shota's scarf shot out to wrap around both parties, cinching down tight enough to make them yelp and fall over. Turning to the students, he saw that Uraraka, Todoroki, and a couple others were on their feet with quirks at the ready. To defend which side, he would quiz them on later. 

A flash of glowing red eyes made them return to their seats with various levels of contrition on their faces - none at all on Todoroki, Uraraka, and, oddly, Tokoyami's faces. "The rest of this period will be a study hall. Yaoyorozu is in charge." He turned and marched out of the room dragging the two behind him.

Chapter Text

~°~ POV: Izuku ~°~

A burning rage the likes of which Izuku had never felt before roiled in his chest. If not for Aizawa's capture weapon restraining him he would have killed the number one hero in front of the entire class, consequences be damned. Instead he was restrained like a mummy on the floor of Nezu's office, the blonde bastard likewise beside him. All-Might was gagged by the scarf because his yelling and cursing brought attention from the classrooms they passed. Izuku was beyond yelling, simply laying silent and glaring at nothing as the dark hero explained the situation to the chimera.

"Shigaraki interrupted All-Might's lesson to correct a couple points about the history of the HPSC. He was disrespectful but not confrontational. All-Might's response was to attempt to physically intimidate Shigaraki while spouting anti-quirkless sentiments. I restrained both of them to prevent escalation." Concise and to the point. 

The principal hummed thoughtfully before tapping at his computer. He was sitting at his desk for once instead of the lounge area. A moment later the classroom surveillance footage began to play with sound. Hearing himself talk made Izuku flush in embarrassment. It almost seemed like he knew what he was doing when all he'd done was give in to his irritation. Hearing All-Might blindly singing the Commission's praises had grated on his last nerve until he couldn't help but interfere.

"Oh dear. I see." Nezu finally spoke, tone serious for once as he paused the video. "All-Might, I'm afraid that this discrimination will not do at all. This is your second infraction in front of students. And it will be your last if you wish to keep working here." 

A pleasant smile showed more teeth than necessary. "I am placing you on unpaid leave for two weeks while you undergo mandatory diversity training. This is your last warning. I don't give third chances." The professional veneer peeled a little as the last comment came out sounding more like a threat.

The satisfaction Izuku felt withered when the beady black gaze switched to him. The smile turned more genuine but the greenette still felt like a bug pinned in a specimen container. "Shigaraki, you will take over Foundational Hero Studies until All-Might returns." Izuku could feel the blood draining from his face at the words. Before he could muster a convincing protest the principal gestured to Aizawa. "Please return Shigaraki to his class. I believe there's still an hour left to mold impressionable minds!" The cheerful chirp sounded like a death sentence.

The traitorous hero simply nodded and dragged Izuku back out after releasing All-Might. The scarf stayed firmly around the teen, Aizawa correctly guessing that he'd run if prematurely set free. He did have the decency to release Izuku once they were outside the 1-A room but a hand on his shoulder kept him from bolting. There was no sympathy in the man as he opened the door and lightly shoved him in. The greenette was revising his opinion of the hero by the second.

Quiet chatter puttered out as awareness of the teachers' return spread. Izuku was confused to see a couple relieved expressions directed at him. He stood frozen for a few moments before Aizawa stepped forward with an eyeroll. "All-Might has been suspended for two weeks pending completion of an anti discrimination course. In the meantime Shigaraki will take over for him." With that he ambled over and curled back up in his sleeping bag, leaving Izuku to fend for himself.

The greenette's brain refused to work until a hand went up. It belonged to the bird headed boy. If this was going to happen he needed to learn their names. Drawing in a steadying breath, he nodded for the student to speak.

Rising to his feet, the boy bowed. His sentient shadow emerged to do the same. "Sensei, what you said about the Mutant Protection Act was true. Thank you for not allowing the dark past to be rewritten." He paused, head plumage fluffing up and eyes turning hard. "Two of my great-grandparents were killed by HPSC heroes when it was discovered they had children without approval. One of my granduncles died in prison because he fell in love with someone with an emitter quirk." Without further ado he reclaimed his seat. The other students looked shocked and angry at the confession.

For his part, Izuku just nodded. When the boy started to look uncomfortable with the attention the greenette finally raised his voice. "Some of you might have heard already but I'm quirkless. The current laws against quirkless people are true as well, among others. As All-Might said, no government is perfect. The world is never clear cut black and white. But as heroes it will be your duty to uphold justice and equality regardless of who's crying out for help."

He paused to gather his thoughts, sorting out the type of message he wished heroes would take to heart. "It is sometimes the very law itself, like the Mutant Protection Act, that pushes people to desperation. To commit crimes they wouldn't otherwise condone. There are two diverging paths: what is right and what is easy. It's up to you to decide which path you take. But never lose sight of the impact your actions and words, or lack thereof, have on the world around you. In this society it is often the inaction, indifference, or hostility of otherwise good people, like All-Might, like the HPSC, like you that creates the very villains you will one day be fighting."