Chapter Text
Exhausted after a gruelling shift, Izuku took a solitary walk home to clear his head. The day had been relentless, with paparazzi hounding him at every turn, their questions always revolving around the notorious villain who had recently escaped from a high-security prison in the U.S. The villain’s return to Japan had ignited widespread panic, fuelled by propaganda circulating on social media. As the country's top hero, Izuku felt the weight of the situation pressing down on him.
The relentless stress and workload had taken a toll on Izuku's health. He was barely sleeping, subsisting on a diet of coffee. His classmates at U.A. were growing increasingly concerned, bombarding him with messages asking about his well-being. Despite his reassurances that he was fine, their persistent inquiries were a constant reminder of the pressure he was under.
For a pro hero, Izuku's apartment was surprisingly modest. Unlike many of his peers who flaunted their wealth, he preferred a cozy space, a sanctuary from the world. The warm glow of the lights cast a soft ambiance over the cluttered room. As he kicked off his shoes and disguise, the sweet scent of caramel wafted from the front door.
Intrigued, Izuku followed the aroma, only to be met with a jarring contrast: the sharp scent of iron. There, sprawled on his sofa, was the notorious villain who had gripped Japan in terror. The villain's arm, bandaged and bleeding, stained the cream sofa brown. Izuku's initial reaction was annoyance, but as he drew closer, a wave of disbelief washed over him. He stood, transfixed, staring at his childhood friend, momentarily forgetting the wound.
The blonde, now awake, looked up at Izuku, a knowing smile playing on his lips. 'I-z-u-k-u,' he said slowly, his voice laced with a chilling familiarity.
-
Weeks before his arrival, news of the villain's escape from a high-security prison in the U.S. spread across Japan. While the media omitted the fact that the villain was no longer in the country, pro hero agencies across the nation were alerted and prepared for his potential return.
Within days, a wave of bombings struck Japan, instilling fear in the citizens. Izuku's agency was tasked with investigating each incident, searching for clues to identify the culprit. Accompanied by his best friends, Pro hero Uravity and Shoto, Izuku found himself working tirelessly to address the destruction caused by the villain. The leading suspect was the escaped prisoner, known as Ground Zero. Despite his notoriety in the U.S., Ground Zero was relatively unknown in Japan. The lack of information about his quirk, due to destroyed documents, made the investigation even more challenging.
"So, do we actually know anything about Ground Zero?" Izuku questioned the group. It was well past midnight, and they hadn't made any headway in their investigation. "We don't, sir," replied one of his sidekicks. He stood up abruptly, startling the others in the room. His frustration was evident as he left the room, heading towards the locker room to take a shower before going home.
The hot water soothed his weary body as soon as it hit his face, washing away the grime of the day. As he lathered himself with soap, he hummed a familiar tune, a comforting habit from his childhood. His mother's memory flooded his thoughts. She had passed away years ago, her illness confining her to bed during his final years of high school and the early days of his hero career. The loss had shattered him, delaying his path to becoming a hero. He had envisioned a future where he could repay her for her unwavering support, providing her with the best medical care and a comfortable home.
A year ago, at the age of twenty-six, he had finally come to terms with her death. Coincidentally, it was the same year he became the number one hero in Japan. The bittersweet celebration was a poignant reminder of her absence. Although his classmates were there to support him, the week was a mix of joy and sorrow.
As the hot water continued to beat against his chest, a familiar ache settled in, a lingering reminder of the pain he had endured. He thought back to the day she passed away, the shock and disbelief that washed over him. He remembered the last words she spoke, a simple "I love you," that echoed in his mind long after she was gone.
Izuku closed his eyes, letting the warm water wash over him. He tried to focus on the present, on the task at hand, but his thoughts kept returning to his mother. He missed her more than words could say. He missed her laughter, her wisdom, her unconditional love.
Izuku turned off the shower, eager to escape the lingering thoughts of his mother. As he stepped out of the locker room, his damp clothes clung to his body. Using his quirk to speed home, he arrived at his apartment just before one in the morning. The sweet scent of caramel filled the air, but Izuku couldn't find any candles that could have produced it.
A wave of unease washed over him as he searched the apartment for an intruder. Finding no one, he dismissed his fears and collapsed onto his bed, falling asleep almost instantly. Despite a lingering sense of being watched, he drifted into unconsciousness, oblivious to the danger lurking nearby.
-
On Thursday, a significant breakthrough occurred in the case. A lead indicated that the villain had been spotted entering a warehouse on the outskirts of the city. A large-scale raid was organized, involving multiple pro heroes, including several members of Class 1-A. While the majority of heroes prepared to storm the warehouse, a small group was assigned to monitor the building from a distance, watching for any signs of activity. The warehouse was a formidable structure, its exterior a stark contrast to the surrounding cityscape. The building was a massive rectangular box, constructed of reinforced concrete and steel. Its weathered walls were a dull, industrial grey, marred by the scars of time and neglect. A thick layer of grime covered the facade, obscuring the original brickwork beneath.
High, narrow windows, like slits in the wall, were spaced irregularly along the building's length. These windows, covered in thick metal bars, offered little light to the interior. A large, rusty loading dock extended from the rear of the warehouse, its surface littered with debris and abandoned equipment.
"Has there been any activity?" Izuku asked over the comms. "Nothing yet... wait, I see a shadow moving toward the door," Invisible Girl replied. The sound of metal scraping against metal echoed through the warehouse, a chilling prelude to the impending confrontation.
As the door creaked open, a tense silence fell over the scene, broken only by the sound of Izuku's sweat beading on his forehead. He was poised to give the command for the heroes to attack, his heart pounding in his chest.
A shadowy figure stood in the doorway, their face concealed by the distance. Their silhouette was imposing, a stark contrast against the dim light filtering through the cracked windows. A sinister laugh erupted from the figure, sending a shockwave through the air. "EVERYONE TAKE COVER NOW!" Izuku shouted, his voice barely audible over the deafening explosion that followed.
Heroes scattered as Izuku remained still, searching for the villain. A sense of being watched returned, more intense than before. His danger sense, usually so reliable, was strangely silent. A twig snapped behind him, but he turned instinctively, his senses heightened. The faint scent of caramel filled the air, a familiar aroma that sent a shiver down his spine.
A scream echoed through the forest, followed by the sounds of battle. As chaos erupted around him, the smell of caramel grew stronger, becoming almost overpowering. Izuku's heart raced as he realized the villain was nearby, but he couldn't see them.
"I-z-u-k-u," a voice whispered in his ear, sending a shiver down his spine. His face was drenched in sweat as he turned to look for the source of the voice, but there was no one there. He shook his head, dismissing it as a trick of his mind. Leaping into action, Izuku joined the fray, his every sense on alert. The fighting carried on until the early hours of the morning, a relentless battle against an unseen enemy.
-
The next day, the agency was swarmed by reporters eager to learn about the previous night's invasion. As Izuku's agency was leading the investigation, he was forced to face the media.
He groaned inwardly, dreading the inevitable questions. While he enjoyed interacting with the public, this case had taken a toll on him and the city. The constant fear and the seemingly endless investigation had left him exhausted.
'Has the villain been captured yet?' a reporter asked. Izuku rolled his eyes, craving another cup of coffee. 'Not yet, but we've made some progress,' he replied, before being interrupted by another reporter. 'When will the villain be captured?' 'As soon as possible,' Izuku assured them, offering a reassuring smile as he retreated into the agency.
Once away from the public eye, Izuku sighed deeply, accepting a cup of coffee from his assistant. He thanked her and headed to the meeting room, where the heroes who had participated in the invasion were gathered, their faces etched with fatigue.
The only positive outcome of the raid was the discovery that the villain's quirk was related to explosions and that they had connections within the underworld. A captured villain had revealed that Ground Zero had visited the warehouse for an unknown purpose. The villain's boss had been alerted by Ground Zero's presence and had sent reinforcements.
This confirmed Ground Zero's connections, solitary nature, and explosive quirk. Izuku sighed heavily, feeling a surge of frustration. While the new information was valuable, it didn't bring them any closer to capturing the villain. He knew they needed another opportunity like the one they had missed the previous night.
Izuku spent the rest of the day haunted by the villain's voice, the familiar whisper that sent shivers down his spine. The intoxicating scent associated with Ground Zero filled him with a strange sense of comfort, a dangerous connection that he knew was wrong. Despite his rational mind, his heart raced whenever he thought about that moment.
Izuku's phone buzzed with messages from his friends, asking how he was doing and suggesting dinner. Needing a distraction, he agreed to meet them.
-
The group headed to a ramen restaurant, a hidden spot frequented by heroes to avoid constant interruptions. Only a few members of Class 1-A were able to attend: Uraraka, Todoroki, Iida, and Shinsou.
'Have you been sleeping properly, Izuku?' Todoroki asked, concern etched on his face. 'Not much, except last night. The fighting seemed to go on forever,' Izuku replied, offering a reassuring smile that masked his fatigue.
The evening was filled with casual conversation, ranging from recent missions to personal updates. However, when the topic turned to Ground Zero and his quirk, Izuku fell silent, earning confused glances from his friends. He was known for his enthusiasm about quirks, so his sudden quietness was unusual. The conversation eventually petered out, leaving an awkward atmosphere that prompted everyone to leave early.
Izuku walked home in the rain, listening to music to distract himself. As he entered his apartment, a familiar scent of caramel filled the air, once again piquing his interest. His eyes widened as he grabbed his keys and rushed inside, determined to catch the villain before they escaped.
Izuku's heart pounded in his chest as he listened intently for any sign of the intruder. Despite a frantic search, he couldn't find any trace of the villain. The lingering scent of caramel, a haunting reminder of the previous night, filled the air. Deciding to eliminate the scent, he planned to buy a candle.
As he drifted off to sleep, a faint sound from the living room jolted him awake. His heart raced as he crept out of bed, his eyes straining to pierce the darkness. A silhouette stood near the window, barely discernible in the moonlight. Izuku's blood ran cold as he recognized the shape: it was Ground Zero.