Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Izuku Midoriya stood outside the imposing gates of U.A. High School, his heart pounding. The towering building loomed above him, symbolizing his dreams and aspirations. He took a deep breath, adjusting the strap of his backpack nervously. High school in U.A. was daunting, especially for someone like him.
Entering the bustling hallways, Izuku made his way to Class 1-A. The excitement and energy in the air were palpable as students chatted animatedly, discussing their quirks and previous hero experiences. Izuku couldn't help but feel a pang of nervousness. All the students he passed seemed confident, their quirks well-developed and honed. Izuku, on the other hand, had only recently discovered the true potential of his quirk, "One For All," a gift from his mentor and practically father, All Might.
All Might took him under his wing when he was 12 years old after an incident that left Izuku orphaned and confused. Under the Symbol of Peace mentorship, Izuku learned not only about heroics but also about determination and resilience.
Izuku took a deep breath before entering the classroom. He was immediately ambushed by a friendly-looking girl with brown hair and bright pink cheeks. Her warm smile instantly put him at ease.
"Hey there!" the girl exclaimed, extending her hand. "I'm Uraraka Ochaco. Nice to meet you!"
Izuku was startled, but shook her hand, grateful for the warm welcome. "Izuku Midoriya. Nice to meet you too, Uraraka."
They chatted amicably about their quirks and aspirations until a sudden loud blast erupted from the back of the classroom. Both turned in surprise to witness a confrontation between two intriguing figures. A handsome blonde with spiky hair, exuding an air of anger, was locked in a heated argument with another student. The second student had a unique appearance: white hair on the right side and red on the left, accompanied by a prominent red scar around his left eye.
Intrigued despite the tension, Izuku couldn't help but marvel at the blonde's display of power. Captivated by the dynamics unfolding before him.
Suddenly, the blonde noticed Izuku staring and directed his irritated glare at the newcomer. "Hey, you! What are you looking at, huh?" he shouted, his tone challenging.
Izuku stumbled over his words, trying to defuse the situation. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"
Before he could finish, the white-and-red-haired student interrupted, shooting a piercing gaze in Izuku's direction. "This was a private discussion. Would you mind staying out of it? I have some business to settle with the blasty bast*rd here."
Izuku, not one to back down, smiled genuinely and introduced himself: "Izuku Midoriya. Sorry for interrupting."
His unexpected smile shocked the angry blonde and the stoic white-and-red-haired student, momentarily lifting the tension in the room.
The blonde scowled but eventually begrudgingly said, "Katsuki Bakugo. Don't get in my way, Greenie."
The white-and-red-haired student, however, continued to stare at Izuku with a contemplative expression. After a moment, he nodded and introduced himself, "Shoto Todoroki. Interesting smile you've got there, Midoriya."
The encounter left a lingering curiosity in the air as Izuku was caught amid the unique dynamics of Class 1-A. But before he could think about it too much, the bell rang, and he went to his seat next to Uraraka.
As Izuku settled into his seat, still slightly perplexed by the earlier encounters, the classroom door slid open, revealing a scruffy man wearing a yellow scarf and a perpetually tired expression. Aizawa Shota, the teacher, entered the room nonchalantly, draped in his signature sleeping bag.
The class fell silent as Aizawa surveyed the students with his tired eyes. His unruly black hair framed his stern face, and a pair of goggles rested on his head, adding to his overall disheveled appearance.
"Good morning, Class 1-A," Aizawa began in a monotone voice. "I'm your homeroom teacher, Aizawa Shota. Let's clarify: I don't like wasting time, and I expect you all to take this seriously."
Izuku was intrigued by his new teacher, having never encountered an instructor who slept in a sleeping bag during class. Aizawa went on to deliver the typical beginning-of-the-year announcements, emphasizing the intensity of U.A. High School and the need for discipline.
As Aizawa discussed upcoming tests, the atmosphere in the room grew tense. The teacher explained that the students would be evaluated for their skill levels and personalities. Furthermore, he dropped a bombshell – the class would be divided into groups of three, and these groups would work together as units throughout the year. The catch? The groups would be decided after the upcoming test.
Izuku exchanged glances with Uraraka, a mixture of excitement and nervousness in their eyes. "A test already? This is going to be tough," Uraraka whispered to Izuku.
He nodded, determined to face the challenge head-on. The prospect of forming lasting bonds with his classmates fueled his determination.
A girl with a frog-like appearance, Tsuyu Asui, known as Tsu, chimed in, "I'm looking forward to seeing everyone in action during the examinations. It's a great way to know what we're all capable of."
As the discussion continued, Izuku felt a gaze on him. Turning slightly, he noticed Todoroki staring at him with a subtle hint of annoyance. The two locked eyes for a moment before Todoroki averted his gaze. Meanwhile, two seats down, Bakugo scoffed and turned away when Izuku caught his eye.
"What was that about?" Izuku asked himself. He turned back to Uraraka and Tsu but was not unaware of the stares he received for the rest of the class.
In the bustling cafeteria of U.A. High School, Izuku sat with Uraraka and Tsu, enjoying their lunch. The trio laughed and chatted about classes and upcoming tests when Uraraka excitedly waved over another student passing by.
"Hey, Kirishima! Join us!" Uraraka called out, beckoning the red-haired boy to their table. Izuku recognized him as the boy who sat between Bakugo and Todoroki during class.
Kirishima grinned and gladly accepted the invitation, taking a seat between them. "What's up, guys?"
"Hey, man! Haven't seen you in a bit! How have you been?" Uraraka replied, her cheerful demeanor infectious.
"Been doing great!" Kirishima replied as he sat beside Tsu across the table from Uraraka.
As they dug into their meals, Kirishima initiated small talk, asking about each other's quirks. However, Izuku couldn't shake the lingering questions about Bakugo and Todoroki.
"So, Kirishima, do you know Bakugo and Todoroki well?" Izuku inquired, his curiosity getting the better of him.
Kirishima nodded, a friendly grin on his face. "Yeah, I'm really close friends with Bakugo. We go way back. And Todoroki, well... we're classmates, so we're on good terms."
Intrigued, Izuku couldn't help but get to the heart of the matter. "During class, both Bakugo and Todoroki were staring at me. Do you know why?"
Kirishima scratched his head, looking thoughtful. "Staring, huh? I'm not sure about that, but those two have been at odds for as long as I've known them. They're always fighting. It's like a rivalry thing,
you know? But I will say that they are very civil in private. It's bizarre." he sighed. " But otherwise, they're just a couple of hotheads."
Izuku nodded, though the mystery of the stares remained. "I see. It's just my first day, and I don't know how I feel about catching the attention of two very... strong-willed boys."
Kirishima chuckled. "Hey, you never know. Maybe you caught their eye for a reason. Just be yourself, man. They'll get used to you."
As they continued to eat and make small talk, Izuku pondered Kirishima's words. Which left him questioning just what he did to earn such attention in the first place.
In the afternoon classes, Izuku was pleasantly surprised to see All Might, his mentor and guardian, who had been his teacher since he was 12. The realization that All Might would also guide him at school brought a genuine smile to Izuku's face.
All Might wasted very little time getting to the announcements. "Greetings, young heroes! I am your teacher, All Might! The upcoming exam is just three days away, so I suggest you use this class time to practice and prepare."
The class dispersed across the training field, each student engaging in individual exercises. Izuku began practicing with his quirk, trying to refine his control and power. However, his focus was interrupted when All Might approached him.
"Midoriya, my boy! Are you surprised to see me as your teacher?" All Might grinned, ruffling Izuku's hair.
"Yeah, but I'm happy about it!" Izuku replied, a mix of excitement and gratitude in his voice.
All Might then offered some advice, "During this training time, I'd suggest you work on your internal stability rather than showcasing your quirk. It's too conspicuous at the moment."
Izuku nodded, understanding the need for subtlety. "What about the exam, All Might? Won't I have to use my quirk then?"
All Might sighed, "Unfortunately, yes. However, we'll have to be clever. You may have to pretend it's something else. Nobody knows we live together, so we shouldn't make that connection public. Got it, Zuku?"
Zuku was a nickname that Izuku had gotten from his time with All Might. He'd had another nickname earlier in his childhood, but he didn't like to think about it... or the person he'd left behind with that name.
Before Izuku could respond to All Might, someone called his name from across the field. He turned to see Todoroki waving him over. As he bid farewell to All Might, Izuku hesitantly approached Todoroki.
"Midoriya, I owe you an apology for this morning. I shouldn't have been so rude," Todoroki admitted, his tone sincere.
Surprised by Todoroki's unexpected apology, Izuku replied, "Uh, it's okay. No hard feelings." Todoroki continued, "I was wondering if we could hang out or maybe train together."
Izuku felt a mix of emotions. On the one hand, he appreciated Todoroki's apology and the offer to train together. On the other hand, he couldn't ignore that Todoroki was not only exceptionally beautiful but also incredibly strong and seemingly kind.
Nervously, Izuku agreed, "Sure, let's train together." As they began their exercises, Izuku couldn't help but wonder how this unexpected connection might evolve, battling the nervous thought that he might fall for Todoroki's undeniable charm.
Unbeknownst to them, a certain blonde watched them converse from across the field—a look of distaste on his face.
As the day at U.A. High School came to a close, Izuku found himself alone with his thoughts, contemplating the various interactions and the people he had met. Uraraka, Tsu, and Kirishima seemed friendly and welcoming, making him feel at ease. However, Todoroki remained an enigma, and despite his initial reservations, Izuku decided to give their potential friendship a chance. After all, having a strong training partner could prove highly beneficial, and that's all they would be, training partners. Thoughts of Bakugo also lingered in Izuku's mind. Despite the abrasive demeanor, Bakugo's presence seemed vaguely familiar, and Izuku couldn't shake the feeling that he had seen him somewhere before. Maybe even know him personally. As he pondered this, he noticed a shadow near the school gate – it was Bakugo.
Stammering a greeting, Izuku attempted to address Bakugo, who interrupted him dismissively. "Don't make a big deal out of what I said this morning, okay, nerd? It wasn't like it was a big deal anyways."
Izuku couldn't help but smile at Bakugo's brusque manner, wondering if this was his version of an apology. The unexpected smile caught Bakugo off guard, and he hid a faint blush, muttering a nonchalant "whatever." Then, to Izuku's surprise, Bakugo declared that he would be walking him home from now on.
As they walked, Katsuki glanced at Izuku and said bluntly, "Don't spend too much time with Todoroki."
Curious, Izuku asked, "Why not?"
Bakugo responded directly, "I just don't like it."
Izuku fell into a thoughtful silence, respecting Bakugo's wishes but wondering about the underlying reasons. As they continued walking, Izuku mustered the courage to ask about the constant fights between Bakugo and Todoroki.
Bakugo stopped abruptly, turning to face Izuku. "I don't actually dislike Todoroki. What angers me is that he doesn't stand up for himself."
The cryptic statement left Izuku with more questions, but he sensed that pressing further might not be the best course of action. As they walked on, Izuku pondered the meaning behind Bakugo's words and wondered what Todoroki might be running from.
As Bakugo dropped Izuku off at his house, he bid him a casual "Later, Deku!" The words made Izuku stop in his tracks, a sudden realization washing over him. Bakugo... Katsuki... Kaachan! It hit him like a bolt of lightning. Bakugo was Kaachan, his childhood friend whom he hadn't seen since his mother's passing when he was just five years old. Izuku had gone to live with his aunt after that, and eventually, they moved away, losing touch with each other.
As Izuku stood frozen, Bakugo noticed his reaction and quickly apologized. "Sorry about that. You reminded me of someone I used to know, and I accidentally called you by their name," Bakugo explained, turning away as if to leave.
But before Bakugo could take another step, Izuku rushed forward and wrapped his arms around him in a tight hug from behind. Startled, Bakugo tried to break free but stopped when he heard Izuku whisper, "Kaachan?"
Bakugo's expression softened as he noticed the tears in Izuku's eyes. "Deku?" he said softly.
Izuku nodded, unable to hold back his emotions any longer. Bakugo's stern facade wavered, and he held back tears before yelling at Izuku, demanding to know where he had gone and what had happened to him.
Through tears and laughter, Izuku shared snippets of his life over the years, explaining how he had gone to live with his aunt after his mother's death and how his life had changed since then.
Curious, Bakugo asked if Izuku's aunt was home. However, Izuku's expression darkened as he thought about his aunt's passing when he was twelve and how he had moved in with All Might afterward. He decided that as much as he trusted Kaachan, he couldn't tell him about that yet. So, with a heavy heart, he lied, saying that his aunt was out on a business trip.
Though Bakugo suspected that Izuku was hiding something, he didn't press the matter. Instead, he announced that he would be staying the night. When Izuku asked about his mother, Bakugo snapped a picture of them and sent it to her, confident she wouldn't mind him spending time with a childhood friend.
As the two boys entered the house, they settled in, eager to catch up on lost time and rekindle the bond that had once defined their friendship. Despite the years, it was as if they had never been apart, their connection as strong as ever.

Chapter Text

The evening sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in streaks of orange and pink as Izuku and Bakugo entered the modest house. Despite its simplicity, the space felt warm and inviting. The faint scent of miso soup from an earlier meal still lingered in the air. The house was quiet. It was just the two of them, alone for the first time in years.
Izuku led Bakugo into the living room, where the two collapsed onto the couch, still reeling from the emotional whirlwind of their unexpected reunion.
For a moment, neither spoke. They just sat there, processing. Finally, Izuku broke the silence, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I... I can't believe it’s really you, Kacchan." His eyes were wide with disbelief and lingering tears.
Bakugo let out a scoff, though it lacked his usual edge. "Yeah, well... I can't believe the crybaby Deku grew up into... this," he muttered, gesturing vaguely at Izuku, his eyes softer than they had been all day.
Izuku chuckled lightly, but he could feel the heat of the moment simmering just beneath his skin. Something about seeing Bakugo again—the familiar roughness, the fire in his eyes, the nostalgia of it all—made his chest tighten. He wasn’t sure if it was from joy or something else.
For a while, they just talked. About their time apart. About what they remembered from their childhood. About all the dumb games they used to play and the silly dares they would force on each other. The hours slipped away unnoticed.
At some point, Bakugo, after declaring Izuku’s TV selection "absolute garbage," snatched the remote and flipped to an action movie he insisted was a "classic." They ended up sprawled on the couch, Bakugo taking up way too much space as he always did. Izuku didn’t mind. He just let his legs be squished against the armrest, quietly content with the comfortable chaos of Bakugo's presence.
About halfway through the movie, Bakugo suddenly grabbed a throw pillow and smacked Izuku with it.
"Ow! What was that for?" Izuku cried, rubbing his arm.
"You were falling asleep, dumbass," Bakugo grumbled, though there was no real malice in his voice. "No sleeping till the movie’s over."
Izuku pouted. "You’re the one who’s warm and comfortable," he mumbled under his breath, fully intending for Bakugo not to hear.
But the blonde stiffened slightly, eyes flickering toward Izuku for a brief moment. He opened his mouth to snap back with some kind of retort but closed it again. He settled for hitting Izuku with the pillow once more, grinning smugly.
"Just admit you’re a lightweight."
They ended up dozing off anyway. It was inevitable. By the time the credits rolled, Bakugo was slumped sideways against the couch cushion, one arm thrown over the back. Izuku, curled up at the other end, was blinking blearily, trying and failing to stay awake.
Finally giving up, he slid to the floor with a blanket in hand, deciding the couch was too cramped for both of them. Just as he was about to drift off, he felt a tug on his sleeve.
"Oi." Bakugo’s voice was thick with drowsiness. He tugged at Izuku’s arm again without opening his eyes. "Get up here."
Izuku’s heart did a strange little somersault. Hesitantly, he climbed back onto the couch, settling beside Bakugo, unsure of what to do with his hands.
Without a word, Bakugo’s arm casually draped over Izuku’s waist, holding him close, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
Izuku’s breath caught, and he stared at Bakugo’s sleeping face, his features softened and relaxed in sleep. His usual scowl was gone, replaced by something far more vulnerable.
He still holds on the same way he did when we were kids, Izuku thought, heart fluttering in his chest.

Chapter Text

When Izuku returned to school the next day, he couldn’t stop replaying the sleepover in his mind… the closeness, the warmth, the way Bakugo’s fingers had lightly brushed against his skin in his sleep. It left a lingering heat in his chest that he couldn’t shake.
But there wasn’t time to dwell on it. U.A. was as hectic as ever.
Throughout the week, he noticed Todoroki seeking him out more frequently. During lunch breaks, Todoroki would spot him from across the cafeteria and, with an almost imperceptible nod, sit beside him. It started happening often enough that Uraraka teased him about it.
"Looks like you’ve got a lunch buddy, Midoriya," she teased with a sly grin. "Or should I say... admirer?"
Izuku’s face turned a brilliant shade of crimson. "W-what? No, no, he’s just... he’s just being friendly!"
But he could feel the heat in Todoroki’s gaze whenever their eyes met. It wasn’t unfriendly; it was measured and searching like he was trying to figure something out. And when Todoroki's hand brushed against his while they grabbed notebooks or passed each other during drills, Izuku would swear he saw the faintest hint of a smile tug at Todoroki's lips.
One afternoon, while training together, Todoroki asked him to spar. Izuku hesitated, his control over One For All was still far from perfect, but he agreed.
They circled each other on the practice field, the heat of the sun beating down on them. Todoroki’s mismatched eyes were laser-focused, his movements graceful and fluid. Izuku could feel his pulse quicken every time Todoroki got close… too close.
And then it happened. Izuku misjudged his footing during a dodge. He tripped backward. Before he could hit the ground, Todoroki lunged forward, catching him by the waist.
For a moment, time seemed to freeze.
Their faces were inches apart. Todoroki's eyes, one as icy as a glacier, the other burning like a flame, bore into Izuku’s. His grip was firm, fingers slightly digging into the fabric of Izuku’s shirt.
Neither of them moved. Neither of them spoke. Izuku’s breath hitched as he stared into Todoroki’s eyes, wide and uncertain. Todoroki’s hand lingered just a little too long.
And then he gently set Izuku back on his feet, his expression unreadable. "Careful," he murmured, voice low and soft.
Izuku's face felt like it was on fire. He quickly muttered a thank you, unable to look Todoroki in the eyes.
But Todoroki was watching him carefully, his lips parted slightly, like he wanted to say something but wasn’t sure how.
As they walked back to the locker room, Izuku felt the weight of Todoroki’s gaze on his back the entire way. He tried to ignore the way his heart fluttered.
________________________________________

Unbeknownst to Izuku, Bakugo had witnessed the sparring match. His eyes narrowed at the way Todoroki had caught Izuku, and how long he had held him.
The familiar scowl was back on his face.
Later that day, while walking home with Izuku, Bakugo was uncharacteristically quiet. It wasn’t until they were at Izuku's door that he finally spoke.
"You’re spending a lot of time with Icy Hot," Bakugo muttered, his voice low and gravelly.
Izuku blinked, slightly confused. "Todoroki? Yeah, I mean... we’ve been training a lot. He’s a really good partner."
Bakugo's lip curled. He shoved his hands into his pockets, staring at the ground. "Don't let him get too close."
Izuku tilted his head. "What? Why?"
The blonde’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t answer. He just met Izuku's eyes, something raw and intense swirling in his gaze, before he turned on his heel and walked away without another word.
Izuku stood in the doorway, watching him go, feeling the undeniable tension in the air. His heart was racing again, and he wasn’t sure if it was from the tension between him and Bakugo or from the growing heat between him and Todoroki.
One thing was certain: his life at U.A. was about to become far more complicated.

Chapter Text

The afternoon sun dipped low over U.A. High School, casting golden hues across the training grounds. The wind was crisp, carrying the faint scent of freshly mown grass and the distant sound of students practicing their quirks. The day’s combat drills had been grueling, and most of Class 1-A had already retreated to the locker rooms, leaving only a few stragglers finishing up their sparring sessions.
Izuku stood in the middle of the field, breathing heavily. Sweat glistened on his forehead as he pushed himself through another round of practice. His muscles ached from the repeated use of One For All, but he refused to stop. His green eyes were focused, and determined, but also clouded with thoughts of them.
Bakugo and Todoroki.
Over the past few days, the tension between the three of them had only grown. The stolen glances, the conflicting stares, and the unspoken words clung to the space between them, suffocating and thick like smoke. Both Bakugo and Todoroki were watching him more than usual, and Izuku had no idea why.
And despite himself, he found that his thoughts kept drifting toward Todoroki more than they should. He could still feel the brush of Todoroki's hand on his wrist from their training session the day before. The icy touch had left a trail of goosebumps on his skin long after they had parted ways.
And then there was Bakugo. His rough-edged concern, the protective glances, and the way his scowl would soften for just a fraction of a second whenever he looked at Izuku. They were reminders of a bond that once existed between them, now reawakening. Yet, Bakugo’s eyes darkened whenever he caught sight of Izuku and Todoroki talking, his glances sharp and almost… possessive.
A sudden voice snapped Izuku from his reverie.
"Training too hard again, Midoriya?"
He turned to see Todoroki approaching, still in his combat gear. His two-toned hair was slightly tousled, and his heterochromatic eyes were sharp, yet there was a softness beneath the surface that made Izuku's heart skip.
Izuku offered him a tired grin. "Just... trying to catch up," he panted, placing his hands on his knees.
Todoroki's gaze flicked over Izuku's trembling arms. His voice was calm but firm. "You should rest. Overworking will make you reckless."
"You're one to talk," Izuku countered playfully. "I've seen you spar for hours without stopping."
Todoroki stepped closer, his expression softening. "That's different," he said, his voice low. His eyes traced the curve of Izuku’s jaw, lingering for just a second too long. "You're... different."
The sudden warmth in Todoroki's voice made Izuku falter, and he found himself holding his breath. The intensity of Todoroki’s eyes locked him in place, and before he knew it, the gap between them seemed almost nonexistent.
Their gazes held.
Todoroki’s hand reached out slowly, brushing the edge of Izuku’s hand, his fingertips barely touching his.
Izuku's pulse quickened. His breath hitched. The moment felt fragile, delicate, and undeniable. His lips parted slightly as his eyes flickered to Todoroki’s mouth.
Closer.
Closer still.
"OI!"
The sharp bark of Bakugo’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. The crackle of his explosions filled the space, shattering the delicate quiet. His eyes were burning with fury, his chest heaving with barely restrained rage.
Both Izuku and Todoroki flinched slightly, but neither of them moved apart fast enough to avoid Bakugo’s piercing gaze. His eyes narrowed, and the golden sparks that danced around his hands reflected the storm in his expression.
"The hell is this?" Bakugo snarled, his voice rough with disbelief. "You two getting cozy without me, huh?"
Todoroki's eyes narrowed. "You're overreacting."
"Am I?" Bakugo’s voice was low and venomous. His lips curled into a sneer as he stalked toward them. "Because it sure as hell looked like you were about to shove your tongue down Deku’s throat."
Izuku’s eyes widened, face flushing crimson. "W-what?! No, that’s not—"
But Todoroki didn’t back down. Instead, he straightened his shoulders and glared at Bakugo with cold defiance. "And what if I was?" he challenged, his voice sharp but unwavering.
Bakugo's eyes flashed with something feral, and his entire body tensed as though he were about to lunge. The sparks around his palms flared to life, crackling violently.
Izuku quickly stepped between them, hands raised in a desperate attempt to defuse the situation. "Hey! No! Stop! It’s not—"
But before he could finish, Bakugo grabbed his wrist roughly and yanked him back, pulling him protectively behind him.
"You’re playing a dangerous game, Icy-Hot," Bakugo growled, eyes fixed on Todoroki. "You think you can just waltz in and—"
"Don’t act like you’re any better," Todoroki cut in, his voice low and biting, eyes narrowing with a dangerous glimmer. His eyes were colder than ice now. "You don't own him."
Bakugo’s grip on Izuku's wrist tightened slightly, enough for Izuku to feel the heat in his palms, though it was still bearable.
"And you think you do?" Bakugo shot back.
For a split second, Izuku saw a flash of something raw in Todoroki’s eyes. But it vanished faster than it came.
The way Todoroki’s expression darkened. The way his eyes locked on Bakugo with something more than annoyance. It was familiarity.
Oh.
Izuku's breath caught. They know each other.
More than that… they knew each other well.
A sudden, heavy silence fell over the three of them, broken only by the subtle crackle of Bakugo's quirk and the faint sound of their uneven breathing.
"You two..." Izuku’s voice was barely above a whisper, his eyes wide with realization. "You...?"
Neither of them confirmed it aloud, but their lack of denial spoke volumes.
Bakugo’s jaw clenched, and he took a half-step forward. "This isn’t about me and him," he spat through gritted teeth. His voice was low, almost a warning. "This is about you."
Todoroki’s eyes glimmered with defiance. "No," he said simply. "This is about you not being able to admit what you want."
The words struck like a blow, and Bakugo's expression faltered for a split second before he quickly masked it with anger. His knuckles flexed, and the sharp scent of burning ozone lingered in the air.
And then, to everyone’s surprise, Todoroki’s eyes softened as he turned back to Izuku.
"Midoriya," Todoroki’s voice was low, almost pleading. "Do you want me to stop?"
Izuku’s breath caught in his throat. He was frozen, caught in the eye of the storm, between Bakugo’s searing intensity and Todoroki’s calm, relentless pull. His heart was pounding violently against his chest, his pulse roaring in his ears.
"I..." Izuku's voice cracked. His throat was dry. "I don't know."
For the first time, Bakugo's face fell slightly, his crimson eyes flashing with something vulnerable. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Todoroki’s eyes narrowed slightly, but they glimmered with something softer, something more restrained.
The weight of the moment was suffocating.
And then, without another word, Todoroki turned and walked away, his shoulders tense and his jaw set. The slight tremor in his hands did not go unnoticed.
Bakugo watched him leave, his fists trembling at his sides. His eyes were filled with something too sharp to be just anger, but too fragile to be hatred.
Izuku stood between them, his hands still outstretched as though he could stop the inevitable fracturing.
But the damage was already done.
And somewhere deep in his chest, Izuku knew… this was only the beginning.

Chapter Text

The morning sun poured mercilessly over the U.A. training grounds, casting jagged shadows against the uneven terrain. The entire area had been transformed into a battlefield—a sprawling labyrinth of towering steel obstacles, broken-down vehicles, and cracked pavement. Chunks of rubble and debris cluttered the space, while massive robots patrolled the area, their red sensors sweeping for any movement. The air hummed faintly with the sound of whirring servos and mechanical clicks, making the simulated war zone feel far too real.
The students stood in the center of the field, each clutching a small, ordinary-looking object. Izuku’s fingers were curled around a simple brass key, its surface worn smooth with age. His thumb brushed over the faintly inscribed words along its spine:
"Locket – Clocktower."
Izuku swallowed thickly, feeling his palms grow clammy against the key.
"The rules are simple," Aizawa’s voice rang out over the speakers, flat and disinterested. "Get your object to its designated target zone. You may rely on the information you’re given by others—or you may take matters into your own hands. Your choice."
A faint ripple of unease ran through the students. No one spoke, but Izuku could feel the tension tightening like a noose around their throats.
"Remember," Aizawa added, his voice cold and impassive, "only twenty of you will pass. Choose wisely."
His heart tightened. That was the location the locket needed to reach—not his own object. Somewhere out on the field, one of his classmates held the locket, and their success was tied to whether or not he would be honest with them.
The catch was both cruel and simple: each student knew the location of a different object. To pass, they had two options—work together and trust the words of their classmates or betray them and steal the objects until they found the one they needed.
The siren wailed across the field, signaling the beginning of the trial.
_____________________________________
Izuku sprinted into the maze of wreckage, his legs burning with the force of his movements. His mind raced.
‘Find someone. Find allies. Who can I trust?’
But even as he moved, he was keenly aware of the unspoken threat hanging over them all. What if they lied?
The only surefire way to guarantee success was to steal someone else’s object, whether through cunning or… force.
The first explosion rang out in the distance, followed by a cloud of black smoke and a flash of orange light. Bakugo. Of course, he’d waste no time resorting to force.
Izuku ducked into the shadows of a partially collapsed building, panting slightly as he scanned the open courtyard. A handful of students were already engaging in combat, some working together, others desperately trying to snatch their opponents' objects.
He spotted Iida at the far edge of the field, speeding across the terrain with someone’s trinket clutched in his hand. Sero was using his tape to ensnare anyone who came too close, lashing out with surprising ferocity.
The uneasy alliances were already unraveling.
Izuku slipped further into the shadows, keeping his body low as he moved. He clutched the key tighter. If he was going to make it out, he needed to find his target and he needed to hurry.
___________________________________________
Just as Izuku rounded a corner, a blast of fire illuminated the area, sending a wave of blistering heat rushing past him.
He staggered back, his arms reflexively rising to shield his face.
"Midoriya."
The voice was calm, almost cold. Izuku lowered his arms slightly, blinking against the brightness.
Todoroki stood a few feet away, his right side crackling with jagged streaks of flame, the left shrouded in a chill mist. His heterochromatic eyes were sharp and calculating as they settled on Izuku.
"You found your target yet?" Todoroki asked evenly.
Izuku’s mouth felt dry. He shook his head, holding up the key. "No. But if you—"
He didn’t finish the sentence.
A flash of light streaked past them. A crackling, jagged blast of orange and red. The force of the explosion sent chunks of rubble flying, scattering dust and debris into the air.
Izuku whirled around, coughing slightly as the cloud settled. His heart kicked against his ribs when he saw Bakugo stride through the dust cloud, his arms still smoldering with lingering embers.
"Fucking finally," Bakugo sneered. His eyes were sharp and wild, pupils slightly dilated with adrenaline. "What the hell are you two doing? Taking a fucking coffee break?"
Izuku bristled, but before he could respond, Bakugo’s gaze snapped to Todoroki. For just a moment, his eyes narrowed slightly, and something unreadable flashed behind them.
Todoroki met his gaze with a cool, steady calm. His jaw tensed slightly.
And Izuku saw it again.
That subtle familiarity. The too-close tension. The way Bakugo’s hands clenched slightly at his sides, knuckles tightening ever so faintly. The way Todoroki’s mismatched eyes lingered on him just a heartbeat too long.
It wasn’t just rivalry.
It was something else.
Something Izuku couldn’t name, but could feel in the air between them. It was charged and sharp.
But there was no time to dwell on it.
Movement caught Izuku’s eye as a towering robot surged into view from behind the rubble, its massive frame casting a shadow over them. Its mechanical eye glowed a menacing crimson, and in the next instant, it launched a barrage of energy blasts towards the nearest target… Bakugo.
Instinct took over and Izuku’s legs moved before his thoughts. One For All coursed through him in a surge of power. His limbs sparked with a faint light, muscles vibrating with the force of it. He launched himself at the robot, the world narrowing into sharp, electric clarity.
He saw Todoroki launch himself towards Bakugo right as his punch landed. His fist collided with the robot’s plating. The force of the impact sent out a concussive shockwave, shattering the robot’s entire frame. Metal shrapnel ripped at Izuku’ arms, but he barely noticed as he landed and turned back towards Bakugo and Todoroki.
The dust hung thick in the air, the metallic scent of scorched steel clinging to it.
When it finally cleared, Izuku was standing in the center of the wreckage, chest heaving. He finally saw their figures behind a wall of ice. He began running towards them, but stopped as he saw their faces.
Todoroki was frozen in place, his eyes wide with disbelief. His fists were still partially clenched, but his flame had extinguished without him even noticing.
Bakugo’s lips were parted slightly, his eyes narrowed, sharp, and calculating.
Neither of them said a word.
But they didn’t have to.
Their eyes said enough.

Chapter Text

The wreckage still smoldered faintly around them, jagged shards of metal and debris scattered in the wake of the blast. Smoke drifted in the air, curling upward in thin, lazy tendrils. The remains of the robot lay in a broken heap, charred and twisted from the sheer force of Izuku’s blow.
But no one moved.
Todoroki and Bakugo stood stock still, their eyes fixed on the scorched battlefield. Their expressions were frozen in identical shock, tension radiating from their bodies like heat off the smoldering wreckage.
And neither of them noticed they were still holding hands.
Fingers lightly intertwined, knuckles pressed together, the warmth of their palms lingering.
But Izuku noticed.
His sharp emerald eyes flicked down and widened slightly. His stomach gave an odd, fluttering twist… one he didn’t entirely understand. For a brief second, he forgot about the weight of his aching limbs or the lingering buzz of One For All’s power still thrumming faintly in his veins.
Instead, he stared at the connection between their hands.
“Uh…” His voice came out hoarse and uncertain, cracking slightly. He pointed weakly. “You two… you’re, um…”
Bakugo and Todoroki’s heads snapped toward him in unison, their eyes still sharp with residual adrenaline.
And then they followed his gaze.
For a heartbeat, neither of them moved.
Bakugo’s eyes flickered downward first. The moment he saw their linked hands, his breath caught faintly, just barely perceptible. His eyes narrowed slightly, and for the briefest of moments, he didn’t pull away.
His fingers twitched but stayed.
Todoroki’s gaze followed a second later, falling to their hands with dispassionate calm. His expression remained carefully neutral, but his fingers lightly flexed against Bakugo’s. His mismatched eyes clouded slightly, the wheels in his head clearly turning behind the icy exterior.
For a moment, a painfully brief and fragile moment, neither of them let go.
Then, with a sudden jolt of awareness, they both abruptly pulled apart.
Todoroki shoved his hands into his pockets, his face carefully blank, but his eyes were distant and clouded. His gaze remained low, lingering somewhere near the ground, avoiding both Izuku and Bakugo’s eyes.
Bakugo was slightly less subtle. His hands fell stiffly to his sides, but his fists were clenched tight. His shoulders were hunched slightly—a familiar tick of his whenever he was uncomfortable.
The space between them seemed suddenly wider than it had a moment ago.
But the awkwardness was short-lived.
Because Bakugo's eyes flicked back toward Izuku, and just like that, his expression hardened. His crimson eyes narrowed sharply, the shock rapidly bleeding into suspicion.
He took a slow step forward.
“Oi.” His voice was low, rough, and accusatory. “What the hell was that, Deku?”
Izuku stiffened, his breath catching.
He hadn’t been prepared for this.
Todoroki’s eyes sharpened, flicking toward him. His hands were still shoved into his pockets, but his shoulders tensed slightly. His voice was quieter, but no less piercing.
“That power…” His eyes narrowed faintly, calculating. “That wasn’t normal.”
Izuku’s mouth opened, but no sound came out.
He felt a sharp prickle of panic surge beneath his skin. His throat tightened, his fingers trembling faintly against his side. He hadn’t meant to use that much power. He hadn’t meant to lose control like that.
And now they were asking questions he wasn’t ready to answer.
“What the hell are you hiding, nerd?” Bakugo demanded. His voice was louder now—agitated. “You were quirkless as a kid… I can understand you developing one later and maybe one that was strong enough to get in here. But nothing like that…” He gestured towards the crushed robot, “There is no way you would’ve had a quirk that powerful unless you awoke at an early age, so what are you hiding?” His voice continued to rise as he spoke and he was shouting at the end.
Izuku’s throat tightened further. His eyes darted slightly, searching for an escape, but Bakugo pressed forward.
“What did you do?!” Bakugo snapped, his voice like a whip. “Did you take some experimental drug?” His eyes narrowed dangerously. “Were you faking being some weak-ass extra to make us look like idiots?”
The words were cutting too close to the heart of Izuku’s insecurities.
His breath hitched faintly.
“Bakugo,” Todoroki said quietly, a faint warning edge in his tone.
But the blond didn’t stop. He took another step closer, his voice low and seething. “What the hell are you really, Deku?”
The words stung far worse than the bruises on his arms.
Izuku’s hands curled into fists, knuckles white.
He wanted to tell them.
But he couldn’t.
He wasn’t ready.
“I—I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Izuku stammered, his voice cracking slightly. “I—I just—”
“Bullshit.” Bakugo’s voice was sharp, flat. His red eyes narrowed further. “You’re supposed to be nothing, so why are you suddenly stronger than me?” He screamed the last question.
And just like that, he crossed the line.
Izuku’s heart squeezed painfully in his chest. The sharpness in Bakugo’s voice stung, lodging itself deep beneath his ribs.
His eyes burned faintly at the corners, but he forced himself not to blink.
He forced himself not to let it show.
But Bakugo saw the hurt flash through his eyes—brief and fleeting. And almost immediately, his own eyes widened slightly.
The cruel edge in his gaze faltered.
His throat bobbed slightly.
Shit.
For a brief second, his jaw tightened and his fists clenched at his sides, as if he were trying to physically restrain himself from saying anything more.
But the damage was already done.
Izuku took a slight step back, feeling the ache in his chest settle like a weight. His fingers trembled slightly.
Todoroki’s eyes flicked toward Bakugo with a faint frown—just the slightest furrow of disapproval creasing his brow. But he said nothing.
For once, Bakugo looked away first.
The silence stretched—thick and suffocating.
And then, like a reprieve, a familiar voice cut through the tension.
“Hey!”
Izuku’s head snapped up at the sound.
Uraraka jogged toward them, her face flushed with exertion but bright with relief. She slowed as she neared, her brown eyes blinking slightly at the tension lingering between the three of them.
“Whoa… did I miss something?” she asked, glancing between them with mild confusion.
Izuku’s throat tightened slightly, and before he could even think, he moved toward her.
Without hesitation.
Without looking back.
“Hey,” he said quickly, his voice a little too rushed. “Do you wanna team up?”
Uraraka blinked once, surprised by his urgency. Then, slowly, she smiled.
“Yeah!” she said brightly, her expression lighting up. She reached out her hand.
And without sparing another glance at Todoroki or Bakugo, Izuku took it.
He didn’t look back.
_______________________________________
Todoroki’s POV

Izuku didn’t glance over his shoulder once as he and Uraraka slipped into the maze.
He didn’t see the brief flicker of something almost regretful in Katsuki’s eyes as he stared after him.
He didn’t hear the strained, clipped voice Katsuki spoke in as they turned away.
“Shit… I shouldn’t have said that.”
And he didn’t hear my flat, dispassionate response—his voice low and guarded.
“No. You shouldn’t have.”
But, then again, I was to blame too… After all, I didn’t do anything to stop Katsuki.

Chapter Text

Izuku and Uraraka moved swiftly through the labyrinth, carefully avoiding the towering patrol bots and the occasional clash of quirk-fueled skirmishes. The maze was vast and disorienting, the twisted metal walls and scattered rubble creating blind corners and narrow pathways.
As they navigated the field, Uraraka explained the situation:
She knew Tsuyu’s location, she needed to get her pen to the School.
"And my locket has to go to the clocktower," Uraraka added, lightly tapping the pendant around her neck.
When they turned the next corner, they spotted Jirou crouched near the edge of the maze, clutching a small plush teddy bear. Her sharp eyes narrowed slightly when she saw them approaching, her violet hair partially obscuring her face.
"You found your match yet?" Uraraka asked, keeping her voice low.
Jirou shook her head slightly, gripping the bear. "No. But I know whose location I have." She motioned faintly toward Izuku. "I’ve got yours."
Izuku’s eyes widened slightly. "Wait—you know where the key goes?
Jirou nodded once. Turning her bear around she showed him the words sewn into the back.
‘Key – Library’
Then, with perfect timing, Tsuyu suddenly appeared, leaping over the debris with effortless grace. She landed soundlessly in front of them, her large eyes blinking once. She held a plain silver pen between her fingers.
She nodded to Uraraka and glanced around to the rest of the group. She hesitated then said, "I have Jirou’s location," her voice calm. "The daycare."
For a brief moment, the four of them exchanged glances.
Without speaking, they knew what to do.
It wasn’t even a question.
They wordlessly agreed to work together.
____________________________
The four of them moved quickly, using their quirks and teamwork to avoid the remaining robots. Tsuyu’s agility allowed her to scout ahead, leaping between the wreckage and reporting back on patrol locations. Jirou’s keen sense of sound helped them detect incoming threats. Uraraka used her quirk to lighten heavier debris, creating alternate paths through the broken structures.
And Izuku, despite the lingering weight of Todoroki and Bakugou’s suspicious stares, kept moving forward, pushing down the ache in his chest.
One by one, they reached their targets.
Tsuyu placed her pen on the sleek marble desk inside the School.
Jirou carefully set the teddy bear on a shelf in the daycare.
Uraraka clipped the locket to the gears of the clocktower and activated it, the gears beginning to turn. So the locket was a key as well? Cool.
Each time an item was placed there was a flash of fake confetti and a picture of All Might giving a thumbs-up.
And finally, with a slight tremor in his fingers, Izuku slid his key into the lock on the ancient wooden doors of the library.
The lock clicked.
They made it.
_____________________________
As the four of them regrouped outside the final checkpoint, the adrenaline slowly bled from their bodies. The maze was still alive with the sounds of combat, students scrambling and fighting for the last remaining slots.
Izuku leaned against the cool stone of the library wall, catching his breath. His fingers lightly curled around the edges of his key, but his thoughts were far from their victory.
He should’ve felt relieved.
But instead, his chest felt tight. Bakugo and Todoroki weren’t there yet. In fact, Iida and Yayorozu were the only other ones there.
What if I should have stayed with them?
The thought snaked through his mind, unbidden and unwelcome.
What if they fail because I left them?
His knuckles tightened slightly against the key.
But then he remembered the look in their eyes. The cold suspicion. The sharpness. The way they had questioned him with veiled accusations.
He thought of their intertwined hands, the intimacy of the gesture, the ease with which they had fallen into it.
And suddenly, he wasn’t so sure he should feel guilty.
He exhaled sharply, pushing the thought from his mind.
But the lingering ache remained, nestled deep in his chest was impossible to ignore.

Chapter Text

The heavy silence in Bakugo's room was only broken by the faint hum of the heater. The sky outside was darkening, casting long shadows over the messy floor scattered with workout gear and a few discarded textbooks. Todoroki sat on the edge of Bakugo’s bed, his elbows on his knees, hands loosely clasped. His two-toned hair was slightly damp from a shower, clinging to his forehead. His eyes were cast downward, unfocused, deep in thought.
Bakugo stood near the window, arms folded across his chest, glaring out at nothing in particular. His hair was still damp as well, and he wore a black t-shirt and loose sweats, a rare sight of comfort on him. His jaw clenched, the aftertaste of guilt still bitter in his mouth.
They had both made it through the exam and yet, neither of them felt like celebrating. Aizawa had told them to go home and rest, saying they’d get their results tomorrow. But the fatigue clinging to them wasn’t from the physical exertion. It was the lingering tension from Midoriya’s unexpected and devastating display of power.
“Shoto,” Bakugo finally muttered, voice unusually subdued. He didn’t turn around. “You saw it too, right?”
Todoroki’s eyes flicked up slightly. He didn’t need to ask what Bakugo meant. Of course he had seen it. He had felt it in his bones. The raw, wild energy Midoriya unleashed during the exam wasn’t normal.
“I saw it,” Todoroki murmured. His voice was low, and measured, but there was a hint of rare uncertainty in it. He looked at his hands for a moment, flexing his fingers as though still expecting to feel the aftershocks. “That wasn’t just strength. It was… something else.”
Bakugo’s grip on his bicep tightened. His nails bit into his skin. “It doesn’t make sense,” he spat. His voice trembled with frustration. “People with strong quirks—they awaken young. They train, they build up, they—” He stopped himself, shutting his eyes.
Todoroki could hear the unspoken words. They don’t just show up one day with the power to tear through concrete like it’s paper.
“It’s strange, yeah,” Todoroki admitted. “He told me he didn’t have a quirk at all until last year.” He looked toward Bakugo, gauging his reaction carefully. “But that kind of power… it can’t just come out of nowhere.”
Bakugo stiffened at that. His breath caught slightly. He turned away from the window, facing Todoroki. His eyes were sharp, but there was no trace of the usual heat in them. Just confusion. And doubt.
“That’s impossible,” he whispered. “I knew him. We grew up in the same neighborhood.” His voice grew quieter, rougher. “He was… weak. Like, really weak.” He clenched his fists at the memory. The helpless boy who always trailed behind him. The one he teased. “No one ever gave him a second glance. No one saw anything in him.”
Todoroki’s eyes softened slightly. It wasn’t often Bakugo spoke about his childhood. He never talked about his life before U.A. But there was a rawness to his tone now; something unguarded.
“Izuku…” Bakugo exhaled shakily, rubbing the back of his neck. “He left. Just disappeared one day. Nobody told me why. No one told me anything.” His voice caught a rare crack in the tough exterior. “And when I finally asked… all I got was ‘his mom’s dead.’”
Todoroki’s eyes widened slightly. His heart tightened at the words. He had no idea.
Bakugo gave a bitter laugh, though there was no humor in it. “That’s all I remember. No funeral. No goodbyes. Just gone. A couple years later I found out his mother had actually been murdered, and he had been sent away for his safety.” He dragged his hand down his face, suddenly exhausted. “And now, out of nowhere, he’s back. Stronger than anyone.”
Todoroki’s expression was calm, but his chest felt tight. He hadn’t known that Izuku had been through that much. And he hadn’t known how much it had hurt Bakugo. The boy who always seemed invincible had lost someone he cared about and never had the chance to say goodbye.
“He was your friend,” Todoroki murmured. It wasn’t a question.
Bakugo’s shoulders tensed slightly. He stared down at his hands.
“I…” he exhaled sharply. His voice dropped to a rasp. “I cared about him.” His hands curled into fists, the knuckles white. “And when he left… I hated him for it. Thought he was weak and running away.” He scoffed bitterly at himself. “Turns out I was just an angry, selfish kid who didn’t even try to understand.”
Todoroki’s eyes remained on him, steady but soft.
“I was jealous today,” Bakugo admitted hoarsely, the words coming out like broken glass. “When he showed me up. When he saved me... I was pissed.” He ran a hand through his hair, gripping it slightly. “And I took it out on him. Again. Like a goddamn coward.” His voice cracked slightly, though he gritted his teeth. “I said he was worthless. After everything…”
He trailed off, unable to finish. The weight of his own words was too heavy.
Todoroki pushed himself off the bed and crossed the room slowly. He stopped in front of Bakugo, close enough that their fingers brushed. When he spoke, his voice was quiet but firm.
“You’re not a coward, Katsuki.” His eyes were steady, piercing, unwavering. “You’re angry. And you’re scared. And you feel like you can’t do anything about it.” His hand slid over Bakugo’s knuckles, coaxing his fist to unclench. “But you’re still standing here. You’re still trying.”
Bakugo swallowed hard. He shut his eyes. When he exhaled, his hand loosened beneath Todoroki’s.
For a moment, neither of them said anything. They simply stood there, close, breathing in the same space.
Finally, Todoroki’s voice came softly. “We’ll talk to him tomorrow.” His fingers pressed lightly into Bakugo’s palm, grounding him. “We’ll figure this out together.”
Bakugo didn’t answer at first. He simply stared at the floor. But when he finally looked up, his eyes were more clear. The haze of guilt and anger had lifted just slightly.
“Yeah,” he muttered, voice rough. “Tomorrow.”
Todoroki nodded, squeezing his hand slightly. He didn’t say anything else, but he leaned in and pressed his forehead lightly against Bakugo’s. The contact was brief but grounding.
They stayed like that for a while, holding onto the quiet between them, letting it settle over their wounds. And when they finally pulled away, Bakugo’s grip on Todoroki’s hand didn’t loosen.

Chapter Text

The morning sun barely cut through the heavy clouds clinging to the horizon as Todoroki stirred awake. For a moment, he was disoriented, blinking blearily at the unfamiliar ceiling. Then he turned slightly, feeling the warmth pressed against his side, and everything came back in a slow, comforting wave.
Bakugo’s room.
He glanced down, taking in the sight of Bakugo’s still-sleeping form. The blond was sprawled out in his usual restless fashion, one arm flung across Todoroki’s waist as if he had reached for him in his sleep. His face, usually twisted with scowls and sharp glares, was peaceful now—relaxed in a way that Todoroki rarely saw. His breathing was slow and even, his lips slightly parted.
Todoroki allowed himself a brief moment of stillness, letting the warmth of Bakugo’s touch linger. He brushed a strand of hair away from Bakugo’s face, his fingers lingering for a moment before reluctantly pulling away.
He needed to get up.
Carefully, he slipped out from beneath Bakugo’s arm, moving slowly so as not to wake him. He crossed the room with light footsteps, grabbing his uniform, which he had neatly folded on the chair the night before. After changing, he glanced over his shoulder. Bakugo shifted slightly, brow furrowing. His eyes blinked open sluggishly, still heavy with sleep.
“Shoto…?” he mumbled groggily, voice rough and scratchy. His eyes narrowed slightly in confusion, still half-asleep. “Where’re you goin’…?”
Todoroki moved back to the edge of the bed, brushing his fingers lightly over Bakugo’s knuckles. His touch was gentle but reassuring.
“I’m just getting ready,” he murmured softly. “You can sleep a little longer.”
Bakugo grumbled incoherently but seemed to relax at the touch. His hand shifted, brushing lightly over Todoroki’s, before he turned onto his side, pulling the blanket tighter around himself. With a contented sigh, he drifted back into sleep.
Todoroki smiled faintly before heading downstairs.

By the time Bakugo was up and dressed, the two of them were running late. Todoroki was waiting by the front door, hair still damp from a quick rinse, his uniform neat and pressed as always. Bakugo, however, was rushing around the kitchen, still shoving a slice of toast into his mouth while aggressively tugging on his blazer.
“Oi, don’t just stand there, we’re gonna be late!” Bakugo snapped, grabbing his bag and practically kicking the front door open.
Todoroki followed, barely fazed by the sharpness in Bakugo’s tone. He had learned by now that Bakugo’s bark in the morning was more out of habit than any actual irritation.
The streets were already filled with people heading out for the day, some chatting in groups, others walking alone. The air was brisk but pleasant, the early spring wind tugging lightly at their clothes.
As they turned the corner near the school, Todoroki’s eyes caught a familiar figure walking just ahead of them.
Green hair. Small frame.
Midoriya.
Todoroki’s stride slowed slightly, his gaze locking onto the familiar silhouette. Bakugo caught the shift immediately, his eyes following Todoroki’s line of sight. The moment he spotted Midoriya, his chest tightened slightly.
There he was.
Without hesitation, Bakugo cupped his hands around his mouth and barked out, “OI, MIDORIYA!” His voice rang out sharp and loud over the morning chatter.
Midoriya’s entire body stiffened. He froze mid-step. For a heartbeat, he didn’t turn around.
Bakugo called again, softer this time but still firm. “Midoriya!”
Midoriya’s breath hitched. His hands clenched slightly at his sides, fingers curling against the strap of his bag. His chest tightened painfully. Don’t turn around, his instincts screamed. Just keep walking.
He could still hear Bakugo’s voice from yesterday, cruel and jagged, slicing right through him.
"You were supposed to be nothing…"
The words echoed sharply in his head, cutting deeper than he wanted to admit. He knew Bakugo was angry, that he’d been lashing out. But it didn’t make it hurt any less. And now, hearing his name called again, he was convinced they wanted answers. They were going to question him about his quirk… about the strength he had no right to have.
Panic surged through his veins, his feet moving before he could consider any more.
He ran.
“Shit,” Bakugo hissed under his breath, his eyes widening slightly as he watched Midoriya sprint ahead, weaving through the crowd like a frightened animal.
Todoroki frowned, his brows knitting slightly. “He’s avoiding us.”
“No kidding,” Bakugo muttered bitterly, clenching his fists. But he wasn’t angry at Midoriya. He was angry at himself.
‘Of course he ran. I gave him every reason to.’
They didn’t chase after him. Both of them knew it wouldn’t help.
Instead, they walked the rest of the way to school in silence, the lingering bitterness hanging in the air.

Midoriya managed to avoid them throughout the entire morning. He kept his head down, sitting in the far corner of the classroom and quickly slipping away during breaks. Anytime he saw either Bakugo or Todoroki heading in his direction, he made himself scarce, ducking out of sight before they could spot him.
His heart was still racing from the morning. His hands were shaky.
Coward.
He knew he was being irrational. He knew they were probably trying to apologize. But he couldn’t bring himself to face them. Not yet.
When Aizawa finally entered the classroom, the room fell into its usual silence. His tired, disheveled eyes scanned over them before he slid a stack of papers onto the desk with a dull thud.
“Your test results,” he announced in his usual flat, monotone voice.
The tension in the room thickened immediately.
Aizawa pulled out a separate list and let his eyes sweep over the class. “The three students who failed the test will automatically be placed in the same group for additional training.” His eyes settled on Aoyama, Mineta, and Toru, who all sank slightly in their seats, looking dejected.
“Everyone else,” Aizawa continued, unfazed, “has been divided into teams of three. You’ll be working with this group for the rest of the school year. Each team will undergo regular training exercises together and be evaluated as a unit. Additionally, Koji and Shoji, you two will be working with another student. His name is Shinso, and he is a general studies student. However, this assignment will decide whether or not he is allowed to advance into the hero course next year.” They boys in question both nodded their heads. “Now, let’s get on with the rest of you.”
Aizawa listed the teams one by one.
Midoriya, who had been distracted since this morning, was nervously muttering as he thought about his interactions with Todoroki and Bakugo. He continued to worry absentmindedly until Aizawa called out the final group.
“Todoroki, Bakugo, and Midoriya. You will be team 8.”
Midoriya’s stomach dropped. His breath caught in his throat.
No.
He felt his chest tighten painfully. Of all the possible combinations, this was the one he hadn’t prepared himself for. His palms felt clammy.
He didn’t dare look at them.
From across the room, Todoroki and Bakugo exchanged glances. Both of them felt the same brief surge of surprise, but it quickly dissipated into relief.
Midoriya would have to face them now. There was no avoiding it.

The training grounds were buzzing with activity as each team rotated through the various exercise stations. Midoriya, Todoroki, and Bakugo were given the task of running coordination drills. They maneuvered through obstacle courses where they were trying to hit red floating targets in a rotating order.
It was the perfect scenario for teamwork. But none of them could focus.
Midoriya avoided eye contact. He barely spoke. His movements were stiff, his mind clouded with anxiety.
Todoroki and Bakugo exchanged subtle glances as they ran through the first drill. Neither of them made a move to corner Midoriya yet. They knew he was skittish, and they didn’t want to push him away. But they also knew they couldn’t put it off.
When the first break came, Bakugo moved first. He walked over, slowly but deliberately, stopping a few feet from Midoriya. Todoroki followed a moment later, standing beside him.
Midoriya stiffened, gripping the hem of his sleeve. His throat tightened.
For a brief moment, none of them spoke.
Then, Bakugo exhaled sharply and finally said, “I’m sorry.”
Midoriya’s eyes widened slightly.
Bakugo’s voice was rough, but his eyes were steady, genuine. “I was a goddamn asshole. You didn’t deserve that.”
Todoroki’s voice came next, soft but firm. “We just want to talk. Please.”
Midoriya’s breath hitched. He stared at them, his heart hammering painfully against his ribs.
For the first time that day, he didn’t run.

Chapter Text

The boys walked over to the back side of the training field, tension rising with every step.
Midoriya kept his hands fisted near his chest, his head low. His shoulders were drawn in slightly, tension rippling through him. Bakugo walked a pace behind him, his hands jammed into his pockets, eyes narrowed and downcast. Todoroki kept in stride with Bakugo, his hands loose at his sides, his face impassive but his gaze sharp, flickering toward Midoriya every few seconds.
When they reached the tree line at the edge of the grounds, Midoriya stopped. He turned slowly to face them, his eyes guarded and hard—colder than either of them were used to. His jaw was tight, and his fingers curled in the fabric of his sleeves, knuckles whitening with the pressure.
Bakugo was the first to break the silence. He exhaled sharply, his chest tightening. His gaze lowered for a brief moment before lifting again, locking onto Midoriya’s eyes.
“I’m sorry,” Bakugo said again, his voice rough but sincere. He shifted on his feet, his hands balling into loose fists at his sides. “For what I said. It was shitty. You didn’t deserve it.”
Midoriya’s eyes narrowed slightly. His expression didn’t soften.
Bakugo rubbed the back of his neck, his hand briefly clenching in his hair before he let it fall back to his side. “I just—I hate this weird bullshit between us. The tension, the avoiding each other—it’s driving me insane. I just—I wanted to clear the air, okay?”
Midoriya’s eyes flashed, sharp and cutting. His throat tightened.
“The tension?” he repeated bitterly, his voice low but tight with emotion. His hands trembled slightly at his sides. “You hate the tension?” He let out a short, humorless laugh and shook his head, his teeth clenching slightly.
He looked up, and there was no trace of softness in his expression. Only fire.
“Why do you even care all of a sudden?” His voice cracked slightly, but it didn’t waver. “You didn’t seem to have a problem saying I was supposed to be nothing yesterday. And now you’re sorry? Why? Because you feel guilty? Or because you want to make yourself feel better?”
Bakugo’s chest constricted painfully at the words. His throat bobbed slightly as he tried to swallow the sudden tightness. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.
The pain in his eyes was raw and unguarded.
Without thinking, Bakugo took a step back, inching toward Todoroki. His hand brushed against Todoroki’s lightly, fingertips grazing knuckles. The touch was brief but instinctive, almost subconscious, like he was anchoring himself.
Todoroki’s eyes lowered to the contact for half a heartbeat, then lifted back toward Midoriya. His expression remained calm, but his eyes were darker—weighted with guilt. Slowly, deliberately, he stepped forward, placing himself slightly between them.
“If you want to blame anyone,” Todoroki said quietly, his voice steady but low, “blame me.”
Bakugo’s head snapped toward him, eyes wide with disbelief. “Todoroki—” he started, but Todoroki cut him off with a sharp glance.
Midoriya blinked, momentarily thrown by the sudden shift. His eyes narrowed in confusion. “What…?”
Todoroki’s gaze didn’t waver. “I knew.” His voice was flat, factual, but laced with self-loathing. “I heard what he said to you. I knew it was wrong. And I didn’t stop it. I didn’t say anything. I let it happen.”
Bakugo took a slow breath, his fingers twitching faintly at his side.
Todoroki turned back to Midoriya, his voice softer now but still steady. “I saw it happening, and I stayed quiet. I didn’t want to get involved. But that doesn’t make me any less responsible.” His throat tightened slightly, and he lowered his gaze. “I’m sorry.”
Midoriya stared at him, thrown off balance. His lips parted slightly, but no sound came out. The cold, fiery wall he had built around himself flickered faintly, splintering at the edges.
For a long moment, none of them spoke. The tension stretched taut and fragile, humming faintly between them like a wire about to snap.
Then, quietly, Midoriya’s voice cut through the silence.
“Are you two… together?”
The question caught them both off guard.
Bakugo’s eyes widened slightly. Todoroki’s fingers twitched faintly at his side. Both of them stilled, their breath catching briefly.
For the first time since they had started dating, they were afraid of the answer.
Todoroki’s gaze flicked to Bakugo’s, searching. He could see the hesitation in Bakugo’s eyes. Bakugo’s lips parted slightly, his brows drawing together faintly.
He turned back to Midoriya, his voice steady, clear.
“Yes,” Todoroki said simply.
Bakugo’s chest tightened sharply, his eyes flicking toward Todoroki. His breath caught slightly, but when he saw the quiet certainty in Todoroki’s eyes, his tension slowly ebbed away.
He exhaled softly, then nodded, his voice quieter than before.
“Yeah,” Bakugo confirmed, the word barely more than a rough murmur. “We’ve been together for two years.”
Midoriya’s stomach dropped, and his eyes widened slightly. For a brief moment, he stared at them, completely still. His expression was unreadable. He was shocked, yes, but there was something else beneath it.
Hurt.
Disappointment.
He quickly masked it, dropping his eyes toward the ground, but not before they caught it.
Todoroki’s chest tightened.
Bakugo’s hands clenched faintly at his sides.
Midoriya drew in a slow breath. When he lifted his head again, his expression was carefully neutral.
He met their eyes evenly. “I’m sorry,” he said softly, “for lashing out.” His voice was calm but quiet, almost hesitant. His eyes flickered slightly. “You didn’t deserve that either.”
Bakugo exhaled slowly, his shoulders relaxing slightly.
Todoroki’s gaze softened.
For the first time since the test, the weight in the air between them seemed to lift.
The sharp, piercing chime of the bell rang across the training grounds, signaling the end of the break. Midoriya turned, moving to walk away, but Todoroki’s hand shot out, catching him gently by the wrist.
Midoriya froze.
He turned slightly, startled, his eyes widening.
Todoroki’s fingers tightened slightly around his wrist. His gaze was steady, holding Midoriya’s with a quiet intensity.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
The tension between them stretched thin, the space narrowing, charged with something they couldn’t name.
Midoriya could feel the warmth of Todoroki’s hand against his skin. The sharpness of his breath. The faint brush of his fingertips.
From beside them, Bakugo’s eyes darkened. He could feel the charge in the air; heavy and electric. His gaze dropped briefly to their hands. Then, slowly, deliberately, he took a step closer, his shoulder brushing against Todoroki’s lightly.
Midoriya’s pulse quickened.
None of them moved. None of them pulled away.
And for the briefest of moments, none of them wanted to.
But then, slowly, Todoroki’s hand loosened, and Midoriya gently pulled away.
Without a word, Midoriya turned and walked toward the training grounds.
Todoroki and Bakugo remained where they stood, watching him go.
Neither of them said a word.
But they both knew.
The tension wasn’t going anywhere.
And maybe, just maybe, they didn’t want it to.

Chapter Text

Midoriya walked quietly through the corridor, gripping the strap of his school bag tightly as he headed toward the classroom. The familiar hum of conversation from the other students drifted around him, but he didn’t hear it. His thoughts were too loud.
It had been a week, but the memory of Todoroki’s hand wrapped gently around his wrist, the heat of his skin against his own, still lingered vividly. The way Bakugo had stepped closer, shoulder brushing Todoroki’s, their presence suffocatingly close. It left a faint warmth blooming in his chest whenever he thought about it… and it terrified him.
Why did they stop me?
The question had been gnawing at him ever since.
He knew he shouldn’t be overthinking it. They’re together. They had made that perfectly clear. They had been for two years. He had no right to feel this way. He knew that. He repeated it to himself over and over, trying to drill it into his head.
But still.
The way they had looked at him, intense and unreadable, made his chest feel tight. The softness in Todoroki’s eyes. The faint trace of something almost vulnerable in Bakugo’s. The heat of their gazes lingering on him even after he had walked away.
It didn’t feel like nothing.
And that was the problem.
Because he was starting to want it to be something.
Midoriya shook his head sharply, forcing himself out of his thoughts as he approached the classroom. He pressed his hand lightly against the doorframe, inhaling quietly before stepping inside.
His eyes immediately flicked toward the corner of the room.
They were there.
Todoroki sat at his desk by the window, his eyes focused distantly on the view outside, strands of red and white hair lightly brushing his cheek. Bakugo was slouched beside him, arms crossed over his chest, frowning at something Kirishima was saying but clearly only half listening.
They hadn’t noticed him yet.
Midoriya’s chest tightened slightly. He quickly tore his eyes away, dropping into his seat before they could catch him staring.
He exhaled softly, running his hand through his hair and forcing his eyes to focus on his notebook. He didn’t look at them again for the rest of the lesson.
____________________________________
The day passed by in a blur, and before he knew it, Midoriya was at his house. His bag was slung over his shoulder, and the late afternoon sun painted the campus in golden light.
The wind was soft and warm as he sank down onto the grass of his yard, stretching his legs out in front of him. He leaned back on his hands, tilting his head slightly, allowing the breeze to cool his skin.
He needed to clear his head.
But he didn’t get the chance.
A familiar, deep voice called out from behind him.
“Zuku.”
Midoriya startled slightly, twisting his head around. His eyes widened faintly.
“All Might,” he greeted softly, blinking in surprise.
All Might stood a few paces away, still in his leaner, less imposing form. His hair was slightly windswept, his casual attire making him seem almost unfamiliar—but his presence was as warm and grounding as always.
He offered Midoriya a small smile, walking over and lowering himself onto the grass beside him with a faint groan. He stretched his legs out, leaning back on his hands.
“Trouble in hero paradise?” he asked lightly, arching a teasing brow.
Midoriya’s mouth twitched slightly at the familiar teasing tone, but he didn’t smile. His hands curled loosely in the grass beside him.
“Something like that,” he murmured. “When did you get back?”
“Today.” he said, coming to sit next to Izuku, “I shouldn’t need to leave for that long again.”
“That’s good.” Izuku said with a soft smile.
All Might glanced at him, his gaze soft. “What’s on your mind, Zuku?”
For a moment, Midoriya didn’t answer. He stared at the horizon, his eyes slightly narrowed. The weight in his chest felt heavier than usual. He exhaled softly through his nose.
“They’re suspicious of me,” he said quietly.
All Might’s brows drew together slightly. He turned his head toward Midoriya, his expression cautious but concerned.
“Who?”
Midoriya hesitated for half a second before answering.
“Todoroki and Bakugo,” he admitted. His hands curled slightly into the grass. “They’ve been watching me. Since the test. They… they know something’s off. They don’t know about One For All, but they can tell I’m hiding something.”
All Might’s jaw tightened slightly, his eyes narrowing faintly. He sat up a little straighter, turning to fully face Midoriya.
“Have they said anything outright?” he asked, his voice lowering slightly.
Midoriya shook his head. “No,” he said quietly. “Not yet. But… they will. I can feel it.”
All Might was quiet for a long moment. His eyes drifted toward the distant treeline, his expression carefully neutral. When he spoke again, his voice was steady but firm.
“Be careful, Zuku,”
Midoriya glanced at him, startled slightly by the sudden shift in tone.
All Might’s eyes remained distant, his voice low but deliberate. “There’s been some talk.” His fingers curled faintly into the grass. “Nothing confirmed yet, but… there have been rumors.” His jaw tightened faintly. “Villains. Moving in the shadows again.”
Midoriya’s chest tightened slightly. “Villains?”
All Might’s gaze darkened faintly. His eyes flicked toward Midoriya. “I’m not saying they’ll come here. But if people are starting to take notice of you… you need to be more cautious. Especially with them watching.”
Midoriya’s throat tightened slightly, but he nodded, his fingers curling faintly into the fabric of his pants.
“I know,” he said quietly.
All Might studied him for a moment longer. His eyes softened slightly, and he reached out, placing a large, calloused hand gently on Midoriya’s shoulder.
“I trust you,” he said softly, his voice low but unwavering. “You’ll make the right call.”
Midoriya exhaled softly, lowering his eyes.
“Thanks,” he murmured.
All Might squeezed his shoulder gently, offering him a small, reassuring smile.
“Anytime, Zuku,” he said softly.
They sat together in comfortable silence for a long time after that, the faint breeze stirring the grass around them. Midoriya let himself sink into the comfort of All Might’s presence. Everything would be ok… his dad was home.

Chapter Text

The training field was eerily quiet except for the sharp, rhythmic thud of boots against packed earth. The sun had already begun its slow descent, casting golden streaks across the sky and bathing the grounds in a warm, amber light. The faint scent of grass and sweat lingered in the cooling air as Izuku, Bakugo, and Todoroki finished their final sparring session before the assessment the next day.
Izuku sat on the grass, catching his breath. His arms and legs ached, muscles still twitching from the intensity of their drills, but he was smiling. They had worked flawlessly together today. For the first time, their movements were instinctual and seamless. Bakugo’s overwhelming force, Todoroki’s precision, and Izuku’s quick adaptability wove together into a fluid rhythm, as if they had been fighting as a team for years rather than days.
“Shit,” Bakugo exhaled, plopping down onto the grass beside him. He ran a hand through his damp hair, making it stick up even more than usual. “We’re gonna kill it tomorrow.”
Todoroki sat down on Izuku’s other side with a quiet hum of agreement. His two-toned hair was slightly disheveled, and a faint sheen of sweat clung to his skin.
Izuku let out a tired chuckle, still catching his breath. “Yeah,” he agreed softly, feeling a genuine surge of confidence. “I think we’re ready.”
For a few minutes, the three of them sat in rare, companionable silence. The sky slowly shifted to deeper hues, purple melting into streaks of pink and orange, and the cicadas began their faint hum. It was peaceful.
Then Midoriya spoke, “So…” he let out an awkward chuckle, “How did you guys meet?”
Bakugo stills, his eyes dart over to Midoriya. His gaze is surprised and guarded.
“I—uh—” Izuku stammered, flustered. “I didn’t mean to pry. I just… if you wanted to talk about it. I thought it would be a good way to reconnect and get to know you more.”
Bakugo snorted. “Tch. That’s a dumb reason.” Todoroki leaned over to flick his head. “Ow!”
He glanced at Todoroki, who glared then gave him a faint nod, silently giving his permission.
The story came slowly at first. Bakugo’s voice was lower than usual, almost distant, his eyes on the sky rather than on either of them.
“We met by chance in middle school,” he said. “Different districts. Different schools. Some stupid inter-school training event or something.” His lips quirked faintly. “I kicked his ass.”
Todoroki let out a quiet breath, barely a laugh, and Bakugo’s eyes softened briefly.
“We started training together after that,” Bakugo continued. “He was the only one who could keep up with me back then. I’d always go too hard, and everyone else would just whine or give up. But not him.” His voice grew almost fond, a subtle warmth in it. “I could blow him halfway across the field, and he’d just get back up like it was nothing. Pissed me off. Made me want to hit him even harder.”
Izuku listened quietly, eyes slightly wide. He glanced at Todoroki, who was staring at the grass, his expression unreadable.
Bakugo’s voice lowered slightly, his tone rougher. “Then I started noticing things,” he muttered. “Bruises that weren’t from sparring. Stiff movements on days we hadn’t trained. I didn’t push him at first and he was always so damn closed off.” His lips pressed into a thin line. “But then one day… he just showed up at my house. No warning. Middle of the night.”
The words hung in the air, heavy and sharp.
Izuku’s throat tightened as he watched Todoroki’s hands curl faintly in his lap. His fingers were trembling.
“He wouldn’t say it at first,” Bakugo muttered, voice tight. “Didn’t have to. His face said enough. It was that bastard… his old man.” His fists clenched in the grass. “I didn’t even ask what happened. I just… let him in. Gave him my bed and slept on the floor.” His lips curled into a bitter smirk. “He barely said a word. Just stared at the ceiling all night like he was waiting for someone to come drag him back.”
Todoroki’s fingers twitched slightly. His gaze was still downcast, his breath slow and controlled but almost too steady. Izuku’s eyes flicked to him in concern.
Bakugo exhaled sharply, staring at the horizon as if he could burn holes through it. “It happened a couple more times after that,” he said roughly. “Every few weeks. Then every few days. Until eventually… he just stayed.” His voice dipped slightly. “Because it wasn’t safe to go back.”
Izuku’s stomach knotted. He had always known Todoroki’s relationship with his father was bad, but hearing Bakugo describe it in such stark detail made it real in a way it hadn’t been before.
Bakugo’s voice softened slightly as he finally turned toward Todoroki. “The last time he came to my place… he was bleeding bad.”
Todoroki’s hands curled into fists in his lap.
Bakugo’s voice lowered even more, almost a whisper now. “That was the night I told him I loved him.”
The words were spoken so quietly that they almost didn’t seem real.
Izuku barely breathed.
Todoroki’s eyes were locked on the ground. His breathing was perfectly even. His fingers were trembling faintly where they gripped his pant leg, his knuckles bone-white.
Instinctively, Izuku’s hand drifted toward him just slightly. He stopped himself, unsure, but Todoroki suddenly reached out.
Before Izuku could react, their fingers brushed.
Todoroki’s hand was cold and trembling faintly, his palm slightly damp with sweat. He didn’t say a word as his fingers slid between Izuku’s and held on. Tight.
Izuku didn’t pull away.
He slowly laced his fingers with Todoroki’s, holding his hand in a firm, steady grip. He could feel the faint tremors in his fingertips, the tension still coiled in his muscles. Izuku’s thumb traced over his knuckles without thinking. A grounding gesture, meant to calm.
Todoroki’s eyes were fixed on the ground, but he exhaled softly, a faint shudder to it. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, he leaned the slightest bit toward Izuku, their shoulders brushing.
Bakugo’s gaze dropped to their joined hands. His eyes lingered there, but he didn’t say anything. His jaw tightened slightly, but not in anger.
When Bakugo finally spoke again, his voice was quieter, less sharp. “We’ve been keeping it secret ever since,” he admitted gruffly. “His old man can’t know. If he finds out…” His voice trailed off, and he shook his head slightly.
Izuku’s chest felt tight. He squeezed Todoroki’s hand slightly.
For several moments, none of them said anything. The only sound was the faint rustling of leaves in the evening breeze and the distant calls of their classmates heading back to the main building.
Todoroki finally exhaled softly, his fingers loosening just slightly in Izuku’s grip. But he didn’t let go.
The sun had dipped lower now, streaking the sky with gold and rose.
“Hey,” Bakugo finally muttered. His voice was rough, but his eyes were soft when they met Todoroki’s. “You good?”
Todoroki’s grip tightened briefly around Izuku’s hand before he finally pulled away. His eyes were clearer now, more steady, but his expression was still guarded.
“Yeah,” he murmured. “I’m good.”
But when he glanced at Izuku, something flickered in his eyes. An almost imperceptible softness.
And when their hands parted, Izuku’s skin still felt warm where Todoroki had held him.

Chapter Text

The sun hung low in the sky by the time the final pairing of the day was announced. The entire class was weary from the back-to-back assessments, but as Aizawa’s voice cut through the training ground, a subtle tension thickened the air.
“Midoriya, Bakugo, Todoroki,” he called out, eyes sharp and impassive. “You’re up.”
Izuku straightened slightly, glancing at his two teammates. His chest tightened faintly. Even though they had been working together flawlessly all week, there was a low hum of nervousness in his stomach. His side still ached faintly from the previous day’s sparring, but he forced it to the back of his mind.
“Against Yaoyorozu, Iida, and Tokoyami.”
Bakugo’s eyes narrowed slightly at the names. “Tch,” he muttered, his lips curling into a cocky grin. “Finally, some decent competition.”
Todoroki’s gaze remained calm, but his hand drifted faintly toward the faint mist of cold already curling around his fingers. Izuku swallowed, his throat dry. Their opponents were strong, each in their own right, but what made the match even more difficult was the time of day. The sun was starting to set causing the various abandoned buildings to cast longer shadows.
Izuku’s eyes flicked toward Tokoyami, who stood silently across the training grounds, Dark Shadow flickering faintly behind him. It was stronger in the darkness, fiercer, harder to control. And they were heading right into its territory.
As the students took their places, the faint, distant glow of the sun painted the horizon in brilliant gold and amber. The groups walked down the shadowed dirt path leading to the simulated combat zone.
Aizawa lifted his hand. “Remember your objective is to either capture the entire opposing team or retrieve their item.”
He pointed toward a small glowing beacon on either side of the field. Their team’s item was tucked in the remnants of an old building at one edge of the site, while Yaoyorozu’s was placed in the ruins of a stone courtyard on the opposite end.
Aizawa’s gaze swept over both teams. “Begin.”
The second his hand dropped, Bakugo exploded forward, his boots tearing at the dirt as he surged ahead with a blast. Todoroki and Midoriya moved swiftly in unison, veering to the right to circle the buildings, keeping their beacon in sight as they maneuvered through the simulated streets.
They moved like a well-oiled machine. Bakugo’s force, Todoroki’s precision, and Izuku’s adaptability kept them fluid. They weaved through the terrain with swift, practiced movements, cutting off escape routes and clearing a path to the enemy’s item.
But they underestimated how quickly Yaoyorozu’s team would retaliate.
“They’re targeting you,” Todoroki murmured to Izuku as they ducked behind an old warehouse.
Izuku’s brows furrowed. “Me?”
Bakugo, who was crouched beside him, scowled deeply. “Of course they are,” he muttered, his eyes flicking to the clearing where Tokoyami’s silhouette stalked in the distance. “They haven’t seen what you can really do yet. They must think you’re the weak link.”
Izuku’s chest tightened. His fists curled faintly at his sides.
Then he caught a glimpse of Tokoyami moving into the shadows, his hand shifting subtly. And in the next breath, darkness lunged for them.
“Scatter!” Bakugo barked, shoving both Izuku and Todoroki aside as Dark Shadow came crashing down, slamming into the dirt with a snarl.
The massive, swirling mass of darkness snapped violently toward Izuku. He dodged just in time, narrowly avoiding the thick, clawed swipe, but the movement left him exposed.
Tokoyami’s voice cut through the dusky air. “Dark Shadow!”
Izuku turned just as the creature lunged again, this time faster and less controlled. It crashed into him, slamming him hard into the dirt, the force knocking the wind from his lungs. Sharp claws raked his side before Tokoyami could pull it back.
Izuku let out a sharp, strangled cry, clutching his ribs. Pain flared violently, spreading through his side.
“Izuku!” Bakugo’s voice was raw with panic, something primal and wild flashing in his eyes.
Before Tokoyami could retract Dark Shadow, Bakugo shot forward with a snarl, unrelenting. His gauntlets gleamed in the fading sunlight as he unleashed an explosion with pinpoint precision, sending Dark Shadow reeling.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Bakugo caught Tokoyami by the wrist, his grip iron-tight. The look in his eyes was deadly. Tokoyami barely had time to react before Bakugo slammed him into the ground, holding him down with his boot.
“You fucking-!” Bakugo’s voice was raw, furious, trembling faintly at the edges. “You hurt him!”
“Bakugo!” Todoroki’s voice rang out sharply, pulling him back from the edge. “He didn’t mean to! Get him out of the fight!”
Bakugo’s chest heaved violently, but he forced himself to focus. With a growl, he released an explosion against the dirt, creating a smokescreen to blind Tokoyami, and restrained him with the provided capture cuffs.
Todoroki moved swiftly in the chaos, his movements precise and measured. He circled around to the courtyard, where Iida was guarding their item. With a swift blast of ice, Todoroki froze his legs to the ground, locking him in place. The fight was over before Iida could even use his engines.
But none of it mattered. Not to Bakugo.
Because the moment Tokoyami was restrained, he sprinted back toward Izuku.
Todoroki was already kneeling by him when Bakugo slid into the dirt beside them.
“Izuku, hey!” Bakugo’s voice was low and rough, strained with barely contained fear. His hands hovered near Izuku’s side, but he didn’t touch him. “You… are you-?!”
Izuku exhaled sharply, his fingers trembling as he pressed against his bleeding side. His breaths were uneven, but he forced a small, reassuring smile. “I’m okay. Just… just grazed me.”
Todoroki’s eyes narrowed faintly at the sight of the blood seeping through his fingers. “You’re not okay,” he muttered.
Bakugo gritted his teeth and slipped his arm beneath Izuku’s shoulders, lifting him carefully. “C’mon. We’re getting you out of here.”
They retreated quickly, slipping into one of the nearby abandoned buildings. Bakugo carefully lowered Izuku against the wall, his hands trembling faintly as he removed his gloves. Todoroki crouched beside him, already reaching into the emergency pack they carried.
Izuku hissed softly as Bakugo peeled back the torn fabric around his side. The cut was shallow but messy, and the skin around it was already bruising.
As Todoroki cleaned the wound, Izuku tried to move slightly but winced. The sharp pain that flared caused him to let out a soft, involuntary chuckle.
“Guess I’m still not used to it,” he muttered faintly, trying to defuse the tension. “I hurt myself a lot back when my quirk first appeared.”
The words made both Todoroki and Bakugo freeze.
Their eyes flicked toward him instantly sharp and wide. There was a split second where neither of them spoke, but the sudden tension in the room was palpable.
Realizing the misunderstanding, Izuku’s eyes widened slightly. “Wait! I didn’t mean it like-!”
But before he could finish, Todoroki’s hand covered his. His palm was warm and steady.
“Don’t,” Todoroki murmured softly. “Don’t do that. Don’t make excuses for hurting yourself.” His voice was quiet but firm, and his eyes, cool and steely, held nothing but raw honesty. “I don’t want to see you hurt. Ever.”
Izuku’s throat tightened. His chest ached. He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head faintly.
“Don’t say things like that,” he whispered.
Todoroki’s brows knit slightly. “Why not?”
Izuku’s voice was barely audible, trembling faintly. “Because you’re giving me hope when I know nothing can happen.”
Bakugo’s eyes shifted up to meet Midoriya’s eyes. “There’s no reason nothing can happen.”
Suddenly, Bakugo surged forward, crashing into his mouth with searing passion.

Chapter Text

Bakugo’s lips were hot and desperate against Izuku’s, sending a shockwave through his chest. The kiss was rough and raw. Bakugo’s hands cupped Izuku’s jaw, his fingers trembling slightly with the force of emotion behind them, as if he were afraid that if he let go, Izuku might vanish.
For a split second, Izuku felt himself melting into it, his fists gripping weakly at Bakugo’s shirt. His body betrayed him before his mind could catch up.
But then, it hit him.
This was wrong.
His eyes widened, and he abruptly pulled away, his lips still tingling from the kiss. His chest heaved slightly, his breath uneven, and he stared at Bakugo, utterly confused.
“I-I can’t…” Izuku rasped, his voice cracking faintly. He shook his head, backing away slightly. “No… no, we can’t.”
Bakugo’s brows furrowed immediately, his expression flashing with confusion and a flicker of hurt. “What? Why the hell not?”
Izuku’s throat tightened. He glanced at Todoroki, who was still watching them with unreadable eyes, and his heart twisted painfully in his chest.
He shook his head more firmly, voice trembling. “B-Because you’re already with Todoroki!”
He looked at Todoroki in desperation, expecting him to confirm it. To remind Bakugo that this was a mistake. That they couldn’t.
But instead, Todoroki took a slow step forward. His mismatched eyes softened, and his hand reached out gently toward Izuku’s.
“Izuku,” Todoroki’s voice was low and steady, and the softness in his tone sent a shiver down Izuku’s spine. “If you want us… there’s no reason you can’t have both.”
Izuku’s breath hitched sharply.
His eyes widened, flicking between Todoroki and Bakugo, completely at a loss. Was he serious?
His stomach twisted into knots. No. This couldn’t be real.
“That’s not…” Izuku’s voice cracked slightly, and he shook his head more firmly, stumbling over his words. “You-You’re just saying that because of the moment! You’re both-” He paused seemingly at a loss for words. “You’re just caught up in this!”
He tried to shift farther away from them, his hands clenching at his sides, but Todoroki took another step forward, closing the distance.
His voice was quiet but unshakable. “I’m not.”
Izuku felt his heart slam against his chest, his throat tightening painfully. His hands were trembling faintly.
This couldn’t be real.
It was too much.
His chest ached with something fierce and heavy. His mind was already splintered, crowded with secrets he couldn’t share.
They were looking at him like they meant it. Like they wanted him. Both of them.
And that terrified him.
He swallowed hard, his voice breaking faintly. “You… you don’t know me,” he whispered hoarsely, his eyes burning. “Not really. You don’t know what I’ve done or what I’m hiding. Y-You wouldn’t want me if you knew-”
But Bakugo didn’t let him finish.
“Bullshit.”
Izuku’s breath caught in his throat.
Bakugo’s eyes were sharp, fierce with conviction, and he took a step closer, his voice low and rough. “You think we don’t already know you?” His voice cracked faintly at the edges, his fists trembling. “You think seeing one of your secrets with my own goddamn eyes made me want you any less?”
Izuku’s chest seized violently.
Bakugo’s eyes were wide, raw and exposed, as he shook his head sharply. “We already fell for you, you idiot. A couple more secrets can’t change that.”
Izuku’s breath caught in his throat. He could feel his entire body trembling faintly. The weight of Bakugo’s words and Todoroki’s unwavering eyes left him reeling.
They meant it.
Even if he was still keeping secrets.
Even if he was still afraid.
Even if they didn’t know everything.
They still wanted him.
And he wanted them.
Before he could think anymore he grabbed the front of Bakugo’s shirt, dragging him down.
And then he kissed him.
Fiercely. Desperately.
Bakugo made a soft, strangled sound against his mouth, but then he was kissing him back. His hands cupped the back of Izuku’s neck, pulling him in, deepening the kiss.
The heat of it seared through him, wild and untamed. Their mouths moved roughly against each other, teeth grazing and lips parting. It was messy and desperate; raw with the weight of everything they had held back.
Izuku barely registered the low, needy sound that rumbled in Bakugo’s throat as they kissed. His head was spinning, heart pounding violently against his ribs.
When they finally broke apart, their breaths were ragged, their foreheads pressed together.
Izuku’s chest heaved faintly as he turned, his eyes meeting Todoroki’s.
For a moment, he saw the faintest flicker of uncertainty in Todoroki’s eyes, as if he was unsure whether Izuku wanted him, too.
But then Izuku, without hesitation, reached out and grabbed Todoroki’s hand.
“Do you want me too?” Izuku’s voice was soft, almost disbelieving.
Todoroki’s eyes hardened with determination as he nodded once, slowly.
And then he kissed him.
Gentler. Softer.
But no less consuming.
Todoroki’s hand cupped Izuku’s jaw, his thumb brushing faintly over his cheek. His lips were warm and slow, savoring the kiss with aching tenderness.
But then he parted his lips slightly and slipped his tongue in.
Izuku’s breath caught sharply. His fingers tightened faintly in Todoroki’s jacket. The kiss deepened, slow and consuming, and Izuku felt himself melting into it. The slow drag of his tounge was deliberate, pulling Izuku further into the heat of it, until the entire world fell away.
When they finally parted, Izuku’s lips were swollen, his chest heaving faintly. His entire body felt light and heavy all at once, like he was floating and sinking.
And when he opened his eyes, he was met with two pairs of fierce, unwavering gazes.
Bakugo’s eyes were still slightly wide with disbelief, but they were warm, golden and molten. Soft, just for him. For them.
They were both looking at him like he was everything.
And in that moment, he knew.
They were his.
And he was theirs.
For a long moment, the three of them simply sat there, taking each other in, their hands still loosely tangled. Connected.
Finally, Bakugo let out a shaky breath and snorted faintly, the corner of his mouth twitching into a smirk. “So,” he muttered, his voice still slightly hoarse, “think you’re ready to kick some ass, Izuku?”
Izuku let out a breathless laugh, still slightly dazed.
“Yeah,” he murmured faintly, his heart still pounding, “I think I am.”
Todoroki moved to Izuku’s side and lightly frosted his wound. “This should allow you to move around until we can get you to recovery girl.” His hand grazed Izuku’s side and a familiar heat burned inside their chests.
They locked eyes for a moment, and slowly rose to their feet. Ready to fight… together.

Chapter Text

Izuku sat on the stiff infirmary bed listening to the faint hum of the ventilation system and the occasional muffled footsteps echoing from the hallway.
Recovery Girl had already patched up his side, though she scolded him for being reckless… again. The wound was still aching faintly, but the pain was dull and manageable now.
Todoroki and Bakugo had gone to change out of their gear and grab their bags before meeting him here.
So, for the time being, he was alone.
He exhaled slowly, letting his fingers graze over the edge of the bed, his thoughts still swirling with everything that had happened.
The assessment.
The fight.
The kiss.
Them.
The memory of both of their mouths on his lingered heavily in his chest, making it hard to breathe properly. His lips still felt warm, tingling faintly from the intensity of it all.
They were his now.
And he was theirs.
The realization still felt surreal.
He pressed a hand over his chest, feeling the dull thump of his heart, trying to steady the rapid beat.
The sound of the infirmary door opening snapped him from his thoughts.
Izuku blinked and glanced up as All Might stepped inside, he was in his public “Hero Form” as Izuku liked to cal it. His face was lined with concern, his brows knit faintly as his eyes swept over Izuku’s bandaged side.
“Zuku,” All Might’s voice was low, worried, as he made his way over. “I heard what happened. Are you all right?”
For a moment, Izuku’s breath caught in his throat.
His chest tightened faintly at the sound of his nickname, soft and warm, filled with the familiar parental affection All Might always reserved just for him.
He smiled faintly, exhaling shakily. “I’m okay,” he murmured, tilting his head slightly. “I promise. It’s just a scratch.”
All Might frowned slightly, clearly not convinced. His eyes softened, though, as he sat down beside him on the bed, careful not to jostle him.
“I was still worried,” he admitted softly, reaching out and ruffling Izuku’s hair with a tenderness that made Izuku’s chest ache.
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
They simply sat there, side by side, the silence calm and familiar.
But as the seconds ticked by, Izuku’s fingers twitched faintly against the edge of the bed, his heart suddenly pounding in his ears.
The question he had been turning over in his mind itched at the back of his throat.
And before he could stop himself, the words slipped out.
“All Might?” his voice was soft, barely above a whisper.
All Might turned to him immediately, brows furrowing slightly at the hesitant tone. “Yes, Zuku?”
Izuku swallowed hard, suddenly feeling his mouth go dry. His hands fisted slightly in the fabric of his pants, and he forced himself to meet All Might’s gaze.
“What would you…” he hesitated, his voice trembling faintly. “What would you say if I told you I was… gay?”
The words hung heavily in the air.
For a moment, All Might simply blinked, his eyes slightly wide, clearly caught off guard by the suddenness of the question.
He opened his mouth slightly, then closed it, his brow furrowing faintly, as if trying to figure out where this was coming from.
His lips parted again, softer this time. “Zuku…” he started carefully, searching Izuku’s face. “Is this about… Todoroki or Bakugo?”
Izuku’s chest tightened sharply. His breath caught slightly, and he froze.
There was no judgment in All Might’s voice only gentle curiosity.
Izuku exhaled shakily, his hands trembling faintly in his lap. His voice was barely audible when he finally spoke.
“Both,” he whispered hoarsely, his eyes flickering down to his lap.
All Might’s eyes widened slightly.
“Both?” he echoed softly, stunned but not unkind.
Izuku’s throat felt tight, his hands clenching faintly in his pants. “I… I’m dating them,” he mumbled, his voice small. “Both of them.”
His heart slammed violently against his ribs, his breath catching sharply in his chest. He braced himself for whatever came next.
But All Might didn’t flinch.
He didn’t recoil.
He didn’t frown.
For a moment, he was silent, as if processing it all. But then, slowly, he reached out, placing a hand on Izuku’s shoulder, his grip firm but warm.
“Zuku,” he said softly, his voice steady with conviction, his eyes unwavering. “There is nothing you could ever say or do that would make me leave you.”
The words hit Izuku like a blow, making his breath catch violently in his throat.
He felt his eyes stinging sharply, a sudden tightness blooming in his chest.
And without warning, he broke.
His breath hitched sharply, his face crumpling as the first sob ripped from his throat. His hands flew to his face, covering it as he curled in on himself, his shoulders trembling violently.
All Might immediately pulled him in, wrapping his arms around him, holding him close.
“Hey, hey…” he murmured softly, his hand cradling the back of Izuku’s head, his voice a low murmur. “It’s okay. I’ve got you, Zuku. I’ve got you.”
Izuku clung to him, his fingers trembling in the fabric of All Might’s shirt. Tears soaked through the material, and he could feel his chest heaving violently, unable to stop the flood of emotion pouring out of him.
He didn’t even hear the infirmary door open.
But suddenly, Bakugo’s voice cut through the room, sharp and panicked.
“What the hell?!”
Izuku’s eyes flew open at the sound of Bakugo’s furious snarl, and he barely had time to process before Todoroki was at his side, crouching in front of him.
Todoroki’s hands were on Izuku’s knees, his eyes wide with worry. “Izu, hey,” his voice was low and soothing, his thumb brushing gently over Izuku’s hand. “Are you okay?”
Izuku was still sniffling softly, blinking back tears, but he quickly shook his head. “N-No, it’s okay,” he rasped weakly, his voice cracking slightly. “I-I’m okay.”
Bakugo was still seething, his eyes flashing, fists clenched. He shot a glare at All Might, voice low and venomous.
“You better not have-”
But Izuku cut him off, shaking his head firmly.
“No, Kacchan,” he mumbled, his voice still hoarse, “he didn’t… All Might didn’t do anything.”
Bakugo and Todoroki both stiffened slightly, exchanging a confused glance.
Izuku took a shaky breath and met their eyes, his lips still trembling faintly.
“I came out to him,” he murmured softly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Bakugo and Todoroki both froze, their eyes widening slightly.
Izuku sniffled faintly, his eyes red and puffy, and he smiled weakly. “He… he accepted us.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
They simply stared at him.
Todoroki was the first to break the silence.
His voice was soft, barely above a whisper.
“He… accepted us?”
Izuku nodded weakly, his eyes still slightly puffy from crying, but a small, wobbly smile pulled at his lips. “Y-Yeah,” he whispered hoarsely, his throat still raw. “He did.”
Todoroki exhaled faintly, his shoulders relaxing slightly, and his grip on Izuku’s hand tightened for a brief moment before he slowly, gently lifted it to his lips.
He pressed a soft kiss to Izuku’s knuckles, his eyes closing briefly. When he pulled back, his expression was tender, almost reverent.
Bakugo, however, was still frowning slightly, his brows furrowed deeply.
His sharp eyes flickered between Izuku and All Might, clearly still unsettled by the lingering tension in the room. His voice was rough, low and slightly hoarse from the residual adrenaline.
“Okay… but what the hell does any of this have to do with him?” he asked, jerking his head toward All Might with a sharp nod. His eyes narrowed slightly.
Izuku’s chest tightened faintly, and he bit the inside of his cheek.
The words stuck in his throat, clinging there, heavy and suffocating.
He could feel the weight of All Might’s gaze on him, patient and steady. He glanced up unsure if he was truly ready to share this part of himself.
For a moment, All Might simply looked at him, his eyes measuring, silently asking if he was sure.
And then, slowly, he gave him a small, almost imperceptible nod.
Izuku’s fingers tightened faintly around Todoroki’s hand, drawing in a shaky breath.
“Kacchan… Shoto…” he whispered softly, his voice barely above a breath.
They both immediately went still, their eyes locking onto him at the slight quiver in his voice.
“I need to tell you something,” Izuku murmured, his throat tight.
Their brows furrowed slightly, but neither of them spoke.
They simply waited.
He exhaled slowly, his chest rising and falling unevenly, and he forced the words out.
“My mom was murdered when I was five.”
Todoroki and Bakugo stiffened instantly, their eyes widening in unison. Bakugo already knew parts of the story, but he’d never gotten the full version.
Izuku barely gave himself time to breathe before continuing.
“After that… I was sent away to live with my aunt, but she eventually died in a ‘workplace accident’” he said softly, his voice flat and distant, as if numbly reciting a story he’d told himself too many times. “That’s the official story.”
He could feel Bakugo’s sharp gaze narrowing faintly, his lips parting slightly.
But Izuku wasn’t done.
He exhaled shakily and shook his head, his voice dropping into a barely audible whisper.
“But that’s not the real story.”
Bakugo’s fists tightened faintly, his jaw clenching.
Todoroki’s grip on Izuku’s hand grew firmer, his eyes wide and unblinking.
Izuku inhaled sharply, his throat thick, and pushed forward.
“My aunt didn’t die because of an accident” he whispered, his voice trembling faintly. “She was also murdered. By villains.”
The air in the room seemed to drop several degrees.
“They were looking for me.”
Todoroki and Bakugo stared at him, their eyes darkening with disbelief and horror.
“I managed to escape,” Izuku continued softly, his voice barely above a breath, his eyes slightly unfocused. “I ran. For weeks. I had nowhere to go. No one to help me.”
His voice hitched faintly, but he forced himself to keep going.
“Eventually…” his throat tightened sharply, and his eyes flickered to All Might, “…he found me.”
Todoroki and Bakugo’s eyes snapped to All Might, their gazes sharp and disbelieving.
Izuku exhaled softly, feeling All Might’s hand settle lightly on his shoulder, a small, steadying gesture.
“He found me after arresting the villains,” Izuku murmured. “He took me in. Gave me a place to stay when I had nowhere else to go. And a year later, he… officially adopted me.”
The words hung heavily in the air.
He felt his throat closing slightly, his voice barely more than a whisper as he finished.
“I’ve been living with him for the past four years. And for all intents and purposes… he’s my dad.”
The room plunged into silence, suffocating and heavy.
Todoroki’s eyes were wide and glassy, his fingers clenching slightly around Izuku’s hand.
Bakugo’s expression was a mixture of disbelief and confusion, his jaw slightly slack as he stared at him.
“Izuku…” Todoroki breathed, his fingers trembling faintly against Izuku’s.
Izuku’s chest tightened sharply at the sound of his voice. The quiet, aching tenderness of it touching something inside him.
He barely had time to process before Todoroki was moving, leaning forward and pulling him into his arms, wrapping him up tightly.
His arms were strong and secure, holding Izuku close, his fingers tangling lightly into his hair.
“I’m so sorry,” he murmured softly, his voice low and pained, almost trembling. “I’m so, so sorry.”
Izuku’s chest squeezed sharply, and he let himself sag into Todoroki’s arms, clinging to him, fisting the fabric of his shirt.
“Why were they looking for you?” Bakugo asked. “Was it because of your quirk?”
Izuku squeezed his eyes shut, his breath trembling faintly against Todoroki’s neck, surrounded by warmth. He slowly sook his head.
“No. I didn’t develop my quirk until last year. I honestly have no idea what they want from me.” He shifted to look towards All Might. “The only information we know is that it had something to do with my family, but my father died when I was very young and both my mom and my aunt were killed before they told me anything…”
The four of them sat there in silence for a moment.
When Izuku finally pulled back, Bakugo’s red eyes were soft, a rare gentleness flickering in them.
Todoroki’s hand brushed against his cheek, his thumb smoothing away a lingering tear.
They didn’t ask questions.
They didn’t press for details.
They simply stayed there, holding him steady, offering him all the warmth they could give.
And when Izuku met their eyes, he saw nothing but fierce acceptance.
No fear.
No pity.
Only love.

Chapter Text

The days following their confession and acceptance of their new relationship were a strange mix of warmth and tension. Todoroki, Bakugo, and Izuku had all agreed to keep their relationship a secret from the rest of the class. Not because they were ashamed, but because their dynamic was delicate and new. They wanted time to figure things out before they had to deal with anyone else’s opinions.
Mornings became different. Before, they would sometimes walk together, but now there was an unspoken agreement that they’d arrive separately. Todoroki, who still spent most of his nights at Bakugo’s house, would leave early to avoid suspicion. Bakugo would leave a little later, making it seem like his usual routine, while Izuku would leave on his own or with another classmate if the timing worked out. The separation felt unnatural, especially after their recent closeness, but it was necessary.
Despite the outward act of normalcy, things had changed in subtle ways. Bakugo wasn’t as aggressive towards Midoriya anymore. Not that he had completely softened, but the sharp edges of his words had dulled around Izuku. Instead of the usual biting remarks, his taunts were more playful, almost teasing. Todoroki, on the other hand, had become more openly attentive. He found excuses to stand close to Izuku, to brush hands as they walked side by side, or to sit near him during class. To any outsider, it wouldn’t seem like much, but to them, it was everything.
Uraraka was the first to notice the shift.
“Hey, Deku,” she asked one afternoon, tilting her head at him. They were sitting in the cafeteria, with Iida talking animatedly about their next training schedule. “Is something up with you? You seem... different.”
Izuku stiffened, eyes flicking over to Todoroki and Bakugo, who sat across from him. Bakugo was busy shoving food into his mouth, but Todoroki looked up at the question, watching Izuku carefully.
“W-what do you mean?” Izuku asked, laughing nervously. “I’m the same as always!”
Uraraka narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing him. “I don’t know... It’s like, you’re smiling more. And Bakugo hasn’t been as mean to you lately.”
Bakugo choked on his food, coughing as he turned to glare at her. “Oi, round face, mind your own damn business.”
“I knew it!” she gasped, pointing her spoon at him. “Something’s going on! Are you guys secretly friends now? Oh my god, is this a redemption arc?!”
Todoroki smirked slightly, taking a sip of his tea. “Something like that.”
Izuku frantically shook his head. “No! No redemption arc! He’s still...uh...very Bakugo.”
Bakugo growled under his breath but didn’t argue. He knew they had to be careful. Uraraka was sharp, and if anyone was going to figure them out, it would be her.
The rest of the week passed in a blur of training and carefully concealed stolen moments. When the three of them were alone, when they could relax without worrying about prying eyes, things were different. Izuku had never imagined himself in a relationship, much less with two people, but the warmth he felt when he was with them made it all feel right.
Todoroki had always been a quiet presence, offering gentle reassurances in his own way. Now, he was becoming more comfortable expressing his emotions. He would touch Izuku’s arm lightly when he was nervous, or press a soft kiss to Bakugo’s temple when they were alone.
Bakugo, on the other hand, was a force of nature. He didn’t know how to do things halfway. When they were alone, his affection was intense. He would tug Izuku into his side, pressing heated kisses against his jawline, or pull Todoroki into his lap as if to prove a point. He wasn’t great with words, but his actions spoke volumes.
Izuku found himself craving those moments, despite the constant anxiety of keeping their relationship a secret.
By the time Friday rolled around, Aizawa called the class together for an announcement. The students quickly settled, eager to hear whatever new challenge awaited them.
“Next week, we will be conducting rescue training at an off-campus facility, the USJ,” Aizawa explained, his tired eyes scanning the group. “You’ll be placed in various scenarios to test your ability to respond in disaster situations. This will require teamwork, strategy, and quick thinking. I hope you have been training consistently with your teams because you will be doing this exercise together.”
Excited whispers filled the room. Everyone had heard about the USJ, it was rumored to have state-of-the-art simulations that mimicked real disasters. For many students, this would be their first real test of hero work.
“Make sure to get plenty of rest over the weekend,” Aizawa continued, “because once we’re there, I won’t be holding back.”
The class broke out into murmurs, some students whispering about possible training exercises, others making plans to study up on rescue techniques.
Todoroki, Bakugo, and Izuku exchanged glances. This would be their first major training exercise as a team since the assessment, and they had no idea what to expect.
Still, one thing was clear: whatever was waiting for them at the USJ, they would face it together.

Chapter Text

The bus ride to the USJ was filled with chatter and excitement. It wasn’t every day that the students got to train in a high-end facility designed to simulate real rescue missions.
Izuku sat in the back with Todoroki beside him and Bakugo in the seat in front of them, arms crossed as he stared out the window. The three of them had been assigned to the same training team, which was a relief. They had been working on their coordination since the last assessment, and this would be their first real test as an official unit.
“Alright, listen up,” Aizawa called from the front as the bus rolled to a stop. “The USJ is a state-of-the-art training facility meant to replicate real disaster situations. You will be grouped with your assigned teams and placed into different zones where you will practice rescue operations.” His eyes briefly swept over the students. “This isn’t just about saving civilians. It’s about surviving unexpected conditions while protecting others. Take this seriously.”
As the class exited the bus, the massive dome-like structure of the USJ loomed over them. Pro Hero Thirteen greeted them at the entrance, their voice calm but authoritative as they explained the importance of rescue work.
“This is what being a hero is really about,” Thirteen said. “Fighting villains is one thing, but saving lives is just as important. Today, you will-”
A dark mist suddenly swirled in the center of the facility, cutting off the pro hero’s words. The air grew heavy as a group of shadowed figures stepped forward from the portal, and in an instant, the training exercise became something far more dangerous.
“Villains?!” Kirishima shouted, stepping back in alarm.
“They shouldn’t be here,” Aizawa muttered, his body tensing. “Thirteen, protect the students!”
Before anyone could react, the swirling mist expanded. The villain Kurogiri’s deep voice echoed through the dome, his golden eyes gleaming from the shadows of his form. “It is an honor to meet you, children of U.A. High. Unfortunately, today is the day you all will die.”
In a heartbeat, Kurogiri’s mist shot out like tendrils, engulfing students before they could run. Izuku felt a cold grip tighten around his body as his vision blurred. His fingers brushed against Todoroki’s for half a second before they were both yanked away in opposite directions.
When the sensation finally stopped, Izuku found himself gasping for breath, his feet landing on an unstable surface. Water sloshed around him, and he quickly realized he had been dropped into the Flood Zone of the USJ facility. He looked around, spotting Tsu and Mineta clinging to a boat nearby. Villains swam beneath them, their grins wicked as they circled the trapped students.
“Deku! Over here!” Tsu called out, her long tongue extending to pull him closer to the boat.
Izuku barely had time to process before the villains in the water started moving. His mind raced. This was supposed to be training, but now it was life or death. They had to fight, or they wouldn’t make it out.

Meanwhile, in the central plaza, All Might had finally arrived.
But something was wrong.
The Symbol of Peace was already breathing heavily. He was pushing his limits, fighting a monstrous villain, the Nomu, who seemed to have been designed to counter his every move. Still, he refused to back down, his fists landing blow after blow as he battled the creature with everything he had.
Izuku had finally managed to reach the central plaza after escaping the Flood Zone, arriving just in time to see All Might waver slightly.
“All Might!” Izuku shouted, horror gripping his chest.
All Might turned, his expression flashing with alarm as he spotted his student. “No! Stay back!”
But it was too late. Shigaraki’s eerie, disjointed laughter filled the air as his red eyes locked onto Izuku.
“This one…” Shigaraki muttered, tilting his head. “His quirk… and his face… Interesting.”
Izuku’s stomach dropped. He had never met Shigaraki before, but the villain’s gaze felt as if it were stripping him bare, seeing something he shouldn’t. His mind flashing to other encounters with villans chasing him. Why were they always chasing him?
Shigaraki tilts his head to the side like he is listening to something. Then he turns to fully face Izuku. He scratches his neck in irritation while smiling wickedly. "Master says we should take this one with us.”
Izuku barely had time to react before the villains lunged for him.
“Get away from him!” Bakugo roared, blasting through the battlefield to intercept Kurogiri’s mist before it could envelop Izuku. He launched an explosion at the villain’s core, forcing him to retreat momentarily.
Izuku fought back, his body moving on instinct as he dodged a villain’s strike, landing a powerful smash that sent them flying. But the moment he landed, his arm was seized, Shigaraki’s decayed fingers barely brushing against his sleeve before Izuku yanked away with a cry of pain. His skin burned where the villain had touched him, his vision blurring for a second from the sheer agony.
A portal swirled beside him. Kurogiri had recovered. The mist expanded, ready to consume him.
But Todoroki arrived just in time, ice shooting across the battlefield as he encased Izuku’s arm in frost, stopping the decay from spreading further.
“Are you alright?” Todoroki asked, voice tight with worry.
Izuku clenched his jaw, nodding despite the pain. “We have to stop them.”
All Might gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand tall despite the visible strain. “I won’t let them take you.”
For a moment, the battlefield was at a standstill. Shigaraki frowned, his lips curling in frustration. Then, his earpiece crackled again. “Retreat,” came the distorted voice of All for One. “For now.”
Shigaraki twitched, glaring at the heroes before sighing dramatically. “Fine, fine. We’ll be back, though. And next time, we'll be taking that one.” he says, pointing a finger at Izuku.
With that, Kurogiri’s mist enveloped the remaining villains, and just as suddenly as they had arrived, they were gone.
Izuku exhaled shakily, his body trembling as the adrenaline wore off. His arm ached, his head spun, but he was alive.
Todoroki and Bakugo were at his side instantly, supporting him. All Might looked at him, his expression filled with unspoken worry.
They had all heard Shigaraki’s final words.
But none of them had noticed the small tracker hidden in Izuku’s uniform.
And none of them realized that the villains were now watching his every move.

Chapter Text

The aftermath of the USJ attack left the entire school shaken. Though the students were physically safe for the most part, the weight of what had happened settled heavily on their shoulders. Izuku lay in the infirmary, his arm wrapped in bandages and covered in a dull, aching frostbite from Todoroki’s quick thinking. Recovery Girl had done her best, but even her quirk had its limits. His body needed time to heal.
He stared at the ceiling, his mind racing with everything that had happened. The villains had targeted him the moment they saw him. It wasn’t just a coincidence. First his mom, then his aunt, now the USJ. He was the only common factor in these attacks, and Shigaraki had made it clear... he was a target once again.
A quiet knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. It creaked open, revealing Bakugo and Todoroki. Bakugo still had a few bandages wrapped around his arms from minor burns, but his usual scowl was present. Todoroki looked as calm as ever, though Izuku could see the tension in his shoulders.
“You’re awake,” Todoroki said, stepping inside.
“No shit he’s awake,” Bakugo muttered, closing the door behind him. “You look like hell, Izu.”
Izuku huffed a weak laugh. “I feel like hell.” He shifted slightly, wincing as his arm throbbed. “Thanks for the save back there… both of you.”
Todoroki nodded, but his gaze flickered downward. “You shouldn’t have been in that position in the first place.”
Izuku swallowed. “I know.”
There was a brief silence before Bakugo grunted, crossing his arms. “You’ve noticed it too, right?”
Izuku nodded slowly. “This isn’t the first time villains have come after me.” His voice was quiet, but the weight of his words was heavy. “At first, I thought it was bad luck. But this is the third time now. And…” he hesitated, feeling a lump form in his throat. “All Might knew.”
Todoroki’s eyes sharpened. “What do you mean?”
“When I got to the plaza, he told me to stay hidden. Like… he expected something like this,” Izuku admitted. His hands clenched into fists. “I want to believe he was just worried about my safety, because if he knew something… he tell me, right?”
“Maybe he’s trying to protect you,” Todoroki suggested, though there was doubt in his voice.
“Or maybe he thinks you can’t handle the truth,” Bakugo muttered. “That’s some bullshit, though. If something’s coming after you, you deserve to know why.”
Before Izuku could respond, shouting erupted from outside the nurse’s station. The door suddenly burst open, flames slamming it against the wall.
Endeavor.
Todoroki stiffened immediately, his breath catching in his throat as his father stormed inside. His large frame loomed over them, his eyes burning with rage.
“You’re coming home,” Endeavor ordered, grabbing Todoroki’s wrist roughly. “Now.”
Todoroki yanked his arm away. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Endeavor’s gaze darkened. “I won’t allow you to stay around him any longer.” His burning eyes locked onto Izuku, filled with disdain. “I know the villains were after him. I refuse to let my hard work be jeopardized because of his presence.” He turns to fully face Izuku. "You will drop out of UA immediately, or else I will have you removed. Forcefully."
Izuku stiffened, and the room dropped several degrees as Todoroki’s fists clenched.
“You don’t get to dictate who your son hangs out with, you overgrown fire hazard,” Bakugo growled, stepping between them. “And Izu being at this school has nothing to do with you. He’s here because he earned it, and he won't be leaving because of some roid-raging, psychopathic firehead like you.”
“You brat,” Endeavor snarled, raising his hand as flames ignited around it.
But before he could strike, a small figure entered the room.
“Endeavor,” Principal Nezu’s voice was light, but the authority in it was unmistakable. “This is not the place for such behavior.”
Endeavor turned sharply, barely restraining his flames. “Stay out of this.”
Nezu smiled calmly. “This is my school, and your threats hold no weight here.” His beady eyes flicked toward Izuku. “Midoriya is not being expelled. He has done nothing to warrant such aggressive action.”
Endeavor’s jaw tightened, but he knew better than to argue further. With one last glare at Izuku, he turned to Todoroki. “You’re coming home tonight.”
Todoroki remained silent, his eyes shadowed.
With a final scoff, Endeavor stormed out of the room.
The tension lingered long after he and principal Nezu left. The moment they were alone, Izuku turned to the others. “Todoroki-”
“I have to go home,” Todoroki said quietly. His usual composure was gone, replaced by something hesitant. Resigned.
Izuku’s chest tightened. “You don’t have to-”
“I do,” Todoroki interrupted. He glanced at Bakugo, then back at Izuku. “I have no choice. After all of that, he won't just sit by if I don't.”
Izuku’s hands gripped the blanket in frustration. This wasn’t fair. Todoroki deserved better than this.
Bakugo exhaled sharply. “Damn it.” he crossed over to Todoroki and took his hand, "I'm sorry. This is all my fault for provoking him."
"No, it isn't." Todoroki said in a quiet voice, "He'd already made up his mind about it before you said anything."
Izuku bit his lip before looking at Todoroki, determination burning in his eyes. “Shoto.”
Todoroki’s breath hitched. It was the first time Izuku had ever called him by his first name.
Izuku slowly got out of bed and walked over to the guys. Todoroki hesitated only for a moment before leaning in, their lips meeting in a slow, desperate kiss.
When they parted, Todoroki’s expression was unreadable. But his grip on Izuku’s hand was firm, as if he didn’t want to let go. Izuku looked into his eyes, "Shoto, we will not let you go through this alone. You don't have to go." he continued quickly before Todoroki could object. "Please... please stay."
Todoroki made a pained sound and touched his forehead of Izuku's. "Fuck, I want to... I want to so bad Izu." He let out a shuddering breath, "But I can't. I know you guys want to protect me, but I want to protect you too. And I won't be drawing any more of his attention onto you tonight."
Bakugo crossed his arms, scowling, “We're staying outside your house tonight. Just in case.”
Todoroki let out a small breath, almost a laugh, but there was no humor in it. “Thank you.”
With a final lingering glance at them, he turned and walked out.
Izuku watched him go, a sinking feeling settling in his chest.
Something wasn’t right.
And he was afraid of what was waiting for Todoroki at home.

Chapter Text

The night was cold, but neither Izuku nor Bakugo seemed to care. They stood outside the Todoroki estate, hidden in the shadows of a large tree across the street. The mansion was massive, its tall iron gates looming in front of them, and yet, despite its size, it felt suffocating just looking at it.
Bakugo shifted anxiously, arms crossed over his chest, his foot tapping against the pavement. “He should’ve checked in by now.”
Izuku glanced at his phone. No messages. No calls. Just silence. He exhaled slowly, his breath visible in the night air. “Shoto’s strong. He can handle himself.”
“Yeah?” Bakugo snapped, turning sharply to face him. “You sure about that? Because last time he came home, he showed up at school looking like he got put through a goddamn meat grinder.” His hands clenched into fists. “What if that bastard hurts him again?”
Izuku reached out, placing a hand on Bakugo’s wrist before gently prying his fingers open. “We’re here. We won’t let that happen.”
Bakugo’s jaw was tight, his eyes burning with frustration, with helplessness. He hated waiting. He hated not knowing. And he hated that Todoroki was in there alone. His breath came faster, harsher, and he turned away, hands tugging at his hair. “Damn it!”
Without thinking, Izuku grabbed his face and kissed him.
Bakugo’s entire body tensed, his sharp inhale lost between them. But after a moment, he melted, gripping Izuku’s jacket like a lifeline. When they finally pulled apart, Bakugo pressed his forehead against Izuku’s, his breathing uneven. “The fuck was that for?”
“To calm you down,” Izuku murmured, brushing his thumb over Bakugo’s cheek. “And to remind you that we’re in this together.”
Bakugo huffed, something softer in his expression now. “Yeah, yeah… I know.”
A loud crash shattered the moment.
Both of them whipped around, eyes locked onto the house. A second later, a scream followed, raw and filled with pain.
Then, fire exploded from the main living room window, bright orange flames licking the air like a warning.
“Shit!” Bakugo took off running, vaulting over the gate without hesitation.
Izuku was right behind him, adrenaline surging through his veins. His heart pounded in his chest as they raced toward the burning estate. They had to get to Shoto.
Now.
________________________________

Todoroki’s POV
30 minutes ago…

Todoroki stepped into the house, the heavy wooden doors shutting behind him with an ominous finality. The traditional Japanese home stood in eerie silence, the dim lighting casting long shadows against the paper-thin walls. He could still smell the faint scent of burnt wood lingering in the air from previous training sessions, a haunting reminder of his childhood.
He hated this place.
Every corner of the house held memories he wanted to forget. Nights spent bandaging his own wounds in the bathroom, days of forced training until he could no longer stand, echoes of his mother’s screams as she tried in vain to protect him. He swallowed hard, willing his feet to move forward. He had to get through this night. Just one night.
His steps were slow and measured as he made his way to the main living room. He had expected to see his siblings, Fuyumi and Natsuo, but the house felt too empty. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.
Where were they?
His father sat in the center of the room, a low table between them. The flickering light from a single lantern illuminated his sharp features, casting deep shadows across his face. His arms were crossed, his expression unreadable, but Todoroki could see the anger simmering just beneath the surface.
“Where are the others?” he asked, keeping his voice neutral.
“They’re out for the night,” Endeavor replied curtly. “I sent them away. This conversation is just between us.”
Todoroki clenched his jaw. Of course, he had planned it this way. His fingers twitched at his sides, but he forced himself to remain still. “What do you want?”
Endeavor leaned forward, his eyes blazing. “I’ve let this rebellion of yours go on long enough. Your friendship with those two street rats is clouding your judgment.”
Todoroki’s fists clenched at his sides. “They’re not street rats.”
“They’re nobodies,” Endeavor snapped. “You were supposed to be leagues ahead of your classmates by now, but instead, you waste your time with them. You’ve let them distract you, let them weaken you.”
Todoroki’s breath came sharper now, his chest rising and falling with suppressed anger. “I’m not weak.”
“Then prove it,” Endeavor growled. “Move back home. Train under me properly. Cut them out of your life and focus on what really matters.”
Todoroki’s heart pounded. He knew this was coming. He had known the moment Endeavor stormed into the nurse’s office at UA. But the words still sent ice through his veins.
“I won’t stop seeing them,” he said, voice unwavering.
Endeavor’s eyes burned brighter with an unnatural fire. “I won’t let two random nobodies destroy everything I’ve built in you.”
Todoroki’s control snapped. “They have names!” he shouted, stepping forward. “Their names are Katsuki and Izuku, and they’re my boyfriends!”
The room went deathly silent.
Endeavor’s face twisted in rage, his flames flaring higher. “You’re serious.”
Todoroki tried to keep his breathing even, but his father’s oppressive presence was suffocating. Still, he forced himself to stand tall. “Yes.”
Endeavor’s eyes darkened, and then, he laughed. A cruel, hollow sound. “So that’s what this is? You’ve let them turn you into some kind of weak, pathetic—”
“Don’t,” Todoroki warned, his voice low. His hands were shaking.
Endeavor sneered. “You’re a disgrace. You are meant to destroy All Might, not play around like some useless pet. Boyfriends? Are you kidding me?” he let out a scoff, "They are beneath you, Shoto."
Todoroki turned on his heel. “I’m leaving.”
He barely made it three steps before a massive crash echoed behind him. He spun around just in time to see the low wooden table flying across the room, smashing into the doorframe in front of him. The exit was blocked.
His pulse spiked as he felt the heat rising behind him.
“I am not finished,” Endeavor growled.
Todoroki tried to step away, but a strong, fiery grip clamped onto his wrist. He gasped as pain seared up his arm, the scent of burning fabric filling his nostrils. His father’s flames were licking at his sleeve, scorching his skin.
A scream tore from his throat.
Endeavor yanked him closer, his breath hot and heavy with rage. “You will respect me. You will fall in line. I will not let you throw away everything I’ve given you for a pair of worthless—”
The wall beside them exploded.
Shards of wood and paper flew in all directions as Bakugo and Izuku burst through, the night air rushing into the burning room.
Bakugo moved first, his hands igniting as he lunged. “Get your fucking hands off him!”
Endeavor barely had time to turn before Izuku was moving too, One For All crackling in his arms as he reared back. “SMASH!”
The force of the impact sent Endeavor crashing backward, his grip torn from Todoroki’s wrist. Flames sputtered wildly, but before they could consume the room, Bakugo was there, grabbing Todoroki and hauling him into his arms.
“Come on, Shoto,” Bakugo whispered urgently, his voice softer than Todoroki had ever heard it.
Todoroki was shaking, his arm screaming in pain, but he nodded weakly. They had to get out. Now.
Izuku landed beside them, eyes blazing with determination. “Let’s go.”
The three of them sprinted from the wreckage, Todoroki’s heart pounding so hard it hurt.
"Stop." Todoroki said weakly, his voice still shaking from the confrontation with his father. "We can't go back to your house, Bakugo. It isn't safe."
Before Bakugo could say anything, the remnants of Todoroki's house exploded in flame. Endeavor's roar of rage could probably be heard for miles around.
“We're going to Izuku’s house,” Bakugo said, tightening his grip on Todoroki. “We’re going to All Might.”

Chapter Text

The door to Midoriya's house slammed open, startling the figure on the couch. All Might, in his weakened, skeletal form, looked up in alarm just as Bakugo stormed in, carrying Todoroki in his arms. Izuku was close behind, pale with worry and breathing heavily.
"Dad!" Izuku cried out, his voice breaking. "We need help! It’s Shoto!"
All Might stood up so fast he wobbled. "What?! What happened?!" he asked, but his voice was gravelly, low, nowhere near the booming tones of the symbol of peace.
"We couldn’t get him to Recovery Girl, so I brought him here."
Bakugo rounded the corner into the quaint living room and froze mid-step, eyes narrowing. "What the hell? Who the fuck is this?!"
Izuku blinked, startled, before looking between Bakugo and All Might. "Wait… you don’t recognize him?"
"Recognize who?! What did you just call him? Dad? I thought you said All Might was your dad!" Bakugo asked, voice rising.
"He’s… he’s All Might," Izuku said. He curled in on himself at the realization of his mistake.
Bakugo stared, eyes wide and jaw slack. "You’re telling me this skeleton dude is All Might?!"
All Might scratched the back of his head, a sheepish grin barely forming on his thin face. "Ah… surprise, young Bakugo?"
Todoroki groaned weakly in Bakugo's arms, and All Might's expression turned serious again. "Put him on the couch. I’ll get the burn kit."
The living room turned into a flurry of motion as All Might brought over medical supplies. Izuku helped unwrap Todoroki’s charred sleeve, while Bakugo hovered protectively nearby, eyes darting between Todoroki’s injuries and All Might’s emaciated form.
The air was tense, filled with the sharp smell of antiseptic and the quiet, pained hisses from Todoroki. Once the burns were treated and wrapped, Todoroki lay quietly, his eyes trained on All Might.
Bakugo finally broke the silence. "Alright. No more secrets. What the hell is going on?"
Izuku flinched. His hands trembled where they rested on Todoroki’s arm. "I… I didn’t want to keep it from you. I just… I didn’t know if you’d still want to be around me."
Bakugo’s brows drew together. "Izu, what are you talking about?"
Todoroki shifted on the couch, his eyes shifting to look at Izuku. "I said no secrets would stop us from lov- from being with you, remember?"
Izuku looked up, startled.
Todoroki gave him a faint, weary smile. "That still stands. Even if you're scared. Even if you think we'll hate you. We won't."
His voice was quiet but firm, and there was something lingering in his gaze that made Izuku's breath catch. A softness. A promise.
But before either of them could speak, All Might cleared his throat. "I suppose it's time you two know the truth."
He settled into a chair, his face solemn. "About a year after I took Zuku in, I was severely injured in a battle. I can no longer maintain my hero form for long. The form you see now is what’s left."
Bakugo swallowed hard. "So… you’re dying?"
"My time as a hero is ending," All Might admitted. "But I couldn’t let my legacy die with me. My quirk, One For All, is unique and can be passed on."
Bakugo's eyes widened slowly, realization dawning. "Wait. You gave it away? You mean…" He looked at Izuku, stunned. "It’s you. Isn’t it, Izu? You inherited All Might's quirk."
Izuku nodded, tears spilling down his cheeks. "I'm sorry. I didn’t mean to hide it. I just… I didn’t want to lose you two. I wasn't born with some awesome power, and I didn't do anything to earn it."
There was a long silence. The weight of the truth hung heavy in the air.
Bakugo sat down beside him, his face unreadable. Then, slowly, he let out a sigh.
"Nobody earns their quirk. I never understood where your power came from, but I don’t think I would've ever guessed this. For most of our childhood, I was the strong one. But you were the hero. Even when you had no quirk, you were selfless, always putting others first."
He reached out and gently cupped Izuku’s cheek.
"It doesn’t matter you were born quirkless. Because you weren’t made to have just any power. You were made for this quirk. Your quirk."
Izuku broke. Tears streamed down his face as he leaned into Bakugo's touch.
Todoroki, from his place on the couch, reached out and took Izuku’s other hand. "You're ours, Izu. No quirk, or secret, or father from hell is going to change that."
And in that moment, despite the pain, despite the fire and chaos that had led them here, they were safe.
And they were together.
"I really don't think I deserve the title 'father from hell', so I really hope you weren't referring to me, young Todoroki." All Might huffed.
Todoroki's face grew pained and he glanced down at his healing arm. "I wasn't." he said in a darkened voice.
"Tell me." said All Might.
Later that night, as the fire crackled softly in the hearth, the three boys sat curled together on the couch. Between gentle words and shared confessions, they finally told All Might everything that had happened at the Todoroki house.
All Might listened quietly, his face grave. When they finished, he stood and gently placed a hand on Todoroki’s shoulder.
"You’re safe now. And as long as you’re under my roof, you always will be."
The boys nodded, and for the first time that night, Todoroki closed his eyes without fear.
He knew he was finally home.

Chapter Text

Todoroki stirred awake, the warmth of the living room blanketing him in unfamiliar comfort. His body ached, and his arm throbbed dully beneath the bandages, but it was the slow rise and fall of Bakugo’s chest beneath his cheek that grounded him. He blinked slowly, eyes adjusting to the soft morning light filtering through the windows, the amber sunbeams casting long, soft shadows across the wooden floor.
Bakugo was still asleep, arms loosely cradled around Todoroki’s waist. His breathing was even, soft. So different from the explosive personality he wore during the day. On the floor beside them, Midoriya sat upright, his head tilted to the side in an awkward position, softly snoring. His curls were a mess, and his freckled face relaxed in sleep despite everything that had happened the night before. There was a smudge of dried blood just beneath his hairline that hadn’t been cleaned off.
Todoroki allowed himself a rare smile.
The quiet hum of the refrigerator, the ticking of the clock on the wall, the faint rustle of trees outside all blended into a rare kind of peace. It was unfamiliar, but welcome.
The first time Todoroki had come to someone's house injured like this, it had been Bakugo’s. After a brutal fight with his father, he’d barely managed to drag himself to Bakugo’s door. That night, Bakugo yelled, cursed, and then kissed him for the first time. That moment had marked the beginning of something real. Not just romance, but safety. Trust.
Now here he was again. Injured, raw, and bleeding... but this time, in Midoriya’s house. Surrounded by warmth and care.
He chuckled under his breath, the sound barely audible.
“History really does repeat itself,” he murmured.
That time, he’d ended up admitting he loved Bakugo about a year into their relationship. It wasn’t easy for him, being honest with his emotions. But with Bakugo, it eventually became something he had to say. A truth that demanded to be spoken.
It only took him a couple weeks to realize he felt the same way about Izuku.
His eyes fell on the green-haired boy below. With his good hand, he reached out and gently brushed Midoriya’s hair back from his face. The boy stirred slightly but didn’t wake, instead making a small, sleepy noise before leaning subconsciously toward the touch.
Todoroki’s chest tightened.
He couldn't say it out loud yet. Not when everything was still so new and fragile. But he knew.
He loved the way Bakugo always stood in front of him, daring the world to try something. He loved the way Midoriya smiled when he thought no one was watching, like he was holding a secret piece of hope inside. They had seen him at his worst and never turned away. Never hesitated to protect him.
He loved them. He loved them both equally.
And more than anything else in the world.
His gaze drifted to the window. The outside world seemed so quiet, but Todoroki knew better. The warmth of the room couldn’t chase away the looming shadow in his heart. Endeavor would come for them. That man wouldn’t let this slide. Not now.
But Todoroki wasn’t the same boy who used to cower in the halls of that cold house. He wasn’t the trembling child that had begged for his mother’s warmth. He had grown. He had changed.
And he wasn’t alone anymore.
He swore on his fire, on his ice, on every scar and every tear. He would never let his father touch the men he loved.
Not ever again.
A soft rustle broke his thoughts.
Bakugo shifted in his sleep, his brows twitching slightly. One arm tightened around Todoroki's waist, tugging him closer in a half-conscious gesture of protection and affection. A faint, muffled voice came from his lips, low and slurred by sleep.
"Sho... Izu... mine..."
Todoroki’s eyes widened just slightly before softening. A flush crept up his cheeks, the tender moment anchoring him more than any fire or ice ever could. He looked down at Midoriya again, his fingers still tangled gently in the boy’s curls.
His heart, already cracked open, fluttered in a way that felt frightening and beautiful all at once.
'Yes,' he thought. 'They are mine too.'

Chapter Text

A couple hours later all the boys were up. Bakugo stood at the stove, spatula in one hand and a low scowl of concentration on his face. His hair was still tousled from sleep, but there was a strange softness to his usual sharp edges as he worked quietly. The aroma of sizzling eggs and butter filled the small kitchen as he occasionally glanced toward the hallway leading to the living room.
Midoriya finally rounded the living room corner and came to slump into one of the four chairs surrounding the small dining table. Todoroki was perched beside him, his bandaged arm resting carefully on a cushion. He looked tired, but a quiet strength had settled over him, like a storm that had passed, leaving resolve in its wake.
All Might stepped into the room, his weakened form slouched but his presence still commanding as he greeted them with a nod.
"Morning, boys," he said, voice hoarse but kind. "I trust you all got a bit of rest?"
"As much as we could," Todoroki said, voice low.
Bakugo set a plate of food in front of each of them before leaning back against the counter. "We need to talk about what’s next. You know he won’t let this go."
Midoriya's phone buzzed softly against the table but wasn't acknowledged by anyone.
All Might nodded solemnly. "You're right. Endeavor's pride alone guarantees he'll make a move. We need a plan to keep Shoto safe."
"Maybe we move him somewhere else for a bit," Bakugo offered, arms crossed. "A dorm. A safehouse. Hell, even a hotel under someone else's name."
"If it comes to that, I have contacts," All Might said. "But any official action will need to go through the authorities."
The tension in the room thickened like smoke. Midoriya’s phone buzzed against the table again. He blinked and picked it up. A message from Uraraka lit up the screen:
'Turn on the news. Now.'
His heart stuttered. "I’ll be right back," he said quickly and slipped back around the corner into the living room.
He turned on the TV and flipped to the news channel.
It only took seconds for his world to come to a complete standstill.
His hand went limp, the remote falling from his grasp and clattering to the hardwood floor.
The loud noise startled the others.
"Izu?" Bakugo called, rushing into the living room, Todoroki and All Might right behind him.
Izuku didn’t move, didn’t speak.
"What happened?" Bakugo demanded.
Izuku lifted a shaking hand and pointed at the screen. "Look."
The room fell silent as the broadcast played.
Endeavor stood in front of a crowd of reporters, his expression grave. Behind him stood the charred and splintered remains of the Todoroki home, the damage was extensive and in places the boys hadn't even been at.
"Last night, my son was kidnapped from our family home," he said. "Two of his classmates, Izuku Midoriya and Katsuki Bakugo, broke into our residence. They destroyed the property, assaulted me and my son, and then kidnapped him. I fear my son is being manipulated and exploited. He suffered injuries to his wrist, Katsuki Bakugo burned him severely. My fear is that Bakugo and Midoriya are consistently harming him in order to force compliance."
Gasps from the reporters. Flashbulbs. The broadcast kept playing, but none of the boys heard the rest.
Midoriya stepped back, panic etched deep into his features. "N-no... no, that’s not..."
"Izu," Todoroki said, grabbing his face between his hands.
"What if the police come? What if they take you away? What if they make you go back to him-"
Todoroki cut him off with a kiss. Deep and steadying. When he pulled back, he looked Izuku in the eyes.
"We’re going to the station. All of us. And we’ll tell them the truth."
Bakugo looked unsure, his fists clenched at his sides. "What if they think you're making it up? That we’re forcing you to say it?"
"They won't. Because I’ll tell them everything," Todoroki said, turning to wrap an arm around Izuku while looking straight at Katsuki. "Every single thing that bastard ever did to me."
The words hit like thunder.
Bakugo’s eyes widened. "Are you sure, Shoto?"
Todoroki nodded. "I’m sure. I’ve kept it quiet long enough. He doesn’t get to keep hiding behind his image. Not if it means hurting the people I care about."
All Might stepped forward, his eyes solemn. "And I’ll be there with you. I can back up your claims. I’ve seen the scars. I’ve heard enough to know the truth."
The boys exchanged looks. Fear lingered, but so did something stronger.
Resolve.
They gathered their things, their breaths steadying.
"Ok." Izuku said on a sigh, "Let's do this together."

Chapter Text

The station was colder than any of them expected.
Todoroki, Bakugo, and All Might entered the lobby, the air heavy with tension. Despite their determination, none of them expected what happened next.
As soon as they walked in, two officers approached them.
"Midoriya Izuku and Bakugo Katsuki? You're both under arrest."
"What?" Todoroki shouted, stepping forward. "We came to explain everything. This is a mistake!"
The officers ignored him. They grabbed Bakugo’s arms and forced them behind his back, slapping on quirk-canceling cuffs. Another pair of hands reached for Izuku.
"Stop! You're not even listening!" Todoroki tried to interfere, only for a third officer to hold him back.
Izuku stumbled as one of the officers yanked him roughly. "You little punk," the man growled and without warning, drove his knee into Izuku’s stomach.
Izuku cried out, collapsing to his knees.
Bakugo lost it. "YOU SON OF A-"
Todoroki’s hands flared with flame.
But it was All Might, now back in his public form, who roared, "Enough!"
The room fell silent. All Might stepped between them and the officers, eyes blazing with fury.
He turned to the one who had struck Izuku. "Touch that boy again, and I will personally see you dismissed from the force."
The officer’s face remained downturned, a strange twitch pulling at his lip. Then... a soft, unhinged laugh.
No one said anything as Izuku and Bakugo were dragged off in opposite directions. Todoroki stood frozen, his heart pounding in his chest.
_______________________________________
Inside a sterile, white-walled interview room, Todoroki sat beside All Might. Across from them, an officer was typing slowly.
"So you're saying your classmates didn’t kidnap you. That they saved you."
"Yes," Todoroki said firmly. "I was being harmed by my father when Midoriya and Bakugo intervened. I asked them to be there."
All Might nodded. "I can corroborate. Todoroki has confided in me about Endeavor’s behavior. He feared for his safety."
The officer looked skeptical, but nodded. "We’ll need evidence."
"Test Bakugo’s quirk against my burns. I guarantee they don’t match," Todoroki snapped.
And they did. A technician ran a quick comparison.
"The pattern’s different. Bakugo’s blasts leave micro-fractures and carbon marks. The wounds on Todoroki’s arm are deeper and heated through. They’re older ones, too."
Bakugo was cleared. Hours later, he was escorted back to the waiting area.
Todoroki rushed over. "Katsuki-"
"Where is Izu?" Bakugo cut in while hugging Shoto. "I swear if that damn bastard touched him again I'm gonna-"
"Stop." Shoto said while putting a hand on his chest, "I'm sure Izuku is fine. Let's just wait a bit, and he should come out soon." Pulling Bakugo towards the waiting room seats near All Might.
They waited. One hour passed. Then two.
Todoroki frowned. "You’d think they’d hold you longer because of the quirk thing, not him."
"Exactly," Bakugo muttered. "I've had enough. I'm going to get some damn answers."
"Young Bakugo." Said All Might, standing to his feet, "I will go check about Zuku. You stay here together and please try to calm down."
"Calm down?!" Bakugo yelled, "How do you expect me to calm down after everything that-" He stopped as All Might put a hand on his shoulder.
"I will handle this, young Bakugo." He said in a calming voice, "You need to stay here with young Todoroki. Take care of each other until Zuku is back."
Bakugo stares at All Might for a long moment before letting out a small huff and sitting back into the chair next to Todoroki.
All Might went to the front desk. "Excuse me, can you update me on Midoriya Izuku? He came in with us and the charges should have been dropped but he hasn't been released yet."
The desk officer blinked. "Midoriya? Sure thing give me just a moment." He turned to type something on his computer. "It says the charges were dropped, but he was never checked into the system. We still don't have his paperwork filled out either."
All Might paled. "No... he was arrested. By an officer right in the lobby. I saw it. He was kicked after being detained."
The desk officer looked horrified. "No officer would do that. At least none that I know. Are you sure he didn't leave already?"
"No. We were his only ride any I know him well enough that he wouldn't just leave."
"What happened?" Said Todoroki as he walked up to the desk. Bakugo followed close behind him.
"Apparently Zu- young Midoriya was never checked into the system." Said All Might.
"What the hell?!" Yelled Bakugo, "What do you mean never checked in? He was arrested right here in the fucking lobby you fat, donut stuffing-"
Todoroki quickly covered his mouth before Bakugo could continue.
"I think I'll take it from here." Called a smooth voice in the back. Suddenly, a man walked out from behind the dividing wall separating the offices from the waiting area. Or he was sort of a man. He had dog-like features, in fact he just straight up looked like a dog. Bakugo and Todoroki did a double-take as the dog man addressed All Might. "Since this involves you All Might, I will tak care of this personally. You are dismissed for now, Officer Wales."
The stout officer from the desk, Officer Wales, got up and walked back towards the desk area.
"Please allow me a moment to set things up." Said the dog-like officer.
"Thank you, Chief Tsuragamae." Said All Might.
Moments later, the chief of police remerged. "Let’s take this to the back."
They followed him to a monitoring room and the chief pulled up the camera footage.
It showed the officer leading Izuku through the hallway away from a yelling Bakugo and frozen Todoroki... and then out the back door.
The chief changes cameras to show the back field near where the squad cars were kept. The feed showed the two of them heading toward the grassy field behind the cars.
A van pulled up. Izuku began thrashing and fighting the officer's grip. He turned to seemingly yell something towards the station, when two figures stepped out of the van before it drove away.
Izuku momentarily stilled, watching the receding van, only to restart his thrashing when one of the men burst into a smoky, black form.
Kurogiri.
The man beside him had a patchwork face and wore a long black trench coat. Then, suddenly, the officer holding Izuku seemed to droop... no. The officer melted away. In their place stood a girl seemingly in high school, and she was bare-naked. Patchwork guy tossed her a set of clothes and she let go of Izuku for a second.
Izuku took the opportunity and tried to run. He sprinted across the lawn, his arms tugging at the quirk-blocking handcuffs, when blue flames struck his back.
He screamed, his body twisting in agony. But the video had no sound. Kurogiri’s warp engulfed him, and all four of them vanished.
Bakugo stood frozen. Then he started shaking, a volcano about to erupt.
But it was Todoroki who broke first. His tears froze and flaked off as ice erupted out of him.
All Might hold him down. "Calm down, young Todoroki. We need to stay calm to save Zuku."
The chief turned, eyes wide. "I’m calling a full search. Every patrol with check all know hideouts."
All Might’s voice was grim. "We’re going to Nezu. And the Hero Commission. We’re getting him back."
Bakugo still hadn’t moved.
His fingers curled into fists.
The storm inside him was about to break.

Chapter Text

*Izuku's POV*

Izuku woke up to the bite of cold concrete against his cheek.
His back was on fire.
Not metaphorically. Not the usual sting of an injury. It was a raging, searing pain, like his entire spine had been flayed open and set ablaze. He tried to scream, but only a strangled groan came out.
"Dabi," he whispered, the name laced with fear and recognition.
It came back in pieces. The kick from the fake officer. The hallway. The back door. The girl melting into someone else. Toga, he remembered distantly. Then the warped figure, Kurogiri. And finally, blue fire that didn’t burn at first but melted something deep under his skin.
Izuku forced himself to open his eyes. He was in some kind of warehouse. Light streamed through high windows in harsh, sharp lines, cutting across the space in bars of gold and gray. He blinked, trying to sit up. The light flickered oddly across the ground around him.
Metal.
He turned his head slowly and saw bars. Thick, steel bars on every side.
A cage.
Izuku tried to push himself up, but the second he flexed his spine, white-hot pain surged through him and his arms gave out. His chin hit the pavement and his vision whited out. He stayed down, panting against the floor, jaw throbbing from the impact.
Swallowing down bile, he shifted to look toward his legs.
A chain.
It was wrapped tight around his left ankle and bolted into the concrete through a thick metal hook. The clamp blinked with a familiar pale blue light. Quirk suppressant tech.
He was completely, utterly powerless.
Izuku let his forehead rest against the ground. He breathed through the nausea, trying to think, to remember. He traced everything back.
He'd walked into the station. Bakugo had been furious. Todoroki had been scared, but strong. All Might had told them to stay calm.
Then the officer- no, Toga had kicked him in the gut, dragged him out, and changed shape. Dabi's fire. Then Kurogiri transported them through the warped space. There had been no sound. He remembered the sheer wrongness of it. Like he’d been screaming into a void. No one had heard him.
He felt his eyes sting, but clenched his fists to stay focused. Crying wouldn’t help now. Thinking would. He needed to understand where he was. What they wanted. Why him.
He had seen Dabi and Kurogiri before. USJ. But this felt different. Coordinated. Planned. He squeezed his eyes shut tight to stop his thoughts from drifting towards other, darker memories.
They had gone through the effort of infiltrating the police. That wasn’t just villain chaos. That was strategy.
He twisted carefully to peer through the bars. The space beyond was empty. More warehouse. A broken crate. A flickering light. Nothing useful.
“Okay, okay…” he whispered to himself. “I’m alive. That’s the first thing. I’m alive.”
He winced as he sat up near the far corner of the cage, doing his best to keep pressure off his back. Every breath stung.
They hadn’t killed him. That meant they wanted something.
Maybe information. Maybe leverage. Maybe him.
Izuku narrowed his eyes and bit his bottom lip to keep it from trembling.
“Whatever you want,” he muttered, “you’re not getting it.”
He was still Izuku Midoriya. Hero-in-training. And he knew his dad and boyfriends wouldn’t stop until they found him.
___________________________________

Izuku wasn’t sure how long he’d been lying on the cold floor. Hours maybe. Time was impossible to track with only the stripes of light crawling slowly across the dusty warehouse floor. His body ached, his back was a hellscape of pain, and every time he breathed too deep, fire licked up his spine.
He was staring at the metal bars of his cage when a door creaked open on the far side of the warehouse. He couldn’t see it, a large crate blocked his view, but the distant echo of boots on concrete snapped him to attention. He didn’t call out. Not until he knew who it was.
The footsteps grew louder until someone stepped into view.
Shigaraki.
The same pale, twitchy man from the USJ attack. His red eyes glittered with interest as he locked gazes with Izuku and offered a crooked smile. "Oh look, prodigal son finally decides to wake up."
Izuku didn’t answer. He didn’t understand what Shigaraki meant, and that smile made his skin crawl.
Behind him came Dabi, climbing up to sit lazily atop the crate like a cat. A third figure followed—hooded, silent, lingering just behind them.
Shigaraki paced closer to the bars. "Man, they really did a number on you, huh? Not that it matters. You’ll be healed up soon enough."
Dabi spoke up without looking. "Boss is coming. You should maybe stop monologuing."
Shigaraki made a show of rolling his eyes, but stopped his taunting. Still, he couldn’t help one last comment. "Can’t wait to see the look on your face when it all clicks, baby brother."
Izuku flinched. "Brother?" he whispered. But before he could press further, the air began to shimmer.
A fog of black smoke bloomed near the cage. Kurogiri warped in, bringing with him Toga and a tall man in a black suit. This man had thick tubes running out from his face and neck, connecting to a strange device Toga carried with disturbing reverence. But it was the man’s face that stole Izuku’s breath.
Or rather, what remained of it.
From the nose up, his features looked melted. The skin pulled tight and scarred beyond recognition. Only his mouth moved with unsettling calm.
“Leave us,” he said to the others.
Shigaraki groaned. “Why do you always get the fun parts?” Still, he obeyed, as did Dabi and Toga.
The man sat on the crate, device resting behind him, and stared through the bars. Silence stretched for a few heavy seconds before he spoke.
"You look just like your mother."
Izuku’s world tilted.
He shot forward despite the pain. “Don’t you dare- don’t you dare bring her up!”
The man didn’t flinch. “You never knew what she did to me.”
“Villains killed her! And my aunt! You don’t get to talk about her like you knew her!”
“What about your father?” the man asked calmly.
Izuku froze. “What does that have to do with anything?”
The man smiled faintly. “Everything. Because we’re talking about your family.”
“I never knew him. He died before I was born.”
“Is that what she told you?”
The words hit like a thunderclap.
Izuku narrowed his eyes. “What are you saying?”
“My name,” the man said, leaning forward, “is All For One."
Izuku's breath caught. He remembered the stories. The fight that left All Might shattered. The villain so dangerous, so unstoppable, that even All Might could barely defeat him. This was him.
“I’m the one who’s built an empire in the shadows,” the man continued, “And I am your father.”
Izuku’s brain blanked.
“No. That’s not- she wouldn’t-”
“She did,” All For One said smoothly. “She took you and ran. Lied to you your whole life. But I never stopped watching. Never stopped looking.”
He pulled something from his pocket. A photo. Faded. Worn.
His mother, Inko, smiling. Holding a baby Izuku. And standing beside her was a man with white hair and intelligent eyes.
“You were that baby,” All For One said. “And now I’m taking back what’s mine.”
Izuku stared, heart pounding, bile rising.
“You’re insane,” he whispered. “I would never believe a villain over my own mother.”
“She’s gone. I’m all that’s left. I can give you everything she never could. Power, influence, a family.”
“I have a family!” Izuku shouted. “All Might raised me better than you ever could!”
All For One’s amusement vanished. He tilted his head. “So… Toshinori raised you. Now that is interesting.”
He then he laughed. It was long, low, and full of something Izuku couldn’t name.
“Well,” he said at last, “if All Might raised you, I suppose you’ll need some...retraining. We’ll break those silly ideals soon enough.”
He stood, grabbing the device behind him.
“But first, I'll get someone to deal with that wound on your back. We’ll have plenty of time to talk, Izuku. After all…”
He smiled again.
“I’m not losing you again.”
Then he walked away, leaving Izuku cold and silent in the cage.
He stared at the photo still lying on the ground.
And for the first time since he woke up... he was truly afraid.

Chapter Text

*Bakugo's POV*

It had been a month. A full, gut-wrenching, soul-splitting month since Izuku had been taken, and they were no closer to finding him than they were the night he vanished. Well, he guessed that wasn't technically true. They knew all the places he wasn't, hell they'd searched the entire goddamn prefecture. Bakugo sat rigid in the cold metal chair, arms crossed, jaw tight, eyes staring blankly at the wall ahead as another Hero Public Safety Commission meeting droned on.

He was supposed to be listening. Hell, they were lucky All Might had even pulled enough strings to let him and Todoroki be present at all. But Bakugo didn’t care about bureaucracy or red tape. He cared about results and these meetings never had any. Just recycled failure and repackaged regret.

Todoroki sat beside him, spine straight, arms relaxed, eyes focused. He was listening. Actually listening to every report, every failed lead, every hollow promise. Bakugo couldn’t stand it.

He should be out there. Searching. Fighting. Tearing another city apart brick by brick if that’s what it took. Not sitting here pretending these suits knew how to save someone like Izuku.

Izuku.

Every time Bakugo closed his eyes he saw the video again. The way Deku collapsed. The blood. The silent cry of pain. He didn't know if it was a blessing or curse that the video hadn't had any sound. But right now he was leaning toward a curse, his imagination plagued him with how his scream might have sounded. Was it pure anguish? A cry for help? Rage? Maybe it was all three.

A voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Why would villains have targeted the boy when he was five?" a voice asked, curious, almost clinical.

Bakugo’s eyes snapped to the speaker. Someone from the Commission, probably. They all looked the same to him. The one he though spoke had dark brown hair and was wearing a brown suit that seemed to be the theme of the day. Two days ago it was blue.

All Might answered, voice measured but heavy. "I only came into Izuku’s life after the second incident, when his aunt and her partner were attacked. He was ten. I was told a child was missing from the scene, and I went searching. I found Izuku living on the streets a couple weeks later."

He turned to Bakugo then. “You knew him before that. Was there anything else? Anything that might help?”

Bakugo sighed, dragging a hand through his hair. "Not much. I was pretty much kept in the dark too. His dad died before he was born from what I heard. We met when we were three I think. I don’t remember much about the incident, just cops everywhere and the house being… gone."

Gone. Like it had been swallowed whole.

He shifted in his seat, uncomfortable under the weight of memories.

"Didn’t find out what happened until years later," he muttered. "And we didn’t reconnect until years after that."

The room resumed its discussions, but Bakugo barely heard them. His chest ached. His hands shook in his lap. He kept seeing Izuku fighting, the wounds and the screaming, that stupid, brave face staring down those monsters.

Why was it always him? Why was Izuku always the one who had to suffer? He kept getting hurt while he was with us.

A gentle squeeze pulled him back.

Todoroki’s hand had slid into his.

Bakugo looked at him, eyes cloudy.

Todoroki offered a small, quiet smile. “We’ll find him. And when we do, we won’t stop until the three of us are whole again.”

Bakugo nodded. “I love you,” he said, voice barely above a whisper.

“I know,” Todoroki replied, squeezing his hand again.

The door to the meeting room slammed open.

A police officer burst in, panting. “We found something.”

Chapter Text

*Izuku's POV*

Izuku wasn’t sure how long he’d been in the cage.

He’d tried counting days at first, using the light that spilled through the cracks of the warehouse to track time. But the villains caught on to that quickly. Now they cast the warehouse in complete darkness at random intervals, leaving him dazed and confused. The gas didn’t help either. It was subtle, nearly invisible except when it drifted through the light in faint glimmers. He’d tried holding his breath at first, but the gas never stopped. It seeped in constantly, curling in his lungs, muddling his thoughts. Day and night had become meaningless. Sleep was no longer restful, only filled with dreams he couldn't escape.

He knew something was wrong. On the first night, someone came in and used a quirk on him. It knocked him out instantly. When he woke up, most of the pain in his back had dulled and his head no longer throbbed. He wasn’t fooled. They were trying to make him more compliant. It wasn’t going to work.

They fed him, too. But the food smelled wrong and tasted off. He hadn’t eaten in days.

The dreams were the worst. Not because they were nightmares, but because they weren’t.

He dreamed of a man. A man with white hair and sharp eyes. The same man from the photo All For One had shown him. The one with his mother. The one who claimed to be his real father.

No. That man wasn’t his dad. His dad was All Might. Toshinori Yagi. The man who raised him, taught him, and protected him.

But in the dreams, that other man would smile gently and tell stories of his mother. How they met. How she laughed. How she cried the day she found out she was pregnant. How proud she was when Izuku took his first steps. Then the man would visit, and tell the same stories. As if his subconscious wanted them to be the same person.

And Izuku would listen.

He hated that he listened.

He hated that part of him wanted to hear more.

A flicker of warping mist dragged him out of the fog of his thoughts. Kurogiri appeared silently, depositing All For One into the warehouse before vanishing again.

Izuku tensed. The visits were never this close together.

"Hello, son," All For One said.

Izuku blinked.

That was new. He always started with, "Are you ready to stay?"

He said nothing.

All For One sighed, stepping closer. "I know you think I’m harsh, but I’m trying to help you, son. These foolish ideals that have been drilled into you, forcing you to live to please others... It will only lead to your own destruction."

He crouched near the bars.

"Think about it, Izuku. Since you started at UA, you’ve been hurt over and over again. You were injured during the assessment, the first squad battle, the USJ... how many more times will you allow yourself to be hurt for the mindless pursuit of appealing to others?"

Izuku flinched. Not even having the capacity to wonder how he knew about all of Izuku's injuries.

"Going through such a tough school is commendable, but what will it get you? A lifetime of pain? The chance to help people who would turn on you the moment they doubt your purity?"

He leaned closer, his tone softening.

"I've helped people too, you know. People burdened by their quirks. People who were quirkless."

Izuku froze.

"I can take them away, but I can give quirks too, Izuku. Let me show you."

All For One stood and walked straight through the bars. Like they weren’t even there.

Izuku should have moved. Should have run.

But he didn’t want to run.

All For One’s voice was honeyed. "I know about One For All. I know Toshinori raised you as his replacement. Another child thrown into a war they can’t win. Did he tell you what that power really does?"

Izuku remained silent.

"No? Let me fill you in. One For All doesn’t just pass power. It drains your life. It leeched the strength of every wielder before you. That’s why they all died young."

Izuku felt something cold settle in his chest.

He remembered asking once about the previous wielders. All Might had brushed it off. Said they didn’t matter.

All For One saw the doubt forming. He reached out.

"Please, son. Let me help you."

Izuku scowled. "You just want One For All. You don’t care about me."

"On the contrary," the villain replied smoothly. "I have no intention of taking your quirk. I want to give you one. A version of my anti-aging quirk. Not as powerful, but enough to fight the drain. Enough to keep you alive."

Izuku hesitated.

He shouldn't.

He knew he shouldn't. Deep inside there was a voice, or maybe voices, that screamed at him not to. But there was another, sleepy voice that reminded him of his mom. It whispered that he could trust this man... his dad. Who'd been searching for him for years, and he could help. He could feel safe for the first time since... a flash of blonde and red-white hair flashed across his mind. 'Who? Who were they again? I think I remember...' But the memory was gone and all that remained was his father who stood before him holding out his hand.

Izuku reached up and took hold.

All at once his senses were flooded with power and his vision went black, he tensed up until his dad's voice mixed with the soft whisper... becoming one. "You can trust me Izuku. Give in to me, and let me help you. Let me help you find peace."

Another wave of power crashed over Izuku, and this time, he let himself float away.

Izuku Midoriya didn't exist anymore. No. He'd never existed at all.

"From now on," said All for One, " You are Izuku Shigaraki."

Chapter Text

*Todoroki's POV*

The train rumbled beneath them, a dull vibration that crawled up Todoroki’s legs and settled somewhere in his chest. The window beside him reflected a version of himself he barely recognized. He looked older, tired, and quieter than he used to be. His eyes had dark circles underneath them. Neither he nor Katsuki had been getting much sleep. One or both of them always woke from nightmares of seeing Izu kidnapped or the torturous thoughts of what may be happening to him. And then there were the dreams that maybe they were searching for a ghost. Maybe Izu was already… no. Todoroki shook his head slightly to clear his mind, then focused on the passing landscape. The terrain outside blurred with each passing second, but inside the compartment, time felt suspended.
Katsuki sat across from him, arms crossed, eyes locked on some far-off point beyond the floor. He hadn’t spoken once during the ride, which had well passed two hours by now.
All Might was further down the train car, murmuring something to the two Hero Commission agents accompanying them. Their hushed voices couldn’t cut through the static in Todoroki’s head anyway.

They were going back.

Back to where all this shit seemed to have started.

Back to his father.

It had been two weeks since the meeting where the initial lead had come in. A sliver of information buried beneath years of redacted reports and destroyed records. All pointing to one name.
Endeavor.

Todoroki hadn’t thought about his father in weeks. Not while Izuku was missing. Not while Katsuki’s silence grew louder by the day. Not while his own nightmares took shape in the form of green eyes and a scream he’d never gotten to hear.
__________________________________

They arrived at the prison about three hours later. It was a tall grey building with slim rectangular windows and walls higher than the UA campus. They were led down a corridor towards the holding area, a place where those awaiting trials were kept. The disapproving looks the warden and heroes had given him simply confirmed what he’d already known. The Commission didn’t want him to be here. Truthfully, if it weren’t for Izu, he wouldn’t have come.

They had sent All Might first. Either a gesture of diplomacy or a test. But after a week of stonewalling and silence, the message came through.

“Endeavor wants to speak to his son.”

Katsuki had nearly torn through the nearest wall. And Todoroki could admit to a small feeling of relief when he’d shown that much emotion.

“He’s screwing with us,” Katsuki had growled. “Let me go alone. I’ll get the truth out of him.”

Todoroki had refused. Not because he thought he could do better, but because he knew what Endeavor was capable of, even now.

And he wasn’t about to let Katsuki face that monster alone.

The cell had been cold, and sterile. Endeavor wore restraints, but the heat of his presence still seemed to fill the room. Todoroki fought the slight tremor in his hands as Endeavor stared at him.

“I’ll speak,” he’d said, voice even, “if I’m released, reinstated, and Shoto is returned to me.”

All Might’s voice had been sharp. “That’s not going to happen.”

“You would never let a child abuser go free just because he did one good thing,” Todoroki had said.

That got him. A flinch, barely perceptible, but there.

And then the bargaining had started. For the next two days, Endeavor, All Might, the Commission Representatives, and Shoto had negotiated. Todoroki grew increasingly impatient as the talks went on. He knew every passing moment was another Izu would be suffering through. Endeavor finally agreed to hand over the information in exchange for media suppression until the trial, private waiting rooms in the prison, and the ability to select his own attorney.

“I arrived too late.” He started in a cold voice. “Flames already everywhere. The Midoriya home was crumbling. Poisonous smells in the air. I tracked the heat signatures and found a man in a black suit carrying a child. He had a long black mask on and spoke like he was ancient, but he couldn’t have been more than thirty or so.” He’d paused then, eyes distant. And All Might went preternaturally still.
“I’d tried to fight him off, but he very nearly overtook me. That is until a fire poker slammed straight through his chest. The mother, Inko I believe was her name, had some sort of levitating quirk and used it to attack the man. He dropped the boy.”

“What happened next?” Katsuki had asked, voice barely more than breath.

“He cursed her. Threw something… acidic. Hit her face. I engaged him. Barely held my ground, but in the end, he fled.”

“And the boy?” All Might had asked.

“Unconscious the entire time. My guess is he’d been knocked out in the initial attack. I remember I went to Inko. She was already succumbing to the poison on her, and she died begging me to look after her son.”

Todoroki had watched his father carefully. Waiting for lies. For ego. But none came.

“You didn’t recognize him? When you first saw Izuku again?” He asked.

“No. Not then. But I remember her, Inko, I don’t usually forget that level of bravery from civilians.”

Something in Endeavor's tone shocked Todoroki. There was respect in his voice, and Todoroki found himself mourning the loss of Izuku’s mother, Inko. He wished he could’ve met her.
_______________________________________

The train jolted slightly, pulling Todoroki out of his most recent nightmare. The city skyline was in view now. Musutafu was close.

He wondered what Inko Midoriya would think of them now… this fractured team, clawing through shadows and ghosts to bring her son home.

A soft rustle pulled him further into wakefulness.

Beside him, Katsuki had shifted.

“You okay?” Todoroki asked.

Katsuki didn’t look at him. Just clenched his jaw and whispered, “Izuku.”

That was all.

Todoroki stared at him, heart heavy.

Katsuki hadn’t been himself since the meeting. Since the video really. He didn’t really yell anymore. Didn’t spit fire or fury at every passing annoyance. Didn’t curse at Commission members or snap at heroes who offered false sympathy.

He was just… silent.

Todoroki reached out and gently placed a hand over Katsuki’s.

The other boy flinched but didn’t pull away.

“You’re thinking about him again.”

“Always,” Katsuki said.

There was no heat in it. No anger. Just a hollow truth.

Todoroki gripped his hand tighter.

He was losing them. Both of them. Slowly… piece by piece. Katsuki was caving in on himself, crushed under the weight of guilt and grief and the unbearable silence of not knowing.

If they didn’t find Izuku soon…

Todoroki didn’t finish the thought.

Because he wasn’t sure there’d be anything left of Katsuki if they didn’t.

And if that happened… if he truly lost them both…

The train began to slow.

Outside the window, the Commission building loomed tall and sterile in the distance, pulsing with lights that felt too bright.

The train slowed to a stop and both boys rose. Todoroki watched Katsuki’s back as he walked down the aisle of the train. His resolve hardened as he grabbed his things. He was going to find Izuku and then the three of them would never be separated again. When he found Izuku, he would finally say those three little words he’d been afraid to say before.

Chapter Text

*Izuku's POV*

The warehouse stank of copper and smoke.

Izuku wiped a smear of blood from his cheek, flicking it to the ground without thought. His boots crunched glass beneath them as he stepped over a mangled body, head tilted at an unnatural angle. It had only taken minutes. The leader of the ring, a loudmouthed wannabe with a cheap quirk and a worse attitude, had screamed for mercy until Tomura silenced him with a flick of his decaying fingers. The rest scattered like rats, but none got far.

He and his brother had made sure of that.

Izuku exhaled slowly as he approached the exit. Tomura was waiting outside, crouched in the alley with his hood up, scratching lazily at his neck like none of this mattered.

“You good?” Izuku asked.

Tomura didn’t look up. “Was boring. You’re getting faster.”

Izuku felt a flicker of pride at that. His brother didn’t compliment him often.

“We’re done here,” Tomura said. “Let’s report in.”
_______________________________

The walk back was uneventful, but Izuku’s thoughts felt loud. He could still feel the way the last man cowering and the way he had begged before Izuku snapped his neck. The way the pleading made something inside him twist once. Just once. But it had faded quickly, like everything else that didn’t matter.

By the time they returned, his hands were steady again.

One of the guards met them at the gate. “The boss wants to see you, Izuku Shigaraki.”

Izuku nodded, the name familiar to him now. “Understood.”
_______________________________

His father’s office was dim and cold. The doctor was already there, standing beside the table like a shadow. Izuku instinctively went to kneel, but his father raised a hand.

“Sit, my son.”

Izuku obeyed.

The chair was firm. The leather cool. He tilted his head slightly to the side, exposing the metal collar around his neck. He’d been wearing it since the beginning. Since the day he woke up and the man under the hood revealed himself as the doctor and told him he had been saved. That he was home.

The doctor approached, unscrewing a tiny capsule from the collar and inspecting it closely. “Still nearly full,” he murmured, tapping the glass gently. “You’re stabilizing well.”

Izuku didn’t know what the capsule held. He’d asked once. His father had said it helped his mind settle. That the flashes, those strange and fleeting images, would fade with time if he wore it constantly.

So he had.

Still, sometimes he’d see something in the corners of his vision. A boy’s face, scared but smiling. Eyes… one ice, one fire. Spiky blond hair that made his chest ache. Then he’d feel a small prick in the back of his neck.

And then it was gone.

Not important, his father had said.

So it wasn’t.

“Excellent progress,” the doctor said. But then, hesitating, he looked toward Izuku’s dad. “Are we sure it’s wise to keep letting him out on field assignments?”

Izuku’s eyes narrowed at the implication. He moved before thinking, his hand around the doctor’s throat in an instant.

“How dare you question my father?” he snarled.

The doctor sputtered, startled, eyes wide with panic.

His dad chuckled softly, raising a hand. “Enough, Izuku.”

Izuku immediately released the doctor, stepping back with a bowed head.

“Is that proof enough for you?” His dad asked.

The doctor adjusted his collar and nodded. “More than enough.”

He left soon after, the door clicking shut behind him.

Izuku turned to face his dad fully. “How was the mission?” his dad asked, folding his hands atop the table.

Izuku straightened. “We eliminated the target. The little bastard cried and begged, but Tomura and I dealt with him quickly.”

That made his father smile. “Good. Very good.”

Pride bloomed in Izuku’s chest.

“Who are you?” his father asked.

Izuku didn’t hesitate.

“I am Izuku Shigaraki,” he said firmly. “I am my father’s son and heir. I serve him, and when he passes, I will continue to serve his legacy.”

His father’s smile widened.

“I think you’re ready.”

Izuku sat taller, heart thrumming.

“There’s a loose end,” his father said, voice dipping into something darker. “The number two hero, Endeavor. He’s being held in a prison nearby, awaiting trial. But he knows some very… dangerous things. Things the Commission cannot be allowed to recover.”

Izuku nodded slowly. “You want me to kill him.”

“Yes.”

“Will my brother be coming?”

“No, Tomura will not be joining you this time.” His father said. “This will be your first task alone. Do this, and you will official join your brother as one of my heirs.”

Izuku nodded once.

“When do I leave?”

“Tomorrow. Rest tonight. I want you focused.”

Izuku stood and bowed. “Understood, Father.”

As he left the room, collar humming faintly against his skin, he didn’t notice the faint flicker in his eyes. He was unaware of his ever-dulling green momentarily flashing to grey. But he did notice his father’s smile as the doors closed.

Chapter Text

*Bakugo and Todroki's POV*
____________________________

The classroom felt wrong.

It was too bright. Too normal. As if the walls themselves had the audacity to pretend nothing had changed.

Todoroki sat at his desk, barely hearing Aizawa’s voice drone on about hero laws and the ethical applications of Quirks. His eyes were on the window. The sky was blue today. Clear and peaceful… he felt like it was mocking him.

Today officially marked two months since Izuku vanished.

Beside him, Bakugo didn’t bother pretending to pay attention. His arms were folded tight across his chest, jaw locked, foot tapping rapidly under his desk like a ticking bomb. He hadn’t spoken since they walked into the classroom that morning, but Todoroki knew better than to mistake that silence for calm.

They were here because All Might had forced them to be.

“You can’t burn yourselves out,” he’d said. “Not when there’s nothing more we can do right now.”

So they were here, going through the motions, trapped in a building where laughter still echoed in the hallways and students still whispered about training exercises and upcoming exams like the world wasn’t unraveling beneath their feet.

Lunch came and went in strained silence. They barely ate. On the way back to class, they were stopped outside the stairwell.

“Todoroki. Bakugo.”

The voice made them both pause. Uraraka stood there with Tsu beside her, worry written all over their faces.

“We know this is… hard,” Uraraka said gently. “And we’re not trying to push. But it’s been two months and-”

“We want to help,” Tsu said. “If there’s anything we can do. Anything at all…”

For a second, Todoroki saw a flicker of hope in their eyes. And it made him feel sick.

“There’s nothing,” he said quietly. “Not right now.”

The girls exchanged a glance, then nodded. “Okay. But we’re here if you need us,” Uraraka said softly before they turned and walked away.

The silence returned as they made their way back to class.

“She’s right,” Bakugo said suddenly, his voice low and tight. “There is something going on. All Might’s not telling us everything.”

Todoroki glanced at him, waiting.

“You know it too,” Bakugo continued. “That night, after Endeavor…”

Todoroki nodded. “He said he couldn’t talk about it. That if Endeavor was telling the truth, then he thought he knew who attacked Izuku’s home.”

“And if the same guy took him…” Bakugo’s throat bobbed. “All Might said he didn’t want to think what would become of him.”

The words hung heavy between them.

They didn’t speak again as they entered the classroom.

They didn’t need to.

The weight of those words never left their shoulders.

__________________________________

About 30 minutes into Present Mic’s very animated lecture, the door slammed open.

“Aizawa-sensei?” Iida called, confused.

Aizawa seemed rattled. Eyes wide, his scarf tangled around his shoulders, and his hair was even more disheveled than this morning.

“Todoroki. Bakugo. Principal’s office, now.”

They were on their feet before he finished speaking.

Neither of them stopped to grab their bags before they ran down the hall. They sprinted past students and teachers who leaped out of their way, shouting. They didn’t care. Hope clawing its way into their chests.

Had they found him?

Had they finally-

They burst into the principal’s office.

And stopped cold.

Principal Nezu was at his desk, and standing in front of him was the dog-like Chief of Police and the prison warden from their recent trip to visit Endeavor. All Might sat in a chair next to the desk his elbows braced against his knees and his head bowed.

Every face in that room wore the same look.

Grief.

Bakugo’s breath caught in his throat. “No… he- he isn’t...”

Todoroki reached out blindly and grabbed Katsuki’s hand.

Principal Nezu took a large breath before speaking. “Gentlemen, if you don’t mind, I need a moment in private with my students.” The chief and warden both nodded solemnly before quietly leaving the room.

Once they were gone, Principal Nezu set his paws on the desk in a steadying gesture before starting. “Yesterday morning,” he began, “there was a break-in at the prison.”

Silence.

“The intruder killed multiple guards. Over half of the west wing was destroyed. No prisoners escaped. But…”

He paused.

“…Endeavor was killed.”

Todoroki felt the world slow. His father… his father was dead. A storm of conflicting emotions began to rage inside him all at once.

“How?” asked Bakugo.

Nezu looked at them both. “There was very little video footage. Most of the security system was destroyed. But one camera captured the moment of Endeavor’s death.”

Bakugo gritted his teeth. “So some random villain gets the drop on him and-”

“It wasn’t random,” Nezu cut in gently. “Endeavor had been weakened. But he still would’ve bested most opponents, especially when the quirk suppression tech in the room was destroyed.”

He hesitated.

“The person who killed Endeavor used One For All.”

Everything stopped.

Todoroki’s breath hitched.

Bakugo stopped breathing altogether. “No,” he whispered.

Nezu’s voice grew softer, almost like he was speaking to a tortured animal. “The video captured his face. Clear as day.”

He didn’t need to say it. They didn’t want him to say it… but he continued anyway.

“Izuku Midoriya killed Endeavor.”

Bakugo made a noise, broken and guttural, as he stumbled back.

“No. No, he wouldn’t… there's no way he would.”

Todoroki couldn’t move.

Couldn’t breathe.

His chest felt carved open. He didn’t even register the tears streaming down his face until he tasted salt.

Izuku.

His Izuku… had killed his father.

The boy who smiled through broken bones. Who fought for everyone before himself. Who once cried when he saw a bird with a broken wing.

That boy was now seemingly buried beneath something unrecognizable.

A soft cry slipped from Bakugo’s lips.

“He would never kill someone,” he said, shaking between sobs. “That’s just not who he is.”

Everyone in the room looked at him in shock as tears poured down his face. All Might rose and braced his shoulders before Bakugo could fall to the ground.

And then-

BOOM.

A tremor shook the entire building.

The windows rattled and, a second later, a low rumble swept through the air like a wave of pressure.

All four of them turned toward the window.

They watched as, in the distance, the Hero’s Commission headquarters crumbled into dust.

Todoroki gripped Bakugo’s hand like it was the only thing keeping him grounded.

They knew that power, and as they watched that part of the hero world crumble, they knew Izuku… their Izuku… was the one tearing it down.

Chapter Text

*Izuku's POV*
______________

Izuku hadn’t even had time to wipe the blood from his gloves before his father summoned him again. He’d expected a lecture. Maybe more conditioning. But instead, his father smiled. The smile was sharp and cold, but pleased.

It should’ve made Izuku proud.

“You and your brother will take down the Hero Commission next,” All For One said, his voice smooth as polished steel. “Immediately.”

Izuku bowed, voice flat. “Yes, Father.”

Tomura grinned beside him, eyes glittering. “Finally. Been wanting to crush those hypocrites for a while.”

They left within the hour.

But something was wrong.

Izuku could feel it. Feel it, like a stone in his chest that wouldn’t dislodge.

It had been stuck with him since he’d fought that hero… Endeavor. During the fight everything was fine. Even that nagging voice in his head, the one that came with the flashes, was silent. Almost as if it too wanted to witness the death of Endeavor. But the so-called hero’s last words were different.

Endeavor had looked up at him, blood in his mouth, fire flickering around broken fingers and cracked ribs.

“Stay away from Shoto,” he’d said.

Izuku had paused, confused. “Who?”

“Shoto.” The man’s voice shook. “You’ll destroy him. If anything of you is still in there then stay away.”

Izuku killed him after that. Quickly.

But those words wouldn’t leave him alone.

Who the hell was Shoto?

Why did his chest ache when he thought about that name?

He had tried to remember anything about this mysterious boy, but when he had he’d felt that prick on the back of his neck. The image he’d conjured in his mind went fuzzy and disappeared. This means father didn’t want him to think of this boy, so he shouldn’t.

Endeavor said to stay away from him. That’s fine. He didn’t want to think about Shoto anyway.

_________________________________

Izuku and Tomura sprinted across the rooftops of Musutafu city. As they leaped across building they scanned their surrounding and kept an eye out for heroes. Kurogiri was stationed a couple miles away from the city with Dabi, but couldn’t risk getting too close due to his rather conspicuous appearance. There was also a shield around the Commission, preventing them from simply warping inside.

The city was loud in a way only Izuku could hear.

Not with sound, but with memory.

Flashes.

They came faster here. Sharper. His collar buzzed and pricked him constantly, the suppression tech pulsing through the skin at his neck like a brand.

But the flashes still came.

A field. Laughter. A tall school with glass towers. A girl with round cheeks and brown hair sitting next to another with wide eyes and frog-like features. Blonde hair like sunlight and a presence that encompassed the world. Spiky ash-blond. Heterochromatic eyes.

They haunted him.

He gritted his teeth and slammed a hand against the nearest metal beam, denting it with One For All-enhanced strength.

“Shut up,” he growled, to the visions, to the voices.

To the part of him that remembered.

_________________________________

Now, crouched on a rooftop across from the Hero Commission Headquarters, Izuku watched the building like a wolf watches prey.

His fingers itched with anticipation.

The collar buzzed harder now. Painful. Almost angry.

Because the flashes were stronger here. Overlapping. Smells, colors, sounds.

Running through halls with two boys or training until they collapsed in the grass. Arms slung over shoulders. Smiles and laughter. Hands brushing, eyes meeting, lips…

He shook his head violently, breathing fast.

It meant nothing.

Behind him, Tomura crouched, fingers spread across the rooftop beneath him. Disintegration wormed its way through the building's foundation as he worked methodically, eating through supports.

“Almost ready,” his brother murmured.

Izuku only nodded.

He wanted this done.

He wanted out of this city.

Out of this feeling.

Finally, Tomura stood and gave a single nod.

Izuku took a deep breath and then he moved.

He launched himself like a missile.

The air cracked with the force of it, a sonic boom exploding behind him as he focused all of One For All into his fist.

He punched through the final support beam like paper.

A shockwave rippled out.

Spiderweb fractures raced up the building, and streams of his power cut through the steel and concrete.

The boys jumped back and retreated to a nearby rooftop as they watched the Hero Commission Headquarters collapse.

Dust filled the air. Screams echoed from blocks away. Sirens began to wail.

Tomura grinned, a hand to his earpiece. “The mission was a success, Master.”

His father’s voice purred through the static on his own earpiece. “Good. Make sure it is completely destroyed before returning.”

Izuku and Tomura exchanged a look. The building was already rubble.

“Understood,” Tomura said anyway.

Izuku chuckled dryly. “Should I hit it again for good measure?”

“Don’t be stupid,” Tomura said. “Let’s go.”

They turned to leave, but only made it about a block away when the sky seemed to split open. A man crashed into the rooftop of the building next to them, freezing them in their tracks.

“IZUKUUU!”

The voice shook him to his bones, and he spun to face the source.

All Might, still in his prime form and flanked by two other pro-heroes.

Tomura cursed.

Izuku narrowed his eyes.

He knew the man. From training records, archive footage, and his father’s stories. He was dangerous, and they needed to leave before the situation grew worse.

They turned to escape, but a wall of ice exploded in front of them, cutting off their path.

Two figures stepped through the fog.

Ash-blond hair and half-white, half-red. Heterochromatic eyes.

Todoroki and Bakugo.

Something inside him snapped.

The collar buzzed furiously, trying to suppress the surge of emotion.

One of the pro-heroes stepped forward. “Those kids should stay out of this.”

“No,” All Might said, his voice cold and full of sorrow. “They’re his friends. They deserve to be here.”

Izuku tilted his head.

Friends?

He stared at the two boys.

Flashes struck.

Them. A warm hand on his shoulder. A flash of sunlight and the sound of someone calling his name-

“Who are you?” Izuku called out to them.

Todoroki’s mouth parted, shocked.

“We’re your boyfriends,” Bakugo said with sorrow and worry lacing his tone. “I’m Katsuki, and that’s Shoto.”

That name.

That damn name.

It shattered him.

A memory bloomed like fire behind his eyes.

They were training. Rolling in the grass. Laughing. Shoto had dirt on his cheek. Katsuki had his arm slung over both of them. Izuku had never felt safer.

He staggered.

The collar reacted instantly.

A sharp jab at the base of his skull.

He gasped, eyes dilating.

Then came the fog.

The numbness.

The hollow.

“You’re right, brother,” he said, voice flat and cold. “Let’s go.”

“WHAT?!” Bakugo screamed. “What the hell do you mean ‘brother’?! You’re not one of them!”

Izuku didn’t respond.

He turned.

Powered up.

And shattered through the ice wall with a single punch.

All Might landed in front of them with a crash and a howl of fury.

He struck Tomura with a Detroit Smash that sent his brother spiraling across the city block.

Izuku didn’t have time to react before hands grabbed at him, hard and desperate.

Bakugo.

They slammed into a wall, the impact rattling Izuku’s bones.

“Get off of me!” he roared, twisting, trying to break free.

One hand slipped loose, and he charged a punch with One For All.

But it never landed.

Todoroki’s ice crawled up his arm, freezing it mid-swing.

They pinned him.

“All Might!” Todoroki yelled.

All Might was suddenly there, eyes blazing, voice shaking.

“What are you doing, Izuku?! What happened to you?!”

Izuku growled, rage burning through the fog. “Get the fuck off me!”

A crack of smoke burst beside them. Kurogiri reached towards Izuku, coming within centimeters of touching him.

“No!” All Might swung, his fist smashing through the warp gate and slamming into the Nomu’s metallic collar. Kurogiri staggered, phasing erratically.

They had seconds.

Todoroki clamped a hand over Izuku’s mouth, trying to keep him from biting or yelling.

Izuku heard it then. The faint voice in his ear… his father’s voice.

“Remember who you are, son. Who are you?”

He couldn’t answer aloud. But he didn’t need to.

Inside his head, through the chaos and the weight of their hands, he thought it as clearly as breathing:

‘I am Izuku Shigaraki. I am my father’s son and heir. I serve him. And when he passes, I will carry on his legacy.’

That was his last thought before everything went black.

Chapter Text

The sterile white light of the room glowed brightly overhead, casting a pale wash over every surface. There were no decorations. No comforts. Just a single bed in the center of the room, a heavy metal door to the right, and a large, one-way observation window on the left wall.

Izuku lay on the bed handcuffed at the wrists and ankles, still unconscious, his chest rising and falling with shallow, steady breaths. His face was pale, faint bruising around his eyes and jaw from the scuffle during his capture. But what caught the eye, what no one in the observation room could ignore, was the black collar clamped tight around his neck. The small glowing nodes along its edge pulsing with faint, ominous light.

Behind the glass, Todoroki stood stiffly beside All Might.

Bakugo hadn’t spoken since they entered. He was pressed up against the glass, hands braced on the sill as he stared down at Izuku like he could force him to wake through sheer will. His jaw was clenched, eyes locked onto the unmoving figure below.

“…He called Tomura ‘brother,’” Todoroki said, arms folded tightly. “You saw the way he reacted when we tried to talk to him. He barely hesitated. He could’ve killed Katsuki.”

Bakugo didn’t react, as if he hadn’t even heard. He just continued to stare at Izuku, sleeping in the bed.

All Might’s posture was rigid, but his gaze didn’t meet either of theirs. “I know,” he said quietly.

“Do you?” Todoroki’s voice was sharp. “Because I’ve never seen Izuku like that before. He wasn’t just fighting us… he was raging. He was gone. Completely taken over by whatever those people did to him. You’ve been avoiding talking about it. Why?”

All Might hesitated. Then, slowly, he exhaled, turning from the glass. “Because I was hoping I was wrong.”

Todoroki crossed his arms. His stare trained on All Might, who for once seemed both broken and small despite being in his public form.

“I’ve suspected from the beginning that All For One was involved,” All Might admitted, voice tight with guilt. “The day Zuku disappeared… there were signs. Then when we spoke with Endeavor, he described All For One almost perfectly. But I didn’t want to believe it, and then…” He gestured vaguely toward the unconscious teen. “Then Tomura showed up. Fighting alongside him. When Zuku called him ‘brother.’ That’s when I knew.”

Todoroki stepped closer. “Knew what? Who is All For One?”

“All For One is the antithesis of One For All. He has been mine and my predecessor’s enemy for generations. He has the ability to steal quirks and either keep them for himself or ‘gift’ them to people.” All Might said, putting air quotes around the word ‘gift’. “Anytime he gives a quirk he can manipulate the person receiving it by making them feel a deep sense of loyalty to him.”

All Might took a deep breath before continuing. “Zuku would’ve been trained and twisted. I don’t know how the brother dynamic came to be… maybe he really believes it. Maybe it’s another part of the manipulation. But we know this: All For One possesses countless quirks. Nobody knows the full extent. But one of them, or several, could easily warp memory, suppress identity, and bend someone to his will. Add in that collar…” He frowned deeply. “It makes it even more likely.”

Bakugo didn’t move from the window as he said, “Then why the hell is it still on him?”

All Might glanced at him, startled that he’d spoken. “We tried to remove it.”

Both boys turned to him.

“It has some kind of built-in defense mechanism. Emits a high-voltage current when tampered with. When we tried-” he paused, jaw tightening, “-it nearly stopped his heart. He flatlined for six seconds. We almost lost him.”

Todoroki’s eyes widened in horror. “You’re telling me he’s still wearing that thing because taking it off would kill him?”

All Might nodded grimly.

Todoroki’s voice cracked as he swore under his breath and turned back toward the glass. “If I could just talk to him…” he murmured. “Maybe I could get through. Maybe I could pull him back. We were close. I know I could-”

“No.” said Bakugo.

Todoroki blinked, caught off-guard. “What?”

Bakugo’s eyes didn’t move from Izuku. His voice was quiet, broken almost. “That may be Izu’s body on that bed…” He swallowed hard. “But that isn’t Izu. Not yet.”

The silence after that was deafening.

Todoroki turned back toward the glass slowly, watching Izuku’s still, pale form. Watching Bakugo stare like he’d never seen him before… like he was mourning something still alive.

Then All Might’s voice cut in, soft. “Let’s talk outside.”

________________________________

The hallway outside the observation room was just as white, just as sterile, but it felt warmer somehow. As if stepping out of that room made everything just a bit easier for Todoroki to bear.

Todoroki walked beside All Might in silence for a few steps before finally speaking. “Are we looking into bypassing the collar?”

“Yes,” All Might said. “Our top tech analysts, pro support engineers, even a few outside the commission. We’re pulling every string.”

“Good,” Todoroki said darkly. “Because I don’t know how much longer Bakugo can take this.”

All Might glanced back to the door.

He didn’t have to see him to know Bakugo hadn’t moved.

Chapter Text

*Bakugo's POV*
_______________

Bakugo didn’t move when the door closed behind All Might and Shoto.

He didn’t breathe.

Didn’t blink.

Didn’t look away from the boy in the bed.

The boy who wasn’t really a boy anymore. He was a weapon. He wasn’t Izu.

At least, that’s what he’d told Shoto.

‘That may be Izu’s body on that bed, but that isn’t Izu. Not yet.’

Yeah. Those were the words that came out of his mouth. Words that were supposed to mean something.

But now, standing alone in the observation room with nothing but the low hum of fluorescents and the muted beep of a heart monitor keeping him grounded… Bakugo felt like the biggest fucking liar on the planet.

He couldn’t stop looking at him. He looked thinner, paler, and his hair was longer. Dark shadows bloomed beneath his eyes like bruises. Even in sleep, there was tension in his shoulders, his jaw, like his dreams were just as violent as his waking hours. The collar around his neck flickered softly with low pulses of blue light blinking like some sick heartbeat.

Bakugo stared. And hoped. And ached.

Fuck, his chest hurt.

He hadn’t realized how much of himself he’d given to Izuku. Not until he was gone.

He loved Shoto. He did. Bakugo would burn the world down for him.

But it was like trying to live with only half his heart.

The other half was in that bed.

______________________________

A flicker of movement caught his eye.

Bakugo’s breath caught in his throat as he leaned forward, hand pressed against the glass.

Izuku’s fingers twitched. His jaw shifted. His brows furrowed in a slow grimace. Then… his eyes opened.

Green… still green.

But not like they used to be. There was a grey-ish tint to them now. He saw them flash as Izuku became aware of the handcuffs, as he yanked against them and growled.

Bakugo’s heart slammed against his ribs. He should run. Get a doctor. Get Shoto. Anyone. He should move.

But he remembered what Shoto said.

That he might be able to reach him… and he knew he at least wanted to try.

So Bakugo moved. Not toward the hallway door or the intercom. Instead, he opened the one-way access hatch and slipped into the room.

The door clicked shut behind him.

And suddenly, it was just the two of them.

Izuku stopped thrashing as his eyes fell on Bakugo and everything in his body tensed.

Confusion. Fear. Anger. All flickering over his face like static.

But he said nothing.

Bakugo held up his hands. “Easy,” he muttered, voice low. “You’re okay.”

Izuku’s eyes narrowed.

Bakugo took a single step closer. Then another. Until he stopped about an arm’s length away from the bed, watching the chains clink softly as Izuku continued to test them with quick, instinctive jerks.

“You remember anything?” Bakugo asked quietly. “Where you are? What happened?”

No response.

Bakugo hesitated. His next words came softer, the nickname slipping out before he could stop it. “Izu…?”

Izuku flinched.

Bakugo saw it.

That twitch, barely there, but unmistakable. And behind those guarded eyes, something flickered. Something real.

He dropped to one knee at the bedside and looked up at him. His voice trembled. “You flinched. That means something, right? You know that name. You know me.”

Izuku’s eyes met his and, for the briefest second, Bakugo saw him.

Saw Izuku.

But then it was gone. Washed away by a small jerk and flash of pain. Then his eyes grew even more grey, as if the silver in them was slowly eating up the beautiful green.

Bakugo’s stomach dropped.

“No,” he hissed, voice shaking as he gritted his teeth. “No. Come back. I know you can hear me. Remember- remember who you are!”

Izuku sat up abruptly. The chains clinked and rattled with the sudden movement.

Then, without looking at Bakugo, he turned toward the one-way window and recited in a flat, empty tone:

“I am Izuku Shigaraki. I am my father’s son and heir. I serve him. And when he passes, I will carry on his legacy.”

The words hit Bakugo like a punch to the chest.

His breathing staggered as he tried to come to terms with what Izuku just said.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Bakugo barked, voice cracking. “Your dad is All Might! Not that monster! Your name’s Midoriya, dammit! It’s Izuku fucking Midoriya!”

But Izuku didn’t blink. Didn’t flinch. Didn’t move. He simply stared forward in a still, empty silence.

Bakugo felt something wet on his cheeks and didn’t realize he was crying until the tears hit his collarbone.

He surged forward, grabbing Izuku’s hand in both of his. “Please,” he choked. “Please come back. Come back to us. To me. I know you’re in there. I need you to come back.”

A soft click behind him made him spin around, defensive reflexes snapping into place.

But it was just Shoto.

His mismatched eyes were clouded with grief as they landed on the two of them.

Bakugo looked away quickly, wiping his face with the back of his wrist.

Shoto didn’t say anything for a moment. Then, softly, “We need to let him rest, Katsuki.”

Bakugo didn’t move.

“Please,” Shoto said, stepping forward and gently placing a hand on his shoulder. “Come on. You’ve done all you can for him right now.”

With a strangled sound, Bakugo allowed himself to be pulled away.

He cast one last look at Izuku, who hadn’t moved since his sudden declaration, and followed Shoto out of the room.

______________________________

The hallway felt darker somehow, though the lights and wall color hadn’t changed.

Bakugo sat on a bench just outside the observation room, elbows on his knees, head in his hands. Shoto stood nearby, watching him in silence.

Neither of them spoke for a long time.

“I saw him,” Bakugo whispered at last. “For a second. Just for a second. He flinched when I called him Izu. He knew it. Knew me.”

Shoto didn’t answer.

“I should’ve pushed harder,” Bakugo muttered. “Should’ve… done something different. Better. Something that worked.”

“You did everything you could,” Shoto said quietly. “And more.”

“Not enough.”

“Katsuki-”

“I lost him,” Bakugo bit out. “I had him. And I lost him… again.”

Shoto moved closer, resting a hand on his back.

Bakugo trembled beneath it.

“I know it hurts,” Shoto said softly. “It hurts me too.”

Bakugo let out a broken laugh. “You don’t get it, Shoto. When he left, when he disappeared, I didn’t just miss him. I didn’t just grieve. I felt like my entire world shattered. Like the best part of me was gone.”

His voice cracked.

“I love you,” he said, looking up at Shoto. “I love you. But he was my best friend… when we were children. He was the kindness that followed me around. I may have had the quirk, but he had the soul of a hero. And losing him back then… losing him not once but twice more now.” He took a shuddering breath, “It was like cutting my soul in half. Like trying to live on one lung, one leg. Half a heart.”

Shoto knelt in front of him, eyes soft. “Then we’ll bring him back.”

Bakugo looked at him with raw, red eyes. “How?”

“Together.”

Bakugo didn’t answer right away. Just looked back toward the door, toward the boy in the bed.

Then he nodded, and whispered, “Okay.”

Chapter Text

“I saw something in his eyes,” Bakugo said, arms crossed, frustration thick in his voice as he stood in the sterile white lab. “Just for a second. He flinched when I called him ‘Izu.’ Like he remembered. But then it was like… like he was in pain for a moment, then went blank. Like it hurt him to remember.”

The room fell into a heavy silence.

Doctors, nurses, and specialists stood in a half-circle around Bakugo. All Might leaned against the far wall, arms folded, his eyes locked on the floor with a tight, unreadable expression.

One of the doctors, a sharp-eyed woman with her graying hair tied back in a severe bun, stepped forward. “You said it seemed to hurt him?”

Bakugo nodded. “Yeah. Not like pain from a memory. More like… his body jolted. Like a shock or a stab or something like that.

She exchanged glances with her colleagues, then pulled up a tablet and tapped a few buttons. “There’s a component in the collar I noticed when we examined it.” she muttered. “It’s a vial… sealed in a compartment on the side. It contains a liquid, though it’s nearly opaque. Could be some kind of chemical trigger.”

“A serum?” Shoto asked, brows furrowed as he stepped closer.

She nodded. “Yes. Possibly a suppressor or even a neuro-stabilizer. If it’s tied to memory triggers, then it could be part of how they’re maintaining control over him. Every time a piece of who he was tries to fight through, it could be releasing this… compound to shut it down again.”

“How’s research going on removing it?” All Might asked tightly, finally lifting his gaze.

Another doctor, a younger man with rectangular glasses and a hesitant voice, stepped forward. “We’re working on it, but this technology is… advanced. We can’t risk pushing too hard without knowing how it’s wired. One wrong move and it could kill Izuku.”

The room went silent again, the weight of helplessness falling heavy on everyone’s shoulders.

“What if I try to freeze the vial?” Todoroki said.

The others turned toward him.

“Like if I freeze the serum inside before it can be released. If it’s liquid-based, it might disable the effect before it activates. Maybe even freeze the circuits and weaken the collar itself.”

The woman with the bun frowned. “It could work… in theory. But there’s no way to keep it steady at a low enough temperature unless you’re actively touching it.”

“And we’d need him still,” another doctor added grimly. “Any resistance could damage his neck. Not to mention his usual… violent response to anyone getting too close.”

“He only calms down after the collar activates,” the first doctor muttered. “And we can’t activate it on purpose.”

A quiet settled over the room again as they mulled it over.

“If we dress Todoroki as one of us and keep Izuku distracted, we might be able to do it.” Said the gray-haired woman again, “He seems to run on animalistic impulses around most of the doctors and scientists. If he perceives us as the biggest threat then we can create an opening for Todoroki.”

Bakugo didn’t like it, but when he looked at Shoto, he found the other boy nodding.

“I’ll do it,” Todoroki said. “I’ll try.”

___________________________

The white door clicked open, and three doctors walked in, masks on. Izuku lay in the bed, but he wasn’t asleep anymore. His eyes followed them like a caged animal’s, filled with fury and fear.

The moment he saw the doctors, he snarled and yanked against the restraints, chains rattling violently against the bedframe.

Todoroki kept his head down, his breath steady. He wore a surgical cap to hide his two-toned hair and kept his eyes trained on the floor to avoid meeting Izuku’s gaze. One doctor moved toward Izuku’s front, while Todoroki and another moved around toward the back of the bed.

Izuku started to turn, twisting with a growl, but the third doctor drew his attention by pulling out a syringe and letting it glint in the light.

“We didn’t want to do this, Izuku,” she said calmly, her voice practiced and smooth. “But if you don’t cooperate, we’ll have to sedate you. Just a small dose, something to calm you down, alright?”

Izuku’s lip curled, eyes snapping to the syringe like it was poison.

That was when the doctor nearest to Todoroki grabbed the back of his neck, roughly turning his head and forcing the collar’s mechanism into view.

Izuku roared, but the other doctors and Todoroki were already moving.

Two more sets of hands clamped down, one on his arms, the other on his legs. The syringe clattered to the ground as all focus shifted to holding him in place.

Todoroki pressed his fingers to the side of the collar. His breath slowed and the temperature dropped marginally.

A soft crack filled the air as ice began to spread from his hand, creeping over the collar’s surface. The room seemed to hold its breath. The metal hissed and frosted, the air surrounding Todoroki’s hand froze and fell towards the floor in waves of smoke-like vapor..

A hiss… the ice crawled too far, leaking over onto Izuku’s skin.

Izuku let out a raw scream.

He thrashed wildly, throwing one doctor from his arms, headbutting the second with a sickening crunch, and kicking the third off his leg. Todoroki cried out as Izuku lunged, grabbing him by the collar of his disguise and trying to yank him off.

“Shoto!” a voice shouted.

Bakugo burst through the door like a bomb detonating.

He didn’t hesitate.

He grabbed Izuku’s other arm, teeth bared, pulling back just enough to give Todoroki the space he needed.

Todoroki gritted his teeth and channeled everything he had into freezing the collar deeper, harder, past the surface, into the circuitry.

Ice crackled and hissed. Metal groaned.

“Now!” Todoroki shouted.

They grabbed opposite ends of the collar.

“One… two… three!”

The collar snapped.

Sparks exploded.

Electricity arced violently through the collar and their bodies.

Todoroki screamed and hit the floor, convulsing as the charge passed through him. He looked to the side just in time to see Bakugo go rigid, his eyes rolling back as he collapsed, unconscious, smoke rising from his clothes.

Todoroki reached out.

“Katsuki—”

And the world went dark.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A/N: Hey guys, hope you are enjoying the story. Just letting y'all know I am in college and heading into my final projects, so I'm going to be fairly busy for the next month or so. I will still try to get out as many chapters as I can, but I probably won't be able to post at the same rate I have been. Thanks for your understanding! Happy reading! :)

Chapter Text

White.

That was the first thing Todoroki saw when his eyes fluttered open. The sterile, too-bright white of hospital lights overhead. His body felt heavy, like he'd been asleep for a century, and everything ached. A soft beeping came from the monitors near his head, and he blinked groggily until shapes began to form in the blur.

Then a voice.

"You're awake."

He turned his head slowly. All Might sat in a chair near the corner, weariness written on his face. His golden hair was disheveled, and shadows under his eyes betrayed sleepless nights.

Todoroki licked his dry lips. "How long...?"

"Three days," All Might said, standing. "You and Bakugo have been out cold for three days."

"Bakugo-" Todoroki tried to sit up but winced at the sharp pain in his chest.

"He's fine. Woke up about an hour ago. He's in the next bed." All Might moved to the side and gestured. "He seems to have some minor hearing loss, but its been returning slowly."

Bakugo lay with his arms crossed and a scowl already forming on his face, but All Might got up and walked around the bed to wave at him. This seemed to make him annoyed, but when he saw Todoroki moving, something in his expression softened.

"Katsuki," Todoroki murmured, relieved.

"'Bout time you woke up, Shoto." Bakugo's voice was hoarse, but steady.

Todoroki gave a weak smile, then turned his attention back to All Might. "How's Izuku?"

All Might sighed. "He woke up yesterday. But... he's not really with us. He's awake. His eyes are open. He eats, drinks water when he's told. But he won't talk. He barely reacts."

Bakugo's knuckles went white against the hospital blanket. "Does he know who you are?"

"No," All Might said softly. "I tried going in. I called him 'son.' I told him who I was. But he looked through me like I was a stranger."

Todoroki swallowed. "The drug?"

"Exactly," All Might nodded. "The doctors ran more tests while you were out. They confirmed what we suspected. That serum in the collar is a memory inhibitor. Every time he remembered something, the collar injected a dose directly into his bloodstream. It didn't just dull his thoughts. It made him... suggestible. Vulnerable to influence."

"Like hypnosis," Todoroki muttered.

All Might nodded grimly. "Exactly. They think... he was under the serum for so long, and so frequently, that another identity formed. A whole separate personality. One trained to serve All For One. One that believes it's real. Now... he's trapped between both. Trying to figure out what's true and what's a lie."

Bakugo stared down at his hands. "Does that mean... he's never coming back?"

"I don't know," All Might admitted. "The doctors can't do much right now. He's not in danger physically, but this... this battle... it's happening in his mind. And only he can fight it."

Silence settled for a beat.

Then Todoroki asked, "Can we see him?"

All Might glanced at the door. "Let me check."

A few moments later, the doctor from earlier entered. Her bun was looser now, strands of hair falling around her face. She looked tired, but when she saw Todoroki and Bakugo both awake, she smiled warmly.

"Well, well. You two are stubborn," she said. "Most people don't go yanking off tech-collars hardwired into the spine and live to talk about it."

"Can we see Izuku?" Bakugo demanded, sitting up straighter.

"Not today," she said, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. "You both need rest. Your systems took a serious hit from the electric discharge."

Bakugo grumbled, but didn't argue.

"How is he?" Todoroki asked.

The doctor hesitated, then sighed. "He's... unresponsive to most direct interaction. But he's reacting more to sensory memory triggers. We brought in photos, trinkets, old toys. Things from the Midoriya home."

Bakugo's brow furrowed. "Did anything work?"

She pulled her tablet from her coat pocket and tapped the screen. "Just one."

She turned the screen to them.

A photo filled the display. Two young boys, one with a mop of green curls and wide eyes. The other with wild, spiky blonde hair and a smug grin. They were mid-laugh, a soccer ball half out of frame, sunlight glinting through the trees of the park.

Bakugo inhaled sharply. "That's... me. That's us."

The doctor looked between the image and Bakugo, nodding slowly. "We found it when going through the catalogue of items that survived the first attack on Izuku and his mother. We weren't sure who the other boy was until now."

She studied Bakugo again and smiled faintly. "You should definitely try to see him tomorrow."

__________________________________

The next morning, with the doctor's permission and their bodies still sore but moving, Todoroki and Bakugo stood at the threshold of Izuku's hospital room.

The door creaked open.

Izuku sat on the edge of the bed, his wrists still lightly bound in case of aggression, but he didn't struggle. He stared blankly at the wall, lips moving faintly, muttering something neither of them could make out.

Bakugo swallowed. "Izu?"

The voice pierced the silence.

Izuku froze. His lips stopped moving.

Slowly, he turned toward them.

His eyes, once brilliant emerald, were glassy and unfocused. But there was no silver in them. No hint of the drug that used to course through his veins, and as they locked on Bakugo, something shimmered. Something moved.

And then... he began to cry.

No sobs. No gasps. Just large, quiet tears spilling down his cheeks as he stared at them.

Bakugo couldn't stay still. He rounded the bed, dropping to his knees in front of Izuku, and wrapping his arms around him without hesitation.

"Izu," he whispered, voice cracking.

Izuku's shoulders trembled.

"K-Kacchan," he sobbed. Then, as the dam broke, the tears came harder. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to- I didn't know- Kacchan- I'm sorry-" He started choking on his breath.

Todoroki was already there, wrapping his arms around both of them, pressing his forehead to Izuku's shoulder. "Shhh," he whispered. "You're okay now. You're safe. We're here. We've got you."

The three of them held each other, tears soaking into hospital gowns, breaths shaking against one another's skin.

They stayed like that for a long time. No need for words. Just the warmth of touch. The grounding truth that they were still here. Still together.

Eventually, Todoroki pulled back just slightly, watching the way Bakugo clung to Izuku, the flicker of hope in his eyes. The spark that had been gone for too long.

Todoroki turned toward the clock on the wall, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he smiled.

Two months, five days, fourteen hours, and twenty-eight minutes of being lost, but they were finally home again.

Chapter Text

The sterile white walls of the hospital room didn't bother them as much anymore. The monotonous hum of the machinery and distant murmur of footsteps were almost comforting after everything they'd been through. The room still smelled faintly of antiseptic, but mixed in now was something warmer and almost human. Laughter had returned, if only in brief flickers. Words were spoken, if only cautiously. It wasn't perfect, but it was more than any of them had dared to hope for.

Todoroki sat on the small couch beside Izuku's hospital bed, a book unopened in his lap, while Bakugo leaned against the far wall near the window, arms crossed, watching with quiet intensity. The light filtering through the blinds cast long lines across the floor. It was midday, though none of them had really been keeping track of time the way they used to. They had nowhere else to be. Not now.

Izuku sat upright in the bed, his back resting against the propped pillows, legs covered in a hospital blanket. The collar was gone, the bruises around his neck still faintly visible, and the physical restraints had long since been removed. But he didn't move much. His fingers trembled occasionally, curling and uncurling over the edge of the blanket, as if unsure what they were supposed to do. His green eyes—duller than they once were—flicked around the room as though checking for ghosts.

"...I remember her," Izuku whispered, voice cracking with strain. "She floated... and smiled a lot. Her hair... was brown. She made things float." His eyes squinted, trying to pull the image into focus. "And another girl...or maybe a frog? She wore goggles sometimes. They were friends, right? Mine?"

"Yeah," Todoroki said softly, sitting up straighter. "Uraraka and Asui. They're your classmates. Your friends. They've been asking about you every day."

"They were really annoying about it," Bakugo added with a gruff scoff. "Wouldn't shut up. I think Froppy almost broke into the building."

Izuku gave a weak, unsteady smile. "That... sounds right." But then his smile dropped and his expression shifted. A flicker of confusion passed over his face as he looked down at his hands. "...They're gone again."

Bakugo stepped closer, frowning. "What do you mean?"

"The memories. They're like... bubbles. I see them. I feel them. Then they pop." His fingers curled into his blanket. "There's so much noise in my head still. Sometimes it's quiet, but other times..."

He trailed off and his mouth began moving again, this time not to them. His eyes unfocused, and he began muttering under his breath. Not words they could immediately understand, but fragments: "Father... I am... no, that's not... serve him... Izuku Midoriya doesn't exist..."

Bakugo flinched and took a half-step forward. Todoroki stood immediately.

"Izu," Todoroki said gently. "You're here with us. It's okay."

Izuku blinked rapidly, like shaking off water in his eyes, then looked at them again, disoriented and pale. "S-sorry. I didn't mean to... he just starts talking when I get confused."

Todoroki sat back down, his voice even. "It's not your fault."

A knock at the door brought in the same doctor they'd spoken with several times before, Dr. Kaede Arakawa. Her long black hair was tied back in a looser style than usual today, falling over one shoulder. She gave the boys a polite nod.

"I'm glad to see you're all awake and engaged," she said. "How are you feeling today, Izuku?"

Izuku glanced at her, then to the others. "Better, I think... a little clearer."

Kaede smiled, then addressed Todoroki and Bakugo. "We've been monitoring his responses, and there's reason to believe that talking through memories out loud may help strengthen the real ones and ground him in reality. You boys might try walking him through key moments."

Bakugo sat down at the foot of the bed. "We'll do whatever we have to."

"Try starting from the beginning," Kaede suggested. "We know he had a trauma-trigger response when he remembered the police station. That could be important."

Izuku frowned. "The police station... right. We were there." He stared at his lap for a long time. "It was right before everything went dark."

"What happened?" Todoroki asked.

Izuku's face scrunched in confusion, and he shook his head slightly as if to dispel fog. "We were there to... to tell them something. Someone had said... he said..."

Bakugo's heart sank as Izuku's trembling hands curled tighter around the blanket.

"Endeavor," Izuku whispered. "He warned me. He told me to stay away from Shoto."

Todoroki's eyes widened, but he didn't speak. Izuku's face crumbled like wet paper.

"I remember," he choked out. "I remember his face. What I did to him. I killed him. I... I beat him. I did it without hesitation. I didn't even feel bad at the time."

The room stilled. Bakugo looked at Todoroki quickly, but the dual-haired boy's face was unreadable. He didn't move. Didn't even blink.

Izuku kept going, his voice breaking further with every word. "There was a voice. A whisper, always there. Even when I was under, even when I wasn't... me. It would fight with the other voice. The one that told me to obey. And sometimes... sometimes it won. It would scream at me to stop. But not that time. That time, it was quiet. That time... it wanted him dead too."

He looked up, eyes soaked and streaming. "What does that make me, Shoto? What kind of person am I if both parts of me wanted your father to die?"

Todoroki was silent for a moment longer before he stood up and walked slowly to Izuku's side. Then, without a word, he sat on the edge of the bed and pulled Izuku into a hug.

"You're not a killer," Todoroki whispered into his shoulder. "You're a boy who was taken, twisted, and poisoned for a long time. And even after all that, part of you still fought to come back to us. You are the same boy I trained with. The same boy Katsuki befriended as a child. The same boy I love."

Izuku's breath caught in his throat. "But I-"

"No," Todoroki said firmly, pulling back to look into his eyes. "I saw what happened to my father. And I don't forgive what he did to me or my family. But that decision wasn't yours. That wasn't you."

Izuku's whole body was trembling now. "Then who was it?"

Bakugo finally stepped forward. "It was him," he said. "All For One. The bastard who took you. He wanted to erase who you were and replace you with something he could control. You're not responsible for what he forced into your head."

"But I let it happen..."

Todoroki added, softer, "You don't have to carry it alone anymore."

Izuku broke again, fresh sobs tearing from his throat. He hunched forward, grasping onto Todoroki like a lifeline, while Bakugo reached out to squeeze his shoulder.

The storm took a long time to pass. When Izuku's tears had finally slowed, his breathing was hoarse and uneven, and his voice was barely audible. "Thank you."

The three of them remained there in silence, the only sound being the machines' steady hum and the distant murmur of life beyond the walls. Eventually, Todoroki pulled back to glance at the clock on the wall.

"...It's was two months," he murmured, voice soft. "Five days, fourteen hours, and twenty-eight minutes."

Bakugo looked at him.

Todoroki gave a small, tired smile. "That's how long you were gone. But now you're home."

Izuku let out a trembling breath as more tears welled in his eyes, though this time they didn't fall from guilt. He gave the smallest nod, resting back into the pillows, and murmured, "Okay."

It wasn't over. Not even close. But it was a start. And for the first time in months, it felt like the worst part might finally be behind them.

They had each other. And that meant there was still hope.

Chapter Text

*Todoroki's POV*
_________________

Todoroki sat in the chair beside Izuku’s bed, watching as he traced lazy, meaningless circles on the blanket with trembling fingers. His green eyes were still dull in the morning light, but they were clearer than they had been. He blinked more. He looked around, and even interacted with people other than Dr. Kadae, Katsuki, and himself.

It wasn’t much, but it was hope.

Bakugo was curled on the little couch behind him, arms crossed, head tilted back, snoring lightly. Todoroki had tried to sleep there once, but his nightmares made it impossible. Not the kind of nightmares people usually had… not anymore. No flaming fists or screaming villains. Just green eyes glazed with confusion. Just the echo of that low, mechanical voice:

“I am Izuku Shigaraki. I am my father’s son and heir. I serve him. And when he passes, I will carry on his legacy.”

Todoroki exhaled slowly, dragging his hand down his face. His father’s voice echoed in his skull again, haunting in its finality.

"You’re stronger than me. And if I’m your last mistake… make sure he doesn’t become the next."

It was strange, the way death stripped a person down. Endeavor had been nothing but fire and fury for most of Todoroki’s life. But in the end, in the last moments, there had been something human. Something broken.

And Izuku had killed him.

Todoroki squeezed his eyes shut.

That thought was a jagged knife he kept swallowing again and again. He didn’t know what was worse. Knowing his father was dead, or knowing one of the people he loved more than anything had done it with his own hands.

And yet… when Izuku had broken down two days ago, sobbing into Todoroki’s shoulder, repeating “I didn’t stop him, I didn’t stop it,” Todoroki hadn’t felt hate.

He had felt love.

Unyielding, terrifying, raw love.

It had terrified him to say it, but it had come out anyway. “The same boy I love.” Izuku hadn’t even flinched. He was too lost, too buried in guilt to register the words.

But Todoroki had needed to say them, even if only for himself.

He turned back to Izuku, who had gone still again, brows furrowed, lips moving soundlessly.

“Are you… remembering something?” Todoroki asked gently.

Izuku didn’t respond at first. Then, slowly, the whispering started again. Fragmented, like pieces of different puzzles forced together.

“...he said not to look… but I did… I saw it, the cage… he was lying… but I believed him… he said you left me…”

Todoroki felt a cold weight press into his chest. He glanced over his shoulder to see Bakugo still asleep. He turned back, leaning forward just slightly.

“Who said we left you?”

Izuku blinked. He seemed to struggle to answer. “He said… no one came. I waited. And… and he said… it was because I wasn’t worth saving.”

Todoroki’s throat tightened. “That’s not true.”

“He said you were better off without me. That you all were.” His voice was quieter now, watery. “But I kept… remembering a face. It was blurry, but… warm. Golden.”

Todoroki’s pulse picked up. He kept his tone calm. “Can you describe it?”

Izuku nodded, slowly, uncertainly. “Tall. Messy hair. Strong. He smiled… he smiled even when I cried. I think…” He looked up as the door opened. “I think it was him.”

All Might stepped in just in time to hear the end of Izuku’s sentence. His breath caught in his chest.

Izuku locked gaze on All Might.

“I think I remember you,” he whispered. “When All for One told me he was my father… the first face I remember thinking of… I think it was actually you.”

All Might staggered back a step, like the words had physically struck him. His lips trembled. Then he staggered to Izuku’s bed and dropped to his knees while covering his face with both hands, his frame shaking with sobs.

“Izuku,” he choked. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve… I should’ve done more. I should’ve protected you.”

Izuku stared. Something in him shifted. His fingers twitched. His lips parted, like he wanted to say something, but the moment passed. He looked away.

Still, Todoroki had seen it.

Recognition.

All Might eventually stood, wiping his face, and offered Todoroki a small nod before stepping back out. Todoroki stayed, watching Izuku.

Later that day, after a nap and a brief meal, the boys gathered again in Izuku’s room. It was a quiet space now, filled with more peace than fear. The kind of peace that trembled on fragile legs.

Izuku sat propped up against the pillows, his eyes clearer than the day before. The doctors had told them progress would come in spurts. Clarity followed by confusion. Recognition followed by fear.

But today, Izuku seemed... willing.

Bakugo gently nudged his leg. “Tell us what you remember, Izu.”

Izuku hesitated, then spoke. “I remember the station now. I think… I think we were reporting something. Something important.”

“Yes,” Todoroki encouraged. “We were there because you had information. Do you remember what it was?”

“No… but-” Izuku stared at his hands, fingers curling into the blanket. “there was someone… someone dangerous. They hurt me.”

The room went still. Todoroki leaned in, heart hammering.

“Do you remember who?”

Izuku shook his head. “Not a name. Just fire. Fire and fear.”

Todoroki’s chest constricted. He remembered the video… the man from the van who’d shot Izuku in the back with blue flames.

Then Izuku whispered, “I remember his eyes. They were blue. Cold.”

Todoroki leaned in towards Izuku a bit more. “Do you remember his name?”

Izuku continued to stare at his hands for a bit before responding. “Dabi… I-I think that was his name.” He took a deep breath and said, “He was there after. I remember a… a cage. I was alone for a long time. I don’t… I don’t think the days were right. Night and day were too long and too short.”

Todoroki shared a quick look with Katsuki before turning back towards Izu.

“What happened in the cage, Izu?” Katsuki asked gently.

“Nothing… I was alone for a long time, but people would come by sometimes. Dabi, he- he was one of them… and All for One.” He grabs his head and groans, “Father… no… fathers?... wrong… too many days… mom… liar…”

Todoroki sat next to him and cradled him into his chest, “Shh… it’s ok Izu. You’re back home now. You’re ok. You’re safe.”

Izuku started to quiet down and Todoroki felt a bit calmer. “We pushed you too far today, we will try again later ok? Just rest. Do you want anything?”

“Tea… could I have some more tea?” He looked at Katsuki with big, pleading eyes. Kat melted and pressed a quick kiss to his forehead before saying, “Sure thing, I’ll be right back.” He pressed a quick kiss to Todoroki’s forehead too before quickly walking out of the room.

Todoroki continued to hold Izuku for a few minutes as he processed what Izu had just said. What did he mean about the days and nights? Was it just because of how long he was in there? And what did he mean about fathers?

There was still a long road ahead, but Todoroki was determined to help Izu every step of the way.

Chapter Text

Hey guys! I'm back!!! Hoping to get a couple of chapters out tonight, but wanted to thank you for your patience! All my final projects are done and went really well, so I should be able to post at a more continuous rate!