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Darling Dreamer Chapter 4

ON AO3

Rumi slipped through the balcony doors. Visiting Izuku earlier that day had calmed a part of her, along with the worry of the demons, for some reason, helping them?

It had to be a trick of some kind. Some sort of game. There had to be some sort of overarching plan.

Demons weren’t kind. They weren’t good. They did nothing without a reason.

Look at Izuku’s father. Only being with Inko to have a child who could resist Gwi-Ma.

Rumi could only imagine what her father had done to lie with a hunter. What lies he told, what angle he had.

She shook her head from the thoughts, instead jumping off the balcony with magic to keep her safe. She landed on the roof of another building, running along it to get to the meeting spot Jinu had suggested.

She had a brief thought of thanks to the bodyguard they hired to watch over Izuku at night. She could focus on this.

Izuku woke with blurry eyes to a loud noise.

“This is a stupid assignment,” a man- wait, his bodyguard? He was some English guy who’d moved to Korea, he explained, Farmer? Right, that was his last name, he said. “There are too many fucking wards in a hospital to bother.”

“I know it’s still a job. It’s still stupid. At least a few nurses seem interesting…” Farmer said, and it sounded like he was leaving Izuku’s hospital room.

Izuku sighed, leaning his head against his pillows.

He wasn’t surprised, per se, that the bodyguard was annoyed. Bodyguards who worked both in the supernatural and regular worlds tended to have chips on their shoulders. Many were hunter wannabes who couldn’t quite make it, and they got stuck doing jobs they deemed beneath them.

Still, having one around was comforting. Even if Farmer was just in the hall, he could-

A thumping noise came from the balcony. Izuku lifted his head to stare at a blue tiger sitting outside, with a bird on top of its head.

“...What?” Izuku asked.

There. Rumi spotted the black haired figure. Smirking, she summoned her sword, preparing herself for the leap-

SWISH! She cut off that bastard’s head. Oh no, the Saja Boys were missing their-

…that was a mannequin head.

“Wow. I wasn't expecting a hug, but…” the voice of the very annoying demon said, and Rumi whirled around to point her sword in his face. He backed up quickly, looking freaked out. “Jeez, okay, okay. Calm down.”

Rumi tried to stab him, and Jinu jumped away, landing on another roof. He shook his head.

“Okay, so that was not as fun of an icebreaker as I thought. Look, I just want to talk,” Jinu said. Rumi paused, glaring at him.

“Talk?” she asked in disgust. What could a DEMON want to talk about?

“Partly about your cousin. Is he okay?” Jinu asked. “Baby heard from your nanny that he’s doing better, but that’s the party line. Is he actually okay?”

“Leave Izuku alone,” Rumi snarled out. “He’s a kid, he doesn’t have any stake in this.”

“Now that’s not true,” Jinu said, tilting his head with a narrowed eye look. “Though I suppose if you don’t want to talk about that… we could talk about those pants.”

Rumi blinked and looked down at her clothes. She’d changed into comfy clothing to throw the girls off a bit. She didn’t want to tell them where she was going since they’d insist on coming.

“Teddy bears and choo-choo trains? Really? Choo-choo.” Jinu smirked as he pulled his hand down in a fake motion of pulling a train whistle. Snarling, Rumi jumped after him, swinging her sword, but he teleported.

Great, a teleporter. Those were annoying.

“You’re supposed to be dead!” Rumi shouted angrily. “And what do you mean it’s not true? Izuku has nothing to do with this!”

“So, the patterns were never there?” Jinu called from the roof behind her.

Rumi’s veins went cold. Her breath caught in her chest, squeezing around her heart with a chilling strength. Slowly, Rumi turned around to stare in horror at Jinu.

“We all saw when your nanny called for help.” Jinu stared at her. “So… a hunter lay with a demon? How’d that happen?”

Rumi snarled, her terror turning to rage.

“You bastard!” She yelled, lunging. She made quick time to get to Jinu, who went pale.

“Oh shit-“ the man said before he had to dodge her again.

Izuku stared at the demonic tiger who’d gotten into his room with the help of the magpie wearing a hat.

…Why was the magpie wearing a hat…

The tiger blinked and opened its mouth, a card saying ‘Get Well Soon’ on it.

Izuku stared at the tiger for a long moment before cautiously taking the letter, wincing. The magpie looked worried.

“...Thanks…” Izuku said as he opened it.

Why were the Saja Boys sending him a letter?

“Look, take it easy-” Jinu said as he dodged wild strikes from Rumi. “I get it, you want to protect your cousin. Trust me, I understand-”

“How could you understand?!” Rumi demanded.

“How do you think I sold my soul?” Jinu responded. Rumi, who’d been about to slash at him again, paused.

“What?” she asked.

“Six hundred years ago,” Jinu began, “Or well more, I was born to a family who could barely make ends meet. My father died because he annoyed the wrong person, or maybe they were just frustrated and taking their anger out on someone of a lower class. I’ll never know. What I do know is that after his death, my family struggled. I had only one thing truly mine, an old bipa. So I busked the streets, but it didn't get me anywhere. I was desperate. We were starving. Then, I heard him.” Jinu’s face went pale. He didn’t seem to want to speak more, but he pushed forward.

“Gwi-Ma promised me my family would never go hungry. That my little sister, who was beautiful and smart, would never be forced into a life she would despise. My mother could live comfortably. I was desperate. So I took the deal. And it worked. My music enchanted others; it drew them in. So much the King himself asked me to come to his court.” Jinu smiled. “We lived in luxury, my family and I. But… it was also a viper’s nest. Nobles schemed, jealousy abounded, and my sister was far too pretty. We were safe from starvation, but the rest…” Jinu sighed.

“What… was your sister…” Rumi had to ask, but she also didn’t want to know.

“She was safe. Luckily, she showed similar skill with music, so Do-yun was safe,” Jinu said with relief in his voice.

Do-yun, that name was familiar, and not just because it was traditional. Rumi couldn’t ponder it, though, as Jinu continued his words.

“I, however, was killed by a jealous rival when I was twenty-eight,” Jinu sighed. “And was dragged right down to Gwi-Ma.” He shook his head. “I can’t truly regret what I did. It was for them…” he looked away.

He couldn’t regret it. But he still did.

Rumi thought of her friends. Of how she could never regret lying to them about Izuku, about the marks.

How she always did. How it tore her up inside, made her guts ache.

“I know exactly what you’re going through,” Jinu told Rumi.

“...You don’t know me,” Rumi replied.

“But I do. You can tell me,” Jinu coaxed. “I can understand- I might be the only one who can.”

“I’m nothing like you,” Rumi said.

“Denial,” Jinu chuckled. “Very well, I’ll be here. Till next time.”

“There won’t be a NEXT-” Rumi shouted, but Jinu teleported away. She closed her eyes, cursing.

“UGH!”

Izuku had fallen back asleep after tucking the card under his pillow, too tired to contemplate the Saja Boys.

However, when Rumi showed up in the morning to quietly talk to him, his blood ran cold.

“They know?” Izuku whispered.

“That’s what he told me,” Rumi admitted. “I told the girls I ran into him on my morning jog, that I needed air after everything so far. And that he made me worried about you,” Rumi reached out to grasp Izuku’s hand. “We’re going to be okay.”

It didn't feel like it.

Izuku, for a second, felt angry.

It always happened the same way.

“Don’t worry.”

“We have it handled.”

“Focus on yourself.”

Rumi, Zowy and Mira wouldn’t let him know things were going on. They tried to hide things from him. Even if they were about him, they'd pretend it didn't matter.

He didn't need to know.

Izuku tried to keep the anger down. It wasn't fair to Rumi. She was stressed.

But damn it, he hated this. He hated lying here listening to Rumi tell him it would be okay when she didn't fully believe it! When any of the girls did!

The door opened, distracting him from his thoughts to let in the rest of Hubteix, Bobby and Angie.

Who was wearing a pantsuit?

“Seriously?” Izuku asked, distracted.

“It's only until we ditch Sunlight,” Angie grumbled. “Then it's skirts and shawls.”

“Good, you look…” Izuku didn't even know how to explain it.

“You look wrong,” Mira said. “Like when I dyed my hair black.”

“No!” Zoey whined. “I suppressed those memories!! How could you?!”

“I totally willfully forgot that,” Rumi pinched the bridge of her nose.

“Why?” Izuku groaned as Bobby made a horrifying gagging sound.

“Oh, the pictures…” he said.

Angie shook her head, laughing. “You sound ridiculous. Though I did run into one of the Saja Boys again yesterday, and he said the same thing despite meeting me one time.”

Izuku’s grudging amusement at the subject evaporated.

Angie had been around a demon again? A demon who seemed to be trying to take the Huntrix fans?

“Oh?” Zoey asked, a little high-pitched.

“Not the guy you think is hot,” Angie snorted.

“What?!?” Zoey went bright red, her magic making steam rush from her ears. “None of them are HOT!”

… Izuku couldn't agree with that. Sadly.

“Please. No, it was Baby,” Angie rolled her eyes. “That’s still a ridiculous name. We ran into each other, and I asked if he was standing with us. Turns out he’s faced some heavy stuff himself.” Angie shrugged, seeming uncaring.

Izuku’s anger and amusement were gone, replaced by worry.

Did Baby do anything?

As for Angie, she honestly thought their reactions were strange. While the sudden success of the Saja Boys was startling, it wasn’t that unlikely given everything. Huntrix was constantly on the verge of being dethroned for being Quirkless women. They never were, but it could happen.

Baby hadn’t been a cruel person either; he’d been sweet.

Shopping for groceries was always her alone time. Especially now, she needed a breather after being in the hospital and then dealing with Farmer. Ugh, she smelled the dude bro vibes wafting off him as soon as they met. He had a good resume, though, so Angie just ignored him.

Still dealing with the comments and smirks was exhausting. So, grocery shopping it was.

“Hayakawa?” a voice asked, right behind her as she looked at some produce.

“Ah!” Angie jumped a bit, turning around only to see the green-haired Saja Boy. “J-” she paused. “Umm, how would you like me to refer to you now?” Baby shrugged, kind of making a face.

“We’re in public,” he said, waving his hand. “Baby works.”

“...I’m not going to lie,” Angie lifted her shoulders as she tilted her head in a shrug. “That’s still weird.”

“Image is everything.” Baby replied. “You look… different.”

“With the truth out now, it’s professionalism time,” Angie sighed. Baby nodded, looking very understanding.

Angie blinked the memory away, refocusing on the conversation as the girls began discussing what to do next. A new song, and Bobby mentioned they’d been talking about one earlier.

“Right!” Zoey beamed. “We can do a new one! And donate all the proceeds!”

“Hell yeah!” Mira grinned with all her teeth.

“YEAH!” Zoey cheered, making a weird face.

“YEEEEEEAH!” Mira made an even weirder one as she lifted her arms. They both turned to Rumi, who had her arms crossed, looking unimpressed. Angie smirked.

Three, two, one…

“YEAH!” Rumi made a strange expression of her own, arms punching the air. Izuku snorted and made a similar face as he pumped his fist. They all collapsed into giggles.

Yeah, they’d be fine.

She just hoped things kept going more or less smoothly.

Of course, that was when Izuku asked, “How was the meeting with the lawyers? We kinda got distracted yesterday.”

Angie sighed. It seemed that it would be a bit of a conversation. She'd get tea then.

Izuku did not feel any surprise when Angie announced she’d be getting tea. It was her go-to comfort drink.

“That bad?” Izuku asked.

“No,” Rumi said. “Or I don't think so.”

“There is no way none of them will walk,” Mira said simply. “It's just how they will be punished that is the concern. Bakugou is thirteen for the next few months, but given the crime…”

“Watanabe was identified as the instigator,” Zoey told Izuku. “Would you agree?”

“Watanabe…” Izuku tried to think about the girl. To be honest, he barely paid attention to her; she mostly slung insults and cruel comments. She wasn't a concern of Izuku, but…

She was often hanging out with other kids who later physically hurt him.

“I mean… she does hang out with kids who end up going after me a lot,” Izuku admitted.

“We’ll tell Yun and the police that,” Bobby said. “I’m also currently looking into online schools.”

“Bobby, you don't-” Rumi began.

“Girls, Izuku, it's my honour,” Bobby told them seriously. “Somei has a good program and anti-bullying. They also have social events for all their students, so people aren't isolated.”

“That’s nice, Bobby, but…” Izuku turned back to the girls.

“Right, you want to talk about the case,” Bobby nodded.

“Watanabe, Yamamoto and Inoue are going to end up in jail for a bit,” Rumi said. “Yamamoto took a plea deal already; he got spooked by the news. Five years in jail, five years probation. Watanabe might go longer, as will Inoue. The Aldera school system will probably be finished. Or at least every single person will lose their jobs.”

“Bakugou is…” Mira made a face. “Special case. He wasn't involved in dragging you to the closet. And Watanabe might have had a hand in riling him up.”

“Figured,” Izuku said. Bakugou was easy to get mad, and easier to wind up like a top. Izuku had noticed how the boy reacted to anything he perceived as a slight. It wouldn't be hard to frame something Izuku did as looking down on the other.

“He needs punishment,” Mira said shortly. “But what it is will be the concern.”

“I…” Izuku paused. “I thought about anonymously reporting him.” Izuku finally confessed.

He hadn't told anyone this, hadn't spoken about his late-night pondering.

What if he recorded a day at Aldera? What if he sent it to all the schools he could?

Maybe a few bystanders would still get into good schools, but the worst offenders wouldn't. Izuku often had a petty daydream of walking into Aldera after being accepted at UA, while Bakugou got a rejection letter.

He just didn't like talking or thinking about it. When he did, he felt happy. Gleeful. Until he noticed his marks deepening in colour and became disgusted. The shame crept into him, which made the marks worse, but it was hard to let it go.

He hated feeling like that. Hated his marks.

Celine’s voice always whispered in his ear, constantly reminding him of how disgusting they were.

“Yet you never did,” Rumi asked, breaking Izuku away from his thoughts.”

“I might have,” Izuku said slowly. His petty daydream aside, he hadn't been comfortable with the idea of Bakugou being a hero. Maybe he'd have been once if therapy and a better support system didn't change his mind.

Izuku loved his mother. Inko had been a single mom struggling to raise her son. She’d also had anxiety, depression and a Quirk Affected Behaviour, typical for those with mental Quirks. She had been unable to let go of ideas planted firmly in her head.

One of which was how happy she was that her best friend Mitsuki’s son was best friends with her own. Izuku had never wanted his mother to face the truth. It was risky to do so in an unsafe environment, and while mental health was better acknowledged in Japan now, it still wasn't very accepted.

And it sadly would be expensive even if they were only paying 30%.

If Inko hadn't died, Izuku was pretty sure he'd still be clinging to the idea of Bakugou being his childhood friend rather than a bully who'd delighted in tormenting him even when they were toddlers.

Bakugou, however, was the bully toddler who called him Deku before the fateful doctor visit. He’d mocked him for not being able to skip stones like the blonde could or be able to throw a ball. Who flaunted his ability to read simple words, mocking those who couldn't as lesser.

He got older and meaner, no one doing anything to deter him.

Bakugou wasn't hero material. He just wasn't. Not now. Maybe not ever unless he had a serious reality check.

But…

“What if he goes villain? Or decides to be a vigilante? I can't…” Izuku couldn't continue. But he couldn't live with himself if he indirectly caused a new villain or even led to Bakugou getting killed when he bit off more than he could chew.

“We thought of that,” Rumi admitted. “So, there is a reform school where he can still be a hero if he proves himself. It's all on him what happens next.”

Izuku slowly nodded, thinking.

That… that worked.

He'd like more info, but…

Just knowing Bakugou wouldn't be refused his dream, that he'd have a chance, and it would be on him, made it easier.

Izuku just hoped Bakugou accepted it.

Mitsuki was about to punt her kid. Or shake him until sense somehow entered his head.

The news was everywhere, and the pictures of Izuku, who’d gotten the shit beaten out of him, were splashed across the news. It was horrific.

And here her dumbass son was continuing to ignore the fact that Izuku was in the fucking hospital. No, he was complaining that ‘Deku was being a whiny baby’.

Fuck.

Mitsuki glared at her son, heavily displeased with his current attitude.

“Your friend is-” Mitsuki began, but Katsuki scoffed.

“Deku isn’t my friend. He’s a pebble in my path! Nothing but a side character!” Katsuki snarled. “I should have hit him harder!”

Mitsuki’s gut dropped. She stared at her son, unable to look away.

He… he what?

“Katsuki… did you… Did you hurt Izuku?” she asked, her voice odd. It felt like she was speaking underwater.

“He deserved-” Katsuki began, but Masaru, who’d been sitting in the corner, spoke up.

“No, he didn’t, no one deserves to be beaten so badly they end up in the hospital,” Masaru said coldly.

Mitsuki hadn’t heard him talk like that since Masaru cut contact with his own family after his father beat his mother so severely that she suffered a brain injury.

“We’re going to the police,” Masaru said.

“What? Why?” Katsuki asked, baffled.

“If you’re confused by this, you should forget about being a hero,” Masaru said.

Mitsuki couldn’t disagree.

“Okay, I am still confused,” Izuku admitted after Bobby left to speak with someone, and Angie brought in the tea. She’d stuck around for an hour before she had her work to do. There was a lot of paperwork and speaking with the PR team for Huntrix about her role.

Izuku also felt she’d be trying to get permission to dress how she usually did.

“Why are the Saja Boys helping us? Wouldn’t it be better to try to have Huntrix seem like horrible people?” Izuku wondered.

“They’d look bad,” Rumi said. “I think.”

“Quirkless people might be accepted, but it’s the same nonsense that happened back in the 2020s with gay people,” Zoey denied. “We’re accepted, but still the freaks. Laws protect us, but they’re hard to enforce.”

“This is a hate crime,” Rumi argued. Zoey shook her head, looking grim.

“Rumi, you’ve been protected by Celine. They could easily play that Izuku is playing it up; it was a case of the kids going too far while roughhousing.” Zoey listed. “It’s common. Our assets are our fame and evidence, along with having no shame to drag it out into the open.”

“And the political system,” Mira said. She held up her phone. “Seven articles from Canadian news outlets about how this is proof Japan is still in the dark ages, people demanding sanctions against them, some of the crazy ones are saying to just blockade all of Japan's anything.”

“The Saja Boys have demonic magic and could throw it behind the opposition. It would divide our attention. Why would they help us?” Rumi wondered.

Izuku suddenly remembered the card. He sat up and dragged it out. “I forgot, they sent me this last night.”

“You had a bodyguard,” Rumi said, looking freaked out.

“He went to the bathroom,” Izuku said quickly. While it was annoying that Farmer had stayed outside, he also didn’t want someone watching him while he slept.

“Oh,” Rumi nodded. She took the card. “What is their goal?”

“To make us confused?” Mira snorted.

Izuku, though, had a thought.

Was this about the patterns?

He hoped not.

Jinu felt jealous.

Rumi got to spend time with Izuku. She actually got to spend time with him and got to see him grow.

“Oppa-”

Jinu shook his head. He couldn’t keep thinking about it.

Yet the memories kept coming to him and leaving his family behind. He walked away from them, and they had nothing.

Jinu didn’t know where his sister, Do-yun, went. But he remembered seeing his mother’s body. He’d been out with the other court officials when someone commented about a plague in the poorer districts. They were just about to pass it, but they turned around after learning about it.

That was when Jinu saw it.

On a cart was his mother.

Dead.

He couldn’t get the image out of his head. Even now, every time it popped into his head, he saw her vacant eyes and the sores on her body.

Do-yun, though, vanished in the mist.

Jinu shook his head. He couldn’t keep thinking about it, couldn’t continue with this. It just filled him with shame. So much shame.

It wouldn’t last, though. Soon, all Jinu’s memories of this would be gone. He wouldn’t be haunted by it anymore.

He just had to focus on finishing this.

“We need to record our new song,” Romance called out from where he’d been looking through new clothes for it. “Dangerous Times is going to be perfect to show how we understand discrimination.”

“Mystery has the Quirk discrimination covered,” Abby said, pausing in his pushups. “Romance and I… well, we can cover sexuality.”

“Sadly, we can’t admit being in a relationship,” Romance said. His voice was pained. Jinu nodded slowly.

Their deaths were horrific, and the reason behind it was even worse. Having to pretend they weren’t together, even after everything, was a dagger in their side.

But it was better for now. Soon, the humans wouldn’t be able to care about it, and they could flaunt it all they wanted.

“I’ll take the ‘rich expectations’ route,” Baby piped up. “Maybe have my parents try to control my life, mix in being young-looking and cutesy as an issue.”

“I’ll take poverty,” Jinu said. It was all true- they had all faced these things. “What are our official Quirks again?”

“You have Derpy and Sussie,” Romance said, nodding to the slumbering animals. “Mystery has hypnotism, I have the good looks-”

“That’s not a Quirk,” Baby said.

“I’m supernaturally good-looking,” Romance flipped his hair dramatically.

“Fuck yeah,” Abby grinned, looking up at Romance. “You’re gorgeous, babe,” he hopped up to go and kiss the other. Jinu rolled his eyes.

“Romance is listed as a teleporter,” Baby said, ignoring the kissing. They were too used to it. “Durability is mine, and Abby’s Quirk is perfect physique.” He rolled his eyes.

“Peak,” Mystery corrected from where he was chewing on something, probably another dog toy. It helped Mystery a lot to have these things, better than his options for this in the demon world.

“Well, there we go,” Baby shrugged.

“Alright,” Jinu nodded. “Let’s see what we can do with those Quirks and this song.”

He had to focus.

“It’s bullshit,” Farmer was ranting on the phone. “This brat mentioned I wasn’t in the room, but he figured I was in the bathroom. Ugh, I feel bad for him, but come on, this is beneath me,” Farmer once again left to go into the hall. Izuku rolled his eyes.

Sure.

He closed his eyes, trying to sleep, when he heard the balcony open. Sitting up, Izuku stared at the tiger and magpie who entered.

The tiger purred, coming to place his head on the bed, looking at Izuku with his big eyes. The bird gave Izuku a side eye.

“I’m trying to sleep, you’re disturbing my rest,” Izuku said defensively. The magpie rolled its eyes and then flew off the tiger to try and make Izuku lie down. He couldn’t help the laugh.

“Okay, okay- I will.” Izuku lay down.

They might be demonic, but this was pretty funny.

Notes:

-As I wrote this, I realized Rumi wouldn’t know that the Saja Boys saw her patterns. So… here’s the big reveal!

-Izuku is going through a lot. He’s more awake now, in pain, and suddenly was confronted with the revelation that DEMONS know who he is. He’s freaked right the fuck out. Plus, he does feel like he has more of a stake here.

-TBH, it’s kind of hard to write him in the hospital? I’m not sure why I’m struggling so much with Izuku. Usually, he’s pretty easy to get into the head of.

-Takedown will still show up, but the song they mentioned about writing for Izuku will come up sooner. Note, I can’t write songs at all, and it feels slimy to use another artist's music, so there may be some lyrics I write, but not much.

-I will never write Mitsuki as abusive, because it’s often used as an excuse just to give Bakugou a slap on the wrist. Here, she isn’t a good mom, but she isn’t abusive.

-Bakugou was never Izuku’s friend, and I will DIE on that hill.

-He’s also very used to getting away with everything. And he honestly didn’t think he was doing anything wrong. Or that it wasn’t that serious. He’s a dumbass teenager.

-Hope you guys liked this!

#bnha #bnha au #kpop demon hunters #dreams of gold

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