#izuku - in all his enthusiasm - did not realize his mistake

[wribbles]

When Kitkat graduated UA, Izuku and Inko celebrated. They went all out, decorating the house, baking sweets and Kitkat's favorite food. (He may not be there in person, but he's there in spirit and that's enough).

They didn't watch him walk across the stage (Izuku still doesnt even know any identifying details about him & UA's graduation is a closed ceremony) but Izuku wrote a speech about Kitkat and his accomplishments and how proud he and his mom were over them and wishing Kitkat good luck in his future endeavors, which he performed for his mom in their living room.

(She filmed it. One day, she's going to show Kitkat himself. She already knows she's going to cry again watching it, and she'd be surprised if Kitkat doesn't as well)

Izuku didn't send the speech to Kitkat (far too embarrassing) but he did tell him congratulations and that hes so so so proud of him. He also sends a picture of their celebratory cake & explains they had his fave food for dinner - izuku follows up by asking Kitkat to go treat himself tonight please!

Shouta, unbeknownst to Izuku, blushes and smiles softly - all warm and fuzzy from Mido's pride and praise and the way he and his mom celebrated in a way Shouta knows his own parents didnt even consider. (In fact, Shouta isn't even going home after graduation. He's legally an adult now and neither he nor his parents want to live with each other any moment more. He packed his stuff up and moved in with Nemuri (who graduated a year earlier and already had an apt) earlier in the week.)

He wasn't going to celebrate - it's not really his style - but if Mido is asking, well then it can be like he's celebrating with them, even when they're apart. So he agrees and eventually sends Mido back a pic of his own reward cupcake and fave food.

All in all, it's a good day on both sides.

[riahlynn101]

"Be Honest, Be Truthful" (9).

Chapter 9

Trigger warning: Mentioned/implied death

--

“Uncle Yoichi!” Izuku shouts, racing across a near-empty cafeteria, an exasperated Sanshirou shuffling along behind him. 

 Nisuke and he had arrived just in time to score a bowl of curry (literally a bowl. The people in charge of dishing out the food had been extremely apologetic, but there was little they could do beyond letting one of the men eat off a dirty bowl.) 

“Izuku-Chan!” He shouts back with just as much enthusiasm. 

They join them at the table. Sanshirou sitting across from them, and Izuku sitting next to Yoichi.

“Uncle Yoichi,” he says, after Sanshirou recounts their journey to the basement, “look what I found.” Excitedly, Izuku holds up Captain Hero: Volume 10. 

“Oh, Izu! I can’t wait to read it with you, later. But….” He looks at his new companions, hesitating. “It probably belongs to someone else. Did you ask them before you took it?”

Meekly, Izuku shakes his head. “Sanshirou-San says it belongs to Hikage-San.” He perks up, smiling. “But I promise I’m going to ask. I…just don’t know who Hikage-San is,” Izuku says, faltering as he looks around the room. 

Nisuke snorts. “You don’t have to call him Hikage-San, Izuku. I think either Hikage or Shinomori is fine. He’s hardly older than you.” 

Izuku leans across him to look intently at Nisuke. “Can I be friends with him?” Somehow, someway Yoichi doubts it’s an actual, genuine request and more a thinly-veiled plan to make his first friend. 

“That’s up to him,” Sanshirou tells Izuku. 

His nephew deflates a little, but still readily accepts an invitation to go look for the other boy after dinner. 

Nisuke and him take turns eating their dinner, passing the spoon off between them. In the lulls of quiet conversation, Nisuke will whisper a joke in his ear. His breath tickles his ear and makes Yoichi’s stomach feel all weird. But he reasons, quietly laughing along, the jokes he tells are too inappropriate for Izuku. So, of course he has to whisper them. Of course. 

It’s only when Izuku’s hugging him from the side and telling Yoichi he’ll meet him back in their room for bedtime, that he realizes how close he’s gotten to Nisuke. They’re leaning against each other, dinner gone and forgotten. Nisuke is still whispering in his ear, bolder now that it’s obvious Yoichi isn’t going to push him away. 

“So…uh….” Sanshirou coughs, “I’m going to take Izuku-Chan.” 

Izuku protests, but Sanshirou must have given him a look because his nephew immediately falls silent and allows himself to be escorted out of the cafeteria. 

Nisuke’s hands rest on the table. His fingers twitch whenever he’s apprehensive of Yoichi’s reaction - an endearing nervous habit, for an endearing person.

(Is it too soon to think that? The last thing he wants to do is scare Nisuke off, but it's not like Yoichi has any other experience to compare his feelings to).

Yoichi takes a deep breath, steadying himself. He reaches over to rest one hand atop one of Nisuke’s

Nisuke stops mid-joke, breath hitching. Fingers twitch, again, and Yoichi can’t help but smile at the nervous wreck of a man sitting beside him.

“Uh…um….” Nisuke’s face is red (and growing redder, still). “Uh- have you ever seen the sunrise-”

Yoichi giggles, catching his mistake at the exact same time as he did.

“I-I mean set! Have you ever seen the sun set? ” He clears his throat, trying to look way more composed than he actually is. “The roof is an excellent place to watch. Would you like to watch it with me?”

Yoichi, whose face is probably turning a similar shade of red, nods. “I’d love to, my hero.”

-x-x-x-

Finding Hikage hadn’t been difficult per se, as apparently (according to Sanshirou-San), the slightly older boy was always either in class (when school was in session), the library (despite it being open to anyone, no one really bothers to go in there except the librarian and Hikage), or the room downstairs (though, from the look on Sanshirou-san’s face, Izuku would hazard a guess that he isn’t supposed to). 

“Izuku, this is Hikage,” Sanshirou-San introduces, finally finding Hikage tucked away in the library working on homework. 

The hard part came after they found him. 

He looks up at them, expectedly. 

Hikage can’t be more than a year, a year-and-a-half older than Izuku - Sanshirou-San and Nisuke-San had told him as much. But actually seeing someone around his age is giving him a slight shock. 

“Hi,” Hikage greets, sheepishly. His choppy hair reminds Izuku vaguely of Uncle Yoichi, the way it hangs in front of Hikage’s face. 

Izuku tries to remember the last time he interacted with another kid. Even before mommy left, he rarely left the house. Once or twice mommy took him to a park close to their house (something he wasn’t allowed to tell daddy about, and he still hasn’t), and he played with the kids there. But beyond that….

…..never….until today.

“Hello!” Izuku greets back, his voice a few volumes too loud. Seeing the grimace that crosses Hikage's face, he shrinks back. “Sorry,” he says, quieter. 

“It’s fine. My meta-ability makes me react strongly to sudden, loud, or overwhelming stimuli. It’s not your fault. Just….please don’t yell, again.”

Izuku tilts his head to the side. He taps a finger to his bottom lip, thinking. “What’s your ability? My first thought would be super hearing, what with you being overwhelmed easily by loud noises, but you also said you react strongly to any stimuli. Which implies-”

“Izuku,” Sanshirou-San says, placing a hand on his shoulder. Addressing Hikage, he asks, “would it be any issue if Izuku borrows your comic book for the night? I’ll make sure he brings it back here in the same condition first thing tomorrow.”

“Ah, sure.” He gives them (more Sanshirou-San than him) a mischievous grin. “On the condition that Izuku-Chan sits here with me and chats until curfew.”

Izuku smiles widely. “Can I?” He asks an oddly quiet sanshirou-San. “Can I?” He repeats.

“I…I suppose it couldn’t hurt.” Sanshirou-San turns to the door they came in. “Izuku,” he says, concerned.

Izuku stares up at him, slowly inching towards the seat next to Hikage. “Is something wrong?”

Sanshirou-San’s mouth forms a thin line, clearly wanting to say something. But he doesn’t. He shakes his head, blinking his eyes. “No,” he says, “I’ll be back to get you two at curfew.”

“Bye,” the boys tell Sanshirou-San in unison.

They share a laugh, Izuku skipping over to sit next to Hikage. 

“So, you like Captain Hero?” Hikage asks, turning in his seat slightly to see Izuku better. 

Izuku nods excitedly. “Uncle Yoichi reads it to me all the time, except that one time where he was really sick and I read it to him.” He rocks side to side in seat, the question filling Izuku with a small burst of energy. 

“My papa used to read it to me,” Hikage says, looking down at his lap. 

“Used to…?” 

“He died,” Hikage whispers, a haunted look in his eyes.

Izuku’s mouth forms an ‘o.’ “Like my mommy,” Izuku says in understanding. He places a gentle hand on Hikage’s shoulder. “Do you have an Uncle?”

His new friend sniffles, wiping at his eyes. “U-uncle? No, I have a mama. She…we escaped before they could hurt us.”

“Why would anyone want to hurt your papa?” Izuku asks, curious. 

“Why did they hurt your mom,” Hikage snaps. 

Izuku cringes away. Tears well up in his eyes. Did he say something wrong? And then something occurs to him.

“Sorry, sorry,” Hikage tells him, hiding his face behind his hair. 

“No, I shouldn’t have asked that. Uncle Yoichi says I’m nosy.”

Hikage giggles, tucking some hair behind his ears. “You are, aren’t you?”

In response, Izuku leans closer to try to nudge Hikage off his seat. 

Thud!

Izuku finds himself staring up at the ceiling. What…what happened? 

Hikage stands over him, eyes wide. “Oh, oh, no.” He helps Izuku up. “It’s my ability. It’s called danger sense, and it helps me avoid dangerous situations.”

“That’s-”

“Creepy? Weird? Entirely useless?”

“-the coolest meta ability I have ever heard of.” Izuku grabs Hikage’s forearms, hopping from one foot to the other. “You’re like Spiderman! Or…or…Captain hero.”

“Like Captain Hero?”

“Yeah! In volume five, we find out the reason Captain Hero can avoid so many attacks is because he has a superpower that lets him sense the villains’ presence.” 

Hikage cocks his head, sitting down. “I could have sworn it said intuition in volume four, which, by the way, isn’t the same thing.”

“No, I mean yeah, but if you recall in volume five all of Captain Hero’s secrets are broadcasted to the world. Which includes all his superpowers. We find out that - what he calls “intuition” - is actually an additional power that protects him from threats,” Izuku says, waving his hands around in an effort to emphasize everything. “So, that means you’re a superhero.”

“You think so?” Hikage asks, timidly. 

“I know so. Well, at least one day, you will.” Izuku looks down at his short, stubby legs, and suddenly remembers their ages. “We are still kids. But one day, I think you’ll be the bestest hero ever!” He shouts, throwing his arms up. 

Seeing Hikage flinch back, Izuku rushes to apologize. 

“Curfew,” Sanshirou-San says, peeking in from the hallway. 

Both boys grumble, Izuku frowns and Hikage collects his things. “Can’t we have ten more minutes?” Izuku pleads, putting his hands together. 

“Curfew is now,” Sanshirou-San says, tapping his wristwatch. “Technically,” He clarifies, “it was twenty minutes ago, so….I’m going to have to deny your request. And your mother is probably looking for you, Hikage. Do you need me to take you there?” 

Hikage shakes his head. “No.” He turns to Izuku. “Return my comic at breakfast. We can sit together and talk about volume ten.”

Izuku hums in agreement. 

Hikage wishes them goodnight, disappearing around the corner. 

When he’s out of view, Izuku squeals. Sanshirou-San looks startled, jolting backwards. 

“Sanshirou-San! Guess what!? Guess what!?” He bounces on the balls of his feet, practically vibrating with excess energy. 

“What?” Sanshirou-San asks, indulgenting him. 

“Hikage-Chan is my friend! I have a friend! A real life friend!”

“That’s…that’s great, Izuku.” 

“Mhm. I’m so happy. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier.”

-x-x-x-

Hisashi has never been more upset in his entire life. 

He has officially run out of witnesses from the attacks and informants. He’s, as the kids say, run into a dead-end.

The card that the woman left him a mere week ago, mocks him from its place in the desk drawer. Even without seeing it, Hisashi can sense its presence, taunting him. 

To even be considering this….

He sighs, heavily. 

Sometimes morals must be compromised to protect the ones you love. This is an unprecedented time they live in, after all. 

He roughly yanks the drawer open and holds the card between two fingers. 

Kami, forgive him for what he’s about to do. 

[storage73011]

What are you smiling about?

➳ Prompt #2 - What are you smiling about? (more prompts)

➳ Summary: Y/N reminisces about the past 

➳ Pairing: Izuku Midoriya x Reader

➳ Warnings: Fluff, Angst if you squeeze, no beta we die like man, english not being my main language, so I am sorry if I made any mistakes, please don’t hesitate to correct me

➳ Word Count: 2k+

➳ Requests are open

A tired sign pushed throw your lips as you settled the last box, it was certainly being a hassle to make the sift from your old place, but it was stupidly worth it, it was closer to everything, price of the things was better anyway too, closer to your work, and just overall the whole package deal, amazing space, amazing view, a freaking reasonable price that you actually leave you enough money to not need to live off microwave food-

“(Y/N), do you have the box with the pans?”

Oh, and of course, the whole reason why you even considered doing anything in your life, Deku to the world, but for you he would always be Izuku Midoriya, your boyfriend, you could still remember it all as if it were yesterday, precious memories from when you were just starting at UA, as well as him.

Truth to be told, you didn’t quite expect much when you were in the support course, your plan was to make in the world as a pillar for the heroes, with your inventions as to enhance their powers, their abilities, people never use to talk much of them because of the lack of the glamour, but the one time you saw people actively “milking the sweat” out of a hero in training to make a costume that would allow him to use his quirk more efficiently … you knew that people were missing out on tons of good stories.

Meeting Izuku happened on an accident, actually, you weren’t the student assigned to him, UA wasn’t crazy (ok maybe they were a tad crazy looking back) to let only a first year to take care of other first years, most of the hard job would rely on the third years the most since they were going to go to the real working world real soon, but wouldn’t you know that your friendship with the overly energetic Hatsume would let you met the love of your life uh?

It would be like the scene right from a cheap shonen manga when you opened the door and found the girl literally pining the poor green haired boy down forcing him to test some of her inventions, you were so shocked you almost stepped back and decided to ignore that, almost. If it weren’t for a string of fast spoken words as soon as Hatsume was off the boy, babbles that you still couldn’t make sense for the life of you, you were never going to be here now, happy now.

“Yes Zuku, it was the last box!” you shouted back, walking pass the living room to the kitchen.

The pink haired girl laughed it off, as usual, ignoring the fact that she was forcing the boy to something he did not, chuckling it up to “it’s just her way to do things” there was no ill intent, you knew, but still had to have yet another pep talk about people’s personal spaces.

He introduced himself to you rather clumsy, with an unnecessary over the top bow considering that you both were the same age, that was the first time he had made you smile, giggling a little, you did the same.

“I thought we were going to order take out for today, you know, since we worked so god damn hard moving all the things from our old places” you said lazily resting your upper body over in the kitchen counter, eyes darting over your boyfriend while he was placing the new set of plates on the table, his curly hair was even more of a mess, but he didn’t seem tired at all, you even dared to say he was excited.

“I know, I know” he gave a soft laugh, looking at you oh so softly, with a hand over the base of his neck, he used to do this when he was slightly nervous you noticed, he was averting his eyes a bit, still, after all these years, he would still act nervous around you in times like this, you gave a half smile. “I just … though that it would be nice for us to make something together, I mean I understand if you are too tired to want to make something from scratch, you had a full day of work with the new flow of sidekicks in the agency and then still have to finish moving here with me but this is our first time l-living together… and I mean, I just wanted to…. I wanted to” oh god you couldn’t believe he could get even redder, Izuku was great with words when he wanted to be, but new experiences, especially in the relationship usually left him a little overwhelmed.

It could be coincidence or fate, but ever since your first time meeting the hero, he was always there when you had to talk to Mei, or randomly he would find you in the lab testing something out, he’d even volunteer to try some of your newest creations, it wasn’t until you were late to your usual time on the lab that you found him searching for your presence on the empty lab that you knew he was actively trying to spend time with you.

You also found out that a new shade of red existed when you caught him in the act while he mumbled excuses.

It was in the end of second year that he confessed to you, you guys were outside of UA for once, and by some miracle nobody tried to actively murder his class (another whole set of stories, many of them ending up with him crying while you placed gentle touches on his back), it was the middle of summer, the start of the night was hot as hell, you all just had said your goodbyes to your friends, Izuku would always offer to walk you home, even if his house was in the other direction of yours. You were happily playing with one cheap rubber water ball you brough in the small open fair that you guys spend the day looking at stuff while talking to him about some heroes status, you were in the middle of a pretty furious fit of giggles with the uniform of some of the pro heroes when Izuku stopped walking for a moment, you stopped moments later when you realized he wasn’t moving.

He was looking at you tenderly for a second before his face turned into determination and them a sudden realization that made him blush hard, but still stood his ground, not daring for a second to look away from you. You never felt more conscious of everything, in yourself, in him, the breathing, the rest was the rest and you were only focused on him and vice versa.

Taking a deep breath, he took his shot, the words coming out directly, louder than he intended, but ever so clear.

“(Y/N), I am in love with you!”

Then it was quiet. He wouldn’t dare to open his eyes, as if he was afraid of the reaction, of what he had just done. But it wasn’t needed when he could feel you throwing yourself at him in a hug, and the words he needed to hear so much after hearing the ones you wanted the most, so delicately in a whisper, almost as if it was a prayer.

“I love you too, Izuku”

You stepped closer to him, his voice was extremely low, and quiet, if any nose were to be there you would miss it. You placed your hands in each side of his cheeks, he was taller than you now, and gave him a reassuring smile, Izuku still would not dare to make eye contact.

“Want to…?” you tried to keep with the same low tone he was, as if you talked louder you could startle him, the smile never leaving your lips.

“…To make memories with you” Green orbs were now your focus, big doe eyes that would get you every time you looked at them with that sparkle that was always there when he talked to you, you felt your right hand being enveloped by a much larger, rougher one, slightly sliding over his lips, where he placed a delicate kiss over your palm. “I guess I just want us to have a great start together here” he let go of you hand while leaning towards the other that was still on his cheek, finally admitted to his small domestic desire.

“Then get me the ingredients, mister” you responded in a heartbeat, slightly booping his nose then placing both of your hands on your hips with more enthusiasm than you actually had “because we are making curry then”

“Don’t force yourself for me, (Y/N)” He said, softly, even if he could not hide his contentment.

“Izu, you’re always doing things for me, this is the least I could do, believe me, this is a two-way street after all” you added with a slightly smug face while already getting the carrots ready to be sliced.

Seemly satisfied with your answer, your boyfriend turned over to make his part of the meal, while you were humming a song.

Sometimes, being on support was brutal, people would complain to you about things that were not even your work but since it didn’t worked well with the other amalgamation of equipment’s they have, suddenly it was all your fault over and over again, turns out that Karens could actually be heroes and this information would have been so much nicer if people could have focused that while you were studying but oh well.

You flopped in your boyfriend’s place again, too tired to actually wait more time to take the train to go to your house, you needed a break.

Your lovely boyfriend chuckled a little once you walked upon the doors looking like a zombie and flopping onto the couch without any grace.

“Don’t laugh at my suffering Zuzu” you whined, not taking your face off the soft pillow.

“Sorry honey” you could feel him sitting next to you, his fingers running through your hair, you almost melted in fabric. “Hard day?”

“Something like that” You were non nonchalant, looking up a little to see him, he could and would lift your humor without even noticing, you missed seem him everyday like this. “Thank for letting me here again Zuzu, I just am very tired and plus having to travel half of the city just so I can sleep doesn’t seem much worth it hehe”

“I see… but” He cleared this throat, in a half cough, you tilted your head slightly, his cheeks were flushed, but his hand was still over your head “I… I mean… you could always live here”

“Really?” That aught your attention, you guys were together for quite a while now but you didn’t want to rush him in any way.

“It … It would make sense and you would be more rested too, besides here is a great place, I have more than enough space as it is, the seller of the place himself actually was telling me on and on that his place was too big for only one person, but I would assure him that I wouldn’t be here alone for long and…” He would have continued to ramble if he didn’t register that he spilled his plan to you, keeping himself quiet.

“Of course I will move in with you Izuku!” there was never a doubt of it.

Two strong arms were slowly placed around your waist, with a small nuzzle on the back right were your head met your neck, his breathing sending shivers down your spine.

“What are you smiling about?” You could feel his own smile against your skin, making the smile you weren’t aware you had even wider.

“That I love you so much” your arms were over his, placing your fingers over each on of his “so much”

You couldn’t see, but as the hug got a little bit tighter, his lips tracing over your neck, you could tell, or at least hope he had the same blush on his face that you were having right now.

“I love you too, (Y/N)”

[oatsn-honey]

“She’s not you.”

Masterlist

A plume of gray smoke slowly rose from the small building, sirens wailing in the background. People filtered out of the front -- villains in handcuffs and heroes directing them. The occasional civilian slipped out. To the side, Izuku crouched on the asphalt, loosening his tight boots.

He and some of the other interns were notified earlier that morning. “You have a mission,” Aizawa had stated, handing them each a sheet of paper with sparse information. “There’s a small faction of criminals that have been suspected to have association with the League of Villains. We discovered their headquarters earlier this week -- hopefully they can lead us to the League’s new location, as well as their future plans.” The tired man sighed, before continuing, “And if they aren’t connected, we’ll just have made the world a touch safer.” After a bit more debriefing, the heroes-in-training were dismissed to change into their costumes and assemble at the designated meeting spot.

Izuku launched up, his matted hair swaying in the breeze, releasing a satisfied huff of breath. They had apprehended all of the culprits, and were likely to get some information out of this afternoon. As he stretched out his muscles, popping his joints, he began to hear heeled boots clack behind him. “Deku!” A high voice, cheerful and bright, rang out, and Izuku turned to smile at the girl. “Good job out there!”

He gave a little wave, and a “You too, Uraraka,” as she settled next to him. They exchanged high-fives and grins before commencing in a light-hearted conversation about the day’s events.

“Man, he sure is weak. The fight wasn’t difficult in the slightest.”

Ochako turned to look over her shoulder, her voice dripping unnerving hostility. Izuku’s eyes grew wide, his mouth going slack as he hesitantly followed her line of vision. She was glaring directly at Kirishima -- injured in the confrontation and receiving treatment for his wounds (a gash stretching from his bicep to the bend of his elbow). From the distance, Izuku could faintly hear Kirishima’s small grunts of pain, and make out the contortions on his face.

Still taken aback by Ochako’s uncharacteristic statement, Izuku smacked his lips several times before quietly answering, voice weak with shock, “Who? Kirishima?”

Ochako turned back to him, shooting a scowl that answered his question perfectly. “Well, duh, who else?”

Izuku pursed his lips, making them grow white, as his brow furrowed in confusion, disappointment etched on his face. “What’s going on?” His mind questioned, as he caught a flash of amber in her eyes -- oh.

Realization struck. “What’d you do with Uraraka?” His voice hardened, concealing his concern for his friend and his apprehension of the situation.

The girl cocked her eyebrow, an innocent smirk tugging on her lips. “What do you mean, Deku?” She faced him fully, that unassuming expression painted on her face. The exchange shifted into a standstill, a battle of patience and a silent testament of courage and wits. From the outside, it appeared to simply be an awkward moment, but it wasn’t, because Izuku knew he was right.

“Who will give up first?” Izuku wondered, before determining, “It won’t be me, that’s for sure.” He narrowed his eyes, hissing through closed teeth, “Toga.” “I’ll force her to admit it, corner her.”

A cackle that would never in a million years fall from Ochako’s lips echoed, the cruel sound poking gaping holes in Izuku’s solid defense -- show no fear. She threw her head back for a moment, enjoying her reveal too much. After her chortles slowly teetered out, she settled to stare deep into his forest eyes. To Izuku’s dismay, she took a confident step forward.

He sucked in a breath, her arm snaking around his shoulders, as she leaned against him. Motionless, he looked down at her hand on his shoulder; sunlight gleamed off of a blade.

“Congratulations,” she breathed, voice so smooth and quiet it sent shivers down his spine. “Looks like you discovered my little secret.” She leaned towards him, face mere inches from his. He could feel her hot breath tickle his skin as she cooed, “Let’s keep this between us…that is, unless you want something bad to happen.” The small dagger pressed into his shoulder, blood welling up from the wound. “You wouldn’t want that, now, would you, Izuku?”

Izuku hated this. He could hear the lust and desire flowing from her voice, feel it in the way she flattened her body on his, the way she slid the blade across his arm, small lacerations littering the limb. This was wrong. Those words, those actions, were terribly wrong coming from her body, her voice. He shuddered, sick to his stomach. That was not Ochako, and it never would be.

“Toga, stop.” His voice sounded unwavering, but he was hardly able to choke the words out amidst his rage and disgust. “I’ll ask again: where is Uraraka?” His body wanted to jump away from her, but he knew it would be it would be a fatal mistake.

She grew closer to him -- Izuku felt claustrophobic underneath her gaze -- lips brushing against his cheek as she whispered, “Now, Izuku, darling, you’re not in much of a position to make demands.” She swiped at his arm again, the weapon digging just a little too deep. Izuku contained a flinch, his eyelids twitching at the pain.

He grit his teeth, “How do I change that?”

In a flash, he had her wrists clasped in his scarred hands, flipping her around, arms twisted behind her.

“Actually, I am,” he quipped, grip growing tighter. “Now, tell me.” He was seething, but appeared outwardly calm.

The girl in his clutches snickered, the knife in her hands clattering to the ground. “Well, well, this is quite surprising, dear Izuku!” She turned her neck and sent a deranged sneer, “I like this side of you.”

He made to speak -- demand for an answer -- before she interrupted him, “But I’m curious: why do you like this girl so much? Why not me? Hmm?” She hummed in exaggerated curiosity, continuing before he could formulate an answer, “After all, like this, I look like her, sound like her -- why can’t that be enough?” She gazed at him, her eyes cruel, a twisted amber poking through the chocolate brown. “And, besides, you bleed so beautifully.”

“Why?” Izuku grunted out, willing his acrimony down, “You ask why, Toga?” He shot daggers with his glare. “Uraraka is a hero, you’re a villain. And it’s not that simple, either. She is admirable, compassionate, selfless, courageous, has all of a hero’s essence. You are cruel, twisted, violent, self-seeking, and deplorable. How can you even begin to compare yourself to her? She is not you, and you’re not her. And you never will be.” He finished, his voice louder than intended, but he did not regret it.

Toga’s smirk faltered, her eyes narrowing. “I’m…sorry to hear that.” Quickly, a shred of her enthusiasm returned, “But I wouldn’t worry much; that will change soon.”

After Toga had been contained, the remaining heroes went on a frantic search for Ochako -- not more than thirty minutes after Izuku and Toga’s exchange, the sun had set. It took two hours before Toga finally revealed Ochako’s location, or at least where she had left her.

Izuku was the first to the alleyway. It took a moment, but he made out her pink hero costume amongst the black garbage bags concealed in a dark corner. He rushed over to her, scooping her into his arms, cradling her head against his shoulder.

“Uraraka,” he whispered, tears flooding his vision, his voice strained. “Please, be okay.”

“D-Deku?” She sounded meek, confused, and disoriented, but it made Izuku’s heart soar in relief. “What happened?”

“You were attacked by Toga.” That was all he said — he hoped that was all that happened.

“Oh,” was her small answer as she huddled into his chest, shivers wracking her body. After a moment, she noticed the slices in his costume and the blood dripping down his arm.

“D-Deku,” she stammered, still weak. “You’re hurt, wha-”

He interrupted her, hugging her tighter. “It’s okay. I’m okay.” He let out a shaky breath, “Thank God, you’re okay.”

~An ask from dededestroyer1000000, with the prompt “She’s not you.” I hope you like it! 

~Apologies for being 2 days late with this!

~A huge thank you to the editors in the IzuOcha Discord Server!! Oh my lord, you guys are absolutely amazing -- this thing was trash without your help! <3

~See you guys soon (hopefully), thanks for reading! 

[concussed-to-pieces]

More! Part One

Fandom: My Hero Academia/Boku No Hero Academia

Pairing: Eventual Tenya Iida/OFC

Rating: Holy shit M

AN: Hello all, it's time for the first chapter of my prime indulgence! To any of my anime-inclined broskis out there, welcome aboard!

In The Shadow

[!TRIGGER WARNING!: For gratuitous,canon-typical violence and facial trauma. Stay safe!]

Tenya had been informed time and again that college was slightly different from high school. He endured a few weeks of mental gymnastics when he realized that he wouldn’t have a uniform. College was different and yet...not. Certainly, no uniform to iron the night before and the ability to make your own schedule were boons. Nearly all of his ‘new’ classmates were old friends from high school which meant that he wasn't lacking in company, but many people didn’t seem to share Iida’s enthusiasm for continuing to better oneself even after the preliminary quirk training of high school! He wanted to be the best hero he could be, he wanted to make his family proud!

That was why he made the choice to attend college in the first place, with Tensei's wholehearted support behind him. He knew that any time he wanted it, he could have a job at his family’s hero agency. So why not be the best possible fit for his future job? Tenya was incredibly fortunate to have a secure career, and he took his studies very seriously.

Leona Moore wasn’t a troublemaker, though the way that she dressed had set off warning bells in Tenya’s brain. It was the pants, he decided, the overlarge cargo pants that had too many pockets. She was notoriously early for her classes, sometimes by an hour or so. Tenya admired her dedication, consistently fifteen minutes ahead of schedule himself. She always had a lollipop stick protruding from her mouth, her shoulders hunched slightly underneath the leather jacket she usually wore. She couldn’t seem to decide on whether she wanted to make herself seem larger or smaller, her clothes all slightly too big for her frame and her jokes never failing to make Kirishima snort with laughter at the worst possible times.

Her quirk made her a little touch-shy, Izuku had kindly pointed out to Tenya when Iida was confused over her standoffish behavior during their warm up period before general training. “She’s had to be pretty careful, Iida. She didn’t learn how to use her quirk until halfway through high school. Before that, she didn’t even know she had one!” Iida could only imagine how volatile the situation for that revelation must have been, seeing as she had a quirk that doubled the power of any kinetic force she withstood.

She also had control, seeming to have mastered the ability to turn it off and on at will. Tenya's misguided pity had turned into genuine admiration after watching her perform in their college sports festival. Granted, next to the explosive display of Bakugou versus Ururaka or the emotional minefield of Todoroki and Deku's battle, Leona's bout wouldn't stand out overmuch to the average viewer.

Leona had been paired up against Mineta, who made the fatal mistake of immediately pelting her with his ammunition in an attempt to incapacitate her. The kinetic energy from his rapid-fire slinging seemed to send her into overdrive, the young woman slamming an uppercut to his jaw that landed him in the lower stands. One punch, and the round was over. Iida silently approved of the way she had turned and bowed to the crowd before leaving the field. As a hero, one of many priorities would be to end fights quickly and decisively. Another one was courtesy to bystanders and officials-

...

How strange, he mused, thinking about her at a time like this. His rage continued to boil and yet…

He closed his eyes. Just for a minute. God, it was strange. Would she be proud of him? Proud of his rabid behavior? What about his family? Fear lanced through Tenya's heart, the first he had felt in ages. What if his parents lost him to this ill-advised fight? What if...what if this was the end?

The blade in his shoulder twisted sharply and Tenya bit back a sound of pain. He refused to show any more weakness to this monster, regardless of what he might endure.

“Hey, what the hell are you doin' to my class rep?!”

Tenya's eyes shot open. No. That's-

“You've got the nerve of a bull elephant if you're takin’ on ‘Genium. Who do you think you are?!”

“Run More! Get away from here!” Tenya yelled. “He’s got some kind of paralysis quirk, don't let him get close to you!”

Stain grunted, obviously a little startled by the young woman's abrupt presence. From what Tenya could see out of the corner of his eye, his classmate Leona (hero name More for reasons he had yet to discern) looked red in the face like she’d been running for a while. Her shoulders were still heaving up and down even while she raised her fists.

“You're another trainee. Interesting.” Stain remarked, almost as if he was talking to himself. “So you're also from the college. And you called him the class rep, which means he and you are in the same classes.”

“Mind like a steel trap on ya’.” Leona replied dryly. “Any other obvious insight you want to share, or can I beat the shit out of you now?”

Tenya bit back the reflexive shout of language!, shocked out of his impotent bloodlust by how brazen his classmate was being. It was an admirable strategy. Or at least, it would have been if she actually had backup.

“Another fake hero who needs to be cleansed from the planet.” Stain eased his blade out of Tenya's arm agonizingly slow.

“Thanks, but I'm plenty clean. Took a shower this mornin’ and everything. The name's More, and I'm no fake!” Leona called to Tenya then, her voice sharp with poorly-concealed worry. “How you holdin’ up, Calf Crusher?”

Tenya groaned. Her nicknames never ceased to send the class into fits. “I can't move. I'll be no help at all. He's just going to kill you. Why did you interfere?”

“You've gotta' be shittin’ me right now, Rep. Like I would just stand by and watch you get fucked? What kind of friend would that make me?” She sounded incredulous. If Tenya didn't know any better, she actually sounded a little irritated.

“One that keeps living, that's what kind!” Tenya snapped. We're barely friends! his mind added traitorously.

Leona pounded her fist into her palm and then jerked her hands up in a way oddly reminiscent of how Iida would move when he was excited. “I know who this guy is. More importantly, I know who you are and I figured out what you were up to when you picked Hosu for your internship. It's okay.” She reassured him.

You're going to die. “I'm begging you. Please leave.”

“I'm not gonna’ let you degrade yourself by beggin’ me, bud.” Leona retorted. “Second oldest son, heir to the Ingenium name, badass extraordinaire and all around decent dude, shut the fuck up and let me do what I can to make sure you can keep doing the best that you can!” She all but shouted, leaving Tenya speechless as Stain stepped over his body.

“‘More’, huh? Why, because you're always trying to be the best? Maybe because you want to protect more people. At least, that's what you would say, right?” Stain sneered, brandishing his sword.

“No way man! ‘More’ because the more the merrier when it comes to me!” She shot right back, that teasing grin firmly fixed on her face. “I may not be fast or smart like ‘Genium...hell, I'm not even all that special compared to the other people in my class, but I'm still here!” Tenya's eyes widened as she advanced on Stain, extending a hand. “I look forward to apprehending you, sir!”

“You'll be fun to kill.” Stain lashed out a second too late, Leona barely ducking his blade in time. “Another false hero, proud to wear the title and unwilling to do the damn dirty work that comes with it!”

“I feel like this is pretty dirty work right now.” She pointed out, catching his next strike with her gloved hand and grunting at the impact against the padding of her gloves. “Whew, a little harder next time and you'll take me down for sure!” She encouraged sarcastically, twisting the blade and coming close to ripping it clean out of the villain's grasp. She was so focused on his sword that the knife thrown at her arm caught her by surprise.

Stain’s speed and raw power were devastating. The blade sank deep, so deep, too deep. Tenya's brother in that hospital bed was burned into his mind, I can't feel my legs I can't feel my legs. “More!” Tenya had thought he felt helpless before, but it was now multiplied tenfold. “Damn it, I told you to run!”

“It shouldn't be too tough to keep him here until the pros arrive. I'm in for the long haul, Calf Crusher. Don't worry.” Leona said calmly, her rational words only serving to confuse the engine hero. She was built to take hits and he had never witnessed any particularly mindblowing strategies from her. Maybe he had written her off too soon. Maybe-

Stain rushed her, that deadly sword smeared red with Iida's blood. Moore jerked the knife out of her arm and used it to hastily deflect the worst of the cut from the sword away from her torso, snagging the blade under her arm instead. Stain drew another knife, this one serrated, and slashed at her face with it. One of the teeth on the knife caught the edge of her mouth and split it open nearly to her cheekbone. Leona staggered back, holding her cheek.

Stain turned up the pressure, releasing his sword momentarily in favor of cracking a fierce punch into her wounded face. Blood spattered from the impact, Stain's knuckles that sick red. “That all you got? Gimme’ more!” Moore slurred through her broken mouth, that infuriating grin still-

Oh. Tenya felt like an idiot. She was the endurance hero. She absorbed punishment like it was oxygen, a kinetic battery that could only be charged by violent outbursts. And when she decided to strike back, she doubled the output...but her body had limits, he had seen them in action during training. Midoriya had given her a kick at her request and instead of explosively discharging the extra power, she just passed out.

His heart slammed in his throat. If she pushed herself too hard, Stain wouldn't even have to do anything.

She swung at the hero killer and the doubled power of her blow threw him to slam his back into the alley wall. Stain wheezed for breath, clearly confused by the force behind her hit. “Just who the hell are you?” He panted.

“Beat me an’ maybe you'll learn.” Blood was spilling between her gritted teeth, running in a brilliant trail down her chin to drip off the bottom of her jaw. She was smiling like a fiend.

“I've never met anyone so eager to die.” Stain grimaced, rotating his shoulder and then shaking it out.

Tenya heard a strange crackling noise, almost like electricity. Midoriya rocketed over his head and bounded off the walls of the alleyway, a green missile with fist extended to crash into Stain. “Smash!” He yelled. Green energy, lightning, whatever it was it was blanketing his body. The Hero Killer was flung further back in the alley from the impact. Izuku skidded to a halt beside Moore, shaking his hand and hissing in pain. “Sorry I took so long!” He said brightly, like he hadn't just given the man responsible for killing a multitude of heroes the most thunderous of haymakers. “How you doing?”

“Take care of ‘Genium. He can't move, help him get out of here!” Leona said urgently.

Tenya refused to meet Midoriya's eyes, ashamed at how his own filled with frustrated tears. Midoriya reached for him and then went stiff. Tenya's heart fell into his stomach when he noticed the small tear in Midoriya’s glove and the blood blotting the fabric. Just enough. “Uh...I can't...move either?” Midoriya muttered slowly.

Tenya watched Leona freeze as well, her arms grinding to a halt. “Stain, your fight is with me! Leave them alone!” Tenya yelled, his voice cracking.

Further down the alleyway Stain grinned, giving his knife another lick. “I think I'd rather play with your friends. At least they landed hits on me. Unlike you. How does it feel to know that this is entirely your fault, fake hero?”

An ugly noise of agony fought free of Iida, rasping in his throat like sandpaper. It was true, wasn't it? Tensei worked so hard because Tenya believed in him, looked up to him, and the eldest Iida wanted to make his little brother proud. If Tenya hadn't been such a child, maybe…maybe his big brother wouldn't have tried so hard to rid the world of injustice. Maybe his big brother would still be able to walk. Fake hero.

And his classmates, friends, tangled up in this mess because of him! Midoriya crouched so close and yet so far away, his eyes darting around as he tried to figure out where Stain would come from. Moore, frozen in place with her back to the two of them while she was forced to face down the Hero Killer. “I'm so sorry.” Tenya breathed finally.

“Don't apologize! I should be apologizing. I should have gotten you to talk to me after what happened to your brother.” Midoriya looked tearful. “I should have said something. I just didn't want to pressure you. I'm sorry I'm a bad friend.”

Tenya was at a loss for words, losing his ability to stave off the tears streaming down his face.

Flames suddenly illuminated the whole alley, the gout of fire threatening to cook Tenya in his armor. “Next time you send your location, give a little more info.” It was Todoroki! And he was using his left side! Tenya was aghast. How many acquaintances had his blind rage dragged to this slaughter?

“Easy! I think you singed my hair!” Midoriya fussed at the icy hot hero. “That was all I had time to send!”

Stain hammered a fist into Moore's side, making the endurance hero spit out a mouthful of blood. Her arm wound up for a swing of her own, body sluggishly chugging forward like she was moving through molasses. The fact that she could move at all, though-! Was it because she absorbed the momentum from his hits? Or was Stain’s control weaker the more people it was spread across? Tenya found himself pondering the ins and outs of the man's quirk even as Stain pummeled Moore. She was defenseless, where was the honor in this?! Tenya's fingers twitched, uselessly tapping the cracked blacktop.

Todoroki drove Stain away from Moore with a combination attack, fire and ice arcing through the air as he switched rapidly. Leona slid one foot back, then the other, spitting more blood off to the side and slowly raising her arms in a defensive move. “Icy Hot, you-”

“I know. Keep my distance. Shouldn't be too difficult.” The flames on Todoroki's left side burned even brighter. “I'm not one hundred percent comfortable with my fire yet, but I can't deny its applications here.”

“How many children will throw themselves upon my blade tonight?” Stain cackled incredulously. “Bad enough that your friend in the armor didn't have the brains to run and get help just like his stupid brother, but now the rest of you feed yourselves to me!” He shook his head. “This next generation of heroes gets weaker and weaker. At least I'm lessening the workload on your professors.”

“You be quiet!” Iida shouted, fingers digging into the asphalt. “Ingenium was the model hero, the perfect example of selflessness and respect for others that a villain like you couldn’t possibly understand! I'll never forgive you for hurting my brother!” He screamed, able to move his neck now so he could look up at Stain while he issued his ultimatum. He didn't care how idiotic he must look, barely managing to wiggle his fingers while he yelled his fury at this man, this villain, this monster who had fractured his family.

“You're selfish. Dragging your friends into this fight because of your petty need for revenge. You're the furthest thing from a hero. You're a weakling.” Stain sheathed his sword, drawing two smaller knives instead and lunging at Todoroki and Moore.

“Don’t listen to him!” Midoriya said fiercely, somehow already able to move again! Was Tenya really that weak? Or was Stain’s quirk overpowering him because he had been the first one hit? “He’s just-”

“No. He's completely correct.” Tenya cut him off dully, clenching his hand into a fist. “If I hadn't been so consumed with this...if I had just been stronger, maybe…” Emotion closed his throat.

“Knock it off!” Leona yelled, startling him with the fury in her tone. “You don't need to be a fuckin’ martyr, Iida! What good does it do your brother if you get your ass killed?” Her voice was rough, words hard to understand through the injury she had sustained. “Think about how your parents will feel, and especially think about how your brother will feel! We're here to help, Rep, but you gotta’ take our hand!”

“Ingenium wouldn't give up!” Todoroki continued where she left off. “Be Ingenium! Get up and fight!”

As though a switch had been flipped, feeling surged through Tenya's arms and legs. Pins and needles so harsh it made him wince, and it was nothing compared to the pain in his limp arm, but he was up, he was up-

He staggered to his feet, splaying his stance just to stay vertical.

Stain hacked Midoriya’s leg out from beneath him after barely avoiding another Smash and then rushed Todoroki, nimbly dodging the fire and ice attacks in an attempt to bring that sword down on Todoroki's left arm, he would sever it clean at his shoulder-

Tenya felt like everything shifted to quarter-speed. Leona's fingers grasped desperately at Todoroki's shirt to try and pull him out of the way in time. She was still too slow, still sapped by the hero killer's quirk. Shoto's eyes went wide in realization, the young man attempting to recoil backwards away from the blade. Midoriya was yelling something, Todoroki's name no doubt, tears shining in his eyes.

Tenya's breathing echoed in his ears. In, out, in--

The engines in his calves came roaring to life in a glorious rush of Reciproburst! and without a thought for his own safety, Tenya was there between Todoroki and that sword. His armored knee shattered the blade before he whipped his whole body around via bicycle kick and re-aimed his leg at Stain's side. The hit made landfall accompanied by a shower of blue sparks from the heat of his engines, essentially drop-kicking the villain out of midair.

Stain was flung head over heels. Iida stumbled as his right leg gave out, clumsily dropping to one knee. His engines sputtered to a halt, shudders of pain from his calves flickering over the all-encompassing agony in his wounded arm. Fleetingly he wondered if he had ruptured something in his frenzy.

“Iid-Ingenium!” Todoroki shoved the larger man behind him and issued another burst of flame, barely warding off the rallying villain in time. “He’s fighting like a rabid animal. Be careful!”

“Give me a good kick, ‘Genium!” Leona suggested eagerly. “I'll get his ass back down to ground level so you and the others can wreck him!”

“My Reciproburst shot my engines and I don’t think a regular punch would offer you sufficient damage, I've overheated and I need more…time...” Iida paused, his eyes narrowing as a thought occurred to him. “Todoroki! Can you freeze my legs without plugging my exhausts?”

Todoroki opened his mouth to reply and Stain roared in outrage, bolting through Todoroki's flames in the distraction for another attack on the icy hot hero. Tenya and Moore moved at the same time, Tenya extending his good arm in front of Todoroki’s chest to offer him the protection of his armor while Leona rushed forward to fight Stain one on one. “You're in the way!” Stain snarled at them, leaping backwards up the icy pillars Todoroki had created.

A folding knife found its mark in Tenya's upper arm after penetrating his armor and he gritted his teeth in pain, doing his best to hold fast. “Todoroki please-!” A larger serrated knife followed the first, slamming into Tenya's forearm so hard he was forced prone. The wind was knocked out of him by his abrupt change in posture and Tenya choked for breath, still bewildered by the Hero Killer's power and tenacity.

“Iida!” Todoroki actually stopped his elemental attacks on Stain in favor of reeling back his fire-wreathed fist and whacking a heated punch into Moore's shoulder (to Tenya's dismay). Leona laughed (also to Tenya's dismay), easily accepting the blow while the air began to reek of smoldering cloth and lycra. Todoroki quickly slapped his other hand down on the burning area of her vest, extinguishing the heat before it could get out of hand.

“Just freeze my legs!” Iida yelled, startled by the fierce cry Moore let out before she lunged upwards at the retreating Stain.

A distraction, a distraction, he realized suddenly, take the punishment and double it to give us time. Please Leona!

Midoriya was back up again, limping badly. Cold ripped at the armor covering Tenya's calves, the frigid temperature almost too much to bear. This was an incredible risk he was taking, pushing on past the natural boundaries that his quirk and familial training had instilled. He hadn’t had enough time to recover naturally from his last Reciproburst. If something gave out under the strain, he would be incapable of defending himself.

It didn't matter. Tenya felt his engines choke, sputter, and then rev wildly. His left arm was useless at this point. He used his teeth to pull out the knife in his right, retching at the sour taste of old blood on the handle. Both arms were effectively unusable.

It didn't matter. He would use his legs. As long as Leona could land a hit that would get Stain off-balance enough for himself (and possibly Midoriya, but it might be presumptuous to rely on him) to capitalize on, that was all that he could ask for.

Iida stood, bending his legs at the knees as he prepared to leave the ground. Leona wisely aimed at the building directly beneath where Stain had jabbed the remaining stub of his sword in to perch, the doubled power from Todoroki's hit easily crushing the cement to instability. Thank God the buildings were long abandoned. Stain at least picked fights far away from where people would frequent, isolating his victims. A solitary, fiendish predator.

Iida crouched as low as he could, his exhausts glowing bright blue with the horsepower he was putting out. A new word came to mind.

“Recipro-” The engines in his calves stalled and keened, out of sync with one another as the ice dissolved into rivulets of moisture on the heated surface of his armor. “-extend!” He left the ground behind, a cloud of dust billowing in his wake.

If I just…

Tenya rocketed towards Stain, his eyes locked on the villain.

...use my leg…

He was vaguely aware of Midoriya out of the corner of his blurred vision, a brilliant streak of verdant green that seemed to hang in midair perpendicular to his path of upward motion.

...that's all I need…

His knee threatened to hyperextend even with his armor to brace him. Iida squinted fiercely and gritted his teeth.

...to beat this guy!

Midoriya’s fist planted in Stain's jaw the same time Iida's foot crashed into the villain's unprotected side. The impact rang in Tenya's ears, metal on cloth on skin on metal, high reverberations that sent shivers down his back.

Even after that tandem strike, the conniving villain still managed to swipe wildly at Tenya with one of his many knives. Tenya barely moved his head in time, feeling the blade just catch on the top of his dark locks. He narrowed his eyes, ignoring the fact that the three of them were now rapidly returning to the ground. Izuku started scrabbling at the wall, trying to grab a handhold.

“I will defeat you Stain!” Iida shouted passionately. “Because you are a criminal, and I am a hero!” His second kick didn't miss the free-falling villain either, cracking into Stain’s side so hard Tenya could feel the older man’s ribs collapse as they plummeted towards Todoroki and Leona in the alley far, far below.

Arms locked around Tenya's hips and Leona pushed off the wall in an abrupt redirection, moving Tenya so Todoroki could have a clear shot at the villain. How had she jumped so high, so fast?! She skidded to a stop on a pillar of ice that Shoto had made, still holding tight to Tenya’s waist. Iida shifted his weight as low as he could, trying to help so they wouldn’t go over the edge. His legs felt like gelatin, like they would fold underneath him, and he was immensely grateful for her strong hold on his armor.

Shoto's mastery of ice was intimidating enough up close and personal, but his barely-controlled flames were a sight to see. Tenya supposed it probably had to do with man's deep-seated primal terror involving fire, if he had to chalk it up to something. A massive fireball engulfed Stain, missing Midoriya by the barest of inches.

“Deku!” Leona yelled, sighing in relief when the young hero gave her a thumbs up and a wavering smile from his own slippery perch.

“Get up and keep fighting, you three! I doubt that was enough to…” Todoroki trailed off, his eyes widening in confusion. Stain had crash landed on yet another of his icy plateaus, the villain’s eyes rolled back in his skull. He looked like he had been knocked unconscious.

Is he dead?

Tenya hated the sick, joyous thrill that sang up his spine at the thought. He had been so selfish, so blinded in his fury that he believed his actions righteous. It was terrifying that he could so coldly rationalize the taking of another human being’s life, even one so horrible as the Hero Killer! He would never forgive himself if his own mistakes had urged Todoroki forward into doing the unthinkable.

Moore went limp against Tenya’s back, her relief palpable. “Icy Hot, I think we’re all going to need an assist at this point.” She slurred. “I’ve lost...a lot of blood. Head wounds, you know the drill.”

“Your mouth! Moore, are you-”

“I think he knocked out one of my teeth?” She mumbled over Tenya’s frantic question, moving to sit beside him and then carelessly dragging the flap of skin from the split side of her mouth aside (presumably so she could count her own teeth). Tenya fought a wave of nausea at her rough actions, thankful that at least the destroyed side of her face was outside his limited field of vision. His own pain and injuries he could take in stride, but someone else’s because of him was…

He didn’t care for the sensation at all.

Todoroki eased them to the ground through careful manipulation of his quirk, until finally the three heroes and one villain were safely down. Stain had indeed been knocked unconscious, but whether by the punch, kicks or outright fireball was anyone’s guess. Shoto wasted little time securing the villain with some clothesline he found in a dumpster, practically mummifying the older man with the half-frayed rope.

“We need to get him to the street. The pros and the police should be able to handle it from here.” Todoroki said calmly.

“I can drag him!” Tenya offered immediately, taken aback when Todoroki shot him an incredulous look.

“Have you forgotten about your arms, Iida? What will you drag him with?” Shoto deadpanned. Tenya deflated a little. He had almost forgotten the beating he had taken, if he was being honest. Adrenaline.

Moore’s snicker was a half-hearted gurgle at best, the endurance hero scooping Midoriya up onto her back and starting the slow limp to the street. “C’mon Calf Crusher, let’s get you home. I’m sure your pros are really worried about you guys.”

Iida trailed silently after his classmates (friends, he reminded himself), flushed with shame. Moore hung back for a second, letting him come up alongside her and Midoriya.

“Hey, you know that this isn’t your fault, right?” She murmured as best as she could. “I would have done the same thing no matter who the hero killer was going after.”

“I wish I had said something at the train station that day.” Midoriya whimpered. “I could tell that you were hurting, Iida, but I just...I didn’t know what to say. I’m so sorry.”

Iida shook his head dejectedly. “Don’t apologize to me, Midoriya. It’s not your responsibility to look out for my emotional wellbeing. I ought to have better control over my-”

“As your friends, it’s absolutely our responsibility! We need to pay attention to each other in this line of work, Iida!” Midoriya actually interrupted him. “You never know...you never know what could be the thing that pushes someone over their edge! You’ve always been there for the whole class since high school and the one time you needed us, we weren’t there for you!” Izuku was always so passionate about hero work, throwing himself headfirst towards any new challenge they faced. It should be no surprise to Iida that he would have a speech prepared for this situation.

So why were tears blurring his vision further? Tenya tried to no avail to wipe them away with his limp arm, ending up smearing blood across his cheek instead. Moore clicked her tongue at him (an impressive feat in and of itself due to the wounding of her oral cavity), pausing in her forward motion to dig in her pocket and tug out a red bandanna. “Never know when you’ll need a field dressing.” She shrugged, using the cloth to clumsily mop at Iida’s face. “There. That’s better. Look a little less damp.”

“I’m relatively certain that I’m the furthest thing from ‘less damp’ right now. But…” Tenya hesitated, unsure if this was overstepping a classmate or coworker boundary. “Thank you for your, er, concern. I will...do my best to rectify this grave error in judgement.” His bow was, as ever, perfect. “I humbly beg your forgiveness.”

“You don’t need to, Tenya.” Moore using his first name snapped Iida’s eyes up, the large man startled. She gave him a thumbs up and a grin that was a wince, her facial expression a little more kindly than he was used to seeing on her despite the gruesome flap of skin that hung from her cheek. “Let’s go, dude.”

“Will you pull yourself together? You’re the class rep. You're practically our mascot.” Todoroki complained, the hint of a smile tugging at his mouth.

Gratitude closed Tenya’s throat and he nodded hurriedly, trying to blink back the fresh wave of tears.