Chapter Text
Izuku Midoriya or as he had come to be more famously known in the past few weeks, the hero-in-training Agro, stood in the office of U.A’s principle Nezu where all the heads of departments were peering down on him. Izuku couldn’t hide his nervousness and the sweat had turned his armpits into cesspools. Principal Nezu tapped the newspaper on his desk impatiently with his claw and let the pressure build up.
Finally, principal Nezu spoke.
“Mr. Midoriya, I can’t help but wonder if you know about our policy of students talking with reporters. What was it again?”
“… we don’t.” Izuku said.
“Very good.” Principal Nezu said and slid the paper to him covering the long interview he had given: “Then care to explain to me what this is?”
“… an interview. That I gave… with Himiko.”
Despite the above human intelligence his Quirk granted him, human expressions didn’t come to the principal naturally but Izuku recognized a sarcastic smile when he saw one.
“The Romeo and Juliet of the Hero World. A bit tacky if you ask me.”
“… or macabre. Neither of us… died.” Izuku said.
They had left no stone unturned in the interview when it came to All For One, may he burn in Hell, or… Ikari. They’d only lied about One For All… or when they had to make Himiko look more sympathetic. It wasn’t still clear what kind of charges she would be facing but Izuku knew that she needed the public sympathy.
“Care to explain yourself?” Principal Nezu said.
“… I… wasn’t thinking clearly.” Izuku said.
That was another lie. He had planned and practiced for it meticulously. Himiko had even coached him in the finer subtleties of acting to make it more believable. The principal wasn’t buying it for a second.
“You weren’t thinking? Mr. Midoriya… you are a student of U.A. That comes with certain responsibilities. Do you understand?”
“… yes.”
Aizawa-sensei, Blood King, Power Loader and Present Mic, all the department heads had been silent during his interrogation but now Present Mic spoke.
“Would you do it again?”
Izuku answered almost on a reflex but managed to stop himself just in time. Yes. For her he would do it a million times over. He managed to stop himself from saying it out loud, but everyone saw what he was thinking. Blood King growled annoyed.
“Was some teenage fling really worth this? She’s only using you to get off easier in court. You know that, right?”
One For All activated without Izuku even thinking about it and his muscles swell accordingly. There was electricity in the air when the power of his predecessors filled his body. He turned slowly to look at Blood King. Just the way you carried yourself could be a threat. A glare could do even more. All the teachers were suddenly standing on their toes.
“You weren’t there… sir. At the orphanage with Ikari. You weren’t at the roof without a Quirk with All For One… sir. So, don’t you…”
“Midoriya. Enough.” Aizawa-sensei said.
Aizawa-sensei didn’t use his Quirk to turn off Izuku’s. Simply the tone of his voice was enough to do that. Izuku got his temper in check and shut down One For All. He bowed his head.
“… yes, sir.”
The mood in the room had turned awkward when all the pro-heroes looked at each other for confirmation that they hadn’t just been intimated by a seventeen-year-old. Aizawa-sensei flicked Izuku’s forehead to show he had been pacified.
“You are an idiot, Midoriya.” Aizawa-sensei said and bowed at the principal: “He’s my student. I’ll sort this out.”
The principal cleared his throat to stop his voice from cracking.
“Very well. I guess we are done.”
Aizawa-sensei almost dragged Izuku out of the principal’s office by the ear. When they were alone in the hallway, his eyes glowed red when his Quirk activated.
“You just embarrassed me in front of my peers. Do you have any idea what it looks like when one of my students acts like a thug?”
“… yes, sir.” Izuku said.
“If you want to be a hero, then start acting like one. The whole world is looking at you right now. Everything you do will reflect back on the entire hero society. You’ve become an example.”
“… yes, sir.”
Aizawa-sensei sighed and his voice softened a bit.
“Look… about… Ikari…”
The name made both of them shudder.
“I was there too. She… showed things to me too but that excuse won’t fly forever.”
“… I understand, sir.”
Aizawa-sensei didn’t look convinced.
“Do you really? I wonder.” Aizawa-sensei said and turned his back to Izuku: “All-Might wanted to talk to you. We’ll discuss your punishment next time.”
Getting off the hook didn’t do much to relax him. He dragged his feet to All-Might’s office and took a deep breath before knocking on his door.
“… All-Might? ... sir?”
The door opened. Even after losing the last remain of One For All and being locked permanently in his haggard form, All-Might still towered over him. Anger had hardened his face and made him look every bit as formidable as he had been in his prime.
“Come in, Midoriya.”
Midoriya? Oh… shit. He had really fucked up.
“… yes, sir.”
People had kicked awake sleeping bears with more confidence than what Izuku had when he stepped inside. All-Might picked up a pitcher and started watering his plants so he didn’t have to look at Izuku.
“I am disappointed in you, Midoriya.”
Izuku wished All-Might had been yelling at him. Anger would have been easier to deal with then the idea that… he had let All-Might down. Again.
“… I am sorry, sir.”
“You think that will fix this? Doing an interview without a permission was…”
“… but…”
“Don’t interrupt me. We would have given you a special permission. Or was asking forgiveness easier than asking for permission?”
All-Might finally turned to look at him and Izuku squirmed under his eyes.
“Do you think we are that heartless? You are going to be the authority one day. That means working with the authority. Which means following the rules. Do you understand?”
“… yes, sir.” Izuku whispered.
“Would you do it again?”
“… if I had known I could get a permission? … no… but… Tsukauchi lost his job because of what Ikari did to him…”
“He was suspended until he’s sorted himself out. He’ll be reinstated.” All-Might said.
Izuku did not like how defensive All-Might suddenly sounded.
“… I hope so but… I…”
“Answer the question, Midoriya.”
Izuku looked up to meet All-Might’s gaze.
“Yes.”
All-Might groaned.
“You’re a fool, Midoriya.”
“… I’m sorry.”
Not a word passed between them for a long time. All-Might had asked for the truth and he had given it. He wanted to be the person All-Might wised he was but… if it meant giving up Himiko… that price was too high. All-Might spoke first.
“Izuku?”
“… yes?”
“Would you like some tea?”
“… I… yes. Thank you, sir.”
All-Might poured them tea. Izuku shoveled sugar and honey in his own cup while All-Might went with lactose-free cream.
“Have you had any problems with your Quirk lately?” All-Might asked.
“… no. It’s easier to control now that One For All’s ghost is gone.”
“Glad to hear it. I’m looking forward to the day you surpass me.”
“… might take some time.”
“I can wait. In the meantime, we need to work on that attitude of yours. Is therapy going well?”
“… I think… the kids get more out of it then me. We have another session tonight.”
“It means a lot to them.” All-Might said and then stared at his cup for a moment: “Izuku… my boy… I actually wanted to talk to you about something else.”
“… yes?”
“I… about me and Inko… We are going to…”
All-Might finished his tea too quickly and burned his tongue.
“You know what? This is something your mother should tell you.”
“… okay.” Izuku said.
Izuku doubted mom and All-Might were going to break up. They were just as affectionate with each other as ever if not more so… which was why he had to sleep with earplugs on whenever he stayed at home. The nightly bed squeaking was driving him insane. Well… more insane. So, if they weren’t breaking up… that would mean… it meant that mom and All-Might were going to get…
Would he have to change his last name? He decided not to think about it too hard.
After finishing his tea Izuku returned to Shinsou’s room where he had been studying with his friends when he had been called to the principal’s office. Shinsou looked up from his notes and grinned when he saw him.
“Did they let you keep your balls? Should I check to make sure?” Shinsou asked.
“… I’m good.”
“We’re glad to hear your balls are safe, my friend.” Tokoyami said.
"You've been spending too much time with Shinsou." Tsu said.
When Tomura had attacked U.A, Shinsou and Tokoyami had gotten the worst of it dealing with Gigantomachia. A few hundred-meter drop into the sea had left Shinsou temporarily confined to a wheelchair but the doctors had guaranteed that he’d be back on his feet in time for the Provisional License Exam. Tokoyami had been stuck with a neck brace that forced him to stare up like a haughty socialite.
“That interview was pretty stupid of you. They could have kicked you out.” Tsu said.
“The hero of U.A?” Shouto said: “I doubt it. Just follow the rules and you’ll be fine… but stuff seems to always happen with you around.”
Shouto’s stoic face didn’t reveal a thing but his eyes were going off like fireworks. Izuku’s face darkened.
“Something wrong?” Tsu said.
“… no.”
“Why would it be? But if stuff did happen, we would be there for you.” Shouto said.
Shinsou raised an eyebrow.
“Is there a joke here I missed?”
“No joke.” Shouto said: “Izuku, could you help me with this problem. I got most of it, but this stuff gives me trouble.”
Izuku planted himself next to Shouto and took his notebook. He went through the problem and then wrote his answer.
I hate you.
Shouto checked his solution and then wrote down his own.
But stuff…
One of the two shades living inside his Quirk woke up and started whispering in his ear.
If he’s that interested in butt-stuff, tell him we’d love to teach him more.
“… shut up, Agro.” Izuku muttered.
“Aren’t you Agro?” Tokoyami said confused.
“… sorry.”
“You’re crazy, kid.” Shinsou said.
Izuku and Shouto had to leave early to get to their appointment. While walking to the car, Izuku glared Shouto who pretended not to notice.
“Something bothering you?” Shouto asked.
“… don’t you dare.”
“Just asking but if stuff does bother you, I’m here for you.”
“… you can be a real dick sometimes.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“… sure, you don’t.”
“Glad we agree. Hey, Izuku.”
“… what?”
“Butt-stuff. It’s the secret to happiness.”
Izuku sighed.
“… yeah. I walked right into that one, didn’t I?”
Shouto’s driver was waiting for them at the gate and they climbed inside the car. Izuku watched the changing scenery until he had calmed down.
“… how’s your brother?”
“Daisuke is looking at ten years in prison and that’s if he’s lucky.” Shouto said.
Izuku bowed his head.
“… I’m sorry.”
“Yeah. Me too but he’s alive and getting help.”
The car took them to the hospital built for Ikari’s victims. No expense had been spared when it came to security but also comfort and Izuku had often wondered where the money came from. Building the place had caused some controversy and more often than once they’d had to turn away because of protesters. People hadn’t liked the idea of pouring so much money and resources to the treatment of walking timebombs and would-be-villains. All For One and Ikari would have loved it. Validation of their… abysmal view on mankind.
Komari Ikoma was waiting for them at the entrance. A pretty, but timid young woman with a black bob cut hair. As usual she looked close to tears. Izuku wasn’t sure if she had asked for this job or if it had been forced on her. Either way he was grateful for her. Few people would have lasted this long.
“Thank God you are both here.” Ikoma said.
“… part of the job.” Izuku said.
“Has there been any improvement?” Shouto asked.
Ikoma’s smile looked broken.
“They seem to be… more reasonable these days.” Ikoma said and then her eyes shone with genuine joy: “They don’t cry after… their mama so often these days.”
“… good. That’s good.” Izuku said.
“Let’s see if we can help them improve a bit more. Let’s go meet the beasts.” Shouto said.
They changed into their new hero outfits. Both had done modifications to look more like teammates that would run an agency together one day. Shouto had adopted a blue uniform with white boots. Izuku had copied his style but went with dark green uniform and black boots. He had also ordered some light body armor to guard his heart and a black domino mask. His baby face didn’t really strike fear in the heart of villains so the more he covered of it the better.
“… you ready?” Izuku said.
“We’ve survived worse.” Shouto said.
They walked into the playground were the youngest of Ikari’s victims were waiting for them. The place looked like a warzone… which it was. When they had started, the kids had been out for blood and even pros had been struggling to deal with them. Now, their grins were almost welcoming and more audacious then cruel.
“It’s Five-Pee-Pee Man and Butt-Stuff Man!” One of the children yelled.
“Children!” Ikoma yelled horrified from the stands: “Don’t call them that!”
The children smiled in unison when they smelled weakness.
“Five-Pee-Pee Man and Butt-Stuff Man! Five-Pee-Pee Man and Butt-Stuff Man! Five-Pee-Pee Man and Butt-Stuff Man!” The children chanted.
“Why won’t they listen to me?!” Ikoma cried out close to tears.
Izuku turned to look at Shouto who suddenly wondered if the joke had gone too far.
“… hey, Shouto.”
“Yes, my friend.”
“… fuck you, my friend.”
Izuku drew out two percent of One For All’s power and his muscles became more solid and defined.
“Well, well, well. What do we have here? A bunch of villains who don’t know how to respect heroes. I guess someone needs to learn a lesson. Come at me if you’re tough enough.” Agro said.
The children grinned… like children. Which made them look like a pack of wolves.
“Get them!”
One of the kids shot what look like black billiard balls that had grown teeth at Agro. Even with his enhanced speed it took a bite out of his mask.
“How do you like my binging balls?!” The sharp toothed kid said.
Another kid shot attack dust at them. One tried to blow them away with a canon coming out of his mouth. Then there were the electromagnetic bullets and Viral Cosmos. Quirks grew more powerful with every generation and Ikari had hoarded every talented orphan she could get her evil hands on. Agro and Shouto had agreed to act as crash test dummies to train them out of the lessons they’d been taught in the Thinking Room and mentor them in proper Quirk usage. It was a work in progress, but it did allow the kids to get some excess energy out.
Plus. It was just plain fun.
They dodged and dashed with all the skill they’d gained in U.A and managed to hold their own until the kids crushed them with sheer numbers. When they were done, there were snacks and juice. Izuku and Shouto ate and chatted with the kids while munching down on cookies. Slowly they were starting to look like normal children.
When the children left to get ready for bed, Izuku and Shouto freshened up in the shower and met up with Ikoma afterwards. She was embarrassingly grateful.
“Thank you, a million times. This means so much for them. Their counseling goes always so much better when they know you are coming.” Ikoma said.
“Happy to help.” Shouto said.
“… how long do you think it will take… before they are ready for adoption?” Izuku asked.
Ikoma looked away.
“We are… looking for suitable homes. We… we’ll come up with something.”
“… yeah.” Izuku said sadly.
Izuku walked Shouto back to his car.
“You know… my driver could always come to pick you up afterwards.” Shouto said.
“… he has a life outside of work. I’ll take the train.” Izuku said.
“Suit yourself. See you back at the school.”
“… yeah… and Shouto… thanks.”
“They had it tougher than us.”
“… still. Thank you.”
Shouto smiled.
“My pleasure, Izuku.”
Izuku returned to the hospital and headed to its deeper parts. The guards greeted him with a nod when he passed them by and opened the doors for him without him even showing them his ID. Not all the patients had the same level of security, but few enjoyed the same kind of privacy either. He knocked on the door to a room that wasn’t locked before entering. An audio play was running in the room that was paused when he stepped in.
“What’s up? It’s your boy Izuku.” Izuku said.
Himiko grinned her sharp smirk.
“Wassup, Izuku-Izuku? It’s yer girl Toga.”
Izuku closed the door behind him while Himiko made no effort to move from the bed.
“Ya are bruised. How are the kids?”
“The kids are just fine… well as fine as you can expect.” Izuku said and sat on the bed.
Himiko started playing with his hair.
“Silver linings.” Himiko said and sniffed him: “Did ya take a shower? Getting all hot and bothered with yer side squeeze Shouto? Should I look for fresh bitemarks?”
“Should I strip?”
“And here I thought ya would never ask.”
There were times when Izuku wondered if turning off the lights did much to blind the cameras that were almost certainly used to keep an eye on Himiko. Every time it became an issue for him, he had more pressing matters to worry about. When they were done after two false pauses, they took a shower together and Izuku wondered if they were done after all. They weren’t.
When he had finally given his all, he lied next to Himiko.
“Read the interview.” Himiko said.
“Oh yeah? Did you like it?” Izuku said.
“Naw. Made me look like a silly bitch and ya like a huge dolt.”
“Things we do for love.” Izuku said.
Himiko gripped his hand. It was shocking how powerful her fingers were.
“Did ya get in trouble for it? With U.A?”
“Nothing I can’t handle.” Izuku said.
“Ya did.” Himiko smiled sadly: “Ya said it was under control.”
“Like I said. Nothing I can’t handle.”
“Izuku-Izuku… I… love ya and I’m grateful for everything but… please. Don’t throw away everything for me. I’ve survived worse. I can take a beating if it means ya won’t get hurt.”
“I did it because I wanted to.”
“Don’t make me the reasonable one here. I ain’t the only person in yer life. None of us want to see ya get hurt.”
“And here I thought you liked seeing me all messed up.” Izuku said.
“Reality ain’t got a safe word.” Himiko said and then sunk her claws into his chest just deep enough for him to feel it: “So, the next time ya do something dumb, I ain’t touching yer dick for a week.”
Izuku tried not to grimace from the pain.
"That's blackmail."
"More like sexual extortion. The basis of any happy relationship." Himiko said.
“I… about the Cultural Festival… it looks like you can come.”
“Ya are really setting up yerself for a sex joke there, Izuku-Izuku.” Himiko said and sighed: “Oh, joy. Alone time with all the people I screwed over. Will they be armed with heavy sticks?”
“It’s part of your treatment and if it becomes too much, we’ll just… leave. Go somewhere far away.” Izuku said.
“Where it’s just the two of us?” Himiko asked.
“Yeah. Where no one can hurt us.”
“I don’t think anyone can hurt us even know. Not after Ikari. Even if I don’t have All For One anymore.”
Izuku touched Himiko’s right hand that Overhaul had blown away a lifetime ago… for which Izuku had beaten his teeth in. She had grown herself a new arm with All For One but Eri had restored all her limbs when she had reversed time to purge any chance of All For One returning.
“Do you miss it?”
“The power? Sure, but not what comes with it. I have my original Quirk back. That’s good enough for me.” Himiko said.
Izuku nodded and hoped it was true.
“Eri will be there and besides, you’ll get to see U.A.”
“Seen it already. Not all that different from every other school.” Himiko said.
“Wait? When have you been to U.A?”
“Remember yer field training? How I drugged ya and took yer place for a day?”
“Oh, yes.” Izuku said dryly: “How could I forget?”
“Good question. If that happened to me, I’d never let ‘em live it down.” Himiko said and laughed.
Izuku laughed too.
She’s crazy… and so am I.
After getting dressed, Izuku kissed her goodbye.
“I love you.”
“Love ya too. When we get to U.A, let’s check out that out-of-order bathroom in the top floor.”
“Yes. Let’s.” Izuku agreed.
When Izuku walked to entrance, he spotted Ikoma talking to someone. Izuku had never seen her looking so relaxed.
The person who had finally made Ikoma’s frayed nerves calm down was a tall, lean man in a black pinstripe suit. He had a large, sharp nose that made him look like some huge bird and his red hair had began to retreat from the temples, forming a sharp widows peak. There were two darkened spots on his forehead like someone had splashed ink on his face.
When Ikoma noticed him, she beckoned him closer. Izuku approached them carefully.
“Midoriya, I’d like you to meet Rikiya Yotsubashi.” Ikoma said.
Rikiya… Yotsubashi? Where had he…
“… you’re the owner of Detnerat. My friend Tokoyami uses a ton of your products.” Izuku said.
Yotsubashi smiled like a proud but easily embarrassed father.
“Hope they’ve been to his liking.”
“… they’ve made his life a lot easier.” Izuku said.
“Glad to hear it.” Yotsubashi said and bowed his head to Ikoma: “I hope you can forgive me, but I’d like to chat with the young hero here.”
“No problem. No problem at all.” Ikoma said although it didn’t sound like it.
“Thank you for understanding.” Yotsubashi said and kissed Ikoma’s hand.
Despite looking old enough to be Ikoma’s father, Yotsubashi made her blush like a hormonal schoolgirl when his lips brushed her hand. Izuku could have sworn he heard floodgates open somewhere. After turning Ikoma into a red-faced mess, Yotsubashi led Izuku away from the splash zone.
“… what are you doing here, sir?” Izuku said, suddenly aware of how much money was standing next to him.
“Just looking after my investment. I funded most of this.”
The few hairs in Izuku’s arms stood up.
“… I thought this was non-profit.”
Yotsubashi’s grin quelled some of his worries.
“I’m investing in children’s futures. Nothing sinister here. I hope you’re not planning to beat the truth out of me. I don’t think I could take you.”
“… I… I didn’t mean…”
Yotsubashi laughed.
“Forget it. I’m just busting your balls and I was warned you’d be prickly.”
“… I’m working on my temper.” Izuku said.
“That’s something I can relate to. I can be… a bit explosive myself. It’s the stress.” Yotsubashi said before smiling: “Are you leaving? Care for a lift?”
“… I’d hate to bother you.”
“It’s no bother. Besides, I’ve wanted to meet you for quite some time.”
“… you have?”
“Haven’t you heard? You’re something of a celebrity. Maybe I should have you appear in some of our commercials. Along with your friend Tokoyami.”
Yotsubashi led Izuku to his car. It was a lot nicer than Shouto’s. It even came with a fridge and a TV.
“Care for a drink? You look a bit dehydrated. Working hard?”
“… uh… yes.”
“To be young and in love.”
Izuku blushed and Yotsubashi laughed. It wasn’t a meanspirited laugh. If it had been… Izuku would have been tempted to show how little of a chance Yotsubashi had against him. Shame followed the thought immediately. This was just the kind of thinking his therapist had warned him about.
“I’m just messing with you. An old man’s enjoyment.”
Yotsubashi took out two water bottles from the fridge and handed one of them to Izuku. Yotsubashi looked at the hospital with a smile on his face when they drove away.
“I had to fight for that funding. Most of my associates didn’t see the point. We rich don’t stay rich by giving money away but… they all had happy childhoods.”
“… and you didn’t?”
Melancholy came over Yotsubashi.
“Before I had this car… I was a bit low on funds… and I never knew my father. My mother barely knew him either. I only learned his name when I was a grown man and kids… kids can be cruel. I’m sure you understand.”
Bakugou’s face flashed before Izuku’s eyes.
“… yeah. I do and… my dad wasn’t around either.”
Yotsubashi gave him a joyless smile.
“My associates don’t. They don’t get it. That freedom is the greatest privilege there is. And it is a privilege. How free do you think a bullied, futureless child is?” Yotsubashi asked and took a sip of water: “That’s why I despise Ikari. She took that away from them and they’ll never have it back unless we help them take it.”
“… Ikari… All For One… they were just symptoms of the world’s problems. Not the cause.” Izuku said.
“All too true.” Yotsubashi said and smiled: “I read your interview. Did you get in trouble for it?”
“… a little.”
“Don’t sound so ashamed. When the rules are wrong, a just man has to break them.”
Just? He wasn’t feeling very just right now.
When they arrived at U.A, Yotsubashi handed him his card.
“Stay in touch, Agro. When possible, I’d like to invite you and your girlfriend for dinner. I have a proposition that might interest you both.”
Izuku took the card.
“… I’d like that, Mr. Yotsubashi.”
“Call me Rikiya.”
“… I… that’s…”
“A bit awkward? I’d imagine so but you’ll be rubbing shoulders with far more powerful people then me one day. Better get used to it quick. I’ll be keeping an eye on you, Agro.”
Yotsubashi’s… Rikiya’s car drove away and Izuku walked through U.A’s renovations that was fixing the damage caused by Gigantomachia. When he got to his room, there was call from mom. He nodded along without really listening while getting undressed for bed when something cut through the haze.
“… wait… what did you just say?”
“I said you’re going to be a big brother.” Mom said.