Chapter Text
" She turned around and ran back to him, dropping the suitcases and flinging the papers away, a wide beautiful smile on her face. As she held on tighter to his waist, burying her face in his chest, sighing contentedly, she thought to herself.
Life and love. It's here, it's with him. "
Denki closed the book and dropped his forehead to the table. He doesn't need to read the rest of it, it's only one page, he already knows what's going to happen.
" They lived happily ever after with three kids and two dogs in a white rich suburban house ", he mumbled to himself, standing up and placing the novel back in its place and flopping onto his bed.
He groaned when his hands nudged the open maths textbook laying near his head, remembering the homework that he had to do. But Denki couldn't bring himself to sit up and do his homework, not when his mind was filled with fantasies again. He imagined himself as a handsome, cool pro hero with lots of fans clamouring for his attention. That was his dream back in middle school, before he came to UA and he realised how stupid it is.
He was very popular in middle school, with his peers telling him he'll become a great hero and he believed it. His drawback wasn't a big deal back then, it was just something that could be avoided.
Denki was enthusiastic and he had a cool personality and an amazing quirk, all kept in a package of greatness that could make him one of the best.
Or so he believed.
His confidence plummeted when he learned that he's the bottom of the class, when he was defeated in seconds and when his drawback was turned into a laughing stock.
Coming to the dorms was supposed to be a turning point for him, he could become better friends with everyone, he could be the life of the party and he could take care of his quirk.
All he got was loneliness.
He can study, of course, like his mother said he wouldn't have got a seat in UA if he wasn't capable and despite his physical exam being very easy because of his quirk he also scored a great rank in the written section. It's just that Denki is not studious. He works hard, even if nobody believes him and the only one who does is his family, he still works hard. But the workload is too much for him. Add the daily exhaustion from using his quirk that the things he studies just doesn't come to him as quickly as it should.
And his quirk is broken. His whey mode makes people laugh but nobody knows it hurts. He had tried explaining it, back in middle school but the only thing they told was that it was his quirk and he should find a way to control it.
He knows if he says anything, everyone would just shrug it off- its what happened in middle school, not that everyone has ever paid attention to him, unless he's purposefully being louder, and annoying.
He had seen Midoriya breaking his bones almost everyday but he learnt to get past it by himself. Bakugou has insane control and Todoroki is just so gifted. And Denki's nothing. If he asks for help he knows he will be made the laughing stock again. He knows they will just say to find a way out of it, cause that's what a hero would do.
He's been trying, hasn't he? Charging himself with batteries, draining himself of excessive charge and just going plus ultra.
What do they want him to do?
He had asked help from Midoriya but his theories and general word vomit was too much for him to understand and he got scolded by Iida for trying to use someone else and he hasn't gone back.
Maybe he could have tried harder to get help? But he doesn't want to. If the others can find solutions he can too. ( Otherwise people will see him as even dumber then he already is ).
Aizawa sensei has said that the ones who became dead weights in the battlefield are not worthy enough to be a hero.
And Denki's the definition of dead weight. Even Aoyama has improved and Midoriya is miles ahead of them all. If Denki doesn't find a solution, then he is not worthy to be a hero.All he wanted to be was cool and make his family proud. Isn't that enough?.
But according to All Might, a hero needs ambition because that drives them, aims them to be even better. Denki doesn't have that.
He knows.
But it still hurts when they make fun of the things he can't control, or when they don't give him attention, never ask about his hobbies, and treat him like he is the stupidest creature to ever exist.
He learnt it the hard way, when despite telling everyone about how his mother runs a dance school, nobody asked if he could dance during the cultural festival.
He was too hurt to tell everyone that he's good and that he can help Mina in teaching everyone. But no one cared, no one noticed his tears or his phone calls.
It's not like his friends are trying to hurt him by teasing him, they just don't know that it hurts. And he's scared that they will find him useless if he doesn't entertain them. The only thing he brings to the table is goofiness. If he can't even do that then he's completely useless.
The worst thing is that he can't even defend himself without feeling like shit. Because a hero is supposed to have a reassuring smile, everyday day and every hour.
So he hid the pain and nobody notices the pained slouching or the increased sleeping time or anything.He can take the light teasing, even if it hurts. He doesn't want to be a burden.
Denki doesn't want to be alone.
He needs someone, Denki can't function alone. He's scared that he will be left alone, with no one. He knows some lesser known pro heroes who told him it's very hard to get into a lasting relationship when you become a pro hero and most heroes die alone.
And Denki can't have that. He needs someone. Even before he put his sights on the hero job for the coolness factor, he always wanted to settle down with a cute girl. And nowadays a cute boy can work too.
Easier said than done.
Everyone in his class is driven with goals that they made when they were kids. Bakugou, Midoriya, Todoroki, Yaoyorozou, Iida are all so studious. Sero is cool but he is also driven and he spends most of his time reading manga.
Kirishima idolizes Bakugou and most of the time needs to act as his babysitter. Mina is the only one who is compatible with him and she spends her time with the girls and doesn't seem to mind the grades.
Asui is too cool, Uraraka is with her deku kun, shoji, sato, aoyama, tokoyami, and koda are all in their own world. There's something happening between Ojiro and Hagakure.
Todoroki is cool but conversations with him tend to break off in the middle. Midoriya's studious aptitude makes him nervous. Bakugou gets tiring to hang out with. Mineta is too much for everyone. Jirou always laughs at him. And he will never get along with Iida.
So that left no one for Denki.
All he wanted was to have fun and date. Aren't they students, aren't they young?. Along with studying, shouldn't they enjoy their time?. Denki is not a fool, he knows how dangerous the job is. Shouldn't they enjoy the time they have?
Denki is not ambitious, not talented, he's a pretty average guy who wants to enjoy life and make others happy along with it. Heroism was something cool, of course he really liked to help others but he was more suited to the popular, glory dazzling part of it and he knows it.
But nobody wants to have fun with him. And that makes him so alone.
He sighed and got up from his bed and looked at the time, 3:00 PM on a Sunday.
If he could convince his friends, they could go and spend some time in the mall, an hour would be fine. It could be a breath of fresh air and Denki won't feel so lonely.
Excitement bubbling in his stomach, he ran around in his room collecting stuff and putting on his favorite leather jacket. He rushed out the door, and went to pound on Kirishima's door, only to find the door closed with a very large board hanging with Don't Disturb written on it.
He ran away from that in an instance, almost everyone knows Bakugou's handwriting and nobody wants to take him on.
He texted everyone in the group chat, asking them to meet him outside the dorms if anybody wants to hangout.
Eagerly, he went outside and waited on the steps.
***
Twenty minutes later he was still sitting alone on the steps.
His heart dropped when he read the texts. Many of them didn't even bother to read them and many like Midoriya had texted him that they have work to do.
Mina
I need some girl time away from you gross boys.
Spider man
Sorry bro wrk to do
Class rep is typing
Jirou
Don't fight a villain and go into whey mode, you will be to dumb to do anything.
Uraraka
😂
Yaomomo
Behave yourself
Sato
Since you are going out could you buy some things for me?
Invisible
Yeah, yeah for me too. Please kaminari kun
Mina
Come back fast, my charger is still broken
Class rep
Have you done your homework? It's irresponsible for a hero student to … .
Denki shut the app off and stood up. He walked towards the gates, feeling dejected.
He hated it.
It's been like this lately. He goes to shops and places by himself and every time, somebody asks him to buy something or to behave and to not get dumbed down.
He always accepted the requests and brought back something to eat for everyone but nobody actively wanted to spend time with him.
They are all busy, he knows that. But he couldn't help it. He's a social person and everyone just leaves him alone.
How long until they forget he existed?
Probably won't happen, cause they definitely need their phone charger.
He shook his head, this much petty angst and bitterness didn't suit him. And it's not going to get him any girls.
So he plastered his smile back onto his face as he boarded a taxi.
***
The mall was filled with couples. And Denki wanted to tear his hair off. Everywhere he looked, happy couples were taking selfies, everywhere he looked he saw them and it sent a stab of jealousy into his heart.
And what hurt more was the sight of happy friends groups. Just being silly and loud, eating unhealthy junk food and laughing together.
He missed that, he missed that a lot.
He wondered if wanting to have fun could be considered unheroic or selfish. It's definitely childish.
He enjoyed the cultural festival but since the main reason for that was to alleviate the worries of the other classes, it didn't leave him satisfied.
Why couldn't he have fun without any altruistic reasons?
It won't be heroic to think that but according to his grades, Denki is not much of a hero.
He shook his head again. He's losing himself, wallowing in self pity.
This is not like you, Denki Kaminari. He scolded himself, You are cooler and happier.
He looked at his watch again, he could spend two hours here and spend the rest of the day with his homework.
Now how should he spend the day?
He walked and looked around. He liked to watch people and since it's a busy day, might as well.
Couple in front of that perfume shop, the girl tugging at the guys hand, so many clothing stores with couples, friend group arguing in front of that soba shop, a mother trying to calm her child, an old man checking his wallet, child being chased by an older kid, very pretty petite girl standing in front of that store alone, gay couple sharing an ice cream, lesbian couple smiling at each other, child screaming, someone..
Wait…
Go back, go back
He whirled around in his spot, bumping into someone and telling a quick apology as he walked back the way he came. His eyes searched far and long, trying to get a glimpse of…
There.
He could feel his face widening with a big smile. He wasn't hallucinating.
She hasn't moved from her spot, standing in front of what appeared to be a clothing store as Denki walked closer. And the best part was that she was alone.
Now Denki is a flirt and he's not much of a brain but even he could guess that such a pretty looking girl would not be left alone in front of that shop, no partner would ever do that. And she was fidgeting, like she was trying to make her mind up whether to enter the shop or not. Someone who clearly needs help.
So the logical conclusion that could be reached was that she was single and she needed help and that Denki had a chance.
A shiver of anticipation went up his spine as he reached closer, appreciating her beauty. Small lithe figure clad in a white dress, good figure, flat but cute, soft looking azure hair that came up to her shoulders and the brief look he had got of her face was enough to tell Denki that she is a catch.
He broke out his most charming smile, cleared his throat and congratulated his past self on choosing The leather jacket and walked up to her.
He got a whiff of jasmine as he reached her and gently poked her shoulder, saying the first pick up line that came to him.
" Well here I am, what are your other two wishes?" He asked her, taking note of his voice that had deepened. He was still smiling.
And then she turned her face.
And Denki got struck by lightning.
What he said, right, a brief look of her face was enough to tell him she's a catch.
But that brief look didn't do her justice.
She's gorgeous .
With big blue eyes, the same colour as her hair she stared up at him in confusion, a cute little nose twitched and her cheeks were dusted pink.
She leaned shyly away from him, tucking her hair behind her ear and averting her eyes.
And Denki's fantasies took off. He imagined himself picking her up and flying around the city. Bringing her to the best hotel in town, walking around hand in hand.
He shocked himself and gave her another one of his winning smiles.
"You look like you need some help, I can be your hero," He said.
She blushed.
And Denki congratulated himself. The power of being a hero.
She looked around, her eyes dropping slightly. Denki frowned, she looked sad, maybe he should move a little back. Is he making her uncomfortable?
He opened his mouth to apologize but stopped when she moved.
She tucked her hair again, looked up and smiled at him.
And Denki melted, instantly he made the vow that he would do anything for her.
"Yes, I just moved here from the country, I am having trouble with all these, " She gestured to the shops, " Clothes. So if you are not busy could you help me? " She batted her eyelashes, shyly. And Denki was trying not to short circuit.
"O-of course " Denki flashed her a reassuring smile, " I am Kaminari Denki and you are? " He asked hesitantly, he never came this far, most of the girls thought of him as a creep.
(Maybe because he's always with Mineta. )
The cerulean beauty smiled at him again and Denki felt like he was on cloud nine. She extended her hand and Denki gripped it, heart soaring.
" Nice to meet you Kaminari kun, I am Nagisa Shiota, call me Nagisa, please.
***
Dabi hated everything.
He hated the sight of all those fake heroes, he hated the sight of his white hair, he hated the sight of the league of villains and he absolutely loathed the bird fuck that won't leave him alone.
And most of all he hated this shit kid that was making his life miserable. Cocky, presumptuous, smug little shit with the know it all, lazy attitude.
Dabi wanted to burn him into cinders, sleeping so peacefully on his couch underneath his blankets.
But he didn't.
He's too soft for this kid.
Dabi doesn't know why? He doesn't remind him of Shouto, does he?
Dabi scoffed to himself. That's not possible he had already killed that part of him.
Or maybe not, because then what is the reason for why he is here in the first place. Why the fuck didn't he just leave him there?
It was already ten days since dabi found him.
Staring down four thugs with contempt, bruises and wounds littered around his body, worn out clothes, a sadistic grin and manic eyes glinting even as the thugs beat him down.
( he's lucky he found thugs with nonsensical quirks and not the one shot kill ones)
He got back up everytime, his stamina and sheer tenacity impressing even dabi who survived because of spite.
Maybe he found him interesting, or he wanted to ask why he wasn't using a quirk?. Whatever the reason, dabi had stepped forward, and finished the brawl in seconds.
After he finished he found the kid passed out in a pool of blood. And despite his rational side telling him to leave him there, he had brought the kid to his rundown apartment and patched him up.
But when it became clear that the wound required surgery, he had prepared to kill him.
But when he took notice of the kid, the childish peaceful face, the red straight hair, even the way he was whimpering in his sleep, it made dabi feel something that he had hidden away.
He couldn't kill him.
A part of him wanted to help.
And so he, swallowing all his pride ( and he had a hell of it) had called the bird fuck and threatened him to take care of it.
He thought that would be the end of it but three days later a harried looking hawk had dropped the kid in his house. Telling something about how the hpsc shouldn't see a kid with him.
Who the fuck leaves a defenceless kid with a villain? The fucking bird bitch with the smallest fucking brain ever that's who.
He very quickly learned that the kid, despite being quirkless, was anything but defenseless.
The next few days were filled with pranks, wasabi and mustard in his food, too many trips to the toilet and it's a pain for his entire shit stain body.
Springs in his bed, his furniture burned to cinders, psychotic laughter that made him fearful for his safety and he shouldn't be scared of a tall runt.
And too many close call with his quirk , the smell pf burned bodies clinging to him and the kid just taking it up with sadistic glee. What the fuck is wrong with him?
And he willingly sleeps beside a villain. After throwing a tantrum about the quality of the food that is. And he's low maintenance somehow.
But Dabi is not stupid.
He can see the signs of neglect everywhere.
He can also see that the kid was hurting, badly.
Not that it was any of his business.
And he's searching for someone or something.
Going out everyday, coming back with bruises and a blank face. He's self-destructing. Using his body to lash out at others. He's too damn lucky, none of the thugs being smart or gutsy enough to go for the kill at the first time or hide their quirks until the deciding moment, giving the kid enough time to think up ways to counter. More often than not it was a quick take down. A jab to the throat, kicks to the groin, kicks to the kidney and a damn axe kick as a finisher. And he knows when to run.
He thought of the jackass with that spider quirk. He had thought he caught the kid in a web but the resourcefull fucker had played dead and jabbed a steel rod to his groin.
Dabi could still hear the high pitched screams.
He glanced at the kid again, his bruised knuckles lying on top of the blanket, clothes dirty and thrown.
Dabi knows that there will be a time when he won't be so lucky, that he will find someone with a quirk too fucking powerfull for a quirkless kid.
Karma is going to catch up with him.
Dabi started laughing at that thought. Karma is going to catch up with karma. Seriously, what type of parents name their kid that ?
His laughter jostled the old, baggy couch and he heard a quiet whimper.
He looked down at the kid, alert. His lips were shaking, a frown on his forehead as he turned around in his sleep.
Dabi extended a hand, then thought better of it, opting to watch so that the kid won't fall off the couch.
A soft whisper reached him. He was talking in his sleep.
He leaned down, trying to make out the words.
" Na "
Na?
" Gisa "
Gisa?
Nagisa.
Dabi scoffed, figures, the one with the weird name will know someone with quite a sweet name like that.
Karma Akabane and Nagisa. Karma Akabane, dabi frowned, he knew that he had heard that name before, but when?
And Nagisa, a girl?
Beach, shore, calm, vividness, serenity, dabi can think of a lot of kanji for that name.
Good, he thought looking at the shivering form of the kid. He needs some calm in his life.
He slowly increased his body heat, enough for the kid lying next to him to stop shivering.
He didn't need to know where the kid came from or who this nagisa is, at least he can indulge in this weird side of him.
He's too tired to fight it after all.
***
Hawks shivered at the excited look on the commissioner's face. That in itself is a huge red flag.
He studied the guy in front of him again, a new agent that was brought to the hpsc. A shrewd man with some kind of time travel quirk.
His mind quickly flashed back to the strange kid that dabi brought. His instincts from back then had already told him that something was off.
It couldn't be, right?