Chapter Text
Izuku pushed through the thinned branches in the bushes at the end of the extensive garden, he was beginning to think he should perhaps pick a different entry point lest the Todoroki’s or their house keepers notice the small human size gap. After all, if they saw the hole becoming too prominent then they might install a proper fence and then where will he go to watch people with fire quirks train. Izuku frowned at the thought, because what Endeavour did was not training, it was most definitely abuse. But Izuku needed to see how people train fire quirks or he will never be able to use his own.
As he stumbled through the rock garden trying not to dislodge anything he came to a screeching halt. In front of him, peering through the windows, just like he usually does, was a white haired boy. He looked to be a teenager, probably 13 or 14 Izuku guessed from his height, dressed in dirty white scrubs from a hospital it seemed. But the sleeves and ends were ragged, burnt and torn. Izuku took another step, this time the crisp wintery leaves crunching under his worn shoes.
The boy snapped his head to the side peering over his shoulder, eyes narrowed suspiciously. Izuku held up his hands in surrender, taking in the scar tissue very briefly, trying to stay focused on the piercing turquoise eyes staring at him.
“Umm hi… I- umm I don’t live here, I just sneak in to w-watch them train” he whispered with the friendliest small smile he could muster “Well, they don’t really train, the big guy just bullies and beats the little… kid” he faltered at the end when he saw the teen twitch, an angry flare tinging his eyes.
‘Change the subject Izuku…’ “Do you live near here?” He noticed the other boy frown, seeming sad so he continued “…I’m homeless… b-but I’ve got a pretty good set up in an old warehouse, its not too far… if you want to come? I’ve got some blankets and some food… if-“ he stopped mumbling as the boy turned and looked though the window again.
“Nothing changed, its still all about training Sh- him and not me” he sighed “They… left me behind” Izuku was puzzled, watching the boy move around the side of the mansion to look through a different window “I just wanted them… him… to see me, to see I’m not just a failure… but I’m just a thing from the past.”
Izuku caught up and bit back a gasp as he stared through the window at what the boy was looking at. Inside the room was a memorial shrine set up for what looked to be the same boy standing right next to him. But obviously a few years younger and without the scarring. He really wasn’t sure what he should do, it didn’t seem like encouraging him to go in would be a good idea, especially knowing what happens in there. And the boy seemed to be struggling with remorse, rage, god knows what else.
Steadying himself with a deep breath, he spoke was gently as he could “Will you come with me? Its starting to get cold, you can tell me anything and I’ll listen… you can help me, you…” Izuku struggled to find the right words to tell the other boy that he’s not a failure, he can have a new purpose, they can help each other thrive “We can survive together… You’re not a failure to me… You’re strong… I see you…”
This seemed to rouse the boy from his deep spiralling thoughts, he turned again to look at Izuku and with a small frown, gave a little nod.
After quietly exiting the garden the two young boys ambled down the path towards the edge of the commercial zone where the old warehouse was. To start with it was quiet, Izuku took in the boy’s shoeless feet, worrying about how cold he must be.
“My name is Izuku… I-“ he stopped himself from going any further, looking at the floor
“Why are you homeless Izuku?” The boy replied, never giving out his name. Izuku wondered if perhaps he needed to earn his trust, gain the name as an honoured achievement. But the question made his stomach ache.
“Uh… quirk accident killed my family. I was… presumed dead…” There was significantly more to it then that but he felt like keeping his secrets if the other boy was keeping his name.
“Sorry” the boy mumbled. After a few more minutes he continued “How long have you been on the streets?”
“A year… its- well… its complicated I guess. How old are you Yukichan?”
The boy stopped, mild shock on his face “Yukichan?”
“Ah s-sorry!! I just didn’t know what to call you and your hair is l-like snow, I’m sorry” Izuku ducked down into a bow. He didn’t want to upset the other boy and he already seemed quite cold and distant but at this point, he was desperate. Its the first person he’s really tried to make friends with since the accident and damn, if he wasn’t lonely. Nine year old boys shouldn’t really be out on the streets all alone. Especially not heading into winter.
The other boy hummed a little “Kajichan would be more appropriate”
Izuku hopped up, a bright excited look in his eyes “Do you have a fire quirk too!”
The boy rolled his eyes starting up walking again “Don’t tell me that you didn’t notice my scars… my voice… my…” he faded off what he was saying so Izuku took over.
“Well I didn’t know if it was an accident, like…” Izuku shook his head, warding off the bad memories bubbling to the surface “I have a fire quirk but… I can’t… I don’t…” the other boy seemed to notice his breathing picking up, the tears brimming his eyes and gently patted him on the shoulder.
“So how far to the building?”
Izuku appreciated the save “Oh! Its only another 10 minutes or so, are your feet ok?”
“Its fine, I don’t seem to feel much pain anymore”
“Well that’s pretty lucky because damn it can get kind of cold overnight” the green haired boy chuckled with a sort of nervous sadness.
After another 10 minutes of very limited conversation, the boys finally came to their target. A grim, square building, surrounded by fences and condemned signs. It was two stories high, the front top right corner seemed to have completely collapsed, rubble and rebar in a crumpled mess. Izuku made some bad joke about it being homely as he scooted down the side between the fence and the neighbouring boarded up building. Just before they reached the back corner, with an alley running along the back, Izuku pulled up to a quickly, the other boy almost bumping into him. He knelt down unclipping the fence along the bottom of the posts, pulling the wire and bending it outwards so he could squeeze though.
“Sorry it’s not a very big gap” he mumbled, looking around defensively. He didn’t like sneaking around, there were a few… unsavoury people around at night so the quicker and quieter they were, the better.
But luckily the white haired boy scrambled through, winching once at the metal catching on his neck and scratching a little. “Shit… I’m not as much of a midget as you”
“Hey!” Izuku whisper shouted making the other boy snort a tiny laugh, something which Izuku was immensely happy about. “Come on we need to hurry up. Don’t want to be seen” he looked around suspiciously “I’ve got a first aid kit inside.”
Izuku fixed up the fence and moved some pallets that were leant against the wall to the side, revealing a metal vent “I’ll go in, unlock and open this window to the left here. Move the pallet back in front of the vent once I’m in ok?”
The teen nodded and watched as the little boy ducked inside, closing the vent and moving the pallets back the way they were. It was barely a couple of minutes later when he heard a small click and the window slid open. Once the teen hopped through, the teen took in the barren room, the street lights outside were the only illumination, making it seem even colder. Izuku leant past his friend and closed up he window, pushing a plank of wood in front of it, then he turned around, hands on hips and proudly announced “Mi Casa Es Su Casa!”
The teen chuckled again “Umm… its…”
“That means my house is your house, my mamma used to say it when friends visited when I was really little” the young bright smile wilted a little, but the other boy didn’t mention it. Izuku turned and motioned for him to follow.
They went through the dingy concrete room up some very unsafe looking metal stairs to a landing at the top, an ominous orangey glow from the street light brighter than down stairs highlighted just what kind of condition the place was in. To the right at the top was a door barricaded shut with some broken up concrete “That’s the room at the front where all the roof caved in so uh… don’t go near there. I tried to block up the door to stop drafts coming in. When it’s stormy the wind whistles a lot but it’s still warmer up here than it is downstairs.”
He then pushed open one of the two doors on the left, stepping inside “This is where I sleep, there’s only the one small window and its small so it helps keep warm overnight.” The room was essentially a large storage cupboard, it was only light by moonlight streaming through the end window. All the fittings for the shelves were still attached to the walls but the actual shelves had been removed. The room itself was probably only about 6ft wide, maybe 10ft long, down at the end opposite the door was the small 3ft by 3ft window. Against one wall on the floor was a bed fashioned out of several blankets, one rolled at the top to function as a pillow. Izuku reached down pulling back the blankets to reveal a mass of ripped up padding “I pulled out all of the foamy stuff from inside the office chairs from the meeting room and the lunch room to kind of make a bed, we can spread it out and share it Kajichan” he let out his blinding smile again.
“That’s… thank you Izuku. That’s really smart.”
Izuku noticed the teen seemed to be struggling with what to say so he carried on with his little guided tour. “Come on I’ll show you the other room. I’m not sure why but this place still has water, its obviously a mistake so I’ve been collecting empty bottles so I can store water just in case”
Izuku left the room and went into the one next door, this one was a lunch room with a small kitchenette against the left side, windows along the right. Like Izuku had said, the chairs had been stripped of fabric and cushioning except one that was up against the table. The kitchen was really just a sink and cupboards, the appliances were all gone, some of the plug sockets even destroyed with hazardous looking wires poking out. “Umm so I don’t really have much in here but I’ve got” he reached up to the top cupboard, sticking his tongue out as he pushed up on his tip toes “-some soap and-“
“Why do you put it in the top when you’re so tiny” Kajichan smirked making the smaller boy pout
“Well… I don’t know, it felt safer like it wouldn’t get stolen if someone got in while I was out y’know?” Izuku grumbled, still looking a little pouty “A-ny-way… so this is where we have water for drinking and washing… its cold but its better than nothing. I’ve got some more clothes in the cupboard too, something should fit you. And here-” he pulled down a small plastic bag with a tube of antiseptic cream, a few plasters and steristrips “Let me clean that up”
Izuku silently went and washed his hands, returning and smoothing some cream on the scrapes and using one of the plasters. “I’m afraid I don’t have any lollipops for my patients these days” he giggled trying to keep the mood light, mimicking the drs he had seen when he was younger “But…”
He then turned and walked to the far corner, moving a broken chair out of the way, then moving the wooden boards aside to reveal a white plastic carrier bag hidden behind them. “I don’t have a lot…” he said as he tipped the contents onto the table “But you know, when you’re hungry… you’ll eat anything really.”
On the table was now an open packet of chips, most of a bread roll, half a plastic wrapped onigiri and an almost empty bottle of orange juice. Izuku looked up to see the other boy just staring at it frowning “I- I’m sorry… I-“
“Izuku… how old are you?”
“I’m nine”
“Why aren’t you with other family or friends… or in foster care or an orphanage or someth-”
“What’s your name? I'm not talking until you tell me your name.”
The other boy frowned and grabbed the bread roll, breaking it in half and handing some to Izuku “My name… was Touya Todoroki”