Chapter Text
Wonder Duo Menace at Turido Centurian Bank
“....In other news, the Wonder Duo was involved in the successful apphrehension of bank robbers and rescue of the hostages at the Turido Centurian Bank earlier today....”
MilLionRawr @MilLionRawr • 1h
I don’t get why Million Suns wasn’t called in for this.
Adamantine Duo would’ve been better too.
Wonder Duo was not the right call.
13 Replies | 52 Likes | 8 Dislikes
Hard_Head @Hard_Head88 • 1h
Temp-est could’ve handled this cleaner.
Shouto freezes the villains in one sweep.
Minimal damage. End of story.
25 Replies | 33 Likes | 10 Dislikes
“...Although there were no casualities, the property damage sustained was excessive due to the repetitive blasts and physical impact which weakened support pillars- causing the whole building to collapse within minutes of evacuation.....”
Utsuku_Shima @Utsuku_Shima • 59m
I like the Wonder Duo. Powerful, gutsy, skilled.
But hear me out — this wasn’t their situation.
109 Replies | 68 Likes | 15 Dislikes
(1/3)
If this was an army of Noumus?
Wonder Duo, first choice. No question.
But this was a Goldilocks case.
Too much force, not enough finesse.
(2/3)
Million Suns’ quirks complement each other.
Versatile. Coordinated. Precise.
Dynamight is a war hammer.
And Deku is… not what he used to be.
(3/3)
He’s versatile, yes — but he’s one man in a suit now.
Too much + too little = wrong balance.
That’s not hate. Just stone-cold matchup analysis.
“... Many will agree that the Heroes rushed into the situation too soon, without enough intel. We have the renowned crisis analyst and author of the best seller ‘Honor and Heroics' , Kirihara Arata here with us, today. So Kirihara-san, do you think that the Wonder Duo made the right call of infiltrating the situation without waiting for the recon team to report?...’
CreatiIsQueen @CreatiIsQueen • 38m
I don’t like how the Wonder Duo operates.
I was a bystander at the Nabu Station incident.
Dynamight was being a complete ass to victims.
Add a Reply
CreatiIsQueen @CreatiIsQueen • 37m
He told injured people to walk themselves to medical.
Meanwhile Deku was helping them.
Deku could’ve saved more inside the train.
Their power dynamic is one-sided.
CreatiIsQueen @CreatiIsQueen • 37m
Deku is too nice to speak up against Dynamight.
They were better heroes individually.
There. I said it.
REZero @REZeroX
Replying to @CreatiIsQueen
Get your facts straight.
Dynamight told mobile victims to move because he was handling critical threats.
If Deku thought otherwise, he would’ve acted.
REZero @REZeroX
Replying to @CreatiIsQueen
Instead he trails behind Dynamight. He’s the one holding Dynamight back.
DeckU777 @DeckU777
Replying to @REZeroX
Did you even watch the full op? Deku rescued 31 people from three decoupled coaches. Dynamight was a sitting duck when it mattered. Try again.
‘...considering that there was a possible threat of gas poisoning and a bomb being strapped to one of the hostages, it is understandable why the Duo would feel rushed to jump in on the scene rather than wait for the recon team to draw up their reports. But in assessment of the damage they caused, comparing it with how it could have been avoided had they simply waited for the report...’
Why Does WD Suck??
r/HeroDiscourse — Thread (opened)
⬆️ 21.3k | 💬 4.9k Comments | 🕒 8h ago | 🔥 Trending
OP — u/QuirkTheory101
Okay, opening this because the last thread got locked 🙃
Why does the Wonder Duo feel worse together than apart?
Serious answers only. No ship wars.
⬆️ 11.4k | u/FieldRealityCheck
People keep saying “Dynamight’s personality doesn’t mesh with anyone” like it’s the root issue.
That’s a myth.
He’s abrasive, sure — but he’s worked just fine with other pros.
The problem isn’t that he can’t mesh.
It’s that WD doesn’t have the time to.
⬆️ 10.9k | u/ThreeJobsProblem
Pro Hero Deku literally has three jobs.
- Active Pro Hero
- Co-partner of a new agency
- U.A. teacher
People act shocked that WD coordination is shaky when Deku is grading papers between disasters.
⬆️ 9.8k | u/ProHeroAdjustmentPeriod
Deku became a licensed Pro like…just 1 year ago.
He hasn’t settled into the lifestyle.
He still teaches more than he heroes.
WD is operating during his adjustment phase and everyone’s acting like this is his final form.
⬆️ 9.1k | u/QuirkDiscourseThrowaway
We also need to stop pretending Deku’s suit = his quirk.
It mimics output only partly.
It does NOT replicate instinct, feedback, or adaptive flow.
Anyone who’s actually studied quirk ergonomics knows this.
He’s thinking where he used to feel.
⬆️ 8.4k | u/CommandChainNightmare
Dynamight is insufferable, stiff, and historically ignores command chains.
This isn’t news.
That’s survivable in a solo hero.
It’s poison in a Duo that requires micro-adjustments and shared calls.
'...the Wonder Duo is no doubt a force to be reckoned with, but their expertise seems to be limited to widescale villain suppression and disaster site rescues. Apart from the constant obstacle of tackling property and collateral damage, the Duo has also suffered losses in success rates which could have been better handled as individual cases. Clearly, just having two brilliant heroes together isn't a sure shot recipe for a great Hero Duo....'
⬆️ 7.9k | u/RivalryIsNotSynergy
They’re legendary rivals.
Why did anyone expect that to magically become harmony?
Rivalry creates friction, not resolution.
WD skipped the middle step where you actually learn how to coexist.
⬆️ 7.2k | u/IdeologyClash
Their combat philosophies do not match.
GEMGD prioritizes overwhelming suppression.
Deku prioritizes adaptive rescue-first responses.
Neither is wrong.
Together, they hesitate or overcorrect.
⬆️ 6.8k | u/CommonGroundWhere
Their personalities clash.
Their priorities clash.
Their instincts clash.
People keep looking for some shared core and… it’s barely there.
They agree on saving people.
That’s it.
⬆️ 6.1k | u/TrainingTimeMyth
Everyone says “they’ll grow into it.”
With what time?
Deku is teaching.
GEMGD is deployed nonstop.
Joint training sessions are a scheduling fantasy.
⬆️ 5.7k | u/StopMakingItPersonal
WD doesn’t “suck.”
It’s just a bad structural pairing.
Two legends ≠ a good team.
This isn’t a moral failure.
It’s logistics.
'...Although the trend of Hero teams has risen in recent times, it is not exactly mandatory for all Pros to organize themselves in teams. There still are a few from the old generations who prefer to have their own independent Agencies even now, despite the clear advantage of Hero Coalitions in terms of coverage cooperation, success rates , reduced mortality rates and so on. But in the specific case of the Wonder Duo, which was expected to produce ground-breaking results, to perform so dismally in relation to other coalitions begs the consideration if at all the Duo can maintain a stable partnership in the future. Maybe it is time for them to consider returning to individual work or look into alternate partnership choices...'
⬆️ 5.4k | u/mudd_me_me43
When the partnership of Deku and Dynamight was first announced, I was so hyped.
Like — the Symbol of Hope and the Symbol of Victory working together?
That’s OP. That’s endgame hero mythology.
But then reality kind of sets in.
You don’t use flamethrowers to light a match.
Ever since the League fell, there are way more matches than forests.
The world doesn’t need city-level suppression every week anymore — it needs precision, restraint, patience.
And that sucks, because this duo would’ve ruled in a different era.
It bums me out that my favorite partnership isn’t getting its due in the spotlight the way I know they deserve.
Not because they’re bad — but because the times changed faster than the symbols could.
Still. I love them anyway.
Even if they break up the Duo tomorrow,
Wonder Duo will always be my all-time favorite.
— 95 Replies | 97 Upvotes | 44 Downvotes
⬆️ AutoModerator
🔒 This thread has been locked due to repeated reports and circular arguments.
Please redirect further discussion to the Wonder Duo Megathread #9.
"Don't worry about what everyone else has to say, Izuku, my boy. If you want to be partners with him, there is no reason why you shouldn't be, but if you are worried about something else then you should talk to him...er...rather...try communicating with him in a way that doesn't end in bruises? I think you two should discuss...calmly...about your future together. Remember it shouldn't matter how the world perceives your work, because the world is always going to have high expectations of you. What matters is how you perceive your own work. Don't get caught up in what the world expects out of you two, but what you expect from this partnership. Every other consideration is secondary..."
Sunlight streams through the windows, slanted light crawling over cool marble floors languidly by the hour. The champagne haired Pro-Hero lies on his belly, propped up by his elbows – the waning sunlight setting his hair aglow.
He leafs through pages, the rustle of parchment and the ticking of the analog clock are the only sounds echoing through the apartment. Around him are boxes unpacked half-way, balled up tape and mountains of notebooks of every colour.
Somewhere down the line, the title on them changed from ‘Hero Analysis for my future' to a simple ‘Quirk Analysis', followed by a serial number than begs proof of sanity on the part of the author of these notes.
Katsuki grunts to the click and Izuku's “I'm home!”, followed by the shuffling at the genkan. The notes submerge him again into quiet study.
Footsteps halt, then pad over to him – Izuku heaves himself down onto the marble with him, cross-legged and adjacent to him at the foot of the couch, but doesn't say anything.
He does this a lot, Katsuki thinks – hovering without enquiry that is sure to be itching a hole through Izuku's skull – only stoppered by his inhuman patience. The barely legible lines of chicken-scratch condense and blur, he is too aware of Izuku to continue to read.
He flips away the notebook (with care, not that anyone else would know better) and looks over his shoulder grumpily. Izuku is playing with the drawstrings of Katsuki's tracksuit, if he is eager to ask something, it doesn't show.
Kastuki flips on his back to avoid a crick in his neck from looking over his shoulder, “What?”, he asks gruffly. Izuku rocks himself forwards, toppling, allows gravity to make him face-plant into Katsuki's abs.
“Nuthing", comes his nasally muffled voice after Katsuki's silent ‘oof'.
Katsuki lets his fingers card through the green hair, ignores how sneakily the later attempts to make his tank top hike up beyond his navel with the pretense of rubbing his nose in.
“Hown wush your dyay?”, the nasally voice asks.
“Boring", Katsuki grunts at the ceiling, “Unpacked half of your shitty shrine"
Very indiscreetly, Izuku tries to blow a raspberry against his exposed belly-button in retaliation to Katsuki's heresy– only to have his entire face smushed and smothered against unyeilding abs as Katsuki lazily traps him in a head-lock.
“Dont you dare”, Katsuki grits, repressing the threat of light ticklish ripples with sheer will. The greenette whines and taps out frantically on the floor. The blond waits till he colours faintly blue, a vein popping as he gives up resistance entirely, too easily – and he lets go. When Izuku comes up for breath, he shoves the hem of his tank top hurriedly under his track-pants.
Izuku pouts with narrowed eyes at the covered skin, “Meanie"
“Meanest", Katsuki returns to his previous position to shield his abdomen and reaches for another notebook. He crosses his ankles and rocks his heels back and forth, distantly wondering if he could smack Izuku with his soles. And by gods, he tries.
The other Pro-Hero, ever attuned to the same wavelength of his thoughts, grabs his locked ankles and lays his cheek on the cradle of his feet, his verdant curls sweep over his toes, and sighs. Katsuki absolutely doesn't blush. No way. But remains thankful that Izuku cannot see his face. It is always the simple, adorable things like these that catch him, leave his heart stuttering. How Izuku can be completely at ease around him, trust him, treat his body like a temple – with familiarity, care and borderline reverence; is beyond his understanding even now after years of healing friendship, newly-forged partnership, and years of stolen kisses and passion under the cover of the night. It makes Katsuki choke – probably on his heart, but Katsuki wouldn't admit to having one, much less gagging on it.
The blond ruffles through pages.
Quirk after quirk, hero after hero – his notes have everything, Katsuki had forgotten how extensive they could be.
Ask a nerd for a trailer, and he shall give you a movie marathon (with deleted scenes)
Pages spill over with words, diagrams, flowcharts, bulletpoints, blocks of compact text and innumerable theories – ink almost growing wiry legs and crawling out of paper; somehow shifting seamlessly from Japanese to English to conserve space, and a smattering of chunks of foreign words – Holy fuck, is that German? He turns to the cover – ‘No. 79'
The latest one.
Katsuki side-eyes Izuku over his shoulder with a deathly slow turn, Izuku is once more occupied by drawing circles on the small of Katsuki's back.
“Why is a quarter of this shit German, Izuku"
“Hm?”, he peered over the blond's shoulder to look, “Oh...remember that German Study from University of Munich that Yaoyorozu brought up? The one which was heavily critiquing the Hero Education system in Japan, setting a bad example for the next generation and all that?”
And begrudgingly, Katsuki remembers (somewhat). It was a year-old thing that got Izuku raving in an intense nerdy debate against himself over Katsuki's lap when they were too sloshed to care, too tired to fuck.
Apparently the study particularly targeted U.A.’s Education system, critiquing everything from their syllabi, exams, programs for transferring students from General Education, gaudy productions of the Sports Festival, the faculty, the ‘vainglorious’ infrastructure and even the ‘unproductive’ dorm system. There may have been a few valid points there, but most of it was buried under doctored data and manipulated conclusions. Clearly a study made by assheads who hadn't once stepped on Japanese soil, let alone U.A. itself.
Izukuu was livid.
Unsurpisingly, Izuku is the talkative-drunk; but Katsuki is the quiet-drunk whose hands know no shame. He was the one who pulled Izuku into his lap, nodding like a broken bobby-head to the ebb and flow of the nerd's slurred rant, fingers greedily skating over every inch of his skin, feeling flesh give under his grip with almost scientific curiosity. He doesn't remember much of that night, no, he never does whenever he tries to match Izuku shot for shot – but the greenette's notorious metabolism burns through alcohol merrily like an unchecked forest fire, it is damn near impossible to consume as much alcohol as he does and not end up blacked out or in the hospital from alcohol poisoning.
He remembers few stray words from the night but more importantly, the days later– when Izuku had apparently carried forward with his declaration to write down a strongly worded essay discrediting said Study in German (Yaoyorozu might have some hand in that as well) He was extra that way, Katsuki was almost proud how petty Izuku could be if he tried. Hell he even feigned shedding a tear.
It was alarming how he followed through though. Katsuki had not expected the swift, inflamed reply from the University half a year later, being clearly rattled and embarassed, they asked Izuku to produce data to back up his claim. Sounded like his words stung more than his powerful punches.
“Don't tell me you are going to give them data from here", Katsuki waved the notebook for emphasis.
Izuku gave a sheepish grin fiddling with his thumbs.
“You fucking serious? Isn't there some sort of national confidentiality or some shit? How could you just give away information like this about our own heroes?!”
“How is it confidential if literally anyone with an internet connection can look up this information?”
Katsuki bites his cheek before he can rain spitfire upon this useless, oblivious, goddamned Moron – cause fuck you, you don't get this motherload of information off a shady forum or a grainy video, Instead he takes a calming breath and pinches the bridge of his nose, “Fine. Do what you want. As long as it is none of my shit I don't care which unfortunate lab rat you dissect and present for your write-up"
(One of these days, Katsuki is sure, that Izuku is going to burn down the world with a flick of his pen from his study bureau , and not even bat a pretty eyelid when everything goes to shit around him and the fucking air-head would innocently turn around from the radioactive mushroom cloud that was once a nation, and ask, with wide-doe eyes, concerned but oblivious, “Kacchan, how did this happen?")
Izuku doesn't contest Katsuki’s words. He returns his freckled cheek upon the perch of Katsuki's upturned soles. The blond pulls another notebook to leaf through, taking his time to look at the Heroes listed, doesn't find what he is looking for.
“Where is mine?”
Izuku jolts briefly. There is a spell of awkward silence. But again he says nothing as he crawls over Katsuki's back and drags a mountain of notebooks closer. His gnarled fingers walk over the numbered spines, and halt over ones numbered from 6 through 17. He pulls them out carefully,
“First page"
“Of which volume?"
“All of them"
Katsuki pauses. The weight of these Campos notebooks heavier than he remembered them to be. He swallows, an uncomfortable lump lodged in his throat – but he was prepared for this.
‘No. 6’
A time when Izuku's handwriting was bigger, spread over two lines, broad strokes, no kanji. A horrible excuse of a scribble on the very first page – the shock of hair and similar scribbles at the end of twig-like arms is unmistakable, coloured-in wonkily with waxy crayon shavings that transfers to the opposite page – sunshine yellow for hair, red-bounded orange for explosions and a few stray yellow sparks, thick black for converging down-slope of his scowl.
‘Hero: Kacchan!!!
Age- 7
Quirk- Explosion!
Likes- Spicy food, Hiking, ALLMIGHT (underlined twice)
His sweat has nitroglyserin like things which explode! He can blow up almost anything! The largest thing he has exploded is his mom's ceramic flower pot – it shattered into thousands of peices, no bigger than the length of my pinky!! It looks so cool and flashy, like All Might's quirk!!'
Katsuki snorts at the childish words and feels airy, light. He flips through pages, it is hilarious how there are over 10 pages dedicated to him and occasional footnotes generously splashed in every other page, each stray trivia carefully noted by page number to be referred with the main entry.
“Nerd", Katsuki comments fondly, feels Izuku’s curls tickle the shell of his ear as he leans over to read. He hears a groan buried in his shoulder and he chuckles.
“Wonder what you wrote in the first 5 volumes.”
“Don't ask. This was the first barely useful one. The others were horrible. The spines didn't hold and I lost the first three to termites. Thank God they didnt have much – most of the All Might trivia in them I know by heart so I dont need to keep them written anywhere...”
“5 volumes of All Might....Could you be any more obsessed, nerd?”
“Hey! I have only 2 volumes dedicated to All Might completely. Volume 4 and 5.”
“Of course now you have 2 since fucking termites turned the other three to dust.”
“It wasn't just All Might in the first three! There were other Heroes from the Golden Age too!”
Katsuki shakes his head, recieves a light swat at his other shoulder for his lack of faith.
“Whatever lets you sleep at night, Izuku. I won't tell All Might about you nerdgasming over him across 5 notebooks.”, Katsuki grins, “Yet”
“Kacchan!”
“Chill. He already knows.”
“WHAT?! HOW?”
“You literally have a fucking shrine for him!”, Katsuki throws an arm at the boxes beside them, “All collectibles and this limited edition shit! And you have them all set out loud and fucking proud in plain sight for everyone to see! In that line of thought, isnt far fetched to think that you would have five whole volumes of his shit!”
“As if you don't have your own hoard, Kacchan”
“Unlike you, I dont display mine for all the world to see, you damned fucking nerd"
“You are a deviant. Who the hell keeps All Might merch locked up in a shock-proof crate? Why do you even keep them if you can't see them?"
“What? You want me to dump them then?, Katsuki teases
“Dont you fucking dare, Bakugou Katsuki. I will sell my liver and both kidneys to Satan to buy them from you if I must"
“No thanks, I dont need your monster liver and two kidneys"
Izuku laughs, throaty, loud and free – the tone jingles something deep and satisfying within Katsuki, a note of bubbly warmth that crows victoriously in a voice that sounds suspiciously like his 4-year old self.
The blond allows a smirk to take over under the dying quakes of Izuku's laughter.
The emerald-eyed man hides his face in the hollow of his shoulder again, “....and Actually..if I compile it all from every volume it will be around....7 or so....”
“Notebooks?” the blond asks, incredulous
“Notebooks", the greenette affirms, sinking further in embarassment.
Katsuki almost wants to throw him off just to give him a direct deadpan glare. But Izuku's hands have snaked around his torso, keeping him from turning.
With an exaggerated exhale, Katsuki reaches for the next volume.
‘No. 7'
The information isn't all too different, almost inane. The handwriting is. Scrawls gain some sort of order and format with each progressing page. His entries are scattered all over, entire pages dedicated to aimless excited ranting and colourfully descriptive incidents of quirk use, words of adoration and praise being every fourth word. He recalls few, most of them seem alien to his eyes, sparking no recollection whatsoever. The further he goes, however, the entries shorten – from vibrant texts sprawling over pages to scrawls shrunk into paragraphs. Words scratched out vehemently– the indent of the words going through pages.
Katsuki pulls the next volume, ‘No. 8'. Almost same as No. 7. He skims through the pages, finds nothing new despite careful perusal. Through no. 7 to 9, he observes a spectrum of gradually contracting information.
The volumes lie before him as physical evidence of a time-worn relationship deteriorating with each day and each page. The information is almost desperate to grasp onto a threadbare friendship that barely bridges a gap of miles. Katsuki tastes bile.
At Volume 10, Katsuki's breath hitches. The difference is stark.
The first entry, as always begins with Katsuki and his age – 11 summers old. (The end of Elementary School, the beginnings of a shadow and the roaring oceans widening between them) There are no colourful diagrams anymore – only resigned ink. Words playing on repeat.
Name
Quirk
Age
Quirk Description
The words are dragged, straggling. No new observations, hardly any new entries. Some words puncture through the paper. Most of them are scratched out. Over and over and over.
A shiver.
And the blond is almost certain Izuku felt that too.
Midway through the notebook the stray additions stop completely – instead there are lengthy accounts of then-rising heroes with inconspicuous quirks - no-name B listers that came and went without a trace, except here in Izuku's notebooks.
Katsuki has also seen lengthy entries of famous Pro Heroes in the other volumes – sprightly and forthcoming. But something those in no. 10 is abstruse, lifeless yet demanding; hidden behind clipped uninspired words which were copied verbatim, is the hulking mass of a dormant wraith.
Breath comes shallower under the weight, the ash-blond notices the constricting grip around his chest, he cant see Izuku's face but he can tell feel the other's brow pressed tightly against his shoulder blade, almost shrinking away.
He can feel Izuku's discomfort as starkly as his own, crawling under his skin.
‘No. 11'
The First entry is again himself. But this one is massive – 27 pages long. A retelling of his profile from all the previous volumes, written down with clinical care – impersonal, succinct. The accounts of quirk use suffer through brutally crossed out blocks of ink, desperate layers of whitener – words lay between jagged and blotted out obstacles- the page itself a visual of a stammering apology.
Each malformed, rejected word on the page is a scar that oozes anguish. The end product looks like the surgical debridement of a long-festering wound – of little leftover viable tissue and pulsing hope. The blond feels strangely hollowed, a cavernous vaccum ready to implode the thin shell of his being.
The B-listers return – the volume might as well be dedicated to them. There are glances of some very prominent Heroes – Kamui Woods, Mount Lady mentioned passingly, with side note to refer Vol. 13. Endeavour has a fairly large section to himself, the breakdown of Hawks' debut, and a plethora of information of Pro Heroes who eventually become their teachers. All Might is an obsequious and prolific inclusion in all of them.
The divide of mood between the start and end of the notebook churns something ugly within Katsuki. He doesnt want to continue, but still he ploughs on.
He takes up the next volume. Izuku settles the weight of his hips on his own. Their planes of contact iron away any gaps. It gets heavier as their heats fuse.
‘No. 12'
‘Name – Bakugou Katsuki'
Katsuki's face immediately scrunches up as if someone pushed an entire lemon into his mouth and gagged him. His full name glares back at him like a taunt from the past. But it isn't Izuku's sneer he hears, it is his 4 year old self.
Look what you did.
‘Hero name -???
Age- 13
Quirk- Explosive Sweat
Fighting style- Outboxing.
Kacchan has been training since last one and a half years and the results definitely show. Probably had to change uniform sizes twice by my observations. ‘
A sigh of relief escapes him at the return of his nickname, but quickly forgotten – uniform sizes...twice...fucking uniform sizes? He consciously pushes away the urge to ask, Bitch, How? And soldiers on.
‘Possible training(?)- Core training, Weight training, Quirk precision training and of course his regular Mountain Climbing trips. He seems to be currently concentrating on putting up arm bulk? (Related to Recoil? -> refer. Vol. 13)..’
References are marked in red, in a different hand than the rest.
Vol. 13....
Katsuki glances at the numbered spines, he doesnt see No. 13. And a unpleasant caustic weight drops into his stomach, frothing and spilling over.
‘......Kacchan still leads with a right swing (-> refer future volumes for correction), follows with a flurry of blasts and uses the distinct sound rather than the impact itself as a deterrent to scare off opponents, making them predictably avoid his palms, uses exactly that reaction to plan his next attack....’
Chewing on his bottom lip, he wonders exactly how did the nerd pinpoint that logic dead-on. Was he that transparent? did nothing really nothing escape those sharp eyes of his? He used his menacing aura and popcorn explosions more as a threat than relying on physical impact - Has been doing so to avoid direct blows for a long time. Explosive sweat wasn't exactly the safest quirk for a slugfest against pissing pansies – he learnt that lesson very early in his life. Had been labelled a villain too often because of it. Did Izuku hear those too? How closely under watch had he been?
‘...One issue I can see is with his range, being contact based he has to rely on close combat. Despite such limitation I am sure Kacchan will find a way to maximize the application of his quirk – it is always possible for him to use some Support Item to project shots ( -> refer AP shot and Grenadier Bracers; Vol 14 to 17) at a long range...’
For the love of All Might...for someone who was still quirkless when he fucking wrote all this crap he did have quite the foresight. Two years after this was written Katsuki would draw up the final design of his gauntlet which he would send to the Support Company, he had started planning for it around the same time as this entry. Three years after the entry he would discover AP shot.
‘....I wonder if only his palms secrete volatile sweat. If not so, does he continuously sweat nitroglycerine? That has to be inconvenient. Does he use some sort of neutralizer for it?.....
Nitroglycerine is volatile in gas form, known to spontaneously combust. Used as explosives in stable solid states. I suppose the way Kacchan secretes it is in a state like Acetone or Liquids which evaporate fast, because it burns clean and completely- there is hardly any kind of residue...’
Katsuki’s sweat does evaporate fast, it leaves his skin hotter than core temperature – he is like a perpetually overheated lizard; save for his skin which would have been dry as a desert if not for his mother's inherently moisturizing genes.
Izuku's words evoke the idea of him dissecting away his quirk from his body. Another shudder of discomfort shoots through him. The insightful words feel strangely invasive, aleinating but surgical; the only hint of familiarity is the nickname.
‘For consideration- (Refer Vol 14-17 + addendum)
• Does Kacchan constantly secrete nitroglycerin?
• If so then does it mean that secretion and ignition are two seperate components? Kacchan can warm his palms to high temperatures – is that a precursor to ignition or ignition itself at a smaller scale?
• If the secretion is not constant is it under conscious control? Can the amount be regulated?
• If secretion is constant, is there a seperate conscious trigger for ignition?’
Katsuki smiles to himself wryly. There are some very familiar questions here that rocked his own inquisitive mind once. There is, in fact, a seperate conscious trigger for ignition just as Izuku surmised. Katsuki curiosity ends with the conditions of use and applications of his quirk but Izuku's doesn't. He is ravenous, insatiable.
But the wording of his thoughts is painfully bland and removed. A thorough inquisition that seems more perfunctory rather than for interest. Katsuki isn't sure he wants to fall in either extreme.
The thoughts are chased away as Izuku shuffles, carefully easing away his weight from crushing Katsuki. The flat of his hand dances on his flank, counting ribs.
'• Relation of sweat to body fluid content and exact composition? Are electrolytes lost in process of ignition? How Explosion effect on Kacchan's homeostasis? Requirements for proper usage? Any limitation to quantity or quality of explosions on extended use?
I have seen him carry a pair of water bottles with him at all times after all. I already know dehydration is a big problem (Details in Vol.7) but could any other factor be implicit? It seems Kacchan cannot control core body temperature at will – but that of periphery remains to be answered.’
Dehydration....since Vol. 7? He was fucking 8 years old! How on earth did Izuku find out about the bottles?!
'• Recoil??? (Ref. Addedum)
Kacchan's stamina has always been enviable. He progresses at an exponential rate compared to everyone else – as expected. From his recent track performance it might not be a far cry to assume that he has taken to Endurance Runs. (Confirmed. Ref. Vol 14)’
The ash-blond's scowl eases just slightly as he traces the word ‘enviable’, the word lies peacefully against paper, not driven in by a nib of contempt. However, ‘as expected’ has a gradually deepening indent – he is uncertain how he feels about that.
Izuku’s lips meet Katsuki's skin – between his shoulder blades, on his nape, at his hairline. He presses delightfully wet and loud kisses along his trail.
Distracting.
‘For Further Research –
• Synthesis and Catabolism of Nitroglycerine by liver
• Sources of Glycerol compounds in food
• Histological changes of stratum basale of epidermis on chronic heat exposure’
Okay....
...
...Fucking hell, Izuku...
‘Theory –
• The nitrous and glycerine component are synthesized on demand and the heat of entropy thus released produces a chain reaction among the molecules- the violent decomposition of end-product nitroglycerine finally producing nitrogen, carbon dioxide, oxygen and water. (Debunked. Ref. Vol 17 and addendum)
• Could probably be used as propulsion? Like a rocket? (Confirmed. Ref. Vol 14)’
Katsuki blinks, once, twice.
What the fuck did I just read?
Aside from the truly bone-chilling details and speculations around his quirk...Katsuki had expected ...something else
Not that the content he found was any less disturbing and it might even give him nightmares. But that he can deal with.
He had expected nibs dripping with acid, bleeding ink, sharp strokes and flowing harsh words of hatred– or atleast....pain...
But this is strangely withdrawn, clinical...he barely feels human with these words and more like a science experiment. It grates on his nerves – but he knows he has no one to blame but himself.
All those years spent agonizing under Izuku’s dissecting scrutiny, feeling his gaze pierce skin, flesh and bone and into every dark spore infecting him....
(Don't you dare look at me like that. You have no right..!!)
All that time trying to put more and more distance between them., trying to run away...
(Stalker. Freak. Quirkless Useless Hero Wanna-be. Failure. Deku.)
(Maybe all that time that could have been spent humoring Izuku's endless theories, and testing his quirk - with banter and bickering, instead of burn scars and inflicted pain. Katsuki would have to tolerate the incessant mumbling and nagging, but it would have been a fonder memory than this.
If only...)
.
.
.
(Hey...
Did you really stop looking at me? Did you fucking hate me so much that you could no longer see me as a human being?
Did you also think I was a villain?)
Izuku's hand closes upon his. Katsuki can feel his soft lips graze his nape, and sucking lightly, distracting him. The greenette's other hand shuts the notebook and slides it away beyond reach of either of them.
“Kacchan...”, he calls, the ash-blond can literally hear his hooded expression and lust, “...Let's have an early night, you must be tired, I am too... We'll order take out from that Spicy Ramen shop you like...”, Izuku drags a wet stripe on his nape with his tongue, smacking his lips to taste the sweat beading there – caramel sweet with an afterburn of neat whiskey, “...and we can tire ourselves out in bed if you have energy to spare...”, he provokes with a smile pressed against his back
Katsuki's gut clenches pleasantly at the implications, he ignores it with a trembling, exasperated sigh.
“Stop trying to fucking side-track me", he growls
Izuku falls silent but doesn't relent. Katsuki is getting tired of his distractions, of not being able to watch his expressions shift – all of it is driving him mad. It is difficult enough trying to peer into these pages and visualize an Izuku and his thoughts trapped in a darker time; how had Izuku penned these words down? – With hatred? With contempt?
With admiration as he dares to proclaim?
But the words are inscrutable, fathomless like Izuku's eyes, wells of burning emerald – that reveal nothing but an all-consuming abyss.
He doesn't understand Izuku at all....and it scares him.
Katsuki shoves him off, pushing Izuku's back away, but the later doesn't even make a squeak of protest – rather his eyes gleam and grit like diamonds holding his own fiery wine-red eyes in a challenge. Obstinacy is set taut in the angles of the greenette's face.
“You are hiding something", Katsuki tugs Izuku's collar, “Don't you dare try avoiding this"
Izuku meets Katsuki with a short unrepentant glare and sighs, “It isn’t important, Kacchan"
“Like hell it isn't"
“No, it really is not"
“Where is the 13th Volume, Izuku?”
Izuku resists the wince, fails.
Katsuki sits up, head hanging between knees, arms outstretched, elbows to knees– a sense of defeat dripping off him that feels so unfamiliar, it is toxic. His calloused palm runs through tufts of champagne coloured hair, gripping harshly by the roots, pain (too little, too temporal, not enough ) licks his scalp. His other hand bunches into a tight fist.
At length he snaps at the throbbing silence between them, “How can it be not fucking important, Izuku?!
Izuku sighs with a broken expression, anguish smoulders within his jades, for a moment Katsuki's fears flare, freezing his breath, and taunting him mercilessly again.
“You know why, Kacchan. I forgave you a long, long time ago. It doesn't matter anymore. You have changed, you accepted yourself and moved forward and I love you for who you are.”, he laces his fingers into the blond's hair, dislodges the death grip, his other hand pries away fingers which mercilessly dig into his palm and reveal crimson crescents. Izuku winces at the welts.
Quietly he adds, “I keep telling you that I don't care about the past...but you always keep trying to find reasons why I should...”
Something heavy and different settles in the air. Their skins prickling and alert to it. Katsuki was anticipating the face of an Izuku from the past- shrunken, haunted and flinching in the dark. Izuku''s words are fringed with leaden fatigue. But this looks like a fresh wound. Ice fills his veins.
“Can you blame me?”, Katsuki answers with a derisive snort,"..I don’t fucking understand you one bit..."
...I don’t get Why you forgave me so easily, why don't you hate me? Why there isn't even a trace of hatred in the words of your past?...
“...and you always get on my goddamn nerves....”
...There are a million reasons why we shouldn't be together, Izuku. You don't need me to find them, I am sure you see them for yourself- but you seriously are a fool to keep overlooking them...
“....I can’t ever tell what the fuck is going on in your stupid head. I can't tell what you feel. I can't fucking read you at all..!", Katsuki barks a short mirthless laugh that sounds foreign and pathetic to his own ears
...and it scares me...it scares me how little I fucking understand you. We are too different. I am afraid that one day you just will walk away from me and I won't even understand why. One day I am going to fucking lose you because I didn't try enough...didn't understand you enough...just like in the past...
I can't lose you again, Izuku.
“Why the fuck would you...", he closes his eyes unable to go on, lest his voice breaks.
Why choose me?...You could have had anyone...I don’t understand why me... there is nothing I can give you that you won't find with someone else. All I do is take. I am tired of taking... I don't understand why the fuck you would want to put up with me after everything I did....and still do? I doubt there ever will be a point when we don't hurt each other...so why...
"Kacchan..." he feels Izuku take his fisted hand in both his uncertain scarred ones, clasping it as if he were cupping a warm coal in a blizzard, "...I dont understand a lot you either", the admission is so forlorn, anguished even.
The blond gives a soft derisive snort, "Highly suspect that, Izuku. You literally have mountains of notes on me."
"That...", Izuku says and brings their hands to his lips, "And this ...they are different", he places a kiss so tender, so unfairly gentle that Katsuki wants to rip his hand away in disgust. Izuku is the one who holds on. Always has.
"My notes don't help me when I am around you, when I want to be beside you, Kacchan. ", his verdant eyes have a soft mellow glow from the slanting sunlight that has turned to colours of early twilight - pinks and oranges and blinking dust motes; under them, Izuku is something ethereal. Katsuki simply listens, with bated breath, "Sometimes...sometimes I wonder if there is anything at all that I can do for you, something you could ask for and- and only I can give... and that you will actually accept it, because I know you want to get things done by yourself and you don't want my help.....".
There is an epiphany here somewhere, formless but present, Katsuki can taste its companionable sourness on his tongue. Izuku's eyes slide away from their hands towards the dying sun beyond the window. It gets colder. "...Sometimes I feel that you don't need me like I need you. I don't know how to express my love for you in ways that won't get you mad...I - I want to be your strength...not some liability that you need to watch out for...I- I dont know how....I don't know anything important at all..."
It dawns upon Katsuki that he isn't the only one who is uncertain if this is right - that they are right for each other.
Izuku has been fighting against that uncertainity alone, against the world, against hinself -
'....but you always keep trying to find reasons why I should...'
Against Katsuki.
A bone-deep malaise is sparked from the flashing memories of his antagonistic childhood.
No....Never again....
Katsuki pulls Izuku in. Surprised, but compliant - Izuku follows the movement, buries himself of his own accord against the hollow of Katsuki's neck. The blond feels the slight tremor of eventual waterworks wrack through his lover.
"...Kacchan...are you...", a dreary sigh, "are you okay being with me?", Izuku croaks, broken.
The blond rips him away to meet his eyes, "The fucking hell, Izeku? Why the ever-loving fuck would you...", Katsuki's inflamed and downright affronted sentence drops as he watches Izuku's trembling pursed lips and averted eyes - the epiphany takes shape.
Oh.
"Who put this is bullshit idea in your hay-stuffed brain? Hah?", his low voice drips with simmering venom. He is already mentally compiling a list of people in his head (a hit list if you will); because he knows if it were Izuku's own idea he wouldn't look so torn. Public opinion has always influenced him in the worst ways.
"It wasn't anybody...", Izuku squeaks quietly. And really it wasn't anyone specific. People talk, they gossip, sometimes they say things they don't mean to, sometimes words float to his ears when he is unguarded against them. Izuku knows he shouldn't let it get to him
"Fucking liar. I bet it was someone in the Agency, wasn't it? Give me a name. I am going to blast their asses to motherfucking Jupiter and back, wring them worth every penny first and then pulverize them"
"It wasn't the agency!", Izuku flails his arms defensively, "Our employees wouldn't do something like that, Kacchan"
"You think everyone is going to hold hands and fucking sing Kumbaya like they did in U.A.? This isn't school, this is the real world...", Katsuki holds Izuku's chin to hold his watery gaze to his hard glittering rubies, his thumb glides over his lower lip, "...and you know how cruel the world can be..."
Izuku melts. He doesn't think when he throws himself against Katsuki, arms wrapping around him. The greenette buries his face in the other's chest and wills with every ounce of control to not cry. Katsuki lets him hold on.
"A-are you really ha-happy with me, Kacchan?", he questions through sobs, "You could- could do so much bet-better than me...am I holding you back? Did we make a m-mistake?"
It is almost funny how similar their fears are.
Truth is, for Katsuki there was never any other choice. He had decided long back that it would be either Izuku or nothing. Even if there is someone out there who is right or better for him...he doesnt want anybody except Izuku.
But that changes drastically if there is someone who could do better by Izuku. And by his not-so-humble opinion, it is literally anybody other than him.
In a soft rumbling voice, Katsuki asks, "Are you, Izuku?"
Izuku's watery green eyes look up at him with confusion.
Katsuki sighs heavily, the weight on his shoulders is more than the world entrusted to them, "Are you happy with me?"
And that is the decider, isn't it? Even if there is someone perfect for Izuku out there, but if there is the slightest godforsaken chance that he is happy with Katsuki - he is going to cinch it. He is going to fight tooth and nail for his right to be with Izuku.
If possible, Izuku's emerald eyes grow wider, his hiccups settle. It is clear to Izuku what asking something like that means for Katsuki. For a single moment, before his reply, seconds dilate unto infinity, tense anxiety winding around him in coils. For one unforgiving infinite moment, Katsuki feels robbed of breath.
Izuku's answer is but a whipser, softened by wonder and a dream-like haze in his eyes, "More than you can imagine"
He sees hollowed bleeding green light up with wonder and warmth, in response he feels his bones melt, his spine slipping through the floor; heart harrowed, remade – molten metal pouring over him, sealing cracks in veins of pure gold.
This is all the assurance Katsuki needs.
A rare gentle smile tugs at his lips, he presses it against Izuku's hairline, feels Izuku lean into it, as if he could memorize the imprint of the blond's lips on his skin. He doesn't have a way with words, so he wills every ounce of his elation to pour into the chaste kiss.
"Izuku", he husks, feeling pleasantly raw
"...Kacchan?", Izuku asks in that sweet, expectant voice that makes his guts unfurl and flutter helplessly.
Katsuki knocks his forehead against his gently, rubies to emeralds, Dynamight to Deku.
"Fight me"
They might not be right for each other.
But Katsuki is, and always will be, selfish. He believes he is the one who keeps taking in their relationship - and he is going to take everything that Izuku wants to give him.
Even if they aren't right for each other, and yet can be happy being wrong - that is more than enough reason to fight and keep fighting.
If the rest of the world wants to tear them apart, it can go up in flames for all he cares, and he will be right there watching it burn merrily, alongside Izuku.
At the Agency's sparring room they try to catch their breaths as they lay on their backs. The concrete walls are cracked and plaster crumbles from the soot smeared ceiling. The floor has seen better days. Breaths come in rapid loud bursts with a satisfying burn in his lungs. He throws a brief glance towards Izuku, who is in no better shape than he is. But he is wearing a wide grin as he heaves for breath.
Katsuki can still feel the smoulder of each physical blow and blast on his tenderized flesh, a taste of pennies and burning chemicals swirling in his saliva, and of course the combination of phantom buzz of electricity and rippling heat waves dancing on his skin. These sensations are carved into his soul.
By the corridor he can hear rushed whispers of the annoying useless Sidekicks who apparently have nothing better to do than run the fucking gossip mill. And sure enough there are heads poking in, with painted concern on their faces. The ash-blond throws them a sharp glare and watch them squeak and scatter like flustered hens.
He knows what they talk about.
He knows how nobody understands why they go at each other as if they are out for blood. No one sees what lies under their intensity.
Those lily-livered bastards might not have the spine to stand up to him and say it to his face but he knows how they are waiting, with bated breath, for them to implode upon themselves and dissolve their partnership as a Duo. They see these spars as precedence to something more volatile and unstable about their relationship.
They are wrong.
Izuku giggles.
"Thank gods for Damage Control funds that we set aside", he says between pants, "We really did a number on this room"
Katsuki grunts critically, "Needs better construction"
When their breaths even out, Katsuki taunts,
"Still think you can find a better partner than me, hah, nerd?"
The nerd chortles tiredly, "I don't think that was ever in doubt, Kacchan. The question is whether I am good enough for you"
"You are so full of shit.", Katsuki pushes himself to his haunches, "If you keep hoping that one day you will be 'good enough', you can keep dreaming. You will never get there."
Izuku's brows pinch up, a lovely headstrong fire burning bright in those wide eyes, and Katsuki resists the upturn of his lips at the look, "You don't think I am good enough?"
"Who the fuck knows?", Katsuki inhales deeply, "Since you are such a Deku"
(My Deku isn't always going to mean 'Useless'. My Deku means 'You can do it!')
Izuku gives him a cocky lopsided grin, as if he knows something others do not. Katsuki doesn't deign it with a harsh reflexive reply, doesn't need to.
'Keep fighting for me and I will keep fighting for you. '
Katsuki isn't a man of words, never was, might never be one. Matters of the heart escape him, he feels too much or nothing at all. He would rather break himself by his own terms than let someone else break him. Pride, he says. Fear, his soul supplies.
Bakugou Katsuki doesn't understand Midoriya Izuku. Never has. Might never understand him in his entire lifetime. Because Izuku feels everything, and yet he doesn't lose himself to its tumultous storm. He isn’t afraid of breaking; his brittle bleeding heart is a stronghold. Katsuki cannot understand how Izuku keeps gluing himself back together. It hurts to see him shatter again and again and again, he knows his own heart wouldn't survive that kind of torture. They are made of different metals and swirling heat and bloating gases; two stars of different births trapped in each other's orbit.
Katsuki thinks, he wouldn't mind breaking to smithereens on Izuku's terms.
Trapped, he’d said – they didn't decide to be entangled with each other, so they should be free to leave and yet ...he finds that he cannot...but is it really imprisonment when you want to be here? when he wants to be here? What do you even call such a thing?
One day, Katsuki hopes to understand Izuku. Blend alloys to fill each others cracks – infinitely more precious than Gold, and infinitely more durable than Titanium . He looks forward to the day they create something together – and on that day the world will stand still, dazed by the brilliance of the impossible.
One day, Katsuki will be finally able to give something back to Izuku. Something beyond a suit. Something truer, and perpetual.
They are lying on bed, with nothing but boxers on, just because they want to be. Knee-high pile of notebooks are stacked within arms reach around the bed, two such stacks spill over, a fanning out. Campos notebooks between them, under them, tucked by their sides as they screen through a life-time of collected data.
Katsuki learns that his information is not limited to 12 notebooks. The addendum that Izuku constantly refers to is an inch thick tome of coded observations dedicated entirely to him, the words are mirrored, and translate phonetically first to motherfucking German, then to English. The ash-blond gives up on it after the first three lines.
Izuku is armed with sharpies, highlighters and post-its, making changes as he goes in ascending order through the Volumes. Katsuki turns over the charred and warped 13th volume once again in his hand. Izuku keeps it separately, in the bureau of his study – it is a well-loved notebook, but cared for meticulously despite the ugly browned pages and fish-bitten corners. Katsuki didn't think he would ever see it again.
'Why dont you take a leap of faith from the roof and hope for a quirk in your next life?'
It still sends chills down his spine.
Even after the heart-churning turn of events where Katsuki asked for Izuku's forgiveness, the countless days of his self-loathing and apathy, the thousand (and counting) whispers of forgiveness and unconditional love that Izuku husks for him - this primary response to this notebook might never change.
They had read through it together once - Izuku insisted on reading through it with him. He was flustered and didn't know how to act with the blond going through warped singed pages. Katsuki himself didn't know how to feel about it - it was awkward and quiet, very quiet. He could tell that Izuku wanted to say something reassuring when a particularly damaged page came up, like how he didn't care or something, but thought better of it and didn't say a word. He was thankful for that - he didn't have the patience nor the kindness to not snap at Izuku had he done so. Izuku doesn't yet fully understand what Katsuki needs either - they are both fumbling around each other to find the right groove. But as long as they try, the ash-blond hopes they will find it before long..
The 13th is special in many ways, other than the obvious.
For one, it is the last notebook marked as ‘Hero Analysis for my future' – from 14 onward they are all simply ‘Quirk Analysis’ notebooks.
The notebooks fill faster from then onwards too– from yearly to half yearly to quarterly issues.
It is also the only notebook which hasn't been filled till the last page – almost timeless after the bold-lettered signature of All Might – a moment captured in amber.
Izuku says it is going to be his family heirloom, Katsuki almost wants to scribble his own damn name beside All Might's, just to be mean. Seriously, the guy, literally has All Might wrapped around his little finger, he can manage another fucking autograph or thousands if he just asks for it.
Katsuki resists the urge to properly detonate the notebook this time around, ensure its complete combustion. It is an aching reminder of his failings – for Izuku to treasure something like that even if it is for a different reason....it stings worse than a fucking notebook has any right to.
Katsuki notices Izuku side-eyeing him over volume no. 22, quickly averting eyes, feigning ignorance.
Katsuki has begun to understand a bit. They have an ugly history, an old fracture that never healed back properly – it twinges with near-constant pain throughout the year and screams in winters. Katsuki read somewhere that for malunited bones, you heal by breaking it again and setting it together, he wonders how many times will they have to break to find that exact alignment again. Maybe they never will....
Nothing might change...
And that is acceptable as long as they keep trying and fighting for each other.
It is a compromise Katsuki is willing to make.
The ash-blond sets it aside and picks up a recent volume #31 where he left off and.....
....the notebooks still creep the bejesus out of him.
Now, being surrounded by mounds of information which varies from inane to downright terrifying is a strange new experience for the champagne haired Hero. It is definitely an acquired taste - and if he squints he can almost begin to see a mild corona of appeal around the godforsaken cornucopia of this...nerdiness. It leaves you with a kind of anticipatory chill when a rollercoaster climbs, just before a steep drop. It can be anticlimatic or absolutely horrifying the way a good grisly crime novel can be...It certainly gets that way when Izuku goes into details of 'immobilizing' certain Quirk types (breaking bones seems to be a favourite, no wonder why)...
Okay, fine...he is creeped out but invested in this now. Sue him.
Katsuki imagines himself using the information and dangling it above his opponents' heads like a taunt, especially if they were Heroes looking for a spar- like baiting Half and Half come close to one of his stealth grenades and watch it blow him up when he used his fire, or use blast radius shockwaves to literally pull the windy rug from underneath Baldy BlowHard, or use Knock-off Tintin's temporary blindness while phasing against him to land some blows. Something about knowing the enemy better than they knew themselves undoubtedly gave him a rush.
Fucking fine...this definetely has appeal...happy now?
(As long as it isnt about himself, he figures he will be fine)
Entry #22 is a strange one.
All other entires are about Heroes, their capabilities and limitations – but this entry is strictly a Quirk vs Quirk Analysis. A brawl among a nameless impromptu vigilante and a seasoned villain. This far from Vol 13, Izuku's manner of expression has changed again – it vibrates with excitement and yet carries the solemnity of a true veteran, a pleasant balance of emotion and information that makes it easy on the eyes, nothing like the data packets that they are passed in Hero briefings.
'....Tatsuya is trapped in a corner, sheilding the victim as the villain Collapse stalks towards him. CCTV Footage only reveals Collapse's back, there is no audio to catch their exchange, but Tatsuya clearly tries to keep the victim, Mai, 7, abandoned daughter of Collapse, away from his reach.
Collapse’s quirk allows him to increase the density of whatever he touches, causing it to crumble under its own tensile forces – (Refer vol. 31 entry 7, Pro Hero Tsukuyomi v Collapse) works on metal, bones, even blood. Opposed to Shigaraki’s quirk, there is no requirement for all fingers to make contact. Tatsuya knows that, looks out for it. He was unable to send a distress call, it is a bad part of town, bad time of the day, the nearest patrolling Hero is three blocks away and screaming for help may only expidite this horror before they can be extracted.
Tatsuya seems to have a novel quirk that allows him to reach into reflective surfaces, use them as portals (Source HNA evidence files and Police statement, cross- checked with footage. Futher consideration- condition to meet the criteria of a portal – specific surfaces? Reflection of self?)
In this particular case, he uses it as distraction. Footage shows a disembodied arm extending from the sign board hanging above Collapse's head to draw away his attention with a punch. Collapse turns and Tatsuya uses the moment to throw aside Mai (minor injuries, knee scrapes, emotionally shaken up, under legal protection now) – and pushes Collapse on his back, binds his arms with his torn shirt. Screams at Mai – she runs, finds the patrolling Hero two blocks away, but by then Tatsuya has a collapsed lung, broken wrists and ankles after a brutal one-sided beatdown. Collapse is missing. Tatsuya showed incredible judgement in such a nerve wracking situation. He truly is a hero. (Compound fractures, concussion, required a decompressive procedure. Projected to make full recovery)
Had Tatsuya had any Restraining Quirk or equipment it would be a different story. Collapse clearly was too cocky with his quirk, and the presence of a victim reduces chances of backlash. Tatsuya removed that factor first instead of escaping with Mai. I can't help but think how drastically different the situation would have been had another person been there to help out Tatsuya, bring Mai to safety and call in reinforecments.
(Update)
Collapse was caught by Vine thanks to her quirk after a man-hunt was organized to smoke him out. (12 years in high-security prison to his previous sentence)'
Katsuki snatches a sharpie from Izuku.
There might still be some fun to be had from this library of information after all....
“...Kacchan?”, Izuku peers into his lap, watching him underline the main events, swiftly picking out relevant points, “...did I get something wrong?”
The ash-blond grunts and continues. Izuku watches on with faint interest as the other scribbles in neat slanting handwritting in whatever blank corners he finds. Arrows cut through text to reach far corners to his own red-marked thoughts.
Izuku abandons his volumes to plop his head on Katsuki's shoulder, watches him vandalize his wrapped texts in red. Izuku’s grin stretches almost painfully wide – he feels like he could burst with happiness right now.
When Katsuki is done, he drapes his arm over Izuku's shoulders, pulling him closer to his chest, and he points at the entry -
“You should do more of this than obsess over Heroes"
“The fight analysis? I have plenty of those under respective Heroes too"
“You focus too much on quirk application to combat rather than the flow of combat itself. This entry", he taps with the sharpie, "...watered down your obnoxious nerdiness to actually give a highlight of the events"
“I dont find it all that great though?.”, Izuku comments, clearly dissatisfied by his urgent scribbles
“It was shit. Read like a cross between a newspaper and commentary. Too long. Keep the sappy details out and it gets easier to read- you didnt need to add their goddamn family history or injuries there"
“But I like keeping those for posterity and knowing whether they made it out okay"
The blond hums into Izuku's hair at that, he didn't really expect Izuku would stop writing that either, and frankly he didn't mind – it is what made Izuku, Deku - A hero.
Izuku reads through the blond's additions then looks up at him with excited puppy dog eyes that could vaporize polar caps in an instant, “What are you thinking, Kachaan?”
“Something", Katsuki smiles conspiratorily as he marks the entry in red ‘31-22', “It's gonna be a lot of work though, considering how busy things get at the Agency. Can’t have this half-assed either. Think you can handle that?", he grins sharply and begins to nibble on Izuku's earlobe.
It worries Izuku just a bit, but as long as Kacchan is happy, he figures it will be fine.
Izuku unwinds his legs, and straddles Katsuki's lap, pushing him back enough so that he settles on the pillows by the headboard “Is that a challenge?”, Izuku purrs
“...hm...could be...”, Katsuki mouths at his neck with a predatory snarl, “Whaddya say, Deku?”
“When have I ever turned you down, Katsuki?”
FIELD MANUAL — v.12 (updated 5 minutes ago) - Now available! Read now on BlackStone Security Cloud?
Section: Brevity Codes — Two-Part Calls
• Format: [Index] – [Modifier] (spoken; simultaneous wrist-tap required).
• Index 10–19: Movement / spacing (10 = widen arc; 11 = converge left; 12 = cover latch)
• Index 20–29: Diversion / feint (20 = flash + step; 21 = decoy vault)
• Modifier 01–10: Intensity / timing (01 = immediate; 05 = 3–4s hold; 10 = cancel)
Examples:
Format = Volume-Page:Time/Distance/Output
14-03 = widen left, quick (immediate lateral for civilian evacuation)
21-06:(05) = decoy attack, medium hold (baits attention for <arbitary, requires confirmation => 5 seconds; indicate/call)
Safety: If confirmation tap is not received within 2.0 sec, default = 00-00 (fallback: safe pullback & vocal “hold”).
Field note: “Never use 45-00 unless you trust the other to not hesitate. It isn’t a move. It’s a promise.” (last updated by K.B.)
FALLBACK PROTOCOLS
If confirmation is not received within 2.0 seconds, default to:
00–00 → Fallback
-
revert to defensive stance
-
regain line of sight
-
re-establish verbal contact
[I.M. NOTE:] We should add that if fallback repeats more than twice, retreat is recommended.
[K.B. NOTE:] NO.
We don’t retreat unless absolutely necessary.
[I.M. NOTE:] Kacchan… this is for other heroes who may use ZTK-lite in the future also. Not just us.
[K.B. NOTE:] …Fine.
Add “for auxiliary units only.”
Section 4 - CODES (PRIVATE ACCESS ONLY)
45–00
Status: Restricted
Meaning: Engage simultaneous risk maneuver. Trust partner to complete execution.
Use-case: Last-resort operations only.
[I.M. NOTE:] Kacchan, maybe label this more clearly?
The meaning is vague.
[K.B. NOTE:] It’s not vague.
It means you don’t hesitate.
[I.M. NOTE:] But there are multiple contexts where I might hesitate for good reason—
[K.B. NOTE:] Not for this one.
It means “I’m right here. Move with me.”
[I.M. NOTE:] …okay.
Leaving your description as is.
(Update: K.B. has marked the issue as Resolved.)
4.25 After Naruhata Deployment
Issue: Izuku delayed confirmation by 0.7s.
Cause: Civilian obstruction; loss of line of sight.
Resolution: New subcode 12–01(b) — arc shift without verbal confirmation.
[K.B. NOTE:] You don’t need to tag your hesitation as a functional error.
It wasn’t.
[I.M. NOTE:] But it was a delay.
[K.B. NOTE:] It was human.
(Update: K.B. has marked the issue as Resolved.)
4.98 - Centurion After-Action
Issue: Katsuki initiated 21–10 without secondary confirmation.
Cause: “Gut feeling.”
Resolution: Add rule — no 21-series instruction without Izuku’s visual sign-off.
[I.M. NOTE:] Thank you for agreeing to this.
[K.B. NOTE:] I didn’t agree.
I just don’t want you jumping into a blind corner without me seeing you.
(Update: I.M. has made the following changes:
“Protective rationale — Accepted.”)
HeroesWatch updated a new video:
Wonder Duo rescue and win! Villain Armoured apprehended at Suntasu T- intersection!
Majjie @No_Capes
THAT WAS INTENSE. #shooketh!!
Deku literally shoving off a loaded bus with ONE HAND. And Dynamight rescuing it !! ♡I was so sure he was gonna ‘splode Armoured's back again, take up the offense...but watching him coordinate with Deku with that touch-and-go distraction and securing the bus? It was so satisfying!! And that...‘Bitch you THOUGHT’ XD XD
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HeroKage @Hero_Kage
Armoured: me gonna kill Deku
Dyna : (sneak attack from behind)
A (turns to poke a hole in Dyna if he gets closer) : fyte me
Dyna: “bitch YOU THOUGHT"
A: n-nani
D (pushes away bus to safety, Dyna intercepts bus, Deku aims a Smash): omae wa shinderu
Cue girly scream, wind pressure and all anti-theft alarms on the block going off at once, in the distance, sirens.
This was pure cinema
Sunshine Rage@Zeku_Stan2000
Replying to @Hero_Kage
XD Accurate
I lost it when GEMGD screamed ‘Bitch You Thought'
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Canna @DekimasuDeku
Most satisfying Videos ever- Wonder Duo Teamwork
Change my mind.
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RipRiot @Ripped_Riot_is_my_aesthetic
What did GEMGD scream before launching that attack though? Was it a combo name?
ZeroDeaths! @GEMGDHoe_37
Replying to @ Ripped_Riot_is_my_aesthetic
It isn't clear in this video but if you watch this one. You can hear him call out numbers.
DEKYUTIE @DekuDeluxe69
Replying to @GEMGDHoe_37
YEAH OMG i didnt notice at first! He clearly says ‘Thirty one Twenty two"
Is that a power output thing?
Trebory @Gundam_Style
Replying @DekuDeluxe69
Nobody knows what those numbers mean. They have been doing this for a while. Some people think its a code for combo attacks, no one knows for sure
TeaGirl is Best Girl @SpaceCadet_tea
Replying to @Gundam_Style
Ooh another #ZTK video
DEKYUTIE @DekuDeluxe69
Replying to @SpaceCadet_tea
ZTK?
u/WD-Will-Die-w8-Ds-Ship:
WonderDuo Mystery #21 : ZeroToKyuu/ ZTK
This is a info dump of what I could find about the ‘Number Calling’ habit or more popularly called the #0to9 or #ZeroToKyuu mystery at our Top Hero Duo indulges in and makes absolutely no fucking sense, (because goddamnit wtf?)
(Keep Reading for more)
A little background –
The pro heroes Dynamight and Deku, who operate as partners under their own Agency, the Alpha Centauri, and more popularly dubbed as the Wonder Duo by the media started working from August 2XXX till present and have accomplished some impressive feats including apprehension of Armageddon Brothers, intercepting the Coruscant Terrorist Attack, among others. You can find the fetails of other fights and rescues here.
The Duo was supposedly a disasterous combination from their Hero-training days in U.A. and their rivalry is legendary. Forget All Might v Endeavor, these monsters were ripping cement like maniacs and going at each other's throats even before their Third Year U.A. Sports Festival Finals.
Needless to say, when they officially announced as a Hero Duo many critics went ‘oh shit'. Fueguchi Sora, the chief editor of Heroes Rising publicly dissed their partnership as ‘frayed, mutually crippling and unstable' (Source). And their initial explosive (heh) popularity took a decent hit from that.
But the WD has come far since their inception, and repeatedly proven critics wrong about their ‘unstable' dynamic, by capitalizing on their experience as partners and the striking teamwork. They continuously keep going beyond expectations, pulling off wonders. Plus Ultra, indeed.
Now there are Hero Duos (meh) and then there are Hero Duos (nosebleeds over Shouto and Gale force!!!)
And then there is the motherfucking Wonder Duo.
Seriously, watching them fight and rescue is like watching a well-rehearsed routine. And despite what all the haters have to say, their teamwork is always in sync and blindingly beautiful; and it is clear in moments like in the Coruscant Terrorist Attack where they subdued the terrorists with little to no communication after the initial code relay. For fuck's sake, they weren’t even in each others line of sight, or breathed a word over the comms when they barged into their respective infiltration routes. And it is times like these when I sometimes feel that the WD are intentionally fucking with us. (Keep reading for details)
Onto the main topic-
THE ORIGN
Here is a video showing one of the first instances showcasing the notorious number calling, caught on camera. Searching by any of the aforementioned hashtags will land you with plethora of videos, compilations and musical edits of the Number Calling Phenomenon – but this here is the earliest recording of the Number Calling.
(Fave Moment of the Video: Deku crashing into the building and screaming “(something)...Four" and right after GEMGD’ s blast knocks off the camera).
At the time it was passed off as something insignificant.
But it kept happening.
Over and over and over again.
ZEROtoKYUU
The term surfaced as a joke on Twitter in response to the Coruscant Terrorist Attack video uploaded by HeroesWatch. You can clearly hear Deku and GEMGD calling random ass numbers all the goddamn time caught in the audio of their body-cams as they communicate via headsets, especially on Deku POV cam, since GEMGD has no decibel control, you can hear him talk as well.
My favourite part from this video has to be when Deku is waiting out a spray of bullets at a corner and he says something like -
D:..no, dont go for 56, do it like 25. More range.
GEMGD: you will be fucking dead by 25. 23-39?
D: I am fast, but not that fast.
GEMGD: Well then good luck pulling bullets out of your ass.
D: ...You are supposed to help me out here
GEMGD: IF YOU WERENT SUCH A 420’D PEA BRAIN, YOU'D FUCKING LISTEN TO ME AND DO A 18-56
D:...Did you just call me a 420'd Pea brain? You know 420 also relates to your birthday right?
GEMGD: DEEEEKUUUUUUUU
[Inserted gif: GEMGD screaming 'Deku']
Dont look at me. My guess is as good as yours about what they are talking about. But 420'd Pea Brain is now my go-to insult.
@MusicalJack on Twitter allegedly started the hashtag #ZeroToKyuu referring to the WD calling these numbers without making any sense. Zero from GEMGD's notorious old monikers (Zero Chill/Ground Zero - basically memeing his longass name) and Kyuu (9) from Deku's ‘Ku'. The hashtag also reads as ‘Zero and Nine' or ‘Zero and Ku' in Japanese, which could be referring to the DynaDeku (Dynamight/ Deku) fandom. #ZeroToKyuu was further shortened to ZTK.
About the Numbers
They are almost always called in a minimum set of two (sometimes additional numbers are added to the original binary code) . The first number can be anything between 6 to 80* and the second between 1 to 120*
The upper limit of the range, especially the first number keeps changing, but the highest I have heard on the first is from this video, where GEMGD calls out 76-99.
Now of course the media had to ask.
So in this interview, they ask Deku on a Talk show, Valiant. Here is the full translation and Here is an excerpt:
Host: So, we all know about the #ZTK hashtag. It has been reigning supreme in twitter trends for a while since the WD went against Armoured. Now...we are kind of curious about that...Could you tell us more about it?
D: Well, it was kind of stressful, with my injury from a previous villain attack and all....and thankfully Dynamight was on scene to help extricate the civilians to safety- it would have been really difficult without his help. The main problem i had against Armoured was the destructive shockwave, I couldnt launch any mid-range attacks because of the fear of rebound shockwave...I really needed a window of distraction to put distance between Armoured and the civilians and...
Host: that is when Dynamight showed up right then didn't he?
D: Yep...right when I needed him...He created a short distraction in guise of an attack and quickly redirected himself mid-air to intercept the bus that I had to push away. When both the civilans and GEMGD were beyond range I used the oppurtunity to immobilize Armoured.
Host: It is really something watch you two fight like that. So coordinated! Do you guys practise these moves?
D: I wish we could. But we don't have enough time for that, with me teaching classes and him being a full-time Hero. Most of it is in the spur of the moment.
Host: How do you get those moves down with such impeccable timing down to pat like that though?
D: ...um...it is just reflex I guess? We dont really put much thought into the details. Normally, we just know what has to be done and how and I trust Dynamight completely to deliver on his part...and he does, everytime ...sometimes even without being told almost as if...
Host: (grinning)...almost as if he read your mind?
(I swear this Host has to be a DynaDeku shipper. Look at that knowing smirk when Deku blushes!! Kyaa~!!)
D: ...yeah. I guess you could say that
Host: now when we saw the footage we noticed that GEMGD shouted some numbers to you, didn't he? What was that about?
D: um...the numbers? What about them?
H: You and Dynamight have a habit of calling out numbers during Hero work, don't you? We were wondering if it is related to combo moves or something
D: They aren't exactly combo moves...although in a sense you could think of them that way. They just help us coordinate at times, we try not to rely on them much...So no, they aren't combo moves
H:...so...what are they exactly?
D: (grins) That's a Wonder Duo Secret.
Host: couldn't you clue us in even a little?
D: I am afraid I can't right now. Since it is related to how we operate, revealing any details will compromise Civilian Safety when we work. But I am thinking of creating a standardized field manual for future generations though! Something Educational!
H: Ah I see... It is really sad for your fans ...we are all dying to know what it all means! Aren't you worried that someone might figure out your code before you release this manual though?
D: (smirks a goddamn GEMGD-tier smirk !!!! I HAVE ASCENDED) Everyone is welcome to try and figure it out. I doubt anyone will get far enough to crack it though.
[Inserted gif of Deku's infamous GEMGD-tier smirk]
[Insert gif of GEMGD cackling maniacally]
Speculations and Theories
• Since the numbers are always called out in pairs there are theories how the numbers refer to moves – Deku's and GEMGD's respectively or vice versa.
It is doubtful since many a times numbers like 44-05 and 44-68 have been called and yet the neither Hero repeated any move
[Insert gif of rugby players calling for mark]
- Combo moves - Some think that the WD have their own list of combo moves that they were too lazy to name and so they numbered it. But obviously Deku himself has denied that they are combo moves.
- Degree of movement or Direction- Radial vector? Degrees? Speed? They could be anyone of these things but it is hard to figure out from the limited information we have of their fights.
- Power Output
We have often heard Deku talk about his moves in percentages and I wouldnt put it past him to call out percentages like that during a fight, but why does GEMGD call out numbers too? We cant even say that it is a range of percentage. And why call them in a pair? Could the second number be related to GEMGD's power output? But we have never heard him use percentages to express his quirk use like Deku does.
[Inserted gif – Deku throwing a 5% Detroit Punch]
- Numerical Code, Ciphers, Cryptography –
This is a far fetched one based on how Deku words it like it is a code to be ‘cracked'
But Seriously how on earth do you even memorize what nearly 10,000 probable combination of numbers could even mean?
[Inserted gif - ‘woman calculating meme gif'
- ??? – Crazy fan theory that WD is doing that just to shit on us. At this point I frankly wouldn't be surprised if it were true.
[Inserted pic – Shrugging emoji]
Some Immediate and hilarious responses to #ZTK
• Fans on social media ultimately started a Bingo Meme, betting on what numbers will be called in their next heroic stunts. The meme died faster than the ‘Aurthur Fist' meme once fans realized that – Numbers are hardly ever repeated.
That’s right. Normally you would look up numbers they have said before and bet on those. But reusing the same sequence has hardly ever happened.
- The next game was the ZTK Super Bowl squares – some people still play this game, its Super fun ;) (sorry for the bad pun) But seriously...you have no idea how much money I saved by winning the pool against my friends. (They owe me 56000 yen in total!) Check here for rules.
- The Instagram video edits...dear lord...the whole flood of videos with WD calling numbers at each other like some strange lost language of love. Example (I do not regret losing sleep over them though)
[Insert a musical edit video with bgm of ‘Seven Nation Army'] - Limited edition ‘ ZTK’merch. Merch Manufacturers had a field day with this idea. They never really implicitly mentioned any association to the ZTK hashtag, but banked some coin on it anyway.
Here are some pics of unofficial ZTK merch @createMi9 found in Nagoya HeroCon 2XXX.
[Insterted pics of several green and orange badges and hoodies with ‘Zero to Kyuu' in boldface white and black.]
(This is something only a few people know about, I myself cannot vouch for its veracity but word is that Alpha Centauri managing board sued the dealers in question for unethical merchandise sale. Can someone please verify this? )
- Numerology of love
Okay...frankly this is one of the finest examples of haters trying to take a piss on the DynaDeku fandom and calling it all sorts of shit. And DynaDeku Stans being the all-welcoming passive-aggressive shits that I know they are, turned something that was meant to be anti-DynaDeku and derogatory (‘Numerology of love – ReNo original) into a fucking DynaDeku anthem (Numerology of 2- by SkyHigh). However, neither song has expressed their association with the WD explicitly, ReNo has denied knowledge the intent with which his NCS release was used and SkyHigh was unavailable for comment.
Talk about playing that Uno Reverse Card.
(Also another rumor that SkyHigh is actually an alias for singer, songwritter ex-street idol Pop☆step. Again if anyone can verify I will be really obliged!)
[Insert two images – on the left is a SkyHigh Single’s Fanmade Cover Art with Deku and Dynamight back to back. On the Right is an old pic of Pop Step’s silhouette in idol costume with a big question mark across]]
u/IceIceBabygirl:
Fueguchi Sora eating her own words rn
u/EyesandEars:
“420'd peabrain" *snorts*
u/RocketGirlxZero
GEMGD: KING of creative insults
u/DekuDekuDekimasu:
“Deku's GEMGD-level-smirk" I M W H E E Z I N G. Someone send an ambulance
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u/Temp_est-Best_est:
I KNEW I HEARD SKYHIGH'S VOICE SOMEWHERE BEFORE! (OMG IT WAS POP☆STEP? SOMEONE PLEASE CONFIRM?!!)
u/SuMashuu1000:
ZTK Superbowl Squares is the new gambling.
u/AdamantiumBros:
I deadass thought Deku said ‘Fore' instead of ‘Four' in that video and half-expected either of the WD (looking at Dynamight especially) pulling out a golfstick to clobber the villain.
u/X_Kat_a_Pull:
S A M E
u/Gay4Ground0:
I had to subject myself to earrape of Dynamight's blast continuously to figure out Deku actually said ‘four’ instead of ‘fore'
u/WonderFulStan:
Whoa this is an impressive post. You pulled out all stops here. Keep it up!
u/WD-Will-Die-w8-Ds-Ship:
I am obsessed with ZTK theories. Thank you for reading!
u/Hope_n_Victory:
Wonder if any of these theories is close
u/Zero_Deaths_420
Years from now when the WD finally reveal the secret to the ZTK in their biography or documentary, and people find this post and see if one of the theories is true? That will be something
u/Wind_in_my_bald:
MY BET IS ON THEORY#6
u/NyoomLegsIdaten:
Also betting on Theory#6
u/BrainDrain_666:
Y'all are crazy. Power Output Theory makes most sense.
u/LXM:
What makes you sure that any one of these theories is right?
u/BrainDrain_666:
What makes you think one of them isn't?
u/OfficialHeroDeku:
:)
u/WonderFulStan:
OH MY GOD