Chapter 5
1 Year Ago
The Yagi household was celebrating the thirteenth birthday of their daughter, Izumi. "Happy birthday, sweetie!" Inko said. "Look at how big you've grown!" Toshinori exclaimed. There was a whole party going on in the backyard, streamers on the fence and trees, a table full of gifts and cards for the girl. But, one person wasn't allowed near that table. In fact, he was barely present during the party, despite it being his birthday, too.
Izuku was sitting under a tree sadly, watching his parents and some Izumi's friends give her all the attention. The only time he was given any notice was when Toshinori told him to get Izumi's cake from the fridge. Izuku didn't put up a fuss. He was used to being ignored on his birthday. He walked into the house and turned a corner to the kitchen, and found an old man lying on the floor, covered in blood!
"Aaahhhh! He's dead!" The old man lifted his head. "I'm alive!" "Aahh! He's alive!" Izuku sighed and got the old man napkins. "Grandpa Torino, don't you ever get tired of this old gag?" he asked his step-dad's old mentor. "You're the one who screams every time, don't you get tired of that?" he shot back. "Anyway, what are you doing in here, kid? Party's over there, go join your sister who has worse memory than me." A lot of the times Gran Torino came to visit, Izumi forgot who he was. Toshi covered for her, saying she was joking, but she definitely is not his favorite grandchild.
"I-I was just getting the cake." he said in an uneven voice trying to hold something together. "Did someone say cake?" A female voice spoke up. Izuku looked behind him and his jaw dropped. Strutting into his kitchen was the R-Rated Heroine and U.A. Heroics teacher: Midnight. "Lucky me, I didn't miss the best part." Izuku was completely flabbergasted as to why a pro was in his kitchen, and of all the ones, the hottest he'd ever seen. Gran Torino had to restart him with a cane to his cranium.
"M-M-Midnight!" he gasped. "The one and only! Let me guess, Izuku right? Happy birthday, dear." Izuku felt his heart doing leaps as happy tears filled his eyes. "Thanks! W-What are you doing here?" Midnight kneeled down in front of the boy. "Didn't your dad tell you? He's going to start teaching at U.A. in two years. He invited me as a special guest!" Izuku couldn't believe what he was hearing. He was overwhelmingly happy with this surprise, but something didn't feel right. 'Dad never told me he'd be teaching at U.A. It was probably supposed to be a surprise!'
"I-I can't believe I'm meeting you! I-I've got s-so many questions! What's U.A. like? What's the curriculum like?" Midnight giggled and stopped his excited questions with a finger on his lips. "Don't worry, hun, we'll get to your questions later. For now, let's enjoy the party. I haven't met your sister yet." Izuku's smile and blush dimmed significantly. "R-Right, sorry." He pulled the cake out of the fridge and Midnight held his hand. "Mind being my usher?" she winked playfully. Izuku was a blushing mess again as they walked out with Gran Torino following.
Most of the kids had a similar reaction to Izuku when Midnight arrived. She met Izumi and Katsuki, and found them less pleasant than Izuku. When it came to blowing out the candles, Izuku was on the far end of the table. Midnight didn't think twice before pulling him into her side, and sneaking him close enough to see Izumi blow out her candles.
When the cake was cut, and everyone had a share, Izumi approached Midnight with her parents in tow. "Midnight, guess what! I'm gonna be going to U.A. one day! Maybe you can be my teacher!" The dominatrix smiled at the enthusiasm the girl radiated. "Oh my, reaching for the stars are we? Well, I hope you're prepared for the grueling hard work." Izumi just smiled and threw her hands behind her head. "Please, my quirk is so strong, it'll be a piece of cake!" Midnight was put off by her arrogance, more so that Toshinori and Inko didn't disagree. "If you say so. What about Izuku, will he be joining you? I think he'd make a delightful pupil."
Suddenly, the Yagi's didn't meet her gaze and the mood dropped. "He won't, it's impossible for him." Toshi uttered. "He's quirkless." Izumi spat. Midnight looked at them with a stern gaze. "There's no rule stating that you need a quirk to be a hero. He's as welcome as anyone to give it his best." The parents looked at her in surprise, but Izumi seemed a bit more ticked off. "You can't be serious. He'll only get in the way!" Midnight looked down at her in a disapproving glare. "You should be careful, or it'll be your unchecked ego getting in other's way." Midnight took off to look for Izuku.
She found the quirkless boy being harassed by a blonde punk. "What the hell was fucking Midnight doing with you!? She came out here holding your hand, explain Deku!" Izuku just held his hands up defensively. "S-She just wanted me to usher her, Kacchan! That's it, I was just walking her in!" Before Katsuki could continue his envy-fueled interrogation, said pro showed up to stop him. "Pardon me, but this isn't the time or place for playing rough, boys."
Katsuki turned around slowly to see the heroine looming over him intimidatingly. For once, he didn't say anything. "Izuku, let's go." Midnight gestured towards the house. "You wanted to know more about me, right? I'd like some privacy for that." Izuku's face brightened as he nodded and followed the purplette, leaving behind Izumi and Katsuki in shock and dejection.
...
"This is a nice room." Midnight said as she sat down on the bed. "I-It's my sister's room." Izuku said from the doorway. "I-I'm not allowed in here." Midnight noticed he was shaking slightly, like he was afraid. Of his own twin sister. "Honey, that girl is spoiled enough that I think it's okay for you to be in her room while she's partying outside." Izuku folded and walked in. At least she didn't ask about his room.
"This may be rude of me," she started as she gave herself a fork of cake. "But your sister and her blonde friend are very unpleasant people. As a teacher, I'm used to kids, so I know when someone needs a lesson in humility." Izuku looked down a bit, but couldn't deny what she said. "I don't disagree, but they're arrogance isn't unearned. Izumi has telekinesis that could surpass our mom, and Kacchan has powerful explosions. They're ambitious and have the powers to become heroes."
"Izuku, those two are powerful, but far from heroic. If harassing innocent people and looking down on others makes a hero, I wouldn't have thrown so many villains in jail." Izuku's eyes widened. Midnight had basically compared Izumi and Bakugo to villains. She swallowed another bite of cake and patted the spot on the bed next to her. "Now, enough about them. Go on, ask me anything you want. Nothing is off limits~" Izuku had an atomic blush as he sat down next to the older lady. Before he started, she excused herself to go get something. She came back a minute later with a clean fork.
"I noticed you didn't have any cake. You can enjoy mine, hun." Izuku smiled warmly and accepted the kindness of the dominatrix. After getting back on the topic of heroes, the two of them were talking for hours. Stuff about U.A., other heroes, the role heroes have to protect the people. Midnight was easily making this the best birthday Izuku ever had. So when it was time for her to leave, of course he was sad, but still thankful that she indulged him.
"Hold on, you've got a bit of cake on your face." she pointed out. "Where?" Izuku asked as he ran his hand along his bottom jaw. Midnight kneeled beside him and kissed his cheek. Izuku immediately froze and burned up when he felt her soft lips pressing against his face. When she disconnected, she had a gentle smile and caring blue eyes. "Happy Birthday, Izuku."
Present
'That was the best birthday I ever had. I guess it's not so unorthodox that I would dream about my old life today of all days.'
"Ack...! *Gasp!* Hack...!" a man choked.
"Sorry, I just got lost in my own head." The Green Devil had pinned a robber to the wall by his throat and was choking him with a firey hand. He was up at 3am with no desire to fall back asleep, afraid of what his mind will conjure up. He engulfed the man in green flames that spread across his body, and tightened his grip on his throat. It wasn't long before he lost consciousness, and was left next to a pay phone for the police to pick up. The first thing that Izuku does on his birthday: fight scum. The last thing he wants is to relive the past.
1:15pm
In his civilian alter ego, Zu, Izuku was walking among the people with dead eyes. He sorely regretted going back home. After so many years of wondering, he finally got an answer. His mother refused to look at him because he reminded her of her husband she failed to protect. His existence is a slap in her face, despite the fact that he never did anything wrong. 'If that's how she really feels, why does she bother putting up a front about wanting me back? Guilt? Where was that when she ignored my cries?'
Crash!*
The sound of a villain attack grabbed the boy's attention. He ran to where it came from before anyone else. He saw a giant villain being taken care of by Mt Lady. 'I could use a healthy distraction.' Izuku thought as he watched with the crowd. Next to him was a girl his age with chestnut brown hair in a bobcut.
Mt Lady was fairing extremely well in her fight, even doing provocative poses as she threw her punches. Izuku noticed something no one else did, though. As she was going for a high kick to knock the villain out, her footing was off. And if she took a tumble, a nearby building would be crushed. He ran out of the crowd, eliciting the confusion of the brunette next to him.
"Say goodnight!" Mt Lady delivered her final attack, and just as Izuku predicted, began falling backward. Izuku was positioned behind her, and just in front of the building. Nobody would see him as he used his quirk. He rose up into the air and shot two large flames from his hands that took form as a much larger pair of flaming hands. He caught Mt Lady before she could graze the building. But he wasn't paying attention to where how fast she was falling. His hands were aimed for her back, but he missed and...
...caught her by her ginormous ass.
The worst part is he could feel them as if he was touching with his bare hands. And since Mt Lady was flustered, she didn't make the effort to regain her footing. So Izuku was stuck sinking his hands into her creamy behind. Before it could get worse from there, Mt Lady felt infinitely lighter. Light enough for Izuku to push back to her feet. Once she was fine, he immediately retracted his hands, covered his face with his arms and breathed heavily. 'I know I asked for a distraction, but not like that!' This was turning out to be one hell of a fourteenth birthday. He was so flustered, he didn't even notice the pro dragging him off for questioning.
"What the hell was that, you little perv!?" Izuku didn't completely hear her, still absorbing the fact that he touched a woman in such a way. It was indirect and by accident, but the feeling was burned into his hands. Before Mt Lady could speak up again, she saw his eyes. They weren't aroused or fearful, they were in a glare. Like he was internally berating himself worse than she could. "Hey. Are you okay?" Izuku finally met her eyes, letting her see the bags underneath, before turning away. "You were about to crash into that building. I was trying to catch you."
Mt Lady couldn't detect any lies or alternate intentions. If she had caused more collateral damage, she would have gotten into huge trouble. No pun intended. "Okay, but what's the deal with her?" She pointed at a brunette who was vomiting in a pot plant.
...
Mt Lady took the kids to a cafe to get some snacks and calm them down enough for a real conversation. There were two cups of green tea, an order of mochi and a strawberry shortcake on their table, courtesy of Mt Lady. The pro held her hands together in front of her mouth as the kids explained their sides of the story. "Thanks so much for saving my butt! I would've been in screwed if I had crushed that building."
The brunette named Ochaco Uraraka
sipped her tea to clear her stomach. "It was nothing, although it would've been a great opportunity for my family's company." she muttered the last part. "Company?" Izuku asked. Ochaco ran her hands through her hair. "Y-Yeah, it's not something I'm exactly comfortable with discussing, but we're not exactly in a comfortable financial place." Mt Lady, coming from the sticks herself, could empathize with the Zero Gravity girl. "Wellll~ since you helped save a hero, I think you deserve a reward. I'll write you a cheque from my agency. Uraraka, right?"
Ochaco was taken aback by the sudden generosity. "W-What!? No, that's okay, you don't have to-" "Bup, bup, bup!" The creamy blonde stopped her by placing a finger on her lips. "I insist. Honestly, I'd feel guilty not repaying you for what you went through to help me. One thing about being a hero, always accept your fans' gifts." Izuku was just as surprised by the pro as Uraraka was. He initially saw her as a vein, self-centered, narcissistic attention hog. And she is.
"A-Anyway, I only acted after I saw Zu jump in the danger zone." Mt Lady turned to the young man at their table. "Speaking of, you sure you're okay with just the tea?" Zu nodded his head. "I'm fine with just this. I'm not really hungry right now." The creamy blonde winked at him. "Right, I wouldn't be either after all the cake you got your hands on!" Zu blushed under his mask and looked away.
After their meal was paid for, they got ready to go their separate ways, but Izuku was stopped by a tap on his shoulder. "Here, you can have our leftovers!" Uraraka said cheerfully, holding out a pink paper box with a purple string wrapped around it. "I told you, I don't need any-" Mt Lady pushed it into his hands. "Just take it, this is the least you deserve." Izuku accepted the shortcake and mochi leftovers. "Thank you, I appreciate it." Uraraka gave him an infectious, bright smile. Mt Lady put a finger on her chin. "Do me a favor and get some rest."
Izuku looked at her in confusion. "What do you mean by that?" "Just saying, you're not gonna pull a lot of girls with those bags under your pretty eyes." Zu blushed faintly. He bid Uraraka and the pro goodbye. He opened his leftover box and looked at the tasty-looking snacks. He ate with the fork Mt Lady gave him. In that moment, Izuku realized something.
'Did I just have a date with a cute girl my age and a sexy pro hero?' He also realized the chopsticks he got from Mt Lady were the same ones that went in Uraraka's mouth. 'Happy birthday to me.'
That Night
Izuku was feeling surprisingly good about himself. He can't remember a time he felt better! He saved a building from being demolished, he went on a date with two beautiful girls, and to wrap it up, he had emerged victorious in a four-on-one fight with only a few scrapes and scratches. Yes sir, he felt incredible. "Something's gonna go wrong." he said, but the unconscious scum didn't hear him.
He knew that, whenever he climbed too high, someone or something would come by to smack him down. He thought about his vigilantism. Criminals were starting to fear him, and would band together to take him down. They tried that, and they were light work for the Green Devil. The police and heroes are looking for him, but it's thanks to him that the streets are becoming safer so it's doubtful he'd face too harsh a punishment. That's assuming if he ever gets caught. "So what's this awful feeling in my chest?"
Suddenly, he felt a pulling force remove his respirator. His sharpened reflexes allowed him to catch it before it flew away, and he covered his mouth with his free hand. 'Telekinetic pull? Dammit, I should've known...' At the opposite end of the alley, Izuku saw two people he hoped to never see again. "Found ya, bastard!" "Hands in the air, Devil!"
'So much for a happy birthday...' That burning in his chest returned.
Quirk: Psycho Flames
Temperature dependant on the user's emotional and mental state. If the user is depressed, miserable or seeking isolation, their flames are cold and invoke fear. If the user is angry or vengeful or just riled up, their flames heat up to an extreme degree. The temp can be manipulated by the user as they learn control, but emotions are still a factor.
Chapter 6
Earlier in the day
Typically, birthdays are wonderful days of celebration, joy and laughter. Family and friends coming together to celebrate the birth of whoever is near and dear to them. However, this is not the case for Izumi Yagi. Due to her twin brother's disappearance and the emergence of the so-called "Green Devil", her parents were too busy doing hero work or work with the police.
"That's why we're gonna take down that vigilante bastard!" Katsuki said, igniting his palms. Despite being an egocentric narcissist, he is surprisingly clever. Based on the places of the most recent strikings the vigilante has had, he deduced that the Green Devil has been moving toward an area close to them. Instead of going to the police with this hunch, the two of them decided it would be better if they handled an outlaw without any certification.
"This guy was first seen around here when Izuku disappeared. He might know something about where he is! We'll make him talk!" Izumi said. "Plus, this'll be our big debut, catching a vigilante the heroes and police couldn't!" Katsuki said.
Present
And that's how the three of them found themselves in a dark alley. Izumi and Bakugo were facing the Green Devil, ready to beat him into submission. Izuku, on the other hand, felt his emotions rising higher, but he kept his heart in check. His mouth was still being covered by his hand so he wouldn't be recognized. "No more running, ya bastard!" Katsuki yelled with sparks coming out of his palms. "You're gonna wish the pros arrested you when we're done!" Izumi spoke up. "Tell us what you did to my brother!"
Izuku didn't know whether to feel angry or touched. On the one hand, Izumi seemed to be blaming the vigilante for what happened to him, not taking any responsibility for her actions. And Bakugo seemed to be prioritizing personal glory over doing what was actually right. But on the other, she seemed truly concerned about her brother. Izuku closed his eyes and slowly lowered his hand from his mouth. Suddenly, green flames emerged from his mouth and created a scarf of sorts that covered from his nose to his collarbone. Two ends flowed behind him. He opened his eyes and they glowed with his quirk, too. The hair covering his forehead rose due to the literal fire in his eyes.
He masked his voice, making it slightly deeper and rough. "What are you doing here?" A simple question. Izumi and Bakugo momentarily froze at the familiarity of his voice. And the flames surrounding his mouth... "Leave." the Devil spoke again, attaching his respirator to his hip. He shifted his position and let them see the four unconscious men lit by cold flames.
Despite his triumph, Katsuki still held his victory hungry smile. "We're not like the street trash you like to hang out with!" He lunged at the Green Devil with his right arm cocked back. Izumi was behind and threw small objects to back the blonde up. 'So obvious...' Izuku internally sighed. He effortlessly dodged the incoming projectiles, and blocked Katsuki's right hook with his forearm coated in protective fire. "Is this how you thank someone for saving your life?" The moment he made contact, Bakugo froze.
"This is your only warning: Stay away from me."
Bakugo was pulled back by Izumi, clutching his chest. 'What the fuck!? How am I afraid of this guy!? Damn his quirk!' "Kacchan, are you okay!?" Izumi asked as the boy stood up shakily, his grin wobbly and forced. "Yeah... It'll take more than mind games to stop me!" Izuku's squinted his eyes. 'So you say, but you're clearly rattled. That pride of yours won't let you think rationally. You'll come charging at me again without a plan and wind up a trembling mess.'
As he finished his internal monologue, Izumi flew up into the air. "Bastard!" she yelled as she came down with fist. Izuku crossed his arms above his head to block. He hardly felt an impact on his arms, but there was enough force to make him kneel and kick up dust around them. 'She used telekinesis to increase the strength of her punch, but it's only increasing the knockback instead of the damage.' "You need more training." He mocked her.
"You need to shut the fuck up!" Katsuki yelled, charging at the devil with a sparking hand. Izuku grabbed Izumi's arm and threw her into Katsuki. The two of them crashed into a wall with a strong thud. "Are we done here?" Izuku asked in a condescending voice. The brats looked at him with angry eyes. "If so, then leave. Go back to your families before they get worried." Izumi's eyes widened when he said that. All she could think about was her twin brother. It made her clench her teeth in anger.
"Damn you!" She jumped off of Bakugo and tried swinging another fist. Izuku sidestepped and pushed her to the ground. "We're not done!" Katsuki yelled from behind. Izuku merely tilted his head to the side, avoiding a point-blank explosion. "Predictable." he uttered coldly. He grabbed Bakugo's arm and threw him over his shoulder. The explosive teen was left in shock at how easily he could read his attacks. He and Izumi were on the ground, shaking and unable to see a way to victory. The Green Devil is fast, has good defense and can instill fear like it's nothing.
"Izumi..." Bakugo whispered. "Set me up." The green-haired girl nodded. Moving as fast as she could, she lifted the vigilante off the ground. Izuku could have used his flames to fly out of the invisible hold, but he didn't. He couldn't. This feeling of being helplessly suspended in the air made him lock up. It brought back too many awful memories. Like that day... He was so distracted, he didn't notice Bakugo jumping at him.
"You're mine!" He unleashed a powerful blast square on Izuku's chest. The entire alley lit up with an orange burst of light as the boy was sent flying backwards. As he fell with a burning pain on his body, he couldn't stop his heart from beating wildly. It all came back. Those horrid memories of abuse. He landed on his feet in a crouching position, one hand on his smoking chest and another on the ground. He hunched in on himself, breathing heavily. Izumi and Katsuki looked down at him, feeling proud of themselves all over again.
"How'd you like that, you piece of shit!" Katsuki taunted. "That's not all you've got, right!? Come on! Show us what you can do!" Izumi taunted. The smoke coming from Izuku's chest didn't die out. In fact, the smoke was more prominent and beginning to hiss. Getting impatient, Katsuki rocketed at the seemingly despondent opponent with another powerful blast. That was a mistake.
Just as he set off the explosion, Izuku caught his hand in his, their fingers intertwining. The explosion was mostly blocked, with the vigilante's barely feeling the heat. "...You're going to wish you hadn't done that...!" Katsuki was taken aback, but then started crying out in pain. His and was being crushed and... burned!?
Izuku pulled back his hand from his chest, and ignited it in green flames. He unleashed a powerful punch right in Katsuki's stomach! The flames drove his fist forward for a harder hit, and a wave of green fire following it blew him back. He rolled over a bit, spitting up and gasping for air. The damage Izuku dealt left him practically paralyzed. The most noteworthy thing is that Katsuki's shirt had a hole burned through it and burn marks on his gut. 'What the fuck happened to cold flames!? The news said he can't burn anything!'
"What did you do to him!?" Izumi yelled. "Nothing he didn't deserve." he answered coldly. Izumi tried to grab him again, but Izuku reacted quickly enough. He unleashed a wave of condensed fire, thick enough to act as cover. Meaning Izumi's telekinesis would grab the flames instead of him. The moss ball groaned. The heat was rising on an already warm night. The same debilitating effect was there, but weaker. She tried flying up to see where the devil went. He found him hovering above her with flames on his feet.
Before Izumi could react, Izuku pulled back his flaming hand. However, this one was different from the blow he dealt Katsuki. A large hand of green fire grabbed Izumi. She was swallowed by the fire construct and endured scorching heat that left burns all over her body. Izuku used the fist to punch down on Katsuki again with a bright green burst of heat. The two of them were smokey, battered and broken on the ground. Izuku hovered down and looked at their pathetic forms. He began to cool down and the flames were mostly put out.
Katsuki and Izumi shakily sat back up. Izuku sighed. "Why are you here?" he asked again. The two of them still had the will to fight despite the difference in their strength. "Y-You fucking moron... why do you think?" Katsuki groaned. "You're an outlawed bastard who thinks he can do whatever he wants...! We are gonna stop you, cuz it's what heroes do!" Izumi said. Izuku felt his heart begin to burn at the use of that word. "Heroes."
"Firstly, you're far too weak to be able to fight me. Face it, you can't live up to your own hype. Second, you're hypocrites, not heroes. You're doing the exact same thing I'm doing. You don't have the authority to take me down, but you think you can do whatever you want, too. What's will be your excuse when go home bruised and burned?" Izumi and Katsuki didn't answer him, but felt unsure of themselves. What they were doing made them like him. It pissed them off that he was right.
"ARGH!"
The Green Devil suddenly screamed in pain. A sharp piece of discarded glass had cut a diagonal line from his jawline across right cheek. He covered the wound with his hands as blood seeped into his palm and through his fingers. He had just learned the hard way that his flames were protective against blunt force, but sharp objects could cut through with relative ease. At the entrance of the alley, a womanly figure in a tight supersuit was seen. Katsuki and Izumi looked surprised but not exactly relieved or happy. Izuku had the worst scowl beneath his flaming mouth cover.
"Izumi! Katsuki! Are you two okay!?" Teleki was unintentionally stoking the Green Devil's fire. As usual, he was ignored in favor of the "child prodigies". When Inko saw the burns and bruises on the brats, she looked at the wounded vigilante in great anger. "What did you do to these kids!?" she screamed in anger which paled in comparison to the boy in front of her. "Nothing they didn't bring on themselves!" Teleki was taken aback slightly. "What are you talking about!?" Behind her, Izumi and Bakugo were glaring at Izuku angrily and nervously.
"Why don't you ask the ones who came and attacked me first! The arrogant punks who think they're above the law, cowering behind you!" Inko momentarily glanced back at the two, but refuted the devil's claims. Although, his words were starting to seep through a crack. "That's right, I'm talking to you two! You come at me full of hot air, but the moment you realize I'm not a pushover, you hide behind someone who can backup her words! Well!? What's wrong? Lost your nerve!?"
Izuku knew what he was saying would provoke them. Striking their egos always does it. In the past, he kept his mouth shut. But now, having the opportunity to finally get his true feelings out, it was oddly exhilarating. His temper flared as the emotions he was forced to hold back erupted in waves. And smoke.
"So you admit to being weaklings who need someone else to save them!? Or do you admit you're idiots who are no better than me!?" That was the last straw. Before Inko knew it, Bakugo and Izumi charged at the devil violently.
"SHUT UUUUPP!" Katsuki shouted. "DAMN YOOUUUU!" Izumi yelled.
FWOOSH!*
The two of them were blown away by a sudden, massive eruption of green fire! The viridescent flames consumed the entire alley in an instant, Inko barely had the time to get herself and the kids out of the way. 'What is this!? His flames are supposed to be chilling! But this heat... it's on par with Endeavor!' Teleki thought. On the ground, the Green Devil's explosion of fury had set everything alight, including the four unconscious thugs. They groaned in pain momentarily before their throats and lungs, and the rest of their bodies became charred lumps of meat and bone.
Izuku hardly even noticed his flames went from bone-chilling to flesh-melting. His eyes were focused on the people above him who had ruined his childhood and forced him to run away. 'It happened again... You found these two in the middle of ruining my life, and took their side again! Has nothing changed!?' He glared intensely at Izumi and Bakugo. 'It was a mistake letting you live...!' The pillar of flames spiked up dramatically in heat and size, before dispersing into green embers. Teleki hovered above where the Green Devil was and surveyed the damage. The entire alley was reduced to cinders, a nearby dumpster melted. There were small green flames that flickered on the pavement that would eventually die out. A silver respirator was left where the devil stood.
The worst of it was the four thugs he'd knocked out before anyone arrived. They were reduced to smoldering heaps of charred flesh and bone, completely unrecognizable. The entire alley reeked of burnt bodies. "That sick bastard...!" Katsuki growled. "Cold flames, my ass. He's been hiding his abilities to trick us!" Izumi said. Inko was preoccupied by what she saw before the eruption of heat.
The Green Devil had taunted Izumi and Bakugo into attacking him, but something didn't sit right with her. 'Did they really try to attack him first? But they're not pros yet, they don't have the authority. And they seemed so violent before he put up his flames.' For the first time, Inko questioned her trust in the prodigal children.
Meanwhile
Izuku was traveling above the city at high speeds, flying above everything instead of jumping to and from rooftops. He came to a stop behind an apartment complex. He noticed there was a smoke trail where he landed with a skid. 'What happened to me back there?' He wondered as his fire mask came undone. He ignited his quirk in his left hand, and touched a discarded newspaper. It burned, he could tell by the black smoke.
'There's heat to my flames now?' He thought to himself as the newspaper was turned to ash. The fire didn't go out, and spread to the cold concrete. Fire that burns on any surface. Izuku took out his water bottle and doused the fire. It hissed and died down. But it wasn't completely put out. It took more than a regular fire would need to go out. 'Let's see... My flames were their normal cold until Bakugo blasted me. I just remember getting really angry and beating them up. It made my blood boil to see they haven't changed. And then when Teleki came and took their side, as always...' Izuku clenched his fist as smoke escaped from it. He understood that his power is tied to his emotional state. Then his eyes widened as the realization of what he'd done hit him.
"Those criminals... I burned them to death..." Throughout his entire life, Izuku had never once thought of taking someone else's life. And he took four. He felt guilty, despite the fact that it never would've happened if Bakugo, Yagi and Teleki hadn't shown up. He looked at his hands and saw blood drop on his right hand. He forgot about the cut Teleki inflicted. Suddenly, he lit his thumb with a hot flame. 'I deserve this...'
Izuku growled and hissed in burning, agonizing pain. He dragged his flaming thumb across the cut on his cheek, sealing the wound in the most painful of ways. Cauterization. He panted heavily when the job was done, but he still couldn't allow himself reprieve. He found a piece of broken glass near him. Four lives... the act of cutting his and dragging the glass across his right hand four times until it bled wasn't half as painful as what came next. Izuku engulfed his bleeding hand in searing hot flames, punishing himself severely for taking the lives of those men. For all he knew, they could've changed and become better men with better futures. He robbed them of their futures.
When his wounds were melded shut, he inspected the damage. His right hand was a smoking atrocity of its past self. Even if some of the damage faded, the scars would certainly be permanent. He saw his reflection in the water. Dark bags under his eyes, a fowl grimace and a newly cauterized scar on his right cheek. He put his hand in the puddle, causing steam to rise. He picked himself up and prepared to fly away before someone saw him. Before he could do so, he saw another missing person poster for Izuku Yagi. What happened next was without a second thought. He placed his good hand on the poster and reduced it to ash.
Meanwhile
"How delicious." A man enveloped in darkness chuckled to himself. "I wish I could've seen more after, but I can't use the Clairvoyance quirk when my pawns are no longer alive. You surprised me yet again, Green Devil. I do hope your next family reunion will be just as entertaining as this was. Hmhmhm!"
Chapter 7
Bitter. Spiteful. Furious. Hateful. These are the feelings running through Zu's entire being as he stared at the news on his phone.
Green Devil Attacks Children
"The vigilante menace known as the Green Devil has severely injured two middle school kids in a dark alley the other night. The victims were covered in severe burns and bruises before the no.30 hero: Teleki arrived on the scene. Apparently, the vigilante has the ability to make his trademark green flames burn with intensity. In what could be described as a volcanic eruption, he incinerated four disarmed men on the ground, already incapable of defending themselves. The victims are Katsuki Bakugo and Izumi Yagi."
It hardly came as a surprise to Izuku that he would be painted as the bad guy while the brats received sympathy and praise for their 'bravery'. It's the same infuriating story on loop. The only thing keeping Izuku from exploding with fury is that he knows the "victims" aren't pleased about being pitied by others. Most people feel bad for them, saying they're "just kids". He knows that'll cut them down.
The faux white and black-haired boy walked through the streets under the hot sun with the coldest eyes imaginable. As he walked, a familiar truck passed him by, and he locked eyes with the driver. Toshinori Yagi. For the split second their eyes connected, the world froze. Both mens' hearts stopped beating. Just one moment between them lasted an eternity. Zu saw the direction Toshinori was driving in. The same hospital Bakugo and Izumi were kept in.
'He's... going to see them...' Izuku clenched his good hand into a tight fist. 'He's worried about them...! Being a parent to them!' He clenched his other hand, ignoring the pain of a wound that hadn't fully healed yet. The burning in his chest returned, causing him to debate setting Toshinori's truck on fire. Regardless, he held himself back, and walked away with hellish green eyes and an aura that kept everyone at arms length.
This was meant to be a simple trip to the mall for new shoes. If he was going to run into people from his past, he needs to eliminate a recognizable feature: his red sneakers. They could work for his civilian alter ego, but not the Green Devil. The last battle caused them to suffer burns from his explosion of rage. Izuku walked into a clothing store and browsed around. He saw a section for hero-themed items, and unsurprisingly, he saw All Might's face. The face of another who had brushed him away like he was nothing. He released a small growl as he reached for a pair of black men's combat boots.
"Are you okay?" He whipped his head to his side, and was met with the concerned raven eyes of a black-haired girl. She immediately took a step back when met with his intimidating eyes. Izuku's eyes softened ever so slightly. His burning heart cooled down a bit as he looked at the girl's features. 'Her eyes... her hair... she looks like...' The young lady looked away, a bit frightened by his intense stare. "Y-You seem like something is b-bothering you." Her voice, while shaky, was dignified, as were her clothes. Though she appeared to be at least a year older than him judging by the height difference and her... prodigious proportions.
Izuku turned away from her and walked past her. "I'm fine." his voice came out hoarse. The young lady wasn't convinced by his words. Outside the store, Izuku was lost in thought. 'She was concerned? About me? But she was clearly put off by my demeanor. And her looks... she was like a younger version of-'
"Ew, poor!"
His thoughts were interrupted by a mocking hollar by two approaching teens. "Dang, dude! Look at this guy's kicks!" one of them pointed at Izuku's partially burned sneakers. "Right!? Where'd you get em, the dumpster!?" they both laughed. Izuku knew these pricks from Aldera, even if they didn't recognize him. Today was not the day for this, so he pushed his way through them.
"Not so fast! There's no way you can afford whatever's in that bag. We'll take it off your hands before you can steal it!" He was grabbed by the back of his hoodie and his bandaged hand, which made him wince. The pain that shot through his body from there was almost paralyzing. This feeling of helplessness while bullies held him down. It was all too familiar. He was breathing heavier and having trouble moving his body. Despite how much physically stronger he is than them, he still has mental issues derived from a decade of torment.
He craned his head, looking desperately for someone who saw him. His eyes once again met the girl's. This time, his eyes were begging for help. And she turned away and ran around the corner. Izuku's heart broke and everything around him faded away. He was frozen and alone, unable to move and with no one who cared enough to do anything. 'She... left... She's... like the others...!'
Beneath layers of deep-seeded fear, anxiety and distress, something else was roiling in his core. 'She left me behind, ignored my pain... Not again...!' In a sudden surge of strength not derived from his quirk, but pure, raw emotion, Izuku dropped his bag and crushed the hands holding him. "Not again!" he muttered to himself, ignoring the pained groans of the scumbags behind him.
"Hold it!" a new voice interjected. A mall cop ran up to the boys, and set his sights on the two with damaged hands. "Officer, this thief stole from that store and assaulted us!" Izuku was too lost in his own head to refute that. The mall cop didn't seem convinced at all by the story. "Really now? Well, I would be inclined to ask further, if this young lady didn't tell me everything she saw!" From behind the mall cop was the girl that ran away before. Izuku's eyes widened. She hadn't abandoned him, she went to get help.
The girl found Izuku's receipt in his bag, and the mall cop took away the two that harrassed him. That just left him and the girl, who tried to hand him back his purchased boots. "I'm sorry I left you, but I had to find someone with the authority to intervene." Izuku didn't talk right away, still reeling from the situation and the apologetic look on her face. He searched every inch of her face to find any deceit or alterior motive. There was nothing but pure concern. For him.
His breathing became hitched, and his vision blurred. 'Dammit, not now! Don't cry, you weakling!' Izuku growled as he clenched his eyes shut and put his left hand over his eyes. He dug his nails into his face, and he would've bled if a gentle hand hadn't touched the back of his. He was once again met with gentle eyes. "Let's get some air."
She led Izuku outside the mall on a nearby bench where he cried almost silently. He only released sharp gasps and occasional whimpers. It broke the ravenette's heart that he still felt like he had to keep up walls, keep from breaking down into a mess. She gave him a handkerchief to wipe his red eyes. "T-Thank you." "Of course." Izuku dabbed the last of his tears away, and they were left in silence.
"...I'm not fine." he finally admitted to her. "I-I can see that. Would you mind talking about it. I'm a good listener." Izuku glanced at her, still unable to understand where this kindness was coming from. "What's your name?" he asked. "Momo Yaoyorozu. And yours?" "I... I'm Zu." He almost gave her his real name. "Those guys that grabbed me were from Aldera, they're bullies." "I had a feeling." Zu didn't look at her, and instead at his hands.
"I've put in training to get stronger, but I-I have issues. So when you left while they held me, I felt powerless all over again. But then you came back, with help... t-that was..." "What should be expected of someone who witnesses unjust cruelty." Momo finished for him. Zu held his right wrist in his left hand. "I wish more people thought like you do." Momo looked at him with saddened eyes. She wanted to reach out and touch him, let him know a gentle touch after what he'd experienced.
"D-Did you say Aldera? The same school Bakugo and Yagi go to?" Izuku trembled at the mere mention of their names, and cursed himself for it. "You must have heard about their encounter with the Green Devil." he said bitterly. "I did. I feel so bad for them, having been in such an ordeal." Izuku's hands shook with barely suppressed anger. "Yaoyorozu, you're a good person..." Momo smiled a little, but could feel a 'but' coming. "...but you're wasting your energy concerning yourself about them."
"Of all the countless scumbags that make up Aldera, those two are the worst. They arrogantly proclaiming being heroes, but they use their quirks to keep others beneath them. They're especially cruel to the weakest links. I promise you, they are the last people that deserve your sympathy." Momo studied his body language carefully. Hunched form, tightly grasping his bandaged wrist, most telling were his eyes. Dark bags and bloodshot from stress and lack of sleep is intimidating enough. But his glare carried the heat of a thousand suns.
She gulped before speaking up again. "W-Why were you so surprised that I didn't turn a blind eye at you?" Zu put his left hand on his face. "I'm more surprised you didn't join them in picking on me. Nobody's ever done what you did for me." Momo was greatly shocked by this revelation. "What? Not even your parents?" Izuku grit his teeth. "...Like they even care enough to ask." "That can't be true. I'm sure you're relationship with them must be difficult, but all you need to do is have an honest conversation with them. I'm sure they still-" "DON'T YOU DARE GIVE ME THAT!" Momo jumped at his sudden yell.
"If they really cared, would they ever ask why I kept coming home burned and bruised!? Would they neglect to call me for dinner and let me starve for countless nights!? Would they put on a grand birthday for their favorite child, and then forget they even had me!? You don't have the slightest idea what kind of house I ran away from! You think mixing words is enough to heal these scars!? I've tried more times than I can remember to connect with them! You don't know how many cries for help have fallen on deaf ears in that appalling excuse for a home!"
Momo was completely speechless during his tirade. Zu's terrifying glare was now directed at her, with tears falling like waterfalls. His hand pulled his mask down below his nose, and Momo got a peek at the scar on his right cheek.
"I know what I am in that family, and trust me, I am nottheir son! A sheltered creature like you doesn't know the first thing about me!"
Both of them were silent after that end part. Zu's tears stopped flowing, and his heart slowed down. He looked straight at Momo, and saw tears building up in her eyes. In an instant, the bonfire in Izuku's heart was overcome by a tsunami wave of guilt. He quickly picked up his shopping bag and ran away from her. "Wait!" Yaoyorozu held out her hand and yelled. But it was too late. She lost him in the crowd. His furious words echoed in her head. Yaoyorozu brought up a hand to wipe her tears away.
...
Izuku flew up to a nearby rooftop. He was looking down at Momo as she wept. 'What's wrong with you? She showed you nothing but kindness, and this is how you repay her.' He turned away from the edge and pulled down his mask to wipe his tears on his sleeve. He remembered that he partially removed his mask in front of her. 'I even made her look at my unsightly scar. Damn...' That was his last thought before fleeing from the first person to help him with his bullies.
Meanwhile, Yaoyorozu walked back to the bench she and Zu shared with puffy eyes. 'Nobody's ever helped him. Not even his parents. I just assumed his situation without knowing everything. I probably don't know the half of it, and I still tried to lecture him. He must hate me now...' Momo buried her face in her hands, feeling a few more tears welling up.
"Momo?"
She looked up and saw her family limo, with her parents looking at her through the window. Momo tried to collect herself and join them, but it was painfully obvious that she was crying. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?" her father asked. Momo thought carefully about what to say to them. On the one hand, she wanted to tell them about everything Zu told her, but that wouldn't exactly be useful. She couldn't call the authorities on his family without knowing his real name. Besides, blabbing about his awful past would be another slap in his face from her. After some deliberation, she opened her mouth to speak.
"Mother, Father... Do you know what goes on in Aldera Middle School?"
That Afternoon
"This is odd..." A detective muttered to himself as he sipped his coffee. He stood at his desk with reports about the Green Devil, including one from Teleki. His door opened, and in walked a skinny blonde man. "Tsukauchi, how goes the investigation?" he asked. "I'm not sure, but I'm surprised your here. How are the kids? You visited them in the hospital, right?"
Toshinori nodded. "Izumi and Katsuki admitted to going after the Green Devil on their own. I told them that was brave but irresponsible without having backup or telling anyone. I think they were trying to take him in as a gift for Inko." A faint smile appeared on the blonde man's face. "A little soft, but okay. So they're getting discharged this week?" "They're children, only in middle school, and they went through something scarring. But yes, and I still have more to say to them." He clenched his fist while saying that.
Tsukauchi nodded. "You know what, you should go home. I can handle this for now, you should be looking after your wife. I'm sure she's working herself extra hard to find that vigilante." Toshinori looked surprised. "Are you sure?" "Yeah, take care." Tsukauchi almost pushed his friend out the door, and went back to his investigation into the Green Devil. "Sorry Toshi, but if I'm right, your biased feelings will make this difficult."
He went back to his desk and pulled out a medical file. 'Let's start with you, Izuku Yagi. 14 years of age, born quirkless, attended Aldera. You disappeared the same night green flames were discovered. Hmm...' Tsukauchi then turned to the papers he had on the Green Devil. 'Not much is known about him, other than he has a unique mind quirk in the form of cold flames. Inflicting mental suffering on others by means of fire that doesn't burn. Out of hundreds of thousands of quirks, this one isn't in our database.'
Tsukauchi then looked at the report he received from Teleki. 'Your victims up till now have been thugs and criminals, none severely injured and all of them quaking at the mere mention of you. But this tells a different story. Four men burned to death by your power, because you were attacked by children and a hero. Hmm, quirks have been known to evolve under stressful situations, but what connection could you have with two random kids?'
'From what Teleki told me, he has the voice and stature of a child no older than her daughter. That alone has unsettling implications. There are still many unknowns about his quirk, and if he is a child, he has immeasurable room for growth.'
He picked picked up a missing person poster. 'Quirks grow in strength and complexity with each generation, and late bloomers are a possibility. But they're usually between seven and nine. I need more information before I can start making assumptions.' Tsukauchi stood up from his desk and looked out his office window. The way the detective saw it, there were two possibilities. Izuku Yagi was kidnapped on his way home, as Toshinori suggested. Possibly dead. Or Izuku ran away and became the Green Devil. 'I've been wrong before, so please let me be wrong now.'
Meanwhile
Toshinori was in his truck, driving back home. He had made his decision. 'Izumi, you and Katsuki get well soon. We'll begin your training as soon as you're able. We need your great potential to find Izuku and put a stop to the Green Devil.'
Chapter 8
'I yelled at her. She was trying to help me, and I turned her away. What's wrong with me?'
Izuku had retreated to the forest in his neighborhood, away from modern civilization. He stood perfectly still with his eyes closed. He suddenly raised his hand and caught a green fireball. He threw it over his shoulder, and it curved around. He tilted his head and the ball missed him. Behind Izuku's eyelids, he could "see" his power circling around him, acting as a second set of eyes. So if he ever goes blind, it won't matter much.
He opened his eyes and jotted down in his notebooks. He decided to spend the day in solitude, learning and working on the more technical aspects of his quirk. He was trying to distract himself from his encounter with that Yaoyorozu girl, but his mind kept showing him her distraught face as he yelled at her. Izuku sighed and put down his pen. 'Maybe I have an ability to burn my own memories.' he humored.
He flipped through the pages of his notebook, reviewing the entries he's made on either his power or his day. But he came across something that was neither. It was a sketch. Izuku liked drawing almost as much as writing, and it made his notes more interesting. He did one of Yaoyorozu. Perhaps it was to clear his mind of the guilt from that encounter, but there was another reason. Izuku had spent hours of his life staring at the picture of his grandmother, Nana Shimura, so when he met someone who carried a striking resemblance to her, he couldn't help but do a comparison. The sketch below Yaoyorozu was one of Shimura.
...
Izuku closed his eyes and opened them. His sclera were glowing green as he looked at his hand. It was orange to his eyes. "Thermal vision. Nice. This'll come in handy."
Snap!*
Izuku turned around quickly at the sound of a twig breaking. He jumped up to a sturdy tree branch where his backpack was, and looked into the direction of the sound. He didn't detect anything warm. He switched to his regular vision, and saw two dark green-haired kids, a boy and a little girl, walking through the forest. 'Kids? Well, I shouldn't be surprised considering I used to wander around here, too. They're heat signature is low enough to blend in that my thermal vision couldn't detect them. They must be cold-blooded.'
Izuku put on his mask and a cap before slowly making his way down the tree and to the kids. "Hey." Both of them jumped slightly and backed away at the arrival of the stranger. The girl hid behind her brother, who put his arm out to protect her. Izuku, in spite of being through an emotional roller-coaster recently, was touched by the caring sibling display he saw. He kneeled down to try and relax the kids.
"Are you two lost?" he asked softly. They both nodded. Izuku looked past them and activated his thermal vision, turning his sclera green again. Through the trees, he could see an orange blur. 'That looks like a whole group from here.' "All right, I can get you back to your group. Follow me." When Izuku started walking, the boy grabbed the hem of his shirt while holding his little sister's hand. "T-Thanks..." he said. "Yeah, t-thanks." she said. Izuku's eyes softened. He cleared his throat before speaking.
"You two are siblings, aren't you?" They both nodded. Izuku looked ahead and started leading them out of the forest.
...
At the entrance of the forest, a woman with snow white hair and red highlights wearing glasses was pacing nervously around a group of kids.
'Where could they be, where could they be!? The Asui kids' big sister will be here to pick them up any minute now!' Speak of the frog, a girl with long dark green hair walked up to her. "Hi Ms Todoroki. I'm here to pick up my brother and sister."
"Excuse me, but are these yours?" A voice asked them. From behind a masked boy were two frog-looking kids. "Satsuki? Samidare?" the older frog asked. "Tsu!" they both ran up to her and hugged their older sister. "Ribbit! What happened on your field trip?" The now named Satsuki and Samidare released "Tsu" from the hug. "We saw a neat looking bug, a-and followed it to see if there were more bugs like it. It was a nice snack, but we got lost, ribbit." the boy explained. "And that guy found us." the girl finished.
Tsu and the teacher looked at the boy who looked like he hadn't slept well in a few days. "Thank you so much for bringing them back." the adult bowed and said. "Thank you, and sorry for the trouble. My siblings can be a hassle." Tsu bowed. "It's no problem." Izuku said with little emotion. The rest of the other kids were getting picked up by their parents, which left the five of them on their own. "Can I suggest something?" Izuku asked.
...
Izuku's suggestion was going to a nearby playground to end on a better note. This time, the Asui siblings were watched carefully by six vigilant eyes, and the little ones still got to have their fun. "This was a great idea, Zu." Tsuyu said with a finger on her chin. "Yeah, and thanks again for... doing my job of looking after these kids." Fuyumi Todoroki said. "I shouldn't have had to do anything." Izuku said bitterly. He looked at her with a sideways glance. "You're responsible for them, how could you let them run off like that. You're lucky I was there and not some scumbag."
Fuyumi shrunk under his harsh but true words. "You're right, I'm responsible for them. I should've been more vigilant. Sorry. I'll do better." Izuku sensed she was genuinely remorseful for her mistake, and even said she'll do better. He lightened up on her. "I can't imagine teaching is an easy job with all those curious kids to look after, ribbit. Even Samidare broke away, and he's one of the older few." Tsuyu said.
"So, uh, what were you doing in that forest anyway?" Fuyumi asked, making Izuku tense up a bit. "I just like the quiet." he spoke. "You seem to know this place well. Are you from here?" Tsu asked. Zu gripped his arm tightly. "You might say that." There was an uncomfortable silence between the three of them. Tsuyu and Fuyumi were greatly curious about Zu's situation. "Hey Zu?" The boy looked at the frog girl, showing her his tired, hurt eyes. "I'm the kind of person who says what's on my mind. You look like you have a lot of issues; do they stem from home?" Fuyumi was taken aback by Tsuyu's personal question, but Zu didn't show a similar reaction. He stayed silent for a bit.
"...Do you know what it's like to be overlooked and ignored by somebody who's supposed to be there for you?" "More than you think." Fuyumi spoke up. Izuku put his bandaged right hand on his face. "Do you... have anything you want to get off your chest?" she asked worriedly. Izuku thought back to the last person he talked to that lent him an ear. "A little." He took in a deep breath before beginning.
"I hate my family, I suffered neglect and abuse. I was treated differently for being quirkless. And my sibling got endless attention and praise for being 'born gifted'. Same for my old friend. I've tried to understand why, but at this point, I might be better off without them." Tsuyu and Fuyumi listened intently. His voice was mostly level, hardly ever cracking. That meant he had lingering sadness. "I know what you mean," Fuyumi started. "I don't exactly come from the prettiest family either, and I can relate to having a talented sibling."
"But have you ever tried to reconnect with them, like trying to talk this through?" Izuku grit his teeth. "More than I can count. My latest attempt was by far the most horrific..." he growled at the end and clenched his fist. "That might have been a mistake." "Huh?" "Ribbit?" Tsu and Zu looked at her in confusion. "I'm not a licensed therapist, I'm going on instinct, but hear me out. You're not at all wrong for wanting something better from your family, but it's something that all sides have to want. You don't have to be upfront right away, but maybe take some time to think. Do they show any signs of wanting what you want? Are you absolutely sure you know what you want? It's completely up to you what you choose, but I've always found it better to make an informed decision. Watch them and see if you really want to be with that family. Until then, don't revolve entirely around this unpleasant topic. You could find healthy distractions like exercise or reading to keep a healthy psyche. Don't be afraid to put yourself first sometimes."
Izuku took everything the woman said to heart. She was making complete sense, and it made him feel like going home wasn't a complete mistake. He learned how his mother feels, heart-shattering as the truth is. He's got a pretty good read on Izumi too. So that just leaves... 'Dad...' Izuku felt a tap on his shoulder. It was from Tsuyu.
"You don't have to answer, but what's your family like?" she asked with gentle eyes. Zu ran a hand through his hair. "My mom's a pro hero, and my sister wants to be one too. They both have strong quirks. My step-dad works with the police and has a weak strength enhancer. Just enough to make lifting a couch or fridge easy. His mom was a hero, too. Save for my old man, heroing is kinda like the family business. Things went off the rails when I was diagnosed as 'Quirkless'. I was ignored by my parents, bullied by my sister and best friend. Told to off myself. That was the final push I needed to leave. And you know, I can take care of myself better than they bothered to, which speaks volumes about my home life."
Fuyumi and Tsuyu felt their hearts clench at his words. While neither of them had it the best at home for varying reasons, they believed every member of a family should receive love from someone. Izuku sighed and stood up from the bench. "Thanks for the talk, it helped. I'm sorry for being so harsh, Ms Todoroki. I can only imagine how taxing a job managing a bunch of kids is." He walked away, but felt a hand grab his right one gently. He looked back at Tsu holding him. "Come stay with us." she said, surprising Izuku and Fuyumi.
"Ribbit, you don't have to go back to your abusers, they're the ones who turned their backs on you. And you deserve to live in a better place." Zu's eyes widened at the Asui sister's offer, or maybe even request. "T-That means a lot, but I don't want to be a bother to anyone." Fuyumi then stood up. "I still live with my father, but we have comfortable guestrooms. I'm sure he wouldn't mind, he isa hero too."
Izuku felt his heart warming at the kindness these girls exhibited for him. They're offering him new homes to choose from. A fresh start. He could leave his painful past behind. But... 'They're not offering Izuku to live with them. They're offering Zu.' The warmth in his heart turned cold, and he gently pulled away from Tsu. "I appreciate it, truly, but I can't accept. I... I just can't. Don't worry, I can take care of myself. You just worry about your own families, I get the feeling your both vital to them." Zu walked away from the playground, his eyes unmistakably sad.
'I'm sorry, Todoroki, Asui. But sooner or later, it'll be revealed that I'm the Green Devil. I don't want you to pay for harboring an illegal vigilante murderer. Besides...' He passed another missing person poster. He glared intensely at the 'Yagi' name. 'The only way I'll ever go back to that house is on my terms!'
...
'A healthy distraction, huh? Maybe this will help.' Zu walked through the streets of a calm suburb scrolling through the news on his phone. A headline caught his eye that he thought was worth remembering. Ingenium Thwarts Shipment Of Illegal Quirk Drugs.
He then found another that made his eyes widen. Aldera Junior High Shut Down
Light has been shed on the discrimination and malpractices of this school, deeming it an unsuitable environment for growing children. Several staff members were taken to court, where they were found guilty of neglect and actively encouraging the bullying of a quirkless student who had just as much of a right to an environmentally healthy education as the most gifted quirk user.
Izuku's heart suddenly felt lighter. One of his hells was finally facing punishment! At last, the teachers got what they deserved for causing him to suffer. If this distraction isn't healthy, fuck it, Izuku doesn't want to be healthy! He scrolled down to the comments, and found a name he recognized. Momo Yaoyorozu.
"I ran into some kids from Aldera at a local shopping mall. One was being harassed by two others, so I went to find an authoritarian to assist. When I returned, the victim seemed to have an intense reaction to the harassment. We conversed, and that's how I learned about the inexcusable behavior fostered in Aldera Junior High."
'Yaoyorozu...' Izuku held his phone with a shaky hand as tears filled his eyes. He knew her name, her influential, powerful name. 'I'm glad there are people like you with power.' Izuku read on, coming to the names he hates the most: Bakugo and Yagi. There was a little debate going on. Some say that the two are top tier heroes in the making. Most of them are sympathizers since the Green Devil hospitalized them. Others with sense called them out as the future villains they are. Selfish narcissists that put themselves first and belittle the weak. Though, these people are accused of being jealous.
"Fuck...!" Izuku's good mood came to an end when he heard a familiar grumble. He jumped into a tree to observe from above. Whether it was accidental or intended, Izuku had walked back to his old house, where Toshinori had parked his truck with Izumi and Katsuki stepping out. 'Observe and make an informed decision, huh Todoroki? Okay, let's see how this plays out.'
"Damned uptight bitch!" Katsuki cursed. Izumi was next to him looking not as aggravated, but still pissed off. "Sticking her knows where it doesn't belong!" "Thanks to her, our school has a black mark! Yaoyorozu screwed up our hero path over something ridiculous!" Izuku knew what his twin sister and old friend were talking about, and it made him livid. They were talking bad about Yaoyorozu for ratting out their wretched school, the place that made education a nightmare for him, their stomping ground. That alone made him angry enough, but they had the nerve to say it was on ridiculous claims.
Maybe it's ridiculous because the one that was never seen was public punching bag no.1! They dismissed Yaoyorozu's justified actions as over the top and absolutely unnecessary; all because of their infuriating ignorance to the damage they caused, particularly to him! 'Not even an hour since they left the hospital and I already want to send them back! Maybe a few broken bones will settle the score...! But what I'm wondering is, what will you do, dear old Dad?'
The underweight blonde man hadn't spoken, not listening much to Izumi and Katsuki's tirade. "Dad, are you listening!?" "This is bullshit, and you know it, Uncle!" Toshinori finally turned to look at them. "Actually, I don't see it that way, Katsuki," he began, confusing the three kids listening. "You two will have to either move to a different school, or start homeschool, but this could be a blessing in disguise. You won't be the first to become heroes after leaving that poor school, but this gives us more time to train you for U.A."
At this point, the Yagi patriarch lost them. "You? Train us? No offense, Unc, but you'll need something a lot stronger than that puny strength quirk to challenge us." Katsuki proclaimed. The sheer arrogance in his voice made Izuku grip his tree as smoke began to rise from it. "I think I'll be able to suffice, Katsuki." Toshi grinned at him. He looked back and forth to make sure no one was around listening. Izuku found it incredibly disappointing that, despite being careful of his surroundings, his step-dad still failed to notice him.
"You two fought the Green Devil, that outlaw that brutally murdered those four muggers. I don't know much about him or his strange quirk, but it seems to be changing, evolving. If he's as young as you are, he has a lot of room to grow. That could mean trouble for everyone down the line. He needs to be stopped." Izumi and Katsuki agreed completely, getting all fired up. 'The next time I see that bastard, I'll blow his fucking head off!' 'He got lucky, but luck doesn't last forever!'
Izuku, on the other hand, felt a deep blow to his heart that created a hole. They abandoned him, tortured him, pushed him away, and now they have the nerve to talk about him like he's the villain. And for what, giving the brats a long-deserved dose of humility!?
"Put your all into this training, and you two will be more than a match for the Green Devil by the time you start high school. You'll be truly mighty, and do you know why?" Katsuki and Izumi looked at him questioningly, expecting a follow up to that question. And boy did it blow them away.
The skinny Toshinori began to inflate, muscles growing like balloons. His facial features became more filled out, with an awe-inspiringly familiar grin being etched on his face. Izumi and Bakugo couldn't believe what they were seeing and wondered if it was a dream they were having. Izuku was praying that it was a nightmare they were all sharing.
"BECAUSE I AM HERE!" All Might in the flesh said his catchphrase.
Katsuki and Izumi were at a loss for words. In front of them, where Toshinori once stood, was the heroic symbol they'd admired their whole lives. They couldn't move, blink or breathe right. All Might continued. "That's right, future heroes! It is I, All Might! AKA: Toshinori Yagi, father of Izumi Yagi and proud husband to Inko Yagi, AKA: Teleki!" For someone to loudly yell his true identity where literally anyone could pass through and see him was incredibly stupid, but Izuku was too betrayed and heartbroken to point that out.
"D...Dad..." Izumi finally uttered. "Y-You... I... when, how... all this time..." Katsuki was starting to reel, too. "All... Might... Toshi... the hell...?" Izuku caught his breath much faster than these two, and that was directly after his own encounter with a villain. All Might had to manually reset them with chops on the head. That did it. "Alright, would anyone care to explain THE FUCK!?" Katsuki asked. "Yeah, Dad, what the hell!? You've been All Might this whole time!? And Mom knows!? When were you going to tell me!?" All Might's grin never wavered. "It was supposed to be your 14th birthday present, but things got... dicey all of a sudden."
Izuku clutched his pounding chest, struggling to breathe and comprehend this new reality. All Might and his father are the same person! The person who ignored him for ten years, and the person who shattered his dreams are one and the same.
"I am here to train you both. Young Izumi, your Telekinesis will one day outshine your mother's. And Young Katsuki, your impressive explosions have so much potential! Teleki and I will train you both to reach your peak! Together, we'll stop the vigilante menace known as the Green Devil and save Izuku! And you two will one day become the greatest hero duo of all time!"
All Might's uplifting speech was music to Izumi and Katsuki's ears. Just when they were at their lowest, the Pillar of Justice comes and lifts them even higher than before. That's the no.1 hero for you! They both raised their hands, Izumi levitating pebbles off the ground and Katsuki creating explosions in his palms.
Izuku was having possibly the worst day of his life. His tormentors were being praised, and selected to train under who he once saw as the greatest hero. He clenched his eyes shut and put a hand on his mouth to cover his whimpers. As soon as All Might deflated back to Toshinori, he turned and lead Izumi and Bakugo into the house for more explaining. When he saw Yagi's back again, something in him slipped. He removed his hand from his mouth, and his mask was burned right off his face. He punched his tree with his right hand and left a smoking fist print.
Toshinori, Bakugo and Izumi all turned around at the noise, and found nothing but smoldering material dangerously close to the house. Toshi quickly moved to stamp out the potential fire. He saw that it was burned bandaging. 'That was close, the whole house could've caught on fire.'
...
Izuku flew through the late evening sky, light fading to darkness as he appeared as a green comet through the sky. He landed with a violent, fiery, smoldering crash on the roof of the nearest building. His eyes were pouring tears profusely as he stumbled onto his feet. "Dammit... damn it all...!" he whimpered. He opened his eyes and realized, that by some cruel twist of fate, he was on the roof of the recently shut down Aldera.
"Go take a swan dive off the roof, you quirkless trash!"
Just one more gut punch before he snapped.
"DAAAAMMMMIIIITTTTT!" he screamed as he enveloped his right hand in wildly burning viridescent fist punched the roof and shattered the footing beneath him. The concrete and air conditioning units fell down into his old classroom, crushing everything. Izuku hovered above the destruction caused by his emotions, feeling almost no pain in the hand he used to cause this. He closed his eyes as tears still fell down.
'No. No more. That's it! I'm done! I watched them, I saw all I needed to see! I've made my decision!' Izuku opened his eyes, green flames burning in them again. His tears evaporated instantly, and his lower face to his collarbone was veiled in scarf-like fires. "I'm done. I'm done with the Yagi's. I'm done with Bakugo. I'm done with All Might. That is my decision! I never had a family, and never needed one!" The Green Devil flew off into the night, his flames burning to a degree that would consume every bastard in his presence.