Chapter Text
Izuku jolts awake at the sound of violent banging on his door, his mind in a sleepy haze as his heart pounds against his ribcage, adrenaline flooding his system from the sudden fear taking over. It takes him an embarrassingly long time to realise that it’s just Kacchan on the other side, getting impatient after he probably didn’t hear the first gentler knocks. He must have fallen asleep while waiting.
Kacchan’s growls start sounding from the other side and Izuku jumps to his feet, the world spinning as he stumbles all the way to the door, stubbing his toe on the corner of the TV stand and cursing under his breath at the pain. He really hopes Todoroki didn’t feel that, especially when it seems like his injuries are finally healing. At least his body isn’t complaining each time he moves anymore.
Finally, he swings the door open, meeting both Kirishima’s interested expression and Kacchan’s annoyed scowl. They both sniff as they step inside, and Izuku readies his energy, fully expecting at least one of them to run into his bedroom before he even has the chance to get a single word in. True to his belief, Kacchan puffs his chest, his eyes darting to where Todoroki is hopefully still asleep as his lips pull back in contempt. But Izuku doesn’t have to do anything, the other werewolf holding on to Kacchan’s elbow and pulling him back with a huff.
“Midoriya called us here for a reason. Let’s hear what he has to say.”
“What is there to hear about? He fucked up, no doubt. I just wanna see how bad.”
“Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence there.”
“Sorry to say, Midoriya, but your reputation precedes you.” Kirishima flashes him a toothy grin, draping an arm over Kacchan’s shoulder to keep him on a tight leash. “But this idiot made it sound serious, so, lay it on us.”
Scratching at the back of his head, Izuku bites on his bottom lip, measuring his next words. “I may have kind of, sort of, kidnapped Todoroki Shouto.”
A drawn-out whistle blows past Kirishima’s lips, which, coupled with the look of pure exasperation Kacchan is donning, really makes Izuku reconsider his choice on how to start this conversation. He swallows nervously, feeling anxiety itching just beneath his skin as he looks from his bedroom door back to the two werewolves and instinctively puts himself between them.
“I want to help him.” Izuku whispers, voice low but unwavering, and even Kirishima, one of the nicest people he’s ever met, scowls at his words.
“Midoriya… Do you know what he’s meant to do?”
“Whatever he wants.” Izuku says firmly, clenching his fists by his sides.
“He’s playing you like a fiddle, Deku.” Kacchan growls as he takes a step further, sneaking away from Kirishima’s grasp.
“I hate to agree with Bakugou, but he’s right. Half-breeds are deceptive by nature. They can’t be truly loyal to either of their origins.”
Shaking his head, Izuku continues, vehement and trying to ignore the way it stings to hear that from someone he thinks a friend. “That’s not true. He has been living in hell. I’ve seen it, I’ve felt it. For all intents and purposes, he had the upbringing to make him into a merciless killer and I honestly wouldn’t blame him if that was what he became. But it isn’t. He is kind and caring, and all he wants is to protect his siblings who have been living the same horrors he has. He is a good person, he doesn’t want to hurt anyone even though he has been hurt his entire life.”
Tears well up in Izuku’s eyes which only seem to build further when he sees the scepticism in both werewolves’ expressions.
He squeezes his eyes shut for a moment, taking a few deep breaths to calm the rage roiling in his insides. This prejudice that is so deeply ingrained in the magical society is something he has been a target of during his entire childhood. Just because his father was a mage and he had no affinity for magical energy, because his mother was fully human and his blood was not only tainted, it was defective. Who had ever heard of a witch learning magic without being able to cast it? What kind of blasphemy was that? Such secrets weren’t meant for filthy half-bloods.
Izuku grits his teeth and faces the other two.
“Things aren’t okay, they aren’t right. Admit it, even with you both being pure-blooded werewolves, there is some level of distance between your clans and you know I don’t mean territorial. If anyone knew how close you two really are, I am absolutely certain there would be some form of trouble.”
The two of them exchange a look, Kirishima’s features softening with recognition. Kacchan clicks his tongue, crossing his arms over his chest. “That’s just our nature. We’re loyal to our own, different clans will protect their own before anyone else.”
“Bullshit, Kacchan! Look me in the eye and tell me you wouldn’t take a silver bullet for Kirishima-kun if your own mother shot it!”
His eyes flare with anger and the only thing stopping him from tearing at Izuku’s throat is Kirishima holding him back. “You know very well that old hag would never—”
“Wouldn’t she? If she had any reason to believe Kirishima-kun would betray you, would she hesitate? Even if that belief wasn’t the truth?”
Izuku stares his childhood friend down, taking the brunt of his hateful glare until some of his resolve breaks and he stops struggling against Kirishima’s hold, just shaking himself from it with a low growl. He’s getting through to them, but there is still a great deal of doubt within them both, he can tell. Kirishima has his brows pulled together in apprehensive thought, Kacchan still has all of his walls up, resisting any sort of defiance to everything he’s ever known.
But Izuku can’t afford to lose them, this is it: the turning point.
“And witch-werewolf relations have never really been great. But Kirishima-kun, you know Uraraka-san, you went to school together. Tell me you two wouldn’t be great friends if things were different.” Izuku’s challenge is met with silence.
“You two know there are problems with how things are. You don’t want to admit that your whole lives you have believed something that is simply wrong. Because of tradition, because of old-fashioned ideals stemmed from a past long gone. I want to save Todoroki-kun but for that I need things to change. We can change them. We are the future of this society. It’s up to us. I can’t do it by myself.”
A thick tension hangs in the air between them as Izuku holds his breath, waiting for their reactions beyond the anxious lines of their lips. Everything he is fighting for—has been fighting for his entire life—depends on the next few words out of his mouth. He can’t afford to screw this up, even if screwing things up just so happens to be his specialty. Todoroki’s future depends on what he can do here and now. Izuku takes a deep breath.
“Todoroki-kun is not his father. We are not our parents. We can make things better. We can make them right.”
Kacchan’s gaze flicks behind Izuku and he curses under his breath. Unable to resist the urge, yet already knowing just who Kacchan saw, Izuku turns his head to find Todoroki leaning against the door frame, expression neutral and arms crossed. Seeing him there, something flares in Izuku’s chest and he stands up a little straighter, a little taller, lifting the weight of his words with the strength of the potential behind them. Even just standing there, it feels like Izuku can count on his full support and carrying this burden gets just a little easier.
“I’ll stand behind you.” Kirishima nods, determination shining in his eyes.
“Kirishima, if we—”
“Midoriya is right! You know he is, so stop being a thick-headed idiot just because you two have some weird unresolved issues. Our packs deserve a safe and inclusive society to live freely in. These people may have been our enemies in the past, but that’s not the case now, is it? Witches don’t hunt us.”
“They’re still snobby assholes who think they’re better than us.” Kacchan spits back before looking Izuku in the eye. “And that half’n’half is still a threat to our families. What if he’s lying, what if he turns on you when you’re vulnerable, Deku? The old man isn’t what he used to be, you of all people should be aware of that when you’re the one—”
“Kacchan.” Izuku warns, energy sparking in his hands as he instinctively conjures a charm to shut him up if the need arises.
Speaking through gritted teeth, Kacchan focuses his gaze on Todoroki, as if daring him to do anything. “If you die, this city will be unprotected and it’ll make things easier for the red bastard to get what he fucking wants. How can you know that wasn’t his plan from the very beginning?”
“I trust Todoroki-kun.” Izuku says simply, his hand reaching for his chest where he can almost feel the tangled knot of their connected energies. “Trust me, for once.”
Kacchan runs his hands through his hair, growling in frustration as he faces the opposite wall. He looks like he wants to kick something, probably Izuku, but he just huffs and turns to Kirishima for a split second, seeing that the other isn’t backing down on his word. Loyalty is something very important to werewolves and, once given, it’s near impossible to take back. With one more bark, Kacchan finally turns to Izuku again.
“I’m keeping my eye on the fucking half-breed. One wrong move and he’s dead meat.” He says slowly, words dripping with venom. “But I’ll work with you, shitty nerd. You better know what you’re fucking doing.”
Well, better keep to himself that he’s figuring it out as he goes.
“Todoroki-kun,” Izuku starts, looking into his mismatched eyes and hoping to find understanding behind them, acceptance. “Are you willing to help me help everyone.”
“Can you do it in two days?” He finally speaks, stepping closer to the three of them, his movements stiff as he eyes the purebloods with caution.
“I don’t know. But I will try.” Izuku says honestly. “I understand if you want to stay out of it. If word of this gets back to your father…”
“If you let him go, he’ll just tell him anyway.” Kacchan growls, baring his fangs.
“Do you know word-binding spells?” Todoroki turns to Izuku instead.
“They’re blood magic, I know them but like I said before, I have never used them.”
Lifting the shirt’s sleeve, Todoroki presents Izuku his forearm then addresses Kacchan. “Your claws.”
Suspicious, Kacchan approaches slowly, his nails already threateningly sharp as he scowls at him and Izuku both. Izuku blinks, mouth falling open before looking between them.
“I vow to not hinder your plans in any way whatsoever. That includes harming anyone involved with them, speaking a single word of it to anyone outside of them and intentionally preventing you from completing them however I may have been able to do so.” His eyes flicker towards Izuku and he nods minutely.
Izuku swallows around the lump in his throat and tells Kacchan which strokes to scratch onto Todoroki’s skin, biting the inside of his own cheek to distract himself from the pain that sparks up his arm as he summons the necessary energy to his palms. Once the binding rune is complete, Izuku mumbles the enchantment while his hands hover over it, energy seeping through and mingling with Todoroki’s blood. His voice strangled as he feels the symbol burning into the other’s skin. Todoroki doesn’t make a single sound, doesn’t even flinch and it only goes to show how much pain he has endured already that something this excruciating fails to faze him at all.
When the spell is finally done, the remaining energy disappearing in a wisp of smoke, Todoroki returns the sleeve to its rightful place. “Satisfied?”
“Barely.”
Just like before, Todoroki ignores Kacchan’s angry retort. “You can count on me for whatever you need that is within my abilities, Midoriya. I trust you as well.”
Izuku nods in response, allowing himself to breathe for a single second before he is once again choked. There is a lot they must do and no time to waste at all. It may very well mark the end of an era. Izuku just hopes it doesn’t take a turn for the worst.