Chapter Text
March 17, 1776
Retreat is not a word one likes to hear their commander say in the middle of a battle, alas, the Continental Army is mostly made up of farmers, drunks, and immigrants. Very few have practical fighting experience. It's a miracle that they've won any battles. Retreat is not unfamiliar to those fighting the king's rule. It is a captain's job to ensure that their troops follow General Toshinori Yagi orders regardless of how they feel about it themselves.
Therefore, Izuku Midoriya, who was made Captain of 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Unit on March 14th, was disappointed when he heard the order, but begrudgingly did as instructed. He had his troops retreat through New York with great skill. He felt he did a good job, so why is he standing in front of the General's tent anxiously? He was summoned by General Yagi and unsure what to expect from this meeting. Was he going to be kicked out? Oh gosh, he hopes not. He has so much that he can give the revolution.
"How long are you going to stand out there, my boy?" a man calls from inside the tent. Izuku yelps, pushing past the draped fabric used as a door for the tent. The General's tent may have been bigger than what most soldiers could even hope for, but it's not as big as one would expect from someone so highly ranked. This is because Congress is unable to give them the supplies they need.
"Sir!" Izuku solutes stiffly.
"As you were."
Izuku tries to relax but is unable to with the weight from the possibilities of the upcoming conversation upon his shoulders.
"I'm sure you're wondering why I summoned you here," General Yagi began. He is such a tall man, over seven feet at least, and very muscular. Izuku wonders how he maintains it with how little food the army has. How curious. His physical appearance is intimidating, even sitting behind his deck as he is.
"Yes, sir."
"I have decided to make you Captain of the Provisional Company of the New York Artillery starting today. Congratulations, young Midoriya."*
Izuku's eyes practically bulge out of his head. This is not what he expected to happen today, that's for freakin' sure.
"T-thank you, sir!"
"That is all, you're dismissed," the General said. Coming from anyone else, this might sound rude or even harsh, but this was coming from General Yagi. The small smile and the soft way he said it gave away his true feelings on the matter. He sees greatness in Izuku and will keep a close eye on him going forward.
Izuku wants to say something, ask him why he's being promoted or perhaps thank him for this opportunity, alas, he is completely speechless. He does not remember exiting Yagi's tent, nor does he remember making it to where his friends sit. But it obviously must have happened somehow, as Kaminari is clapping him on the shoulder.
"That bad, un ami?" Kaminari asks, French accent heavily coating his words.
"Whatever it was, man, I'm sure it wasn't your fault!" Kirishima says in an attempt to cheer him up from what they likely suspect was a scolding --at the very least-- from their commander.
"N-no, it's..." Izuku tries to speak.
"Here," Kaminari hands Izuku a mug, "have bière to drown your sorrows."
"That's not..."
"What did he say, dude?"
"I've been promoted..." Izuku says slowly, still trying to catch up with the information himself. Kirishima and Kaminari's reactions are instantaneous. Their mouths open enough that bugs could fly inside.
"Holy shit, dude!"
"Incroyable!"
Kaminari reverts to French in his excitement. He is from France, of course, and not used to speaking English yet. He became close with Izuku and Kirishima because they are both not only fluent in French, but are also anti slavery.** In a world where slaves are being slaughtered and carted away, their views aren't commonly shared. That is why when you meet someone who truly believes that all men are created equal, you stick close to them.
This is probably why they have become so close. The three of them are very different from each other, if not for the war, they would not have met. One is an orphan born hundreds of miles away. Another is the son of a wealthy merchant who sells slaves. The other's family owns land in Chavaniac in the province of Auvergne. They should never have met, yet here they are, celebrating Izuku's promotion with the cheep malt beer the army has.
"Raise a glass to freedom, something they can never take away," Kirishima declares, uncharacteristically solemn. "No matter what they tell you."
"And when our children tell our story," Izuku starts.
"They'll tell the story of tonight." Kirishima and Kaminari finish, somehow knowing what he was going to say before even he did.
"Let's have another round tonight," Izuku offers, already pouring more beer.
"Oui, let's have another round tonight!" Kaminari enthusiastically agrees.
The next day the three of them will wake up with hangovers. Their headaches will make it hard to listen to gunshots or even their commanders giving orders, yet still,
none of them would have it any other way.
Early September, 1776
General Toshinori Yagi is sitting with Izuku Midoriya, telling him about the Battle of Long Island and his impressive retreat from New York. Nine thousand troops trapped against the East River only to be saved by a relatively small group of hastily gathered reinforcements led by the General himself? It sure sounds intense, but that isn't even the best part. All nine thousand soldiers made it out unscathed under cover of the thick fog that the heavens must have sent down to help them. They even managed to grab most of their supplies. It sounds like something straight from a novel.
"We're lucky that the fog rolled in when it did. When the sun began to rise, I didn't think we'd make it out," Yagi explains.
"That sound like a miracle," Izuku agreed.
"While I'm glad we were able to save the troops, we lost Long Island and New York City. I cannot consider this a win."
Izuku winces. He had received a letter from Mirio that morning. He'd written about the red coats taking over NYC and how he has been forced to stay in the city. Mirio has had to return to his clothing emporium to fend for his family. He longs to help the war effort but is unable to. Suddenly, Izuku has an epiphany.
"Sir," Izuku says, "What if you had a spy in New York? How beneficial would that be for us?"
"Very. Trustworthy informants are hard to come by. And now that we don't have access to the city, new information would be invaluable."
"I think I have someone who can help."
When Izuku later asks Mirio to be a spy for the revolution, he jumps at the opportunity. Now that the Continental Army is out of NYC, the red coat's lips are relaxed, no longer worried about who hears them. Plenty of those red coats go to Mirio's shop and gossip with him while he takes their measurements. They leave none the wiser that they are helping their enemy.***
December 23, 1776
The American Patriots are camped by the shore of the Delaware River in Pennsylvania. Across that very river in Trenton, New Jersey are the Hessians: German mercenaries hired by the British army to fight the revolution. The Patriots are facing dwindling supplies and low moral. This is why General Toshinori Yagi called General Sajin Higawara and Captain Izuku Midoriya for aid.
"Ah, young Midoriya," calls Yagi.
"Sir," Izuku solutes.
"Good evening, General," Higawara greets.
"I'm sure you are wondering why I asked you to come here," General Yagi starts. "Here's the situation..." After explaining the lack of ammunition, food, and his desire to attack the Hessians regardless, Higawara is confounded by his sheer audacity.
"How are we supposed to attack an entire army when we don't have enough bullets?!"
"That's exactly why we need to!" Izuku interjects. "The Hessians have supplies. If we attack them, we can capture all of it."
"And how do you suppose we'll win?" asks Higawara, irritated.
"We'll attack on Christmas night. They'll be to drunk to fight back," says Yagi.
"That's your plan? When you wrote to me, I thought you'd have something worthwhile," Higawara snaps.
"No, I think this could work..." Izuku mumbles. And so, even without General Higawara on board, they start planning their assault.
On the 25th of December after the sun had set, three platoons set sail. Led by General Toshinori Yagi, General Sajin Higawara, and Captain Izuku Midoriya, all five thousand American troops battle 60 to 70 mile an hour winds, small icebergs, and freezing temperatures on poorly made pinewood boats. Water sloshes into the boats, piercing the soldier's feet with it's wintry sting. The lucky soldiers were able to wrap towels around their feet to protect themselves. The unlucky ones will end up with frostbite.
Sajin Higawara orders his troops to turn back, saying that "Jesus told him to." Still, Yagi and Izuku continue. Izuku, even though he was sick before they left, refuses to give up. He is going to follow Yagi's orders, even if it kills him.
While the Delaware River is only about three hundred yards wide, it takes them hours to reach the other side. By the time they land on the shore in New Jersey, it's morning.
It's too late to turn back now. The troops charge. To their surprise, Yagi was right. There is hardly any resistance from the Hessians. Some are too drunk to even stand. By the end of the day, only twenty two Hessians were killed. Two Americans froze to death, and five were wounded. As the one thousand captured Germans were rowed across the river to Pennsylvania, their captors celebrate by drinking the rum they found amongst the Hessian's supplies. ****
March 1, 1777
Izuku has once again been called to General Toshinori Yagi's tent. Unlike the first time, he isn't nervous. He has become quite familiar with the General. I dare say they are fond of each other. Yagi sees Izuku as a son of sorts.
"General Yagi, sir," Izuku solutes upon entering.
"Ah, young Midoriya," says Yagi, not unkindly, "As you were."
Izuku relaxes his stance. The general stands behind his desk, looking down at the maps and miscellaneous papers.
"May I ask why I was summoned?" Izuku inquires.
"I have a proposition for you, my boy."
"A proposition?"
"I heard that Nathanael Greene and Henry Knox tried to hire you..." *****
"Sir?"
"May I ask why you turned them down?"
"They wanted me to be their secretary. I don't think so!"
"Now why are you upset?" The General sounds amused.
"I'm not?"
"It's alright you want to fight: you've got a hunger. I was just like you when I was younger. Head full of fantasies of dying like a martyr."
Izuku agrees. There are worse things than dying well.
"Dying is easy, young Midoriya; living is harder."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"I'm being honest. I'm working with a third of what our congress has promised. We are a powder keg about to explode. I need someone like you to lighten the load."
"What could I possibly do to change that?"
"You have fought in the Battle of Harlem Heights, the Battle of White Plains, the Battle Trenton, and the Battle of Princeton. You know how few supplies we have. You know what the men in the lower ranks go through daily. Who is better equipped to help them?"
He needs to think about this. Izuku turned Mr. Greene and Mr. Knox down for a reason, he didn't care how he would rise in rank. He refuses to be a secretary. Izuku joined the revolution to fight for independence. For freedom. How was he to do that from behind a desk? But then again, this is Toshinori Yagi. If Izuku can make a difference in the war with writing, it'll be from working under him.
"I am not throwing away my shot!" Izuku says, determined. He will make a difference, and this is how he's going to do it.
"Young Midoriya?" Yagi notices his change in mood and his sudden resolve.
"I accept the role as your aide de camp."
"Shall we start now?" the General Yagi asks, already knowing the answer. You don't have to know Izuku for long to understand that he'd want to get to work right away. And he does. No time to celebrate. Izuku introduces Yagi to his friend Kaminari. He uses his connections in France to ask for aid from the crown.
Izuku swears he will do all that he can to end the war with the Continental Army as the victor. As he said before, he is not throwing away his shot.