Chapter Text
Izuku waved at Koda as he left, content to see him when the cat will be better in three days. Now, Izuku would normally head straight home after a day like this, getting attacked by a villian, getting all of your dreams crushed by the one- former one thing that was keeping your dreams intact, and meeting what must the sweetest person he’s ever seen. And that boy just so happened to reawaken his dream by saying just five words, FIVE WORDS.
What a sweet five words he thought longingly.
But that was why he didn’t go home. If he wanted to be a hero, which still probably won’t happen he had to have a plan.
He thought about he could use the local gym to build strength, which he would need if he wanted to stand a fraction of a chance. But Bakugo got it right that time would probably be there and he couldn’t have delays like that.
He also realized that it wouldn’t hurt to have some type of combat training, even if he didn’t have a style or know how to fight besides running away, he was really good at that. Wait, he thought if I am good at running, how about I run into crime. Wait, that’s insane, even though it would make a good diversion. But what about after the diversion. How was he supposed to back up that?
Weapons
^^^^^^
Izuku had no idea about how he got into the hardware store, searching for a weapon. Or how the store is still open, it’s like 10:45. Whatever, if he was going to find a weapon, he might find the best one suited for him.
Which, he realized, wasn’t really anything.
He quickly ruled out anything dealing with electricity, can’t have his weapon die in the middle of the fight. That ruled out drills, saws like he could use that, and any power tools and the like. The hammers and screwdrivers did seem appealing, could easily be hidden in his jacket and everything. He got one of each.
Now that he got a weapon, he needed something with more range. Some not too heavy but can still hurt.
Wait, did he want to hurt people.
“Ahem, how can I help you this fine evening.”
Izuku shuffles away in shock. Had he been caught, how was how going to explain to this what he was doing. As he started to get his awareness back, he noticed that new person had a crow-like head, beak and all. He also noticed that he had on the store's uniform, indicating that he worked there.
“A-ah no, I’m just looking.” he stammered, hoping to chase the avian boy away before he could ask what he was up to.
The bird-headed boy, Tokoyami, he noticed after reading the name tag, didn’t look convinced as he peered into his shopping cart.
“It would aid you to have a crowbar for your escapades in darkness, would it not?” he replied dryly, moving his head to the boy.
Izuku thought about it, a crowbar would be nice. It could be easily held, not too much weight but could still pack a wallop, and it could be used to open doors that are trapped shut to help people escape. It was then he realized he was just standing there, staring at the boy.
“Y-yes it would, actually. Thank you.” he said with all the grace of a bull in a China shop. If the boy in uniform was taken aback by his words, it didn’t show.
“Glad I could be of service, good luck on your escapades in darkness.” He responded while walking away, clearly ending the conversation. Izuku was glad for that, he couldn’t handle embarrassing himself if front of the cute boy anymore.
Wait, cute.
^^^^^^
Izuku decided on two crowbars for versatility, some wire and zip ties to capture criminals, and a steel pipe because how could he not.
As he finally heads home, he can’t stop thinking about what the store worker, Tokoyami, said.
Escapades in darkness , was he talking about the late hour, or did he get found out already. Didn’t even last a day, barely a couple hours. Just like a useless Deku.
“I need to stop.” he said aloud. But how could he stop, he just got his equipment. He hadn’t even got to help anyone yet. He couldn’t stop, not now, he needs to see this through.
^^^^^^
He’s about 10 minutes from home when he hears it.
“Hey, just gives your wallet and you can go home safe and sound.”
Izuku hears it and run toward the sound. He sees two people in an alleyway standing over some man in a business suit. One is just over six foot with an obvious ape quirk. The other guy has red hair in a mohawk that reflects the light, just taller than him. He can tell that they are the ones roughing up the man in the suit, who noticed him out of the corner of his eye. He couldn’t not help him, not after he went through the trouble to get weapons.
He realizes they haven’t seen him, so he’ll have to use that if he wants to stand a chance. He reaches into bag from the store to pull out the hammer and gets ready to throw it at the glassy-haired man. As the hammer flies through the air, it hits the glassy-haired man and shatters the mohawk upon contact.
At that, he finally gets noticed by the two. “Well, well, well, what do we have here? Some po-dunk brat trying to be some hero? Why don’t you do the smart thing and just run along?” The man he now recognized as the First voice he heard sneers.
Upon being discovered, he yells, with determination in his voice.
“I won’t let you hurt him!”
After hearing what he said, the two laughed. He used that to pull out the pipe and the screwdriver to rush them in a headfast charge, bet he thought better of it. If they catch me, I won’t be able to hit back, I need to find an opening. After his thoughts ran their course, the Ape-like man started speaking again.
“What are you gonna do about it, fight us? You look like a twig.” he taunted, but Izuku didn’t listen. He noticed the Ape had a large enough gap between his legs to slide through, so he did the only thing he could think of.
Throw his backpack at his face and baseball slide underneath him.
His backpack got swatted easily, dashing its contents into the alley but that didn’t stop him from getting under his legs and stabbing as hard as he could with the screwdriver at his crotch.
Did he know it was underhanded? Yes. Did he also know that he needed every advantage possible to stand a chance and save this man? Also, yes.
After his screwdriver implanted itself into the Ape-man's crotch, he fell over with a loud thud as his entire body met street.
As the previously mohawked man stopped staring in shock, he ran away. Izuku didn’t think he could fight another one.
As the Ape-man started to rise up with an enraged expression on his face, Izuku swung his steel pipe onto his head, thankfully knocking him unconscious.
Some moments after the man was unconscious, Izuku remembered to zip-tie for the police to have an easier time arresting him. He then turned to the man in a business suit.
He had on an average business suit, with minor dirty spots from when the two harassed him. He also had dark green hair, with striking yellow streaks across each side of his head. It was only then when Izuku realized that he had been staring and not even asked the man if he was ok.
“U-um sir, are you all right?” He asked, probably way too late. He just hoped that the man wouldn’t yell at him for being reckless.
The man gave him an unreadable gaze and said “I could ask the same for yourself.”
“O-oh no, I’m fine, he didn’t really get me and it looked like you were hurt bit I wasn’t sure and you seemed to need my help and- I'm rambling again, aren’t I?” Izuku stumbles through his train of thought as he heard a soft chuckle.
“It’s quite all right.” He responds after his laugh, “I’m fine. Thank you for saving me.”
“No problem.” He flushes at the praise, finally sinking in that he saved someone. He really did it, didn’t he? Izuku proved them wrong, he wasn’t useless, he wasn’t a burden, he could be a hero. His eyes water but tears don’t fall as the very tall man he now sees, stands up.
“What’s your name, by the way? I can’t properly thank someone without knowing their name.”
“It’s Midoriya Izuku.” He answers cleanly, taken aback by the question.
“Well thank you, Midoriya Izuku, for saving me.” he states as he walks away in long strides.
Once Izuku recovers from the shock, he quickly puts his scattered things away in his backpack, not realizing the absence of a certain notebook.
^^^^^^
Mirai was very intrigued.
One moment he was taking a stroll through this town after the dredge of finding a lead on a drug case, the next he was cornered in an alleyway with two ruffians he was about to beat until Midoriya Izuku came onto the scene, quickly dispatching the Ape-like man and causing the formerly mohawked mad run away. He knew battle instincts when he saw them, but he didn’t see any form or experience from the boy. He also didn’t see any quirk usage from the boy either. So how could he not be intrigued when after he defeats the ruffians, he goes into a state of embarrassment and starts to mumble his train of thought out loud. And then starts to almost cry after he thanked the boy, how could he not help but steal a notebook titled Hero Analysis for the Future No.13. Who could blame him that, after seeing one page, which carried some of the most detailed information he has seen in his entire career.
He also very much noticed the burn marks and the wetness that couldn’t have been the boy. An angry feeling curled up in his gut at the thought of some damaging such impressive analysis of heroes. One thing was for certain, though.
He had to meet Midoriya Izuku again.