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Chapter Text

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Izuku snapped awake

He brought his hands up and wiped the sleep from his eyes slowly sitting up, glancing over at his phone. Which was buzzing quietly on his nightstand. He wasn't allowed audible alarms anymore, his father said it made his headaches worse in the mornings. 

It was 5:30 am, the first Tuesday of April, 2117. 

He had gotten used to waking up early, it had become his morning ritual. He slowly slid out of bed and gently put his feet on the floor. The less noise he made the longer the peace would last in the house. 

After getting dressed in his usual hoodie shirt and pants, he padded his way down the hall avoiding the creaky floor boards. 

The stairs weren't always the first obstacle of his day, but he was grateful when they were. Anything was easier to deal with than Hisashi. 

Izuku turned the corner at the base of the stairs to hear soft bustling in the kitchen, Seeing his mother preparing breakfast and packing lunches for the day.

" Hey mamma, good morning. " He softly spoke giving her a peck on the cheek, taking a piece of sausage from a plate. 

She turned slightly giving him an exhausted smile. Izuku noticed her matted makeup, the skin around her left eye more swollen than the rest of her complexion. 

Not again.

" Mamma, you missed a spot. " 

" Oh! Sorry baby, it's nothing to worry about. Im okay. Eat your breakfast." Her smile told him that she was okay, but it could never cover the fear and pain in her eyes. 

Hisashi must have come home last night, pissed about something from work or maybe the puppy he kicked didn't yelp loud enough. Izuku snorted at the thought. He never understood why his dad always came home pissed off. Or why he even bothered coming home at all. He spent more time at bars and work than he did here. 

" Okay mamma. I love you. " He took a plate, and made his way back up to his room. " I love you too baby. " 

He nearly made it back to his room before one of the floorboards let out a loud groan right in front of his parents door, " Shit. "

" SHUT THE FUCK UP IM TRYING TO SLEEP, HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY THIS TO YOU BEFORE YOU GET IT THROUGH YOUR THICK FUCKING SKULL?! " 

" Sorry sir. I'll be more quiet. " Izuku hissed those words out, flipping off the closed door the echoing shout had come from.

He went back to his room, hearing clattering and cursing follow him before gently clicking his door shut. 

Hmm, that was better than usual. 

-----

He returned downstairs after finishing his plate washing it in the sink. 

He kissed his mother on the cheek one more time, her make up now fixed. Father sitting at the table drinking his coffee, flask close at hand. 

" I’m going to school then work, I'll be back around 10. " 

His father looked up to say “ Make sure to pay me for this months rent. ” then waved a dismissal. His mother gave a worried smile and patted his cheek. " Have a good day sweetheart. "

He closed the front door behind him, took a breath of morning air and began to make his way towards the second worst place he had to unfortunately spend his days at. 

School. 

He had to walk forty minutes, five days out of the week to be in a place that he loathed. It wasn’t the building, the learning, or even the teachers he hated. Although many of the teachers were ignorant of the major problem.

It was the students. 

They were all hell spawn, although he could handle it. He was used to being insulted, enduring physical and mental pain. Day after day. 

Even outside of the school, in public they would find and try to hurt him. 

The adults just played it off as them being kids. 

Although once they found out that Izuku had no quirk, they changed their tone very quickly.

He could see their expressions freeze, some even smiled. It was fine since he was a cripple, he couldn’t do anything. 

Their parents only wrote it off as quirk practice. The police told him and his mother to stop bothering them with trifling problems. 

The only one to ever try to protect him was his mother. 

The least he could do was protect her name, which is why he often fought back against the other students and sometimes the faculty.

There was a downside to this. Once the major bullies found out about his weakness for his mother they would poke and prod him until he got to his snapping point. 

Hopefully today would be different than it had been for the past 12 years in a row.

He paused outside the school wall, staring at the groups gathered outside. He knew which groups would harass him and which would let him pass. Many weren’t bothering him this month, after recently one kid with a strength quirk went to far and dislocated his shoulder in the courtyard. Which was caught on camera. 

If they hurt him too much too often that is when the adults started to get involved.

But there were always the ones, like Katsuki the rat , who just seemed to draw pleasure from his humiliation and pain. 

Today the blonde was waiting with his click, right next to the front doors. 

“ Good morning shit stain.” The sneer matched the words as Izuku slowly walked past head faced forward, ignoring him. 

“ HEY, I am talking to you. You fucking cripple.” Katsuki grabbed his collar as he passed and jerked his head back gripping his throat with the other. 

Izuku could feel the warmth in the firm grip, knew the sting of the explosions all too well. 

“ Good morning Katsuki. ” 

He felt his legs give out as one of the cronies kicked out his knees. 

“ I believe what you meant to say was?” The pain in his back at being nearly bent over backward held up only by his neck was starting to make his blood boil. He took a deep breath trying to calm his nerves, if he showed any sign of resistance he knew from experience they would take it as a sign of insubordination and try to beat him back into an obedient pet.

Fucking asshole, leave me be.

“Sir. Good morning, Sir.” The hand dropped him in a heap landing on his legs, which folded underneath him. 

“That’s right. Don’t forget it again or we will have to have another “meeting” like yesterday. We wouldn’t want that would we now?”

Izuku could feel the stares following the snickers of the surrounding students. 

He stood up to watch Katsuki and his group head through the main doors. He brushed the dust off of his shirt and adjusted his bag straps. 

I hope that dick didn’t leave a mark, he sighed as he rubbed his neck. 

At least Katsuki knew better than to insult his auntie, Inko. Their mothers were still best friends despite the “friendship” the two boys shared. Katsuki knew that if he insulted Inko Izuku would fight back no matter how bad he was already beat up or how many people were present.

He made eye contact with a teacher who was outside smoking something that left Izuku’s eyes burning. 

“No please don’t bother yourself helping me.” 

The teacher snorted “I’m not on the clock yet you little shit. Get inside before I decide to clock in and write you up for fighting.”

How about I shove that joint up your ass and watch you blow more smoke out you fucking washed up fuck.

Izuku had to visibly swallow his thoughts and slammed the main door open, and made his way to his locker. 

-----

The rest of his day was fairly calm after that morning. There was the usual spit balls, and people trying to trip him in the halls.

He had gotten very light on his feet the past few years. His reflexes and speed had improved steadily over the years, allowing him to become a master in evasion.

He went to retrieve his things from his locker, which was nearly black from all of the derogatory terms the students had scrawled on it over the past few weeks since it had last been cleaned. 

He grabbed his bag stuffing his books and notes inside. He needed to run if he was going to make it to his interview today. 

He had applied to the construction site around two weeks go, and had been excited when they had called him back. The pay was lower than the other companies, but the hours were fair and compatible with his school schedule. He was worried about his age interfering, and the fact that he didn’t have a quirk had already gotten him turned down by other companies. It was fortunate that the Uraraka family seemed to not care about his lack of a quirk. 

Although they would care if he was late to the interview.

He couldn't afford to lose this opportunity, so far the only money he was making was from the odd job for the elderly or working small jobs in landscaping around the community.

The site was across town, and he had twenty minutes to make it there on time.

He could not spare any time for distra-

“ Deku, come here for a minute.”

Shit.

Bakugo was sitting outside, alone, seemingly waiting for Izuku. 

“Katsuki, I have to go. I can’t do this right now. Please.”

The clock was ticking and he was counting every second in his head. 

“What do you have to get to that is so important.” The boy hopped off the wall and sauntered over, his signature glare focused on Izuku, although his eyes weren't as angry as this morning.

“Interview. I can’t be late, can we do this later please. I am already late."

Katsuki's sneer disappeared, “Fine. Just because I know your broke ass needs it. Filth.”

As soon as Bakugo's back was turned Izuku turned and began to sprint, clutching his backpack and trying to think of any short cuts he could take to make up for the lost time. 

He ran across roads, dodging pedestrians, and jumping any smaller obstacles that came across his path. Multiple times he was nearly hit by a vehicle, or hit an object or person. But he used his experience with evasion to dodge or twist around them. 

"I am getting pretty good at this." Izuku smiled as he jumped over trash cans piled on the corner on the street.

Turning the final corner he collided with what felt like a brick wall face first. Landing on his ass he clutched his nose, and looked up eyes watering. 

His gaze met blood shot dead looking eyes. 

“Hey, kid. You alright.”

The voice matched the eyes as the figure extended a hand and pulled him to his feet. His clothes were black and wrinkled, hair frizzled and frayed looking.

“Yeah, I’m alright thank you. Sorry for bumping into you, I need to go. Please excuse me.”

The greenette staggered to his feet rubbing his nose and grabbing his bag off the ground, made the final run towards the construction offices. 

-----

Aizawa watched as the young man grabbed his bag off the ground and darted off running towards the construction site down the street. 

“Hey, don’t let him ruin your mood Love. Come on, let's go get some food.”

Aizawa grunted and rubbed his shoulder, following Hizashi. “That kid has a hard head.”

-----

Izuku glanced at his phone as he pulled up to the front door and paused to catch his breath, barely on time. 

Patting down his clothes and readjusting his bag he knocked and entered the main office. 

A bubbly voice rang out from behind the front desk, “ Hello! How can I help you?”

The girl looked around his age, light brown hair framing a cute round face. Her cheeks seemed to be a pink hue, maybe she was sick? Her smile was polite yet warming, making him pause. 

She’s cute.

“Hello, my name is Izuku Midoriya. I am here for the interviews today?” 

“Oh! Hello, yes! My parents will be right out to greet you!”

Parents?

The young woman picked up the phone, her pinkie extended. 

She seemed to have some kind of pads on the tips of her fingers, interesting. Quirk related, I wonder what it is? If I get the job maybe she will let me take some notes.

She spoke into the phone and a few moments later a man with the same brown hair and warm smile came out of a side office and came up to Izuku shaking his hand. 

“ Hello, Midoriya right? Pleasure to meet you. Are you ready? ”

“Yes sir.”

He smiled, thanking the mans daughter, who gave him a thumbs up and mouthed “Good Luck.”

-----

He got it, he got the job. 

Izuku felt better than he had in quite some time. He had left the office after waving the family goodbye, the young woman at the desk's smile leaving a queasy feeling in Izuku's stomach.

He had a new job closer to home, not that far from school. Plus he got to work with a cute girl. Life was looking up. 

Izuku was walking home, passing abandoned buildings and watching eyes. This was downtown. Not many hero's patrolled here. There was rarely any major activity, so the police maintained the order of this side of town. 

Izuku didn’t hear the footsteps, but he did feel the bat connect with his right side. Causing his breath to release in a sharp gasp. The pain staggered him, as he turned to see his assailant a woman with two men close behind her. 

The men rushed forward grabbing him by his jacket and dragged him into the alley close by. They all had face masks, the upper parts of their face visible. But not enough for recollection. 

The woman swung her bat down once more, striking his chest. The men backed away and starting beating him kicking wherever he was vulnerable and not covering. 

All Izuku could do was curl up into a ball and count the seconds, which were punctuated by another strike of the bat or a fist or foot. 

After a few minutes they slowed down and began to rifle through his clothes and bag. He could only lay in the alley, stunned breathing shallowly. He could feel the blood trickling down his throat from where one of them had split his lip, but he couldn’t find the strength to swallow or wipe it away.

He didn’t register as the muggers stood, didn’t hear them turn and leave. He wasn't sure how much time passed as he felt his wounds throbbing, and he coughed hard trying to dispel the blood pooling at the back of his throat. He took a ragged breath and tried to sit up, as the blood rushed to his head his vision flickered and he fell back smacking his skull on the slick concrete.

His consciousness faded as he felt himself being picked up and carried into some kind of vehicle. 

“Come on kid. Hang in there you will be okay, just hang in there.”

Strange, that voice. Sounds familiar.

-----

He slowly awoke to find himself surrounded by the interior design of a hospital room and his mother sitting in a chair next to him. 

He tried to croak out her name, but opening his mouth reopened his split lip causing him to flinch and moan in pain.

“Baby? Oh Izuku!” His mother pounced on him kissing his face tears sliding down her cheeks. “Oh baby are you okay? What happened, who did this to you?”

Hearing the commotion a nurse came in, saw he was awake and ushered a police officer and what looked like the homeless man he had bumped into earlier. 

Although getting another look, he looked kind of familiar. His memory felt fuzzy, but he thought he kind of looked like an underground hero that Izuku remembered from a late night documentary from a few weeks ago. 

The nurse came and began giving him a check up, offering a glass of water with a straw that had been on the bedside table. 

“Midoriya Izuku, if I am correct?” The officer was reading from a file, and looked up at him. 

Izuku took a sip of water, clearing his throat. “ Yes sir. ”

“Well Mister Midoriya, it seems you were involved in a minor shake down, in downtown at around 5, is that correct?” 

No, I just happened to think today was a good day for an ass kicking contest. Guess who lost?

“Yes sir.”

“Well then you are very fortunate that Eraser Head was in the area. He heard the commotion and found you in an alley unconscious. Now if I could just get your description of the assailants.”

Izuku gave his testimony, sipping water every few minutes. He kept glancing at EraserHead, aka Aizawa Shouta. The man he had run into, who was just standing near the doorway staring at Izuku. Izuku felt guilty thinking that he had been a homeless man, but I guess that kept his identity a secret. Aizawa didn't like to be known by the public as he was best known for his hero work in the dead of night.

Once the officer was finished gathering notes and the descriptions, he gathered his things and left. Followed by Aizawa, who began to leave.

“ Wait, please mister EraserHe-”

“My name is Shouta. Do not use that ridiculous name when referring to me. What do you need.”

Izuku swallowed and began. “Mr. Shouta, is it possible. For someone, like me. To become a hero?” His voice sounded so weak. Trembling and soft. 

Aizawa stared at him for a few moments, his eyes trailing over the young man’s battered face. He looked at the boys mother. She was staring at her son, with a broken expression. Tears already welling up. He looked away, memories coming up of those he had lost. He couldn’t stand seeing yet another child wanting to throw away his life after some stupid title. “Hero.” It made him sick. The least he could do was protect this young man again. Being a hero isn’t for the weak. If this child tried to enter into this line of work he would die without mercy.

“No. If you cannot protect yourself how do you plan to protect others. As you are now you are not fit to be anything even close to a hero. Focus on staying alive kid.” 

With that Aizawa walked out the door letting in close behind him. 

-----

His mother stayed until he was discharged a few hours later. They took the bus home, her clutching his hand and kissing him every few minutes. Izuku stayed silent, his fears confirmed by the heroes words. 

They arrived at their house, Izuku made his way to his room. 

His mother watched him slowly tramp up the stairs, then made her way into the living room as her husband called for her to get him another beer. She would bring him up some leftovers soon.

Izuku sat on his bed, Aizawa’s words echoing in his mind. 

All I wanted was to help. I just wanted to make a difference. 

He could feel the hot tears begin to carve paths down his cheeks. Hot shame expanding in his chest causing him to choke on his breath. He could feel his anger welling up, he wanted to hit something. He stayed like that until a soft knock interrupted the suffocating silence.

His mother slowly opened his door holding a plate of food, to see her son looking down at his fist. Tears dripping from his face silently. She placed the plate on his desk and hugged him. 

“I’m sorry son. I’m so sorry my baby. Im sorry.” Her words began to break up with more tears as she clutched her son who just sat there. His dreams dissolving in front of him.

Don’t say that mother. It isn’t your fault. Stop crying. Stop crying. Stop crying. Stop crying. STOP CRYING.

It was to much to watch even his mother give up on him. 

He didn't know what to do, so he stayed silent. Watching his dream of heroics crumble away in front of him. 

-----

Friday, April 2117.

His alarms went off, waking him. 

“BOY SHUT THAT SHIT OFF. ” 

He reached over and grabbed his phone, turning off the alarm. 

He felt drained. “Fuck today.” He stayed in bed for another hour, memories of yesterday flashing through his mind.

He stood and got dressed after his stomach growled at him, and started making his way downstairs. 

He paused at the top of the stairs, hearing shouting. Seems his father was up already. 

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU WERE FIRED.” 

“Honey it is okay, I-I just. They said that they couldn’t keep me employed because of evidence of abuse. They couldn’t use a worker who is hurt.”

“ABUSE? YOU THINK I ABUSE YOU? I PAY FOR THIS FUCKING HOUSE. I PAY FOR YOUR FOOD. YOUR CLOTHES. I PAY FOR THAT FUCKING BASTARD WHO-”

His mother snapped, slapping Hisashi across the face. “Don’t ever call my son that!” 

Hisashi paused then began to laugh. He yanked Inko's head back by her hair and roared into her face. 

“You want to see abuse, you slut? I’LL SHOW YOU ABUSE.”

Izuku began to run down the stairs as Hisashi began to beat Inko, dragging her by her hair slamming his fist into her face. 

Izuku slammed his shoulder into his father throwing him off of his mother. He pinned Hisashi down, and shouted “DON'T TOUCH MY MOTHER” He turned after knocking his father away, and saw his mother dart into the kitchen pulling out her phone.

His father’s face was shocked, then curled into rage. He reeked heavily of alcohol. He slammed his head into Izuku’s nose causing him to fall off. He recoiled backwards clutching his nose and felt his father begin to wail on him. 

“This ” A kick to the stomach, made izuku curl up.  “Will ” The punch in the face sent his vision flickering. “Teach ” Izuku felt his hair grabbed and his head slammed against the coffee table shattering the glass. “You both ” His father sat up, and grabbed a shard of glass off the ground. “To RESPECT ME. ” 

Hisashi raised the serrated glass in his fist, eyes flashing and teeth bared in a feral snarl. 

Inko came back into frame, face swollen, nose and one eye bleeding. She raised a vase and smashed it down on Hisashi's head, knocking him unconscious. 

He hit the ground bouncing hard against Izuku’s foot where he laid, propped up on two elbows staring at his mother. 

“I called the police, come on baby we need to go.” Izuku rolled on his side, body screaming. His mother was at his side, helping him up. They limped out the front door, the sound of sirens in the distance as the made their way to Mitsuki’s house. The Bakugo Residence. 

-----

Izuku knocked on the front door, blood trailing its way down his chest from his face. 

Mitsuki answered the door with a smile, which turned to a gasp of fear. 

“Holy shit what happened? Is that blood?!” 

The Midoriya’s came into the house, The blonde yelling for her husband to get the first aid kit. 

The next few minutes was a flurry of questions and tears. Izuku helping his mother, swearing he was fine. He kept checking to make sure that the police were almost there, and keeping an eye out for Hisashi. 

When the Police arrived Izuku watched them converge on his house, his mother soft sobs were followed my Mitsuki’s comforting words. 

Bakugo came downstairs yelling about what all the noise was for. He and Izuku made eye contact.

Izuku saw the blonde recoil after seeing his face, whether it was the blood and bruising or if it was just because it was Izuku he wouldn’t know. 

Mitsuki took Bakugo into the kitchen and Izuku could hear them softly talking, which was rare, and when they came back Bakugo’s face was pale. 

Bakugo came and sat next to Izuku holding the first aid kit. “ Here.” 

Izuku silently took the box, grabbed some tissues and started cleaning his face. Everytime he took the cloth away it was stained a darker and darker red. 

Bakugo silently sat staring at the growing pile of blood soaked tissues.

What are we going to do.

He felt his face after wiping away as much blood as possible. He felt puffy and the pain was almost overwhelming. 

Standing up he went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. Wincing, he saw that his eyes were nearly swollen shut, his nose was purplish yellow twisted to the side and his upper lip was nearly doubled in size. He poked his head out of the bathroom. 

“Bakugo. I’m going to use the shower, please watch my mother for me. Please.”

He retracted his head and took off his shirt. Trying to lift his arms left him gasping in pain. Once he got it off he saw large plate size bruises, some fading others fresh. 

The back of his shirt was damp with blood or sweat he wasn’t sure. 

I should stop wearing black so much. 

He fully undressed and stepped into the shower, turning the stream on cold. 

He stood there for a few minutes watching the water carry away the blood, it swirling into the drain. 

He spent time allowing the water to relax the tension in his shoulders. 

He leaned his head against the wall. Grateful no one was there to watch his tears mix with the water cascading off of his battered frame. 

-----

The police were in the living room asking his mother questions, They took Izuku and sat him down next to his mother. Informing them that an ambulance was on its way. 

The rest of the night went by in a flash, the paramedics arrived. Gave him and his mother a check up. 

Inko had a few contusions, a fractured nose, one black eye, and parts of her scalp damaged. 

Izuku was worse. Broken nose, two black eyes, burst blood vessels in one eye and his lip. His left cheek bone was cracked, shards of glass has sliced the back of his shoulders, neck, and scalp. 

The medics were appalled at his upper body, which was a patchwork of bruising and contusions. The right side of his ribs were swelled tenderized muscles. 

They told him he would need to go in to see a professional healer. 

-----

They arrived home from the hospital where they both had received help from a healing quirk, unfortunately due to the state of his injuries and their financial situation they could only heal Izuku's ribs and the major wounds on his face.

He was going to have to let the bruising and the mess of cuts on his shoulders and neck heal on their own. He would have scars from the glass cuts, a crisscross of pale white lines stark against his skin.

Izuku was pissed off. Apparently his father wasn’t found at their house, and he had taken all of the money out of his mother and fathers shared account. He was no where to be found, disappearing with out a trace.

They were now poorer than ever, but at least the house was in Inko's name. They were going to be okay for the rest of the year. 

The worst was that Izuku still had to go to school the next day since he was classified as fine since the healing. He still felt exhausted due to the fact that his body used up energy to heal the wounds. 

He had work after this thankfully, so at least he could get some money. His mother was still looking for a new job. There was no time for distractions. No time for slacking. He needed to provide for himself, and his mother. 

The rest of the day was spent with Mitsuki spending time with Inko while Bakugo and his father helped Izuku clean up the living room and pack up Hisashi's things. 

They did not speak to one another. Bakugo left once they were finished without saying a word.

-----

He was at school early the following Friday, Hoodie pulled up to hide his face and the bandages.

Apparently word had already somehow gotten around that his father left the family, and he was now an even greater outcast. 

At least Katsuki was leaving him alone, not even glancing at him.

Izuku was sitting in class writing down notes, he could feel people staring and laughing at him. 

One girl in particular, right behind him said loud enough for him to hear “Do you think his mom will start whoring around to pay for the bills?” 

"What." Izuku didn’t register standing up. The entire class was silent, staring at him now.

The Teacher told him to sit down but Izuku raised his hand, cutting him off.

I zuku: “What did you say.”

His blood was pounding in his ears. The girl looked up at him then smirked when she realized the class was looking. She looked up at him, smiled softly and said. “I said your slut of a mom will pro-”

Izuku’s backhand whipped the girls head to the side, her cry of pain cutting her words short as blood splattered on the floor. 

She turned back and looked at him with tears in her eyes. Her bloody nose was dripping onto her desk, leaking through her hands clutching her face.

“If any of you,” saying this he turned and surveilled the class which was looking at him in shock “ever insult my mother again. I will kill you.” 

With this he grabbed his bag and walked out of the classroom, leaving them all staring at his leaving figure. Bakugo stayed looking down at his hands, slowly closing his fingers.

Izuku was called to the Principal’s office, soon after and was ushered in by the school officer. The girl he had slapped was seated in front of the desk holding an icepack to her face her parents standing behind her glaring at him.

The principal sat him down and began by saying she was sorry for what happened to Izuku, but she was going to have to put him in detention for striking another student and that his behavior was completely unacceptable. The girls parents cried out demanding that Izuku be punished for striking their child without provocation. 

The principal quieted them down and turned to Izuku, "You will be in detention today and for the rest of the week is that understood?"

Izuku: “I understand Ma’am. Thank you.”

He turned and left the office, the yelling of the parents cut off by the door closing. 

-----

He walked through the front doors of Uraraka Construction and made his way to the front desk. Ochako was working again, typing on her computer biting her lower lip gently. 

Izuku: “Hey Ochako, first day. Where am I going for training? ”

She looked up from her computer and smiled, why does her smile make him feel better. Weird. Her eyes widened and she let out a small gasp at the sight of him. 

Ochako: “Izuku! What happened?! Are you okay? Are you sure you can work?”

Izuku sighed and gave a small smile, "Hello Ochako. Uhm yeah. I called in once I woke up. Your dad should have gotten my voicemail. I feel fine, thank you though. Where do I go for training?"

Her face showed concern, it made him uncomfortable. He wasn't used to people besides his mother looking at him like that. 

Ochako: "O-Okay, if you say you are okay then.... We don't have a training course but you will be shadowing some of our older employees who will show you the ropes."

She gave him a worried smile glancing down at a planner on her desk. After letting him know where to go she gave another smile which he returned stretching his bruises giving her another of his rare smiles. 

-----

Ochako nearly had a heart attack when Izuku had appeared. He looked tired, dark bags under his eyes and his small smile was cute yet exhausted looking. The bruises on his face was a dark contrast to the smile, blue-purple splotches on the left side of his face and parts of his jaw. When she pointed towards the door leading to the workers lockers she could see the edge of some bandaging peaking around his neck as he turned his head to look.

She had heard some rumors about an Izuku, but wasn’t sure if they were him. If it was him then holy shit how was he still showing up to work after dealing with all of that? 

His quirk must have been mental strength or something, because if the rumors were true, and it really was this Izuku. Then he has been going through hell. 

She wasn’t going to ask anything to personal just in case… but maybe she could bring him something to drink from the kitchen during her break. He really seems to need it. 

-----

Other than a surprise visit from Ochako who shared some extra hot chocolate she made on her break, his first day at his new job went pretty uneventful. He had already done some research into construction, and was a very fast learner. 

Mr. Uraraka had said that if he kept up his ideas and kept up the pace he would be apart of the crew in no time. He had also made it clear that if Izuku needed more time to heal then he was free to do so, and that the job would still be there when he came back. Midoriya responded by saying he couldn't just sit around at home doing nothing, he had to stay busy and he loved being able to help here. 

Izuku came home after his shift to his mother making dinner. 

“Hey Mamma. How are you doing, how was your day?” He dropped his bag off in the living room, coffee table now gone, and gave his mother a big hug. 

Inko: “Hey baby. Uhm, my day was okay. Police stopped by again. Looked around for more jobs, and they had a sale on udon at the store so I stocked up.”

Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, yet she still gave Izuku a big smile and a kiss on the cheek. 

Inko: “How was yours?” 

Izuku: “Well, I uh. I got detention again. But I worked that out so no worries!”

The look she gave him at the word detention made his heart pitter patter with guilt. 

The rest of the evening was spent on the mother and son talking about the school, and what they thought would be good to do once he graduated. 

Inko: "So, where do you want to go to college?"

Izuku: "Uhm, well I know I want to go into medicine now. I can still help people that way. So probably still UA."

Inko gave him a warming smile, that was tinged with worry. "I know I don't need to tell you but if you keep your grades up they will notice son. Keep doing your best, Im so proud of you."

Before Izuku went off to bed his mother stopped him, “I love you son. No matter what you do I know you will do great at it.” 

He smiled and went to his room. After he closed the door his smile slowly vanished. Locking the door he went to his desk, and pulled out his notebook and his phone. 

He had been doing some personal homework. Just not the kind he thought his mother would be proud of. 

He was going to make a difference. 

He was going to do things even the heroes didn’t have the stomach to do. 

He had already chosen the medical department. It would be best to know about the human body if he wanted to know how best to tear it apart.

His father thought he was smart. Disappearing off the map like that. 

Izuku was going to get his mother’s money back. He was going to make sure that his father was never going to hurt anyone, ever again.

Izuku knew where Hisashi was, and he was going to kill him. 

“EraserHead was right. I am not strong enough as I am. That is why I am going to change everything.” 

Izuku could not help the giggle that escaped his lips. 

This was going to be fun. 

---------------------------------------

This story will continue in Blood Ties - Chapter 2: Fresh Blood

Chapter Text

Blood Ties - Chapter 2: Fresh Blood 

————————————————————————

The last Friday of April, 2117.

Izuku finishes his shift and goes to the locker room to gather his things. He had messed up a few things today, although it wasn’t entirely his fault. 

Everything has finally fallen into place for him to begin his careful two weeks of planning. 

He had dropped a few designs, nearly collided with his co-workers multiple times today. He was lost in thought, trying to make sure everything was planned out and there were no overlooked problems that could arise. 

On his way to the coffee shop down the street he had messed up a few of the orders. 

The only one to really notice that anything was wrong, really the only person who kept her eyes on him, was Ochako.

When Izuku exited the back door of the building he found her waiting outside shifting from foot to foot looking off in the distance. She had a scarf wrapped around her neck trying to protect against the slight drizzle that had been steadily falling for hours.

Izuku: “ Good night Ochako, see you Monday?”

Ochako turned at the sound of his voice a small nervous looking smile on her face,

“ Hey Izuku, hey can I talk to you for a sec actually?” She caught the corner of his sleeve as he began to walk away. He paused and turned back cocking his head in a questioning way but nodding a confirmation and following her down the street to the coffee shop.

Ochako: “ Hey.”  

Izuku gave a small confused smile, “ Hi?”

They sat together near the windows staring at each other for a few moments as the soft bustle of the shop gave a comforting aura to their chat.

Ochako: “ So what I-”

Izuku: “ So what did yo-”

They both paused to allow the other to speak then laughed as the awkwardness of the situation began to melt.

Izuku let his gaze fall onto her face, feeling Ochako’s warm smile wash over him. His worries throughout the day falling away, allowing him to relax his shoulders the tension falling out of his broad form.

She opened her eyes to meet his, her soft molten chocolate irises meeting his granite pine green. He felt his breath hitch seeing her flushed face, her gaze seeming to look into his very soul. 

Ochako: “ The reason I wanted to talk was that I was wondering if you are busy this weekend?”

-----

Ochako could feel her heart racing, she knew her face was flushed. The butterflies in her stomach making her question seem to be the most important question in her life. 

She had been planning this out for the past few days, the thought of what his responses might be causing her anxiety to flair up. 

Izuku was staring at her, the whites of his eyes showing. His mouth was slightly open, oh no did he find her question appalling? Did she overstep? Is he going to hate her? What if he-

-----

Izuku mind was thrown into a frenzy at her simple question. Her eyes wide and hopeful, blinking and looking down he noticed that the knuckles on her hands were white from gripping them together. 

Izuku: “ No, I uhm. Sorry. I am busy! But that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to spend time with you! I do. I’ll be busy for all of this weekend, but ah what is your schedule next week?” 

Izuku couldn’t help his outburst. Wow, that was embarrassing. He could feel his face flush deeper as his sentence burst from between his lips. The sound of it rushed and filled to the brim with excitement, could he SOUND any more eager?!

Ochako had flinched back at his outburst, but a smile flickered to life and grew with each of his words causing the young man to grow more and more flustered. 

They finished their chat with comparing work schedules, and choosing to spend monday together uptown with Izuku offering to take her out for a meal. 

Ochako felt she would float away, although she kept checking to make sure that her pinkies were extended away from the rest of her fingers. She had a date with Izuku. He seemed really excited, so she couldn’t help but wonder what he had to do over the weekend?

Izuku walked Ochako back down to the site where her parents were still working. He left her waving from the front doors as he made his way back home the soft rain adding haste to his step. Pulling out his phone he added “Meeting with Ochako” to the next Monday, then put his phone back in his pocket and plugged in his headphones. Keeping his head down and pace quick he began his walk home.

He had a few things to do before night fell.

-----

The boy was hurrying home, his walk grating a fine line nearly passing into frantic jogging. Keep it cool keep it cool keep it cool. Don’t let anyone become suspicious. 

The thought of all his planning, the sleepless nights, the vision of his mother’s afflictions, and the ever present embers of emotion flickering to life in his chest grounded his thoughts.

He had been planning this for nearly 72 straight hours. Tonight was the perfect night to get his revenge. 

No. My mother’s and my revenge. 

The rain would add a dampening effect to his fathers flames. Izuku had packed a bag filled with everything he would need before hand so he wouldn’t waste anytime, he didn’t know how long the rain would last so he needed to make the time count while he could. He didn’t know how long his father would stay in his current location. 

Although looking at the facts he has been drunk off his ass the past few days and doesn’t seem concerned about the police or anyone finding him. 

His packed bag contained all black clothing including a face mask, gloves, and extra shirts socks and pants. Bottles of water, snacks, and a flashlight. He had bought a 7” kitchen knife a while ago as the murder weapon. 

He wouldn’t need much and what he had he intended to burn after. The less evidence there was the better. The thought of identifying the knife as the murder weapon made him grit his teeth together. He intended to turn the knife into one, no matter what. 

He was going to wait for his fath- 

No. I can’t think of him as my dad, he is a piece of shit criminal who needs to be put down. I can do this. He is filth. 

Izuku was going to wait near the filth’s current apartment and wait for him to show up. Approach him, convince him to follow Izuku into the alley. Then slit his throat once his guard is down and tell him what a miserable waste of life he was as his life blood mixed with the rain to drain into the sewers. 

After Izuku would slowly dispose of everything he brought with him into separate dumpsters around the city, then dump the knife into the ocean on his walk home.

There would be nothing tying him to the scene, he would be a traumatized teenage boy home asleep in bed after a long day of school and work. 

Izuku had to pause at his houses front door and compose himself. He forced the smile on his face to change into a tired, yet fulfilled expression of a child wanting dinner and sleep. 

He opened the door, “ Hey Mom, I’m home.”

———

He had to wait for his mother to finish eating then sat with her and they watched some sappy movie about a dog reincarnating to find its original owner. After she finished her wine, he helped her get to her room. He went back downstairs and did the dishes and packed meals for tomorrow. 

It took his mother another half hour of laying down in bed, possibly reading, before her light went out. As a precaution Izuku waited another 30 minutes, resisting the urge to pace hoping that the rain wouldn’t let up. Once his mental alarm went off he rose from the couch and grabbed his bag changed into his clothing. 

It’s time for this fucking bastard to die.

The greenette slid out the front door, locking it behind him. He paused looking back, “ I love you Mother. I’ll be back soon with all your money and I promise to come back safe and sound.”

….now if only he could convince himself that he would remain unscathed. Why couldn’t he swallow this ball of fear sitting in his throat? He had planned everything out. All he had to do was act upon it.

———

His phone read 2:47 am. He has been stationed two blocks down from the shithole the filth has been living in. He knew that he wasn’t there after peering into his windows. The building was a rotten crumbling brick building, nearly 80 years old. 

It was downtown, near the dwarfs surrounded by abandoned and squatter infested dives. 

Izuku had found the filth after digging through the bags of his things. Turns out he had old stock in an old shipment company that had gone under a few years after Izuku had been born. And the current building was still under that company’s lease. When searched by the police it was rat infested, with no signs of life. 

It had taken days of scouting out the area and quietly paying homeless druggies to keep an eye on the place until one had caught sight of a tall dark haired man with head bandages entering and exiting the building. 

Izuku pauses as he saw movement down the street, walking towards the housing complex. It was two people, one tall and lanky the other dressed in a cloak. As they paced closer Izuku could see the taller being had head dressings. 

I got you now motherfucker.

Izuku darted from his shadowed outcrop and began making his way towards the two who stopped outside the building seeming to talk quietly before the cloaked figure noticed Izuku coming closer. They leaned in close then turned and disappeared into the night, good thing I put my mask on before hand. 

“ Hizashi Midoriya. I’ve heard the police are looking for you.” Hizashi had turned to face Izuku as he came closer then froze at the mention of his name. 

Hizashi: “ State your business, or get the fuck out of here before I fry you into charcoal. ” 

Izuku had to refrain from aiding the knife from his sleeve and jamming it into the man’s throat after hearing his voice. He had to make sure there was no one around to witness this.

“ I can make your problems with the police disappear. Interested?” The taller man, stared for a few seconds. Before stepping forward and waving for Izuku to continue. 

Izuku was truly smart for putting his mask on, for if Hizashi had seen his smile nothing would have concealed the pure primal happiness in the toothy grin. 

Izuku: “ Follow me.”

Izuku turned and began pacing back to the alley he had come from, hearing the footsteps slowly follow. Getting to the entrance Izuku gripped the knife in his hand. 

“Now. We can continue with our business-“ Izuku turned and saw Hizashi’s fist just before it collided with his cheek. The blow sent him flying backward, his knife clattering away into the darkness. 

Hizashi: “ You stupid little son of a bitch. You think I don’t recognize your voice you little fuck?”

Turning his gaze back at his father Izuku saw the rage and smirk on his face. NO. NO NO NO. FUCK. “ That was a cute little display you put on, to bad for you I already paid off the cops you fuck.” 

Hizashi sauntered forward to plant his foot into Izuku’s chest sending him sliding backward to crash into bags of trash. 

Izuku scrambled to his feet, gasping for breath. This couldn’t be happening, he had planned everything, why was it going so wrong?

Hizashi smiled and let out a few tongues of fire, startling Izuku to skittishly dart away further into the alley. Izuku felt his boot bump into a wooden board which he bent down and grasped licking it up and wielding it in front of him.

“ Oh. My sweet sweet child. ” The words made the boy want to puke at how sweet and sad the sounded. “ Why would you want to harm your dear old man? Hmm? Tell me that.”

“ Because you are a lying sack of shit you fucking asshole.” Izuku swipes at Hizashi who blocked the plank with his arm, the board splintered and broke into pieces. 

Hizashi darted towards him flashing his fists forward, Izuku frantically bringing his arms up to block. “ Because you attacked me and my mother!” A barrage of fists broke through Izuku’s desperate attempt at a defense leaving his vision filled with blackness and his body pulsing in anguish at the pain. He dropped to his knees and puked, the pain in his abdomen to much to handle. He felt a hand grab his hair forcing his face upward. 

Hizashi: “My dear child, you are a fucking dumbass. And now you are going to die. Next with be your bitch of a mom. ” 

Izuku scrambled for anything, feeling a hilt touch his hand. He sliced upward cutting his fathers arm, he couldn’t fail again. He lurched forward swinging wildly desperately trying to go for the kill. His father danced away laughing, blocking and finally grasping his wrist twisting the knife away from him. 

“ You were going to try and kill me with THIS? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA.” His echoing laughter was punctuated with a slice across Izuku’s chest. He pulled away, a line of white fire flickering to life across his skin, he let out a scream of pain stumbling back once again. “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA

SEE YOU IN HELL YOU CRIPPLED LITTLE FUCK” Hizashi laughter becomes hysterical, as he chases the boy down swinging the knife down in a killing blow aimed for his sons chest. 

Izuku throws up his left arm in a feeble attempt to block the blow only to feel the grating of the knife slip between his bones and pierce through the flesh of his forearm. Hizashi releases the knife and presses doth hands down on Izuku’s throat. The laughter is ringing in the boys ears as his vision flickers into darkness, his rage and anger seeming to flow from his core dulling the pain across his chest. Izuku feels a firmness in his right hand scrabbling for anything to hold above his head, as his vision fades he stabbed towards his father’s face, feeling a firmness that gives way to soft gliding. 

The pressure at his throat disappears along with the laughter in an immediate break. Izuku turns on his side gasping for air, vision returning as he coughs and gags for breath. He lays there for a minute weeping, the pain nearly overwhelming him. 

He drags himself up on his good elbow the knife in his arm lodged firmly blood pooling, dripping from his elbow. Izuku looks at the body at his feet, his father face down a wispy cloud seeming to disappear from his head and his body softens loosening up in post mortem. 

Fuck fuck. FUCK FUCK FUCK. 

He stares at the body tears burning paths down his grimy cheeks, and watches a pool of black in the shadows begin to spread from the head creeping towards him slowly. He gags again, and begins kicking away, clawing the ground with his free hand the firm familiar grip of his weapon gone to get away from the chasing pool. Turning onto his knees he crawls deeper into the alley, before rising to his feet and limping his way to where he left his bag. He grabs it, pulling out the extra pair of clothes. Biting down on the socks he takes the hilt of the knife in his hand. 

And pulls. 

He can feel the metal twist and grind against his bones, he screams his pain into the sock gag and turns away as he feels every centimeter being pulled out. After what feels like an eternity the knife is free in his shaking hand. 

He spits the socks out and wraps them around the seeping wound in his arm. The tears don’t seem to stop as he stows the knife in his bag quiet sobs wracking his body.

Izuku leans against the alley wall, the cool damp slime soft against his head as he watches the rain slowly melt his blood taking it away to be mixed into the sewers. 

He can feel his consciousness fading into the black, “ No. If I fall asleep I’ll never wake up again. Get up.” He tries to lift his head up but his eyelids alone feel so heavy. “ Get. Up.” 

Izuku grinds his teeth together and drags a ragged breath into his lungs, the pain of his chest helping him gain his bearings. He needed to leave. There was no way no one didn’t hear the screams of their…. his scuffle. 

Leaning his shoulder against the wall, Izuku staggers to his feet. He makes his way down the alley and stops at the sight of the body laying in the center of the way, the soft drizzle of rain cooling the cadaver. 

The salty taste of his own tears, mixed with his own vomit is a grim reminder to his shell shocked mind. 

I killed him. I really did it. I thought it would be so easy, I. I. Izuku’s silent cry broke through his lips in a sob, closing his eyes he limps past the body until he feels the alley wall open up to the street. The sound of a lone siren growing louder. 

I need to go.

Collecting his arm and shaking his head Izuku begins his long slow path around the neighborhood to deposit the items he used to murder Hizashi Midoriya. Age 48, Dead Saturday April 27th. 04:46 am to a stab wound beneath the left eye that penetrated out the back of his skull. No murder weapon, no trace amounts of residue to identify any weapon. Case resolved to a quirk related death, all possessions will go to immediate family Inko Midoriya and Izuku Midoriya. 

———

Izuku makes it back into his neighborhood as his knees give out and his strength leaves him. He lays face down in the rain, feeling his life essence ebb out of him slowly draining away on the sidewalk mere blocks away from home.

I’m sorry Mamma. I’m sorry, I love you so much. I’m sorry Ochako. I’m sorry I’ll miss our meeting, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.

He feels firm hands pick him up by the shoulders and turn him over. He blacks out as a silky voice tells him to sleep, visions of his mother’s smiling face dancing in his mind. 

———

Izuku wakes up to his alarm clock ringing and his chest and arm throbbing in pain. Enough to cause his eyes to water up and his body to convulse putting him in a ball of agony. As he twists he feels pinching and pulling at his abdomen and arm. Peeling away his blankets gently he sees white bandaging. 

What the fuck. Wha?

A knock on his door startled him and he jerks his blankets up to his chin as his Mother enters the room with a plate of food. 

Inko: “ Mornin’ baby. Hungry?” 

Izuku feels more tears threaten to spill over but he bites his tongue and nods slowly. He lived, he has no idea how but he lived. His mother puts the plate down and giving him a look turns the alarm clock off. “ Are you feeling okay? You look a little red? Oh my goodness! Izuku honey you are burning up!”

Inko has rested her hand against Izuku’s forehead and pulled away at the burning temperature he was at. “ I think you have a fever, do you feel okay?” 

Izuku pauses and swallows letting out a soft croak “ No.” at least the fever can explain his throat. Not the fact that his father had nearly crushed his windpipe. 

With that thought suddenly the memories of that morning flashed through his mind, turning to his side he puked on the floor causing his mother to jump back with a gasp. 

“ OH GOD, honey! Hold on hold on! ” She grabbed his trash can handing it to him as he spit up the rest of his stomach and laid back down, careful not to reveal any of his injuries. 

Inko spent the rest of the morning caring for Izuku, convinced he had the swine flu. Unknowing of his injury caused fever. 

Two days passed like this as his fever eventually passes, and his mother must leave for work after he convinces her he will be okay and he is feeling much better. Voice now gaining more strength. 

Once his mother has left for work, Izuku finally has solitude to ease his way to the bathroom and strip his bandaging off to see neat rows of stitching across his chest and arm. 

Izuku: “ What the hell happened to me?”

His confusion was well earned as his blood loss caused a lack of recall of his unknown savior. He went back into his room and pulled out his med kit, reapplying his bandaging with new cream and massaging the wounds to allow more fresh blood flow for faster healing. 

It was a good thing he already knew first aid from studying and experience with multiple ass kickings from school and his fa- 

Vomit rose in his throat, but he managed to swallow it away. Suppressing it just like the memory of his father's corpse. 

He took a deep breath, and decided to sit back at his desk and do some work. He needed to act like nothing was wrong. There could be no evidence that he was in anyway affiliated with his father’s murder. 

It was getting easier to think about it. Was it supposed to be this easy? Why is it getting easier to think about. Hmmm. Most likely still in shock, I should evaluate this later tonight. I don’t want this to cause any lasting damage.

Izuku spent the rest of the day catching up on his personal study for medical school, and his research into psychological trauma.

Partway through his note taking his phone rang, an unknown number. He picked it up and rasped out a, “Hello?”

Ochako: “Hi Izuku! It’s Ochako, just wondering if you were ready for our meet up?”

Izuku froze. Shitshitshitshitshit. Was that today?! 

Izuku: “ Oh! Hey Ochako, I didn’t recognize the number.” He could hear her pause, before tentatively she asked “Are you okay? You don’t sound very well?” 

Gotta answer quick ahhhhhh, “My dad died.” SHIT WAIT FUCK. DAMMIT BRAIN WHY.

“Oh my god! Are you okay? What happened?” Her concern made him feel oddly better, if not uncomfortable. Still weird getting it from someone not his mother.

Izuku: “ I’m sorry, but I don’t think we can meet today. Are you free later next week? I’m really sorry, I really was looking forward to seeing you.” 

Oh. My. God. I really need to put a filter on my thoughts sonofabi-

Her response interrupted his thoughts, “ I was really looking forward to it too!” Before she was cut off with a squeal. 

Ochako: “ Ah! Anyway yes I am free next week! Okay I’m sorry feel better soon see you then bye!” 

He was left looking at his phone, with a light feeling bubbling up in his chest. I guess today isn’t all that bad.

A huge grin plastered on his face he returned to taking notes, his thoughts on the future meet up with his coworker. 

———

Monday, May 6th. 17:29 pm.

It was a tense week of hiding his wounds, not only from his mother but from the people at school. But he was finally ready to rip out his stitches. He was tired of how they pulled and itched and the scar tissue was building nicely. As long as he was careful he was sure they wouldn’t reopen. 

His mother had left for a meeting telling him to stay home and keep the doors locked and to not answer for anyone until she got back, weird. But okay. It was time for him to begin the process. He spent a few minutes snipping the threads and pulling them loose from his chest, before slathering it in aloe and pain reliever and placing final bandaging over the concoction. His arm was an easier process, as he was finishing he heard the front door open and close. 

He quickly put a long sleeve tee on, and peeked his head out. “ Oh hey Mum, how was your tr-“ Nearly having a heart attack as a police officer made direct eye contact with him from down the hall. A shriek escapes his throat and he darted back into the bathroom. 

Oh god what did I miss, did they find my prints on him ?! No the rain erased the evidence, oh god someone saw me leave didn’t they?! Shiiiiiit.

He could hear foot steps coming closer, preparing to be handcuffed and hauled away for murder and grasped his chest gasping for breath, panic began to set in. 

Inko: “ Honey?” 

What the fuck? Did that officer just call him honey? 

He paused and went to the door, opening it seeing his mother's eyes red and puffy, lower lip trembling with the officer gently holding her shoulder. 

“ Izuku, honey. Your father. He-“ Her voice is cut with a choking sob, and Izuku opens the door and wraps her in a hug his heart dropping, a sick feeling rising in his chest at the realization of what was finally happening. 

The police man leads them both out into the living room, and sits them down before sitting opposite the son and daughter. 

“ Young man, I’m afraid I’m here to tell you and your mother that Hizashi Midoriya has been murdered.” 

Izuku has to put his best shocked heart broken face on, looking down he holds his mother hand. 

“ We have no information as to how it happened but we hope to find something soon. If you know anything please contact your local station, or call this number directly. Please excuse me, and have a good day.” 

As the officer stood, all he left was soft crying in a mother and conflicted feelings in her son. 

Was this really the right thing to do? 

Without a doubt, memories of his past abuse adding steel to his wavering doubt.

He got what he deserved, and he won’t be the first.

———

The following Thursday is spent meeting Ochako at the local pho restaurant. Izuku arrives and is immediately met with a warm hug, which freezes him in panic. Her breasts feeling alarmingly present in the hug, her arms cuddling him close and inviting him to return the embrace. Her head is cradled into the nook of his neck, her chin resting on his collarbone. 

It takes him a few seconds to return the hug, but when he does he doesn’t ever want it to end. 

They split apart after a few seconds, her gently smiling up at him as he wipes away a few tears. 

“ Ah, sorry. I’m uh. Not used to getting hugs from anyone besides my mother. Sorry, haha.”

Her smile shrinks at the statement, but she just blushes and waves it away. “ Well, I’m happy you are feeling better, I think? There’s no need to be sorry Izuku, it’s okay. I’m so sorry to hear about what happened.” 

They find their seats at a small table and order their food. The rest of their time is spent softly chatting, except for a sudden outburst by the green haired lad and if you asked one of the patrons in the restaurant, they looked like an adorable couple out on a date. 

———

Ochako couldn’t help staring at Izuku the entire time they ate and talked. He had deep bags under his eyes, darker than usual if that was possible. His small smile at seeing her broke her heart while at the same time making her face feel flushed. He always looked so tired and it made her want to hold him close. Over the past few weeks she had slowly gotten to know him, he seemed sweet and so kind. Always helping anyone who asked, and always doing his best. 

When she learned that he was quirkless it definitely surprised her. He was always so focused and determined to do his best at any task she thought for certain he was going to be a hero. As they sat and talked she asked him what he wanted to do, and his answer fit so well. A doctor was a vital job in this economy, and not for those with weak wills. He would do amazing work for everyone who needed it.

She was hoping to be a hero, to help her parents so they could live an easier life after working so hard for so long. But Izuku’s goals made her feel selfish and stupid for having something so shallow as a dream. When she voiced this he immediately jumped up stating she was amazing for wanting to help her family. The praise brought hot waves to her face, which Izuku joined in after realizing his outburst. The rest of their lunch was eaten in a hot silence, the two focusing on their bowls instead of the grins from the surrounding customers. 

At the end of the luncheon, they hugged one last time, Ochako telling him she was always open to talk to. Then they went their separate ways with plans to meet the following week. His emerald eyes imprinted in her mind, the memory of his gentle arms wrapping around her and holding her close his jaw gently tucking her head closer to him as if he wouldn’t let any harm befall her. 

The beating of her heart feels audible, and the implications of its meaning leaves her awake for many nights to come.

———

Wednesday, June 5th. 

A few weeks pass, with Izuku studying and preparing for college entrance exams. His goal is to get into UA’s medical program. They have the best courses in Japan, and he knows he can get into the school with his test score. The problem is his physical state. The injuries have left him weak, and if he wants to continue with his plan he needs to be strong. Strong enough to protect myself so I can protect others.  

His thoughts permeate his rationality, with a mere whisper. Like Ochako?

The first meeting had gone well, as had the last three meetings. Whenever his thoughts turned towards her he dissolved into a hot mess murmuring about how they were friends and there was no way she would be interested in him. His mother had loved teasing him about it as of late.

Slapping his cheeks to regain focus, he flips a new page open in his notebook and writes a name down at the top. It turns out a lot of medical terms are Latin, so he decided to use a name he is very fond of. One that would be vital in his upcoming conquest. 

Algea - The spirits of pain and suffering of both mind and body. 

One who knows pain and will use it against those who deserve it. One who will do what heroes don’t have the drive to do. Who will uphold the rules of society against villains. 

Izuku needs to prepare, and train. Learning about medicine and using it to help him gain his goals. Using his knowledge of anatomy and turning it into a weapon to dispose of any who felt it necessary to become judge jury and executioner. But first he had to become strong. 

The ghost of a smile haunting his features, he had a few months to prepare for the entrance exams. It was time to begin his list. 

Algea was a name that all would come to hold in reverence. For nothing is a better lesson than pain. 

———

We continue in the next chapter, Blood Ties - Chapter 3: The Interview

Chapter Text

Blood Ties - Chapter 3: The Interview

——————————

“Would Midoriya Izuku and Bakugo Katsuki, report to the principal's office.” The P.A.’s scratchy tone interrupted the lesson, causes the students and teacher alike to turn and regard the two young men.

Bakugo slid his boots off the desk and grabbed his bag, exiting the room without so much as a glance at any of the others. Even when his alleged friends asked if he had any idea what it was for he stalked by.

Midoriya raised his head from his bag where he had been resting, saving energy for work. Yawning he gathered his notebook and exiting with a bow to the teacher who had already returned to the front board. 

Walking through the empty halls, he racked his mind trying to come up with any idea of what the principal could have wanted with him AND Bakugo. Wait. 

It was June 11th, that meant his application for admission to his colleges would be coming back. 

If luck was on his side then UA-

———

“-has accepted the both of you!” The principals smile seemed directed mostly towards Bakugo, but Izuku couldn’t care less about that. 

He could feel genuine joy bubbling up from his chest, it had been so long he almost couldn’t identify what it was. 

Bakugo was less than pleased “The fuck you mean BOTH of us. You seriously telling me he got into the hero course?” The blondes face was split between a grimace and snarl.

The principals smile stayed, unaffected by the accusing question. “ Why of COURSE not Katsuki.” Her tone made Izuku’s eyebrow twitch, no need to say it like that. 

Principal Tamia: “ Izuku here, got into their Science wing. Specifically the Medical field.” 

This information did nothing to appease Bakugo’s apparent anger. He flicked his eyes to Izuku who met his gaze. The rage was evident in Bakugo who had never had to hide it. Midoriya was taught better than to let mere emotions show through but this time….he wanted to see what his good old pal would do. 

He let the flickering embers in his chest flare up for a second, the flames of anger humiliation pure unbridled rage that put bakugos to shame. 

———

He turned his head to look at the greenette, the young man who he had once been friends with. The one who had destroyed their dreams by not having a quirk. The bastard had ruined EVERYTHING then still continued spouting nonsense, saying he would still be a hero. That he would get into UA and surpass All Might. 

Even after all the fighting, all the words Bakugo told him, how could he be so blind as to see how he wouldn’t last a minute in the world of heroes without a quirk? 

When he looked into his emerald eyes all he saw was the cold void that had been there since middle school. 

Then a flickering appeared in its dark green depths, like shadows shifting on a moonless night. Or the unseen movement of the tide at night. Something was there, Katsuki wasn’t sure what as he got nothing but a glimpse. But it Pissed Him Off. 

He pulled himself out of the dark depths of the eyes a shiver traveling up his spine leaving a cold sweat as he saw the ghost of a smirk on Izuku’s face. 

———

The principal continued to congratulate the two, mostly focused on Bakugo who was not listening. 

At Izuku’s smirk, he hackled up and slammed his hand down on his arm rest, leaving a scorch mark. 

The principal recoiled in surprise then looked up in surprise, “ Katsuki?! What the hell- ah Ahem. What was that? ” 

Izuku stood, “ Thank you for the news Ma’am.” And left with Katsuki glaring at his back seething. 

Well that went pretty well, don’t you think? Fuck yeah .

Izuku let a small smile split his face as he let the door shut closed behind him as he made his way out of the office.

———

-Ten minutes later-

Izuku felt his head crack against the school wall, followed by a hand gripping his throat tight enough to hold him in place.

“ I gave you slack for the shit with your old man, but listen to me.” Katsuki was furious, his lips pulled back in a grimace. It’s obvious why this was happening. He just wasn’t expecting it to happen so soon. 

Katsuki: “ I was supposed to be the only one to get into UA from this shit school. Don’t ruin another thing for me. Just stay in the background and stay. Out. Of. My. Way. You understand me?” 

Izuku stared calmly at him, before slowly reaching up and prying his hand off with a strength Bakugo didn’t know the young man had. He stepped to the side and brushed his hoodie off. 

“ See you at UA, Kacchan~.” 

Izuku turned to leave when his vision flickered and he opened his eyes to see the cold ground before him. He was flipped violently by Bakugo who gripped his collar and raised his fist. 

He slammed it down into Izuku’s face, slamming it to the side, but held firm by the hand at his shirt. 

This, FUCKER. 

Izuku felt a small snap in his chest, the rage bubbling up from within in a torrent, he turned his head back as he clenched his right hand. 

Bakugo raised a bloody fist again, his own anger giving way to surprise. What the hell did this nerd think he was doing?

Izuku didn’t care, he spit the blood pooling in his mouth into the blondes face causing him to recoil. He brought his fist around to crack him across the jaw, it felt… heavier than it should have. Almost as if it had more weight to it. The flickering darkness was mistaken for his vision flickering in and out of focus. 

Whatever, it doesn’t fucking matter. 

He rolled onto his side spitting more blood out and wiped his nose, smearing blood across his cheek. He saw Bakugo laying on his back unconscious, and snarled. He stood over the young man clenching his fist, I want to smash his fucking face in. He kneeled picking Katsuki up by the collar jolting him into consciousness one eye already nearly swollen shut. He looked up at Izuku with fear and confusion. 

———

Izuku pulled his arm back, Bakugo didn’t see the look in his eyes; the original cold void made way to the blistering cold that was his anger. All he saw was the dark ebbing green surrounding his fingers clenched tight, blood dripping from the jagged knuckle dusters crafted from the solidified shadows. HIS blood. Katsuki felt his mind freeze, his body trembling against his will. 

———

Looking at him, laying there weak, defenseless. 

It was pathetic.

After all these years, after all of the beatings, the blood bruises and tears, the excuses to his mother. 

Hot tears poured down his cheeks, dripping as he clenched his jaw. 

He didn’t want to be a hero if this is what heroes were. He was tired of everyone telling him he couldn’t do it. The sideways glances, the smiles, the pity. 

Taking deep breaths he stared down at his bully. At his old friend. He felt his rage fading, his emotions coming back under his control. The flickering shadows surrounding his hand fades. 

Just because he was quirkless didn’t mean he was weak. He was smart, and he would use that to win. 

After a minute Izuku silently stood dropping Katsuki back into the dirt. He looked at his fist, crusted blood between his fingers. Knuckles raw.

He felt his stomach roll, turning he began to run home tears dissolving the blood caking his lips and chin. He ran and ran until he got home slamming the door shut. 

No-one answered or came to his side as he slid down the door sobbing finally able to let out the ball of emotions he had been choking down.

———

June 12th, Wednesday. 

His day started greaaaaaaaaat.

Great is defined by your Mother questioning the new bruises, an entire night of sleepless thinking, no appetite, and lacking strength to even get out of bed right? 

Of fucking course it does. 

Izuku called out of school for the day, then contemplated calling out of work.

No, I need the money. Plus I get to stay busy and distracted. So that’s a plus. 

His thoughts gravitated back to what he had been thinking all night. 

Algea.

How he would change this bullshit society, and show his strength to all those who doubted him. To start!

He needed to work out more. He couldn’t beat anyone let alone certified heroes, with his noodle arms and stick legs. He looked up local gym memberships and saw a promising one, even if it did look….. eccentric.

———

He arrived at The Manly Muscle Mansion with his hoodie pulled up and a bag packed over his shoulder. Entering he saw a variety of people, men and woman surprisingly, creating a barrier around what looked like the bench press cheering on someone? 

Ignoring the commotion he approached the front desk, seeing a pink skinned young woman with yellow horns texting on her phone. 

Izuku: “ Hello, ah. I’m here fo-“

Mina: “ Hey! You want a membership? You could use it. Haha! I’m just teasing you bro, relax!”

Her abrasive behavior threw Izuku off, he wasn’t used to females being so forward. Or loud. He found out his bodies auto response was to lock up and flush.

Dammit all to hell.

Taking a deep breath, he cleared his throat. “ Yeah, ah actually I saw on the website that there was an event or something?” 

Mina: “ Oh yeah! Hold on.” She turned towards the crowd. “ OI KIRI, C’MERE!” 

He heard a loud CLANG followed by a bare chested guy divide the crowd, his red hair and razor sharp teeth gave Izuku a “Jaws at the frat” vibe. 

Kirishima: “ Hey dude! How can I help you?”

Mina: “ He saw the event for the discount on the website babe.” She leaned over the counter and wrapped her arms around the ( owners ?) shoulders giving him a kiss. 

Kirishima: “ Oh sweet man! Yeah so for this month we are giving a 50% discount to new members for our JACKED JUNE fund raiser! So are you signing up?” 

Izuku had never been so uncomfortable in his life. 

“ Yeah, so. Is there like paperwork I need to sign? Or….”

The next 30 minutes was spent being introduced to Kirishima’s parents, his “Squat partner” and being shown different protein shakes before finally signing up for a few months at the gym. 

Leaving the building left Izuku more exhausted than when he had entered. 

Looking at his phone for the time he saw his shift at work was starting soon. 

He decided to stop for coffee before heading over, giving a heads up to Ochako that he may be late. 

Izuku: “ Hey Ochako, I’m going to grab some coffee before work do you want anything?”

Ochako: “ Hey Izuku, we actually don’t have work today. Did you not get the email?” 

He looked at his phone and noticed a new email. 

Ochako heard a deep strangled sigh from the other end of the phone.

She couldn’t help but giggle at the sound, “ I’m guessing you just saw it?”

Izuku: “ Yeah, Hey since I’m downtown anyway do you want to meet up and hang out for a bit. I need a break.” 

Ochako face lit up in a blush, “ Absolutely! How about a late lunch? Maybe over near the mall?” 

Izuku: “ Actually I was hoping somewhere more private? Is that okay?” He couldn’t handle people right now, not after all of…. that. Thoughts of The Manly Muscle Mansion flashed through his mind inducing a wince. 

They meet up at the mall, he sees her stand in front of him as he had been listening to music waiting for her arrival. He takes out his headphones and looks up with a small smile. Ochako notices the bruise on his cheek but doesn’t comment. They start chatting and making their way to a small Pho restaurant downtown. 

They chose a table in the corner, and Izuku sat next to Ochako despite the extra room they had.

They ordered drinks and as the conversation reached a lull, Uraraka paused. 

Ochako: “ Hey, can I ask you something, you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. ”

Izuku: “ Sure .” 

Ochako: “ Where did you get that bruise from? Also the bandages you had on your back awhile ago? Is it true your day did that to you? Why are you still getting hurt?”

Izuku froze, he didn’t want to tell the truth, but he didn’t want to lie. He had finally found someone who liked him how he was, yet if they knew the truth they would leave. Just like everyone else.

He couldn’t lie to her though. She was too important to him. 

Izuku: “...Yes. That was my dad. He broke the glass table in the living room using my head, and the bandages were for the cuts on my shoulders and neck. 

The bruise is from a fight with a frie- someone I used to be friends with. They hit me, so I hit them back. It escalated. I’m sorry.”

The dread was starting to set in, he could already see in his mind her leaving and saying everything everyone else says. 

Ochako: “ Are you okay?” 

Izuku slowly looked up from his lap where he had been clenching his hands. Looking in her molten chocolate eyes all he saw was compassion and concern. 

The tears started without him realizing quickly followed by choking sobs. The brunette looked shocked before gently wrapping him in a hug, his pain slowly easing as he clutched her shirt as if she would disappear any second. 

No-one has ever reached out to him like this, been so selfless as to ask if he was okay. He was too close to his breaking point to shrug it off so it all poured out in silent choked cries his pain and exhaustion coming through. 

———

The meal was boxed up and they walked to a nearby park to talk. Izuku explained everything he had been through, excluding the murder of his father, and with each minute the horror on Ochako face increased before she wrapped Izuku in another hug his face buried in her bussom. 

She had no idea he had already been through so much, with no support. She gently lifted his face looking deep into his tear filled pine green eyes, illuminated by the nearby lamplight. 

Ochako: “ It will be okay, I’ll always be here to listen or help you Izu. I lo-care about you. So much.”

Izuku: “ Thank you. I’m sorry for being such a mess I -“

He was cut off by her wiping his tears away.

“ Don’t ever be sorry for feeling emotions, it’s amazing what they can do. Nothing that has happened has been your fault, okay?” 

Izuku: “ I’m sorry, thank you again Ochako. You are amazing. Thank you for being my friend.”

The compliment stung her, but she wasn’t going to let her emotions intercede right now. 

They softly talked until the moon came out when Izuku walked her home with one last thank you and a good night. 

———

June 18th, Monday. 

He was being called in for interviews for admission to UA. All interviews were done via a board of representatives from the various branches including the hero course. 

As he was quirkless, it was deemed an extra sensitive case as his grades were better than nearly all of the students including the upper class students. 

He was to report to UA campus at 10. 

Ugh, it’s too early for this shit. 

Izuku leaned his head against the glass of the train as it took him deeper into the city. 

He had been up all night with Ochako talking about many different topics. Since his breakdown in town they had began talking regularly about anything and everything. Learning more about each other. Last night was mostly focused on getting ready for college, and the decisions they had made. They both applied for UA, although she was going into the hero course. 

This made him grimace but he supported her nonetheless, because she was his friend and that’s what friends are supposed to do. Right? 

Whatever, I'M going to do it for her. It’s the least I can do.

As he got closer to his stop a feeling of dread overcame him. Hopefully he wouldn’t see any pro heroes, although based off of some research and online encounters with graduates there was a committee made up of each department that interviewed students. 

Stepping off the train he saw the entrance, or at least. What he though was the entrance?

Holy SH-

———

Izuku: “-it.” 

The adults all looked up at him as he entered the room, only to see Eraser Head there. They gave him a weird look at his curse but otherwise stayed silent.

Why, of all heroes did Aizawa have to be on this. 

Fucking bastard. 

Izuku stood at the door way, staring coldly at the exhausted man, no emotion showing through his mask but his eyes were glued to where the man sat staring back.

Aizawa: “Are you going to find your seat or make us wait all day.” 

He stalked to the chair placed in the center of the room, eyes fixated on Aizawa. The other educators began asking questions which Izuku answered calmly and rationally until finally it came to Aizawa. 

———

Aizawa: “What made you choose UA Mr. Midoriya.”

Why did that name sound so familiar, he could have sworn he’s seen this kid somewhere. 

Izuku: “The name is Izuku. This campus has a very good medical wing, extensive training records and staff which includes Chiyo Shuzenji (Recovery Girl) and allows me to learn how to assist and heal quirk users despite my drawbacks.”

Aizawa was getting unsettled by the staring contest he was apparently apart of with this kid. He hadn’t looked at anyone else in the room, except to answer questions, mostly fixing his dark eyes on Aizawa’s.

Aizawa: “You know your grades are very good, one of the best in the country. Why choose our medical program. There are better options if you go abroad.” 

Izuku stared at him for a moment, before finally tearing his gaze away to look into his bag for a folder. 

Izuku: “ Because I’ve always wanted to help others, if I cannot be a hero Eraser Head then I will help from the shadows. Working alongside Shuzenji will allow that. Plus simple personal family matters.”

Aizawa shifted in his chair, not able to recall where or how he knew the interviewee: “Final few questions, have you had any prior injuries, anything that could impede your work or cause harm to your classmates?” “What is your quirk?”

“What is your career choice should you get into our school.”

A few of the other teachers turned towards him at that last question, Aizawa hadn’t opened the file in front of him, probably because the child wasn’t applying for the hero course. 

Izuku slowly stood walking forward and placed the file he had taken out of his bag on top of the file in front of Aizawa. 

Izuku: “I don’t have, a quirk sir.” 

“I will get in. As for a career choice, Quirk Analysis and Development Specialist,  as well as Quirk Anatomy Researcher.” 

Aizawa slowly looked down and opened the file to see medical records, pictures of his old injuries, and in bright red lettering Quirkless, causing memories to flood in, you can never be a hero. 

———

The rest of the interview passed eerily silent, with everyone staring at the young man who had sat back down no longer staring at the raven haired capture hero who sat staring at the file in front of him.

Izuku left after they told him the move in date and gave him directions to where he could get his ID and other simple necessary things. He didn’t care about that right now, he needed to calm down. 

———

He walked into Uraraka Construction and paced towards Ochako, who looked up at him approaching and smiled. 

He let out a curt breath, releasing some tension in his shoulders. He didn’t know how she helped him feel better, but she always did even by just looking at him. It was how she looked at him, there was no judgement no pity no sadness for him. He loved it.

He came around the desk and gently wrapped his arms around her shoulders burying his face in the nook of the neck. Ochako went nuclear spluttering and face a healthy red. 

Ochako: “Oh, Ah. Izu? What’s wrong? Uhm, a-are you okay?” 

Izuku: “ ...yea. I just need to calm down, sorry.” 

Her face flushed she looked around the empty front office, then stood taking his hand putting a “Out for Lunch, leave a message” sign. 

Ochako: “ Come on, let’s go get something to drink.” 

The usual spot, Coffee on the Corner, was quiet as it was still to early for the usual lunch break patrons to come in. 

They ordered their drinks; Tall black coffee for Izuku, Mocha with a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg for Ochako. 

Ochako: “ Okay now, what’s going on? Are you okay?” 

Izuku looked up from his coffee as she gently placed her hand on his clenched fist. He sighed and sat back.

Izuku: “ I got into UA.” 

The girls eyes lit up and she smiled another of her soul healing smiles. “ That’s great! I knew you could do it! But… what happened?” 

Izuku explained that one of the interviewers was Aizawa aka Eraser Head the man who had placed the final nail in the coffin of his dreams to be a hero. 

Ochako: “ Oh… I’m sure he was just trying to he-“

Izuku snarled and ripped his hand away; “ I never asked for his help. I can take care of myself. I. I. I’m sorry.” He lowered his head apologetically for his outburst. “ I just can’t with heroes like that. I wish everyone was like you Ura.” 

He took a sip of his coffee as she gently reached back out and took his hand again. “ Well ... maybe a lot of heroes are like me? You just haven’t met all of them.”

He paused at that thought, then shook his head. “ I’ve analyzed dozens, if not hundreds of heroes. None of them are like you Ura. I plan to change that. I wa-“ 

He cut himself off as he realized that he had nearly started explaining his plans for Algea. 

Izuku: “ A-Anyway. You applied for UA as well right? You got in.” 

Ochako spit out her drink; “ Huh? WHAT? How do you know?!” 

Izuku wiped his face with a napkin and waved off Ochako’s apologies with a small smile. 

Izuku: “ When I was getting interviewed some of them had their folders open. 13 was looking at your file, and they had already selected you for the hero course. Good job I’m so happy for you.” And he genuinely was. 

The look on her face went from shock to happy tears in a few seconds and she gripped her face beginning to float off her chair. 

Izuku: “ Ah! Uraraka! Release your quirk! Release!” 

They finished their drinks and made their way back to work, the day looking brighter and better for the both of them. 

———

June 22nd, Friday 

Izuku was at his gym, currently sitting lifting dumbbells listening to music as he regulated his breathing. 

Finishing his set, he stood wiped off the metal and made his way to the sandbags hanging in the back of the large room. 

He brought out his phone and taped on his notes under “Algea.” 

He scanned the multiple small details, making note of what he should improve on and deciding he would work on inducing muscle fatigue today. 

Stepping up to the bag he curled his fingers in tight until the second knuckles protruded out straight, he lashed out in a tight jab his arm shaking under the recoil as a small indent showed before filling. 

He continued in this style ducking and flicking his arms out with small exhales until he let his adrenaline take over letting go of defense to focus on attack his movements blurred as he unleashed a torrent of blows pushing the bag back a few inches with a twisting kick before fatigue caught up with him. He stood back to the side as the bag swung gently on its axis. 

He paced to his water, taking a deep draught before walking back up to the bag to resume his hour of combat training. 

A few minutes in Kirishima, the son of the owners came up and started chatting with him. Well Kiri did all of the talking. Izuku focused on his imaginary opponent in front of him. Before a light bulb went off in his mind. 

Izuku: “ Kirishima right?”

Kirishima bolted up excited to see him finally talking back: “ Yeah bro! Anyway so like Crimson Riot did this move where he-“ 

Izuku: “ Do you want to help me train? I really think your quirk could help me out.”

Kirishima flashed his shark teeth in bright grin: “ Hell yeah bro! Let’s do it!” 

Izuku smiles before resuming his stance, feet tight together and arms tucked at the elbow. 

Kirishima brought on his quirk, flesh solidifying into crystalline edges and crevices and stood ready for Izuku’s flurry. “ Bring it!” 

Izuku let a feral smile grace his features, eliciting a shiver down Kirishima’s spine who took a wary step back.

Oh I will. 

Izuku darted forward his fist and leg drawn back and Kirishima crosses his arms in a defense blocking his vision, but no attack came?

He looked out, and didn’t see Izuku anywhere? He turned and looked behind him then felt jabbing pain in his elbows turning them shockingly numb and his right knee get knocked out from underneath him. Throwing himself to his left he rolled back to his feet to see Izuku the same snarl on his face nearly in his face his arm low rising quickly.

His open palm slammed into the bottom of Kirishima’s jaw, jerking his head up exposing his open neck.

When did he get so nimble, Jesus Christ.

Kiri took a step back and threw a wide punch only to have his fist blocked and caught under Izuku’s arm. Izuku’s eyes flashed and he jabbed two fingers into the pit of his elbow. 

Kirishima cried out as his arm loosened a numb pain flowing from the point of contact. 

I can’t, I can’t harden my arm anymore! Shit.

  Stepping back Izuku tightens the grip on his arm, following the jab with an elbow sliding between his guard cutting his breath short with a blow to his throat. Izuku takes his arm back as Kirishima tries to headbutt him only to be ducked and knocked back using his free hand. Guiding him by the dead arm underneath his armpit. He’s moving to fast for Kirishima to follow. Feeling frustrated the red head stops suddenly and grabs Izuku, the shock evident on the spar partners face. Picking him up by his waist Kiri raised him up high as Izuku began desperately raining piercing blows down on his neck and the gaps between his muscles in his shoulders. 

The rising pain and numbness was almost overwhelming. With his good arm Kiri roared with his damaged throat and slammed Izuku on the ground. 

Standing back his leg gave out and he collapsed on his back as well, panting body throbbing as his quirk released showing bright fresh bruises on his joints and odd points around his body that hurt way more than they should have. 

Izuku let out a choked gasp of fresh air and started rolling to his feet. He paced towards Kiri and took his good arm in his hands. 

Izuku: “ Do, you surrender?” Between gasps of air, he twisted his wrist until Kiri had to let out a garbled “ yeah.” To weak to and not able to control much of his upper body anymore.

Izuku stepped back dropping the arm and saw that a small crowd had formed around the ring, they cheered for him as he flushed and looked around fidgeting nervously. 

After a minute Kirishima stumbled to his feet favoring his hurt leg; “ Dude, that. WAS AWESOME.” 

Izuku blinked in surprise and regarded his opponent. 

The red haired boy was grinning widely gripping his loose arm. 

“ What was that? I’ve never fought anyone like that before! That was amazing man! How’d you make me lose control of my arm?!” 

Izuku blinked again and looked down at his hands, swollen and throbbing. He still needed to train them, his style of fighting favored attacking the weak points of his targets using their body against them to subdue them with ease. Izuku explained this in a hushed whisper to Kirishima exploding yelling about “Badass” and “have to teach me.” his vocal chords obviously damaged but not enough to stop a tirade of inquiries and annoying questions.

Mina came up to the ring with towels and climbed in taking her… boyfriend? Izuku guesses. Under the shoulder easing weight off his leg. 

Izuku wrapped up his daily training routine with cardio which Kirishima demanded he do as well even though his knee was turning an ugly shade of purple. Mina has to drag him away by the ear threatening to melt his dye collection. Whatever that meant. 

On his way home Izuku added into his notes:

Kirishima, hardening quirk. Tendon and pressure points still work. 

Focus on finger and knuckle strengthening. 

Try using elbows knees and kicking, need to increase accuracy and speed.

Practice bout, Win. 

Don’t allow enemies to approach and grapple, look into jui jutsu. 

———

He made it home bathed, ate, and talked with his mother about his day. After finishing cleaning and watching some shows with his mother he made his way to his room as his phone rang with an unknown number.

Izuku: “ Izuku speaking.”

Unknown caller: “ Hello Mr. Midoriya. I guess it’s appropriate to call you that since your father had that ‘accident’ isn’t it young man?” 

Izuku froze, he darted to his door looking out and listening for his mother. She seemed to be in her room now, he closed and locked his door before opening his window and climbing out on his roof. The brisk night air cooled the sweat running down his cheek. 

Izuku: “ Who is this.”

——————————

Blood Ties will continue in Chapter 4: The Villains Pupil.