Chapter Text
The only things Izuku knows about his other mom is that she was big, she had pretty green skin and the softest green hair, just like he has. He also knows that she had a gem-- the same gem that he has, too, and the reason why she was called “Emerald.” He watched all the videos Mom took of her, where she’s laughing at something on the tv or cleaning up the living room, or doing any of the other things he sees Mom do too, now. She looks happy in the videos, and he can hear Mom laughing from behind the camera sometimes too. She says that Emerald, Mama, gave up her gem to make him, so even if she isn’t here anymore, he has a little bit of her inside him. It doesn’t make very much sense, but neither does much else.
The world is full of people with quirks, crazy powers that let them do cool stuff, or even save people, like All Might does. Izuku became obsessed with All Might soon after watching him save a whole bus full of people, and then go back for even more. It was amazing, watching him work so hard to help people, and to be so good at it! Izuku knows very early on that he wants to become a hero just like All Might-- he wants to save people, and make them feel safe just because he’s around. Even the doctor telling him and Mom that his pinky-toe is there and he shouldn’t get a quirk doesn’t phase him.
“I already have a quirk, Mom. You told me that Mama gave it to me!” he says, bright and beaming and not worried at all. Emerald gave him her gem, and that’s just like getting a quirk; it’s something that makes him different. Mom sniffles and shakes her head, her expression hurt in a way he can’t interpret, before she smiles and gives him a hug. The Doctor mutters something about “unreliable data” and puts down his quirk as “Gem.” He doesn’t see what the big deal is, whether they call his gem a quirk or not. Maybe he should be sad-- that getting his gem from her is like inheriting a hair color, and he should be sad that he won’t get something else, something more exciting. But he’s not worried. He has his gem, and he has his best friend, and they both want to be heroes so bad that they’ll have to succeed. Katsuki doesn’t have a gem like him, but he can make explosions with his hands, which is maybe even cooler. But Katsuki likes his gem, and he shows Izuku new tricks as soon as he learns them, so he must like him too.
They both share a love for All Might, even if Katsuki sometimes says weird things about him, like how he’s gonna be an even better hero someday-- it hurts to hear that maybe someday All Might won’t be as good at saving people, but it’s smart of Katsuki to work towards something, so Izuku does too. They both want to work really hard to be the best hero, and it’s good, to have someone who shares his passions. It’s really easy to talk to Katsuki, and they spend a lot of time together, which Izuku always enjoys.
Tonight they’re having a sleepover at Katsuki’s house for his sixth birthday, playing with some of the All Might action figures Katsuki got in his presents. Katsuki is pretending All Might can make explosions with his hands like him, and Izuku is laughing at him as he makes his own sound effects. They’re actually really accurate, but Katsuki is making silly faces to do them, so it’s funny. After a while, Izuku rolls onto his stomach and props himself up onto his elbows, cheek resting in his hand. He fidgets with the silver age All Might Katsuki let him play with, idly tracing the place where his own gem would sit on All Might’s chest.
“What do you think he would be able to do, if All Might had a gem like me? I think he’d have a ton more cool powers, and people would like him even better, because his gem would be really really pretty. It would be gold, and cut in a- in a, um, in a sunburst pattern! I was looking up gem cuts with Mom, to see what mine is, and sunburst is really pretty. And mine is- mine is an emerald gem, and it’s also in an emerald cut!” As Izuku talks Katsuki stops playing with his own figure, focusing on him and getting a contemplative look on his face. When he’s finished, it looks like Katsuki wants to speak, and he hesitates for a moment before just bowling forward.
“Do you like-- is it weird, only having one Mom? Instead of two moms, I guess. I think it would suck, but you don’t seem sad all the time.” Katsuki’s question throws him, and he has to stop and consider it really hard. Why isn’t he sad all the time?
“I think it’s because I never met her. Mama died when I was born, so she could give me her gem and make me. I only know about her because Mom told me, and Mom always gets sad talking about Mama, because she remembers when she was alive. But I’ve only known one Mom, so it doesn’t make me sad all the time. It’s still really sad, missing her. But I don’t miss her as much as Mom does. Doesn’t mean I don’t, it’s just… a different kind of sad.” He pauses to see if Katsuki has gotten bored of him yet, like the other kids do when he rambles, but Katsuki is staring at him, rapt. He smiles and scratches his neck a little nervously. “Does that make sense, Kacchan?”
“I think so. I still think it sucks, not having your other Mom around. But it makes sense how you feel.” Katsuki nods sagely, like everything Izuku said makes perfect sense, and Izuku beams with pleasure over being so easily understood. Katsuki is seriously the best.
Still, the conversation sticks with him. He wants to know more about his other mom, about what she was like. Later, when he’s back home with Mom after Katsuki’s sleepover, he lets himself into her room and hops up on her bed. Mom smiles at him and reaches out to pull him close and tuck him up against her side, and he lets himself cuddle her for a moment, before focusing back on his reason for coming in.
“Mom, I… Can you tell me more about what Mama-- Emerald, was like? What it was like for her to be a gem?” She looks surprised for a moment, clearly not expecting that kind of question, before she sighs and smiles at him in that sad way he’s come to associate with talking about Emerald. He snuggles up to her a little closer, for reassurance.
“Izuku, sweetheart, Emerald was a lot of things. She was fierce and beautiful and very very bright, just like you,” and she boops him on the nose as she says it, making him giggle. Her smile is still sad, though, as she continues, “but she knew what would happen, if we had a child together. Izuku, gems- gems can do many things. Your mother could do many incredible things, and she was one of the strongest people I’ve ever known. That’s why I fell in love with her, though I don’t know how she fell for me.” When Inko laughs it’s quiet and a little pained, and Izuku squeezes her hand to let her know she can keep going. She smiles at him and tucks a curl behind his ear. “So she was very smart, and very kind, but gems aren’t… they aren’t the same as us, Izuku. Gems aren’t human. She was an alien, made of a gemstone. To have a child together, she had to turn into something that could… make you, and then give herself up to let you be born. But she loved you very very much Izuku, I know she did, and that’s why she wanted to have you so much.” Izuku nods despite feeling his eyes fill with tears. Hearing his Mom so emotional-- so sad -- always made him cry. Still, he wipes his face, looking for more answers.
“I know you loved her, and I love her too, but I wanna- I wanna know more ‘ bout her. What could she do that was so cool?”
Inko laughs, a bit brighter now. “Like I said, sweetheart, she could do lots of things. She was very strong, so she could lift me without even trying-- and I am not a small woman, Izuku. She also had these special gloves that came from her gem that helped her protect people, a little like a hero.” Izuku looks starry-eyed at the revelation, a hand pressed against his gem as he thinks about his own potential. His own mom was a hero? It’s an inspiring thought.
“Do you think I’ll get gloves like her?” And even to his own ears, his voice sounds faint with hope. Inko caresses his cheek, leaning down to peck a kiss on his forehead. “Oh Izuku, whatever you’re able to do, I know you’ll be incredible at it. Now go back to bed, okay? You have school tomorrow, and you know you’ll want to be able to keep up with Katsuki in your classes!” Nodding, Izuku hops off the bed and runs to go brush his teeth and get to sleep. He can’t let Katsuki take first in class again! Inko watches him go, smile fond and still a little sad. He’s going to be alright, even without Emerald here to help raise him. She’s still here, in her own way, in Izuku, and Inko finds that’s the most she can hope for.