Chapter Text
"We all stand on the shoulders of giants. We all have to do our best despite that."
(Twilight Mirage Episode 25, 1:57:39)
Chapter One
“Are you sure this is the mech you want?” Aizawa asked, an eyebrow raised as he glanced over at the young pilot. “It’s temperamental at best and was out of commission because it ignored its previous pilot’s orders.”
The mech’s sensors switched on, waking him slowly as the cameras on his front showed the old pilot he vaguely remembered as his and. . .his instructor a while back.
Alongside him was a much younger person in new pilot gear. The mech focused on him; the pilot’s hair was split perfectly down the middle, half red, half white. His right eye was a light grey, almost as if to reflect his white hair, and his left a bright blue, made brighter by the scar around it. It looked like a burn, stretching from the side of his nose, across his cheek and up to his hairline.
It took the mech a few moments to realise they were looking at him, and when Aizawa had said ‘ it ’ he meant ‘ him .’ De-Midoriya.
“I’ll work around that with it,” the new pilot’s voice was low, almost bored.“It’s the furthest thing from the choice my father wanted, so I prefer it.”
“I prefer he/him pronouns,” Midoriya spoke, the words tumbling from his speakers before he had really thought about it.
“I wasn’t aware you were awake,” Aizawa shrugged, glancing up at the cameras and holding his gaze.
A brief memory floated back to Midoriya, ‘People will think they’re your eyes and treat you more human-like, dumbass.’
Midoriya shut that memory down as quickly as it came, a surge of longing followed by a flurry of anger sped through his code, but he shoved that down as well.
“Sorry . . . Deku, I didn’t have prior information on you,” the younger pilot held his hands up in a placating manner.
Midoriya had to hold back from physically flinching, already spitting out,“That’s not my name. I am Midoriya , Mark Nine Unit, and that is what you can call me.”
If he had a heartbeat, Midoriya was sure it would be hammering.
“Sorry again, Midoriya. It’s just that Deku is painted onto you.”
“Midoriya, this is Todoroki Shouto, your new pilot. Sort whatever problems you have out once you’ve linked up.” Aizawa commented, scratching at the scar beneath his eye.
“Oh.”
Midoriya didn’t know how to respond to that. He had been offline for… A brief scan on his data banks said it had been around six months since he had last been awake.
A quick sweep to remember what happened last time almost made him shut down again; the memory of … him , with a new mech, one with sharp edges, a painted grin, and heavier plating. A new mech built like a tank, unlike Midoriya’s slim frame which better fit quick strike attacks, stealth missions, and not heavy duty barrages.
“Is it smart for me to be out in battle,” Midoriya asked, turning to focus on his new arms. “I haven’t had much practise with my new modifications.”
The metal gleamed under the layer of dust as he took better note of them. They were similar to his previous ones, but he could tell they’d used a lighter metal.
“They’re an alloy. Experimental.” Aizawa turned, heading towards the door. “Todoroki, get Midoriya to the actual hanger and book an appointment to get a neural link. Midoriya, actually listen to your pilot this time.”
There was only a flutter of guilt before Midoriya steeled himself and turned to look at the new pilot, scanning him before standing tall, joints creaking as he hadn’t moved in quite some time.
Standing at his full height, Midoriya was barely reached 15 feet. He was unusually small for a mech but it suited him. He was fast and hard to hit and that was what mattered most in the situations he used to be in.
“Follow me, Midoriya.” Todoroki didn’t wait for a reply, simply turned on his heel and walked, head up and shoulders back. His voice had been flat as he spoke.
For a brief moment, Midoriya considered shutting down and forcing him to pick another mech, but he didn’t; there were people to help after all.
Midoriya was in two minds of how to be. He wanted to be happy, excited -delighted even- to be back out and helping the fleet.
However, he was still hurt, mentally not physically, from his last pilot.
So, he simply followed after Todoroki, steps ringing through the ship as he was lead to the main hangers