Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Katsuki was already angry when he started the day. Fucking extras shrieked early in the morning for no fucking reason in his opinion. Fucking Deku muttered behind in all the classes that almost made him turn around to yell at him to fucking shut up. Fucking Shitty Hair bugged him during lunch wondering what his plans were for the weekend, which was none of fucking business. Then the only thing that could improve his mood, by even a margin, was Hero Training at Ground Beta and, of fucking course villains decided to attack. But the fucking cherry on top was the events that lead him to be closer to Deku than he ever wanted to be in his life. 

Katsuki blasted another D-List villain wondering where the hell Shitty Hair went, wasn’t he behind him?  When he tried to spot that ridiculous; he saw Hand Fucker talk to a new D-Lister from a nearby building. The guy had a stupid fedora hat that matched his suit. Fedora observed the area when crimson eyes met heterochromatic eyes. Katsuki did not feel a shiver down his spine, but he felt a rush of anger as he took a step forward when someone grabbed onto his arm. Sparking an explosion at the potential attack-

“Kacchan! Wait!” yelled Izuku as he braced himself for an explosion, but only felt the heat on his cheeks. He looked at Kacchan in surprise while Kacchan looked at him with irritation. The sight of smoke above them showed he moved his hand before he could blast him. His control with his quirk is amazing. 

“What the hell Deku!” yelled Katsuki as he tried to force the damn nerd off of him. He turned around and saw that Hand Fucker and Fedora were gone. Damn it and damn Deku. “You better have a good reason for grabbing me like that!”

“I was worried, I was with Uraraka-san and Todoroki-kun then ran into Kirishima-kun. When he said he hasn’t seen you in awhile I went to look for you. I needed to make sure you were okay or at the very least with someone, but are you okay?” explained Izuku, not noticing the growing annoyed look on the blonde’s face. He looked around for any villains, but all the villains were on the ground unconscious. Looks like Kacchan was safe enough without him, but he swore he overheard some villains mention Kacchan so-

“Shut up Deku! I saw that crusty bastard with Fedora and now I lost ‘em. Now, answer again why’d you grab me?” repeated Katsuki as he glared at Deku. God damn the muttering, did the nerd not know that he vocalized those last thoughts? How dare he think he needed saving, but that last part about the villains looking for him reminded him of Fedora. 

“I just said I was worried, '' answered Izuku with frustration building inside him. No, he can’t be frustrated, he would be concerned if someone grabbed him in the middle of a villain invasion. Kacchan might be more paranoid because of the Training Camp so he should’ve been careful. “I’m sorry I grabbed you, but I didn’t want to lose you in the fight.”

“What fucking fight? I beat all these losers without anyone’s help, especially yours!” pointed out Katsuki, as he showed off the unconscious crowd in the rubble. That’s strange. He could still hear fighting from other areas and even a spike of ice from Half-n-Half, but where the fuck was everyone else? Did that shitty League not have reinforcements at this point? “Oi Deku do you-”

“My, you’re a hard person to find despite the explosions,” commented a voice from behind the duo. 

It was fucking Fedora. He wore a fedora with a feather attached to it. Katsuki knew he had mix-matched eyes, but he hid his face with some knock-off hybrid of the stupid theater masks. He wore a business suit that sold him that he wasn’t that strong. Katsuki could take him without even using his quirk, but he’s had a bad day. Igniting his sweat he charged forward but Fedora dodged him with a single step back, Katsuki skidded with his boots to stop his fall. 

Fedora’s quirk must be similar to Night Eye or some Danger Detection because he ducked when Deku tried to kick his head but Izuku landed roughly as he glared at Fedora. Lightning surrounded Deku as he tried again which helped Katsuki with his plan that slowly formed in his head. Fedora could only really dodge one of them, so he sparked one of his explosions and aimed at the D-Lister’s stupid mask. At least the fucker looked surprised when Deku knocked him to the ground as his mask flew off from the explosion. 

“League must be desperate for members if they have a fucking theater nerd wannabe,” commented Katsuki as he fiddled with his earpiece. “Oi, any extras hear me? Me and Deku got some knocked out villains and we got one that I saw talking to the Crusty Bastard, I think he’s got some Dang-”

“Kacchan!” 

Katsuki turned around to see Deku be a lot closer than he remembered. Deku’s eyes showed fear and concern before he fell on top of him. He shoved Deku off of him as he yelled, “What the hell Deku? I thought you had-”

Only a foot away was Fedora but he was passed out, but the way he was angled showed that he reached out for something. What the fuck? That fucker was definitely still squirming before Katsuki went to call for the class. So, how did he pass out? Well, at least he was out, one less problem. Turning to the nerd who was fucking sleeping. Growling in annoyance, Katsuki shook him as he said, “Nerd, wake up, I ain’t dragging your ass back to Recovery Girl or the dorm.”

No response. 

“Deku. I said wake up!” yelled Katsuki as he shook him more vigorously, but the nerd’s head fell limp on his chest like he-no he probably just passed out from something and needed to fucking wake up. “Deku, this ain’t funny wake up!”

Glancing at Deku’s chest for a quick minute he saw that he’s alive, but he wouldn’t wake up. Katsuki shook him until he saw Aizawa and those extras rush over with concern on their faces. They better not have been concerned for him, he wasn’t the one sleeping. 

“Bakugou, what happened?” asked Aizawa as it didn’t look good. Most of the villains besides Shigaraki and the real members escaped but their lackeys got caught and apprehended. But it looked to him that Bakugou fought dozens of villains, but the sight of an unconscious Midoriya never meant anything good. 

“The usual. Villains attacked. I beat them. But then Deku showed up and Fedora came right after,” explained Katsuki as he pointed to Fedora. “I don’t know how he passed out but Deku yelled for me, then just passed out.”

“Are you sure he just passed out and not-” started Uraraka as Deku didn’t look good. He looked pale and it’s weird not seeing him knocked out without any clear injuries. 

Todoroki pushed through the crowd as he held his ear to Midoriya’s chest. He ignored Bakugou’s yelling as he waited for the steady heartbeat. Ba-Bump, Ba-Bump . Sitting up he answered, “He’s alive, just unconscious.”

“I just said that!” yelled Katsuki in anger. Did none of these extras believe him? What the hell was up with that? Before he could add anything Aizawa grabbed Fedora and motioned for the extra with the mask and hands to carry Deku. Stupid Deku, getting knocked out in the middle of a battle. As they left to go Recovery Girl, Katsuki couldn’t help but question what exactly knocked out Deku if Fedora was already knocked out. 

Remember when Katsuki said how the day got fucking worse than training being interrupted? Well, here’s the kicker: he was wrong on Deku being passed out. Turned out he was in a coma. You heard him, a. Fucking. Coma. Recovery Girl spouted away how he was very much alive and physically fine - which was a lie if he’s in a coma - but he got hit with a quirk that’s preventing him from waking up. 

Aizawa clarified that Fedora’s real was Kuromu Kokoro. His Quirk was registered as Inside Out and it caused the victim and the user to be knocked out, but that’s as much information as Aizawa gave. Katsuki could care less about Fedora’s name or quirk name. All he wanted to know was why Deku was in a coma, and his information was useless. About as useless as all of them waiting in the hallway outside of Recovery Girl’s office. 

“How will Midoriya-kun wake up then if the user is in a similar state then?” asked Tenya as he robotically moved his arm as he did not see the logic behind this at all. Were they all supposed to just wait and hope Midorya could catch up on his work? Tenya should start prepping to take double the amount of notes for his friend.

“We don’t know. The chief of police is looking through the records to see if previous victims woke up but so far the only records say they woke up when the user has,” explained Aizawa, but one look at the worried faces of the most of class caused him to sigh. “We found out he has a brother that knows how his quirk works so he’ll be coming to explain further to Nezu, Recovery Girl, the staff, and myself about his brother’s quirk.”

Katsuki grunted at that when he heard Half-n-Half ask, “Those past victims. Did something happen to them?”

“I can’t disclose their condition,” stated Aizawa which made Katsuki know exactly that it wasn’t good. 

“Eraser Head?” 

Katsuki turned and almost blew up the guy that stood next to All Might. When Aizawa said Fedora had a brother, he should’ve clarified it was a twin brother. The brother had the same heterochromatic eyes but they hid behind glasses. He wore a collared shirt with a sweater vest and tie. If Fedora was the evil businessman of the family then Kokoro here must be the teacher that gave stickers to students. It was gross. 

Sweater Vest nervously asked, “Did Romu-niisan hit a hero? Why was I called here?”

“Calm yourself, Kokoro-san,” reassured All Might as the poor guy looked about to pass out from nerves. “Your brother hit a student-”

“He did?! Oh no! Nonononono! Did you contact the student’s parents? How long has he been asleep?” cried Sweater Vest as he went through his satchel and searched in a journal. If this guy weren’t so pathetic, Katsuki would laugh at how much he reminded him of Deku. 

Aizawa wrapped his scarf around Kokoro’s with an annoyed look as he commented, “I’m assuming this is a lot more serious than just a quirk to induce a coma.”

Kokoro nodded as the second Aizawa removed his scarf, he rambled, “Very! If Romu-niisan doesn’t leave the student’s mind-”

“This isn’t something you should disclose with the student’s classmates,” pointed out Aizawa as he gestured to the students. “We can discuss with the rest of the staff-”

“No! It might be too late then! I have to send someone after him or else you might lose your student!” yelled Sweater Vest, which if this guy didn’t have Katsuki’s attention before he certainly did now. 

“What do you mean ‘lose’?”

“Is Deku-kun dying?!”

Katsuki stalked right up to Sweater Vest but was pulled back by Aizawa-sensei’s scarf. He sent a look that said to stand down as Aizawa-sensei asked in a calm but tense voice, “What do you mean we’ll lose the student? We checked the records. Your brother’s quirk is non-lethal, all his victims survived.”

“It doesn’t kill the student, but you’ll certainly lose a potential hero at best, but at worse-” started Kokoro before he bit his thumb to avoid the worst of that statement, which Katsuki still didn’t know exactly what he meant. 

“At worse?” asked All Might with fear laced in his voice. “And please calm down, what did you even mean by losing a hero? Young Midoriya is one of the best in his class with the potential to be an amazing hero. How could your brother change that?”

Kokoro gulped nervously as he tugged at his collar. He explained, “My family’s quirk is based around the mind, body, and soul. Romu-niisan and I have mind related to quirks. He has the ability to transfer his mind into another’s. He will destroy the very aspects that make up your Midoriya. If he put his mind to it he can destroy the part that makes you want to be a hero.”

“So, he’ll make Midoriya a villain?” asked Todoroki as he saw Midoriya mad. He doesn’t think they could handle a villain version of him.

Katsuki scoffed at the thought that Half-n-Half was probably thinking. Deku couldn’t be a villain. The nerd was too engrossed in heroics that even back when he was quirkless he still wanted to be a hero, but if that’s the case Deku-

“No, he wouldn’t be a villain. He would be indifferent to the idea of it. It would be like an NPC in a video game. He would just be in the background. He wouldn’t want to be a hero or villain,” answered Kokoro as he fiddled with his journal.

“Well, you said that was the best case, how bad is the worst-case scenario?” asked Kirishima. He didn’t know Midoriya that well but him not being a hero was already pretty bad.

“Midoriya would just be a shell,” answered Kokoro. “Romu-niisan can make Midoriya an apathetic human with no emotion if he targets enough emotions to shut off.”

Everyone in the Class froze at that, even Katsuki. He’s known Deku all his life. The nerd was all emotion. Always smiling or crying or shaking with nerves. Katsuki tried to think of dealing with a Deku that acted less emotional than Half-n-Half and more robotic than Four Eyes. He can admit that the image of it unnerved him greatly. 

“We can’t let that happen!” cried Uraraka. “How can we help?”

“Help? No. None of you are helping this, you are going to stay here and wait. This sounds like a Pro-Hero’s job,” corrected Aizawa when he heard Kokoro-san hum nervously. “What? Is there a problem with that? You said you can send someone in right?”

“See, Romu-niisan can only send himself in at the back-door entrance of someone’s mind. Me, however, I can send up to four people inside at the front door entrance of the mind. But there’s a catch,” mentioned Kokoro as he fiddled with his vest. “It needs to be people your Midoriya trusts.”

“I don’t see the problem, the damn nerd trusts everyone,” commented Katsuki as Deku was an open book to him, but then Sweater Vest had the sudden guts to shake his head like Katsuki was wrong about the nerd. 

“No, not like that. It needs to be someone that he’ll trust with everything. It’s not trusting a stranger to close your bag and hope they won’t steal. I’m talking he’ll trust you as if his life was in his hands. Which in this case it is,” answered Kokoro before he turned to Aizawa and All Might. “I know you might not like it but these students are the best chance of saving him quickly. Unless he has siblings that he trusts that are on campus.”

“He doesn’t,” commented All Might as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Eraser Head, I think we should let them.”

Aizawa sighed as he looked at Kokoro’s expression that begged for them to follow his instructions. He sighed as he asked, “Is this mission in any way dangerous that can harm students?”

“No, they won’t even have their quirks inside the mind. It’s a simple ‘in and out’ deal. A search and rescue kind of deal if you want more heroic terms. They might see some things, but from my previous times, I used my quirk, the patient’s friends mentioned a guide. So they won’t be in there without supervision,” answered Kokoro as he saw the wheels turn in Eraser Head’s mind.

“How long? I don’t want them in there for more than a day,” asked Aizawa. This quirk already sounded like an invasion of privacy to an extreme degree. 

“To them, it will definitely feel longer than to us, but it should be only a couple hours at most for us. But I’ll pull them out if it takes any longer,” answered Kokoro as he looked at his watch. “You might want to do this now. I don’t know how strong-willed your Midoriya is, but the sooner the better.”

“How do we choose who goes in? Midoriya-kun certainly can’t choose himself,” asked Tenya as he stiffly pointed to the door. He personally didn’t want to see a fight between classmates on who Midoriya trusted with deepest secrets and his very being. 

“I need space to check all of you, but I think I can figure out if I’m in the same room as Midoriya-san,” answered Kokoro as he started walking in the room. “If any of you wanted to back out for personal reasons, I can’t stop you.”

Katsuki almost wanted to walk away, he wasn’t sure he liked the idea of being in Deku’s mind. It was probably filled with All Might images or all his mutterings but vocalized. But he wasn’t a coward that could run away from saving his now rival. Deku might be a damn nerd, but he was a good rival that would actually pose a challenge. 

Everyone stood around Deku in a circle with Recovery Girl looking like she wanted to scold so many people for coming in, but one look from All Might and Aizawa-sensei stopped her. Katsuki knew that Deku was known and in a way “popular” that everyone knew him, but he saw resigned looks from people like Tail, Ears, and even Ponytail that said Deku probably won’t pick them. Personally, he thought he wouldn't be picked either. He wouldn’t trust someone that picked on him and bullied - like anyone would have the balls to that - for years to enter his mind.

Katsuki stood next to the wall of Deku as he saw Round Face hold hands with the other girls in the class as if scared of the results. Half-n-Half stood at the foot of Deku with Four Eyes as they watched the IV attached to Deku. Sweater Vest touched Deku’s forehead as their eyes glowed green that resembled Deku’s lightning. Katsuki tried to look around to see who Deku trusted enough to enter his mind when all of sudden, he felt tired. Maybe all the adrenaline finally left his body. Before he knew the last thing he saw before his vision went white was Deku’s face made a smile in his coma-like state.  

Katsuki jolted awake as he looked around. He wasn’t in Recovery Girl’s office anymore, in fact, if it wasn’t for the fact he can feel his fucking heart trying to beat out of his chest he would think he died from all the white around him. He rubbed his eyes as if that would fix his vision. Katsuki pinched himself to make sure this wasn’t some fucked up nightmare or dream, but once he did he felt a twinge of pain he threw out that theory. 

He couldn’t be where he thinks he is right? Could Deku really trust him enough that he’s allowed in his mind. With a quick test, he tried to spark a small explosion but nothing. Katsuki doesn’t even think he’s sweating in here. He stood up as yelled, “Oi! Any extras in here?!”

When no one answered, something went up his spine. He can’t be lost in Deku’s mind could he? No, that sounded ridiculous. Looking down, Katsuki realized he wasn’t even in his uniform - hero or school. Instead he wore his black tee with the skull, black pants, and black shoes. That’s fucking creepy that Deku’s mind changed his clothes. He walked around in the white mindscape yelling because he can’t be the only one that Deku trusted. Surely, All Might at least would here. 

“Damn it,” muttered Katsuki as he kept moving forward, or at least hoped was forward. He called for anyone that came to his mind that Deku would like enough like Round Face, Half-n-Half, Four Eyes, Frog Girl, even All Might, but no answer. Man, imagine if this was a sick joke from Sweater Vest, he wasn’t laughing. “Fuck! Seriously, Deku, I thought your mind would be more busy instead of this empty space.”

That’s when he saw it. A figure in that distance. Fucking finally. He yelled, “Hey! Who's there?! You better come out or else!”

Katsuki wished he could see the figure better, but he at least saw movement. Whatever that was heard him and was coming straight for him. He got down in a fighting stance because for all he knew that could fucking Fedora. As the figure got closer the white space started getting color and more detailed. He almost froze when he saw that he recognized trees and buildings from Musutafu. 

“Kacchan!” 

Katsuki felt his whole body fall backwards when he looked up to see Deku pining him to the ground. But something about him looked different. His eyes shined brighter than usual like when he was a kid. Deku’s freckles seem to have multiplied now that Katsuki can feel his breath mingle with his own. Deku’s cheeks were tinted pink as he practically blinded Katsuki with his smile. He swears to every deity that Deku’s smile was definitely brighter than usual. 

“What the fuck?! Get off Deku!” yelled Katsuki as he felt his own cheeks become flushed. When did Deku ever have the balls to tackle him and pin with ease with that damn smile. “I thought you were in a fucking coma?!”

Deku tilted his head in an objectively cute, like a confused puppy or bunny. Katsuki noticed that nerd was wearing a dumb yellow t-shirt with a bright red ‘M’, blue shorts, and those stupid red shoes he always wore. Deku hummed as he commented, “Am I? I didn’t even realize Kacchan.”

“How could you not realize you’re in a fucking coma? What you think you’re just sleeping?” asked Katsuki as the looks Deku gave him made him feel weird. His eyes watched with rapt attention. When the nerd just stared at him with a sparkle of something in his eyes, he grew annoyed. “Oi! You deaf, answer the question?”

“You’re amazing Kacchan, and so pretty,” answered Deku with awe in his voice. 

Katuki felt like he wanted to blow up the damn nerd, but one: he physically can’t and two: he shouldn’t hurt the idiot in his own head. He took a deep breath as he asked in a forced voice, “Did you see anyone here?”

Deku hummed with his eyes humming a song that felt familiar, but Katsuki couldn’t place it. His eyes opened wide as he held onto Katuski’s hand as he started pulling him in a direction. Deku replied excitedly, “Let’s go on mission Kacchan!”

“What the hell? Deku, stop pulling on my arm!” yelled Katsuki as he tried to break Deku’s grip, but the damn nerd was strong in here. Deku paused and looked at him with that a happy smile. “What?”

“Nothing, I’m just glad you’re here. I’ll stop pulling,” said Deku as he decided to cling to Katsuki’s arm instead, which made him freeze on spot. He knew the nerd was occasionally touchy-feely but he’s never clung onto him like this since well when they were kids. “Is this better? You can lead while I give directions.”

“How is that leading if you’re giving directions, you damn nerd?” asked Katsuki as he wanted to force his arm out, but the grip was even stronger, it really made him uncomfortable not being able to move his arm. “And could you loosen up? I’m going to get claustrophobic with your clinging.”

“Ah ok! We wouldn’t want to make Kacchan uncomfortable!” agreed Deku as he slid his arms off Katsuki’s, but kept a firm hold on Katsuki’s hand. He even let their arms swing for a second with a bashful giggle. “Is that better, Kacchan?”

“It’s fine,” muttered Katsuki, this was probably the best he was going to get from Deku. “Where did you want to go, that got you so excited?”

“Oh, well my original plan was to go to the mall and home, maybe your house if you’re okay with that then U.A, but then when you asked if anyone else was here, I suddenly felt this zing like you were right, Kacchan is so smart and amazing! So I thought we could go to where that feeling came from because I felt that zing a few mintues before I found you. The direction I’m getting is from U.A so let’s go that way! We’ll have a mission on the way there!” explained Deku that literally made Katsuki almost lose track, but he got the gist. 

Deku felt something. Found him. Felt the feeling again. The feeling leads to U.A.

“Alright, how do we get to U.A in here?” asked Katsuki but as soon as he said, he felt a pull in gut as his feet started moving on their own. He looked at Deku to ask but saw him singing under his breath. Katsuki surprisingly couldn’t hear what song he was singing, but he definitely wasn’t going to ask. If it kept Deku from muttering the whole way he was fine. 

As they walked, Katsuki felt weirdly content . He felt relaxed despite the whole situation. It’s nice with it seemingly just him and Deku walking together alone in the mindscape version of their hometown. He never even noticed that Deku stopped singing and just stared at Katsuki with warmth and adoration in his eyes. Katsuki started looking around when he commented, “If you wanna talk, go ahead. I won’t tell you to shut up.”

Katsuki felt Deku rub his fingers against Katuski’s knuckles in a comforting gesture that made an absentminded smile form on his face. Deku replied with a joyful smile, “Thank you Kacchan, but I actually don’t mind the quiet right now. Being here with you just makes me feel happy.”

Katsuki knew he would usually snap and yell at Deku being ungrateful for not taking his chance, but for once he didn’t feel angry. He shrugged as he whispered, “Alright Deku, we can stay like this. How much longer till we’re there you think?”

“Not long, Kacchan, we should be able to see it in a few more seconds,” answered Deku as he swayed their hands playfully with a warm smile. “I want this to happen for real.”

Katsuki was about to ask what he meant when Deku let go of his hand as they saw the entrance of U.A. The feeling of content went away as he yelled, “Oi! Where the hell you thinking you’re going Deku?!”

Katsuki ran after Deku in frustration, but he froze when he saw who Deku rushed over to see. In annoyance he yelled, “You extras are here too?”

Chapter Text

Katsuki growled in annoyance as he saw Deku hug the intruding extras. He knew that Deku trusted pretty much anyone, but he chose these extras to be in his mind. 

“Bakugou, I’m pleased to see you are unharmed. The class was worried when you unexpectedly fell unconscious on Midoriya-kun,” greeted Tenya as he chopped the air even if he was stuck in a group hug with Midoriya, who unexpectedly was more affectionate than usual.

“Yeah! We were all so worried when you passed out! Luckily Kirishima-kun caught you before you landed on your face,” commented Uraraka with a teasing smile. She fought a blush that tried to come from the contact from Deku. 

“I thought for a moment that you just passed out when we didn’t see you here,” added Todoroki. He remembered how after Bakugou passed out Uraraka and Tenya followed soon after. Then everything went white and he found himself staring at Uraraka and Tenya’s concerned faces. 

“Wait, you were all together?” asked Katsuki as confusion knitted in his brows. How come he was all alone? And how did Deku find him so quickly? And how come these extras were in their school uniform but not him? God damn it, why was the damn nerd’s mind so confusing?

“Yeah, where were you?” asked Todoroki as he looked at Midoriya, who was still keeping him, Uraraka, and Tenya in a tight hug. “Midoriya, could you please let go?”

“You don’t need to call me Midoriya here, you can call me Izuku-kun or Izu-kun in here!” corrected Izuku as he let go of Shouto to turn to hug just Ochako and Tenya. 

“That is highly too informal for my taste Midoriya-kun, so if you don’t mind I shall remain to call you Midoriya-kun,” commented Tenya as he tried to force himself out of the hug. “Apologies, if this sounds rude, but I’m growing uncomfortable with how long this hug has been going on.”

Deku let go of Tenya but kept a tight grip on Uraraka. She smiled, but she was inclined to agree with him about the hug. If she had her quirk she would’ve made herself float out of his grasp. So, she said, “Um Deku uh Izu-kun, can you please let go of me as well. This hug has been going for a while.”

“Okay! Sorry, if I made you uncomfortable Ochako-chan, I just really wanted to hug you like that for a long time. Probably, since I met you,” admitted Izuku as he rubbed his neck with a blush. 

Katsuki held back a growl when he saw Round Face turn bright red at the confession. He glanced to the side of them to avoid seeing any of these nerds being lovey-dovey when he saw a ripple in the air. He went closer to that when he poked at it, but when he did the scenery flickered as he heard Round Face shriek in surprise as she hung onto Four Eyes. Half-n-Half made a small jump and readied himself to fight. Katsuki yelled, “Oi, Deku what happened?”

That’s when faceless figures started walking around that went right through them. Katsuki tried to find that stupid mop of green hair when he saw coming toward him, but there were two of him. One of the Deku’s - that phrase did not leave a good taste in his mouth - looked nervous as he held his mouth. The other one looked like the clingy Deku that he dealt with for the entire time he’s been in the damn nerd’s mind. 

Clingy Deku voiced thoughts about All Might and not feeling anything, but when both Deku were right in the center of the four, he said, “ Thanks to All Might, I’m actually going to be a hero! ”

Both Deku’s then tripped that Katsuki reached over to catch him as he heard Clingy Deku mutter, “ Or I’ll just die. ”

Before Katsuki or any of the extras could catch him, another version of Round Face touched Deku. The memory asked if Deku was alright and explained why she used her quirk and nonsense about being nervous before walking away. Both Deku’s stood in shock, but Clingy Deku had stars in his eyes and a bright blush as he exclaimed, “ Holy whoa! I just talked to a girl! ”

Katsuki almost commented on how the damn idiot didn’t talk to Round Face when the scenery changed back to before he touched the stupid ripple. He looked to see they’re back to one Deku who looked embarrassed, which was new to Katsuki. Deku was so happy and cheerful so far that this look was new. Four Eyes demanded, “Midoriya-kun what was that?”

“That was a memory, I guess talking about Ochako-chan triggered one to appear,” explained Izuku as he started walking to Kacchan who looked at where the ripple originally was. “You’ll probably see more of those pop up as we talk, Kacchan.”

“How come we didn’t see any when we walked here?” asked Katsuki. Was it because Deku hardly talked on the way here. Maybe there was no significant memory in the area. He’s confident he would’ve noticed a fucking ripple in this mindscape.

“There were a couple that popped, maybe you were distracted by something,” answered Izuku with a cheeky smile as he went closer to Kacchan’s face. He always looked so pretty when he was concentrating. He probably didn’t notice quick ripples in the mind, they were all pretty small anyway. Just fond memories of him and Kacchan as kids. 

Katsuki shoved Deku as he went too close for comfort. What the hell was up with this Deku being and being so damn clingy. Before he could say anything Half-n-Half asked, “Did you actually say that out loud? Why were there two of you?”

“One was Izuku and one was me,” answered Izuku, which must’ve not made sense since his friends looked even more confused. “You can say that Izuku thought what I wanted to say.”

“So, you’re like Deku-kun’s thoughts? But aren’t you Deku-kun? Ughhhh this whole mind thing is confusing!” cried Uraraka, she still hadn’t fully recovered from the surprise hug from Izu-kun - or was it Deku-kun, what was the difference - and the sudden memory where Deku was so excited to talk to her. 

“Yes, please, expand further upon this whole thing Midoriya-kun! We were sent on a time crunch so Kokoro-san couldn’t give a proper explanation on what his quirk-” started Tenya when Midoriya practically jumped on him with excitement in his eyes. 

“Did you say a quirk?! What kind of quirk? I should’ve asked Kacchan when he got here! I did find it weird that you were here. But I was just so excited that my friends were here! It can be lonely here you know! At most I’m essentially talking to myself most of the time! Oh, I wished Izuku was awake so he could write this all down,” rambled Izuku as he never even considered why his friends were in his mindscape. He kinda thought it was a daydream scenario again, but usually, if that was the case he never needed to correct Tenya-kun or Shouto-kun on calling him Izuku-kun.

“Oi! Deku, you’re rambling again,” scolded Katsuki as he saw Four Eyes look overwhelmed by Deku’s upgraded mutters. The nerd blushed brightly as he opened his mouth, probably about to start rambling again but Katsuki held up a hand to signal not to. “Look, a quirk hit you, and now there’s a villain somewhere in your mind-”

“The back entrance according to Kokoro-san,” inputted Todoroki as he believed Bakugou probably missed that part of the explanation. 

“Don’t interrupt me Half-n-Half, but yeah. We were sent in to save your ass from the villain. So, where is he? You felt when me and these damn extras came in. What about before?” demanded Katsuki as he saw Deku close his eyes and hummed in thought before he shook his head. “Huh? Why not?”

“You said back entrance Shouto-kun?” asked Izuku as he tried to remember if he felt anything off. When he heard him hum in agreement, he giggled. “Well, that’s why your answer Kacchan, I’m not the back entrance. Your villain is further in. I wished you had told me earlier Kacchan. You were already pretty close to where you needed to go.”

“Aren’t you worried about the villain Izu-kun? I mean he’s literally in your head,” asked Uraraka as Izu-kun seemed way too calm not to be freaked out more. “Kokoro-san explained that the villain is targeting what makes you a hero. Doesn’t that scare you?”

“I mean, you’re all here. I don’t see what I could be worried about,” answered Izuku as he turned to face Kacchan. “Especially with Kacchan here, I’m confident he’ll win and beat the villain!”

Katsuki almost bragged when Four Eyes accidentally chopped his hand right into a memory ripple and the scenery changed again. They weren’t even U.A anymore, but somewhere else. He and the extras looked and saw a much younger Deku behind a tree with Clingy Deku right behind him. When he heard a coo of affection from Round Face. Turning to demand what was so cute, he saw a younger version of himself facing against two random kids. 

The random kids spouted off some nonsense about Katsuki respecting his elders because he was in elementary or some bullshit like it. The younger version of him looked beat up, but he raised his fist at those older extras who ran for the hills like cowards they were. The younger version of him yelled, “ Hah! I didn’t bump into you losers! You were the one who bumped into me! ”

Katsuki remembered that day. Some stupid fourth graders picked a fight with him, but he beat them which was shown by Wings and Fingers praising him in the memory. He never even realized Deku was watching him that day. He heard his younger self say, “ The most amazing hero always wins. In the end, they always come out on top, no matter what! ”

“ The most amazing hero always wins, ” whispered Clingy Deku with a fond smile and stars in his eyes. 

As quickly as the memory came it went away, Katsuki looked at Deku who stared at him with adoration and amazement. Before he could ask Deku what that memory was Four Eyes yelled, “Apologies! I think I accidentally triggered that memory, I shall be more careful from now on.”

“Awww, Izu-kun! You were so cute as a kid!” complimented Uraraka as she poked Deku’s cheeks, however when he didn’t even move and kept staring at Bakugou she poked him again. “Izu-kun? What happened?”

Izuku hummed in surprise as he admitted, “Sorry, sometimes I get a little nostalgic when I see memories of Kacchan. He’s just so amazing!”

“Nice to know, you really haven’t changed from a child Bakugou,” commented Todoroki. However, some part of him thought it was strange that Midoriya watched him from behind a tree. They were friends back then right? Wouldn’t he have gone after Bakugou like those other two kids?

“You trying to say something Half-n-Half?” asked Katsuki as his tone sounded like he hasn’t matured since age seven which was bullshit. He’s matured a hell of a lot more than some other extras in their class. He aimed his hand wishing he could explode the bastard when Deku grabbed his arm. Suddenly his irritation toward Half-n-Half faded as he glared at Deku. “What did I tell you about grabbing me?”

Izuku slid his hand to hold Kacchan’s hand instead of clinging to his arm. Izuku rubbed his fingers across Kacchan’s knuckles as he said, “Don’t worry Kacchan! I know you’re mature… well most of the time. But, you’re a hero. Shouldn’t we start heading to where the villain is?”

“I thought you said you don’t know where he is,” pointed out Uraraka as she couldn’t help but stare that Bakugou wasn’t snapping at Deku for holding his hand. But she wasn’t going to question it if it made him calmer. 

“I don’t, but I do know the closest way to get there,” clarified Izuku as he turned to look at Kacchan, who looked at him with an expression that he knew asked why he was looking at him. “You want to lead us there, right Kacchan? But can I still hold your hand?”

“Hah?! Why don’t you hold Round Face or Half-n-Half’s hand?” asked Katsuki as he fought down a blush. “Clearly you wanted to earlier!”

“But I want to hold your hand! I hardly hold your hand! Please Kacchan!” asked Izuku with eyes that always made his mom’s heart melt and if he really wanted something even Aunt Mitsuki when they were kids. 

“Fine! Only because you can give directions to help me!” conceded Katsuki as he hated those damn eyes. Deku always had those innocent eyes when they were kids, that made any adult cave in. He hasn’t seen it a while, but he almost laughed that those eyes still had that power. 

Katsuki overheard Deku talk with the extras but kept a firm grip on his hand. Occasionally one of the extras ran into a ripple and they saw some childhood memories, but he usually tried to avoid looking at them. He was fine when it was Auntie Inko, he laughed wholeheartedly at some of the names Deku tried to use for his hero name. He also liked seeing both versions of Deku fanboy over All Might in the dumb hoodie. 

Katsuki was even fine with memories that had the extras - he snickered when he saw Half-n-Half make that awful joke about being the Hand Crusher. Katsuki definitely saw a lot of Round Face which made her blush and try to cover her face. Four Eyes popped in a few times but they were always with other people, which made him wonder why they were chosen to go in. So far all these memories were just normal friend stuff. He even saw other extras like Shitty Hair, Raccoon Eyes, and the French Guy pop in occasionally. So what made Deku trust him and these lame extras in his mind more than others? He certainly wouldn’t have trusted these losers in his mind. 

But then Katsuki saw the memories that followed a pattern. A time when he wasn’t as big of an asshole now. Memories like Deku and him skipping rocks in a river - Half-Half even made a comment how he didn't break a record if such a record existed which he knew damn it - and times when they played heroes at each other houses. It was fine the first couple of times, but then he started feeling guilt at the sight of them being dumb kids before they had quirks, or when Deku still obliviously thought he could still get a quirk. As if Deku read his mind, he didn’t even realize he stepped in another memory until he felt Deku’s hand not in his. 

Katsuki saw his younger self show tricks with a ball bragging how it came so easy to him. Then saw a younger Deku try an attempt as well, Clingy Deku mirrored the young version perfectly until he fell and for a split second the world glitched when his younger self called him useless. Katsuki held his chest before the memory returned, but he saw the extras panic when the world glitched, with his younger self showing off his reading skills. 

“ Y’know ‘Izuku’ can be read as ‘Deku’ , ” bragged the younger Katsuki as extras complimented his kanji reading skills. Katsuki saw Clingy Deku smile brightly and muttered about how amazing his skills are. “ And ‘Deku’ means someone who can’t do anything! ”

Then harsher than before they were dragged out of the memory. Katsuki felt Deku’s hand back in his as he looked at the extras. Half-n-Half had the fucking balls to glare at him while Round Face and Four Eyes looked like a mixture of sadness and disappointment. Katsuki felt shame rise in his throat as he yelled, “What you got something to say to me?”

“Is that how Midoriya got his nickname?” asked Todoroki with annoyance in his throat. He’s not close with Bakugou as Midoriya is - was he couldn’t tell - but he knew what Bakugou did probably hurt his feelings. 

“Yeah! Kacchan read my name but read Deku,” answered Izuku. He wasn’t sure why Shouto-kun sounded annoyed, but for a moment he let go of Kacchan to hold Shouto-kun’s hands. “Don’t make a big deal out of it, please. We were just silly kids. Deku is the name of a hero now.”

“Still,” started Uraraka, she knew the name had original negative connotations and she respected Deku’s decision to forgive Bakugou for that. Before she could add on Izu-kun looked at her with those adorable puppy eyes that stopped it in its tracks. “Why did that memory end so abruptly?”

Katuski watched as Deku played with his hands that he knew he was going to try to hide the truth. Fucking Deku, why couldn’t he just be honest. When Deku opened his mouth, he answered, “It’s very confusing on why and I can’t explain it properly without complicating things more. On the bright side, you’re close to where you need to be dropped off.”

“How do you know?” asked Tenya, who frankly was more upset at the sudden pull out of the memory. It felt like when he used his quirk but instead of the burst of speed that he’s used to, it was more like one of his engines was clogged up. 

“Usually, that ‘glitch’ you saw means we’re almost there,” answered Izuku as he tried to soothe Kacchan, who still looked shaken up. He then hugged Kacchan with a determined smile ignoring the surprised gasps from his other friends. “You okay Kacchan?”

Katsuki knew he usually would’ve snapped and pushed Deku off, but it’s like anytime the damn nerd touched him all his negative feelings went away which honestly felt fucking weird. In a tone that made the extras look at him in surprise, “Yeah, just felt weird seeing you as a baby, Deku.”

“I was not a baby Kacchan!” cried Izuku with a playful, before a giggle bubbled out from his lips. He cuddled against Kacchan’s chest as he heard Kacchan’s heartbeat go faster which brought a smile to his face. “We’re almost there, but it’s really nice seeing you so relaxed Kacchan!”

“Hah! I would be more relaxed if annoying extras didn’t bother me 24/7,” commented Katsuki as he saw Round Face give him a knowing smile when Deku fucking nuzzled his chest, he could still feel the heat in his cheeks. “Now, where the hell do we go next?”

Izuku looked around before pointing to the woods as he said, “In there!”

Katsuki felt himself freeze when he recognized those woods. No way. No way why would Deku’s mind mess with him and have that woods to be where the villain would be. Before he knew it Deku started dragging him when Four Eyes told them to stop. Four Eyes pointed to the ‘No Trespassing’ sign. He scolded, “Midoriya-kun! Did you break this law?”

“Not my fault! Kacchan loved playing there! Plus we were always safe,” defended Izuku before he thought about it. “Most of the time! Plus you need to go in there if you want to find this villain.”

“It’s not like we’re actually breaking the law,” commented Todoroki as he pushed past Tenya.

“Yeah, chill. It’s ok,” reassured Uraraka as she motioned for Tenya to follow them.

“Fine! I concede, only because by technicality this is Midoriya-kun’s mind, therefore we’re not breaking the law,” agreed Tenya as he followed the group in the woods.

Katsuki walked hand-in-hand with the damn nerd as he hoped no ripples appeared. He had one clear memory associated with this place and he didn’t want to see it. That’s when Deku started humming that familiar tune that Bakugou still couldn’t figure out why it did. Eventually, he heard Round Face ask, “What’s that song you’re humming Izu-kun?”

Izuku’s face lit up as he asked, “It's a song I sang as a kid? You wanna hear it?”

“Sure! It sounds really catchy Izu-kun!” agreed Uraraka trying to match his excitement. 

Katsuki rolled his eyes thinking it was probably some dumb song from kindergarten or an All Might theme. But then Izuku sang, “Forward march and here we go! Members of the Agency Bakugou!”

Katsuki froze before he turned to the extras, but before he could threaten to shut up Round Face started cackling hysterically muttering in between laughs how he had a theme song. Fucking Half-n-Half’s mouth twitched into a smile and Four Eyes started laughing too like Round Face’s laugh was contagious. He yelled, “Oi! Shut up! You better not mention to this any of those lame extras when we get out of here!”

“Oh! I’m so telling Mina! She’ll love this,” laughed Uraraka as she could see Mina’s face. She would probably spread it to the rest of their little friend group too. That image alone made her determined to tell Mina. 

Katsuki tried to lunge for Round Face, but Deku grabbed his arm and pointed in the direction. He said, “Come on Kacchan, we’re almost there.”

“You sound like you want to get rid of me,” commented Katsuki which if that’s true, made him feel upset. All day this Deku has been clingy, but now he wants to get rid of him. Here? That can’t be a coincidence. 

“I don’t! Honest, but I think someone would appreciate your company more than I do,” admitted Izuku as he looked at his friends, especially Ochako-chan. “Come on, you can laugh about this later. Let’s go be heroes and beat the bad guy!”

Round Face finally took a breather as they kept walking in the woods. Katsuki felt Deku grab his arm instead of his hand, but he didn’t have the heart to tell him to let go. He’ll let him have it this one time. That’s when he saw it. That stupid tree bridge. Katsuki didn’t need a memory ripple to know what they would’ve seen. A little Deku with concern in his eyes rushed to his younger self’s side after he fell off the bridge. He held out his hand and his younger self would brush it aside and like a lightswitch, he no longer saw Deku as a friend but as a Deku .

“Why did we stop?” asked Half-n-Half that broke Katsuki out of his thoughts. He didn’t even realize that Deku stopped too at the foot of the bridge. 

“Down there,” answered Deku with a more forced smile to Katsuki. It’s like even he felt uncomfortable here. The grip he had on Katsuki’s arm, proved his point. “I don’t know how you all will feel, but please be careful. Especially you Kacchan.”

Before he could say anything that came to his mind from demanding if Deku looked down on him - which he now knew wasn’t true after their fight on Ground Beta - to asking why he sounded like this was a goodbye; Deku let go and he and extras all slipped into the river. The damn nerd must’ve remembered the river being deeper because the water went up to his waist when he knows that it only went up to his ankles when they were kids. 

Katsuki tried to ask the nerd when he heard the extras try to call out to Deku. First was Round Face before like a goddamn horror film, her entire being fell in the water with a scream. Then followed by Four Eyes then Half-n-Half, that’s when he felt it. Something wrapped around his leg as he tried to force it out but the more he struggled the deeper he fell in. Eventually, the water consumed him whole with his last words being “Deku”.

Katsuki didn’t feel like water was in his mouth or being suffocated, and he knew what that felt like. It was more like words were caught in his throat and his eyes stung so he kept them shut. He accidentally let some water in, and it tasted salty, but not like ocean water but like tears. 

That’s when he heard it. Voices. But most predominately Deku’s voice saying that dumb nickname for him. He forced his eyes open when he saw the faces of Deku go from happy tears like at the Sports Festival to sad tears like when.... at Kamino. Before he could try to swim, he felt something grab him. He tried to fight it but it dragged him further down, but strangely he saw light from the deep. Swimming toward the light, he forced himself out deep and took a breath like it could be his last. When he did, he heard those fucking extras ask if he was alright. How the hell weren’t they out of breath?

“Kacchan! Are you alright?” 

Katsuki looked up and saw Deku at the brink of tears in his middle school uniform. Something about his picture was off. When Deku usually asked if he - or anyone - was alright, he would hold that stupid hand out as an offer to be helped up. Yet this Deku kept his hands to himself and looked like he wanted to anywhere but here. Deku’s eyes didn’t have that shine from earlier but looked resigned and dejected. He wanted to ask so many things to this Deku from ‘oi, nerd you alright?’ or ‘what’s wrong with you?’, but instead his mouth was faster than his brain. 

“What the fuck? Did you have a wardrobe change while we were drowning ?”

Chapter Text

Katsuki immediately regretted his words as soon as they slipped out. One look from Deku shrink on himself as he tried to hide his face behind his bangs showed that this Deku wasn’t going to cling to him like a few minutes earlier. He reached out to Deku to ask what was wrong with him, but the nerd just backed away with a quiet apology. 

“Izu-kun, are you alright?” asked Uraraka as she tried to reach out but Deku jumped away as he fidgetted with his hands. He looked so sad, she hadn’t seen this expression on him since Sir Nighteye’s funeral. Deku’s eyes prickled with tears as he muttered something she couldn’t hear. “I’m sorry, could you repeat that?”

“I said sorry if calling me Izu-kun made you uncomfortable. You can go back to calling me Deku if you want… or Zuku-kun,” repeated Deku with a forced voice as tears tried to interrupt him; with the last part coming out more choked than usual. “What are you looking for again?”

“The back entrance Deku, remember?” replied Katsuki, he tried to hold back some bite because Deku looked one word away before bawling his eyes out that would make his mom concerned. 

Deku muttered something Katsuki couldn’t hear - geez why was this damn nerd so quiet of a sudden - as he pointed in the direction that they just came from. Katsuki demanded, “Wait are you taking us in circles? We just came from there?”

Deku’s eyes watered before Todoroki grabbed his shoulders - which made him flinch as he looked in horror at the contact - as he asked, “Is this another weird mind thing that’s too complicated to explain?”

Deku nodded as he saw everyone wait for him to lead. He shook his head before he forced out with tears already spilling out, “Kacchan can lead. But I lost something that can help find you the exit. I always get lost in here without it.”

“What do you need that is important for this detour Midoriya-kun?” asked Tenya as he tried to keep his voice a lower volume. From his observations, this Midoriya looked more distraught like his entire world ended. He recognized the same look when he found his brother was sent to the hospital. 

“A notebook,” whispered out Deku as he grabbed on the back of Kacchan’s shirt. “I think I last saw it at my place, Kacchan. Do you remember the way?”

“Course I do,” bragged Katsuki hoping it would bring some light back in Midoriya’s eyes. However, it only caused a sad smile to form. Katsuki saw a ripple appear next to Deku. When Deku followed his gaze, he jumped from the ripple, but accidentally triggered it at the same time as the familiar white light came. 

This memory felt different from the others, which the extras also caught on to. The previous memories had this glow to them that made you feel relaxed and content, but this memory felt darker like a storm was coming. 

Katsuki found himself in Deku’s apartment as a much younger version of the nerd - maybe seven - came in with Quiet Deku close behind. Auntie Inko followed suit as she unlocked the door as she asked, “ Why did Katsuki-kun not come again Izuku? He used to always come to play after school on Fridays.”

Deku fiddled with his backpack as he answered in a happy tone, “ He’s training to be a hero! ”

But Quiet Deku answered, “ He wanted to play with other kids. ”

The memory was short, but Katsuki got the message loud and clear. He remembered when he stopped going over Deku’s house because he was quirkless. When he was younger he thought he was nice enough to wait a couple more years in case Deku was a late bloomer. But he had to stop eventually if he was going to be the best hero. Stop hanging out with Deku and pretend to be heroes when Katsuki was training to be a real one. Katsuki looked at the extras and either they had high hopes of their friendship or thought it was just Deku being cute because Round Face looked like she wanted to coo at Deku again while Half-n-Half and Four Eyes just nodded solemnly. 

“Deku-kun! You just wanted to play with Bakugou,” cooed Uraraka as it was adorable how Deku felt sad that Bakugou wanted to play with other kids. Well, not adorable adorable like a puppy, but adorable that Deku was so attached to Bakugou that he felt upset when he didn’t play with him. 

“I would’ve played with you if I met you earlier, but I don’t think my father would’ve approved,” commented Todoroki as another ripple appeared. In a moment of surprise, he swatted it like a bug when another memory started. 

“Damn it Half-n-Half we just left one!” yelled Katsuki as he watched an even younger Deku and Quiet Deku watch Auntie Inko on a phone call. Half-n-Half started to give some monotone apology when Round Face and Four Eyes shushed them. He rolled his eyes, it’s not like they could even hear Auntie Inko over the phone. 

Katsuki tried to remember anything from this Deku, but this Deku looked real young. He might’ve not even met him at this point. A slam of a phone caught his attention as the extras jumped at Auntie Inko’s reaction. She held her hand to her mouth as tears spilled out. She turned in horror when she saw Deku staring at her. 

“ Izuku? How… how long were you there baby? ” asked Auntie Inko in a scared whisper. 

“ Was that Daddy? Is he coming home? ” asked Deku as he walked out of the door. In a horrifying moment, Katsuki realized that this was a memory he should not be seeing. None of them should be hearing this moment, let alone see Deku’s reaction. By the noise of surprised gasps from Round Face and Glasses, along with the shocked expression on Half-n-Half’s face showed that the damn extras are seeing where this going too. 

Auntie Inko slid to the floor as Deku rushed forward as he tried to wipe his mom’s eyes of tears. Of course, that’s the damn nerd’s reaction. Auntie Inko hugged the young version of Deku while Quiet Deku looked like he realized what was happening. Auntie Inko’s whisper in the apartment was loud and clear, “ I’m so sorry Izuku, but Daddy isn’t coming home. He made Mommy very upset and… I don’t know when you’ll see him. ”

Quiet Deku started sobbing as he whispered, “ Where is he? Why isn’t he coming home? ”

“ Mommy, why did Daddy make you sad? ” asked Deku as tears started to spill out of his eyes. “ Don’t Daddies love Mommies? ”

Auntie Inko’s tears increased tenfold as she whispered, “ Sometimes they don’t always Izuku. But I love you, Mommy will be here for you. ”

Quiet Deku curled up on the floor as sobs wrecked his throat. Small Deku cried and held onto Auntie Inko which was enough that Katsuki turned away. He never met Deku’s dad and never questioned it when he was younger. Anytime he asked Deku would shrug off and say “overseas”, which could be true. He heard sniffling from Round Face as she held onto Four Eyes who looked misty-eyed and guilty for witnessing a personal moment. Katsuki knew explosions would pop from his hand if his quirk worked in the mind, he never realized they came out of the memory when he felt that familiar tug on the back of his shirt. 

“I’m sorry you saw that Kacchan,” muttered Deku as his cheeks started becoming puffy from all his crying. For once Katsuki didn’t dare call him for being emotional after he saw that memory. 

“It’s fine,” muttered Katsuki as he felt his eyes sting. “You said what we needed was your notebook and it’s at your place?”

Deku nodded as Kacchan started to lead them to his mindscape apartment. Todoroki tapped his shoulder with a blank face, but with anger knotted his brows. He whispered, “I’m sorry your dad is a jerk too.”

Katsuki heard Deku sniffle at Half-n-Half’s word and held back a growl. Stupid Icy Hot Prince, why would he think talking about that stupid piece of shit of a dad after that memory. Katsuki tried to avoid any more fucking ripples because if had to see another memory as bad as the previous one he’s gonna snap. When he saw Deku’s apartment he noticed it look gloomier than in his memory. They all climbed the steps as he overheard Round Face and Four Eyes talk about joining Deku on his next visit to his Mom. 

Deku let go of his shirt as he opened the door as he walked into his room with a whisper he’ll be back. Katsuki pressed his hand on the mindscape couch to see if he’ll slip through, but when he met with something solid he sat down. Half-n-Half and Round Face looked around the apartment as Four Eyes scolded them to not going through Deku’s personal items even if it’s the mind. Katsuki saw a photo on a table nearby and grabbed it. The picture moved like a memory but there was no second Deku but just Deku living life in happy memories like the ones he saw earlier. He caressed the frame until he heard Round Face gasped in surprise. 

Everyone jumped to her side when Katsuki nearly yelled in her face when she saw what she’s looking at. It was a dumb picture of an x-ray of a left foot. On closer inspection, Katsuki knew something was off but couldn’t spot it, until Four Eyes pointed out, “That’s strange it looks like there’s a double joint in the pinky toe!”

“Why’d you shriek so loud Round Face?” demanded Katsuki when he saw there was an inscription on the frame that read ‘The Appointment’. Katsuki didn’t understand what that meant until he heard crying from a hallway. He turned to see Deku rush over as he placed the frame as tears ran down his cheeks. “Oi, what the hell was that Deku?”

Before he could grab Deku to make him face him a ripple appeared in between them. Katsuki swore as he took a deep breath to face whatever the hell this memory could lead to. When the light faded he found him and the extras in a doctor’s room. The doctor looked like some mad scientist and looked all too nonchalantly at Deku as he said plainly, “ You should probably give it up .”

In the center of their group was a young Deku that looked dead inside. The Quiet Deku behind him started tearing up, but no words came out. Katsuki heard a quiet clink and saw Deku dropped an All Might figure, maybe it was out of a moment of kindness or the fact it was an All Might figure but he reached down to give it back when his hand went right through it. He heard the doctor say to Auntie Inko, “ Excuse me, but you’re fourth generation, right, ma’am? Normally, by age four, he would have manifested one of those Quirks, or some combination of the two. ”

Fuck no. No. No. Katsuki needed to stop this memory or else all these extras are gonna figure out Deku’s secret the way this was going. But the extras’ expression looked shocked. No shit. They can’t find out or else questions on how he got his quirk so late will start popping up. Luckily, the memory glitched as the world started to sound muffled before they came back out. Katsuki held his chest tightly when Round Face hugged Deku despite his crying and sudden aversion to touch as of late. 

“That must’ve been horrible to hear that Midoriya-kun,” pointed out Tenya as tears started to form. This part of his mind certainly increased his emotional state higher. He patted Midoriya on the back. “But look you proved him wrong.”

“What did he ask for you to give up on?” asked Todoroki. The first words from the doctor rang in his head. Midoriya cried even harder when another ripple appeared next to them. 

“Don’t you touch that!” yelled Katsuki as he tried to stop that stupid bastard from finding out more, but he barely grazed it when the memory started again. It was darker than before and they were in the apartment. Katsuki recognized the room as the room where he and Deku used to watch hero videos when he came over. In the dark, the only light was from the computer playing an All Might video. Auntie Inko stood at the door with a sad expression as those extras looked so close to bawling as the memory played out, but the reason wasn’t the constant memories but the look on both Deku’s faces. The Quiet Deku had dead eyes that were flooded with tears as snot dripped from his nose. He blubbered on whys as he curled in the ball. But the look on Deku, the same Deku from the previous memory, made his chest tighten. His eyes were still flooded, but there was still a shine of hope. 

Deku whispered as he slowly turned his chair to face his mom, “ Mom… he’s such a cool hero… can I… be a hero, too? ”

Katsuki almost took a sigh of relief. The memory of Auntie Inko saying she’ll always be there for Deku came to mind. Surely she would say the right thing. But what he heard instead caused his reality to tip and the sounds of Round Face’s crying and Four Eyes sniffles said it caused the same reaction. “ I’m sorry Izuku! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! ”

And in the faintest whisper, Katsuki heard, “ I wish things were different .”

Quiet Deku gave out the loudest sob as he cried, “ That’s not what I wanted to hear you say! Please… please tell me I can be a hero. Please, Mom. Please, tell me that. ”

The memory fizzled with the echoes of Midoriya’s crying. Round Face hugged Deku, who was then fully embraced by Four Eyes and Half-n-Half, even he felt the urge to hug the damn nerd, but he was just angry. All those memories of a happy Deku from earlier were all from before this moment and he knew it. All the times he saw Auntie Inko encourage Deku to be a hero and entertained him by choosing hero names; most if not all of those memories were before this moment. Before Deku’s goal was cute and potentially attainable but at that moment Deku felt no one had this back. His shitstain of a father was out of the picture. His mom cried and wished that things were different. Then there Katsuki, himself, the supposed best friend at the time. He remembered the look on Deku’s face when it was announced he was quirkless by the teachers. He used to think that it just proved that Deku was that. A Deku. A useless person, but seeing him break made all his words he ever said twice as painful. 

Katsuki wasn’t just a jerk who left his friend after finding out he was quirkless. Katsuki wasn’t just a middle school bully that bragged he was the best to everyone and pushed Deku around because he was quirkless. Katsuki was also another chain in destroying Deku’s dream. But then… how did Deku keep going? If that were Katsuki, he would’ve become a hero out of spite to prove to everyone that he could still be a hero without any lame-ass extras’ opinions getting in the way. But Deku wouldn’t do anything out of spite just to prove a point… right?

Katsuki walked over and patted Deku’s hair - he resisted the urge to choke out a cry - and asked, “Oi, I thought you went to look for a notebook.”

“Bakugou! Can’t you see he’s upset?” asked Tenya as he wiped his tears. He admired Midoriya for striving to be a hero despite everything, but now that he knew some drawbacks he faced from his own family, his admiration grew.

“It’s okay Iida-kun,” muttered Deku as he tried to nudge off his friends. He wiped his eyes and sniffled before looking at Kacchan, who was one wrong memory from crying. “I’m sorry Kacchan. I didn’t find it here. I must’ve dropped it at the middle school.”

“The middle school?” repeated Katsuki in hopes Deku misremembered. Out of the places he didn’t want to see the potential of what that place entailed. If Deku’s own home, the place where he thought Deku would be the happiest carried all these bad memories. He wanted to stay away from the place that didn’t carry any good memories. 

Deku nodded sadly with a muttered apology. Katsuki ignored it as he held out his hand. The nerd had the gall to look surprised at the hand, Katsuki offered it more as he yelled, “I’m not offering again. Take it, so we can get out of your mind faster.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t take your hand Kacchan,” answered Deku as he kept his hands close to his chest. Kacchan yelled asking why not, which caused Todoroki and Iida to hold him from exploding. “I just- can I hold your shirt instead?”

“Fine whatever. I only offered cause earlier you were begging to hold my hand,” conceded Katsuki when he felt the tug of his shirt. “Come on you shitty extras. Let’s make this faster and please. Stop. Touching. Ripples.”

Luckily, the damn extras took his advice and tried to stop running into ripples, but sometimes one or two would pop out of nowhere. Eventually, they made it to the middle school, and if Deku’s mindscape made the school look this then that gloomy home of his was a sanctuary of happiness. 

Deku let go of Katsuki’s shirt as he started searching around the area for his notebook. Katsuki stared at the building in discomfort. So many bad memories are from this place. He leaned against a nearby tree as Half-n-Half stood next to him as Round Face and Four Eyes helped Deku find his notebook. Looking at the bastard he kept his gaze forward when Half-n-Half said, “It’s hard seeing Midoriya so sad and meek right?”

“Hah? What are you talking about?” asked Katsuki, why was this bastard talking to him?

“I’m so used to Midoriya being extremely happy and only really cry when’s happy. But to see that he so much pressure from All Might, but yet no one believed in him is upsetting. Did you know his dad was out of the picture?” asked Todoroki as he thought maybe this was something he could relate to Midoriya, like complain about parents… that’s something friends did right?

“How could you not notice? Deku doesn’t talk about him at all,” answered Katsuki. He never questioned it as a kid especially after his mom slapped his head anytime he tried to ask where Deku’s dad was. “But if I ever see that shitstain, I’m going to blow him out of this country.”

“Want some help?” asked Todoroki as he smiled when he saw Bakugou snicker as he tried to avoid his gaze. “Is there something we should prepare to see? You sounded worried earlier.”

“It’s Deku’s mind. We’re already invading his personal life with all these memories,” answered Katsuki annoyed. 

“It’s also an invasion of your memories, isn’t it? You knew Midoriya for so long. Should I-” started Todoroki when Uraraka yelled she found it. He and Bakugou followed the voice and Bakugou froze at the sight of the notebook. It looked like a normal notebook except it was singed at the edges. Oh. That’s probably why he froze. 

Deku grabbed the notebook as he flipped through the pages when Uraraka asked, “How’d your notebook get so messed up Deku-kun?”

Deku froze and Katsuki knew the ripple would come, but before he could ask any extras to stop moving for it to fade. Deku instinctively took a step back into the ripple before he even knew what was happening. The white light of the memory came sooner before anyone could blink. 

Fear and Guilt wasn’t something Katsuki admitted to feeling but seeing himself back in that fucking classroom on what was the worse day of his whole life. Quiet Deku stood behind his middle school memory version of himself when it hit Katsuki why Quiet Deku wore that uniform. He saw his younger self grab the notebook as he taunted, “We’re not done talking yet, Deku.”

Some extras that Katsuki already forgot their names to joined in to hurt Deku. They teased his Hero Analysis as Deku stood there with an expression Katsuki never noticed he had. He clenched his fist as Quiet Deku muttered, “ Come on Kacchan, just one day. ”

But the real Deku said, “ It’s fine, isn’t it? Give it back! ”

Katsuki’s asshole of a younger self blew up the notebook as Deku shrieked in fear when he tossed it out the window. Yeah, ok it’s a pretty dick to blow up the nerd’s hard work. Especially when he remembered when they were even younger Katsuki liked those stupid notebooks because Deku only wrote about himself and his explosion quirk. Both Deku mutter how that was “mean” of Katsuki which in his opinion was a fucking understatement. 

Katsuki hoped that would be the end, but then he saw his younger self grab Deku by the shoulder with smoke coming from his shoulder - he forgot he did that part - as his younger self threatened, “ So anyway… don’t apply to U.A., nerd. ”

Begging for the memory to end before he said the words he regretted most. It was already happening as he heard his younger self say, “ If you wanna be a hero that badly, there’s a quick way to do it. Believe that you’ll be born with a quirk in your next life and take a swan dive off the roof. ”

Quiet Deku looked in horror before he shook his head and muttered, “ Oh Kacchan. You don’t mean that? ”

But before the memory could it glitched, hard. Katsuki held his throat from both the sudden pull out of the memory and the thought of his own words. Deku’s dumb friends looked at him in anger and disappointment. Fine. Whatever. Fuck them. He knew they would see that memory eventually. How could they not? He didn’t need their approval and he sure as hell didn’t need them to put their two fucking cents on his attitude. He knew damn it! He knew since that shitty nerd saved him from the Sludge Villain. Before either extra could lecture him, Deku rushed to his side with concern in his eyes. 

“Please don’t be sad, I knew you didn’t mean it,” reassured Deku in the most confident voice he’s heard so far. “Right?”

Katsuki felt Deku’s hand on his arms and suddenly he felt just like the fight at Ground Beta. So many emotions in his head. Anger at himself and Deku. Guilt for his actions. He wanted to cry, but he couldn’t. After this entire hell of a mindscape that should be flooded with all the horrible shit he did to Deku. He couldn’t vocalize his thoughts as unsaid apologies stuck in his throat, all he could do was shake his head and give a mutter of a simple no. 

Uraraka knew Bakugou could be a jerk and she understood that Deku liked him and said they were friends. But that memory, she started, “But what he said-” 

“Was dumb shit he said in middle school,” pointed out Todoroki. “We all did and said things we weren’t proud of before we started really training. We still do stuff we’re not proud of. I lost my first chance at a provisional license because Inasa said I reminded him of my father.”

“It’s true, Uraraka-kun, I did actions I’m not proud of at the beginning of the year,” agreed Tenya. He remembered how Midoriya looked so angry with him when he went after Stain. “Though I do think Bakugou went too far with his ahem wording. If Midoriya-kun has forgiven him, I say we let them go. It’s their relationship. We have no right to interfere.”

Uraraka pouted but knew they had a point, she sighed, “Fine. But if you step out of line Bakugou. I won’t hesitate to call a rematch of the Sports Festival.”

“I’ll hold you that Round Face,” whispered Katsuki. He felt Deku let go but still felt his gaze on him. He met his eyes and saw contemplation as he gave Katsuki the notebook. “What’s wrong with you now? You know where we gotta go?”

Deku nodded as he flipped to the middle of his notebook. In clean handwriting, Katsuki saw an autograph from All Might. What the hell? When did the nerd get this? Now he felt even worse exploding it, but no as much as Katsuki tried to avoid the nerd in middle school Deku wouldn’t have hidden this from him. So that meant… he got after school. 

“What does this mean nerd?” asked Katsuki as he really didn’t want to see that damn Sludge Villain if the nerd got this after he saved his ass.

“Anytime, I need to find the exit. I look in this notebook and I’m reminded that I need to go into that shortcut from the school to my house. You know, the tunnel,” muttered Deku as he waited for Kacchan to get up. He paused to see if he’ll take the lead but gave his answer with a tug of the back of Kacchan’s shirt.

Katsuki found the tunnel and felt a sense of dread. He looked into the tunnel and saw a very faint light at the end. Deku loosened his grip as he clutched the notebook in his other hand tightly. He asked, “We go through there?”

Deku nodded as the three extra paused before they ran in the tunnel. Katsuki looked at Deku before he grabbed him and yanked the notebook out. He flipped to where All Might’s autograph was as he asked, “How’d you get this? Your nerd ass would’ve told me as soon as you got it.”

“Kacchan, don’t you need to follow them?” asked Deku as Katsuki shook his head. “Why not?”

“Because those lame-ass extras can handle a few minutes without me. Answer the question. If this has something to do with One for All, we’re alone,” answered Katsuki, but one look at the nerd’s face said he was off base. “If it’s that big of a deal. I can leave and drop it.”

“No, I’m sorry Kacchan, it’s just I trust you, but I don’t wanna ruin your image of All Might,” replied Deku as he fiddled with his notebook and saw a ripple already forming. “There’s a reason he not in here probably.”

That took him aback. All Might wasn’t trusted in Midoriya’s mind? Katsuki saw the ripple as he promised, “It won’t. But I just want answers. I can leave though. Forget this conversation happened.”

“No!” yelled Deku as he was surprised at his own volume as he looked at the tunnel with a frown. “I think you should see it. It might help later on and… you need to see that despite everything you said to me. Every time you hit or fight me will never hurt me as much as this memory.”

Before Katsuki could even ask Deku shakily pushed his hand in the ripple. When the light faded, Katsuki saw the Deku with a singed sleeve - so it did happen the same day - and Quiet Deku behind him. All Might stood before him on top of the roof of a building that Katsuki knew was far from where Deku lived. 

“ Even if I don’t have a quirk, can I become a hero? ” asked memory Deku pleadingly. Quiet Deku watched as he braced himself which already made Katsuki nervous. “ Can even someone without a quirk be like you? ”

“ Without a quirk? ” repeated All Might before Katsuki recognized the telltale sign, he’s losing control of his hero form as Deku ranted about how he wanted to do be a hero then the screaming started when he fully deflated. Katsuki wanted to laugh as both Dekus freak out even Quiet Deku was muttering how he shouldn’t have bothered All Might if it caused. 

But then All Might started showing off his injury that started his downfall and Katsuki no longer felt like laughing. Even Quiet Deku stopped muttering about himself and talked about how his hero was hurt. Fucking bleeding heart. Before Katsuki can decide just seeing All Might like this hurt, it wasn’t the worse thing they saw. Kamino Ward was definitely worse than this. All Might then looked at Deku with an expression that contrasted the usual happy mentor, he said, “Pros are always risking their lives. I cannot simply say, ‘You can become a hero even without power’. If you want to help others, then you could also become a police officer. They’re often teased because they get villains delivered to their doorstep, but that also a fine occupation.” 

Katsuki saw Quiet Deku fall to his knees and curl up as All Might continued to say, “ It’s not bad to dream. But you also have to consider what’s realistic, young man. ”

No. Come on, Deku’s mind must be messing with him, All Might fucking loves Deku. He gave him his quirk. Why- a cry broke his train of thought as Katsuki realized he was still in the memory. He turned to Deku who stood in shock, frozen to time. When an explosion went off, Katsuki looked at Deku who for a moment looked excited to see what hero would come to the scene. But All Might’s words echoed as Quiet Deku sobbed, but Deku? His excitement and the shine in his eyes died as he quietly went down the stairs. 

Katsuki’s not an idiot. A Deku who held his tears back was worse than any Deku he saw in this hellscape. The memory faded with no glitch. Just a sinking feeling as Katsuki saw Deku in front of him with unshed tears as he looked at him with pleading eyes as he requested, “Please don’t be mad at him. He’s making up for it.”

Katsuki wanted to scream and tell him to screw his forgiving nature, but he just nodded. He didn’t have any parting words as he walked in the tunnel; Katsuki only thought over his hero’s words. He doesn’t know what All Might was thinking at that moment but there’s a reason why he swore he would be better than All Might. And that memory solidified that mentality. He’s going to best fucking hero this world has ever seen. 

Chapter Text

The tunnel didn’t have the same sensation as the river, which Katsuki should be thankful for, but he still heard voices. Most of them were All Might with the constant loop of his iconic “I AM HERE!”, but other voices were coming from a vent? Katsuki paused as he listened in and heard voices talk about Deku. Pairs of eyes turn to him as Katsuki flinched. He did not want to know what that was. Katsuki reached the wall as the light at the end of the tunnel when he felt markings in the tunnel. He wished he had his quirk to light it up to see what they were. As if the mindscape read his mind, a flash of green lightning lit up the tunnel and saw childish drawings. They were pictures of Deku with some brats that Katsuki recognized as the twerp that punched Deku in the groin (that brought a chuckle out of him), the girl that he saw at that festival, and those damn brats from that stupid island. 

Katsuki kept his hand on the wall and felt a sense of familiarity, but he couldn’t place it. The flashes of lightning came faster the closer he got to the end and saw more drawings of various suits that he’s seen Deku wore. Occasionally he saw notes about One for All and training. At the end of the tunnel, Katsuki was blinded by the light which was way brighter than the other end of the tunnel. 

“There you are!” exclaimed Uraraka as she saw Bakugou exit out of the tunnel. “What took you so long?”

“Uh got stuck in another memory before I could leave,” answered Katsuki, no one needed to know about what he saw. “Anyone saw Deku?”

“No,” answered Todoroki as he looked around this mindscape. The end of the tunnel revealed Ground Beta instead of the city. The buildings looked wrecked like Cementoss never fixed these buildings after each training session. “We haven’t even heard anything.”

“It is strange! Every time we arrived Midoriya-kun usually found us before we shifted between mindscapes! Also, this is the only time we have changed attire!” pointed out Tenya as everyone immediately looked down and around to notice they were wearing their hero suits with slight adjustments to everyone but Todoroki-kun. Tenya and Uraraka-kun’s helmets were gone, but Bakugou looked the most different. His mask was gone showing off his eyes and his signature gauntlets were nowhere to be seen. 

“Fuck! Stupid Deku! Why is his mind so damn confusing!” yelled Katsuki as he never even noticed he changed clothes. When did that happen in the tunnel? Where was Deku? Usually, that nerd came to him so far. Maybe he needed to call the nerd. “Oi Deku! Where the fuck are you?”

“Would that work? We tried when we came, but no answer,” asked Uraraka as before they realized Bakugou wasn’t behind them; they all called for Deku-kun but was met with silence. 

“It is Bakugou. If Midoriya will come for anyone. It’s him,” teased Todoroki as he smirked at the blonde. Bakugou twitched in annoyance, but Todoroki saw his cheeks turn slightly pink. He looked in the distance when he saw an explosion. “That might be a clue out of here though.”

Katsuki didn’t need to be told twice as he ran to the explosion. As he passed villains he saw it looked like ae a metro fused with a hero convention. The windows showed off memories of Deku fighting with various classmates and other extras with notes to improve or defeat them. He felt the ground shake when he heard a distinct, “Duck!”

Katsuki ducked and saw that familiar head of green hair in his hero suit. The nerd aimed for a training bot? What the hell was that doing here? Once the kick connected the robot disappeared in a mist. Deku stretched when he looked at Katsuki with a smile that read as trouble. He turned with a smirk as he stared at Katsuki, which honestly felt different from his usual stare. 

“Uh Deku-kun?” called Uraraka, but Deku-kun stared at Bakugou with a look that she’s not used to. His eyes analyzed Bakugou but his eyes lingered on certain places longer than others. “What was that?”

Deku looked at Uraraka as he answered, “Sorta a daydream or visualization. It helps me figure out ways I can improve my skills. Usually, I have other opinions to help my moves. But today it’s been slow. It’s strange. Actually, Kacchan , you wanna spare in here? I could definitely use some practice with you.”

Deku’s hands rubbed his arms and Katsuki’s mind blank for the way the nerd sounded when he said his usual nickname. It was more… slow like he wanted to emphasize that his all attention was on him. And geez, if he thought Clingy Deku was bad this Deku seems obsessed with him. Katsuki smacked the hand off his arm looking for the usual pout Deku gave, but instead, he gave that smile like he was winning in something. Katsuki felt his cheeks grow as he yelled, “Oi! Why are you staring more than usual?”

“How many times do I need to tell you Kacchan? You’re amazing. You’re my inspiration of what a hero is. My symbol of victory, remember?” answered Deku as he stood taller, so his mouth was next to Kacchan’s ear. “Plus, you know that I learn best from watching you closely.”

Katsuki shoved Deku away as he knows the extras could see his embarrassment on his cheeks. What the hell? Deku was never this… honest , maybe open was the word. In a moment of confusion, he yelled, “What the hell Deku! First, you’re clinging to me like a fucking koala, then you’re quiet as shit, and now you’re pushing me to kick your ass! Who the fuck do you think you are Deku!”

“I’m Midoriya Izuku,” answered Deku, but there was an echo as Clingy Deku and Quiet Deku appeared from behind him.

“What the hell? There’s more of you?!” yelled Katsuki as he just stared at the Dekus.

“Happy,” pointed out Uraraka to Izu-kun, the first Deku they met.

“Sad,” continued Todoroki to the one that was in the middle school uniform. He hid behind the other Midoriyas.

“And Confident?” finished Tenya hesitantly to the newest addition of Midoriya in the hero suit. “Maybe Hero?”

“Don’t forget Grumpy!” joked Izu as he poked at Kacchan’s face. He hugged him as he looked at Hero Deku. “What did you call me and Zuku for Deku?”

“Just for clarification. I did not think you would arrive so fast. Mind explaining to me why our friends are in our mind?” asked Deku as he chuckled at Kacchan’s flushed face. He’s so cute, oh and by Kacchan’s expression, he said that last bit out loud. 

“Villain in the mind, they went through our mind so we came here right after they left our room,” explained Zuku as he pulled Izu off Kacchan. “Sorry about him, he’s uh really attached to you.”

Katsuki pinched his nose as he asked, “Okay, one of you Deku better start explaining what the hell is happening why are there three of you? Rooms? What the fuck kind of the mind do you have Deku?”

“Just like everyone else, see where you are right now is the Headquarters. This the area that makes your Izuku well Izuku. This where we come together and discuss varying degrees of problems for your Izuku. This is where the Id, Superego, and Ego come into play,” explained Deku as no one looked they comprehended what he said. He sighed as he looked at Izu and Zuku as Izu ran off with Zuku close behind. “One moment, but please take a seat.”

“Hello! Did you forget! We have a villain in your mind! We got fucking find him!” yelled Katsuki as he didn’t have time to deal with all these Dekus. He barely handles one in the real world. 

“I didn’t, but I make the decisions in here. And as cute as you are Kacchan. I’m not going to let you all just slide into the darker part of Izuku’s mind without knowing how to survive in there,” answered Deku as Izu and Zuku came back with a whiteboard. Deku immediately starting writing at a fast pace. “So, where you are in is Headquarters or what can be described as the Ego. This is where all of Deku’s decisions are made and where most of his personality comes from. I’m a Personification of Izuku’s Confidence, Bravery, and any other aspects Izuku calls for Heroics.”

“I’m his Personification of is Joy! I’m Izuku’s go-to emotion for situations. I take care of his hobbies and what makes Izuku more animated. I also control his creativity and keep him excited,” explained Izu as he grabbed Zuku. “Zuku here is his Personification of Sadness. He knows all the way to keep Izuku calm and content, but only for Izuku. I can make others feel relaxed though. As you probably saw Izuku’s childhood was built on both of us. We’re also the Default Emotions as a baby.”

Tenya raised his hand, ignoring the scoff from Bakugou, as Deku called him. He asked, “So if you represent the Ego, are those two the Superego and Id?”

Deku nodded as he agreed, “Yes, actually, good eye Iida. Izu is the Id hence why he’s-”

“Clingy,” finished Katsuki as he remembered how much that Deku latched on to him. 

“That would be a word to describe him, while Zuku is a Superego as he keeps Izu in check,” added Deku as Zuku kept a firm hand from Izu to latch onto Kacchan. “Now where did you all come from again?”

“Uh, Kokoro-san mentioned the front entrance of the mind and met Izu-kun. He said that the villain went in the back entrance and was after you specifically,” answered Uraraka. All this mind was too confusing to wrap her head around. 

“Oh? That is a very powerful quirk. And this Kokoro-san seems to follow a different map of the mind instead of a whole personality. His quirk follows the thinking of the persona theory,” commented Deku as he wiped his board to show that process. 

“Ah! This is so stupid! Get to the fucking point Deku!” yelled Katsuki. All of this was a stupid lecture. He got the gist. This area of the mindscape was Izuku as a whole which was led by Hero Deku - this was the best he got for the stupid aspect - while Clingy and Quiet Deku were some basic emotions.

“Hmm, maybe it was a good decision to take your hit Kacchan,” muttered out Deku, ignoring Kacchan’s shout of not needing saving, as he drew two lines. One that read ‘Anger -> Hero -> ??? -> ??? -> ???’ and the other ‘Happy -> Sad -> Hero -> Fear ->’. Deku pointed to the graph with a straight face. “The first line is what would you see if you entered Kacchan’s mind. Anger is your go-to emotion… no offense Kacchan. While Izuku’s personas for what you all see is the second line.”

“But wouldn’t that mean the villain would take longer to get to Bakugou? That’s good isn’t it?” asked Todoroki. He got what Deku was explaining. Each emotion was a layer of personality. For Deku, his happiness covered up his sadness. 

“We don’t know how the villain goes through each emotion. For all you know he manipulates the emotion in an almost coup fashion. No, I’m a firm believe we made the right decision,” clarified Deku before he felt Kacchan push him against the board, he ignored the gasp from Izu who probably blushing like crazy, while Kacchan ignored the shouts from his friends. “You need something Kacchan?

“For you to get through your head that I don’t need saving! And to shorten this fucking lecture, the villain could be entering this mindscape at this very second. And I hate to break it to you, but none of this useful. Just point us in the direction!” yelled Katsuki as he was tired. He saw childhood memories from Clingy, saw shitty memories from Quiet, and now this Deku was wasting his time. 

Deku pushed Kacchan off ignoring how Zuku apologized for him. He dusted himself as he replied, “And I need you guys to understand that the next part of Izuku is the worse part of his mind. Do you want to beat the villain? You need to know more Izuku than he ever will. Is there a chance that this villain could be here and is about to attack? Maybe. But I’m trying to give you your best chance.”

“Deku, you should tell them about whose next. It might be bad for Kacchan. Maybe even Iida-kun,” pointed out Zuku in his most confident voice. He saw the two turn as he already wished he kept his mouth shut. “You shouldn’t stall. It’s not like you can call Midori here. What if he’s with the villain?”

“Who the fuck is Midori?” asked Katsuki, internally awarding Quiet Deku was officially his favorite. He never clung or try to waste his time like the other. 

“That’s Izuku’s personification of Fear. All his worrying and anxieties into one being. He’s easy to convince on stances because he’s uh I guess the nicest word a people pleaser,” answered Izu as he tried to reach for Kacchan, but was pulled back by Zuku. 

“We have been here for a while,” commented Todoroki as he looked at the drawing and noticed Deku didn’t put one aspect on the graph, probably theorized the last villain went through there already. “I’m sure the villain already passed his first mindscape if he refused to have a guide. He’s most likely with Midori at this moment.”

“And if what Clingy says is true then I get the feeling that Deku will lead him straight to us,” pointed out Katsuki as Deku hummed in thought. “Stop overthinking everything! Just let us through!”

“Bakugou is right! Deku-kun, I know what you’re doing. You’re trying to protect us from facing the villain, but if we get him sooner than later. We can leave and our Deku-kun will wake up. Don’t you want him to wake up?” asked Uraraka. Bakugou looked at her in surprise that she took his side - trust her she was too - but they needed to save Deku-kun. Who knew how much time already passed. “We know what memories we might see. Yes, we have already seen so much of Deku-kun that he wouldn’t want us seeing, but we need to save him!”

Deku looked at Izu and Zuku who looked close to crying at Uraraka’s speech. He sighed as he pointed out, “You don’t understand. I know you all felt something when with Izu and Zuku. Didn’t you all feel content and happy with Izu and sad with Zuku? If you go into Midori’s mind, all your fears will be amplified. That is the fighting ground you want to face a villain. Here it’s neutral territory. You aren’t feeling the effects of any emotion.”

“Can’t we bring Izu-san or you then to join us? Fight off the effects of the fear?” asked Tenya. If they can keep them sane, then everything will be fine.

“No, we’ll be affected too,” corrected Deku. “Those mindscapes are essentially their rooms. They hold power in their own rooms, just like here I hold power.”

Katsuki slammed his fist into his hand as he pointed out, “We’ll still beat the crap out of the villain with or without you. So, Deku, point us to the way. I thought you were the brave one, so show it.”

Deku sighed as he looked at Izu and Zuku who gave him those looks that meant he lost this debate. He gestured to follow him as he said, “Fine, I’ll explain more on the way then.”

“Fucking finally,” said Katsuki as Clingy latched onto his arm and Quiet grabbed the back of his shirt. “Oi, what the hell, I thought there was only one clingy one.”

Deku turned and saw Kacchan’s predicament as he clarified, “No matter the aspect of Izuku, we all think you’re amazing Kacchan. So excuse if we uh cling to you.”

“Why is it that you cling so much Bakugou, Deku? Since you’re the expert of well yourself,” asked Uraraka. She had a sneaky suspicion, but she wanted to see if Deku-kun will admit to it. 

Deku laughed as he explained, “Every part of Izuku loves Kacchan. Izu enjoys him for the good memories and how amazing he is. Izu first and foremost loves Kacchan as the best friend that we originally met. If I had to use a word to describe what Izu felt for him it would be adoration. He loves every aspect of Kacchan from-”

“The way his eyes shine when he really enjoys something! How he’s sooo good at everything like cooking, drumming, fighting, and so much more! I remember when Kacchan used to watch All Might with me and he always warmed me up when I was cold!” interrupted Izu with a smile and blush on his face. 

“I only warmed you up because you wouldn’t shut up how you were cold!” yelled Katsuki as he saw a smirk from Half-n-Half and Round Face. Yeah, he’s going to kick the crap out of those the second he’s out of here. 

“He’s also not that bad to look at!” blurted out Izu as Ochako-chan burst out laughing at his declaration. “What?! He’s not.

“If Angry and Mean is your type then sure, Izu-kun!” laughed Uraraka as she clutched her stomach. Oh boy, the girls were going to have a fit with this. “Personally, he’s not my type.”

“Right back at cha Round Face,” said Katsuki as he really wished he could blow up that stupid grin on her face. 

“I must agree with Izu, though Bakugou is not my type, I can objectively say he’s attractive,” agreed with Todoroki, ignoring the ‘HAH’ from Bakugou. 

“I refuse to put my input on this discussion! Please continue Deku-san,” added Tenya as he felt embarrassment come to his cheeks.

“As for Zuku, though some memories you saw put Kacchan in a bad light. Zuku never was sad because of his actions, but because he knew he could be better. Zuku longed for things to get better between them, the saddest part to Zuku wasn’t any of the words Kacchan said, but the empty space between them,” continued Deku as he looked at Zuku who had tears prickling in his eyes. 

Katsuki turned to look at Quiet Deku who hid his face as some tears dropped from his eyes. He muttered in a low voice, “Oi, Quiet Deku. That true?”

“It hurt so much when you weren’t near, but it hurt to see you so mean. I knew the Kacchan before the quirk. The Kacchan that trusted his skills and trusted me. The one that talked to me like we were best friends. Even if all parts of Izuku got moved on from you or worse, forgot about you, I would still be here, missing you. That will never change” confessed Zuku with pink cheeks. “Sorry, if that’s weird Kacchan.”

“Aww, Zuku-kun! That’s so sweet of you!” cooed Uraraka as she caught on Bakugou’s blush. “Don’t you think so Bakugou?”

“Whatever,” muttered Katsuki as he saw Hero Deku give a smirk. “Oi! What’s with the face?!”

“Nothing Kacchan, if you like I can share my thoughts on you,” answered Deku as he smirked. “You’re my inspiration on what a hero can be. You challenge me to do better. I can talk about everything that’s objectively amazing about you, but to me, you’re so amazing. There’s a reason I trusted you with my secret and more. I’ve already said what you are to me. But, I think if you want to hear all our thoughts. You can ask Izuku himself.”

Before Katsuki could snap at Deku, Half-n-Half asked, “Whose the last emotion you’re hiding?”

Katsuki felt Quiet Deku tug his shirt tighter and Clingy Deku held his arm tighter. He looked to Deku who froze in place as Round Face and Four Eyes hummed in thought. He thought back to that stupid and realized Half-n-Half was right. Deku showed how Deku’s path was Clingy to Quiet to him to Deku’s fear, but there was a blank spot. What’s Deku hiding?

“Yeah, you only showed four sides of Deku-kun,” replied Uraraka as she hummed in thought. “But I can’t place what emotion it would be. I’ve seen Deku-kun happy obviously, definitely sad at times, a hero is what makes Deku-kun Deku-kun, and I’ve seen him scared at times. Is Protectiveness? But I guess that would you huh Deku-kun.”

Katsuki let out a ‘tch’ at Round Face’s comment. He never really took notice of the change of emotions with Deku. He was just Deku. He cried when he was overwhelmed, pouted when things didn’t go his way, and rubbed his hair to the scalp when deep in thought. Even now it’s hard to distinguish between these Dekus other than one detail of how they react. Clingy Deku like the name clung to him, Quiet Deku stayed silent and was a hell of a lot quieter than his normal Deku, and the Hero Deku was hard to decipher. He acted just like his Deku, with maybe the only difference being he was a lot more of a stick in the mud and was a lot more in his head than real Deku… and no that wasn’t a pun. 

“I have a guess, but I don’t know why you hide it. I’ve seen him,” pointed out Todoroki as he remembers the look Midoriya gave him during the Sports Festival when he looked away for one moment. “Why are you hiding his anger?”

“Because Midoriya is a meanie!” cried Izu with a pout. “Anytime he’s with me, he tries to ruin the things I like. He hates everything!”

Katsuki looked at Clingy Deku with shock. For someone who was the personification of joy, this had to be out of character. There’s a thought in the back of his head on how Clingy said ‘everything’. Hero Deku mentioned how every aspect of Deku lov- liked him, but what about the one that they left out on purpose. 

“He wasn’t so bad, maybe a little intimidating,” commented Todoroki not thinking much of Izu’s reaction. He probably didn’t like him because anger was the opposite of joy. 

“Sorry, but not quite. What you saw was us holding him back,” commented Zuku which that comment made Iida-kun freeze. Oh yeah, he’s seen Midoriya slip out with the Stain Incident. 

“Hold him back? Why do you that?” asked Uraraka curiously. She’s not an angry person, not by a long shot, but she’s been frustrated and annoyed plenty of times. Those were parts of anger, right?

“Because he’s very… extreme. He’s the other part of Izuku’s Id. Zuku holds back Izu from becoming too much, while Midori holds back Midoriya, but only a little. He hates doing it but he has to play with fears of letting him out to calm down,” explained Deku as he looked around. He can tell that the second tunnel that connected Headquarters to Midori’s room was near. 

“That sounds horrible, but surely that’s not the worse. I mean, he can’t be angrier than Bakugou, right?” pointed out Uraraka jokingly as Bakugou made a yell of offense from behind her. However, none of the Dekus answered if that was true. “Right?”

“It might because we hear his thoughts, but think about this. If Kacchan is always at 90 percent on a day-to-day basis then the remaining 10 percent when he’s trying to be angrier can’t be that bad right?” asked Deku as he ignored Kacchan’s yell of how’s always calm. “See, can’t be that bad. But Midoriya, at most he runs on five percent. And that’s when he slips out.”

Katsuki heard Half-n-Half and Four Eyes stop from behind him. In a moment of silence, Katsuki enjoyed it until Four Eyes yelled, “What do you mean five percent?! How angry can Midoriya-kun be? When I… made a very rash decision he scared me with his words!”

“Sorry, but that wasn’t actually all of Midoriya,” whispered Zuku as he caught Deku’s trip. “Some of that was Deku’s. Deku really didn’t like what you said concerning his love for heroes.”

“That wasn’t even his worse reaction. The worse I had to say was Overhaul or-” started Deku when he stopped. “Oh, nevermind we’re here. Just go through that tunnel and you’ll find Midori and maybe the villain.”

“Can’t you come too Deku-kun? You are his Bravery. Shouldn’t you help face the villain?” requested Uraraka only telling half the truth. The other reason was having familiar Deku around made her feel that the real Deku-kun was fine and not in a coma dependent on their results.

Deku hummed in thought caused Katsuki to scoff. What a damn nerd. He looked at him and said, “Look, if you are Deku’s Bravery or whatever. Can’t you, I don’t fucking know, cancel out the effects of Deku’s Fear? That way we aren’t affected as much?”

“That could work,” agreed Deku before sighing. “But I will also be playing into the villain’s hands if I’m the target.”

“If that’s the issue, don’t fucking worry. We were sent to save your lame ass,” said Katsuki. Deku hummed more in thought as he started rubbing his head in thought. “Look, if you don’t come. We’ll have a bigger issue with the effects of that mindscape. Aren’t you a hero? Shouldn’t you take that chance?”

“Okay, I’ll join you to help with maintaining the aftereffects of the mindscape,” conceded Deku as he looked into Kacchan’s eyes before looking at the other versions of Deku. “Izu, Zuku, please go to your rooms. Having all of us without the neutral space of Headquarters in there might cause some problems if too any aspects are in a room.”

“Okay,” agreed Izu as he gave Kacchan one last hug before Zuku pulled him off. “See you at the next meeting!”

“Bye Kacchan, see you on the other side,” commented Zuku with a wave. “Good luck, everyone.”

Deku cracked his knuckles as Katsuki cracked his back. He saw Round Face pumping herself up with slaps to the cheeks, Four Eyes stretching his legs, and Half-n-Half taking deep breaths. Deku looked at all of them, but Katsuki saw he looked at him the longest, as he said, “Where we’re going might not be the big fight with a villain, but it’s where you all feel with fear to your core. I ask you to try to hold onto any emotion that is not tied to Fear or else, this will be the hardest part of your mission. So, we must... Go Beyond, Plus Ultra!”

Chapter Text

Katsuki couldn’t breathe. 

It wasn’t the drowning sensation like the river from earlier, but a choking sensation. He held his throat, trying to keep steady against the tunnel wall. He tried to keep his eyes at the end, but all he saw was darkness; the light from Headquarters grew dimmer with each step. Katsuki looked at the extras as Half-n-Half twitched in pain as he covered his eye that his scar, Round Face held her stomach like she tried to prevent herself from clearing out her insides, and Four Eyes held his arm and rubbed it occasionally. Ahead of them stood Deku who kept a strong pace with firm shoulders. God, was he even taking some of this fear shit.

“Oi! Nerd, how long till we reach the mindscape?” demanded Katsuki with a twitch. Deku was fucking lucky that he can’t sweat in here or have a quirk; if he did he would’ve started exploding shit. 

Deku let out a shuddering breath as he played with his hands. He turned to Katsuki with a calm face, but his eyes read something else. He said, “We should be there soon. The fear is getting stronger.”

“Is that what Deku-kun feels when he’s scared?! It’s awful,” pointed out Uraraka. She could barely contain her nausea, and if this what he felt he’s definitely a lot braver than he showed. 

“It’s more nerves. Midori also controls any general anxiety and stress. He’s used to the feeling. You get used to it and learn tricks to help. I can only think of one time where Midori ever took the reins in Headquarters,” explained Deku as he took deep breathes. “I think you’re just experiencing some leftover nerves from that villain attack. It will pass, I promise.”

Katsuki took a deep breath and felt some nerves fade. Fear never held him back before. He can admit to himself that he felt occasional fear, what kind of freak would he be if didn’t, but geez Deku must feel it a lot if his muttering and rubbing his hair made sense. When the wall under his palm disappeared, he tripped when he saw the mindscape. 

And he wished he hadn’t.

All the buildings were destroyed like Kamino Ward, but worse. Black tendrils covered buildings and reminded him of… sludge. No, come on Katsuki, that stupid villain wasn’t here. Why would it be here?

“Creepy,” muttered Uraraka as the buildings looked intimidating. She held onto Iida-kun as he seems to stare at the floor with disgust. She knew she was going to regret it, but curiosity overcame her. “Ah! Is that blood?!”

Deku turned around - Katsuki saw that his eyes had eyebags, the mindscape must be getting to him - as he looked at it nonchalantly. He nodded as he said, “Yeah, sorry about that Uraraka-san, Izuku gets nervous around it occasionally. Don’t worry it’s not his, and technically it’s a figment of his imagination.”

Uraraka held Tenya’s arm tighter as he commented, “I don’t think that helped.”

“Why does the mindscape look like this?” asked Todoroki. He glanced around as he tried to find signs of Midori, but personally, it didn’t recognize the place. It looked nothing like the cities from previous mindscapes. “Also is Midori anywhere nearby. How do we find him?”

Deku sighed as he hummed in thought. Midori would usually arrive at the sense of a disturbance, just because of his natural paranoia. So, he would only not show because he was distracted again or making everything a disaster. No, Midori would've felt Izu and Zuku in Headquarters and would've been nearby the tunnel. But if he’s with the villain then Midori would be thinking either to lead them straight to us because he’s scared that Kacchan and his friends will be hurt or try to please the villain out of fear. But he’s doing that then he could be stall-

“Deku!” yelled Katsuki as Deku’s thoughts were all vocalized, and geez, he needed to chill. His possibilities were giving him a headache, and that alone made him want to explode something. “Why don’t we just trigger a small memory? Can that draw him out?”

Deku pounded his fist into his palm with a quiet ‘oh’. He replied, “That’s probably our best bet. Midori would feel a memory form and be drawn to it. But what memory would be okay and the least embarrassing for him?”

Deku then jumped with a scream, which alone made Katsuki and Half-n-Half flinch while Round Face jumped into Four Eyes’ arms. He grabbed Katsuki and yelled, “Cheese! Say something about cheese!”

“You jumped for cheese? What the hell?” asked Katsuki when he saw a ripple. Before he could even ask Deku brushed against the ripple when the white light appeared. When it faded, Katsuki found himself in Deku’s dorm room - no he won’t answer how he knows what that shit nerd’s dorm looks like - with the said nerd in his bed. Katsuki noticed how Deku twitch in his “sleep” showing he’s very much awake. A second Deku laid next to him with his eyes wide as he covered his mouth, holding back a scream. That must be Deku’s Fear.

The sounds of light footsteps made Katsuki jump. Whoever thought could surprise the nerd was in for a real treat. A figure was barely visible through the window, but the shadow was clear as day...Katsuki held his breath in as he saw Round Face poke out from behind Four Eyes. Half-n-Half positioned himself for a fight but his left side trembled. The figure didn’t move.

SQUEAK!

Round Face screamed as she climbed onto Four Eyes’ back; Katsuki would’ve laughed at her and when he heard Scared Deku scream like a fucking horror victim if this wasn’t actually concerning. Who the fuck was trying to go into Deku’s room this late? When the hell did this happen?

A hand laid against the window as the figure’s features started showing to reveal… the French Guy? What the hell? What’s he doing here? As quiet and quick as he came, he left. Deku climbed out of bed with fear clear in his eyes before he paused with a single hand on a curtain. Scared Deku followed him as he muttered rapidly while pacing back and forth, “ What was that just now?! That was Aoyama-kun, right? Huh?! Why is he on the balcony?! What’s he doing?! Why?! His room is next door, so why is he going through the balcony…? Ah, this is scary! What should I do?! Should I go see? No! This is a little too weird for me… It’s scary! But what in the world did he do? ”

Katsuki could barely keep track of the muttering - so it wasn’t just a Hero Deku thing, but also Scared Deku habit. Hero Deku appeared for a quick second as he yelled, “ Now or never! ” 

Katsuki and the extras peeked over Deku’s shoulder to see something written. It read “ I know ” in cheese? He wasn’t even Deku, but he felt a swell of panic and anger. How the fuck did this French Guy find out about One for All, and if he did why the fuck didn’t Deku tell him?! His thoughts were interrupted when Scared Deku screamed, “ Cheese! ”

The memory faded as in a moment of worry and anger, Katsuki yelled while stomping to him, “What the hell was that Deku? What did he know?”

“Bakugou! No!” yelled Tenya as he and Todoroki-kun blocked Bakugou. “Is the room getting to you?”

“Kacchan! Before you jump to conclusions, all Aoyama-kun was talking about was quirk control,” said Deku with a nervous smile. “He talked about how he can’t control his laser just like me with my strength.”

Katsuki stared into Deku’s eyes. There was no trace of a lie in his eyes. He let him go with an annoyed look. He said, “Better be that. Why was he was so creepy though?”

Deku shrugged and answered, “He wanted it to be a surprise.”

Katsuki shook his head and looked around. No sign of a second Deku. He looked at Deku who looked concerned. Half-n-Half asked, “Do you think a stronger memory will bring him closer to us?”

Deku bit his lip before he said, “I don’t know. A memory should've brought him here anyway.”

“Maybe, he does have the villain with him,” pointed out Uraraka with a hum. “He could be worried about us. Maybe a stronger memory will bring him.”

“But that moment with Aoyama-kun was scary to him. What’s a stronger memory?” asked Deku when another ripple appeared. He saw Tenya reach the memory without warning. “Wait no-!”

The light came fast, but Katsuki found themselves near the tunnel. He saw middle school Deku walk with a burnt notebook - so it happened right after school. Katsuki looked around and saw both Hero Deku and Scared Deku behind him. Hero Deku announced, “ I can’t let what the others say get to me! I need to believe in myself! I need to keep smiling just like him!”

Real Deku laughed like All Might in unison with Hero Deku. Katsuki snickered at the nerd. Round Face, Four Eyes, and Half-n-Half showed real genuine joy since entering this Fear Mindscape. Why was this memory in here anyway? It seems nice enough. That’s when he heard it.

SLOOSH!

No. Not him. 

Scared Deku froze and turned the same time Deku did. In a flash, Hero Deku disappeared. Looks like Fear was in control now. 

The slooshing noise grew louder as the light from the other side of the tunnel grew dim as the villain grew bigger. The exit was so close, but Deku stood there as Scared Deku muttered, “ A villain? ”

“ You’ll make a perfect skin suit for me to hide in, kid ,” said the Sludge Villain as he smirked. He tackled Deku as Scared Deku was left untouched by the villain. They both screamed in terror as Scared Deku laid next to Deku’s long-abandoned notebook. 

Katsuki reached out, but his feet stayed firm in his spot. Come on, he can save him. He’s so close. Round Face reached out easily, but Four Eyes and Half-n-Half held her back as they kept their gaze away. The Sludge Villain cackled as Katsuki watched the sludge entered Deku’s throat, Katsuki held his own throat remembering his own experience. 

“ Don’t worry I’m just taking over your body. It will be easier for the both of us if you don’t fight back. It will only hurt for a minute. You’ll feel better soon ,” cackled the Sludge Villain as he forced more sludge in his throat.

Katsuki heard a cough from Scared Deku and rushed to him. His hand went right through him, but he heard him whimper, “ I can’t breathe .” 

Katsuki turned to see Deku trying to rip off the sludge, but his hands slipped right through. The Sludge Villain taunted, “ Grab all you want, my body is made of fluid. ” 

Scared Deku choked as he held his throat as a gasp escaped, he then froze on spot. Katsuki yelled to the frozen Deku as he yelled, “What are you doing idiot?! Move! Your his Fear aren’t you? Shouldn’t you want him to survive?!”

“ Thanks for the help you’re a real hero to me, ” taunted the Sludge Villain. Katsuki growled in anger. Of all the things that shitty villain had to say, he said that . Then he the gall to keep talking. “ I didn’t know he was in the city, so I gotta get outta here fast before he tracks me down. ”

“ My body ,” muttered Scared Deku as he held his throat. Katsuki kneeled by him and felt the presence of Deku’s shitty friends come to surround the emotion. “ … is getting… weak… ” 

Midori flickered. 

Katsuki’s pulse pounded as he did not like how Scared Deku flickering in and out of existence. The area around them flickered too from white to black to matched the flickers. This wasn’t like the glitches from earlier, Katsuki tried to hold Scared Deku but his hands went right through the body. Scared Deku muttered with fading eyes, “ I think I’m dying. No this can’t be the end… somebody… help .” 

“Deku-kun!” cried Uraraka as she can’t believe this happened to him, and she can’t do anything.

“It’s just a memory… it’s just memory,” muttered Todoroki as he kept his gaze at the end of the tunnel. 

Tenya was the only one who looked at the real Deku. The fear in his eyes looked so scared. His eyes were open and still very much alive, unlike the one that laid beside him. 

Katsuki felt tears form in his eyes when he heard a voice announce, “Have no fear, you’re safe…. Now that I AM HERE! TEXAS SMASH!”

“ I can’t pull together !” screamed the Sludge Villain. 

Katsuki looked down to see light returning to Scared Deku’s eyes. Scared Deku looked up and muttered, “ Is that… All… Might? ”

After the memory faded, Katsuki turned to Deku who had the fucking balls to look like nothing happened. He stomped to the nerd with rage simmering under his skin. Deku muttered how Scared Deku should’ve shown up. He restrained his hands from pulling the nerd like earlier, but before he could say anything Round Face said in shock, “Deku-kun, you.... you almost died?”

Deku hummed with a shrug as he said, “It’s… not that big of a deal. It was a memory. We’re past it. It’s okay, Izuku is alive.”

“No. Not okay,” added Tenya with conviction in his voice, that scene reminded him too much of Stain trying to kill him in Hosu. “Deku-san, do you not realize that at that moment Midoriya-kun could’ve died. He would’ve died in a tunnel with no friends, no family! That’s horrible!”

“Not to mention, his last thoughts before he was attacked would’ve been how no one believed in him,” added Todoroki as he stared down Deku. “Deku, answer this. Why are you so willing to sacrifice yourself?”

Katsuki let out an annoyed ‘tch’. Maybe it was the fact he saw one of the villains that almost killed him, maybe it was the stress of this whole fucking day, maybe the fear of the mindscape was getting to him, or maybe seeing Deku nearly die pushed him to finally snap. 

“I can tell you why,” answered Katsuki as he glared at Deku as he drew closer to him. “Because he’s a fucking self-sacrificial idiot! He’s always been like that ever since we were kids. You didn’t have a quirk for the longest but you jumped in so many times to save random people! Fuck, I bet a part of you wants to save that Crusty Bastard! You always wanted to save people even if they didn’t deserve it! Classmates, that brat from training camp, and-”

An unsaid ‘me’ hung in the air as crimson red eyes met forest green eyes. Katsuki growled as he grabbed the collar around Deku. He whispered with a raw voice with cracks, “Answer me this, Shitty Deku. Why’d you save me?”

A memory ripple formed, and Katsuki punched it, and he only realized what he did when the white light faded.

Katsuki found himself in the alley behind a crowd next to past Deku. No emotion hung around him as he looked dead in the face. Deku looked up and froze right as Scared Deku appeared. In the distance, he saw the Sludge Villain. He did not want the extras seeing this… damn it. Deku covered his mouth as Scared Deku trembled and muttered, “ I’m the one to blame… he wasted his energy on me… he can’t power up yet… and none of the other heroes have the quirks to stop this monster… it’s my fault… I’m sorry… so sorry… help will show up and save the day I’m sure… someone… a real hero will come soon.... ”

His words had an echo to them, like other parts of Deku said it too, but if that’s true… why? Why did Deku jump in? What caused Deku to jump in? If he stood there afraid out of his wits, and from that dead look, even after All Might told him he couldn’t be a hero without a quirk. 

Katsuki saw him struggle against the villain when he saw it. His own terrified face at the thought he was going to die. Those eyes felt like it met with Deku, and he knew it didn’t. Originally, he looked up just to see if some hero would come, but in Deku’s eyes. It looked like… he was staring at him. 

Scared Deku froze as he whispered, “ Kacchan? ”

Hero Deku appeared right after as all versions of Deku ran past the crowd. He pushed and shoved right past the heroes and blocks. In the run, Scared Deku kept muttering, “ Why did I come out? What am I doing? Why am I running? ”

“ And why can’t I stop?! ” yelled Hero Deku, ignoring the pro hero warning him he might die. Stupid Deku, what are you doing?!

“ What am supposed to do in this situation? ” asked Scared Deku as he turned to Hero Deku. 

“ What would a hero do? ” asked Hero Deku when he had a look of realization right when Deku stopped running. “ Page 25 right! ”

“ Take this! ” yelled Hero Deku as Deku threw his backpack. Contents spilled out, but one lucky metal All Might pencil tin hit the Sludge Villain right in the eye.

“ Kacchan! ” yelled each version of Dekus with different tones. Scared Deku sounded close to tears, Past Deku sounded scared, and Hero Deku sounded determined.

“ Deku?! Why are you here?! ” asked past Katsuki, and he knew what ran through his head. Annoyance that he needed to be saved, anger that Deku was saving him, relief that he was being saved, and for a brief moment fear that Deku was going to die too.

“ I don’t know my legs they just started moving! ” answered Past Deku and Scared Deku, as the past version dug through the sludge to try and reach Katsuki. 

Deku’s eyes met with his past version as he and Hero Deku added, “ You looked like you needed saving .”

“ I couldn’t just stand there and watch you die, Kacchan! ” cried Scared Deku.

What the hell? He was the reason? An uncomfortable pit formed in Katsuki’s stomach as realized something. Hero and Scared had different answers to his question, but the result was the same. Deku… only jumped in because it was him. If the Sludge Villain got anyone else… there might’ve been the chance Deku wouldn’t have saved some random extra. The fact it was him . Someone Deku knew very well and according to all his aspects cared very deeply about. 

It caused his chest to hurt.

Katsuki heard too many things happen at once. Him yelling for the Sludge Villain to get off, Pro Heroes rushing in saying how Deku would've died in vain if they didn’t step in, and All Might coming to save them. Before he knew it, the memory faded away, and stood right back in his spot with Deku’s collar in his hands. 

“Did I miss something?” commented a voice from behind them.

Katsuki flinched at the sudden voice - he even dropped the nerd -, Round Face screamed as Four Eyes yelled in surprise. Todoroki flinched as they all followed to find another Deku. This Deku wore an All Might hoodie, sweatpants, and school shoes. If he thought Quiet Deku was timid, this Deku looked ready to run at the sign of danger. The Scared Deku waved shyly as he said, “So-sorry, it took so long. I uh thought it was Midoriya visiting. I-I felt Izu and Zuku in Headquarters, so I thought to wait. But he nev-never came. Then I felt a bunch of memories activate and came straight here. Wha-what’s Kacchan doing here Deku?”

Deku froze where he stood as he whispered, “You never felt a disturbance before us?”

“Was I supposed to?” asked Midori timidly as he tried to hide in his hoodie more. “De-de-Deku you never answered my question. Why is Ka-Ka-Kacchan here? And others? Is that why Izu and Zuku were in Headquarters?”

“There’s a villain inside your head. Deku thought you had him with you,” answered Todoroki with a slight tremble. If the villain wasn’t here where Deku was one hundred percent sure he would be, then where was he? Was he out? Were they the ones who are stuck here now?

“If the villain isn’t here, then where he is?” panicked Uraraka as she held onto Iida-kun. She felt her nausea come for a second round. Oh, god what if they passed him? What if Kokoro-san was a part of the villain’s plan? That would take out three of the most powerful students in 1-A and her and Iida-kun as well.

“Are you absolutely certain about that statement Midori-san?” asked Tenya as he felt his body shake. Chills went up his spine, what if they were trapped? If Midoriya-kun never woke up? What if the villain’s plan was them walking around searching for him while he got Midoriya-kun’s other emotions?

“STOP!” yelled Deku and Kacchan in unison. Deku felt his friends’ fear spike at the thought when he let the fear get to him. He looked to Kacchan who looked twenty times more stressed than when they first entered. Deku took a deep breath as he watched his friends look more relaxed by each breath. “Apologies for that moment of weakness, but the solution is simple. The villain needed to come through here and we sense any disturbances. So if he’s not here than he’s with-”

“MIDORIYA!?!” screamed Midori as he started pacing with heavy breaths. “Nononononono, if the villain is with Midoriya, and if I’m right about the villain that’s the one that tried to attack Kacchan earlier right?”

“Wait-back up. ‘Tried to attack me’? What the hell do you mean by that?” asked Katsuki when he Scared Deku fumble with his fingers as Deku looked away. A ripple appeared in between them. Since neither version of the nerd was talking, he went out a touched it. The familiar light appeared, but Katsuki didn’t brace himself. He knew what memory was going to appear.

The light faded when Katsuki saw himself from the attack. He had his back turned to make the call to the fucking extras, but he knew what he did there so he kept his gaze Deku. Deku stood above Fedora with Scared Deku - who fumbled with his hands - and Hero Deku - who kept a firm grip on Scared - behind him as Normal Deku stared at Fedora. Fedora then chuckled in a low tone as he said, “ Yo, kid, you think that Bakugou kid is hero material? ”

“ Yes, ” answered Scared and Hero with no hesitation. Katsuki refused to acknowledge how the speed affected him. 

Real Deku kept silent but there a twitch to his lips. Fedora scoffed as he said, “ Silent treatment eh. That’s fine. My target is right there. ”

Fedora raised his hand as his hands glowed white as he reached for him. Deku’s eyes widened in fear as all three Dekus yelled, “ Kacchan! ”

Katsuki saw himself turn at the call and saw Fedora’s face looked surprised when his hand connected with the back of Deku’s head. The glow of white on his hand turned green, Fedora fell sideways with his arm reaching out - so that’s why he looked weird. Deku then fell on top of his other self as Scared and Hero Deku disappeared. At the same time, the memory faded, Scared Deku hunched on himself with a muttered apology. 

Katsuki opened his mouth to demand why Deku chose to take his spot, but Half-n-Half held him back with a blank expression. He said, “The cause of why Deku took your spot is not important right now. I’m more curious as to why you two are so concerned about the villain being with Midoriya. Deku mentioned something about him being extreme, but from your reaction, I can only assume there’s more to that.”

Deku looked at Midori with a shake of his head. But Midori covered his mouth holding back his words. Uraraka-san caught his shake then pitched in and asked, “Hey, Midori is own person… uh personality. Let him say what he wants!”

“I must concur with Uraraka-kun! If Midori-san’s words can help us save Midoriya-kun then let him speak!” agreed Tenya with a wave of his arm. 

Scared Deku kept a tight grip on his mouth which annoyed Katsuki. A lot. He didn’t want to do it, but if it got this Deku talking he needed to. He grabbed Scared Deku by the hair - a wave of guilt and fear rushed through - as he said in a tight voice, “Deku, we need your help. And your Deku ain’t doing shit. You can tell us the piece we’re missing, right? You want to save our Deku right? So tell us. What. Are. You. Hiding?”

“MIDORIYA IS WILLING TO KILL!” screamed Midori as he covered his mouth in horror. The faces on Kacchan and his friends’ faces read terror - and he knew what terror was - as he looked at Deku who shook his head. 

“You’re being dramatic Midori,” said Hero Deku, but Katsuki could hear the bullshit. 

“You know you I’m right?! Oh, that villain is probably running scared of him! And if he is then Izuku will never wake up!” screamed Midori as he pulled his hair. He started running to his exit. “Hurry, please!”

Katsuki followed him - ew, that felt weird to admit - as the extras tried to catch up. He glared at Hero Deku as he demanded, “Oi, is what Scaredy Cat saying true?”

“Midori is another extreme, but likes to think of the worst-case scenario a lot,” answered Deku, but he saw Kacchan look at him with a pressing gaze. “But, yes Midoriya is known to have more violent tendencies. Can you blame him? You yell ‘DIE’ at any minor inconvenience.”

“But Deku-kun wouldn’t do that right?” asked Uraraka. Deku-kun was sweet, he couldn’t hurt someone with the intent to hurt someone right?

“Well, the thought of killing Overhaul did pass our minds… and the Nomu from USJ… and Muscular when he attacked Kota-kun,” listed Deku when he saw concerned faces from his friends. “Don’t worry though me and Midori are good at holding him back. The worse he’s done is the Overhaul thing.”

“Sounds fun,” commented Katsuki. He doesn’t see what the big deal was. Round Face acts like Deku wouldn’t go crazy if anyone hurt her. In fact, he’s pretty sure he has done that a couple of times. 

When they reached an all too familiar area, Katsuki had to stop himself from freezing. They were headed to Kamino Ward. He looked at Scared Deku who muttered wondering where it would be. He then pointed to an alley. He said, “Midoriya’s entrance is through there. Please make sure the villain isn’t too beat up. I don’t know what would happen if Midoriya would try to hurt him.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll come with them,” pointed out Deku, but Midori gave him an uncomfortable look. “What is it?”

“Uh doesn’t Midoriya, not like you?” asked Midori curiously. 

“Fine, he tolerates me. But there’s a villain in there along with a probably pissed Midoriya,” corrected Deku as he walked in the dark alley. His voice echoed the further he went in. “Plus, someone got to keep him check.”

Midori hummed nervously before looking at his friends. He took a deep breath as he said, “Be careful in there. It’s a short trip from our rooms, but still, it’s hard to deal with Midoriya if you don’t know the right tricks.”

He let the damn nerd’s friends before him, as he looked at Scared Deku. He said, “Hey, thanks for warning us about Deku’s Anger. And… sorry for pulling your head.”

“No, it’s okay Kacchan,” reassured Midori as he looked away. When Kacchan didn’t leave, he shuffled his feet nervously. “Did you need something?”

“Why couldn’t you stand watching me kick the bucket?” asked Katsuki. The words from Deku echoed in his head since he said it. 

Midori blushed deeply as he answered with a flippant wave, “Uh well you know, we care about you Kacchan. I.. just… this should be a talk with your Izuku. I promise I won’t hold back his honesty.”

“Eh? That’s you who makes him hold his tongue?” asked Katsuki in surprise. For a Deku that was supposed to be pleasing everyone, he did the one that he hated.

“Well, you know… sometimes I get nervous when it comes to you,” admitted Midori, the way Kacchan raised an eyebrow made his entire face blush as he tried to cover his face with his arms. “Not because you scare me! Never that! But more… uh hmmm well you know me so well. I feel like… I know you just as well, but there’s one thing that I don’t know about and it’s hard to admit and find out your answer. But I promise I won’t hold back Izuku when you ask when you see him.”

Katsuki nodded when he heard Scared Deku whisper, “Be careful Kacchan.”

He paused from the instinct to correct him, but he kept going as he slid in the alley. The alley had a different sensation from the other entrances. No drowning sensation, no voices, and no choking sensation. The only feeling felt was a push, but he pushed back. Figures, this Deku would try to fight him. Not this time damn nerd.

When he pushed himself out the alley, he found the extras and Hero Deku stare at another Deku. That Deku caught his gaze and yelled, “GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY MIND!”

Oh, yeah, this Deku might be fun. 

Chapter Text

Katsuki looked at the Deku before and held back his laugh. Not because he looked unintimidating, no far from it with the way Four Eyes looked in surprise at the nerd’s language, but because he was dressed the most normal outside of Clingy. Scared was in a hoodie but looked like he stayed inside the house all day, Quiet wore the middle school uniform, and Hero wore his uniform. 

Fun Deku wore a pale shirt that read ‘t-shirt’ - that’s how he knew this guy was all Deku -, black shorts with white lining down the sides and the stupid red shoes. It looked familiar, wait he knew why. It was clothes he wore when they fought on Ground Beta. It’s funny, but while he recognized all sides of Deku so far, this one caught his attention. He looked like Deku, but his mannerisms screamed Katsuki’s own body. The clenched jaw, the annoyed furrow in his brow, and the hands in the pockets. The one glaring difference was the eyes. Fun Deku had determination and anger that Katsuki only saw in Deku when faced with a challenge. 

“Are you all deaf? GET THE FUCK OUT!” yelled Midoriya before he glared at Deku. “Especially you Deku! I told you, you only bother me when we’re in Headquarters. Not. My . Room.”

“Midoriya, please, just point us to the villain and I can leave you alone,” said Deku with a shake of his head. Yep, he knew Midoriya would be pissed but he looked more grumpy than usual.

“Tch, what villain?” asked Midoriya, but the look of annoyance - hah, good for you Deku - made him smile. “Oh, you mean the loser in the fedora and stupid mask. Yeah, what if I don’t want to?”

Tenya, after recovering from seeing his usual sweet friend swear like sailor, requested, “Midoriya-san, I understand you must care for our Midoriya-kun so-”

“Hah? Who said that?” interrupted Midoriya as he saw Iida twitch in frustration. He pointed to Deku with a grin. “Was it him? Did he tell you that every part of Izuku likes him? Well, he’s wrong I couldn’t give a shit about that loser.”

“You’re him though, aren’t you?” asked Todoroki as this Deku was certainly… different . 

“Am I?” asked Midoriya as he crossed his arms. He stared down Uraraka - who looked shocked at him - with a tired stare. “Tell me Uraraka, have you ever seen me before? Seen a glimpse of me?”

“Well, not often, I think I heard you in the Training Camp,” admitted Uraraka as she remembered Deku-kun sounded very angry, but that also could’ve been Midori or Zuku since he was worried for Bakugou. 

“Exactly, Izuku doesn’t like me very much,” admitted Midoriya with a shrug, before he turned to Deku who glared at him. “I’m sure Stick-Up-His-Ass can tell you all about it. How he refuses to let me have control for one day!”

“You are an Id. I can’t let you control Izuku’s personality,” pointed out Deku as he glared at the other emotion.

“Bullshit! I’ve seen you let that clingy piece of shit take control!” argued Midoriya as he felt the tension in the room spark. 

“Izu is very well under controlled by Zuku and he’s-” started Deku as he tried to take deep breaths. He hated how this room made him act. 

“Say it! I dare you!” taunted Midoriya as his fist clenched tighter.

“No!” snapped Deku as he and Midoriya were almost nose to nose. “I’m not stooping to your level!”

“Coward!” yelled Midoriya as he punched Deku right in the face. He heard his “friends” go to that emotion to check if he was hurt, figures. They go to his room but take Deku’s side. He turned around when someone had the balls to grabs his shirt. “Oi! Whoever the fuck this is let go before I punch you out of my mind!”

“You’re a fun little bastard aren’t you?” asked Katsuki as he saw the nerd squirm. Geez, where was this guy every day? He was a hell lot more entertaining than his usual Deku. 

“Kacchan?” asked Midoriya as he didn’t know he was in here. He didn’t even see him with the others, but he was that type of person to have the balls to grab him. He reached for Kacchan’s arm and pinched hard . Kacchan let him go in shock with a curse. Before he could take another step, a body tackled him. “What the fuck? Get off of me, Kacchan!”

“Hell no nerd! You’re going to listen to what Shitty Deku has to say first,” said Katsuki with a happy smirk. The adrenaline in this mindscape was fucking amazing. The addition of this Deku made it all more fun. His entire chest was pressed against Fun Deku’s back that he had to adjust his face to avoid having hair enter his mouth. He looked up to see the shocked faces of the extras and Deku which made him grin. “You were saying Shitty Deku?”

Deku rubbed his cheek, he knew Midoriya would punch him just not that soon. He squatted to meet with the other emotion’s face. He said, “Midoriya, I’m sorry for snapping, but as you know your room makes me… frustrated . And I rather not deal with your tantrums today-”

“I rather not deal with your presence, so looks like we both ain’t getting what we want,” interrupted Midoriya before Kacchan pressed harder against. “Fuck, Kacchan!”

“Listen, you brat!” scolded Katsuki as a shudder ran through his body. Ew, he sounded like the old hag. 

“Anyway,” continued Deku with a deep breath. “Look, you don’t like villains. I don’t like villains. So, how about you lead us to where the villain is and I can leave you alone until the next meeting.”

“What’s in it for me?” asked Midoriya as he turned his head. If was he going to be pinned down Kacchan, he was going to comfortable. “For all you know, I could’ve roughed him up before your dumbass got here. And maybe while I did it, I decided I like his company more than those shitty extras.”

“Stop calling Izuku’s emotions extras Midoriya,” scolded Deku, ignoring the snort from Uraraka-san. “What do you even want?”

“Let’s see for you to shut up and leave for starters, for Kiss-Ass to stop following me around, for Crybaby to stop making Izuku cry so much, and for Clingy to stop annoying me,” listed Midoriya as he saw the look of annoyance on Deku’s face. “I can keep going if you like.”

“Are you always this difficult?” asked Todoroki before he even realized what he asked. Midoriya-san - no way was calling this part Midoriya - turned to him with annoyance as he stared him down. 

“Oh, so Icy Hot finally decided to talk. And yes, I do enjoy annoying Shitty Deku. Don’t worry I’ll happily kick your ass again,” said Midoriya as he saw a ripple. A smirk fell on his lips forced his arm to come out from his body and brushed against it. 

Katsuki looked down in surprise when he saw that he was in the middle of a battlefield. He looked at one end to see another Half-n-Half, oh great Sports Festival. Wait, Fun Deku came here? He looked to see the real Half-n-Half freeze, oh the bastard must’ve seen Fun Deku in their fight. 

A Past Deku ran past with Hero Deku following suit - yet no sign of Fun Deku, weird. Deku yelled ‘SMASH!’ as he broke more fingers, yeah he was stupid to that shit. Hero Deku muttered as he mirrored Deku’s move in the fight as he avoided ice, “ From what I know of Todoroki-kun’s fighting, he always attacks in an instant, so I don’t have much data on him. The ice he’s stuck behind him is probably how he plans to keep from being blown away. I’ve got six more chances! No, five more chances!”

When a large pillar of ice formed out of pure reflex, he and the extras walked to where Memory Midnight was. The memory might go right through them, but no way was he going to watch this fight in the middle of it. Ice connected with Deku’s foot as he and Hero yelled, “ Smash !”

The ice shattered as Past Half-n-Half almost fell out of the arena. He said, “ That’s a lot more powerful than before. Are you trying to tell me… to stay away…? ”

Todoroki looked away as he will remember this fight for the rest of his life, but at the same time. He did not want to remember how injured he made Midoriya at the end. He heard Deku comment, “ All of his abilities are strong. ”

Todoroki wanted to enjoy the compliment, but his past self commented, “ What, you’re that beat up just from defending and running away? ”

“ He’s trembling ,” pointed out Hero Deku as an echo of Half-n-Half’s voice saying he wasn’t going to use his father’s quirk echoed. 

That’s when the memory glitched. Katsuki was worried something went wrong when Fun Deku appeared looked pissed. Neither emotion took notice of each other as they both looked at Half-n-Half. Hero’s gaze being more analytical while Fun Deku’s looked like he wanted to strangle the bastard. 

“ With your arms like that, you can’t fight anymore, can you? ” asked Half-n-Half as he looked away for a moment. What he looked at didn’t matter to Katsuki, but he saw how the memory glitched and Hero Deku looked like he wasn’t supposed to be there as he glitched in and out with a pained look. The idiot was fighting for control but was losing. 

“ Where are you looking? ” demanded Deku and Fun Deku in a low voice, that even Katsuki never heard. The way both Half-n-Halfs flinched showed that he realized he fucked up or was surprised at Deku’s tone. “ You’re trembling Todoroki. There’s a limit to how much cold your body can take isn’t there? Everyone’s fighting with everything they’ve got and You want to win with just half your strength?! Ha! You haven’t laid a single scratch on me! Come at with me with everything you’ve got! ” 

Past Half-n-Half looked annoyed at Deku’s declaration as he asked, “ What are you planning? Did my damn old man buy you off or something? ”

“ His movements are slow !” pointed out Hero Deku who popped in more clearly. 

“ I can see that! ” growled Fun Deku as he followed Deku and mirrored Hero Deku. Deku’s arm glowed with One for All. “ It won’t explode… it won’t… it’s won’t… it won’t! ” 

Deku connected a punch with Half-n-Half and both emotions smiled. Fun Deku smiled like he was high off adrenaline and Hero Deku looked proud of the connection. Deku tried to form another fist but his hand was all broken. Fun Deku growled, “ I can’t make a fist !”

Fun Deku forced Deku to use his mouth to create another SMASH when Past Half-n-Half asked, “ Why are you going so far? ”

“ Because I want to live up to everyone’s expectations… I wanna be able to smile! ” answered Deku and Hero Deku, Fun Deku looked sicked at the sweet words. 

Deku slammed his head into Half-n-Half, which made the present one hold his stomach like he relived that pain. Hero faded as Fun Deku looked determined and pissed as he and Deku yelled, “ That’s why! Right now, I think you should stop screwing around! If you want to reject your father fine! But you don’t have the right to be number one if you aren’t going to use your full power!

The past Half-n-Half yelled for Deku to shut up, but Deku didn’t listen as he and Fun Deku kept talking, the little shit smirked at the sight of Half-n-Half being angrier. They yelled with a punch, “ That why… I will win! It’s your power, isn’t it?! ”

Todoroki gasped. He saw maybe a flicker of Deku, but that phrase. The reason he chose to use his right side was from Midoriya. He heard his past self say as flames grew, “ Even though you want to win… you still help your enemy. Which one of us is screwing around now?  I want to be a hero too! ”

Deku looked in awe at the flames as Fun Deku disappeared. Hero Deku stood clear as ever. The memory faded before the fight ended, but they all knew how it ended. Both of them went with everything they got and Deku lost the fight. In that Katsuki felt his weight shift as he fell backward. Damn it, he forgot that he was the nerd. 

“So, yeah, I’ll kick your ass Icy Hot, once this loser stops holding me back,” pointed out Midoriya as he dodged when he knew Kacchan would try him again. He looked at Deku who stared at him unamused. “Come on, Deku, you gotta be proud. I helped kick ass.”

“You punched me so you could take over the fight!” argued Deku in annoyance. Once, Todoroki-kun assumed Izuku was running away and the mention of Endeavor. It was joined a decision that they all disliked Endeavor, but Midoriya hated him to the point that he took control to just to say Todoroki-kun wasn’t Endeavor. 

“I got him to use flames, didn’t I?” asked Midoriya. That day all the stupid extras were screaming and wondering how they could save Icy Hot to use flames. Shitty Deku muttered was focused on the fight, but in a moment where Icy Hot’s words echoed he punched him and took over the fight. Shitty Deku and Kiss Ass fought him over the control board, but he remained strong until they got the flames. In a moment he felt proud (?) that he was the one to do it, Kiss Ass pulled him back and Shitty Deku retook control. 

“I’m inclined to take Midoriya-san’s side,” pointed out Todoroki. Midoriya-san was right. He had got him to use his flames. Todoroki felt relief at that moment when the flames melted the ice, but anger that he did at all. But look at him now, he used his flames more often in this year than in the ten years. 

Midoriya looked at Icy Hot in surprise but refused to show it. But of course, Shitty Deku mentioned, “Midoriya, after that we needed to keep a better eye on you. This why Izuku didn’t lecture Iida-kun during the Stain Incident as much as you wanted to.”

“I do remember Midoriya-kun mentioning how he had a lot of things to say,” commented Tenya. He heard Midoriya-san scoff as he went up to him. He might be shorter than him, but his eyes read he wasn’t afraid to put him in place. “Uh, Midoriya-san?”

“You were stupid in your decision and completely reckless. If Izuku wasn’t there you would’ve died in an alley ruining your legacy that your brother created. Izuku understands and honestly, I find it admirable that you wanted revenge-” started Midoriya when Deku commented some shit about revenge being bad. “-but the way you went about it was awful. And I hated that you never mentioned how angry you were about Stain. Also for fuck sake’s take that stick out of your ass.”

Tenya looked at Midoriya-san in surprise at his words. Not because they were true, but because he was eerily calm about it. Strange, the more they acknowledged him the more he-

“We’re getting off track, Midoriya. Villain. Now,” instructed Deku. Midoriya let out ‘tch’ and looked away. “Midoriya!”

Midoriya readied another punch but a hand pulled him back. He looked nervous, but Kacchan gave him a normal look. Kacchan said, “Look, you can just lead us. Then we’ll out of your hair.”

Midoriya pulled his arm with an annoyed grunt before he sighed. He glared at Deku and said, “Fine, only so I can see less of your stupid face.”

“We have the same face!” pointed out Deku, but Midoriya only responded by flipping him a bird. Jerk. He turned to his friends with an apologetic look. “So sorry for him. He just hates me.”

“Nah, I kind of like this Deku. He’s fun,” commented Katsuki as he cracked his knuckles. He wondered what he needed to do to cause the nerd to come out more. 

“It is interesting to see a new side of Deku-kun!” added Uraraka as they followed Midoriya. He looked around as if he tried to sense where the villain one was. “So, Deku, what does Midoriya represent outside of anger?”

“Midoriya is like the other end of Izu’s Id. Same intensity, but different focuses. Midoriya we try to use only in emergencies. Sometimes, he pushes us out of the way and takes control like in the fight with Todoroki. He takes care of all Izuku’s pet peeves, dislikes, and adrenaline. He also controls his more selfish tendencies,” explained Deku before he smirked at Kacchan. “He tried to fight Kacchan a lot when they were kids and Kacchan got better All Might merch.”

“That was you giving him tantrums?” asked Katsuki to the emotion ahead of them. He wanted this emotion to talk more while he could. 

“What of it? You pissed me off! You always got cool merch more often than me because Auntie Mitsuki did it to shut you up,” answered Midoriya as he chuckled at Kacchan’s offended ‘hah’.

“Oi! Auntie Inko got you merch to stop your stupid tears, plus I ain’t the one that lucked out and got a poster that only Nighteye had!” argued Katsuki with a quick smirk. He wished he didn’t mention the now-deceased pro because it usually led to Deku crying but Fun Deku cackled. 

“You’re just jealous that I got my license before you so I could meet and intern with Nighteye,” teased Midoriya as he blew a raspberry at his rival. 

“You damn nerd!” yelled Katsuki as he grabbed Fun Deku in a headlock. “I’ll still kick your ass any damn day of the week.”

“Fuck! Kacchan let go!” screeched Midoriya as he tried to force his head out.

Behind Bakugou and Midoriya, Todoroki could only stare at how this was the happiest (?) Bakugou has been this whole mission. He turned to Deku who kept talking with Iida and Uraraka about the inner workings of the mind. He tapped Deku’s shoulder as he asked, “You said you used Midoriya for emergency reason. What classifies as an emergency?”

Deku hummed as he answered, “Overhaul is one, but I kept him in check. You should’ve heard what Midoriya kept thinking in that fight.”

“I can tell you!” yelled Midoriya with a crazed grin. “I thought about how I hoped Izuku’s quirk would punch him so hard that he died on impact.  How he deserved every injury that inflicted on Eri, Mirio, Nighteye on him ten times over. That I hope that Shigaraki found him and decayed him to dust. I wanted to crush his head, which I wanted to say that to him when we crushed the spear in our leg but Deku thought it was unheroic.”

“Murder is generally frowned upon Midoriya!” scolded Deku with a shake of his head. 

“Please, he was a huge piece of shit,” commented Midoriya as a dark look overtook his face. He sensed the room’s tension grew thicker from the gasps from Izuku’s friends. “I hope he burns in hell.”

Katsuki blinked at Fun Deku’s words and covered his face. What the fuck? Why was that kinda… attractive? He must be Deku’s head too long if those thoughts were coming back. He grabbed Fun Deku’s shoulder which made the sudden tension in the air disappear. Fun Deku looked at his hand with a confused look. “So, do you hate anybody else?”

“Kacchan!” squeaked Deku as he felt his cheeks redden. “No, we don’t hate people.”

“You don’t, I do,” corrected Midoriya with excitement in his eyes. “Let’s see, well League of Villains is an easy answer but it’s majority rules that if Izuku can, will try to save them. Stain, Muscular, Overjerk, that guy from the convention that tried to kidnap Dr. Shields. Mineta is gross, and personally, I would punt him so hard if Clingy and Mr. Hero over there didn’t stop me-”

“Don’t stop him,” imputed Uraraka. She’s pretty sure all the girls hated him.

“-Endeavor is up there too right next to my dad-”

“Understandable,” agreed Todoroki with a nod.

“Uh, who else? Oh, our middle school homeroom teacher! I told him that my application to U.A. was confidential so he shouldn’t have mentioned that to the class. The fucking Sludge Villain, asshole. I don’t trust All Might as much as the other emotions do,” listed Midoriya as he hummed in thought.

“Wait what?” asked Tenya in surprise. “Isn’t All Might your hero? And your mentor?”

Midoriya looked at him with confusion in his brow as he answered, “You had to have seen that memory with All Might telling us we couldn’t be a hero. Personally, I wanted to be a hero just to spite him. But the extras were too heartbroken to do shit. So Izuku still loves him to pieces. Monoma is a piece of shit and if he insults someone that Izuku deems a friend I have full rights to kick his ass!”

“We aren’t fighting Monoma the next time he insults us. That’s like his personality at this point,” pointed out Deku with a shake of his head. 

“Whatever, I can probably think of more. But there more just pet peeves of people at this point,” said Midoriya with a hum, before he remembered two certain villains. “I hate Dabi and Mr. Compress the most in that entire League.”

“How come those two?” asked Uraraka, when a memory ripple appeared. She reached out without a second thought. “Looks like we can see.”

Deku reached out to stop Uraraka-san as he yelled, “Don’t touch tha-”

The memory appeared and everyone found themselves in the middle of the woods. Katsuki froze as he remembered this. Training Camp. He heard Round Face apologize to a now non-existent Hero Deku. But he found him running adjacent to a beat Deku in that Octopus Guy’s arms. On the other side, Katsuki as Fun Deku popped in and out with a glitch. 

Katsuki couldn’t find his version and wondered if this was too early. But when Frog-Girl asked where he was Hero Deku vanished and Fun Deku was clearer than ever before. He heard a voice from above say, “ I took him with my magic .”

Then, the strangest happen that no memory had. Everything sounded muffled and made Katsuki’s blood pump and sweat to form. Deku and Fun Deku yelled, “ Give him back !”

“ ‘Give him back?’ That’s a strange thing to say ,” taunted the memory of that magician villain. Words sounded muffled as the only words that registered in were ‘took’ and ‘Tokoyami’ (he never they got Bird guy too).

“ Give him back! You bastard! ” yelled both Dekus and took him aback. He heard Deku swear, especially the Fun Deku, but it came from his Deku too. “ Give them back to us! ”

The muffled sound came back as Fun Deku, more like Pissed Deku now, muttered, “ I’m going to kill him. I’m going to burn that League down if he doesn’t give Kacchan back. ”

Katsuki never realized they were running after the magician. Past Half-n-Half mentioned how Deku needed to stay back because of his injuries, but he knew Deku. That wasn’t going to happen. Pissed Deku growled and snapped, “ Shut up! 

Trust me, I don’t feel any pain right now. I can do this! Hurry! ”

Real Deku only said the bit after the shut up, but the message was loud and clear. He’s not resting until he collapses. Hero Deku appeared but was barely visible as Deku explained the plan. This memory went faster than others and Katsuki saw the others look confused at how muffled and tense this memory was. Frog-Girl launched Deku, Half-n-Half, and Octopus right on the magician. 

At the land Pissed and Real Deku demanded, “ Give Kacchan and Tokoyami back to us! ”

The memory slowed down enough for Katsuki and Deku’s friends to catch their breath, but the same pressure came back when the magician disappeared. For once in this memory, all three Dekus said in unison, “ Damn it! His quirk lets him compress and hold things !”

The pressure went away for a second but came right when Octopus showed two marbles, but only for the magician to open his mouth to reveal where KAtsuki and Bird Guy’s marbles were - which gross. Pissed Deku yelled in more angrily while Deku sounded scared, “ No way !”

“ And now that’s all for me -” started the magician when a laser showed him in the face. Deku tried to run, but the way Pissed Deku looked tired made Katsuki remember what Hero Deku said about him being adrenaline, and at that moment he was. Past Half-n-Half and Octopus reached out. Octopus caught the other marble while the memory grew fuzzy. That can’t be good.

“ Damn it! Move !” yelled Pissed Deku as the memory grew clearer. He heard the magician talks about his show was ruined. With a snap of his fingers, Katsuki’s past self appeared in that Scarred Bastard’s hand. 

Now, when Katsuki got mad he saw red. Just unbridled rage as he exploded whatever pissed him off. But when Deku got pissed, his vision tunneled. Suddenly all he could see was himself in the bastard hand with fear in his eyes. Hero Deku appeared for the first in a while as all Dekus yelled, “ KACCHAN! ”

By barely a reach away his past self fell deeper in the portal with his words, “ Stay back, Deku. ”

Deku fell right where his body was supposed to be and both Hero and Pissed Deku had tears in their eyes as Deku pounded against the floor and screamed. Hero and Pissed Deku whispered, “ We lost. We utterly lost .”

The memory faded and Katsuki stood in shock. 

That scream. 

Katsuki hardly knew his own emotions, let alone others but he heard what that scream conveyed. Heartbreak. Loss. Regret. Guilt. Anger. 

And he never wanted to hear that scream again.

Round Face covered her mouth as tears formed, Half-n-Half looked ashamed, and Four Eyes looked away with guilt in his eyes. Even the emotions looked affected, Hero looked at him with sorry eyes while Fun Deku hid his eyes, but kept walking. Hero Deku looked at Katsuki and said, “I’m sorry we couldn’t save you.”

“Fuck off Shitty Deku! We got him in the end!” snapped Midoriya. He wiped his angry tears away. God, he hated when that memory played. A hand touched his shoulder and smacked it away to see Kacchan. He glared at the blonde, as more annoying tears formed. “What the hell did you mean ‘Stay back’ Kacchan?”

Katsuki felt his anger flare-up. How dare Deku yell at him ? And right when he was going to try and comfort the brat. He yelled, “I knew your dumbass would’ve died if you came to save my ass!” 

“Oh, suddenly you care about Izuku’s wellbeing?! Since when?” asked Midoriya as the tension shifted dramatically.

“What the fuck? You ungrateful bastard! I did it to save you!” yelled Katsuki, he felt someone pull him back, but he yanked his arm back.

“I didn’t ask to be saved Kacchan! You were the one in danger!” shouted Midoriya as his vision only saw Kacchan. 

“I know! I can save myself! You were the ones who looked like he went to hell!” snapped Katsuki as he grabbed Pissed Deku by his collar. “What you wanted to die asshole?! Fuck you!”

“Fuck you! I would’ve preferred it if we died if Izuku saved you!” yelled Midoriya. As soon the words slipped out Kacchan looked at him with an expression, he wasn’t familiar with. Before he knew Kacchan headbutted him as he let go of the collar. 

“Don’t you ever fucking say that shit to my face again you bastard! You’re going to surpass me and you can’t do that if you’re fucking dead!” screamed Katsuki as he wanted to beat the shit out of this nerd. Multiple arms pulled him back as Shitty Deku pulled back Pissed Deku. He saw Shitty whisper something to Pissed, and suddenly the air changed and Katsuki could breathe.

Shitty Deku smacked Pissed Deku upside the head as he threatened, “You lead us to villain quietly until you cool off. No talking. No bantering. No teasing. If I hear a peep out of you. You’re benched for a week, even if there’s a villain attack. Understood.”

Midoriya growled before stalking off. Fuck that guy. Whatever he’ll lead them.

“What was that feeling?” asked Uraraka. She has never seen anything so heated between those two. 

“When Kacchan touched Midoriya, he got affected by some the anger I couldn’t help restrain. Sorry by the way Kacchan,” explained Deku as he stared at Midoriya in the distance. “So when you guys started arguing it escalated… quick. As for that ‘feeling’, that’s an extreme effect we emotions have in our rooms. I reeled it back enough that you’ll feel generally normal.”

Katsuki let out a ‘tch’ at his explanation. Weirdly, he didn’t feel that different. He watched Fun Deku - the guy didn’t look so pissed now - walk away and felt kinda bad. He didn’t want him to get him in trouble with Hero Deku. No more memory ripples appeared which concerned him. Usually, they had to purposefully avoid those ripples but none are appearing. 

When they came across U.A., Katsuki looked surprised that slowly they were led to Ground Beta, where the battle took place. Midoriya stopped as he turned in a low voice, “There’s your loser.”

Katsuki only took one step then froze. On the ground was Fedora, but definitely worse for wear. Fedora’s face was covered in bruises as he clutched his stomach in pain. Holy shit.

“Midoriya! What the heck!” yelled Deku as he glared at Midoriya. He placed his hand against the villain’s mouth, still breathing. He turned to Midoriya with frustration. “I thought you were being sarcastic about beating him up!”

“What gave you that idea?” asked Midoriya, last he checked there was no sarcasm in his voice. It was a ‘what if’ and that ‘what if’ was also true. Not his fault that Deku thought he wasn’t true.

Deku groaned as he yelled, “See this is what I mean! Do you not understand what being an Id means?! You are Izuku’s pure aggression! You can’t do this kind of stuff!”

“Last I checked Clingy was an Id too asshole!” argued Midoriya as the tension returned. He stared into Deku’s eyes who looked at him with disgust.

“Yeah cling ! That’s the worse he does!” pointed out Deku as they stared down. 

Midoriya scoffed as he glanced at Kacchan, as he said, “Yeah for now. Wait till he gets a taste of caramel . Then we’ll see how well he can control!”

“Midoriya!” yelled Deku as his cheeks turned red. He did not just say that in front of Kacchan. “God! You’ve always been hard to control! This is why can’t let you take control for a second! You-”

“Say it! Fucking say it, Coward!” challenged Midoriya as his fist clenched tighter. He felt electricity in the air. 

Deku snapped as he pushed Midoriya, “You’re dangerous! A hero doesn’t kill or hurt a defenseless person but look what you did! You make that dream so much harder! What the hell is wrong with you?”

Midoriya flinched as he started, “You didn’t hear-”

“I don’t care! This is why Izuku hates you! The only reason he likes you is that you make us feel close to Kacchan! Everyone here has a job! Izu makes Izuku happy! Zuku makes Izuku sad sure, but it also makes him empathetic! Midori is scared all the time but he keeps Izuku alive! What do you huh?!” yelled Deku with tears welling up in his eyes. 

“FUCK YOU!” cried Midoriya as he punched Deku right in the face. 

Katsuki watched Pissed Deku run off and suddenly, any tension left the room. Round Face looked surprised at the outburst, Four Eyes blinked in confusion, and Half-n-Half looked disappointed in Shitty Deku. From below them, a low chuckle was heard. 

“Idiots.”

Chapter Text

Katsuki looked down to find Fedora sitting up with a grimace. What the fuck? The guy looked about dead when they arrived and they saw him. How did he- son of bitch. He did the same trick earlier when he and Deku thought he was apprehended, but wasn’t. 

Fedora took off his namesake with a flourish as he looked at Katsuki. He commented, “I must say, I understand why Shigaraki wanted you. From the time I saw you, I knew what kind of emotions you would have. Perfect ingredients for a villain.”

“Kacchan is not a villain!” yelled Deku without a second thought, but one look from the villain made him realize he should’ve kept quiet.

“Ah, yes the Green One. Shigaraki was quite obsessed with you too. I don’t think he’ll mind if I got rid of you instead of the blonde one,” commented Fedora as he took off his gloves. Katsuki saw one hand had veins that glowed green. He followed the veins and found it stopped right at his collar. He bowed, but his gaze right on Shitty Deku. “I think I have yet to introduce myself. You mere aspects shall call me Apathy. Now, children give me that aspect, or else we’ll have problems.”

Katsuki instinctively went in front of Deku, as did Half-n-Half with a glare. He didn’t know nor give a shit about Fedora. He growled as he looked at Deku - who had that look that he was going to fight, which hell no - and asked quietly, “We don’t have our quirks. What about you? Can you use it?”

“Yes, but uh it has an opinion. But we need to be together to do it,” answered Deku as he kept his gaze on Apathy. He stood there examining the hand with veins. 

Together? That meant… fuck Fun Deku wasn’t going to listen to what Shitty Deku had to say after what happened. He gritted his teeth as he ordered, “You get out of here while you grab those Shitty Dekus. We’ll hold him off until you come back with them.”

“What about Midoriya?” asked Deku before Kacchan pushed him back. “I can at least fight until he calms down.”

“Hah! After that outburst, he ain’t calming down anytime soon,” pointed out Katsuki. If anyone knew about angry outbursts it was him. “We need to stall.”

“You can plan all you want, but I heard that little argument. Might I say, I’ve never seen an Ego and an Id fight as strongly before today. Even if you beat me here. Who’s to say your little friend won’t come out with no anger.”

“He’ll come out! He always comes when we need him!” yelled Deku. He never liked Midoriya’s attitude, sure some of the meetings had him and Midori prying him off to avoid a more violent outburst, but most times. He sat in his seat making more sarcastic and mean spirited comments. 

“But didn’t you just say he was ‘dangerous’ and that ‘Izuku hates him’? If I were a neglected emotion and was told that. I don’t think I’ll be coming out at all,” pointed out Apathy. He sighed as he analyzed each of these wannabes heroes, the confusion and anger from their faces were amazing. And a weakness. “But I do wish to return to my body before my time runs out thank you. So, I’ll try to make this fast.”

Fedora lunged forward holding out the hand that didn’t have the glowing veins to Deku. Katsuki grabbed the bastard’s arm and pushed him back into a wall, with Half-n-Half holding him by the legs. He held him back as he really missed his quirk right now. He would blow this bastard up so fast. Glaring at Shitty Deku, he yelled, “What you fucking waiting for? Get outta here!”

“But-” started Deku, he needed to save them. He had to. 

“Go Deku-kun! We’ll hold him off!” encouraged Uraraka as she looked around the area. There was rubble around this mindscape from angry punches and kicks. She heaved large loose rubble and threw it. “Bakugou!”

Katsuki moved enough that the rubble landed right above their heads and created dust. Fedora coughed as bits flew in his mouth, muttering how that even works. He saw Four Eyes grab Deku and ran to the tunnel that led to other Headquarters. On his back, Deku whistled a high pitch as training bots materialized and attacked Fedora. Good. The bastard was distracted.

Round Face, Half-n-Half, and Katsuki ran out of Ground Beta and hid behind a wall. He took deep breaths as he commented, “Fuck, that bastard was right. Pissed Deku won’t be in a helping mood. Not after that argument.”

“What do you think he meant? Deku-kun will wake up without anger?” asked Uraraka. She didn’t know what Bakugou and Deku were talking about, but the way Apathy talked it sounded bad. 

“Remember what Kokoro-san said. Apathy has the ability to shut off emotion, but Kokoro-san never explained how. I have a theory,” answered Todoroki as he remembered what Midoriya-san tried to say. “I think he uses words to make emotions inclined to stop emoting. Remember, Midoriya-san mentioned how he and Apathy talked before we came here. I think whatever they talked about stuck with him and the fight between him and Deku finalized his decision.”

Uraraka and Bakugou looked at Todoroki with a shocked and nervous expression. He turned as he peeked to see where Apathy was. “It’s a theory, so, don’t take my word for it, but I don’t like how those veins look.”

Katsuki mulled over the theory. There were obvious holes, like how can Deku just stop feeling anger? Did Fedora just touch them and shut them off? It did have something to do with those veins. He mentioned a time limit… fuck, they don’t have the time to think of how he did it. They needed to get Deku to use One for All and knock this guy out of his mind. But to do that… 

“What we need is to get fucking Pissed Deku to help. Shitty Deku said they could do Deku's quirk, but it needed to work together,” pointed out Katsuki as he thought of what could bring out Pissed Deku. Maybe another memory? But what can trigger one?

“You need to talk to him.”

Katsuki looked at Round Face - who looked how she was before their fight at the Sports Festival - in confusion. He needed to do what? She had the guts to roll her eyes at him as she explained, “We all saw you talking with Midoriya-kun. You looked like you were having fun and so did he. If he’ll listen to anyone, it’s you.”

“I don’t know if you know this Round Face, but me and Deku don’t talk ,” pointed out Katsuki. He and Deku never talk about anything after he stopped being friends with him. Hell, were he and Deku even friends now? Rivals, sure, but friends? 

“She’s right,” added Todoroki as he stared at Bakugou. “Remember what Deku said. Every part of Midoriya likes you. Even if he was exaggerating, Midoriya-san at worst will tolerate you and respect you. You’re our best shot at making sure Midoriya will come out with all his emotions intact and getting rid of the villain.”

Katsuki hated that Half-n-Half had a point, but… he couldn’t be the best option. He and Deku would rather argue and fight than talk about their feelings. Sure, that’s probably his fault, but he was about to talk to the Deku that held all his anger and hate. What if… 

“Look, I get it. You’re scared of Deku-”

“Whatcha say Round Face! I ain’t scared of Deku!” yelled Katsuki as he glared at Round Face. How dare she-

“You know I’m right, I’ve seen you two you know. Deku-kun knows you better than he probably knows himself. I don’t know all your history, and personally, from what we’ve seen. It’s messy. But you’re scared of what Deku-kun thinks of you,” pointed out Uraraka as she gained a sense of pride at Bakugou’s look of annoyance. “You don’t understand why he did things, but we’re literally in his mind. Seeing his memories of him, us, and especially you . You’re understanding everything slowly, but you won’t get the full picture if he’s not whole. And I bet any remaining questions on him will be answered if you talk to him and the literal source of his anger.”

“Plus, you’re the only one who has seen Midoriya with every side with ease,” added Todoroki as he looked at Bakugou who grew more uncomfortable the more they talked. “Midoriya has never shown this side as often with anyone else, except you. Uraraka hardly sees him, I’ve seen it twice, and honestly, I fear him to some degree, and Iida only caught a glimpse and isn’t here.”

“Tch, where would I even find his nerd ass?” asked Katsuki. He wasn’t going to admit that either of these extras was right, but they made strong points.

“You’re his rival,” started Uraraka as she jumped into the line of sight of Apathy, who took down the manifestations of training robots. “Figure it out. Come on, Todoroki-kun.”

Todoroki nodded as he touched Bakugou on the shoulder - he looked annoyed, but whatever - and stated, “Show Midoriya, you’ve earned that spot to be his image of a hero and victory.”

Katsuki almost punched the bastard, but he walked away to follow Round Face. He growled as he thought back to all those other Dekus and his Deku. If the nerd was mad where would he go? Katsuki would go find Shitty Hair or Deku to spare with and let out the anger, but Deku liked to hide that shit. 

He knew where the nerd was.

Katsuki walked around the mindscape’s version of the campus when he found the dorms. If Clingy and Quiet “lived” at Deku’s old place, but Quiet wore that stupid hoodie he caught Deku wearing at the dorm. The place where Fun Deku would be… his dorm room. 

When he came to the dorm, he felt the tension in the air. Yep, that asshole was definitely here. He opened the door and saw the dorm trashed. The TV was flipped on its side, chairs were broken, and Katsuki caught that dartboard with drawings of the people Fun Deku talked about hating. He took a deep breath as he followed the sharp electricity in the air until he came across a loose and broken All Might nameplate that read ‘Midoriya’. Underneath had a paper sign that read ‘DO NOT ENTER’, Katsuki chuckled at the sight when he opened the door and found Deku curled up on his bed facing the wall with his shoulders trembling.

“Oi, get your ass up and help those Shitty Dekus fighting that stupid villain!” scolded Katsuki as he went over to the nerd. The closer he got the more he heard this Deku was crying. Oh, shit, he hoped this Deku being Anger wouldn’t cry… but looked like that trait was just a Deku thing. “I said get up!”

Midoriya whipped his head to face Kacchan and flipped him off. He yelled, “No! I quit! If Stupid Deku doesn’t want me to be apart of this shitfest then fine! I quit! Now leave me alone!”

Before Deku could turn his back on him, Katsuki forced him to look at him. He gritted out, “Oi, you can’t quit this shit! Looked what Shitty Deku said was fucked up, but are you really going to let it get to you? I thought you were made of harder stuff than that?”

“Oh, please, you wouldn’t get it. You get to show your anger all the time! It’s a part of your actual personality at this point! Me? I don’t have that! I’m dangerous! Weren’t you listening to Deku?” asked Midoriya as he tried to look away from Kacchan, but he kept a firm grip on his chin. 

“Yeah, but he’s stupid. Look, can’t you and him… talk shit out? That’s a thing Deku does right?” asked Katsuki more to himself than Deku, but the scoff from the aspect answered him. “What am I wrong?”

“Clingy and Crybaby talk shit out, Shitty Deku doesn’t show his emotions unless it’s related to being a hero, Kiss-Ass hides his feelings out of fear he’s bothering someone, and me? Well, I rather ignore it entirely,” clarified Midoriya as he pushed Kacchan away as he turned away from the blonde. “So, I quit. Not like Izuku gonna miss me. It’s not like I was there for a lot of things.”

“You’re a dumbass.”

Midoriya peeked behind as he saw Kacchan look at him weirdly. He asked, “What? How am I the dumbass?”

“Because that was stupid as shit at what you said! Do you seriously fucking think you’re not a part of Deku’s life? Hah, I ain’t blind! I saw you peeking through emotions earlier!” pointed out Katsuki. He remembered how Fun Deku had a glitch effect in the fight with Half-n-Half; a glitch he saw with Clingy and Quiet. “You were there when I started calling you Deku!”

“Because it was a mean name Kacchan! You called me a useless person! Excuse me, if I didn’t like it!” pointed out Midoriya as he turned fully to face Kacchan, but he still laid on his side. 

That was a weird day. Clingy and Shitty Deku were front and center, like on usual days when Izuku played with Kacchan, but when Kacchan called him Deku. He joined in to yell at Kacchan, but Kiss-Ass said we shouldn’t make him mad and Clingy was just happy Kacchan finally gave them a nickname.

“What about when I told you to take a swan dive off the roof!” added Katsuki. He hated that he mentioned it again, but it got a stronger reaction as Deku stood up. “Your emotion was so strong that we were literally pushed out of memory.”

“Because you told Izuku to kill himself! What the fuck Kacchan, you wanted me to just take that?! Hell no!” yelled Midoriya as he and Kacchan were nose-to-nose. “So, yeah I had some choice words to say but Midori pulled me back saying if we said anything the school would either expel you for bullying or Izuku would just be swept under the rug!”

Katsuki caught how Deku called the other sides by their names and not his nicknames. He can’t believe it, Round Face was right. He could get through the nerd.

But his moment of victory didn’t last as tears formed again as Deku sat down with a look of frustration. He muttered, “Maybe that asshole was right.”

“Which asshole?” 

“The villain… he… nevermind. I’m done arguing Kacchan. I-I don’t want to keep fighting. Just leave me alone,” answered Midoriya as he felt… tired. Frustrated tears started to fall from his eyes. 

Katsuki looked around the nerd’s room awkwardly when he saw Deku’s hand looked paler like it was losing color. Shit, that’s probably not good. He sat down next to the nerd as he stared at the wall. What should he say? What would All Might say to him? Shitty Hair? Dunce Face? Pinky?

What would Deku say?

Katsuki swears Deku better not know about this when he wakes up. He took a deep breath and grabbed the nerd’s hand. Deku jumped at the contact as the fading color paused. The damn nerd looked at him weirdly and asked, “What are you doing Kacchan?”

“What’s it look like asshole? I’m comforting you,” pointed out Katsuki with a glare. But then the asshole snorted. “What?! My comfort ain’t good enough for you?”

“You’re not the comfort type Kacchan.”

“Well, look. I’m shit at feelings and shit. This entire day kinda sucked, to be honest,” admitted Katsuki as Deku snorted at him - asshole. “Extras were annoying this morning, you were muttering to hell and back in class, Shitty Hair was being nosy, a villain attacked our school. And now I’m in Deku’s mind faced with a bunch of complicated… feelings .”

“If you’re still trying to comfort… it’s not working, Kacchan,” pointed out Midoriya as a smile graced his lips. It’s fun seeing Kacchan struggle with something. Fucking perfectionist.

“I know! But I don’t know what to do!” confessed Katsuki as he fell back to lay on the bed. “Just tell me what the asshole said! If anything I’ll go back out there and kick his ass for you!”

Midoriya paused for a moment and laid back with Kacchan. He asked quietly, “You’ll listen to me?”

“Yeah, sure, whatever. If it fucking helps. And only if you listen to me after,” answered Katsuki as he turned so he leaned against his arm to have better look at Deku.

Midoriya took a deep breath as he said, “It started like this…”

Fucking weird. Midoriya knew something was off when Izuku went unconscious, but Shitty Deku said Izuku probably hit his head when the villain hit. But, he highly doubted that. The entire Headquarters shut off like when Izuku falls asleep so everyone went to their rooms, except for Shitty Deku who lived there. 

Kiss-Ass followed him until he reached his entrance, but when he did he felt someone was there. It wasn’t that annoying jittery feeling that Clingy brought or that frustrating feeling that Crybaby did, and he just saw Kiss-Ass, so who the hell was in his mindscape. 

Midoriya followed the feeling and found himself at Ground Beta and saw the villain that tried to attack Kacchan. What the fuck? How’d he get here? He snuck in the shadows before he tackled the guy into the pavement. He glared at him with a fist readying to punch his sorry face and his other hand on the villain’s throat. 

“How the fuck are you in Izuku’s mind?!” demanded Midoriya as Fedora coughed from the impact, but looked at him in surprise. 

“You’re not that angry blonde,” pointed out Fedora as he tried to get up, but Midoriya forced him down. “But you certainly are someone’s anger.”

“I repeat. How are you in here?” demanded Midoriya as he tightened his grip on the throat. “I won’t ask again.”

“A quirk, obviously,” coughed Fedora in a strained voice. “My, I never pictured the Green One to be so angry deep down.”

“A lot of people don’t,” replied Midoriya with a scoff. People would, but Shitty Deku had this crooked idea that heroes couldn’t get mad for personal reasons. Stupid League kidnapping Kacchan making Shitty Deku think he needed to be under a more watchful eye. “How do you get out?”

“When my timer runs out or when I finish my goal,” answered Fedora as he pulled his collar back to show off green glowing veins. If Midoriya watched them closely, they slowly receded. “My goal was to get rid of the hero aspect of the Bakugou kid.”

“Good luck with that. Kacchan is a hero no matter what people say,” replied Midoriya with an irritated tone. “And you can tell that to your buddies at that League. Along with telling Dabi and Mr. Compress to fuck themselves and to burn in hell.”

“Protective one aren’t you?” commented Fedora as he tried to force one of his gloves off, but the aspect moved his leg and smashed into the pavement. “Really protective.”

“Yep, and if you don’t want your teeth kicked. You’ll leave now before I get pissed,” agreed Midoriya as he pushed his knee more into the villain’s chest. 

“Wow, what do the other aspects think of you?” asked Fedora with a curious look. “I’ve seen other aspects be pushed down, but anger was never one.”

“What are you talking about being pushed down?” asked Midoriya. He’s never pushed down. He does the pushing, not the other way around. 

“Oh, I’ve seen happiness pushed down. Those people are so easy. Just tell that aspect you’ll make the person happier or even better they’ll be happier without them. I’ve seen sadness. Those poor saps usually hate themselves already so they’re easy to get rid of. And fear, they are easy to say that the person would be braver without them,” explained Fedora as he tried to shrug the aspect off him. 

“Ah so you know I’m not going to let you go that easily,” snipped Midoriya, but he felt a weird tingle in his head. Was Izuku really that weird he didn’t want to show his anger that Fedora thought he was weird?

“Please, like you’re useful. What do you even do? Yell at people you care about? No, and if you did that’s horrible. Swear as a defense mechanism because you feel just slightly more in control of your words? Anger isn’t becoming of a hero you know,” commented Fedora as he smirked that this Anger let out a nervous twitch in his eyebrows. 

“Fuck you,” gritted Midoriya as he felt disgusted that this asshole’s words were getting to him. “I do shit here just like those extras.”

“Oh, extras ? Like in a play? Are you sure, you’re not the extra? Aren’t you the one left out?” asked Fedora as he saw the last statement made him uneasy. “Answer this Aspect. Has Izuku, was that the name, ever yelled at his friends or told them they did something annoying? When was the last time Izuku said the words ‘I’m sorry’ for something that wasn’t his fault? Fought with his parents for something that upset him? Did Izuku ever outright admit he hated someone or someone he disliked?”

Midoriya choked the villain’s throat. He needed him to shut up. He didn’t know what he was talking about.

So what if Izu told him he couldn’t tell Icy Hot that Izuku felt uncomfortable how when he talked about Endeavor because it made Izuku think of his own shit dad. 

So what if Zuku always beat him to the punch about apologizing to someone when Izuku did something that vaguely troubled someone. 

So what if Midori pulled him back when Izuku wanted to yell at his mom that he was resentful over how his mom still didn’t believe in Izuku that she was against dorms?

So what if Deku told him Izuku can’t hate anyone because it would diminish their role as a hero because they needed to save everyone?

“You know, I’m right. Izuku only felt anger when you forced yourself right?” taunted Fedora as he felt the aspect’s grip loosen. “Let me guess, the Ego in charge said you can’t Izuku be impatient because it’s rude to complain about waiting, even if he waited for it the longest. You can’t show Izuku overwhelmed because there’s someone who has it worse, but Izuku was already cracking under pressure? You can’t let Izuku show him being distressed cause it’s a weakness or some heroic garbage that he can’t show he’s pain right?”

Midoriya felt his throat choke with the tension in the air when Fedora stared at him with knowing eyes, “So tell me, are you useful to Izuku? Or are you useless?”

“SHUT UP!” screamed Izuku as he punched blindly as angry tears fell from his eyes. He was wrong. Izuku did need him. He was useful… he wasn’t a Deku of an emotion. He was there when it counted with Todoroki. With Stain. With the License Exam. With Kacchan. With Overhaul. He was… he was useful. He wasn’t-

“Dangerous,” muttered Fedora as the aspect looked at him horrified. Good, if he looked as bad as he felt. He got his job done. He flicked one of his gloves off and touched the emotion. He saw how one of his fingers turned grey. Once, this emotion shuts off he can move onto the next emotion. “I bet that’s what Bakugou thinks.”

Wrong thing to say. The Aspect glared at enraged as the finger turned back to normal. The Anger chuckled lowly as he cracked his knuckles and said, “Kacchan has never seen me as dangerous, and I give you props. You almost made me forget how you tried to attack Kacchan. And that’s something I can’t forgive.”

“But it’s true, isn’t it. You think I’m dangerous too,” commented Midoriya before a sharp slap went against his head. “Ow! What the fuck Kacchan?!”

“That’s for you being stupid. You’re not one with an explosion quirk and gets pissed by someone like Dunce Face saying something stupid,” scolded Katsuki, he took a look at Deku’s arm and saw it slowly returned to color. “What the hell, dumbass? You must have memory problems too because I’ve seen you do all those things that asshole mentioned.”

“What? What are you talking about?” asked Midoriya, rubbing his head. God, did Kacchan have to hit so hard?

“Our fight,” mentioned Katsuki as he looked around for a ripple. If there was a good time as any to have one, it would be now. “You yelled at me plenty and you didn’t apologize once in that fight too. You did all that shit during the fight.”

That’s when Katsuki saw it. The ripple. He brushed against it as he welcomed the white light of memory. When he opened his eyes, he found himself right on the sideline of him and Deku walking at night, next to him was a tired and annoyed Fun Deku.

“ Kacchan, how far are we going? We shouldn’t be walking around in the middle of the night. Hey… ” asked Deku, but his younger self did not respond. He saw Fun Deku’s eye twitch in annoyance.

“ I swear he better not get our ass in trouble. We’re breaking so many rules. This better be worth it Kacchan ,” commented Fun Deku as his eyebrows pinched in frustration. “ Least he can do is respond .”

Eventually, they made it to Ground Beta and Deku looked around nervously, but still kept his face to Katsuki. His younger self started his speech with, “ You’ve always made me sick .”

Both Deku looked shocked, his Deku looked shocked that he admitted like out of the confusion he admitted it in person while Fun Deku looked shocked that Katsuki had the balls to say it. 

“ You were quirkless and useless, so how’d you get into U.A., and how’d you get a quirk? I didn’t understand this guy that said some stuff that made no sense and then looked satisfied with himself and just kept climbing up higher and higher ,” continued his other self before he looked at Deku right in the eye. “ I’ve been thinking about it this whole time. You got it from All Might, didn’t you? Your power .”

Deku stayed silent and stood tall, while Fun Deku looked ready to fight. Good. His other self heard the silence loud and clear as he said, “ Since you’re not denying, it must be true. Damn it.”

Fun Deku’s expression grew dark as both he and Deku responded, “ What are you going to do with the answer? ”

“ You and I both wanted to be like All Might. Right? That’s how it was. Someone I’d always thought was just a pebble was acknowledged by the person I admired without me realizing it. That’s why…,” declared Katsuki as held out a hand. “ Let’s fight. Right here, right now .”

“ A-Are you really planning on fighting? ” asked Deku with surprise in tone. Katsuki now knew who was talking with that stutter… it was Scared Deku, but the expression on Fun Deku read it wasn’t out of Katsuki but the results of what this could lead to. 

“ If you don’t wanna get hurt, get ready ,” warned his other-self. He watched as Fun Deku stretched with him, while the real Deku held out his arms nervously. “ Oh yeah, you switched to mainly using kicks right? ”

“ You got that right Kacchan ,” replied Fun Deku while real Deku still backed up repeating that he said to wait and how they can’t do this. Fun Deku watched his hands and smirked. “ His right? No, I got him like this before. That’s not it. His right is a feint… ” 

Ha, what a hypocrite. This Deku still thought and overthought things too. An explosion grazed Deku’s leg as his other self pointed out that Deku read into things too much. 

“ Are you serious Kacchan? ” asked Dekus. His Deku in a tone of surprise and awe, while Fun Deku looked excited as green sparks surrounded him. 

Glass flew everywhere at his explosions while Deku dodged each to his best ability. Deku kept trying to reason and talk with his other self, but he knew it fell on deaf ears. Anytime he said wait, it angered Katsuki because he always had to wait for the nerd. He heard himself yell to Deku to fight, but once he was to attack. The nerd grabbed him, but he kicked back full force.

When Deku skidded, Fun Deku whispered, “ What are you trying to prove Kacchan? ”

His other self fell back to the ground and for a moment Fun Deku looked horrified at the thought he hurt Katsuki. He was surprised when both Dekus asked, “ Are you okay?! ”

Wait, even Fun Deku asked if he was okay? Huh. That makes his stomach churn that even the part that represented all of Deku’s anger and hate… was still worried about him. 

His other self slapped Deku’s hand away, and Fun Deku looked annoyed at it. Well, he’s glad someone other than himself was mad that he wouldn’t take the stupid hand. Katsuki braced himself to relive his words when his other self started yelling, “ Don’t worry about me! Fight! What the hell’s wrong with you? Why… Why did I end up having to chase after the back of someone who always was behind me? Why did a damn small fry like you get strong and become acknowledged by All Might? Why is it that you became strong… but I… Why was I… Why was I the one who ended All Might?! ”

Deku was taken aback by the words when Fun Deku blurted, “ But we’re the one who ended All Might! We took his quirk! We- ”

“ If I’d been stronger and if I hadn’t been kidnapped by villains, then that wouldn’t have happened…, ” said his other self and caught him wiping his eyes the same time his other self did. “ All Might tried to keep it a secret… I couldn’t tell anyone! Even if I try to not think about it just comes to mind! I don’t know what to do!”

“ He’s been carrying this with him this whole time? More than me… this whole time… He’s been worrying about it… thinking about it ,” said Fun Deku in shock and frustration. His whole body still glowed with the effects of One for All, but the way Fun Deku looked told him that all parts of Deku thought the same thing but had different feelings about his confession.

Fun Deku looked frustrated and from the outburst. He held guilt and anger that Izuku partially ended All Might - even though Fun Deku clearly wasn’t as big a fan as the others. His fist was clenched with the telltale twitches he needed to hit something, but he kept it together. 

Fun Deku glowed with One for All as Deku activated it as he stared down Katsuki. He said in a low voice, “ This isn’t the time for words. Kacchan is hurting and so are we. This can’t be fixed with hugs, tears, or apologies. We need to fight. There might be any meaning to this fight. There might not be any meaning in winning or losing. But I have to go through with it. Because right now… I’m the only one who can accept Kacchan’s feelings .”

“If I’m doing this… I’m going all out. I’m not planning on being your sandbag, Kacchan!” said both Dekus as they prepared to fight Katsuki. 

Fun Deku took a deep breath as he added, “ He might’ve just wanted to release these feelings, he couldn’t do anything fighting. Even, if that was the case I can’t completely reject him. It’s kind of twisted if you think about it. From kindergarten to elementary school, middle school, and high school we’ve known each other for a long time. But until now… we’ve never really talked about how we really felt. ”

Believe it or not, but Katsuki actually could process what Deku was thinking amidst the fight. Maybe, because he was a part of the fight, and they mainly just been screaming at each other, but his words made him realize what Deku meant that he and Shitty Deku didn’t talk things out. There were things you simply couldn’t talk out. Just like this fight.

“ What’re you smiling about?! ” yelled his other self which made his focus return to the fight. Deku was on the ground while Fun Deku looked calm, which meant an explosion was coming soon from him. “ I thought you weren’t gonna be a sandbag! ”

“ I won’t be! ” yelled both Dekus as they lunged for Katsuki. 

“ I’m sure you’re up to something! That’s what makes me sick! ” yelled Katsuki as he blew Deku into the air. “ I can’t tell what you’re thinking! No matter how much I beat you up, you stick close! Even though you were nothing, it’s like you’re looking down on me! The attitude you have like you’re better than me like you’re seriously gonna surpass me-- It’s an eyesore! ”

Both Dekus looked at him with wide-eyed expressions, but Fun Deku looked offended that it’s almost funny. He whispered in shock and a touch of annoyance, “Is… is that what you thought?”

Deku looked down with bangs covering his face, as Fun Deku stared him down with that offended look. They started saying, “ I mean, normally, if someone keeps looking down on you, you won’t want anything to do with them anymore. But like I said before, because I had nothing at first, along with the parts I hated about you, I saw vividly all the amazing things you do! You, who had so much that I didn’t have, were an amazing person much closer to me than All Might! It’s because I thought you were amazing! That’s why... I kept chasing after you! ”

Katsuki saw Fun Deku glow even brighter as he aimed for a kick for his other self’s arm. He felt a different surprise than his other self when Deku’s speed increased because he got the context of what Deku said. At that moment, the real fight started in a light show of explosions and green lighting. 

And he couldn’t even focus on it. 

None of the pieces made sense to him. Deku still holding back on him. The way Real Deku’s eyes reflected the heat and anger shown in Fun Deku said so. But what? What was he holding back in this fight? Why can't he understand Deku despite knowing him the longest?

Katsuki’s thoughts were interrupted when he heard Fun and Real Deku ask if that was all Kastuki got. Fun Deku then chuckled before he said, “ This is so gross, so I can’t tell you to your face, but… When my feeling of ‘I have to beat you’ is stronger than ‘I have to save you’, I inadvertently start spouting more insults. That’s the part of you that I hate, but the image of victory I have inside me is of you. ”

Wait-

“ I want to beat you, my incarnation of victory! ” yelled Fun Deku as Deku punched Katsuki in the face. “ In order to meet the expectations of All Might, who chose me! ”

That.

The pieces came together.

For the first time in Deku’s mind, Katsuki felt nothing but everything at once. 

It wasn’t any aftereffects of Deku touching him, but all of his actual feelings.

All that happened in this mindscape was clear. All of Deku’s words finally clicked. All of Deku’s actions had reasons. All of Deku… made sense to him for the first time.

Clingy Deku stuck his side like glue, like when they were kids. It wasn’t anything selfish or being annoying, but out of admiration. He was like his personal All Might. A hero that could do no wrong and was in that single word Deku loved to use. Amazing.

Quiet Deku kept his distance but held onto him just like Clingy. From the words of Deku himself, there were parts that Deku hated. But it was overshadowed but all the amazing things he could do and be that made Deku never feel sad about himself more than how sad it was to see his personal hero not meet that. 

Scared Deku never feared him for the normal reasons someone would. But because he felt he understood Katsuki never wanted to show that sometimes he didn’t or he didn’t view it as positive. This whole fight showed that when he tried to stop and ask. It was so he could understand... and when he did. He fought back… knowing that’s what Katsuki needed. 

Shitty Hero Deku forever saw him as an image of victory. Something that proved his worth as a hero and challenged him. It was like All Might said. Deku was the Symbol of Hope and focused on saving while Katsuki was a Symbol of Victory and focused on winning. Both symbols can’t work without the other. Save to Win, Win to Save. A mantra he started saying in his head more often as he thought.

Fun Deku, honestly he thought it was a side he hardly saw in Deku. But he saw more often than he realized. Anytime Katsuki tried to go against what Deku’s idea of a hero was and when was obsessed with winning more than saving. He thought back to times Deku insulted him like their first fight at U.A. and smiled. Fun Deku was front and center in both of his fights with the nerd. The few times Deku did not hold back. 

Katsuki saw them crash into the pavement when his thoughts clicked. His other self pined Deku down with heavy breaths and in a raspy voice whispered, “I win.”

Before the memory could fade, he saw Fun Deku smile with no hint of anger or resentment at Izuku being pinned down and losing a fight. But a smile at the thought of being seen. 

Katsuki blinked as the light faded then turned to Deku who had that same smile. He stood up and said, “See you are useful and you are seen. You’re seen by me. And I’m not scared of you. Do you realize what that fight was? The revival of us. The start of something better than what the last ten years we had. And you were front and center to make sure of that. Do you see why you can’t quit?”

Deku looked at him with wide eyes and a nervous shake of his head. Katsuki scoffed as he explained, “You’re not dangerous… Midoriya. You never were. You’re not just Deku’s anger or all that shit Shitty Hero Deku said. You push Deku because you hate what he was. A sandbag that got pushed around; an actual Deku to most of his peers. You are his stubbornness that refuses to go down with a fight. So don’t start running now when Deku is finally making that quirk of his own and making Deku the name of a hero.”

Swallowing his pride, Katsuki held out his hand as Deku looked at the hand in shock. He said, “So come with me, show those sides what you are, show that Deku does need you. Show that you deserve to be in control more. Now, you wanna beat a villain and win?”

“And we’ll save Izuku while we’re at it,” agreed Midoriya as he took Kacchan’s hand. His smile matched with Kacchan’s smirk. He was ready to kick some villain ass. 

Chapter Text

Katsuki watched for Fedora and saw Round Face and Half-n-Half skid back from the fight. Round Face could hold her own and be able to flip Fedora a few times, but before she or Half-n-Half could hold him he rolled away. He felt Deku try to lunge, but held him back. He can’t believe that he needs to be the calm and rational one. Turning to Deku, he asked, “Can you sense those other Dekus here yet?”

Midoriya hummed in concentration. He took a deep breath and answered, “I think they just came through. I got a wave of frustration and annoyance. Fucking extras. They got to book it here soon.”

“How long till they get here?” asked Katsuki as he saw Half-n-Half give him a look. Katsuki pointed to his back toward Deku, the bastard nodded as he made a gesture to Round Face. 

“Too long,” answered Midoriya as he peeked over to see Fedora looking irritated. He smirked mischievously as he whistled as more training bots attacked him. The villain screamed in frustration. “I got a plan.”

Before Katsuki could ask about what the plan was the damn nerd jumped out in full view of the villain. His shocked face was matched by Round Face and Half-n-Half, but the surprising thing was the string of curses Deku started spouting. His jaw dropped as Round Face’s face turned bright red while Half-n-Half looked like a part of his soul left.

“-BASTARD!” yelled Midoriya as the anger and annoyance on Fedora’s face was part one of his plan. 

“You! You brat! You were supposed to be gone!” yelled Apathy as he punched one of the last training bots. He looked at his hand and saw the green veins was only up to his forearm. Originally wanted to get rid of the hero aspect, but this guy was on his last nerve. “I’ll force you to shut off!”

“Catch me then loser!” yelled Midoriya as he bolted. He saw Kacchan, Uraraka, and Todoroki followed him. “Okay, I’m going to meet with those extras, but it needs to be somewhere special. Uraraka lead Iida to the last place you saw Toga. When I do meet the extra I need you all to hold him down as fast as you can. It will take a while for my plan to work.”

“What the hell Deku what are you even planning?” asked Katsuki as he jumped over the rubble that Deku pushed aside. Round Face looked confused before nodded and ran ahead in a different direction. “You know I hate it when I don’t know what you’re thinking!”

Deku turned and smirked, “Call it some small payback Kacchan for being an asshole sometimes!”

Katsuki held back a growl when they stopped in at the of a huge fucking crater. Deku took a deep breath when he saw the extra Dekus come from the right of them, but right behind him was Fedora. Whatever Deku was planning better be quick. He and Half-n-Half went in front of Deku as Fedora looked about to burst in anger. His gloves were long gone and Katsuki saw the green veins were stopping at his wrist. 

Katsuki cracked his knuckles as he and Half-n-Half jumped Fedora. They were all on an even playing field. No quirks and no support weapons. “Whatever your plan is Deku, better be worth all this fucking secrets!”

“Midoriya! You’re here!” yelled Deku in surprise watching Uraraka and Iida follow Kacchan and Todoroki’s lead. He took one look into Midoriya’s eyes and froze. It was simmering rage. “Midoriya, why’d you ask us to come here ?”

“I need to use Izuku’s quirk!” yelled Midoriya as he grabbed Deku’s shoulder. 

Deku pushed Midoriya’s hands off his shoulders as he said, “What? No! That wasn’t the plan Midoriya, I can-” 

“No!” interrupted Midoriya with as much force as possible. “I’m a part of Izuku as much as you are. Let me take the lead this time! I’m the best shot!”

“Midoriya-”

“State your case,” interrupted Midori as Deku and Midoriya looked at him in shock. “Deku, I know you care and you want to look at this la-logically, but this entire thing isn’t. Midoriya, was always behind me when I was scared and kept in check to not make Izuku freeze entirely. Let him talk.”

“Midori,” whispered Midoriya in awe. He knew he might kissing his ass right now to avoid being punched, but the thought made a fire in his gut burn brighter. He looked at the other three aspects with his most fond look - which was a playful glare. He took a deep breath as he showed off his hand and showed how it was an almost grey color. “I think when I was… talking with Fedora earlier he caught me off guard. When I tried to quit-”

“You tried what?” asked Zuku with shaky hands. He knew Midoriya was upset. Deku explained as much but enough to try and quit? What did they argue about?

“-I started seeing everything start to gray out. I felt... numb like any anger I had just… disappeared. Until Kacchan started talking to me. He poked and nudged and I started feeling again. I think that’s how he shuts down his emotions. That’s what the veins are,” continued Midoriya as he looked at his pale hand. “I need to attack him with all I got because… I’m already affected by his quirk. He can’t affect him again and personally, I don’t want to fucking know what will happen if gets one of you guys.”

“If this about what I said? Midoriya you can’t sacrifice yourself!” scolded Deku as guilt festered in his gut. He didn’t want Midoriya to quit because of his words.

“No! You can’t quit on us!” yelled Izu as he felt bad that he called him a meanie. 

“Shut up! I ain’t quitting!” yelled Midoriya as he took a glance, he saw Uraraka flip Fedora as Tenya held down his legs and Kacchan and Todoroki held his arms but avoided touching the hands. “Look, I can beat this gray-out if I pissed off enough, but I also want this guy to know that he shouldn’t mess with our friends or Kacchan. And I need you to trust me. Pu-puh- please .”

“I trust you Midoriya,” stated Midori with a flustered smile. “I trust you with One for All.”

“You’re extreme, Midoriya,” pointed out Zuku with a hesitant bite of his lips. “But, I trust you to handle this. I trust you with One for All.”

Izu pouted as tears formed in his eyes. He replied, “I don’t like you at all Midoriya. You’re a meanie you have hit me a couple of times when we talk with Kacchan. But I know you care about Kacchan and our friends… in your own way. So, I trust you to make sure this bully doesn’t bother our friends. I give you my trust to use One for All.”

Midoriya looked at Deku who looked the most conflicted at the idea. Midoriya looked annoyed as he said through gritted teeth, “Deku, I will stop punching you, but I need to do this. I know you think I’m dangerous, but you know that’s not all I’m for. Let me show what I mean Deku.”

“Okay,” conceded Deku with a sigh as he placed his hand on Midoriya’s shoulder. “I trust you with One for All.”

Green lightning flew from Deku as it flowed into Midoriya. His entire body glowed as he stalked toward Fedora. Kacchan stared at him in surprise as a smile graced his lips. He said, “You know Apathy. You almost had me quitting there. But you don’t know Izuku. And there is one thing about us that makes Izuku Izuku. And that is how much cares about his friends. Even me, the epitome of his anger and all those things you said. But there’s one thing Izuku hates and that’s people who hurt the people he cares about and I’m that.”

Midoriya stood in front of the villain with a glare and asked, “Do you know where you are? You’re at the edge of where I was front and center fighting Overhaul when he hurt a little girl that Izuku barely knew. All he knew was that she was sad. Would you like to see that memory?”

A ripple appeared in front of Apathy’s face as Midoriya pulled back and punched it. 

Now Katsuki wished he could go into detail about how he watched Deku kick Overhaul’s ass, but honestly, he was too busy watching fucking Fedora’s face grow pale at every yell Deku screamed and every action Deku did. 

“I’ll twist that future! ” declared every single Deku - with Pissed Deku and Hero Deku at the helm - as he attacked Overhaul with more power and the most rage, Katsuki ever seen. They moved so fast that he never even saw the spear enter Deku’s leg and arm.

Katsuki didn’t understand what Overjerk was saying, but he got the picture. The upperclassmen that lost his quirk tried to save Eri, Sir Nighteye sacrificed himself to save the kid, and the stupid boss was trying to manipulate the kid into staying with him. 

Some of the Dekus flinched in pain, but Pissed Deku stood tall as he ripped it out with ease. He yelled, “ Even though you don’t want my help-- You’re crying, aren’t you? ”

Deku glared at Overhaul as he crushed the spear-like rock like an empty can with the promise. “ I’ll save you! ”

Overhaul raised the floor up as Deku yelled his name in anger and disgust with the order from Hero to grab Eri. He watched Eri nearly taken by Overhaul as he jumped on flying debris and punched the ones in his way. Occasionally he flinched when rocks entered his open wounds on his legs, but he was always out of reach. Eri jumped off her rock when Deku called for once more. At the sight of the jump, Pissed Deku yelled, “ You already let go of her once! Save her Midoriya Izuku! You have to! ”

“ Eri-chan! ” cried Deku as Eri landed in his arms. He cradled her head gently. As a sudden wave of determination filled his eyes. Deku against the rock, his hold on Eri not wavering as Overhaul jumped after them. 

“ I want to be strong enough that no one will worry about me. To always wins… to always save everyone! ” yelled Hero Deku loudly, but Katsuki saw how Pissed Deku mouthed the words like he was upset that Deku wasn’t already doing it. In a flurry of green lightning, Deku pulled back for a punch as rocks flew everywhere around them. But in a blink, he moved so fast that Katsuki thought he disappeared on him until he appeared to punch Overhaul in the fast.

He kicked away.

Then it was silent.

Explosions of rocks flew everywhere as Katsuki saw Deku in the actual sky… did… he use One for All at a one hundred percent… by accident… to protect some kid he met once on the street. 

Katsuki caught the sight of Overhaul in the wreckage and heard a gag from Fedora. With the right to do, Overhaul’s entire right arm was gone before he returned with his quirk, but the blood on his head still dripped everywhere on his body. They felt the memory shift just slightly as they came out of the wreckage and onto the surface.

He searched for Deku and saw he still hugged Eri tightly. He heard Hero and Clingy Deku mutter in awe of how all his injuries were healed. He looked up at Eri and asked if that her quirk before all Dekus - even Pissed Deku who looked about to pass out from the sudden lack of adrenaline - clutched their stomachs in pain. Scared Deku said with Real Deku, “ Wh-what’s happening? It’s like my body is being pulled from the inside. ”

The earth started shaking when Deku suddenly grabbed Eri and kicked away back in the air. He held onto Eri as the shitstain of a human being Overhaul looked like a horrible enigma of flesh - Katsuki swore he heard Round Face whimper at the sight of him again. His voice was distorted as he said, “ She may have activated it at a good time, but she doesn’t know how to stop it. Isn’t that right, Eri? Depending on how you use her, it might even be possible to turn a person back into a monkey. That girl’s quirk is cursed. Unless you want to be annihilated, hand Eri over. ”

“ Never ,” growled Deku with the same passion that was widespread, but Pissed Deku was the loudest. Clingy smiled as he absently combed the girl’s hair before he even glared at the thing in front of them as Deku tied Eri behind his back with the upperclassmen’s cape. “ Your quirk is such a blessing! I understand her quirk’s effect now and how fast her Rewind works, so if I constantly sustain major injuries at an even greater speed…”

Katsuki immediately knew what Deku was planning to do, but what surprised him was the glow he had. Deku’s entire body lit up like a Christmas tree with his hair even standing up from the power of the quirk. Parts of his suit ripped from the power like when he first started using his quirk. His hand went to his chest as he swears he’s seen it before, but couldn’t place where. 

Overhaul lunged toward Deku with his other limbs going after him, but Deku moved in a flash. The next thing anyone knew was Deku kicking the daylights out of him with his iconic yell of “ SMASH! ”

Overhaul was launched in the air as Deku flew around trying to break his body to not be rewound too fast. Overhaul’s body kept breaking apart as he tried to catch Deku. Though none of them could see the full fight he heard how Overhaul spouted about hero pretenders and trying to fix the world. The glow of Deku kept everyone’s attention as he heard Deku yell with a raw voice from the volume as his other versions echoed his words, “ If I can’t save… the one small girl in front of me… how can I become… ”

The air from what Katsuki can only assume was a punch ripped Overhaul into pieces and Fedora gasped in fear as his body trembled under them. He followed his sight and froze.

Holy shit.

Deku looked like… a demon with the shadows cast over his face with only his eyes glowing. The only thing that lit up his silhouette was the lightning from One for All. His scream was loud and clear, “ A HERO WHO SAVES EVERYONE!?!”

Deku punched right through Overhaul with enough pressure that the sky swirled into a hurricane with Deku in the eye of it all. In the dust, Katsuki saw the glowing figure of Deku, but also an almost dead Overhaul - God those other sides of Deku weren’t wrong when they said if angered Deku could kill a man. 

Deku fell forward as Eri’s quirk went into overdrive in bright light. Every Deku screamed in pain until it all stopped. He looked over to see Frog-Girl next to Aizawa-sensei. Good, he saved both of them.

The memory faded when Pissed Deku looking eerily similar to how he looked a few seconds ago. Fedora flinched as the punch barely grazed his cheek. Deku whispered in a low voice, “So I suggest, that you get out of Izuku’s head and if any of us think you’ll hurt our his friends, especially Kacchan. You’ll see him up close and personal .”

Katsuki shits you not, Fedora passed out in fear. 

Midoriya sighed with a shake of his head before he held the villain’s head… before he promptly punched him as the glow of One for All faded. He smiled as he stood for a moment before being tackled by a lump of bodies. 

“Midoriya! That was amazing!” cheered Izu as tears flooded his tears. “You do care about our friends!”

“Sorry, we didn’t trust you!” added Zuku as tears streamed down his face.

“That was so scary! But look!” pointed out Midori as he showed how there no sign of grey on Midroiya. “No more gray! You aren’t leaving us!”

“You never even used Izuku’s quirk to fight the villain,” said Deku in shock. “You thought and planned everything out. You… you were in control despite having the chance to hurt him so badly.”

Midoriya forced himself to not look at any of these extras as he said, “Well, Izuku would hate it if he killed someone that was such a coward that he fainted at the sight of Izuku’s quirk. So whatever. Now fucking get off of me!”

Katsuki watched the scene with a smile as he wondered why they haven’t left the mind. That when he felt arms wrapping around him. He looked to see Deku’s lame friends hugging him. He yelled, “What the fuck are you extras doing?!”

“They’re hugging Midoriya-kun after he saved Izuku! It’s only fair we hug the person who saved him!” cheered Uraraka with a smirk. It was that and the fact it would annoy Bakugou.

“I felt left out,” added Todoroki as he awkwardly gave Bakugou a half hug. 

“I’m not entirely sure what has happened! But I do think this does require a hug!” pointed out Tenya as he robotically hugged Bakugou.

Katsuki growled as he looked at Fun Deku who smirked at him. He said teasingly, “You better hug Izuku after this, or else I’ll make him punch you.”

Katsuki was about to strangle the loser when he felt a weird headache sensation. Slowly the feeling of hands vanished before he was the last one as he saw his hands fading in and out of existence. His eyes blinked trying to focus but it almost looked like there was only one Deku now as he looked at Katsuki. A light feeling brushed against his head. 

“How about one memory before you go, Kacchan?”

Then all he saw darkness.

Katsuki felt heavy as he found himself on a bench in the park. He rubbed his eyes and found he could only turn his head. When he did, he saw a young Deku - the youngest this entire day - crying his eyes out in unison with Quiet, who matched the age with Deku for once but he recognized those waterworks.

Deku looked around through the tears when Clingy - he knew with that optimistic tone - yelled with a point, “ Let’s ask him! He has an All Might Toy! ”

“ Bu-but what if we bothering him? ” asked Scared from tha tale-tell stutter. 

“ I want Mommy! ” cried Zuku as he curled up in a ball.

“ If no one came to us with us crying, he ain’t gonna help ,” muttered Pissed Deku from that negative attitude. 

“ Better to ask though! ” yelled Deku, Katsuki smiled at the sight of Deku in those silly All Might onesie. It had to be that one.

Before Dek, no, Izuku - he wasn’t Deku yet - could go forward. A young version of himself with an annoyed look was nose to nose with the nerd. Katsuki’s younger self said in his usual confident tone, “ Oi, whatcha crying about? ”

“ I lost my Mommy! ” cried Izuku with Quiet as more tears burst that it started forming a puddle. His younger self looked freaked out - which yeah he was because what would be your reaction to this much crying - before he slapped his hands on Izuku’s cheeks causing the tears to stop.

“ Stop crying you baby, for me and All Might are here! ” chanted his younger self… did he really say something so lame? But the words did the trick as every Deku stared at him with awe. “ Now, what’s your Mom look like? We’ll find her! ”

“ He’s amazing ,” whispered Clingy and Deku with wide eyes. 

When Izuku didn’t respond his younger self scoffed, “ Hey ya deaf? What she look like? ”

“ I’m not deaf! ” yelled Fun Deku, but Scared muffled him as Izuku only muttered what he yelled.

“ She has green hair like mine ,” answered Izuku with more confidence to match with Deku. 

“ Alright, shouldn’t be hard ,” declared his younger self with confidence as he grabbed Izuku’s hand and pulled him along. He missed the days when he could do that with ease. He watched as his young self looked everywhere before he pointed in a direction “ I think I see her! Does she cry like you? ”

“ Yeah! She does! ” confirmed Izuku as the Dekus replied with the same vigor. 

“ Well, come on. I told you I could do it! ” boasted his young self as he walked ahead of Izuku in the direction. “ I’m Bakugou Katsuki .”

“ Nice to meet you Kat-Kat-Kacchan! ” greeted Izuku as Fun Deku growled when he couldn’t get his name right while Clingy was downright excited. “ My name is Midoriya Izuku .”

Katsuki smiled as he blinked when his eyes grew tired and a white light blinded him.

Katsuki groaned and felt himself against something hard? He blinked warily when his eyes met with the ceiling of Recovery Girl’s office. Something groaned against him with a faint mutter of, “What happened? Why do I have a bad headache?”

Katsuki turned his head when he saw his gaze meet with the scrunched up face of Deku. Oh crap, he fell on him didn’t he? Katsuki launched himself off Deku with a crimson face as he looked around and saw Round Face, Four Eyes, and Half-n-Half slowly come to on their own beds. What the hell how come they got nicely tucked in a bed while he was out cold on Deku?

Izuku yawned as he blinked slowly when he saw his entire class, All Might, Aizawa-sensei, and Kacchan - who looked red for reason - staring at him with worried eyes. He asked, “Did I… Did I miss something? Did we beat the villains?”

Before anyone could answer Izuku, Uraraka-san wrapped her arms around him with tears as she cried, “Deku-kun! How are you feeling? Be honest!”

“Well, confused for one. What the heck happened? How’d I get here?” rambled Izuku as Todoroki-kun and Iida-kun sighed in relief before coming over to him. Seriously what the heck was going on? “Uh, guys-”

An arm grabbed Izuku by the shoulder as his face met a chest with a rapid heartbeat. He looked up to see Kacchan looking at him with a fond look. Before he could process he yelled, “What the hell is going on?! Did something happened to me!”

“Midoriya, you got hit by a quirk that put you in a coma,” answered Kirishima as he stared at Bakugou. Geez, whatever happened in Midoriya’s mind must’ve messed with him. 

“Wait what?” cried Izuku as he tried to search his memories. That’s right. A villain was after Kacchan and he took the hit. But if that’s the case where was the-

“Ugh, the cash Shigaraki promised me was not worth it.”

Izuku turned his head to see the very villain sit up in his bed. Someone that looked similar to him - a twin? - hugged him. When their eyes met, the weirdest thing happened. The villain screamed.

“Ah! Oh my God! Please don’t hurt me! I won’t hurt your friends! I won’t even look Bakugou!” screamed Apathy as he grabbed All Might by the hem of his shirt. “Please! Take me to jail! Tartarus! Anything! Just keep me out of this school!”

“Uhhhh,” responded All Might in shock as he looked at Aizawa in confusion. “I think we can do jail. Eraser Head would you like to join me?”

Eraser Head at the pathetic villain in front of him that was blubbering worse than Midoriya. He turned to his class as he scolded, “If Recovery Girl tells me if any of you bothered her while she examines Midoriya. Detention.”

“But I feel fine!” complained Izuku as he groaned and fell back. “This is so stupid! No one is even answering my question about what happened. Why is everyone acting weird?”

When silence met his ears, he looked at his classmates who looked at him weirdly. He shrunk in his bed as he asked, “Did I say something weird?”

Katsuki laughed heartily as he knew who slipped through there. The looks on the extras were hilarious, Round Face snorted as she giggled, Half-n-Half smiled at Deku, and Four Eyes’s jaw dropped.

Izuku realized what he said as he covered his mouth. He apologized with slightly pink cheeks, “Sorry about that Recover Girl. I… I don’t think this stupid. I’m… I’m just frustrated. What exactly happened and why are some of you acting weird?”

“Ochako-chan, Bakugou-kun, Todoroki-kun, and Iida-kun went inside your mind, kero,” answered Tsuyu as Recovery Girl shook her head and walked out the room to check his brain waves. Midoriya blinked before his entire face flushed and looked at his friends and Kacchan in horror.

“They went where?!” screamed Izku as his hands went to his head like when he felt stressed. Oh god, what did they see? Did they find out anything? What was his mind like? Was everything in order? What did it even mean to be in his head?!

“Oi, shut up Deku, we didn’t do anything. We just saw a few saw few memories,” answered Katsuki as he placed his elbow on Deku’s head. He glared at Katsuki for the action, but it only made him smirk. He saw you Midoriya. 

“Like what kind of memories?” asked Izuku nervously. He hoped no one saw anything about him getting One for All. 

“It was quite intriguing to see you face the Sludge Villain like a true hero,” pointed out Tenya with a few chops in the air. “But please try to restrain yourself from sacrificing yourself.”

“I relived our fight at the Sports Festival,” commented Todoroki as he placed a hand on Midoriya’s shoulder. “I’m sorry you had a bad father as well.”

Izuku felt uncomfortable at the last one. He didn’t really like talking about his dad. Uraraka-san must’ve caught his face because she quickly said, “We also saw such cute happy memories with as a kid! It was adorable seeing you just obsessed with Bakugou.”

Uraraka smirked as she looked at Bakugou. He’ll be mad at her for a minute and try to blow her up, but he’ll thank her in the end. She wrapped an arm around Mina as she said, “You know Mina-chan, Deku-kun sang this adorable song in there.”

“Huh?”

“Do you fucking dare Round Face!”

“Oh, but how did it go again?” asked Uraraka in an overly sweet tone. She snapped her fingers as she smirked at Bakugou. “Oh! I remember! Forward march and here we go! Members of the Agency Bakugou! ”

“Awww that’s so cute Midoriya!”

“I love to have a theme song! You’re so lucky Bakugou!”

“It’s so catchy! What a manly theme!”

“You’re dead Round Face!”

“Oops!” shrieked Uraraka as she ran out of the room. Soon enough the rest of the class sang the theme song into the halls. She heard Bakugou scream her name while Deku-kun scolded him to stop. Good, Bakugou will thank her for some alone time.

Katsuki growled in anger as he heard his supposed friends shriek that stupid song. Before he could lunge, Deku grabbed his arm and pulled him back. He looked at Deku who had a slightly annoyed look and a pout. He sighed as he took a seat at the foot of Deku’s bed.

“You sure you feeling okay Deku?” asked Katsuki as the wall away from Deku looked very interesting . 

“Yeah, I feel fine. Maybe a feel lighter ? But also weirdly pumped up,” answered Izuku as he brushed against his chest, but then he remembered his snappish comment. “Sorry, about snapping earlier I uh don’t know what overcame me.”

“Tch, don’t apologize for feeling shit Deku,” commented Katsuki as he remembered how Fun Deku felt being pushed away. “Look, you don’t have control your anger. It’s kind of annoying that you try to hold back with something stupid like that.” 

“Wh-what? I don’t-” stuttered Izuku with embarrassed cheeks. 

“You do. Don’t even try to deny it. I was literally in your head,” interrupted Katsuki as he glared at Deku and flicked his forehead. He wondered if one of those dumb aspects were trying to hold back Fun Deku. 

Izuku rubbed his head nervously as he started, “Well, it’s not like I try to Kacchan. I just-”

“Think you’re not good enough because of the standards you set yourself up with?” guessed Katsuki as the words of Fun Deku from the memory of their fight replayed in his head. “You hate that you’re not where you want to be. I get it. But, you’re holding yourself back if you’re afraid of snapping at a few extras.”

“Know from personal experience Kacchan?” teased Izuku, but felt bad when Kacchan gave him a look that he’s trying to be serious. “Sorry, I’m not used to you being the comfort or understanding type.”

“I ain’t. I’m stating the obvious damn nerd,” corrected Katsuki. He doesn’t care if he had a semi heart to heart with Fun Deku, he wasn’t the soft type that comforted people, especially Deku. “Look, in your mind. I saw things and realized that you never try to look upset in front of anybody. Like, fuck, how are you not pissed that All Might told you can’t be a hero.”

“You saw that?” whispered Izuku in shock. He never really tried to think about that memory because All Might was making it up to him now, but occasionally it popped in when he felt All Might could've picked anyone else like Mirio-senpai. “I admit, it hurt at the time, but look I’m training to be his successor. Can’t get better than that.”

“What about your mom?” asked Katsuki and saw Izuku flinch - you better keep your promise Scared Deku. “I don’t know the whole picture with her, but I can piece enough that she wasn’t exactly supportive of the idea of you being a hero either.”

“Yeah, not really. At first, I thought it was because I was quirkless, but then uh Hosu and Kamino happened and she’s more protective than ever,” explained Izuku as he played with his fingers. “She almost made me quit U.A. when the dorms were created. I-I really wanted to fight, but All Might was there you know.”

Okay, Katsuki didn’t know that . But something didn’t click. If Auntie Inko didn’t believe Deku could be a hero, All Might didn’t either, and Katsuki sure as hell didn’t. How did he keep going? 

“Why?” asked Katsuki which caused Deku to look with a confused expression. “What made you still want to be a hero?”

Izuku hummed in thought. He answered, “I don’t know. I just do. I almost did give up when All Might said I couldn’t, but then the Sludge Villain happened. Seeing you attacked by him… you looked so scared. You looked like you needed saving, Kacchan.”

“You’re way too forgiving you know that. You didn’t need to save my ass,” pointed out Katsuki as he laid on the bed with his arms behind his head, come on nerd don’t hold back. “If it was anyone else. If it was just a random ass stranger. Would you jumped in to save them?”

“Uh, I mean I like to think I would but…,” answered Izuku as he knew the other reason why he jumped in. “... but no. I don’t think I would’ve jumped in, especially when I thought I couldn’t be a hero anymore. But when I saw your face. So many things ran through my mind like feeling bad that it was my fault you got attacked. But it also felt like you were asking for help, asking me for help. But the biggest thought was ‘I can’t let Kacchan die’. Next thing I knew I was running toward you. I just needed to save you.”

“Why? I was an asshole to you. I told you to take swan dive off the roof,” asked Katsuki as he sat up and stared into Deku’s eyes, maybe he could catch glimpses of the other Dekus. “I did so many things to you, but you keep coming back. You keep sticking to me despite everything. You chose to keep your distance instead of ditching me like I did. I put you down from the moment I called you Deku, but you still challenged me. You got your power from All Might and yet you use my moves. I know you hate how I am sometimes, so why… why is it me?”

Katsuki knew the answers, but despite having the whole picture, something was off. It was like a puzzle. The pieces fell together so easily, he had the overall picture but there was a single piece missing. A very important piece. 

Katsuki watched Deku’s cheeks flushed brightly. He asked as his eyes darted away, “Why is it you? What do you mean?”

“Just why?” asked Katsuki as he glanced at the empty bed that Fedora was on. “You know, the only way your lame friends and me could enter your mind was if you trust us. So after everything that happened to us. Why do you trust me? Tell me Deku, after everything why is it me?”

Izuku blushed as Kacchan got closer that all he could see was his crimson eyes. He gulped, but not out of fear that Kacchan might blow him up. It was embarrassing that he could practically feel Kacchan’s breath on him. 

“There’s a lot of reasons I think Kacchan. I mean you’re amazing,” answered Izuku, but Kacchan looked at him with an annoyed look. “But I guess that’s not what you’re talking about. I can think about to when we were kids and we played all the time, but you were well amazing, I can’t think of a better word. All Might was always my hero, but he was so out of reach, but you? You were always in reach, I could watch you all day.”

“But then you started calling me Deku,” continued Izuku as his smile turned to a frown. “And it hurt. Here was my best friend and the person I admire most telling me that I was useless. I even said that you were being mean. But I got used to the nickname, and Uraraka-san made me see how it could a hero name so I made it my own. But despite that, I couldn’t stand not admiring you still. Because I knew you can be an amazing hero and it made me sad and angry when you didn’t.”

Izuku started tearing up as he asked, “Why am I even saying all this? We don’t talk about our feelings Kacchan. Why are even asking about all this? You were in my mind. Don’t you know?”

“Because...” started Katsuki as small fireworks popped and singed the sheets. Deku was right he had everything laid out. Questions had answers. Actions had reasons. Everything clicked but still. “I don’t understand you still. After everything from today. There’s still a piece missing. So don’t hold back or hide it Deku, I hate that shit, and just tell me.”

“I-I’m scared,” admitted Izuku as his hand went to the base of his throat. “I want to tell you, but things are finally getting better between us Kacchan. What if… what if what I say messes everything up. I don’t want you to go back to hating me. After everything we’ve been through I’m always scared I’m going to lose you. Either it is a villain attack… or you ignoring me. Despite the fights and all the misunderstandings. Despite everything . I can’t stand to lose you because… I love you Kacchan.”

Katsuki froze on spot.

Love?

Deku… loves him ?

That was the missing piece?

It should’ve been so obvious. 

Clingy Deku demanding to hold his hand.

Quiet Deku holding onto him and comforting him.

Scared Deku telling him to be careful.

Fun Deku only feeling comfortable around him. 

Hero Deku fucking told him Deku loves him.

It was right there, but Katsuki still couldn’t believe Deku. 

“-eing quiet Kacchan. Are you shocked? Are you freaked out? You know usually when someone confesses that they love-”

“You can’t love me.”

“Uh that’s not your decision to make, Kacchan,” pointed out Izuku with a hint of irritation. He held out his heart to Kacchan and he sat there in silence as a response. Now he tells him he can’t? What the heck Kacchan?

“I mean you can’t. How? You’re you ,” whispered Katsuki as he looked at Deku in confusion.

“Yeah, I’m me and you’re Kacchan. Are you really that surprised?” replied Izuku with a chuckled. He looked away for a moment from embarrassment. “It’s okay if you don’t feel the same.” 

“No!” screamed Katsuki without even meaning to. “I mean… I don’t know… I’ve always felt… different around you. I never put a name to it though. It was just a Deku feeling. I like it when I have your attention. I guess… occasionally I missed you when I first started ignoring you and nowadays when you were away at your internship. I really like it when we spare and you don’t hold back. And I get scared for you… anytime you go too hard and break yourself I hate it. I hate it because I know your self sacrificing ass would rather die for someone who doesn’t deserve it if it meant you could save them. That scares me more than anything. Is that love?”

“I don’t know Kacchan,” admitted Izuku as he placed his hand on Kacchan. What surprised him was Kacchan shifted his hand so they were holding hands. Soon enough Kacchan started interlocking fingers and rubbed a finger against a scar. “Kacchan?”

“I… I want to learn,” whispered Katsuki as he stared at Deku’s hand. A hand he should’ve taken so long ago. It already fit so perfectly. 

“Learn what, Kacchan?”

“I want to learn how to love… there’s something… it’s different from the way I feel about Shitty Hair or anybody… I… I think I can do it. Love you that is. I want to,” confessed Katsuki as he stared at Deku. “I want to love you.”

“Okay, Kacchan, we can learn together,” replied Izuku as he placed his forehead against Kacchan’s. “You can learn to love, and I can learn to not hold back.”

They leaned against each other as their breaths mingled. Izuku looked as he whispered, “Can I try something Kacchan? For both of us?”

Katsuki hummed tiredly when Deku’s lips met his own. His eyes jolted awake. Small explosions popped from his hand; he almost pulled away because of that, but Deku kept their fingers intertwined but made a gap for his explosions to escape. His other hand went up to cheek and cradled it. Soon enough, Katsuki’s eyes closed again to savor the moment. When Deku pulled back with a vague whisper about caramel, Katsuki pulled him back in. 

He liked this feeling. 

It’s nice and warm. 

It was his Deku Feeling.

And he wanted to hold on to that feeling a little longer.