Chapter Text
Izuku can still remember the exact moment when his heart broke. The day where he felt his whole life crashing down on him. The same day his No.1 hero came to rescue him and swiftly broke his heart.
You can’t be a hero.
He could feel his heart plummeting down to his stomach, throat turning to ash. Any words deaf on his ears and his vision became hazy. Everyone was right, after all the bullying and the teasing and the tripping.
And the explosions.
What he thought was a memory gives way to an actual fire with actual smoke that smells exactly like Kac-Bakugo's explosions.
With an uneven breath, he ran toward the fire.
^^^^^^
After getting scolded by the heroes on the scene after the sludge villain was arrested. Apprehended by All Might, the same one who broke his heart barely an hour ago. Stop, breathe. Can’t think about that now, he moved to head home. But on his way there, next to an alley he sees a boy in a crouch, something near their legs. He stops going in the direction of his home to walk up to the boy. Over the boy’s shoulder he sees a cat with red marring its leg in an ugly wound. He tries to hold in a gasp as he sees the boy with tears streaming down his cheeks as he attempts to hold the cat’s leg in a form of comfort. He recovers from his stunned silence as he asks.
“What can I do to help?”
^^^^^^
It takes Izuku and the new boy he met in the alley 15 minutes to run to the nearest animal shelter. The lady at the front desk was shocked but could see the animal in pain and their distress to set the up the cat with the vet.
“You boys are lucky, no one had an appointment right now or that cat might not have made it.”
“S-sorry about the short notice, w-we just saw the cat in the alley an-and had to rush to rescue it.” Izuku stammers through, trying not to tear up or lose his train of thought. The nurse directs them to the waiting area for time being, and for the first time, Izuku gets a good look at the boy. He had a pointy head, looking almost like a jagged stone. He was wearing a standard middle school uniform, similar to his but a navy instead of black. He also thought that he hadn’t talked at all since he met the kid. Only nodding his head to his question and holding the cat as too not injure it further. He also looked at Izuku, catching his staring.
“H-how are you, you must’ve been pretty spooked to see an injury like that.” He mumbles, shooting his head away from the boy he attempted to converse with.
The boy taps his shoulder and when he looks back at him, holds out his phone. “Um, do you want me to add you on Line?” He questions, the boy nodded and he took out his own phone and gave him his own contact info.
[Koda: Thank you]
[Izuku: It’s no problem, I’m just glad I got there in time]
[Koda: It really means a lot]
[Koda: Animals are really important to me, and I couldn’t have done this without your help]
Izuku looks at the newly identified Koda with interest. Why couldn't he be able to do what he did, he only helped him to the shelter. He could have just looked that up on his phone. Was there something else to it, he hasn’t spoken at all since could it be that? With curiosity leaking from his thoughts into his fingers, he hesitantly typed out the question.
[Izuku: Why couldn’t you have done this]
[Izuku: All I did was point you to the shelter, you could have looked that up on your phone]
Koda hesitated before taking a deep breath and typing
[Koda: I’m mute, I wouldn’t have been able to tell anybody what happened]
He looks up for a second, then looks at his phone before typing.
[Koda: If you hadn’t asked me if I needed help, I would’ve just stayed in the alley crying, frozen over what to do]
[Koda: Not many would have stopped in the alleyway to help some kid who doesn't speak]
Izuku looks down at his lap, knowing what the feeling’s like. Teachers ignoring as your tripped, kicked, having your desk written on.
Being told to jump off the roof.
With an intense expression he types.
[Izuku: It shouldn’t be like that]
[Izuku: You shouldn’t be ignored when you’re in trouble]
[Izuku: No matter what]
Izuku looks at Koda with and intense gaze, backing his words with emotion. Koda, at first look taken aback, then softly slumps his shoulders and gives Izuku a smile. A genuine smile, like a summers’ breeze gently moving warmth around your body like a blanket. Izuku gives a small blush as he notices Koda typing on his phone.
[Koda: You would make a great hero]
Izuku is taken aback. A hero, Him, a hero. After just getting his heart ripped out by the last thing giving him hope. This comes along. He knows this boy doesn't know he doesn’t have a quirk, that must be why he’s so nice. He probably thinks he has a cool hero quirk like Ka-Bakugo. They weren't friends, no one wanted a useless, Quirkless, Deku like him. He didn’t want to ruin his only maybe friendship in a decade, but he can’t let him go around thinking that he has a strong quirk.
That he’s useful.
[Izuku: I don’t have a very strong quirk, I could never be a hero]
[Koda: That’s nonsense]
[Koda: It doesn't matter what quirk you might have, it’s the want to help people]
Izuku has to force himself to not look at the boy. There was no way he could be a hero. All might said he couldn’t be a hero, and who was he to argue with All might, he was the number one hero, who better to know what a hero can and cannot be.
Izuku sighs heavily, biting back frustration at this kid, he wanted to be friends, he really did, but how could he when he thinks Izuku could be a hero. Better to cut your losses now and hope he only comes out of the vet with only a few broken bones and a warning never to enter again.
With resignation he types out.
[Izuku: And if I’m quirkless]
Koda looks at him but he doesn’t dare look back, he can’t handle the glare of hatred he’s undoubtedly getting right now. Can’t handle the looks strangers give him as he’s getting as he’s being beat up, a minor look of pity before walking away like they didn’t see exactly what was happening.
The boy, Koda puts his hand on his shoulder. He must want to punch him in the face. Izuku moves with the hand pulling him to face Koda. Better make this quick, he doesn't look like he likes violence. But instead of the expected punch to the face he gets a look that might stay with him forever.
“You can be a hero.” Koda’s voice is quiet and raspy from lack of use but his face tells all. His eyes are determined and insistent, fueled by a passion he has never seen before. A slight frown adorns his face but it’s inquisitive, looking into his soul, looking for whatever might make him feel this way. How could he know. But his words hit home, striking the last crack that breaks the dam and tears come gushing out his eyes. All his stress faded away, getting scolded for running into the fight when no one else would, all the times he was the tripped, or teased, or made fun of. Of All might destroying his dream. Of Bakugo telling him to jump off the roof. All because of this boy, who said he could be a hero, even without a quirk.
Koda’s arms were around him now, hugging him he presumed. When was the last time he had a hug months, years? His arms around him were comforting, like a beach umbrella on a summer day, blocking out the painful heat but still feeling the warmth.
^^^^^^
The lady at the front desk told them that they’ll have to keep the cat in for three days and to come back then. Izuku thanked the lady with Koda in tow. Koda smiles at him and types on his phone.
[Koda: thanks for the help]
[Koda: I’ll see you when the cat gets better, ok]
“Yeah, I'll see you then too.” Izuku states aloud, confirming with himself that he’ll get to see this boy again.
Izuku waves at Koda as he walks away, normally he would have headed straight home, but he knew for a fact that there was no way for him to be a hero without at least some physical ability, especially if he plans to go into it.
It was time to start planning.