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Something had happened, but Izuku lacks the memory to remember said event. Though the thought of whatever happened sends Izuku into a panic and then an intense denial right after. Although it can’t be so bad his Mother doesn’t remember said event or is particularly worried about anything, but him. Unless something happened to him. But nothing happened to him. He's fine, he feels fine.
Although now he’s gotten into the habit of never hanging around the house. He takes walks, lots of them, even at the dead of night, especially at the dead of night. Although he can’t and doesn’t want to avoid his Mother, so more often than not he takes her out to restaurants with his Fathers allowance, or even sweeter, picnics. That doesn’t help though as his Mother definitely knows something is wrong with him. She keeps looking at him as if waiting for him to tell her what's up. But he doesn’t remember, because nothing happened of course.
He’s out on those late night walks occasionally at the beach in his hometown, it has been used as a landfill for a long time it automatically causes everyone to turn a blind eye. Right now he’s in the alleyways kicking pebbles, avoiding the gazes of curious strangers. The scream he hears doesn’t echo, but it's loud and feminine. Unconsciously he runs towards the sound, most times he's running towards hero fights but he always has an underlying urge to help those in trouble.
Two silhouettes are damn near one complete silhouette as a man holds a woman close to himself as the woman does her best to push him away. She's crying. Izuku can hear that clearly. Izuku can’t fight, he knows he can’t. So he does his best to approach the situation and maybe deescalate it.
“Excuse me, is something wrong here?” Izuku asks. Stepping closer to reveal himself and get closer to them both.
“Scram kid,” the man growled.
“Miss, is everything alright?” He asked the question to the woman this time. She whimpers in response the tear tracks are more obvious on her face the closer he gets.
“N-no, I don’t---” Her scream cuts off her own sentence as the man grips her arm roughly, Izuku thinks it must be painful.
“Alright sir, I think you’ve had too much to drink.” Izuku then tries to physically intervene. He doesn’t think the man is really drunk but he wants to give him an out and hopes he takes it. “If you come with me I can call you a cab and make sure you get home safely.” Physically intervening was a mistake, as the man takes out a pocket knife and waves it in front of Izuku threateningly.
Izuku doesn’t feel as much fear as he feels anxiety. He doesn’t get what's wrong with that.
“I said scram kid,” the man warned once again. Izuku however wasn’t willing to let this woman suffer alone and he doesn’t back down.
“Hey,” he says his voice wavers a bit. “There's no need to escalate this. We don’t need to get the police involved, yeah?” He tells him. The man lets go of the woman thankfully but much more unfortunately he jumps at an Izuku knife aimed upwards towards his guts. Izuku is pushed back, he doesn’t process anything else as a hero jumps in.
Izuku watches in awe as it's an underground hero, he doesn't recognize him at first but the googles are unmistakable, Eraserhead he thinks; as the man who once threatened him got a swift kick in the head before getting tangled in Eraser’s support weapon. Izuku hears a cry of relief but for once it's not him. He takes a deep breath letting it out slowly, as what happened settled in his mind.
“Call the police and an ambulance,” he hears Eraserhead tell the woman. Why wouldn’t the hero do it himself? And why would they need an ambulance he thinks as Eraserhead makes his way to Izuku.
“Let me see your wound,” the hero asks. Izuku stares up at him for a second before realizing he was stabbed by that man.
“Oh my god,” he mumbles as he instinctively touches his stomach before realizing he felt no pain. “Wait,” he says, no longer mumbling, “I’m fine?” He questions.
“What?” Erasers askes tilting his head. “I saw you get stabbed,” he states.
“I uh,” Izuku stumbles to find words. “I know, I was definitely hit and pushed back…” He trails off, before lifting his school uniform to show bare skin with no marks and definitely no stab wounds.
“That's good, you should still probably be checked over by the paramedics.” Eraser says helping Izuku up off the wet stone of the alley ways. The police and ambulance were quick and Izuku didn’t have to wait long to be questioned by the police as the paramedics checked him over.
“And then you physically intervened?” The officer asked him, currently writing down the rest of Izuku’s story.
“Yes-” Izuku started before the paramedic interrupted him.
“Sir, are you feeling alright?” Izuku looks at the medic who was slightly frowning but obviously concerned.
“Yeah, I feel fine,” he answers honestly.
“What's your quirk?”
“I don’t have one,” Izuku frowns at the question.
“Are you sure?” Izuku nods and the medic just frowns more before excusing himself. He is confused but forgets that bit to continue with his statement to the police.
“You’re free to go but it’s best if you’re not alone, Eraserhead here will walk you home.” Izuku turns to look at Eraserhead who is having a conversation with another police officer. Izuku focuses on the man right next to Eraserhead though, Izuku isn’t sure if he's actually an adult but he looks close. It's dark but Izuku can tell the young man had light hair and was taller than Eraserhead.
Izuku was startled when the man looked right at him, embarrassed to be caught staring. Izuku avoided the man’s stares and looked everywhere else. He was so busy looking at anything else he was startled when Eraserhead started talking to him. The walk home wasn’t much better as the hero was a man of very few words. But they were alone so he thought he could ask a question.
“Sir, who was that light haired man standing next to you earlier?” Izuku asked.
“What?” Eraser asked.
Nervously he clarified, “the light haired man standing near you? He was taller than you.”
“I'm not sure who you are talking about but it was probably a paramedic.”Eraserhead answered. But Izuku didn’t see the young man wearing any uniform of anysort but he didn’t want to push for more answers. Izuku was all too eager to run to his door and wave the erasure hero goodnight.
“Wait,” Eraser called. Izuku froze. Was there supposed to be more to this? He thought to himself. “Would your guardians be awake?” He asked.
“Oh.” Izuku rubbed the back of his neck. “I'm really the only night owl in the house, my Mother works day shift so she's sleeping. I didn’t get hurt so I don’t think it's worth worrying about.”
Eraser hummed, “the police will probably do a follow up in the morning, and maybe you should cut back on your nightly walks.”
Izuku smiled a little shakily, “Will do!”
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If the police followed up he wasn’t there for it, it was a school day, and then lately he’s been going to the library to study instead of his room. Currently he was one of the last people in the classroom putting away his stuff,he doesn’t know why he doesn't just start picking up his stuff during the last few minutes of class it would save some time.
“Deku,” a familiar voice growled. Izuku just sighed as he lifted his gaze to the blood red eyes that belong to Katsuki Bakugou. He didn’t know if he should protect his books or if it was even worth it to fight Kacchan. “Didn’t I tell you not to apply to the U.A.? Does your emo phase give you some fake confidence or some shit?”
Kacchan has lost him, what? “Emo phase?” He repeats.
He just rolled his eyes, “black hair, contacts, and pale skin.” Kacchan finished by waving at all of Izuku. Instinctively Izuku runs his hand through his hair trying to pull some of it in front of his eyes but his hair is always dark to him in front of his eyes! He then pulls out a strand and wouldn’t you know Kacchan was right, a strand of pure black hair.
He dropped his stuff and made a Beeline to the boys bathroom. He briefly registered Kacchan following behind him. The mirror reflected Kacchan’s words, black hair and pale skin. He looked closer into his eyes and they were incredibly dull and blank but they were still green! Just hardly noticeable. “Holy shit,” he whispered.
Kacchan’s reflection was less angry and more confused and annoyed. “Did you not know or something?”
“No, I didn’t,” Izuku said a bit too quietly.
“How can you not know your hair was dyed?! And you're wearing contacts, dumbass.”
“My eyes are still green! And no one told me! How long has it been like this?” He turned on the faucet, washing his face and quickly drying it, but his skin was free of makeup and the same paper white as before.
Kacchan was still here and he looked a bit conflicted himself. “What happened to you?” He asked, his voice clear of anger.
“Nothing happened!” He said quickly, Kacchan raised an eyebrow. “Nothing happened to me,” he corrected calmly. Izuku elected to ignore Kacchan on his way out, going back to the classroom to collect his stuff. Did this happen with an incident? Not that anything happened he reminded himself.
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Eating dinner with his Mother was nice, however she looked more worried than before. The police must have come. The food was nice, he just never felt hungry anymore he ended up picking at his food more often than not.
“Is there something on your mind Izuku?” His Mother prompted. If his hair has been black this entire time he wonders what his Mother has been thinking, does she think he’s going through an emo phase too? He has spent more time away from home..
“How long has my hair been black?” He asked. And the question put visible shock onto her face, same as Kacchan.
“Did you not dye it yourself?” She asked.
“Well uh no?” He shrugged sheepishly. “I guess it must be my genes from my Father kicking in.”
“Your Father doesn't have black hair.”
“He doesn't?” He asked. She simply shook her head in reply. “Well I guess I got it from my Uncle?” He tried.
“You don’t have Uncle Izuku.” Her face casted downwards and Izuku dreaded this conversation getting serious. “I’ve been really worried about you Izuku, you've just been more distracted, leaving at night and police and heroes bringing you back…”She trailed off. Izuku really wanted to say something but he couldn’t. “Your whole appearance changed and you didn’t even notice? Not to mention you haven't changed out of your school uniform in ages.”
“What? Of course I have.” He lied you know like a liar, he doesn't fucking know when he changed out of his uniform. Did he smell? He quickly brought part of his uniform up to smell it, it didn't smell bad or like anything at all he was fine. Looking up to his Mother’s disappointed stare, he slowly brought his shirt down. Yeah he was guilty.
She sighed, “I'm going to take a shower do you need to use the bathroom?”
“No!” Her eyebrow raised. “No thank you.” He correctly calmly like he did with Kacchan. “I’ll just be out here watching TV” he sent a sweet smile her way.
“Just go back to your room before 11, okay?” She kissed his forehead. “I love you Izuku.” His eyes watered and he didn’t know why, he mumbled an ‘I love you’ back. Honestly he didn’t want to go near his room at all, opting to sleep on the couch. To think about it he doesn’t remember sleeping much at all, functioning fine with little sleep must be a blessing of being young.
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Izuku wants to be home more and spend more time with his Mother, but the idea of even being near half the house makes him want to cry and he doesn't know why. He doesn’t want to know why, the simple idea of facing parts of his house puts him on the edge of a panic attack. How long can he go on like this?
Maybe ask his Mother if they can move? Not that it wouldn't work, it would still be there, he thinks. But what would be there?! No no no nothing there, he’s here, he’s fine.
It’s just another day he thinks, doing his best to calm himself down. After yesterday Kacchan didn’t talk to him but that didn’t mean he wasn’t staring at him and Izuku was all too aware of it to the point it almost irritated him. He left to the library undisturbed by Kacchan and anyone else who followed Kachan.
Mom was right, he was distracted, planning to go to the U.A. but he hasn’t done anything to move towards that goal. So far all he has had was his analysis notebooks but even those have been left untouched left to fend for themselves against dust bunnies. Maybe he could get an upper hand by learning what was in the entrance exams. Or even watching the previous sports festival, their website must say something about alternate ways to get into the hero course.
The chair in front of him had moved and someone had taken a seat there. Izuku tried to hide the flash of annoyance. Did they really have to sit by him in this near empty library? He didn’t like the feeling of suddenly needing to hide everything he was reading even though it wasn’t remotely bad.
“Hey you're that kid from last night huh?” A masculine voice whispered to him. Slowly Izuku lifted his eyes to see the light haired man he was caught staring at yesterday right in front of him. Why? He cried internally, was he perceived as weird yesterday?
“Oh yeah that was me.”
“Glad you're not hurt, it must have been cool to be saved by a hero though.” The kind man flashed him a bright smile, Izuku couldn’t help but notice his bright blue eyes and their interesting shape.
“Y-yeah Eraserhead is pretty cool.” At the comment the young man lit up and leaned forward.
“You know of Eraserhead? He asked eagerly.
Izuku gave a small smile leaning back a bit the more forward he came to his face. “I'm a big fan of heroes, even the underground ones. I want to go to the U.A.”
“I'm sure you’ll do great if you just put your mind to it! You’ll probably do much better than me.” The man started leaning back into his own chair.
“You tried out for U.A.?” Izuku asked.
“Went to U.A.,” He corrected. Instantly Izuku had stars in his eyes, he had so many questions. “There was an accident my second year and I had to drop out of the hero course.” Izuku visibly dimmed, he wasn’t sure how to comfort the man. “It’s okay my friends have become like super cool heroes though! I'm sure with smarts like yours you will be too.” He gestured to Izuku’s books.
Izuku’s smile turned a bit sad, ”I don’t know about that, I'm quirkless so I don’t have much of a chance at all.” Looking up again the man tilted his head a bit confused with a small frown on his face before he flashed another smile at him.
“I guess you just have a lot to live up to.” The man had a weird emphasis in his wording but Izuku decidedly ignored it. He was startled by the vibration in his pocket and the alarm that followed. His Mom had wanted him home early because she was starting dinner early so they could watch a movie together, but he kind of wanted to talk to the man more.
“Gotta go?” He asked. Izuku nodded, grabbing his books to check them out since he didn’t have time to read them. He waved goodbye. He gently placed the books down on the counter in front of the librarian, she looked really annoyed. He just kind of avoided her gaze as she scanned his books.
“This is a library,” she stated.
“I know?” He asked, a bit confused.
“It’s rude to the other readers to be talking to yourself, you didn’t even read any of your books.” Izuku notices her eye twitch and in return he holds back a flitch at her tone. Was she talking about his mumbling? He just stood quiet as she finished checking him out on his way out of the library. He looked back to where he was once sitting and wondered.
What was his name? It’s too bad he didn’t get it.
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He was in his room. He didn’t want to be there but it wasn’t too bad. I mean nothing was there that he could see it was fine. Why did he feel anxious? Was there something where he couldn’t see? Under his bed or in his closet, well he wasn’t going to check this is fine enough he wasn’t ready for more.
His room wasn’t messy but it was untouched, and his desk where he used to spend his time studying had a layer of dust. His bed wasn’t made, some of his pj’s were on the floor but the floor itself was relatively clean.
Izuku had tried to lay down in his bed with the hopes of maybe sleeping for once. But he couldn't. He was wired up and sleep evaded him. There was also this off smell in his room somewhere it wasn’t disgusting but it wasn’t sweet. It bugged him that he couldn’t place the smell even though he knew he should’ve been able to.
Going into the bathroom was the same as every other time but for some reason he expected it to look different because it felt different but it was just a bathroom in the same bathroom. Unlike his room he didn’t feel the anxiety like before but a deep sadness his throat felt tight and the tears falling off his face felt hot.
His shower didn’t help, the water just felt too hot and Izuku was choking on the steam. He curls into himself on the floor of the bathtub, hiding his face in his hand as he also tries to wipe water out of his eyes. He was so tired, like the exhaustion was starting to hit him now but he didn’t think he could sleep now either. He just wanted to rest, and not think about how little he is really holding himself together.
Izuku has been so stressed over his denial that he forgot most other things in his life. Didn’t mean they weren’t there though. He didn’t have a plan for his future, other than being a hero. But if that didn’t work out? What else would he do as a career he never thought of anything else. Everyone at school doesn’t have an ounce of belief in him, Kacchan and even the teachers actively shot down his dream of U.A.
He loves his Mother but he also knows she is hoping for him to be something more. But he can’t, he just wants to be a hero but even now he doesn’t really believe he can be one. He doesn’t remember when just doing the bare minimum started to feel like too much for him.
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Izuku never really had friends after he was diagnosed quirkless so he never had a reason to go out often. Spending most of his free time holed up in his room obsessing over heroes and their quirks.
Although he has come to enjoy the walks he's been going on, despite the garbage on the beach the sea has given him a sort of peace. He embraced it today, spending over an hour looking and collecting rocks. It was most fun to look for rocks in the wet sand then running when the waves came back only to do it again.
“Do you mind if I join your fun?” Izuku whipped around towards the voice. It was a light haired man. Izuku didn’t mean to take so long to reply but when he did, he did it with enthusiasm. “I feel like we’re seeing a lot of each other, kind of when you just notice something then it's everywhere.”
“Yeah, “ he agreed. “If we keep meeting, can I get your name? I would've asked at the library but..” He trailed off.
The light haired man posed confidently, “Most definitely my name is Shirakumo Oboro.” He gave Izuku a big smile, “yours?”
He smiled back,” I'm Izuku Midoriya, it's a pleasure to meet you.”
“Well Izuku, what brings you to the beach?”
He’s using my given name? Izuku questioned himself before replying. “I've just been out of the house more often than not and the beach is a peaceful place.” Shirakumo hummed before kicking some sand and sitting next to him.
“How’s life been?” He asks, but when he looks at Izuku he feels like it's a more personal question than it seems.
“Alright,” He answers simply.
“That great, hey has your hair always been black like this?” Shirakumo asks slightly changing the topic.. Izuku blinks in surprise.
“No, actually it hasn’t.” He grabs his hair inspecting it once again.
“Oh cool did you just get it dyed? Maybe for a concert?” When Izuku didn’t immediately reply Shirakumo continued, “My friend whose a hero now loved concerts and would often temporarily dye his hair for them.”
“I didn’t dye it at all though..” Izuku said trailing off still looking at his hair before staring at his pale hand.
“Oh like maybe the opposite of Marie Antoinette syndrome?” Shirakumo offered the explanation.
“That's not a thing,” Izuku mumbled.
The other just tilted his head. “Did something happened before then?”
“No, absolutely not.” Izuku denied once again.
Shirakumo just waves his hand lightly,” I don’t mean like a notable event but subtle changes, you know?” His index finger taps his chin as he ponders. “Was school a bit more stressful than usual? Are you having problems with money? Did you accidentally break something and it made you super stressed about it?”
“I- uh was super stressed about school and my future. I don’t really understand what that has to do with my hair though.”
“Rever--”
“I'm really sorry but I’m like 97% sure that’s not a real thing.” Izuku said interrupting Shirakumo’s comment. This leaves a silence where Shirakumo just stares at him for awhile, to Izuku it looks like he’s struggling to say something.
“Do you think being so stressed lead to an accident of some kind?” When he asks this question it rubs Izuku in the wrong way like he’s not able to fully comprehend it just yet. Its not Shirakumo that makes him uncomfortable but there something there that puts Izuku on edge.
“For me to spontaneous get my hair and appearance to change? I guess with the idea of other quirks being involved it would be possible.” Izuku wonders. Shirakumo just frowns harder before turning much sadder, was it something he said?
“For you to die, Izuku.” Izuku freezes, what?
“I’m not dead though?” He laughs lightly and keeps a smile on his face. Despite that though panic seizes him and he doesn’t know why, I mean he’s not dead. “I’ve been interacting with people all day dead people can’t do that,” Izuku points out.
“You told me you were quirkless, which means you could supposedly have a quirk that allows you to interact with the living after death.”
“No no no I am quirkless I can interact with other things that means I'm here.” Izuku demonstrates by cupping sand in his hands before letting it slip through his fingers. “And what would you know about ghosts huh?” Izuku snaps back at him.
“I am a ghost, I can do the same thing anyways,” Shirakumo copies Izuku’s previous movements. “Of course not to the extent of you or any other living person.”
He is breathing heavily now, “I can’t believe this, I can’t believe you.”
“You don’t have to, you were stabbed in the alleyway and somehow you were fine?” Shirakumo points out getting a bit more heated with Izuku. “Eraser had no idea who I was when you asked him even though I was right next to him, the librarian thought you were talking to yourself. What about those times, can you believe those?”
“You’re just the weird one, it’s your quirk it’s not me okay?” He didn’t make sense he knew it but he hurt so much right now. Shirakumo’s hand lands on his shoulder leading Izuku to look back into his eyes. He wishes he could find some form of malice but there's nothing but sincerity.
“Forgiving who you are, for whatever happened. Just know that if you hide it doesn’t go away.” His voice was very gentle but it still broke Izuku. “You may have wanted things to go a different way, whether it be your entire life or the accident that changed you into something you never wanted to be. Dwelling on your misery or denying what happens just prevents you from moving forward.”
“Oh god,” Izuku chokes up. “I can’t believe I-” he chokes up again another wave of tears hits him again.
Shirakumo pulls Izuku into a hug the boy gladly accepts. “When I was once a hero student I would tell my friends, even when you screw up keep smiling as usual.” Shirakumo released him from his hug and gestured wildly with his hands. “I mean it sounds weird but I meant like roll with the punches and stay positive you know?”
“I guess,” Izuku paused. “What am I supposed to do now?”
“Do you remember what happened?” Shirakumo asked. Izuku nodded in reply. “Well there's always getting a hang of the ghost abilities of your quirk, whatever other fallout I can only say therapy you definitely need that.”
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Shirakumo has long since left giving Izuku time to process. That was hours ago, the sun has set hours ago, Izuku has been on this rooftop for hours. Currently it was maybe 2 am? He wasn’t very sure and he didn’t want to look at his phone jus to know that his Mother was probably very worried about him. He hoped she decided to go to bed anyways.
The rain was pouring and Izuku was still on that rooftop pacing on the edge of the building. The cold hasn’t bothered him since his death and the height didn’t worry him like it used to. He cried on and off throughout his time on the roof. How could this happen? How could he let this happen? What was he supposed to do now? Izuku rocked himself on his heels dangerously close to the edge while pondering more about his own quirk.
Would he feel any pain from the fall? He didn’t really feel the man stab him so probably not. This entire time he has been interacting with the living world like he was still living himself. But could he make himself intangible at will or unseeable like Shirakumo. Exactly how much ghostly abilities did he have? Could he be telekinetic?
Although knowing he can interact with the living he is shocked when the living interact with him as he is yanked back from the edge of the building. There was no pain but he did feel the fall and the uncomfortable bindings he was in. Izuku looked down to his bindings that were gray and reminiscent of a scarf he turns back for confirmation and yes, yes it is Eraserhead. Because this is exactly what Izuku needed.
This was exactly what Izuku needed! The first time he thought of it, it was sarcastic but who better to deal with his situation than a hero who is most likely accustomed to death on the job. A Large hand came to rest on his head, Izuku turned himself towards Eraser who had lowered himself down to Izuku’s level with his hand now on his shoulder.
“It’s going to be okay kid.” Eraserhead pulled out his phone.
“Thank you?” Izuku replied but a little confused. “Can I get out of these now?” Izuku tried shifting to bring attention to his bindings.
“Kid I can’t let you go after that, I need to take you to a hospital at least.” A hospital? What for? Izuku thought before Eraser continued. “I can’t say I’m good at comforting others much less kids but whatever your reasons are it’s going to be okay it’s never to late to change things.” His reasons??
Oh
Eraserhead thought Izuku tried to kill himself. “Oh no no no I wasn’t going to jump.” Izuku said trying to reassure him but Eraser’s eyes just narrowed a bit. “It doesn’t matter anyways it’s already too late,”Izuku mumbled.
“Did you take something beforehand?!” Eraser grabbed his face with little force, he squirmed away from the hero.
“No!” This was going terribly had Eraser already called the police? Maybe its time to put his quirk into practice he tried focusing on making his body intangible imaging that how his body should be. The bindings loosely fell to the ground much to Erasers silent panic as his hand phased through Izuku. There was a flash of red in the corner of his eye that he can only assume was erasure in action and he watched as Eraser hand had phased through him again.
Izuku held his hands up showing that they were empty. “I'm not going to do anything I promise.” He could watch as Eraserhead hesitated on what to do next. “I would like some help though.” Eraser raised an eyebrow.
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Aizawa didn’t find too much joy in everyday life, but he liked things that were consistent. Fighting villains was the most consistent thing in his life apart from teaching which he devoted the day to. Fighting villains, easy. Investigation into illegal drugs, easy enough. Search and rescue, also easy. Helping suicide victims, not so easy. Aizawa wasn’t good with other people his friends chose him not the other way around.
Aizawa first saw the green haired boy a hair from falling off the edge rocking himself to near death. He had seen him not a week before in the alleyways also a hair from death, Izuku Midoriya was his name. The boy had slipped from his bindings seemingly phasing through him. Activating erasure and reaching for the boy was automatic but he never expected the failure of his quirk cause he went through the boys body and clothing.
There was a bit of relief when the boy didn’t run instead holding his hands up. “I’m not going to do anything. I would like some help though.” Eraser paused before straightening his posture.
“Alright, what would you like help with?” Anything to keep him from the edge he thinks.
“I-uh hmmm.” The boy paused for a second. Slowly Midoriya told him choosing his words carefully. “My quirk recently manifested through certain conditions…” Eraserhead just nodded so Midoriya just continued. “But in return of my quirk manifesting I um well there's a corpse under my bed?”
Aizawa bluescreened, what? Slowly Aizawa repeated him, “There's a dead body under your bed?” The other just nodded nervously. “And you didn’t call the police?” This all felt out of place as there was a sense of wrongness.
“I blocked out the memory after it happened but I remember it now even though I still don’t want to.” Aizawa watched as the boy took a deep breath a combed a hand through his hair pulling some of it in a panic. “I don’t know what to do,” the boy’s voice cracked. “I don’t want my Mom to see, I don’t want to see but I absolutely can’t let her see it would break her and that would break me.”
Eraser was used to death after a while in underground heroics, he knew some heroes quit after witnessing it. He couldn’t imagine what Midoriya felt being the one to cause someone’s death. Since it was a accident from manifesting a quirk he wouldn’t face any charges but therapy and quirk counseling along with pulling him out of school would add stress on top of what he’s feeling right now.
“How long ago was this?” He asked. The boy tilted his head pondering his question.
“I don’t know after it happened everything was a blur, weeks I think if not a month.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yeah it had to be, I’ve been somewhat aware of this week but I know it’s been longer than that.”
“And no one has noticed the smell of a rotting corpse?” That was impossible the smell was indescribably disgusting no one would miss it after a few days much less a week. Bodies started decomosping fast after death and the sight wasn’t pretty.
“I stayed out of my house as much as I could but I was just there last night and I didn’t smell anything disgusting, sure it was weird but not awful.” Midoriya was rubbing his chin in deep thought. Aizawa waved it off they’ll figure it out when they got there, he somewhat remembered where the kid lived from the last time they met.
The kid automatically reached for the door handle before Aizawa grabbed his hand, the boy tilted his head in confusion. “You need to wake your mother, I can’t enter without her knowing.” He could see the panic in the boy’s face before he could talk Aizawa continued. “We don’t have to say much right now but she does need to know its serious.”
Eraser can see the boy thinking stuck with a decision. “Alright,” he whispered before leaving Eraserhead at the door running inside. Aizawa was waiting for ten minutes before a small woman came out Aizawa could see the resemblance within the eyes and round face but not much else.
“You’re a hero?” The woman asked. He nodded in reply. “What are you here about? Did something happen with Izuku?”
“What did he tell you so far?” He asked but Midoriya came out joining his mother.
“It’s important I need you to trust me and go to Auntie Mitsuki’s house okay?” Midoriya held his mother close and in a comforting way but that did little to ease the woman’s anxiety.
“No! Izuku I need to know what's going on you’ve been so weird lately. Why did you bring a hero to our home?” She was firm with her child but the boy didn’t budge. This time he grabbed both her shoulders making sure she was looking at him seriously.
“Mom please I don’t want to tell you I just can’t not yet, so please go to Auntie’s house please. Just trust that I will be safe with this hero and everything will be alright.” Aizawa watched on carefully, the mother wasn’t glaring at her son but instead the floor as she contemplated leaving.
“Okay,” she whispered her eyes brimming with tears. It was nice to see she clearly cared for her son. “You take care of him alright?” She was addressing him now.
“Of course.” He said simply. Midoriya turned to go inside and he followed the boy through his home. It was a small apartment very tidy the walls were filled with picture frames of the boy and his mother throughout the points of his life. They were all happy in every photo but Aizawa briefly noticed the boy looking more and more tired as he aged.
“This is it,” Midoriya gestured to the dorm in front of him. “There should be boxes and clothes in the way but,” he trailed off before starting again but much more quietly. “The corpse should be there.”
“Are you not coming in?”
“No, I can’t look right now.” Which is fair Aizawa wouldn’t make him see a dead body again. He nodded to the boy before going in, and almost instantly the smell hit him. It wasn’t the smell he would associate with a rotting corpse but it was an even more familiar smell. Iron was sharp in the air, it was unmistakably blood, lots of it.
He grimaced as he slowly moved clothing out of the way, he saw a hand it was unmoving and covered in blood. Aizawa never thought the kid was lying once but looking at a part of the corpse shocked him greatly it was almost unbelievable. After moving boxes out of the way most of what was underneath the bed was dried blood flaking off as he moved things around.
Gently he pulled the body out from under the bed, they were wearing a traditional middle school male uniform. He choked on his own spit as he recognized the face, it was the boy, Midoriya himself except the boy had green hair like his mother. Did he accidentally kill his own twin? No that can’t right it just didn’t make sense. In the photos there was only two people… both with green hair….
Eraser examined the body before him, and stopped at his wrists. They weren't bandaged at all and was the source of most of the blood on his body. Aizawa knew he was dead but checked his pulse anyways, no pulse no heat. The blood around him was dry but the body itself seemed to refuse to rot.