Chapter Text
The first time it happened, it was a complete accident.
Moving into the UA dorms has been an... adjustment, to say the least. More so, than he originally thought. Things were fine at first. The increased workload in class kept him mostly busy, making him tired enough to sleep through the night. But, after a while, he started to miss home. Daily phone calls could only do so much for him. When he wasn’t being consumed by a mountain of homework, his nights were spent scrolling random videos and news feeds on his phone. Trying to lull to sleep and not focus on his thoughts.
So, when his friends offered him a chance to go spar with them after school, he jumped at the chance. The minute he stepped into the gym; it was if all his worries were pushed to the darkest recess of his mind. No nightmares, school work, no crushing realization that he now had his all-time favorite hero’s legacy on his shoulders--
He took a deep shuddering breath, no. Nope, none of that.
Needless to say, training went well. Izuku stayed with Iida and Uraraka, since he hasn’t been able to spend time with his friends for a while. Kacchan was there too, but for once Izuku didn’t have the courage to approach him. Ever since Kamino Ward, he’s been either completely silent or extremely volatile, well, more so than usual, and Izuku rather not be the switch today. Thankfully, Kirishima was enough of a distraction for the ash blonde.
All in all, Izuku was having fun. After a little while, Izuku decided to break away for a bit and lift. Iida, needing a break as well, spotted him. He was about to switch with Iida, when a notification from a phone went off.
“Uh-oh, time's up.” Kirishima stated, slowly getting up and stretching his arms. “We better head back. It’s almost curfew.”
There was a collective murmur of agreement, and a boisterous shout from Bakugou. One by one the group gathered they’re things and walked toward the door.
All, but one, that is.
“Hmm, Deku are you coming?” Uraraka asked, taking notice of the greenette staring blankly at the wall.
“Huh, oh um, yeah! It’s just...I thought I put the equipment away before I go.” Izuku rubbed the back of his head.
“Hey, man you don’t have to do that by yourself, we can at least help you.” Kirishima offered, getting ready to set his stuff down.
“T-That’s all right! I can handle it!” Izuku denied, politely. Waving his arms in refusal. “This shouldn’t take too long; I’ll just meet you guys back at the dorms.”
“You sure?” Kirishima pressed, concern on his face. “You look pretty worn out from today.”
“I’ll be fine! Go on, I got this.”
The group stared at him, uncertain. Izuku simply smiled, trying to control his sweating. After a few seconds of silence, Kirishima relented. Albeit reluctantly. Izuku kept the vacant smile up until the door to the gym closed shut. Once he was certain that the coast was clear, he went back to the weights, and continued to lift. Ignoring his aching muscles and guilty conscience. This won’t be long. He’ll go back, eventually!
After all, he can’t sleep here. Though , his brain snides, it would be more preferable than his room right now. He’ll just finish this rep, then he’ll go to bed.
Yeah, just...one more. That’s all.
***
One more turned into two more. Then three more and a fourth. Izuku was more or less aware that time was passing but he was unsure of how much, and he didn’t care. All that mattered was he had to work harder. No matter what.
301.. 302..303…
Like using a camera to zoom in and out on an image, the ground beneath him went in and out of focus. Beads of sweat trickled down his face and splattered on the ground. His arms shook from exhaustion and strain but he pressed on. He couldn’t stop even if he wanted to.
Now, it’s your turn.
Got to get stronger...have to make All Might... proud…
310...311...312--
Suddenly, a long firm piece of fabric wrapped around his middle and yanked him off the floor. Izuku let out a startled yelp and flailed wildly, scrambling for purchase. As his limbs were pulled further from the ground, the fear started to override his senses. Then, before he could blink, his sneakered feet made contact with the ground once more, and was swiftly spun around. Wide, terrified green eyes slowly trailed up to meet their captor’s--
--In an effort to not scream, Izuku nearly swallowed his tongue.
“Problem Child. I should have known.” Came the soft growl from the very irate homeroom teacher. With a short tug, Izuku was pulled closer. So close, he could see just how many bags were under the underground hero's eyes.
"Care to explain," Aizawa said, silkily. Eyes narrowed to slits. "Why, you are out past curfew training on a school night?”
Izuku didn't answer. He couldn't answer. Too horrified by the fact he had been caught to even think of a viable answer. Well, that, and the small problem that he didn't have one at all.
"Hmph." Aizawa scoffed, sizing the trembling teenager up. "Thought so."
With another sharp yank, he began to drag Izuku to the gym's exit. It was at that moment, the young hero's brain decided to return to life.
"W-wait! Wait, wait, wait!" Izuku begged, digging his heels in the ground, in an effort to prolong whatever punishment had been decided for him. "It was an acci--I didn't mean to--I couldn't--" Izuku spluttered, his mouth spewing out words hoping to stall long enough so his brain could give some kind of excuse that would satisfy the permanently grumpy teacher.
Then, just as Aizawa gripped the door handle, it came to him. It was just two words, but they had just as much power as the person themselves.
"A-All Might!"
Time seemed to stop for a moment. Aizawa froze, hand still on the handle, his back to the teen. Izuku didn’t utter a single sound. Didn’t even dare to breathe. Then, time resumed its stride and Aizawa slowly turned his head to look at the freckled youth behind him.
“What about All Might?”
“W-Well, he, um,” Izuku stuttered. He swallowed thickly. “H-He said I could. Train, I mean.”. Izuku lied, sweat running down his face at the dark look on the underground hero’s face.
Another beat. “All Might gave you permission to train past curfew?” The overwhelming skepticism in the teacher's voice nearly drove out all the courage in Izuku.
“Um, no?” Another glare was sent his way. “I mean, yes! He did!” Izuku nodded, frantically. Aizawa’s scowl didn’t lessen. The young underling found himself backtracking ever so slightly. “W-well, I mean, he didn’t say I could stay past curfew. All Might would never do that! I-I just happened to...well..” Izuku trailed off, mumbling the rest of his explanation.
“Midoriya.” Aizawa’s patience was running thin. Izuku gulped audibly. He racked his brain, trying to think of a way out of this. If he tells the truth, Aizawa will know that he hasn’t been sleeping well, and that he was falling behind. He--he couldn’t let that happen!
So, despite the fact his conscience was beating him to a pulp, he continued his false tale.
“I-I, was bored,” Izuku fibbed. “So, I went t-to All Might and asked if I could train in the gym, and he gave me the go ahead. I know I shouldn’t have stayed out so late, but I lost track of time.” Izuku rambled, green eyes roaming every inch of the room. Hoping, no, praying to whatever deity that was watching that he didn’t look as guilty as he felt. Silence once again fell between them. Izuku wasn’t sure if it was imagination but he swore his heart was beating so loud, the hero in front of him could hear it too. He turned his gaze to his trademark red shoes, practically sweating waterfalls. Internally pleading for the man to believe his flimsy lie.
A deep, ragged sigh forced Izuku to look up. Aizawa held a hand up to his face, fingers rubbing his temples in an attempt to stave off a headache. He grumbled something under his breath ( that irresponsible man ,) and shot the short teen a pointed look.
“Permission or not, you know better than to be out this late. Especially all by yourself.” Aizawa lectured, eyes not once leaving the greenette. Izuku squirmed under the hero’s intense gaze. “You should always inform someone else of your whereabouts. Next time, All Might blessing be damned, if I catch you doing this again. You will not like the consequences. Do you understand?”
“Y-yes sir.” Izuku muttered, tears frothing at the corners of his eyes.
Aizawa continued to stare. Izuku tried to remain strong and not break under the glare that was beaming down on him. Silently telling himself to not look so guilty and pathetic. His efforts were rewarded with the scarf loosening its grip and falling to a crumpled heap around his feet. Much to the frenzied teens' confusion.
“Alright, let’s go. It’s late and you have class in the morning.” All traces of anger were gone from his homeroom teacher’s face. His expression once again devoid of any emotion.
“W-Wait!” Izuku yelled, the shock clearly evident on his face. “You mean you--you’re not, um, t-that’s, that’s it?!”
“Would you rather I deal with you after all?” Aizawa inquired, face remaining stoic.
Izuku squawked and waved his hands around rapidly. “N-No,no no no! That’s alright. I’ll...just be going now!”
Somehow, without even using Full Cowling, Izuku barreled past the tired hero and sprinted toward the dorms at neck break speed. He didn’t breathe until he was in the safety of his room. Once the door was locked, he all but collapsed on the floor. His gasps of horror and fear muffled by the carpet.
That--that was close! Oh, gosh I think I definitely lost a few years of my life after that.
After a few hours. Well, really a few minutes if he was being honest. Izuku calmed his pounding heart, and his pulse returned to normal. He slowly picked himself off the ground and sluggishly made his way to his bed. Just before he crawled in, he felt a weird sensation of being watched and glanced up half-heartedly. His eyes caught sight of one of his many All Might posters.
Suddenly, the events that had just transpired, dawned on him.
He...had lied to a teacher, he had lied to Aizawa. He lied to Aizawa and used All Might’s name as the cover story. Guilt rammed Izuku so hard he went weak in the knees and fell face first onto the bed. He didn’t feel worthy to look at his various All Might collectibles. He silently wailed in misery. How could he do that?! He deceived not only a teacher but a hero no less! He took advantage of All Might’s trust, and he had gotten away with it! What kind of--
…
...He had gotten away with it.
He’s...never gotten away with anything before.
Eyes that were squeezed shut, popped wide open in realization. He slowly peeled himself off the cover and sat on a corner of the bed, staring at the wall in shock. Strange, the guilt didn’t diminish, not at all. He still felt shame for what he did but...underneath all that his heart roared with something else as he mind continued to sing, I got away with it!
He stayed out late on a school night, lied to an infamous underground hero, and used the Number One Hero’s name to do it. Not only that, but he was caught by the strictest teacher in UA and got off scott free. It was all so...exciting? Wait, no, yes! Exciting! Thrilling, even! He broke the rules, and didn’t get in trouble for it!
A giggle formed in his throat and bubbled up and past his lips. The giggles turned to chuckles, chuckles turned to guffaws, and guffaws escalated to mad scientist level of insane laughter. Which he quickly used his pillow to muffle.
In his shamefully gleeful haze, he wondered if he should brag about this to the others tomorrow. Stop that. His brain scolded. You got lucky tonight, don’t test it. This was just a onetime thing anyway. Lying, that is. Izuku sobered at the thought, the guilt piercing his chest again. He rolled onto his side; exhaustion was catching up to him.
However, before sleep greeted him. One thought stubbornly refused to leave.
I wonder...would it work again?
***
The next time it happened, he admits with almost no shame, it was on purpose.
He has enough sense to wait a few weeks until Aizawa forgets, he’s pretty sure he hasn’t but he’s stopped glaring at him every day at least. After the last bell of the day rang, and the coast was clear of any prying eyes, he set out for the gymnasium. He hoped that he would not run into any teachers, but as it turns out, it wouldn't be his life if the universe didn’t try and go against his wishes. No sooner had he left the classroom, he bumped into Aizawa, who gruffly demanded to know where he was going. For a brief moment, Izuku thought about turning tail at the agitated look on his homeroom teacher's face. But, he quickly remembered his plan. So, he approached the aloof man with the swagger of a frightened rabbit, and blurted out that he was going to train and All Might had already given his approval.
There was a whole second of stiff silence. During which, Izuku was already debating on whether or not to get down on his hands and knees, confess his sins, and beg for forgiveness. Aizawa simply gave one of his usual sighs, told him not to stay too late, and he’ll pick him up before curfew. Izuku stood in the middle of the hall long after Aizawa slinked away. He couldn’t believe his plan had worked! He was free to train to his heart's content! With a spring his step Izuku headed toward his destination, ignoring the guilt weighing on his chest.
And so, it went. Armed with a fool proof plan in the shape of his mentor, Izuku went to the gym the next day. And the next day, and the next day, and the next day. If by chance a teacher happened to catch him and question him, he played the All Might card. The more he used it, the more accustomed he became to lying. His trademark nervousness dwindled drastically, and after nearly a week of spouting the same story, he no longer stuttered and avoided eye contact. Because of this newfound confidence, he’s begun feeding the lie not only to Pro Heroes, but to his friends as well. Any offers to hang out were politely refused, in favor of training in the gym or his room. He had both bases covered and was free to train his Quirk as much as he wanted.
Now, if only his boldness would just cancel out his guilt, then everything would be perfect.
***
“We need to talk.” Was the only form of greeting Toshinori received from the tired hero the minute he stepped into the teachers' lounge.
“Good evening to you too, Aizawa.” Toshinori replied, smirking ever so slightly. His grin dissipated at the no nonsense look on his colleague's face. “What is it?”
“Two words: Problem. Child.” Aizawa gritted out, stern eyes never the former Number One Hero.
“Y-Young Midoriya?” A familiar panic gripped at his chest. A thousand and one scenarios popped into his, each more horrible than the last. “What happened?! Is he hurt?! Was there another villain attack?! Should I go to Recovery Girl--?"
“Calm down.” Aizawa intoned, gruffly. Some of the anger left his body. “He’s fine, nothing’s happened.”
Toshinori's whole body sagged in relief. “Thank goodness--”
“Yet.” Aizawa interrupted, sounding quite upset again. Toshinori nearly shivered at the sudden temperature drop. “At the rate he’s going, he might be making a trip to the ER soon.”
“W-what? Why? What’s going on?!”
For a moment Aizawa simply glared at him. Toshinori will never understand how someone dressed in sweats and had permanent bed hair could look so menacing. After one, long, minute of stiff silence, Aizawa let out a deep sigh.
"Look, I don't know what is the deal with you two as far as personal relationships go, and frankly, I don't care." Aizawa lectured. Eyes boring into the blondes with as much ferocity his exhausted face could hold. "But I wish you would be wiser to use your relationship as a way to be a good mentor for the boy."
"W-Whatever do you mean?" Toshinori gulped. Not even sure why he was being scolded yet he couldn't help fearing for his life.
" I mean, ” Aizawa growled. “You've been letting Midoriya use the gym for training every single night, for the last 3 weeks."
"...I've been doing what now?"
Aizawa simply scoffed, muttering something about how he was too young be going senile. ( Rude, Toshinori thought.) “I can’t believe you’re trying to deny this. He’s been going there to train every chance he gets. Before school, after school, during lunch, and every time me or another teacher asks him about it, he says you gave him the go ahead. Not only is this unsafe, unhealthy, even. It's also unfair to the other students."
Aizawa ended his tirade with a poignant glare at the retired hero. Now that he unloaded his barrel of evidence. He waited, not so patiently, for obvious signs of guilt and shame at being caught at showing favoritism. And, more importantly, unintentionally endangering a student's life.
To Aizawa's shock and growing irritation, Toshinori continued to look completely, utterly clueless. “You...you’re seriously telling me you don’t know anything about this.” His voice was saturated with doubt.
“No, I-I don’t. Aizawa, I swear, this is the first I’ve heard of this.” Came the spluttered reply from the normally carefree hero. “I...I actually haven’t even been able to talk to Young Midoriya these past couple of weeks.” The quiet resumed, the only sound being the ticking clock. Aizawa continued to stare deep into the older man's eyes, mind whirling, processing the information. There was no way this was possible. While All Might was inept with teaching, he certainly paid attention to the boy more than any other student. There’s no way he doesn’t remember giving his consent to let the teen train to his heart's content.
So, either Toshinori was brushing up on his acting skills and playing dumb something that wasn’t very hard for him I’m sure Aizawa snarked, or--
“...That little brat.” Aizawa hissed, eyes wide and ablaze. Swiftly, he turned on his heel and stomped toward the door. Toshinori felt the panic return, though it was not for his own safety but rather the student in question.
“W-Wait, Aizawa!” Toshinori nearly tripped over himself trying to reach for the younger man. In two quick strides, he grabbed the firm shoulder and pulled the teacher back.
“Let go, All Might. ” Aizawa’s voice was colder than Todoroki’s Quirk. Though, he did still for a moment, shoulders and back taunt. “Don’t even try to cover for him. It’s already been made clear that the kid has been lying.”
“I...don’t deny that.” Toshinori admitted, sadly. “I just think that this is rather peculiar behavior from Young Midoriya, but he must have a good reason.”
“A good reason to lie to us? I’m quite eager to hear what it is.” Aizawa snorted dismissively, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
“All I’m saying is, we don’t know the full story and I think we should at least hear him out.” Toshinori said, defensively.
“What, you think I’m just going to rake the kid over the coals without listening to him? If I had the energy to care I would be insulted.” Despite the words, Aizawa couldn’t hide the offense in his voice. “I don’t have time to argue with you. I need to catch Midoriya and straighten this out.”
“Let me do it.”
A short silence fell between the two pros, Toshinori didn’t know the words had left his lips until they registered in his brain a second later. If he regretted speaking, it was far too late to take it back now.”
“What?”
The shock on Aizawa’s face was so evident that had the circumstances been different it would have been comical. His bafflement lasted for a moment before turning into pure distrust. “Yeah, right. Why should I let you--”
“I--It’s only fair.” Toshinori continued. “It was my name he was using in his lie, and I am just as responsible for him as you. Besides, and no offense, he hasn’t lied to me. ”
Toshinori hated the unspoken yet that hung in the air.
Aizawa narrowed his eyes in suspicion and Toshinori struggled not to sweat under the harsh gaze. He suddenly knew how the students felt when they stepped out of line.
"Fine." Aizawa relented, looking more worn out than angry at the moment. "Just don't come running to me when you can't handle it."
Toshinori didn't mind the jab. Well, actually he did, but he wasn’t going to look a gift in a horse's mouth. “Thank you.”
Aizawa merely grunted, and sauntered out the door. Toshinori waited a few minutes and followed suit. Oh, Young Midoriya, what have you done?” Toshinori thought, dread pooling into his stomach. He truly hoped from the bottom of his heart that this was all just a misunderstanding.