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“The origin of soulbonds is unknown. It’s widely assumed that they were part of a quirk, however, recent studies have shown that they started appearing at least fifty years before the first quirk was discovered.” Aizawa leveled an impartial stare at his students to make sure everyone was paying attention to their newest unit in health class. One that wasn’t supposed to happen until the end of the year, but of course two of his problem children changed that by getting their marks and bonding earlier than average.
“Not everyone gets a soulbond. Some people may have multiple. Either way, you’re tied to your soulbond for life, unless the bond is broken. Typically the marks first appear in your early twenties. Recent censuses have found that typically sixty-two percent of people will have at least one soulbond in their life, with approximately twenty-one percent having more than one bond.”
The class was staring intensely at the man, clearly excited about the topic. When he paused to check his notes to make sure the figures were correct, Mina raised her hand.
“But, Mr. Aizawa, what about the legal aspect? If soulbonds have been around for that long then why did it only recently become legal for people with multiple soulbonds to marry their bondmates?” The curly pink-haired girl asked, furrowing her brow in confusion.
“Unfortunately, old customs and attitudes about polyamory have stunted many soulbond rights movements. Since they’re a minority in the population it’s easy for them to be drowned out. However, this does not make it right. Does that answer your question?” Mina nodded along with his explanation.
“Yep!” She chirped from across the room.
“Moving on, let’s address soulmarks. Approximately twelve percent of bondmates will have a physical mark on their body that manifests when the bond forms. Some have theorized that those who have the mark will have a stronger relationship. There is currently no evidence to back that claim up. The mark can vary in shape and size, and in recent years has taken on more distinct shapes.”
Hagakure raised her hand. After a nod from Aizawa, she spoke.
“Is it true that you can alter a soulbond by tattooing over a soulmark?”
“No, that’s a rumor. Even in cases where a bondmate has lost the appendage with the mark, the relationship has remained the same. I’ve uploaded some reliable resources onto our class website if you have any further questions on this topic.”
“Thank you, Sensei!” The girl chimed in.
He gathered his thoughts for a moment before going to continue his lecture.
“Moving on, it’s important to-”, the teacher stopped as he was interrupted.
“What happens if someone doesn’t want their soulbond?” Bakugo demanded, Midoryia shrinking in his seat at the question.
If it would have been almost anyone else Aizawa would have scolded the student for the rude interruption. But, as he had come to learn, he had a few special cases in this classroom. He would let it slide for now with just a red-eyed glare. The boy had enough to deal with for the moment.
“Rejecting a soulbond can be potentially fatal for both parties. It’s a painful process that doesn’t guarantee that the bond will be broken.” He sighed, his chest aching for the boys. “Soulbonds can be platonic. A common misconception is that they’re strictly romantic, which is simply untrue. They’re meant to make your life better. It’s best to give your bondmate the benefit of the doubt.” He makes a mental note to set the boys up for another session with Hound-Dog. The poor greenette was clearly pining for Bakugo, who had insisted he ‘didn’t need a soulbond!’.
“Which brings us to soulbond laws. As I mentioned, people with multiple soulbonds may now get married. There are also other laws that apply especially to people with soulbonds. For example- legally you cannot forcefully separate newly found bondmates. While the bond is still fresh it is more often than not fatal to attempt to isolate the bondmates. We will go over these laws more in detail next week.” Aizawa glanced at the clock, internally celebrating that there were only ten minutes left of the day.
“For your homework this weekend you’ll have to write a one-thousand-word paper on an independently researched soulbond law. The details are uploaded on our classroom website. This unit will last for another month, however, this first paper is due Monday. If you have any questions about it, email me. Take these last few minutes as a silent study hall.” The dark-haired man declared, already halfway through zipping up his yellow sleeping bag. After a second of silence to make sure no one else had any questions he went full cocoon and slumped down behind his desk.
‘These kids are so young to be dealing with this. At least Oboro and I were seventeen when ours came in, and even then it was overwhelming. Bakugo needs help before he hurts himself or Midoriya. Fifteen is just so young…’ He paused his inner monologue as he heard Mineta’s voice cut through the quiet chatter that had filled his room as soon as he was cocooned. That was never good. So much for the ‘silent’ study hall.
“So, which one of you is the girl?” The annoying as hell voice asked, followed by the telltale sounds of crackling and popping. In a flash Aizawa had his sleeping bag unzipped and quirk activated. He saw Mineta leering over Midoriya, unaware of his impending death-by-explosion.
“Mineta. Nedzu’s office. Now. Bakugo, Midoryia, come here.” He knew the lesson had gone over too smoothly. As Mineta slowly made his way out of the room, Aizawa whipped out his laptop and sent a quick e-mail to Nedzu explaining the situation. The man replied almost immediately. They had been keeping a close eye on Mineta due to repeat sexual offenses, and Aizawa was not so subtly hoping that this would be enough to finally kick the kid out. His parents were lawyers that used every loophole they could find and then some to keep the kid at UA.
In the meantime, the bell had rung and the rest of the class aside from the two had cleared out. Bakugo cleared his throat and crossed his arms impatiently from his place in front of Aizawa’s desk, where the man was still typing. Midoriya was to the side and slightly behind him, looking like he was about to throw up. Aizawa quickly finished typing and then closed his laptop, leveling a stare at the boys.
“I’m aware of your situation. I’ve made an appointment for you two to meet with Hound-Dog this weekend, a few sessions contingent on what progress you make.”
“But- training!” Midoriya cut in.
“Shut up, Deku. You’re literally going to kill me if we don’t figure this out. Maybe the dog will know how to break it.” Bakugo talked over the greenette. Midoriya shut down at Bakugo’s reply. Aizawa chose to ignore Bakugo’s dog comment.
“I’ve already spoken with Mr. Yagi and he agrees that the two of you cannot progress in the hero course until this is figured out. I know it’s a lot, but I promise you Bakugo it’s worth it to at least give friendship a chance. It doesn’t mean that you’re weak, or unable to do things on your own.”
Bakugo tch’ ed and Midoriya just stared ahead blankly.
“Now, I believe the two of you should be fine getting back to the dorms on your own. Check your student emails for dates and times with Hound-Dog. If I so much as hear a whisper about property damage, explosions, or broken bones from any other staff while you’re making your way back, I’ll make the summer training camp look like child’s play. Understood?”
Both boys nodded.
-----
It just… wasn’t fair. She adores Izuku, but he gets bonded to someone who seemingly hates him? Was she not good enough? No, maybe she would get a soulbond to Izuku. But that means that she would get one for Bakugo as well, which didn’t feel right.
Ochako knew that soulbonds just happened , but she still felt dejected that the boy she’d been sorta secretly pining over had bonded to someone else. Sure, not every bond was romantic, but most of them were! Plus, a lot of non-bonded relationships fail if even one partner had a bond.
She was slightly lagging behind the 1-A girl’s group. They had all started walking together after class as soon as the dorms had been implemented. The boys of class 1-A had raced each other back and were almost to the dorms. If she concentrated, Ochako could almost hear Iida lecturing the boys about safety.
Tsu kept sending her concerned glances as the other girls chatted and laughed, but Ochako kept her head down. Pretty much the entire class knew how bad she had it for Izuku, and how heartbroken she was now. All she wanted to do was get back to her room and bury her sorrows in a tub of ice cream. She was determined that by Monday she would be outwardly okay but was going to allow herself to wallow in misery this weekend.
Jiro fell into step beside her, noticing the normally bubbly girl lagging behind.
“Hey, I know things… aren’t great right now but if you ever want to talk, I’m here.” Jiro whispered lowly, so only Ochako could hear.
“Thanks, but I think I just need some time by myself this weekend. To… process.” Ochako’s miserable attempt at a smile didn’t go unnoticed.
-----
Bakugo instantly cut in front of Midoriya when they exited the school building. He had to stay with the idiot to make sure he didn’t get in trouble with Aizawa, otherwise, he would have bolted eons ago.
“I just don’t understand what’s so bad about our bond, Kacchan.” Izuku spoke quietly, sounding dejected. The boys walked in silence for a moment before the blonde replied.
“It should have never happened. I’ll do what I want and fate can’t stop me.” The boy replied, his voice even. “I don’t need a bond.” He reiterated.
“Well, that’s great and all, but we have one. You’re stuck with me- a ‘Deku’. I know I’m not what you want but can’t you at least try? Fate doesn’t care that you don’t want me.” Izuku uncharacteristically snapped. He was reaching the end of his rope with his childhood friend. He had always looked up to the strong blonde and it hurt to be rejected by him so strongly.
Izuku ran into the back of Bakugo with a grunt. The blonde had stopped walking completely and didn’t turn around to face him. Luckily they had been released late enough by Aizawa that no one was around to see the tears starting to gather in Izuku’s eyes.
“You’re not understanding, Deku. My feelings for you are my own. I won’t let a bond, fate, or quirks take credit for it. I don’t hate you.” I just don’t want to love you because of this. Bakugo slowly turned around to face the boy.
Izuku opened his mouth to reply to Bakugo but was interrupted when the entire campus was shaken by an explosion.
------
Not even five minutes after Aizawa let the boys go he felt the explosion. “Are you fucking kidding me?” He hissed.
Hizashi was startled from his casual position at one of the student’s desks. He had been waiting for his bondmate to wrap up a few emails so that they could go back to their room and start the weekend off right . “That’s a little big to be from our listener- and it looks like it’s coming from behind the 1-A dorms. I don’t think they could have gotten that far yet, right?” Hizashi’s voice sounded unsure.
Aizawa rushed over to the window, where he indeed could see the boys halted halfway to the dorms. Double fuck. Explosions of unknown origins were undoubtedly worse than explosions from his problem child. Not even missing a beat, he threw himself out of the window using his capture weapon to propel himself across campus.
-----
The explosion had unintended consequences. Unbeknownst to the villains, there were tunnels buried deep in the ground that Nedzu had ordered to be built in case of emergencies. Only Nedzu and a few select staff members knew about the escape tunnels. The clearing behind the villains- their escape route, had crumbled into a massive pit. Broken pipes quickly filled the bottom with water even as more was sucked down into the unknown. The fall was easily a couple of stories to a watery grave. Even Shigaraki gaped at the pit as it continued to grow.
“ Tch . Looks like we lost our main save point. Find the girl and we’ll push our way through these brats.” Tomura barked at his merry little group of villains. With Kurogiri and AFO’s capture, the league was forced to make drastic moves to stay in the game. This would have been so much easier with Kurogiri…
“Use the pit to our advantage. Throw the NPCs into it- it won’t be easy to get out of.” He added on as an afterthought.
The blast was supposed to not only take out the wall, but also half of the 1-A dorm building and its occupants. It took out the wall but didn’t get close to the dorm. While everyone was panicking over the dorm collapsing they had planned to find the girl with the reversing quirk and bring her to the good doctor so he could do some research. A quirk like that would give them the upper hand. Not to mention what it could do for the slightly less shelf-stable Nomu…
Since the first part of their plan had failed so epically, everything after was going to be tricky. However- Tomura knew they would win. Even if they had to sacrifice a member or two.
----
Toga was the last of the league standing. Everything happened so fast- she was backed up to the edge of the pit, heroes and students lined up in front of her. A hit from Bakugo had sent her flying and almost off of the edge. She had used her hands, legs, everything she had to stay out of the pit.
She was on all fours, trying to catch her breath after the brat had knocked the wind out of her. Toga was too tired to keep up the transformation with the little amount of blood she had managed to get from the brunette before she was stopped by one of the girl's classmates. She supposed the students and staff must have found it eerie, watching Ochako’s face melt off of hers.
Out of the corner of her eye from her place on the ground, she could see Deku standing over an unconscious Shigaraki. Twice had been tag-teamed by Creati and Midnight. Dabi was ultimately taken out by Eraserhead and Shoto. Spinner had a plethora of students restraining him. Was this really how it ended for them? She could hear sirens.
“Give up, villain. There’s nowhere to go and you’re surrounded.” All Might boomed, using up what little dregs of OFA he had left to buff up. Toga slowly got to her feet, swaying slightly. The battlefield was unnaturally quiet as everyone waited for her to make her next move. She took a deep breath in and slid a syringe out of her pocket as subtly as she could.
The nearest target was again, Ochako. If she could just get some of her blood, she could make a more solid plan or at least confuse the heroes for long enough- it would be enough. It would have to be enough to let her escape. The sirens were becoming louder.
On the exhale, Toga lunged for the brunette. She hadn’t even made it a foot when All Might smashed the ground. The dirt and grass separated beneath her, and for a moment she was weightless. She could see chunks of concrete rise up around her. It would have been neat if it didn’t mean that she was likely going to be crushed to death, (if the fall didn’t kill her).
Toga had never been accepted by anyone but the league. Now that they were captured, she had nothing. Various screams of ‘Toga’ echoed through the air. She reached out her arms, trying to grab anything she could. There was nothing.
She was filled with a feeling of deep and sudden sorrow as she began her fall. I just wanted to live freely- love freely.
Toga closed her eyes.
-----
Ochako’s heart plunged as she heard All Might scream ‘ smash!’ .
What am I doing?
She had no idea why she felt like she was the one falling as the blonde villain began to fall. Or why she instantly launched herself after her, screaming Toga’s name.
Ochako touched every piece of debris she could as she hurdled toward Toga, keeping her quirk active. It didn’t matter if the brunette got hurt. The only thing she was focused on was the girl who she forced her way through the flying wreckage to.
They were halfway to the bottom and Ochako was still so far away. She watched as Toga closed her eyes and held her arms out, as if embracing her end. That was all she needed to give her one last boost of energy. She pushed off the closest piece of debris with all of her strength as her mind filled with images of a bloodied and broken Toga.
Ochako already had her quirk activated when she embraced the blonde in midair. She let her eyes slip closed in relief as they embraced. It felt right- like the world slipped into balance at that exact moment. She had always tried to be so brave. Hide how lonely she was, how much she wished someone would be hers. At this moment Ochako knew without a doubt that Toga was hers.
Was she crying? She was crying. The brunette tightened her arms around the bloodied girl.
“Toga, Toga… Toga .” Ochako chanted as she cried, unable to say anything else.
-----
The girls kept rising. Toga clung to Ochako and sobbed, neither of them seeming to realize how high they were going. Before they could reach a height that his capture weapon couldn’t, Aizawa threw it around the two girls and tugged them back down to safety.
He recognized the way they held each other. Like they’re the only ones in the world. Hizashi carefully slid under the girls and caught them when Aizawa activated his quirk. The loud blonde gently set the two girls down on the ground, far enough away from the pit that they were safe. Since Aizawa had pulled them away from the floating debris it fell harmlessly to the ground once his quirk was active. The broody teacher kneeled on the disturbed dirt behind the two girls and pulled them close again.
The two soulbonded teachers locked eyes over the girl’s shoulders, having come to the same conclusion about them.
Everyone who wasn’t watching over an incapacitated villain moved in on the group. Toshinori had dropped his All Might form in shock and was unable to call it forth again. The skeletal man approached, holding his arms out to get the students and staff to back up.
Aizawa was instantly defensive. He pulled the still embracing girls further into his arms, glaring threateningly at anyone who dared to come close.
“We’re not separating them. We can’t- they’re soulbound. Anyone who wants to try otherwise is welcome to take it up with me after we secure the league.” He sent an especially sharp glare to the still advancing Yagi.
“Young Aizawa, I’ve been through this before. With Dave. It’s kinder to separate them now than to let them get attached…”
“Did the last of your quirk take the last of your intelligence with it? They’re newly bonded. It would more than likely end up being fatal to at least one of them to separate them right now.” His eyes flashed red as his quirk flared up in anger. Toshinori at least had the tact to appear chastised. “Do you want to kill a child? That’s how you kill a child.” He spat.
Izuku scurried out of the chaos in the background to stand in front of All Might, hand extended to tell him to stay back. “You taught me to protect people, All Might. I’m choosing to protect my friend. No one can separate her from her bondmate!” He declared.
Bakugo not-so-subtly stood behind Izuku to back him up. Hizashi crossed his arms threateningly at the former #1 pro as he stood slightly in front of Aizawa and the girls. The other students and staff knew better than to anger Aizawa, so they left a wide berth around the group.
Yagi tried to make himself look as small as possible. “I mean no harm, young Midoriya. Toga is going to end up in Tartarus for her crimes. It’s best to acclimate them to less time with a bondmate sooner rather than letting them get attached. What I went through with Dave was-” He clamped his mouth shut as he was interrupted.
-----
“Oh dear,” A new voice cut through the budding argument. “I believe I may have a temporary solution until the HPSC and law enforcement can provide an alternative.” The crowd parted around Nedzu like the Red Sea. The small mammal held a thick metal cuff in his hand that was the size of a large dog collar.
“Well, let’s hear it!” Hizashi piped up impatiently.
“We can neutralize her quirk with this. We haven’t had use for them since Eraserhead joined our staff, however, it’s policy to keep them on hand just in case. Once neutralized, I will speak to the necessary authorities. I’m hoping to be able to keep Ms. Himiko contained on campus with Ms. Uraraka for enough time to settle the bond.” Everyone stared incredulously at Nedzu- they shouldn’t have been surprised that he would have a plan so quickly.
Aizawa glanced down at the girls in his arms. They were still crying and clutching each other fervidly.
“I think that’s the best course of action for now. The girls aren’t in any state to make decisions for themselves, so we’ll take them under the guardianship of UA until they are.” Aizawa agreed, adding on his own take.
Nedzu nodded. “Yes, that seems to be for the best.”
The girls shifted in Aizawa’s lap as Toga came back to herself slightly. She blinked up at the brunette who held onto her securely.
“ Pretty…” She whispered breathlessly to herself- Ochako’s cheeks slowly burned a bright tomato red at the compliment.
Maybe things will be okay.