Chapter Text
“Holy-“
“That’s a child, watch your language!”
“Guys let’s back up and give him some space…“
“Is it me or does he look like-“
“Yeah no shit Sherlock.”
The cacophony of voices that greeted Deku when he came too was clustered, speaking over a hushed crowd in the back, whispers of concern mixing into the louder arguments. He tried to sit up and felt the room spin, but felt a hand catch his arm before he could hit the ground.
“Hey, take it easy there. You okay?”
As light blinked into focus for him, he saw the strangest thing. If he didn’t know any better, he would have sworn that he was looking at an older Uraraka. She was crouched down to his eye level, concern spread over her face. He felt the heat rush to his face as he took note of her hand still holding him steady.
“Hey,” She waved a hand in front of him, and front at his dazed expression. It took him a moment to be able to focus on her words. “-talk? Guys I’m worried he might’ve hit his head I’m not getting anything.”
“Uh…I’m um. Hi.”
The group seemed shocked at him speaking, whether at his voice or just at the fact he was able to in general, he couldn’t tell.
The Uraraka look-a-like gave him a smile patted his arm. “Alright! You are here with us. Hey I’m going to help you stand up and then we can figure out what’s going on. Are you okay with that?”
He recognized that voice immediately, this was how they were trained to speak to frightened civilians in emergencies, calming and reassuring, with an emphasis on positivity rather than negativity. It was a little strange being on the other end if he was totally honest. But regardless he nodded, too disoriented to do anything else.
It was strangely easy to stand, almost feeling like he was lifted as she supported his weight helping him stand. Now that he was up, he could take in his surroundings. We were in front a table filled with a group of adults, and a fairly busy crowd was around them. It took him a minute to realize he was in a bar. Or at least, he assumed so, based on what he’d seen in movies and what not. A small part of him worried that he would be yelled at for being here. The crowd seemed to be returning to their activities with the shooing of a few others, and only a few remained around them. Huh. The pretty woman resembling Uraraka was one thing, something easy enough to put off to as a coincidence. But looking at the others with her, the déjà vu was intense. These adult doppelgangers turned the situation from one of confusion to one of suspicion, and he felt the need to get out of here and contact his real friends for help. He’d already had plenty of problems with look-a-likes recently.
He backed away from the woman’s arm and put his hands off. “I am really so so so sorry for interrupting. As you can see-“he gestured to his UA uniform “I was training with my classmates and one of their quirks must have gone weird. So I’ll just call the school and I’m sure they’ll send someone for me right away! Not a worry.” He backed away as he spoke, fidgeting and may be playing up his nervousness a little more goofy. Maybe he’d just seem like a dumb kid and they’d leave it at that.
The group seemed unconvinced and looked around at each other. Eventually one of them- Mina 2- spoke up. “I mean, you probably shouldn’t be in here for sure but uh. It’s pretty late at night so you shouldn’t really be alone out there…and I don’t know if the school would send someone for you. But we could step out with you!”
He felt his hackles rise. Nothing she had said seemed right, and what was that comment about the school?! Was she threatening him? He straightened out and dropped his nervous exterior, as the other adults groaned.
“Jesus Mina, could you be any more threatening to the kid??” “Kaminari” said, nudging her. “You’re gonna make the kid go beyond on this whole damn bar.”
“I’m sorry about her. Listen, I’m sorry this must be really confusing for you. And judging by how you look, I can’t imagine it’s been easy for you recently, so you have every right to be jumpy. But I don’t really think a bar is the best place for you. Is there somewhere you’d feel safer right now?” The Yaoyorozu mimic even sounded like her. He didn’t know what she meant by ‘how he looked’ but at least her offer gave him a chance out of here. So once they let him leave here he’d make a break for it.
“Take me back to UA. The teachers there will know what’s going on, and you can leave me with them.”
“Kirishima” rolled his eyes. “Come on kid, we just told you it’s late at night. The school’s gonna be closed.”
“…I have a copy of my dads’ keys.” A purple haired man offered up, to varying degrees of surprise. It took a moment for Deku to connect that he was meant to be Hitoshi Shinso, who was a strange addition to the group of imposters. The only connection he was seeing so far was members of class 1A….So why was he here? This only made the knot in his chest grow tighter. If the connection wasn’t his classmates, then maybe the connection was…
“Of course you do. Well, Mr. Class President isn’t here yet to tell us not to so why not? The fake Kaminari clapped his hands and nudged who was supposed to be Uraraka. She pushed him light heartedly and looked at everyone.
“Hey D- Kid, would that make you more comfortable? Heading to UA?” At his stiff nod she sighed and a few of the adults gave a hearty cheer. Sero’s doppelganger gave a longing look to his drink while Kirishima’s drank his in an impressively single drink. They all place varying amounts of cash and began walking out, with Deku trying to let them lead him. He didn’t notice until they were right in front of the door the man right behind him. A hand clamped down on the back of his neck, and he gave a sharp glance to his right. It was the man impersonating Kacchan. Who was quite possibly the leas convincing double. He was far too casual, relaxed around the others. Their research couldn’t have been that good if they couldn’t have gotten down the loudest personality of the group. Despite the errors, fear still froze him as that hand had a firm hold on him.
“Listen brat,” He grumbled quietly, “I know damn well you’re gonna try to book it the moment we step outside, and I know you’ve never stepped foot in this district, so you’d just end up lost and probably stumble into some skeevy bum. So just behave and go to the school with us, and don’t make this harder for us then it always is.”
In that exact moment, he remembered the day in the mall, with Shigaraki pulling him aside, that finger threatening to end his life. His breathing became short and not-Kacchan swore.
“Shit, that’s not-“he quickly removed his hand and moved it to his back to guide him out the rest of the way. “I’m not gonna hurt you for fucks sake.” He grumbled his voice somehow softer than before. Yeah, this was certainly not Kacchan.
Uraraka’s double saw the state he was in and gave the other fake an angry look and rolled his eyes. “Keep your feet on the ground pink cheeks. I was just worried about him bolting.” Despite his casualness, there seemed the slightest bit of guilt on his face. It was a strange expression to see on him of all people. Her glare softened but only slightly, and she shook her head at him.
“Good idea, bad execution.” They all settled into a comfortable pace, half the group walking in the front, leading the way to what he could only hope was the school, while he held up the back with some of the more intimidating fakes. The individual conversations all seemed normal enough, nothing that made sense to him and his classmates, but nothing nefarious, so he directed his attention to the two bickering in whispers in the back.
“Look at how old he probably is Bakugo, imagine how much crap he’s going through right now. And the mall incident happened right around then.”
“Yeah I get it okay, geez lay off. I wasn’t thinking about that crusty ass grabbing him like that. I wouldn’t’ve gone for that if I was. But you and I both know the nerd was already coming up with a plan on how to lose us. And I don’t want to chase a preschooler through town.”
She coughed back a laugh. “He’s at least fifteen, be nice. But you’re right, he was clearly planning, I could practically see the gears going. I just can’t imagine all the theories racing through his mind.”
Their words spun through his head. What were they saying? They knew about Shigaraki in the mall, and believe that they know him enough to be familiar with how he thinks. None of this was making sense, and the more he heard, the less he liked.
“Hey, has anyone sent the rest of the gang what’s going on? And should…certain people show up?” Sero’s imposter interrupted his thoughts. Of course there were more of them. Maybe that was code for something.
“I mean, I told the group chat that the party was moving to the school, but I couldn’t really figure out how to explain” Mina gestured wordlessly at Deku “over text so I figured we’d just explain over text. And if Iida has an issue with it then he can wait outside while we all break into the classroom! But I think it would be pretty rude to tell him not to come.”
He rubbed his forehead in frustration. “I didn’t mean him I was talking about you know…”
“Oh! Well that’d be even worse! It’s his birthday, even if the party has turned kinda….funky.”
‘Great’ Deku thought to himself, ‘I ruined some villain’s birthday party.’
As various bickering and sarcastic comments flew, he tuned them out as they approached the high school. It was UA, he knew it was, but it was so different. The entrance looked roughly the same, that arch of the gate leading to the intimidating structure that lay behind it, but beyond it he could see new additions, smaller building connected to the main building, expanded training fields. But he was just here. He was just in training, it was midday and the school looked like his school. As his chest constricted, he debated whether his situation would call for his inhaler or if he should go straight for his anxiety medication.
As he took in the school, the rest of the group moved towards a side door, being led by the one with the key. How does a potential villain have keys to the school? The Uraraka and Yaoyorozu copies stayed behind with him, looking concerned but giving him time to take everything in.
“Looks a little strange, huh?" These doppelgangers must have some quirk duplication, because Uraraka's was slightly floating next to him, staring out at the campus. Her arms were tucked behind her in that way she'd do when she was thinking and he started feeling a little shy being next to her. "I know it throws me just a little every time that I come visit. But I promise its UA. I told you we’d bring you here. I’m sorry that none of the teachers are here, but maybe once were inside, in a familiar setting, we can have an open conversation and really figure things out. And if we can’t provide answers that satisfy you, we can call whoever you want, no matter what. Sound like a deal?” This Uraraka copy must have done some serious research because, as if he was talking to the real one, that bubble creeping to his throat began to settle and for the first time since he’s come to, the fear that had encased him had eased away, if only slightly. He gave a nod and let them lead him to the others.