Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

How can one tell where your life is heading? Do you just guess? Do you look at averages or find someone who has lived a similar way? What do you do when your life takes a drastically unexpected turn? Can you prepare for it?

Do you run different scenarios through your head at the different possibilities? Do you prepare for the unknown or just leave it up to chance? When does a second feel like an hour? 

I certainly don’t know. I really didn’t expect my life to go this way so fast. Falling from a building to my death definitely isn’t what I had expected. Not when I have worked so hard to reach for my dreams. Not when I was so close to finding my soulmate, not when I have gone through so much already. 

Falling from a building because of an overzealous civilian was not what I had expected my life to go. Let’s go back nearly 18 months ago, back to when my life really began to change for the better. I have been treated differently for most of my life due to something I have no control over. 

I wasn’t born with a quirk, a special ability that most of humanity have and in some cases animals and plants too, that give them power. 

Something as simple as changing their eye color to being able to generate explosions from their hands to creating a supernova. I am one of the remaining 20 percent globally that is without a quirk. 

Now on this day, the day that changed everything, I was in my last year of junior high school. I want to be a hero despite no one believing that I could do it. 

My classmates were being a pain again and the teacher was supposed to hand out forms for our future plans in life. For us to explore our options from entering high school, what schools to enter, what careers we could go for and so on. 

However instead he threw the forms into the air saying it doesn’t matter as everyone wants to be a hero. Everyone showed off their quirks causing a lot of noise, a blatant disregard to the laws regarding quirks in public zones. 

The excitement was quickly ended by Bakugou Katsuki yelling and using his own quirk. The teacher made an off hand remark about me still wanting to get into UA, which turned Bakugou’s anger at me. After a few moments of Bakugou’s abusive behavior towards me, the teacher redirected the class to learning again. 

I didn’t relax, there was no way to do so. At the end of the day, I wait for everyone else to leave for the day so I could be at least somewhat safer. Bakugou, however, didn’t want me to leave unscathed.

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Midoriya Izuku, age 14, born quirkless in a society that structures social order by power of quirks. He has dreams and goals set in his heart to reach, despite the social pressures to cave into the norm. 

He has faced relentless bullying, teasing, ostracizing and lack of care from his peers, teachers, and neighbors. His greatest tormentor was his former friend. When one quirk awakened and another didn’t, the social norms took place. 

Bakugou Katsuki, age 14, is the son of Bakugou Mitsuki who is the best friend of Midoriya Inko, mother of Midoriya Izuku. Even if Izuku wanted to escape Bakugou Katsuki, also known as Kaachan, he couldn’t due to his mother.

On this particular day, when his life took a drastic change, Izuku had watched and took notes on a fight between heroes and a villain. Then at school he was laughed at for waiting to apply to the prestigious hero school, UA. The day continued like any other until the final bell. 

Izuku waited until the classroom emptied so he had a lower chance of getting attacked. To pass the time he worked in his analysis notebook, where he writes about heroes. His hypothesis of the quirks, notes about their costumes, possible weaknesses, their strengths and so on. He had been so focused on his work, he didn't notice Bakugou enter the room until he snatched Izuku's notebook from him.

“Still writing in these stalker notebooks? Damn Deku, just don't know when to quit do you? I’m gonna be the only one from this damn school to get into UA. Don’t fucking apply you hear me Deku?” Bakugou exclaimed as he shoved Izuku with one hand, setting off an explosion with the same hand, burning Izuku in the process. 

“There’s no harm in me applying to UA, Kaachan!” Izuku exclaimed with a wobbly voice. 

“Ha! Yeah right, why would they want someone like you?” Bakugou said before exploding the notebook in his hands and tossed the ruined book out the open window. 

Laughing, Bakugou and his lackeys left the room. 

Bakugou paused at the door and looked back to Izuku who was hanging out the window staring at his book in despair.

“You know, if you really wanna be a hero that badly, there actually might be another way. Just pray that you’ll be born with a quirk in your next life and take a swan dive off the roof of the building!” Bakugou laughed cruelly as he left Izuku standing there in shock. 

Izuku stood there reeling from Bakugou’s words and pain for a few more moments until he pulled himself together and left the building to collect his notebook before heading home.

Downtrodden and sad, Izuku took a back path home to avoid Bakugou who lives in the same direction. He was quietly muttering to himself about his future and Bakugou’s actions and what could have happened if someone cared enough to report him. 

He was so lost in thought, he missed the rattling of a sewer grate behind him as he walked under a bridge. A large, viscous, entity of sludge emerged and attacked Izuku, surrounding him, trying to suffocate and use his body as a meat suit to escape capture. 

Just as Izuku was about to pass out from lack of air, a booming voice exclaimed “I AM HERE!” followed by a large force of air that was the final push to Izuku passing out for a few moments. This was just the beginning of several unfortunate events for the day. 

Izuku woke up, ended up clinging to All Might, the hero crushing his dreams, the sludge villain escaped, heroes weren’t helping, Bakugou was attacked, Izuku saved him, got yelled at, and then at the end of the day, All Might praised Izuku and gave him a new hope for his almost destroyed dreams.

The following days, weeks, and months were spent relentlessly training his body to accept the quirk All Might plans on passing off to him. Early mornings were spent getting a jog in, followed by breakfast, school, and then getting to the local beach covered in trash to clean and build muscles. 

Nearly everyday this pattern continued with Sundays being mandatory breaks after All Might found Izuku passed out on the beach after overworking himself. 

As time was spent training, the UA Entrance exam drew closer and closer. The night before the exams, Izuku finally cleared off the entire beach, pride filled his heart and victory filled his voice as he called out in joy. All Might congratulating him for a job well done.

Despite the amount of work that went into preparing Izuku for the quirk, both he and All Might were woefully unprepared for when it fully manifested during the exam and Izuku performed a spectacular feat, at the detriment to his own body. 

His legs and an arm were shattered as he destroyed a massive robot, saving another examinee, of which, in turn saved him from hitting the ground in his uncontrolled fall. 

After approval from Recovery Girl, Izuku went home with a heavy heart believing that he completely failed the test after all the training All Might gave him. He felt even worse when he would try to contact All Might but would only ever get voicemail.

It took a week for the awaited letter from UA to arrive, both Izuku and his mother, Inko, were absolute nervous wrecks. Izuku had spent the entire week leading up to this moment absolutely scared of what the results would be and feeling shame because he believed that he absolutely failed. 

So, when he comprehended that he, not only didn’t fail but received the highest amount of rescue points from the hidden point system, it is fair to say he was shocked. That evening, he and his mother spent the night crying and celebrating his acceptance into UA.

Nearly a month later, UA’s entrance ceremony arrived and Izuku made his way to campus to meet his classmates for the first time. He was definitely nervous to meet new people especially while he was feeling like an imposter among the quirked. He was still growing used to the fact he had a quirk now. 

Standing outside the door to the A-1 classroom, Izuku took a calming breath and reached out to open the door when he heard a familiar brash voice. 

Of course Bakugou Katsuki made it into class 1-A, why wouldn’t he have. His first day at UA didn’t really go any better. Meeting his teacher, Aizawa Shouta, aka Pro hero Eraserhead, several threats of different varieties came up, painstaking tests, a broken bone, and maybe a couple of friends were gained by the end. 

That day he went home exhausted but with a smile, as he took yet another step forward to his dreams.

Chapter Text

The next day was the true first day, where they begin their classes, go over syllabuses, meet the teachers, enjoy lunch, make new friends and such. 

However, given how Izuku’s life typically goes, something had to go wrong. 

As the day progressed smoothly, Izuku determined that, whatever would go wrong, would be during Heroics or after school. Excitement began to build in the classroom as class 1-A waits for their first Heroics class to begin. 

No one was aware of who was teaching them, so it left a lot of speculation. However, not a single soul expected All Might to come into the room like ‘a normal person’. Izuku internally freaked out, seeing his mentor in his silver age suit, as his teacher. He was not prepared for his arrival but he made due with the excitement of his classmates. 

Quickly, they all grabbed their hero costumes once they emerged from the wall and went to change for class. A battle simulation, teams of two against two. One team acting as the heroes and the other team as the villains. Of course, with the luck of the draw, Izuku was teamed facing against Bakugou. 

Maybe he should have just stayed in bed today, maybe if he had trusted his gut then maybe, just maybe he wouldn’t be standing in a destroyed building. 

Maybe he wouldn’t have passed out after nearly being killed by Bakugou from the point blank explosion to his face, and maybe he wouldn’t be waking up in Recovery Girl’s office after being treated for broken bones and other injuries. 

Maybe.

Izuku went home sore to a worried mother and some level of uncertainty for his future, but he had to persevere. He showered, ate dinner, made a few notes on his classmates before promptly passing out the moment his head met his pillow. 

The next morning he went for a jog before taking a shower, eating, and heading to school. At the massive gates stood a pulsing crowd of reporters, their loud voices reached his ears and he realized that they were all here for All Might.

He struggled through the crowd and made it to class, passing Aizawa Sensei at the gates. He arrived pretty early but wasn’t the first inside the room, a few others were already there before him. 

The majority trickled in after he did, all before the bell rang to start the day. Once the day began, Izuku was quickly overwhelmed with the fact that he became class president despite not wanting it. 

At lunch, the meal was interrupted by an alarm alerting to a break-in and the students panicked. Izuku and his friends got swept up into the hallway of panicking students. He himself got shoved against the windows and saw what was occurring outside. 

With some help from his new friends, Izuku executed a plan that calmed things down after making it clear that it was just the press. After everything was said and done, Izuku passed on his title of class president to Iida who had been able to take charge and calm the panic down. 

Aizawa also announced a field trip for the next day, for their heroics class. Which in turn left the class abuzz and mostly pushed off the panic from earlier. The next day went as intended, if compared to previous years, up until the field trip.

The first issue arose when it turned out that All Might was supposed to attend the trip but couldn’t make it. Izuku was watching Aizawa and Pro-Hero 13 talk and made some indication, by holding up three fingers, that clued him into the fact that All Might used up his time, yet again.

The next issue arose when a long winded speech by 13 was interrupted by Izuku pointing out the growing purple cloud at the center of the facilities next to a water fountain. Out from that cloud of purple, several figures began to emerge. 

All of them were Villains. 

The issue following that, was the villain that made the purple clouds, they ended up scattering most of the class to all the different zones in the massive building.

Izuku was dropped off in a large lake, along with two other classmates. They had quickly become surrounded by water based villains as they hid on the boat in the middle of the water. That was slowly sinking.

A plan had been quickly made and executed by Izuku, using the help from the two classmates that were with him to escape and trap the villains. They managed to get out of their section and to the plaza to witness Eraserhead in action. 

Only for the next issue to arise. A monstrous creature was using Eraserhead like a dog toy while a crazy man covered in hands tried to attack the trio. Using what little strength he had left, Eraserhead saved Asui, the female frog quirked classmate that was with Izuku.

He was quickly knocked unconscious. Izuku stepped up and protected his classmates at the risk of himself. He held his ground long enough for All Might to arrive. 

More fighting happened and before Izuku realized it, he was being tended to by Recover Girl, alongside All Might. Once again Izuku goes home to his worried mother.

About 36 hours later, Izuku was back in class after a day off. He was worried about the state of Aizawa just like his fellow classmates. It was a mix of relief and shock when Aizawa walked into the classroom covered in bandages, looking like the mummies of old. 

Aizawa presented to the class, with an air of frustration, the Sports Festival. Several questioned why it was still being held. The only answer they got was essentially that UA has to show that they won't back down and cower away after the attack. 

The next few weeks were spent dealing with classwork, studying, and training for the festival. Slowly the hype of the event sunk into class 1-A and the excitement grew until the day of the festival.

On this day, Izuku was a mess of excitement and fear. He wanted to prove himself today but he was absolutely terrified of messing up and making a fool of himself on National television. 

It doesn’t help that Bakugou was a dick when he was told to make a speech as the top scorer in their grade. Many people booed and gave his class dirty looks, which in turn caused Izuku to shrink in on himself out of habit.

The first event was an obstacle course and Izuku impressively managed to earn 1st place without using his quirk, however that did come with the consequence of having everyone in the next event coming for him. 

The second event was a team battle where students grouped together, with a 4 person maximum, with most acting as the horse, while one person acted as the rider. Each rider was then given headbands with the total point value of the team. 

Izuku was sent scrambling to find a team, given that he had the highest amount of points alone. Everyone practically avoided him because of this fact.

He managed to build a team, lose his points but maintain a position to make it into the next round of the festival. 

The one on one fights. 

Between the two events was lunch and a heavy conversation between himself and his classmate, Todoroki Shouto. He had to push the revelation aside to focus on his first fight. Of which, he almost lost, due to a purple haired kid with a mind control quirk. Izuku was pretty excited about it and wanted to know more but his opponent stalked away, pissed. 

He then returned to his class seating section of the arena to watch the remaining fights until his next one. He was both excited and scared as he watched each fight to various levels. 

Once the first round of fights concluded, he discovered that he was to fight Todoroki. He also decided that no matter what happens, he will get through to Todoroki and get him to use his fire.

The fight was long and very intense. Several times Todoroki asked him why he fought so hard, why he didn’t give up when he was already so hurt. But eventually, Izuku managed to get through to him and an explosion of beautiful fire erupted from his stoic classmate. 

The two shared grins of varying strength before going in for their final moves. One of their teachers attempted to create barriers between them as he could tell it would be very bad if they actually clashed, to themselves and the crowd. 

The resulting collision caused so much wind pressure and debris to fly through the air, obstructing the view of everyone.

Once the dust clouds settled down, Todoroki was left barely standing, his ice helped to prevent him from falling past the line. Izuku however, was in a crater in the wall he collided with, passed out and bleeding from cuts and broken bones. He was quickly whisked away and the field was cleaned.

Izuku didn’t wake up again until the award ceremony. From the bed in Recovery Girl’s office in the stadium, he watched as Bakugou was chained to the podium and muzzled as he wouldn’t behave for his first place metal. 

One level down was Todoroki and on the lowest level was Tokoyami. Apparently, Iida was supposed to also be on the podium but had to leave due to a family emergency. Izuku watched with a slightly heavy heart for not winning but he was mostly at peace with himself.

Recovery Girl had some very choice words for him and explained how he had completely destroyed his arms, requiring her to perform surgery and how his fingers will never be straight again. 

Three days later, classes resumed and class 1-A was given the task of choosing their hero names. For the most part they were temporary, however once their names reached the public it would be very difficult to change them. 

Once everyone had theirs chosen, Aizawa announced that the class will have the opportunity to attend internships and can choose from the sent in applications from heroes. If they didn’t have any heroes request them, then they could choose from a select few that partner with UA for this event.

Despite Izuku making it far in the festival, no one sent him a request due to how injured he got from his quirk. He was bummed out about it and spoke with All Might to see if he had any suggestions. 

He hesitantly gave one and Izuku managed to get an internship with All Might’s former mentor Grand Torino.

Chapter Text

Two weeks later, the class departed for their internships. Izuku went off, nervous but also concerned. He was worried for Iida as he had learned that he was going to the city where his brother was permanently injured and where his hero career abruptly ended. 

Izuku tried to get Iida to talk with him but was unsuccessful. He tried to focus on his own internship and was worried about him meeting Gran Torino and All Might’s fear of the man.

Once he arrived at Gran Torino’s place, he quickly realized exactly why All Might was scared of the small old man. Despite his age, he still has a lot of kick to him and can easily run circles around him at his current level. 

The two spent the entire day training, of sorts, ending the day with Izuku frustrated, very sore, and with an idea. That night Izuku tries to practice the idea he had as inspiration for managing his power level.

After many failed attempts and landing in filled trash bags, Izuku managed to successfully pull off the technique he was attempting. Once he was able to replicate the move he went to sleep for a few hours. 

His sleep was abruptly ended by the old man dumping a bucket of ice water over his head, then proceeding with his senile act. Izuku, tired, wet, and physically exhausted, climbed out of bed to start the day. 

The two proceed to practice the exact same training as yesterday, however this time Izuku managed to keep up. After a while, they stopped to clean up and then have lunch. While eating they discussed All Might, how he teaches, his previous mentor, and several other topics. 

Afterwards, they went on a small patrol, which was more like wandering and grocery shopping at the same time.

The following evening, Gran Torino decided to take Izuku to a larger city to patrol around so the two boarded the train to head on out. They silently discussed things when the train came to a sudden halt as a Nonu of all things crashed inside. 

Gran Torino yelled to Izuku to remain on the train before he blasted off to help the burning city. Izuku being Izuku, didn’t listen as Iida came to mind being in the chaos below. 

Worried for his friend, he jumped off the train and ran along the streets to search for him. He did eventually find Iida, separated from his Hero mentor, down a back alley, a hero passed out against the wall and the infamous Hero Killer standing over his prone body. 

With a lot of quick movements, panicked text messages, long drawn out conversations, bitter words, fire, several strong kicks, and ice later, Izuku, Iida, and Todoroki had captured the Hero Killer Stain. 

Battered and exhausted the trio and the now awake hero drag the captured Stain out of the alley and to the street where a group of heroes were gathering to help. Izuku, however, due to them achieving something good, is instantly faced with a flying Nomu that picks him up abruptly to fly off with him. 

They didn’t get far as Stain wasn’t as passed out as all believed and ended up saving Izuku. He then provided a long winded speech before passing out, remaining standing on top of the dead Nomu. Izuku passed out from exhaustion and blood loss soon after he had been moved away from Stain.

The next time he woke up, he was in the hospital with his friends, all patched up and waiting for the police and their mentors to show up. When the police showed up, there was a mix of emotions.

They were thanked for their take down but couldn’t get credit or risk them never becoming heroes as they did act illegally and their actions would be labeled as vigilantism. 

Their mentors scolded them severely, and the three had essentially a heart to heart after all the adults left. The next day the three are released. Iida willingly chose not to get the nerve damage fixed in his arm to serve as a permanent reminder of his actions. 

Izuku went back to Gran Torino and the two had several conversations about the Nomu and his own actions. They didn’t train that day as Izuku is still recovering. Todoroki returned home with Endevor.

The day before the internships end, the video of Stain where he announces his belief and says that All Might and Izuku are the only true heroes that could kill him, goes viral. The Hero Commission tries to take the video circulating down but it keeps popping up in more locations. 

The following day, Internships are over and all the students return to UA where they have to drop off their hero costumes before heading home finally.

After a solid night of sleep and re-connecting with his mother, Izuku went to school feeling excited, relieved, and nervous. He worried about how Iida was recovering and he was looking forward to being with his friends and class again. 

Between classes, class 1-A talked about random topics and Kaminari mentioned Stain. The three that knew the truth of that night tensed and the topic was quickly changed to something else. 

During lunch, All Might requested Izuku to join him as they had a lot to talk about. They talked about his time with Gran Torino, about One for All, and All Might finally told Izuku about the history of the quirk he now wields. 

He apologized for not telling him sooner, but he truly believed that All for One was dead after their last encounter. However, the Nomu existing, leads him to believe this as false.

For heroics class, All Might has the class do an agility race through an industrial space, with tight corners and many, many pipes. Izuku was grouped with some of the fastest class mates that would excel in this space. 

Many were doubting Izuku being capable of winning given how his quirk was always hurting him. He quickly erased those doubts when he was enveloped in green lighting and took off in a flash.

He would have won, if he didn’t slip at the last moment just as All Might came into sight. That slip up lost the impressive lead he had. Almost the entire class was impressed with how much Izuku had improved in the week they were all gone for internships. At the end of class, the end of term tests were announced to them all.

A few days later, the class was given some impromptu lessons on how to interact with the public and how to deal with the media. This being because of how often the students of class 1-A is recognised and the media’s attention on them from the League of Villains attack. 

Every other day during heroics, small groups of students will go out on a short patrol with one of their teachers that are very recognizable. Izuku was grouped with Iida and Kaminari. 

On the last day of the week, two weeks after the internships, it was finally Izuku’s group to go out. The three changed into their hero costumes and gathered at the front gates to meet with whoever was taking them out.

They stood there talking amongst themselves when Present Mic came over with a large grin asking if they were ready to head out. The students agreed and followed along like duckling behind Present Mic. 

As they wandered farther into the city, many people stopped them for pictures and autographs. The hero and students obliged for a few minutes each time before continuing along the way.

Eventually, Present Mic led the students up to a building where there was a meet and greet set up on the rooftop garden. There they had several reporters, a few news cameras and a small civilian crowd. 

They spent nearly an hour with the crowd before the people began to filter out. Seeing as no one was approaching Izuku, he wandered over to the edge to overlook the city. The view here was much nicer than the last few rooftops he has been.

An energetic shout came from behind him and he turned to see an enthusiastic fan rush up to Present Mic. Iida and Kaminari looked quite surprised but their teacher held back his own shock and simply greeted the person who was practically vibrating in excitement. 

It turns out that vibrating was actually the fan’s quirk.

Izuku cried out in surprise as the roof underfoot shifted and he tumbled off the structure, Present Mic, Iida and Kaminari all exclaim in surprise not initially realizing Izuku was falling. 

Present Mic was the first to react and raced over to the edge, pushing past the fan, hoping that Izuku was still in reach to catch him but he wasn’t. 

Izuku’s classmates reached the edge to try to help as well, unfortunately no one had the ability or tool to catch him. In shock, Izuku quietly fell to his death. Wide eyed, his teacher and classmates watched horrified. 

Halfway down now, Izuku made eye contact with Present Mic who looked like he was about to shout something, when his vision was engulfed in darkness.

Chapter Text

For just a moment Izuku felt like he was floating underwater. There was pressure all around him and absolute silence. Only his racing heartbeat filled his ears with sound. 

Never ending darkness surrounded him, he could see himself but nothing beyond. The darkness seemed to taunt him with its echoing silence and expansive size. 

The moment passed and he was falling again, uncertain of where he was now. From where he was falling, he could see no towering buildings, only towering trees to the horizon, of which he was on a collision course with and no way to avoid them. 

Izuku let out a panicked scream as he fell, curling up to protect himself and cover his face. Tree branches whipped past him, some digging into him, cutting his costume, snagging his hair, colliding into his body, changing the direction he fell. 

With a loud thud, he hit the ground knocking the air from his lungs. A sharp shriek rang in his ears as he tried to regain his breath. His body screamed in pain as he laid there gasping. 

“Oh my god!” A distinctly feminine voice cried out in English as a blurry figure came into view. Panicked words flowed in a mantra as blurry hands began to clear. “Oh my god! Hey! Can you hear me? Hold on!” The voice cried as Izuku succumbed to the darkness, fainting from pain and lack of air.

With uncertain, unsteady, but incredibly gentle movements, the figure maneuvered the unconscious form of Izuku onto their back and carefully began the journey to their home. 

To where their car was in case they couldn’t tend to the injuries. “God, Why me? Why here? How?” The figure muttered despairingly, with sharp breaths as they stumbled along. 

They had just wanted to take a peaceful stroll through their property, where their closest neighbor is a 8 minute walk down the road. They were lucky to get a loan for the property and their parents helped out so they could live independently in an economy that has made it almost impossible for their generation to own a house.

Slowly but surely, their modest 2 bedroom house came into view and a black mass rose to greet their companion. “Hey Boomer,” the person carrying Izuku called breathless as they approached the fluffy black dog. 

Stumbling slightly as they walked up the stairs of their porch and into the house. Making their way to the second bedroom to place Izuku down before going to grab their first aid kit. 

Boomer followed along, sticking to their heels as they moved around to gather an old red towel, a bucket of water, and extra bandages. At some point Boomer went to investigate Izuku, sniffing and booping as the leg and arm near the edge of the bed.

“Back up!” The person said as they came into the room, causing Boomer to do a half jump backwards to get out of the way. With hesitance and uncertainty in their movements, they began to remove Izuku’s costume in order to tend to his injuries. 

Once everything that was necessary to remove was gone, they unpacked their first aid kit and began to clean up Izuku’s wounds with gentle hands. 

It took a while to get him patched up, but soon enough all the cuts were wrapped up, an oversized shirt pulled over Izuku’s body and ice packs were applied to already forming bruises. 

“Alright. This will have to do for now.” The person said as they stepped away from Izuku. “I’m exhausted.” They released as sigh as they turned to gather the used first aid kit. 

“Hopefully he wakes up soon and can tell me if anything really hurts. And maybe tell me how the hell he fell from the trees.” The figure said out loud to their dog as they stumbled out of the room, leaving the door open and into the bathroom to get cleaned up from tending to Izuku.

A day passed before he woke up for the first time, the figure was still blurry when they came in to check on him, but they looked distinctly female. They encouraged him to drink some of the water in the glass they held out to him before he passed out again. 

The next time he woke up, the figure was leaning over him, a soft cool hand pressed against his head. Striking blue eyes behind glasses met his own, worry was clear in them, “You’ll be okay.” A voice softly fluttered in his ears before sleep overcame him again. 

The third time he woke up, he was alone. There wasn’t any sound in the building telling him there was another with him. His eyesight was clear now and he could take in the appearance of the space around him. 

With a pained groan, he sat up as much as his body would allow. Soft daylight filtered through sheer blue curtains that gently billowed from wind coming through the open window. Faint bird song and crickets chirp reached Izuku’s ears. 

Above him, the ceiling is decorated with aged wood planks that stood out against the light gray almost white paint surrounding them. As his eyes moved down from the ceiling to matching light gray walls, a poster caught his attention. 

The English alphabet was depicted with what looked like morse code and words. “Where am I?” He muttered as he continued to look around. A lightweight teal blanket covered his legs which stood out against the light gray and brown tones of the rest of the room. Everything he was on and covered by was soft and smooth.

Which brings his attention to his body. Many spots were sore but bandages and wrappings covered him, tight but not painfully so. A faint sound of keys jingling caught his ear, a door opened farther into the building. 

Several footsteps entered, there might have also been an animal that entered given the clicking sound that was possibly nails on the floor. 

“Boomer, relax you goofball.” A feminine voice called with a giggle, as barking started up and something metal started to be possibly pushed around on the floor. 

“Boomer! Quiet! You’ll wake him up!” The voice scolded as it sounded like they were getting closer. Izuku sat up more, forcing his body to obey as the door to the room opened with a small creek and the blue eyed female figure entered. 

“Oh you're awake! How are you feeling? Where are you hurting? I’ve done my best to take care of your injuries but falling out of those trees I would have thought something was broken but I don’t have any experience checking for broken bones or anything like that so I left it up to you to tell me if you are in a lot of pain then I could take you to the hospital but I’m not that strong and strained myself getting you home so I couldn’t get you there right away and... and...” The person rambled till they couldn’t breath, their cheeks red from lack of air.

Izuku stared blinking wide-eyed at the person, definitely American based on the accent and they are speaking English. Their fast paced rambling was hard to follow for him despite his study of American English due to his (un)healthy obsession of All Might. “Ano, w-what?” He asked in stunned English. 

“Oh, um, sorry. My name is Virginia, she slash her. I was walking in the forest when you fell from a tree in front of me.” Virginia introduced herself after she recollected her frazzled mind. 

Izuku nodded slowly, testing his next words in English before speaking, “M-my name i-is Izuku. Nice to meet you?” He said in a questioning tone. 

“Nice to meet you, too. Um, so, yeah. I- you passed out so I half carried, half dragged you back to my house.” Virginia said as she sat down in the chair that looked like it had been moved to the bedside. She adjusted her sweater sleeves before touching her hair and glasses in an almost nervous gesture.

“I don’t have any medical training but I did my best with the cuts and bruises you had. I don’t know if anything is broken. I didn’t bring you to the hospital cause I couldn’t answer any of the potential questions and I doubt they would tell me anything about your condition even if I did. Are you hurting?” She asked while tucking a leg under her in an unconscious movement. 

Izuku nodded along as he listened, she had slowed her talking down to an even measure so he was able to follow along better. “I’m sore, something might be broken. Ano, where am I?” He finally asked.

Virginia pulled a puzzled look to her face before responding, “You're in my guest room, in my house. Which is located nearly a half hour outside of the closest town and another hour out from a major town where the hospital would be. In the American state of Michigan. Is this not the area you’re supposed to be?” She asked concerned as she tilted her head confused. 

“n-No! I’m supposed to be in Japan! Did a quirk do this? I mean I was falling from a high building and there was that dark void area, then trees? A teleportation quirk? I mean Kuroguri has one so it's not impossible but this seems like a really far distance and pretty remote to send me on purpose. Maybe it wasn’t on purpose?” Izuku devolved from English to a muttering storm in Japanese. 

“Japan?! How? What do you mean a quirk did this? That doesn’t make any sense! How can a behavior cause you to fall out of a tree NOT in Japan?” Virginia asked, baffled as she stood up looking a little spooked. 

“Eh? W-what do you mean ‘a behavior’? I’m talking about a quirk, you know that thing that makes the majority of Earth’s population have special powers?” Izuku asked, equally baffled.

“What kind of comic book logic are you talking about?” She asked running her hands through her short hair. “What do you mean? It’s common knowledge. It has been for nearly 200 years, ever since that baby was born glowing golden light.” He questioned, starting to grow worried something else was going on. 

“It is the beginning of the 21st century, what the hell are you talking about? There has been no glowing baby anywhere!” Virginia exclaimed, flopping her arms from her hair back down to her sides. 

Izuku jolted in shock, “The beginning of the 21st century? W-what? That can’t be right. It’s the middle of the 23rd century...” Izuku muttered quietly in shock. 

Both of them sat or stood there in stunned silence, wide-eyed staring at each other. Neither moved beyond breathing, however the stillness was broken when Boomer came in and booped several objects as he went before hip checking Virginia’s right knee causing her to stumble. 

“God Boomer! What do you want?” She exclaimed in an amused infliction with freaked out undertones. “Um, this is my dog Boomer. He is a personality and might bark at you. Um, let's put a pin in the whole people with superpowers and time travel for now. Do- do you need anything? Are you hungry, need the bathroom, pain meds?” Virginia asked, shifting lightly and playing with the curly fan tail of her dog.

“Y-yes to all?” Izuku asked and Virginia moved slowly to help him from the bed. Once he was standing, he realized that he was around 5 inches (13 cm) taller than she is. “Bathroom first?” Virginia asked as she wrapped an arm around his body and maneuvered his right arm over her shoulder. “Hai.” 

Slowly the two left the guest room and down the hall to a door on the left side from where he was. “Can you handle business by yourself?” Virginia asked and Izuku blushed, nodding his head vigorously, “Yes! I- I can do that!” 

Virginia chuckled and pushed open the door, “I can make some chicken soup while you're dealing with the bathroom.” “That sounds good, thank you.”

Chapter Text

After a few days of consistently staying awake, Izuku told Virginia that he was still in pain around his stomach and one of his legs. So, carefully, they went to the closest emergency clinic to get some x-rays done. Thinking of different answers they could give in regards to the injuries.

It seemed luck was on their side as the doctor who  checked Izuku over asked minimal questions, and Virginia’s insurance covered it all with only a 30 dollar copay. However, they did discover that he needed to go to the hospital in the city predominantly due to the swelling in his stomach. 

Izuku kept apologizing to Virginia, for all the trouble he is causing her and the fact they have to drive such a distance for him. Virginia just laughed saying that a 2 hour drive isn’t that long. 

The hospital asked more questions and the two had to make up some more answers on the fly but they managed to get treatment without much challenge or her insurance declining treatment. It took nearly 5 months of natural quirkless healing before Izuku was able to move around without pain. 

During this time, Izuku and Virginia talked frequently about their lives. Izuku talked about quirks, their history, about soulmates, about his childhood and about his quirk without fear. Virginia talked about her basic life, her family, how she recently began to live independently, her hobbies and job.

The discussions about quirks occupied their time the most, even more so when Izuku was given a clean bill of health and discovered he could still use his quirk. Virginia hadn’t fully believed his stories of superpowered humans until Izuku had used his quirk and was covered in vivid green electricity. 

“T-that's different.” She had said, stunned, the green electricity reflecting in her eye. “I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t 100 percent trust your information before about the power thing. S-so, wow, um, wow.” She said as she slowly approached, hands hoovering. 

“Yeah, I guess that old phrase, ‘seeing is believing’ is true, then huh?” Izuku laughed still with One for All active as he was trying to practice with it after months of disuse. 

“Yeah. Does...is that actual electricity?” She asked, reaching out to poke his arm. Her finger buzzed when she made contact but didn’t hurt her. “What does that feel like to you?” She looked up to meet his eyes in wonderment. 

“The best I can describe it as is energy. Like sticking my arm in a fast stream of water, that feeling but inside, everywhere. If I use too much, my body gets strained and bones break.” He said before stopping his quirk usage.

“Weird, but cool. Um, just be really careful. Can’t really explain to doctors why your arm broke or leg or any other bone due to a power from within. Plus no healing quirks here.” Izuku chuckled nervously, cutting off his quirk as he rubbed the back of his neck. 

“Good point, um what’s for dinner?” Izuku deflected as he scurried back into the house. Virginia smirked slightly before following him inside, “I was thinking maybe we could try making that dish you like, um, katsudon? I looked up a recipe, so we should have what’s needed.” Izuku grinned and charged into the kitchen to raid it for the ingredients.

Virginia laughed good natured as she watched Izuku begin to pull everything out and began to get things going. “You have a recipe memorized?” She giggled as Izuku took over the kitchen with absolute certainty. “My mom would make this for me, so it's her recipe.” Izuku said as he measured out a few things. 

“Want any help?” “I’m good.” Izuku paused to offer a smile to her. Virginia nodded and went to her room to research some information that could help Izuku in this time. She was so focused on the work that Izuku left a bowl of food at her desk.

The next morning Virginia made breakfast as Izuku went for a jog. She had made notes and lists for Izuku to look over when he got back to eat. She did her best to make a simple Japanese style breakfast for something new as she had been sticking to her normal routine for most of the time. “I’m back!” Izuku called as he kicked off his shoes before joining Virginia in the kitchen. 

He spotted the papers and glanced over them. Virginia brought over breakfast while he did, “I tried to find out what you can do schooling wise. We can’t really make up a believable story or a legal one with my resources so I wasn’t sure if you could attend school or even get a job without some type of legal issue.”

“Oh, right... I guess I should probably continue school. We don’t have any idea how long I’ll be here.” Izuku muttered as he looked at the notes before he noticed the food, “Oh! You didn’t have to do this!” He exclaimed in surprise. 

“I wanted to learn something new and you live here now so your culture should too. I was thinking it might help with possible homesickness, but I guess it could make it worse too.” She said, dropping off at the end. 

Izuku began to tear up, so very thankful for everything she has done for him up to now. “Arigatou, nee-san!” He froze, surprised at his words. Virginia’s spoon stopped almost at her lips, her mouth hung open. With a snap, her jaw closed and she lowered her spoon. 

“I may not be super familiar with Japanese, but I do know that one.” She said in a shocked quiet tone. “I’m so sorry! I-i didn’t mean to-” Izuku panicked and waved his hands around quickly, “Hey! It’s fine, really. I’m no stranger to being someone’s sister. I have two brothers. The youngest is your age, about.” She smiled comfortingly. “Really? You don’t mind?” Izuku said as he wiped away his tears. “Welcome to the family, brother three!” She giggled as she went back to eating.

Months went by, holidays were celebrated, birthdays spent binge watching movies, studying from online tests, a start of honest practicing in both English and Japanese. The introduction of Izuku as a permanent fixture to Virginia’s family.

Together they did culture studies, attended local festivals, and started a small business. They mourned the passing of Boomer, opened their house and hearts to two senior cats who passed 3 years later. Several ups and downs with mental and physical health for both, and further discovery of Izuku’s quirk.

The two attended the weddings of Virginia’s actual brothers, with her being a maid of honor for one and a best woman for the other brother. She even got to meet the first two of her niblings. A niece from the older of the two brothers and a nephew from the younger.

The two held each other accountable for their physical fitness, Izuku grew in height and muscle mass, Virginia dropped over 60 lbs and toned up to her personal goal. That day when she weighed in, she broke down crying, screaming in victory and joy much like Izuku did when he cleaned the beach. 

As a mark of her success she finally got the tattoo she had always wanted. A simple memorial tattoo for her animals. A crescent moon with 6 stars with 4-points for the cats and 3 stars with 8-points for the dogs. 

Now, nearly 10 years later, the two are still peacefully living together, supporting each other. In some part because they enjoy each other’s company and also because Izuku doesn’t legally exist anywhere so he is kinda stuck with her instead of political limbo. 

On the anniversary of the day the two met, not that they necessarily remembered the date, the two had decided to go to the major city nearly an hour and a half from home for the weekend. They booked a hotel room to share on their mini vacation. 

They spent their time window shopping and simply goofing off while seeing what is new. They decided to spend lunch at a relatively new cat cafe that was pretty well. When they arrived and got settled in at their table, several cats appeared. A short haired black cat instantly claimed Virginia’s lap while a fawn/ blond cat circled Izuku’s feet.

The two spend their entire time playing and relaxing with the cats, they were pretty disappointed when their time ran out and they had to leave. A sense of longing filled Virginia, she missed having a little purring engine and was thinking about maybe adopting some younger cats when she heard a shout. 

So lost in thought, she had fallen behind Izuku’s longer strides now that he stood at an impressive 6’ 2” (188 cm) and wasn’t paying attention to the crosswalk indicators. She was in the middle of the walkway with a truck bearing down on her, her mind blanked in her shock. A sudden force tackled her and she was sent falling. 

When her mind caught up with her body, she realized she was floating in a dark, silent void. A pressure surrounded her on all sides like she was underwater. She couldn’t see anything beyond herself and the tanned arm wrapped around her waist. 

Virginia turned her head sluggish to look behind her, Izuku met her gaze with a hauntingly shocked look. Familiarity echoed in his eyes as a tingle ran up their spines.

Just as she was about to open her mouth to attempt to ask a question, the two felt gravity again and were sent falling. The loud cacophony of sounds, belonging to a much larger city assaulted her ears along with wind. 

She didn’t even have a chance to scream in fear before Izuku slowed their descent with his quirk Float. The landing was a little rough but not as bad as the first time Izuku left that void space.

Chapter Text

“ What the hell? ” Virginia asked as soon as her feet were steady under her. Izuku looked around with a wild gaze as he wrapped an arm protectively around her shoulders. People all around them were panicking and it sounded like some were trying to call the police or some heroes. 

Many people just stopped and watched them in surprise. A crowd was slowly gathering as the panic at their sudden arrival subsided. “ I honestly don’t know. I saw that void space before I met you, remember me telling you about it?” Izuku asked. 

Both chose to stick to hushed english as that had been the default for the majority of 10 years. Izuku after a few moments moved over to the side. Leading both of them to sit on the ground against a building he faintly recognized as being the one he had fallen from at the beginning of his journey. 

He wasn’t sure how long he had been gone and he doubted that he could run now with so many people around them. It took a few more minutes before sirens were heard and police cars were pulling up. 

A familiar face stepped out of the first police car, Detective Naomasa Tsukauchi, he walked over to the two with a confused look on his face. “Midoriya?” He asked, clearly baffled. 

“Hey Tsukauchi-san, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you,” Izuku greeted as he slowly stood up to his full height, Virginia standing with him, hidden behind him. 

The detective sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose, “I’m going to need you to come with me. There are a few questions you need to answer about this.” “That’s fine. I just have a quick question for you if that’s alright.” Izuku asked and the Detective nodded. 

“Now, this might sound odd, but given my change in appearance, and you not looking at all different, what’s today’s date, year included?” Izuku asked as nudged Virginia out from behind him.

Tuskauchi nodded slowly before telling them the date, “It’s June 19th, 2243” “I see, I see. Yea, definitely back in my original time. It seems like I’ve only been gone for a week. God, I hope everyone is okay. Iida and Kaminari must be really messed up after seeing me fall and disappear. ” Izuku switched back to English as he began to talk with Virginia.

He indicated towards the cop car and Detective Tsukauchi led the way for the two time travelers. Virginia stuck to Izuku, beyond worried, and uncomfortable about the large city. She has never really liked such loud crowded places in the first place, even more so now given the situation. 

Once they reached the car, Detective Tsukauchi held the door open and Virginia got in first followed by Izuku. In the passenger seat, sat another officer with a cat head. Izuku barely glanced at him but Virginia was trying her hardest not to stare. 

She used the passing cityscape as a distraction. “Um, are you going to contact UA about this situation?” Virginia asked slowly, no longer confident in her Japanese now that she was actually in Japan, a few hundred years in the future. 

Detective Tsukauchi glanced back at her with the rearview mirror. “Yes, once we get to the station, I’ll contact the school and see if a representative can come over to oversee the questioning.” He informed the two. 

Virginia silently nodded before turning her gaze back out the window, her hands clutching the bottom of her shirt. The drive to the police station wasn’t too long in actual time, but with Virginia's nervousness, it seemed much longer. 

With a smooth stop and the car turning off, the two officers got out and opened the doors for the two time travelers to climb out. “Officer Sanas will show you two to a room, while I contact UA.” Detective Tsukauchi said as he gestured for the three to go ahead while pulling out his phone.

He decided to contact Eraserhead, Aizawa Shouta, who was Midoriya’s homeroom teacher at UA. On the third ring, he picked up, “What do you want, Tsukauchi?” The tired drawl of Aizawa reached his ears. 

“Hey Eraser, I have a situation down here at the station. Got a report about 10 minutes ago of two people falling out of a suddenly appearing portal. One female with short brown hair and one male with green bush-like hair. I arrived at the location and saw the two in question sitting on the sidewalk, waiting. One appeared to be an older Midoriya Izuku and responded to the name. On the way back to the station, the female asked if we were going to contact UA about their appearance.” Detective Tsukauchi summarized quickly. 

“You have someone claiming to be my missing student that appears to be older, with another unknown person?” Aizawa asked in a disbelieving tone. “Yes, I figured I should call and see if you wanted to be present for questioning.” 

“I’ll be there shortly,” Aizawa said before hanging up. A heavy sigh passed his lips as he stood up from his desk in the staff room. Present Mic had been staring at him since he made reference to Izuku. 

“What did he want?” He asked in a stage whisper. Several of the other teachers were watching and very obviously listening in. With a heavier tired sigh, Aizawa responded, “You already heard me clarify what he said. I’m heading down to see if it really is the problem child.” He rubbed his head before heading out of the room and school.

It took him around 15 minutes to reach the police station. Detective Tsukauchi was waiting for him at the front before leading him to the meeting room where Izuku and Virginia sat waiting on comfortable couches. 

Officer Sanas was sitting at the table in the room. The three looked up as the two men entered the room. Izuku got up to greet Eraserhead and Detective Tsukauchi with a strong smile that hid most of his discomfort and anxiety. 

Virginia got up slowly and took a seat at the long wooden table, silently watching and listening. “Hi Aizawa-sensei! Man, it feels like it's been a long time since we’ve talked!” Izuku laughed lightly, his smile more boisterous than his voice. 

“Detective Tsukauchi said that it's been a week since I vanished through that weird portal. At least for everyone else, it’s been a week. I’ve been gone for nearly 10 years. When I vanished, I appeared in a forest back in the year 2022.” Izuku went about explaining before any prompting. 

“I fell out of the sky, hit a lot of tree branches on the way down before dropping around like 15 feet (4.5meters) to the ground. I passed out from pain and then woke up in bed apparently after several days. This is my sister, Virginia. She was the one that found me and took care of me.” Izuku said and introduced Virginia, who stood upon her name being said.

Aizawa and Detective Tsukauchi shared a look before sitting down across from the two. “Alright. Well, you have yet to lie but even with quirks, it’s hard to believe your story.” The detective said gently, gesturing with his hands as he did. Izuku and Virginia shared a look before sitting down as well. 

“You can draw my blood and test it or fingerprint me or whatever, if that would help ease your mind. I’m not sure how many records are left that you could try searching her up on or if you could even access anything for a foreign-born person from 200 ish years ago.” Izuku offered in a placating tone. He just wanted to get things settled and figure out how to proceed in life.

“I, I don’t really know what to do now.” Izuku exclaimed, hiking his shoulders up for a moment in an ‘im lost’ fashion. “If we were still in the past, I knew enough to make due as it was completely brand new. But being back in the time I’m familiar with, I worry that I can’t pick up where I left off at. Can I still be a hero if I’m no longer the age of a high school freshman? Would my friends accept the change? Would my mom...oh god...my mom, oh fuck! She must be absolutely beside herself with worry, I hope she is okay, will she remember me? O-oh of course she’ll remember me. It was a week for her, will she recognize me? Wha- ” Izuku’s rambling spiral of despair was quickly cut off by the pale, slim hand of Virginia’s smacking over his mouth.

“Problem Child.”Aizawa finally spoke up, looking absolutely done with reality. “No need for any tests, you’re the only person I have encountered that can ramble like that. We’ll have to talk with Nedzu to see what can be done, but you shouldn’t have any issues with finishing your schooling. You might be required to live in the facility dorms for the time being, as legally you are still a minor even if everything else about you is an adult. Recovery Girl will also likely require you to do a check-up with her. Virginia-san you will also be offered these conditions.” He explained flatly, primarily looking at Izuku but he did look at Virginia when addressing her directly.

“I would like it if you could write down your information; name, birthday, where you’re from, when you’re from, so we could attempt to find you in history.” Detective Tsukauchi said as he slid a pad of paper with a pen over to Virginia. 

She eyed Izuku for a long moment before she pulled her hand away and picked up the pen. The quiet sounds of the pen scratching against the paper filled the otherwise silent room.

Once she was done, she slid the pad back over and pulled her hands to her lap. “What now?” She spoke softly, her head tilting slightly, almost innocently but it turned out she was just trying to pop her neck as a cramp had formed. 

“I can give you three a ride to UA and then the rest is up to Nedzu-san.” The detective said as he pulled the paper off the pad, and folded it before tucking the paper into a pocket.

He led the three outside to the cars and they loaded into one of them. Aizawa sat in the front with the detective while Izuku and Virginia silently whispered to each other in the back. It took just under 25 minutes to get to the school due to traffic increasing. As they got closer, Izuku grew more fidgety and Virginia grew more silent.

Chapter Text

“Alright, just follow me. Nedzu is expecting us in the staff lounge.” Aizawa spoke as the three got out of the car once they arrived at the staff parking lot. Virginia waved goodbye to Tsukauchi before she had to jog to catch up to the two long-legged males. 

She was still several steps away when the two ahead of her reached the doors, Aizawa held one open and Izuku walked in not realizing she was left behind. 

Virginia met Aizawa’s eyes as she passed him, giving a short nod of thanks for holding the door. In a few strides, Aizawa was leading the way again. It was currently after school so there were very few students still lingering in the hall on their way home. 

The small group reached an elevator which quickly took them up 5 floors to the staff room in the hero course side of the building. 

With a huff, Aizawa opened the door and stepped inside, informing the staff of his return, “I’m back with the problem student and his sister.” A bone weary sigh escaped him as he entered. “Shou! You brought back the little listener?” A loud voice shouted along with the sound of a chair colliding with a solid object. 

“He really isn’t little, but yes. Get in here you two.” Aizawa responded, sounding even more tired glancing back towards the door he just entered. Izuku froze a step away so Virginia walked in first, pulling Izuku by the middle of his shirt.

From the perspective of the staff inside the room, they witness a petit, 5 foot nothing (152.4 cm) unknown female pull in a hulking figure that simply dwarfed her at 6’ 2” (188 cm). Despite his apparent physical changes, it took no imagination to recognize Midoriya Izuku. 

His body really bulked up, he has light stubble covering his tanned cheeks and chin as if he forgot to shave in the last two days. His fluffy green hair had an undercut and looked much more well groomed. Adding his current outfit to the mix, he looked like a green-haired lumberjack.

Izuku awkwardly rubbed his neck as he noticed all of the teachers staring at him blankly, Virginia shifted leading to some stares of her own. To the staff, they see a person who they can only presume is Izuku’s sister. 

She clearly had a soft athletic build to her, muscular but still with chub in certain places. Fluffy, short brown hair framed her roundish face giving her a younger look, she couldn’t be any older than 26. Large framed glasses brought attention to her soft blue eyes, where hesitation and slight annoyance danced.

Virginia huffed silently before driving her left elbow into Izuku’s lower stomach with enough force to cause him to wince. “Um, hi? It’s been a while since I’ve seen any of you.” Izuku said awkwardly as he gently rubbed at the spot he was just elbowed. 

“Midoriya?” Present Mic asked, baffled, finally finding his voice again after Izuku walked in. “Yeah, that’s my name. I’ve been gone for 10 years and I hit a few growth spurts while I was gone.” Izuku responded with a chuckle nervously.

“It’s very good to have you back amongst us, Midoriya-kun. Please take a seat and we can discuss how to proceed for you and your sister.” Nedzu spoke up from the couch and armchairs that he definitely wasn’t sitting at a moment ago. 

Virginia was openly staring at the white mammal as Izuku shuffled over to sit, she followed silently behind him and sat on his lap. 

Izuku wrapped his arms around her like a child holding a plushie. Her feet lightly swung in the air as there was at least a foot of space between her feet and the floor.

 “Would either of you like some tea?” Nedzu offered once they were all sitting. Aizawa was quickly pulled by Present Mic to his desk as he panic whispered to him. All of the staff were blatantly listening in to both conversations.

“Yes sir,” Izuku responded quickly and Virginia lightly shook her head, “Thank you but no, I don't like tea.” Nedzu smiled as he poured Izuku and himself some tea, Virginia picked up Izuku’s cup as he had yet to let her go. 

“Now then, we will have to create all new documents for you, Virginia-san. I just need a few basic pieces of information to work with, such as age, birthday, nationality, and height. We can work out your backstory later if you wish or I can just create something.” Nedzu said as he pulled out a computer to take some quick notes. 

“A backstory later, I like writing stories so it would feel weird if I didn’t create my own. I was born October 13th in Dearborn, Michigan, USA. I guess you don’t really need the year, if this is meant for a new identity. Um, let’s see, I am 5 foot even, what is that? Um, 152cm? That should be everything right?” Virginia rattled off calmly as she began to absentmindedly run her nails lightly up and down the arms trapping her. 

“Yes, indeed. However, just to sate my curiosity, what year was it that you were born and what year was it when you appeared in our time?” Nedzu asked, still smiling.

“It was 2032 when we appeared here and I was born in 1997,” Virginia said smoothly, a few gasps came from the other side of the room, causing her eyes to snap up to meet another pair of blue eyes. The two women shared an awkward wave before Virginia looked back to Nedzu. 

“Interesting, no one has ever gone back 211 years before and has returned to talk about it. Very interesting. Furthermore, no new quirks that could relate to time travel have been discovered in the week you were gone, Midoriya-kun.” Nedzu said as he looked at his device’s screen.

“Now then, do you still wish to be a hero Midoriya-kun. I’m sure your time away has affected your personal values?” Nedzu asked, his black beady eyes met vivid green eyes that hardened in determination. 

“Of course Nedzu-san. I never stopped aiming to be a hero. Even in the past, I continued to train my quirk and I was a volunteer paramedic and fireman for the county I lived in. I volunteered whenever there was a missing person search happening in the area. I learned first-aid and how to help those in distress or dealing with trauma. I learned as much as I could to be a quirkless hero in a society with no quirks. I never gave up even if I had no hope of ever returning.” Izuku’s voice carried, captivating with passion and determination, and authority floated with the self-assurance Izuku had of his capabilities.

He sighed lightly, the tension that had built, evaporated as Virginia leaned back into his chest as a reminder of where he was. “I know practices have changed since then, so, there most likely are things I will have to relearn, but I’m determined more than ever to be a hero. I’m just not sure how it would work out. I don’t recall if there is a different process for those who are essentially adults. Would I be considered an adult now? My birth certificate would show that I’m still 15. I also never formally completed High school due to paperwork.” Izuku said softly, his talking was on the cusp of a mutter storm as the reality of being back set in.

“No way was I gonna even attempt to forge any documents or find my way onto the black market to buy some.” Virginia huffed suddenly, jolting several people due to how abrupt she was. 

“A very wise decision if you don’t have prior knowledge in the subject.” Nedzu agreed with Virginia, unfazed by her declaration. “It’s a simple matter of having you both take a few tests to see where your knowledge is set in comparison to today’s standard.” He continued to say and Virginia got a little squirmy. 

“I’m pretty sure that the American education system sucks in comparison to Japan’s back when I was in high school. So, I’m pretty sure I will fail any test you give me. Even if you gave me a test based on the subject I went to college for. Standards are always changing there and I’m sure, definitely, with the size of that damn door, quirks have affected standards even more.” Virginia said as she dropped her head, chin resting against her chest like a rag doll.

“You never really used your degree, to begin with, so I think you can find something else or more in line with what you were doing before Gin.” Izuku encouraged his limp sister. 

She huffed as she bounced lightly before she sat up and squirmed out of Izuku’s hold to stand by the window. She was definitely pouting as she looked out. “What was the degree for?” Nedzu asked Izuku as it was clear to him Virginia won’t be talking.

“Oh, um, I think it was for a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. I remember her screaming outside one night about ‘ The damn codes ’, it was very dramatic.” Izuku chuckled as he remembered that night. 

“ Stupid codes, stupid long winded names for the damn codes.” Virginia’s voice hissed as she glared at the windows unseeing what is outside. Izuku and a few others snorted lightly at the brunette.

“Let’s move on. We can set you both up temporarily in the dorms on campus until we can finalize certain details. We can also get you in contact with your mother to see how she reacts to your change. I will see to the documents being created or updated to reflect your situation. Now then, is there anything you wish for us to know about?” Nedzu clarified before turning the conversation over to Izuku and Virginia. 

Izuku bit his lower lip as he glanced around at the faces in the room, searching for one in particular. 

“Is All Might still on Campus?” He asked softly as he looked down at his hands that were now folded together in his lap. 

He shifted forward so he could rest his forearms against his legs. “No, he has been away since your disappearance. We will inform him in a day or so if you wish.” the rat said as he picked up his tea. The glint in his eyes made it clear to Izuku that he knew where the conversation was going.

“Alright, well then, the only thing I want to share is that, genetically, I’m quirkless. The first time I ever used my quirk was when I destroyed the Zero-pointer, and All Might gave me this power.” Izuku said in a level tone, Virginia turned to face the chaos that erupted from the heroes in the room. 

Several shouts of shock and anger spilled from the staff as they all stood and reacted to the news.

Chapter Text

Izuku straightened up and the siblings stared at each other in awe, as they tried to comprehend the mess that was unleashed at the statement and not even at the story. Virginia wandered over to Izuku and picked up a large book that was resting on the coffee table and threw it at the yelling heroes. 

One of the males got smacked in the face and she felt a bit bad for it but ultimately she felt it was deserved as they are heroes. They shouldn’t have gotten hit regardless.

“What the hell?” The guy yelled, clutching the side of his head where the book hit. “Are you gonna let him explain or are you testing to see who can be the loudest? My bet is on the blond,” Virginia said as she plopped down next to Izuku, their shoulders bumping each other. “Present Mic and the one you hit is Vlad King,” Izuku muttered helpfully with a shy grin.

“Why did you throw a book at me?” Vlad King asked as he and the rest of the teachers walked closer to the couches, some dragged their desk chairs over as there weren't enough chairs. “At least it wasn’t a lax.” Virginia huffed, crossing her arms as she leaned into Izuku. 

He just smiled a little bigger, deciding to inform them what she was referencing, “A log with an ax embedded in it, doesn’t matter, a story for a different time. Do you want to know what I mean or are you all just going to yell?” He asked with a sly grin, leaning forward again. 

Present Mic joined the two on the couch, sitting on Izuku’s other side as it was open. His body turned towards him looking a little pale.

“How?” He whispered out as Izuku turned to meet his eyes. “I think I should start from the beginning instead of starting at how I ended up with a quirk.” Izuku said before looking back down to his hands. 

“Which beginning are you going with? Your beginning or the quirk’s?” Virginia asked softly, knowing that either option would entice nerves with Izuku.

“Those are separate?” Aizawa asked flatly from the chair next to Nedzu. The siblings nodded at different tempos. Virginia conveyed grim resignation while Izuku conveyed a level of sadness that no one could quite read. 

“I’ll start from my beginning.” Izuku said, taking a deep breath as Virginia sat straight instead of leaning on him. Several of the teachers shifted in their seats as they sensed that it was going to be a long listen.

 “As I said, I am genetically quirkless. I have the second toe joint common to the quirkless and never manifested anything. I was bullied to put it lightly, I won’t go into any detail with it because it’s not important right now. However,” Izuku paused lightly to collect his thoughts. 

“I will say that my previous school did nothing to stop it, some of the teachers even encouraged it. They would just smile when Kaach...when Bakugou would target me, yell in my face, loom over me...” Izuku paused again as he closed his eyes and sighed deeply, wearily, “And used his quirk on me, leaving burns in my clothes and some on my body.”

The teachers stiffened to different degrees, Nedzu no longer had his smile, Aizawa looked beyond pissed off and Present Mic looked even paler. 

“We’ll come back to that later.” Virginia spoke up, meeting Aizawa’s eyes and he seemed to deflate a little at the look. He could see a cold fury in her eyes that promised that the discussion would come back even if Izuku doesn’t lead it. 

“On the particular day that changed things completely for me, I was offered the suggestion of killing myself in hopes of getting a quirk when I’m reborn. There had been times before that that I was given that suggestion but that day continued to get worse. 

“On my way home, completely alone with no other civilians around, I was attacked by a sludge villain that appeared from the sewers and tried to kill me in order to use my body as a meatsuit to hide from All Might.” Izuku said, he rolled his shoulders to try to loosen the tension growing.

“Obviously I lived. All Might saved me, signed my notebook which Bakugou blew up earlier, ‘lightly’ slapped me awake from where I passed out. He tried to leave and turn in the villain before his time ended but I didn’t let him leave easily as I wanted to ask him an important question.” Izuku continued on, nervously rubbing his hands together.

“I’ve always wanted to be a hero, and was always told it was impossible to be one without a quirk. So, I wanted to ask him. The top hero that is always saying anyone can be a hero.” Izuku’s voice steadily sounded more bitter as his face contorted in anger.

“All Might wouldn’t let me ask so when he prepared to jump away, I did a stupid and grabbed onto him. My skinny, string bean ass impersonated a flag as All Might practically flew through the air and tried to get me to let go mid-air. I pointed out I would die if I did, so he landed. At some point in the jump, All Might lost the bottles he secured the sludge villain in.”

“ I used to blame myself for that but Gin pointed out that me clinging on to the man’s ankle was nowhere near the pockets so it’s his own fault for not making sure he really had a good hold of the bottles.” He continued his story, slouching back into the couch, looking up at the ceiling.

“When we landed I quickly took the opportunity to ask All Might if he thought that I, as a quirkless person, could be a hero like him. I had my eyes closed when I asked so I was definitely surprised when I opened them, that where All Might had stood was an emaciated man wearing the same clothes.”

“He then told me that, no he doesn’t believe a quirkless person can be a hero, he then went on to explain how he ended up injured vaguely. He pretty much said that if he, as powerful as he is, was injured so badly, how can I as someone with no power can be anything but a liability. I should be realistic with my goals.” Izuku sighed lightly, closing his eyes before anyone could get a clear view of the grief in his eyes.

“I was then left on a roof, found my way down and went home. However, given my luck,” Izuku said as he sat up, rolling his eyes with a huff when he regarded his luck. A few of the teachers had a twinge of a smirk on their lips as he gained a reputation of being in the center of disaster pretty quickly. 

“I got distracted by a crowd. Thinking I could see a hero because that was literally the only joy I could get. Watching fights that happen on the streets, I was very unpleasantly surprised to see the same exact villain that attacked me, holding someone captive and causing a lot of damage.”

“The captive person? Bakugou. The responding heroes? Most were standing around doing nothing because their quirks aren’t ‘suited for the rescue’. I gave Bakugou a few extra moments to breathe and inspired All Might into puffing up and saving the day.” Izuku said with sarcastic jazz hands.

“What did I do to cause this, you may ask? I threw my fucking backpack at the villian’s eye and ran up to try pulling Bakugou out by hand. I was later scolded by the heroes, I think it was Death Arm, about being reckless then Bakugou had to go yelling at me that he didn’t need help from a quirkless loser.”

“I was scolded even harder before I left because I’m quirkless and I just caused more trouble than good by getting involved.” Izuku sighed and flopped his head to land on Virginia’s shoulder.

Aizawa slowly blinked when he picked up Present Mic practically growling next to Izuku. Both siblings looked at the man confused before Virginia spoke up, reaching across her brother to poke Mic’s closest hand. 

He jolted in surprise and blinked rapidly at her. “ You good? ” She asked as she pulled her hand away. Mic flushed and flashed her his mega smile before bashfully apologizing. Izuku stared at him a moment longer before continuing.

“Anyway, on my way home I was stopped by Bakugou who yelled at me again before stomping away. All Might, then appeared and essentially changed his mind about me being a hero. I have the heart to be a hero, all I would need is a quirk. Luckily for me, he had a solution.”

“He offered to train me as his successor and pass on his quirk to me. I was too overwhelmed to really think about it and I agreed. I agreed to tell no one and take on a quirk I knew nothing about, we made no plan on how to make a believable story for when I do gain the quirk but instead we set a time and place for training.” Izuku slowly shook his head in a mix of disbelief and disappointment in his naivety.

“10 excruciating months of strength training later, I was finally offered a stand of hair from All Might to eat as that was the only appropriate way to transfer the quirk to me. It has to be willingly given and DNA passed for it to be transferred.” Izuku shivered at the memory of eating hair. 

“You only did strength training? No agility, no combat, no speed?” Aizawa asked, sitting forward, a frown pulled deep. “You know that illegal trash dump that used to be a popular beach?” Izuku asked instead of responding.

“The one that was cleaned by some good samaritans?” Midnight spoke up from next to Aizawa. “I was the only one cleaning there. Took me 10 months to do.” Izuku said proudly.

“Finished just before the Entrance exams. I was given the quirk the day of, just before I entered campus.The first time I ever used the quirk was with the zero pointer. All Might told me after that, if I didn’t do that strength training, my limbs could have been obliterated, completely blown off. He didn’t tell me that until after. There is a lot he didn’t tell me until after.” He shook his head in continuous disbelief.

“Like, that it is a stockpiling quirk. That I’m the ninth user now, that it practically doubles in strength between the previous and the next user. That it’s very possible that I can unlock the other quirks of the previous users.” “That was a mess,” Virginia mumbled under her breath as she wrapped her arms around Izuku’s larger arm, he took a deep breath to center himself again. 

Izuku opened his eyes once again, a dark toxic green glow seemed to shine, “That’s my story essentially, now for the quirk. It’s called One for All and started with two brothers.”

Chapter Text

“Once upon a time there were two brothers. The elder went mad with power and stolen vitality, the younger, sickly and powerless, but determined nonetheless. It’s a tale as old as quirks, or at least close to that. It’s a twisted tale of greed, defiance, war, heartbreak, and death.” A large tan hand covered in scars covered Virginia’s mouth, stopping her abruptly. 

The same hand quickly pulled away with a disgusted sound coming from Izuku. “Why did you lick my hand?” He asked, wiping his hand off on his jeans. Virginia just snickered at the expression Izuku had. 

From the edge of her vision she could see a slowly building look of horror on Aizawa’s face. “What?” She asked, turning her head to look at him fully. 

“Explain,” Aizawa growled out, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the two, leaning forwards so his arms rested against his legs. Shadows cloaked his face.

The other staff all shared looks with each other, what was it about what Virginia said that caused the sole underground hero to become so agitated.

Izuku awkwardly shuffled, accidentally bumping knees with Present Mic as he did. Virginia looked embarrassed and scooted farther back into the couch, her feet no longer touching the floor making her visually look smaller and younger. 

Izuku offered a small apology to Mic as he rubbed his hands together nervously. “Well, you see, it pretty much goes as Gin said. From the dawn of quirks, two brothers were born. One had the ability to take and give quirks. He ended up gathering a following.” “A cult with him as God,” Virginia added darkly. 

“His brother, born sickly and with no power, always opposed him. So, in an attempt to control his brother, the elder forced a stockpiling quirk into the younger. Unfortunately, it turns out that the younger did already have a quirk. His was the ability to pass his quirk on to another.” Izuku paused as he settled into a different position.

“Pretty useless on its own but it combined with the new quirk. Thus creating One for All. My quirk. 

What happens after that gets a little blurry and lost to time. The names of the brothers also became lost and now all they are known by is the names of their quirks. One for All and All for One.”

“Definitely not the three musketeers.” Virginia muttered with her arms crossed. She sighed before continuing Izuku’s story as he seemed to take a long pause that wasn’t ending. 

“From what I was told, All Might didn’t inform Izzy about the history of the quirk until after Hosu and the several Nomu. He couldn’t deny it any longer. The man he thought he killed wasn’t as dead as believed. The league of Villains is most likely controlled by this Boogieman. All for One is the reason All Might is weakening and looks like a scarecrow the majority of the day.” Virginia told them all in an uncaring tone.

Aizawa exhaled through his nose harshly, his eyes clenched closed as he focused on breathing through his anger. 

“Because All Might wasn’t forthcoming with information and none of his trusted allies ensured that All for One was dead after their huge battle, Izuku personally has a target painted on his back whether or not the league actually knows that he is All Might’s successor.” She said as she shifted forward again so her feet were on the ground.

“On top of that, because All Might is a teacher here and is the last known user of One for All, the school is a target. Whatever class he teaches will face his history, his mistakes.” Virginia finished in a grim tone, reaching over and wrapping her hands around the shaking fists of Izuku. 

The moment she touched him, he began to relax, like he snapped out of a dark thought. She looked at him, watching his eyes to see if he was alright. He gave a small head nod. 

“His heart was in a good-ish place, just the execution of it all flopped badly. His advice when he gave me this quirk was to clench my buttcheeks and yell smash. Neither of us was prepared for the injuries I would continue to gain. All the while only relying on him and his previous teacher to figure shit out.” Izuku finally spoke again, his eyes staring at the scars on his hands covered by Virginia’s.

Present Mic let out a shuttered breath as others did the same, “Wow, that’s just...awful. You’ve gone through so much in such a short amount of time, then ending up in the past on top of it all?” He waved his hands wildly as his voice failed him to explain more. 

“Honestly, I’m pretty thankful I ended up in the past. Sure I was scared but now that I am back, I’m really glad it happened.” Izuku gave Mic a warm, bright smile. One that the teachers were familiar with seeing in passing.

Izuku didn’t see it as he looked away, but Virginia saw the light blush forming on Mic’s cheeks having had that smile turned on him. Her eyes narrowed in confusion but thought nothing more of it. 

“In the past, I was able to spend my time no longer stressing about quirks, my bullies, and my mom worrying about me getting hurt. I was able to train my quirk and discover its nuances, and had to be careful about it because there were no healing quirks. I got to discover who I am, without the pressures of society and feeling like a fraud.”

“I was able to heal in the past.” He finished softly, his eyes downcast. The room fell silent after that, it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence, just one that no one really wanted to break. Except for Virginia.

“If I see All Might, he is getting a lax.” She said with a crazed grin causing Izuku to snort loudly as he tried not bursting out in laughter. 

“Gin no! You can’t throw a lax at All Might! That's an assault on an elderly person and a hero.” He said in a fake indignant tone. Clearly, if she manages to get her hands on a lax, he isn’t going to stop it from attempting to find its mark.

“Well then, I do believe that I have some work to do. Aizawa, will you show these two to the staff dorms and help them get settled in. I’ll give you a credit card to use to gather necessary items for the time being until we get you two legally situated.” Nedzu spoke up finally. 

Aizawa sighed deeply before standing up. Nedzu held out a black card for him to take. Once he took it, the principal scurried away and the teachers dispersed. 

“Follow me,” Aizawa said, Izuku stood, turned and grabbed Virginia. His arm wrapped around her middle and he carried her under his arm, she just hung there looking a little annoyed. 

“I can walk Izzy,” She grumbled but didn’t fight it. Mic apparently invited himself to join on the adventure to the dorms. The group walked silently back to the elevator, down and outside. 

Once they reached outside, Virginia hissed and tucked her face into Izuku’s side. “Are you okay?” Mic asked as the two heroes stared at her in surprise. 

“She’s fine, it’s just because she has blue eyes. She’s more sensitive to the sudden light change.” Izuku explained as Virginia tentatively looked up from Izuku’s side. Her eyes were squinting hard as they adjusted, slowly her face relaxed but her eyes remained nearly closed.

A pair of sunglasses were held out to her, she took them carefully before looking up at Mic. “I had an extra pair,” He said with a shrug and the group continued on as she replaced her glasses with the offered pair, now glad Izuku was carrying her. They quickly approach a large building that must be the dorms. 

“There is a communal bathroom separated by sex with showers and tubs. Each individual room has a small toilet and sink, a small living room with a kitchenette and a separate bedroom. It’s more like a tiny apartment without a shower, than a dorm. A small handful of staff members for the whole school tend to stay on campus so you two wouldn't have the whole building to yourselves, so be respectful of that.” Aizawa explained as he led the way to an office that had room keys and a chart of what rooms are occupied.

“The dorms here aren’t separated by gender as we are all adults so ya know, responsible.” Mic added on with a little jazz hand movement. “Right, no teenage hormones going rampant here,” Virginia muttered, still hanging at Izuku’s side. 

Izuku bashfully placed her down and she removed the borrowed sunglasses and put her glasses back on. “So any room without a name on it is fine to use?” She asked, stepping up to the board next to Aizawa. “Pretty much. Just write your name on the room and grab the key for it.”

“You have rooms?” Izuku said as he watched Virginia write their names on two rooms that were open across from each other on the 5th floor. “UA can occasionally be closer than home if we had a long day and just need to crash. Aizawa tends to crash here the most often even if he isn’t on the rotation to stay on campus.” Mic offered up. 

“Oh, by the way Virginia-san, I’m Yamada Hizashi. It’s nice to meet you!” He grinned and offered a hand to shake.

Virginia turned and smiled gently at him as she took his hand and they shook, “Virginia, as you know. I also go by Ginna.” She said after she let go. “What do we do now?” She asked, looking at Izuku as she has the least amount of experience in how things are done specifically in Japan. 

“We should probably take a look at the rooms? Unless there is a list of what is already in the spaces to use?” Izuku offered up before turning the question to the two heroes. 

“The rooms only come with furniture. No curtains, no sheets, towels, dishware. There are pillows on the mattresses but that’s it.” Aizawa said as he grabbed the keys matching the rooms picked and handed them over to the siblings. 

“Traffic will be light if we go now.” Aizawa determined after he looked at the time. “I’ll drive!” Yamada shouted, car keys jingle in his hand. “Are you gonna be dressed like that? Won’t you be swarmed with fans?” Virginia asked before Izuku could. “Oh! Of course not. I can get changed real quick, then we can go!” He smiled and Aizawa sighed, “Let’s just get this over with.”

Yamada shot them a grin before rushing out of the office and towards the elevators to head for the dorm he had. While they waited, Izuku and Virginia explored the common space so they wouldn't look like idiots if other staff saw them.

___________

Virginia and Izuku

Chapter Text

It took an impressive 15 minutes for Yamada to return, hair down, and in civilian clothes. Virginia pulled the sunglasses back over her eyes and the four left the building to head for the staff parking lot. 

Yamada looked defeated as they walked past a bright red car, to a black 4-door SUV. “The four of us and shopping bags cannot fit in your car,” Aizawa muttered as he unlocked the SUV for them to get in.

“You can still drive. I don’t want to and these two don’t have the license for it.” He said as he opened one of the back doors. Virginia and Izuku played a short game of rock, paper, scissors to decide who rode in the front.

She did a little victory jump when she lost, claiming the other side of the back of the car. Izuku took up the front passenger seat. “Alright then, everyone get buckled, we’ll head to the mall and then stop for some groceries on the way back.” Yamada cheered and Virginia looked at him flatly, Aizawa seemed to share the sentiment. 

The car was silent sans the occasional tapping of Yamada’s fingers on the steering wheel. “Do you consider yourself to be an extrovert, ambivert, or introvert?” Virginia spoke up after 10 minutes of driving. She had been watching the buildings and people pass by in silence. 

Aizawa looked over at her with a raised eyebrow, “I’m an introvert, we’ve determined that Izuku is an ambivert, so I’m curious. My guess is that Grumpy is also introverted and Happy is extroverted or maybe that’s just your persona as a hero?” She continued on, Izuku snorted a laugh. 

“You’re not wrong about Shou! But I would say I’m an ambivert, pushing towards being an extrovert when I’m in costume. It just helps to further separate my hero life from my civilian life.” Yamada explained, a smile on his face as he glanced at Virginia using the rearview mirror. 

“That’s fair.” She hummed before looking back out the window. It took another 6 minutes before they were finally pulling into the mall parking lot.

As the group unloads from the car, Izuku brings up what he thinks the plan of attack should be. “I think it would make the most sense for us to do the clothes shopping first then go for hygiene products and stuff. Afterward, go for textiles.” He said as they walked through the parking lot and entered the building. 

Yamada and Izuku walked forward without pause, Virginia however did hesitate after she walked through the doors. The volume inside grew exponentially with all of the people moving about. 

She ended up bumping into Aizawa in her shock,  “What’s wrong?” His voice cut through the noise as he leaned closer to her ear. “I-I’m really not used to crowds like these or the noise. The reason I’m fine with Izzy carrying me as he did is because I can easily get lost in crowds like these. It's a little overwhelming.” She confessed, her voice low.

Yamada and Izuku had yet to notice that the two had stopped. Aizawa sighed lightly and took her hand, pulling her along to catch up. With their height difference, she did have to take faster steps, but just slightly.

Izuku seemed to suddenly realize how crowded it was and that Virginia wasn’t behind him anymore. He stopped and started to look around frantically. Just as he was about to call out her name, he spotted Aizawa pulling her along. “ Oh thank god. ” He breathed out and pulled Virginia into a hug once she got in range of him.

Yamada and Aizawa looked at them baffled, Yamada just had to ask, “What’s this reaction for?” Virginia twisted her head to look at him from her squished position. 

“I don’t like large crowds and Izuku has separation anxiety. It reached a breaking point when we made a trip out to the mall of America, we ended up getting separated. I was overwhelmed by the noise and struggled to find security for help. Izuku ended up having a panic attack. Eventually, we were reunited and we swore off large crowds.”

Izuku was still holding tightly to Virginia but he did release her from the hug and just clung to her hand. “Right, let's go get clothes as fast as we can.” He said, completely ignoring his previous panic. 

Aizawa just narrowed his eyes and Yamada led the way. Aizawa followed from behind and watched the body language of the two siblings. They both were tense but some of the tension melted away the longer they held hands.

It was a bit of a baffling dynamic between the two and Aizawa wasn’t quite sure what to think. Was it potentially debilitating to their health or will it be beneficial in the end for them? He would need to continue to observe them to figure it out. 

He definitely can tell that they aren’t lying about being uncomfortable in crowds, as their body language has loosened up a lot as they all entered the first store. Aizawa was in charge of pushing the shopping cart while the other three ran around to get clothes.

Virginia disappeared pretty quickly in the direction of the woman’s section after informing Yamada that Izuku is a disaster when it comes to fashion. Yamada flitted around the racks pulling Izuku along with him, holding different articles of clothes up to him, judging size and fashion. 

Some get flung into the cart, some get placed back neatly, and some are refolded as Yamada said he isn’t a heathen. Izuku looked like he wished to be anywhere but there. 

What felt like hours to the two dark-haired males, was really just 15 minutes. Virginia appeared silently from behind Aizawa as he was standing in the aisle and she wanted to place the clothes on her arms in the cart. 

Aizawa will pretty much never admit that she did startle him slightly. She didn’t even notice the small jolt as she was focused on Yamada. “Do you have enough clothes to get a basis with?” She asked, looking into the cart that was practically overflowing.

“Oh, I guess so. We have to start somewhere and I’ve just been guesstimating what size Midoriya is.” Yamada said as he put back the leather pants he had in his hands. Virginia stared at him with a raised eyebrow, eyes tracking the pants. 

Izuku just now realized what material the pants were, causing him to flush. “Leather looks good on practically anyone!” Yamada tried to defend himself from her silent scrutiny as his face began to pinken.

“Sure,” Virginia said, drawing out the syllables as she began to walk away to the fitting rooms. “I’ve really only ever seen rock stars or kinky people wear leather for anything other than going clubbing.” She finished off, not seeing how red the faces of Izuku and Yamada went, Aizawa however took a picture. 

The group made their way over to the fitting rooms, where Virginia then proceeded to pull several clothing options out from the cart. Pushing them into Izuku’s arms and then pushing him towards a room. “You get started with those as you have a lot to go through.” She said before taking a seat on the bench nearby.

Aizawa and Yamada followed suit and sat down on either side of her. The two heroes began to talk to each other using sign language as Virginia zoned out, her head tilted to the side as her eyes went out of focus. 

The sounds of other shoppers moving drifted around them, soft ambient music flowed, and people walked in and out of fitting rooms.

Virginia began to zone back in as she picked up the flashes of hands from both sides of her. Her eyes focused, bouncing between two sides. “Sign language? Is that just for heroes or is that the standard for Japan?” She asked, sitting straight again, looking at Yamada as he was the one currently signing. 

“Oh, it's just Japanese sign. There is one for heroes but it’s mostly used by the underground. Did Midoriya explain the types of heroes to you?” He informed her, his hands dropping from signing.

“Yeah, we talked quite often about heroes, villains, quirks, societal norms, and other things as he was bed bound for the few weeks after he arrived at my original time.” Virginia said as she tucked hair behind her ear, a dainty white stone earring glimmered in the light as she moved. 

Yamada caught himself wondering what kind of stone it was as it definitely wasn’t a diamond or a pearl. “Oh, I forgot about that!” Izuku’s voice sounded from behind the door in the changing room he was in. 

“What?” Virginia called as the three looked over just as he stepped out in a loose t-shirt that had a graphic of a cat sitting in a pocket and loose cargo shorts. “Soulmarks. I forgot about them. I got one on my leg, see?” He said, pulling the hem of the shorts up on the left side, exposing a black kitten curled up, asleep. 

“Wow,” Virginia said as she walked closer to take a look. “That looks like a tattoo. I remember you mentioned these a few times but never in much detail.” She said as she leaned away. 

Aizawa just rubbed his face, letting Yamada explain, “Soulmarks only come in after you turn 20 so kids typically don’t really learn about them until their second or third year in highschool. When they are closer to that age.”

“There’s three types, Romantic, Platonic, and Familial. Romantic marks always appear over the heart. Platonic appear in random spots, and Familial are matching images or half an image that is shared to make a whole image. Aizawa and I are soulbound actually.” Yamada explained further as he shrugged off his jacket to expose his right arm where a large mark covered it. The image was incomplete but they could infer it as a large stage speaker with streamers floating around.

“I’ll take your word on that.” Virginia muttered as she looked at the decorated skin, practically looking like a full sleeve tattoo. She glanced at Aizawa still in his hero uniform, something that definitely doesn’t look practical to just remove one arm from to show off. 

“Well, after that quick lesson, get back in there.” Virginia shooed Izuku back to his room. Then she went and grabbed her much smaller pile of clothes before she slipped away to a room of her own.

While she was going through her pile of clothes, She stared at herself in surprise for a while. Izuku collected another pile after setting the clothes that worked for him on the bench where she had sat. The rejected clothes went on a rack to be placed back.

Virginia eventually finished deciding and left her fitting room with her pile of clothes. Walking back up to the bench, she eyed the still full cart and the clothes in her spot. “Maybe we should have grabbed two carts.” Yamada chuckled as he rubbed his neck as it was his fault. 

“I’ll go grab you one.” Aizawa said as he got up and left before she could say anything. She shrugged and placed her armful down in his vacated spot, separating the clothes that she was putting back. 

“I’m gonna go get some other things now that I know what will fit.” She told Yamada after she put the rejected clothes on the rack. He gave her a nod and she walked over to Izuku’s door. “Izzy, I need to know your size. Gonna grab pajamas, socks, and others for us both.” She said against the door after knocking. The door opened and she stepped inside to see him shirtless. 

Black slacks clung tightly to his legs and he was holding two shirts up to him, looking unsure. “Try the red one and roll the sleeves into cuffs. What’s your sizes?” Virginia said after a moment of looking at the shirts. 

He nodded and turned to place the other one down. His back was exposed to her showing off a large tattoo-like mark. “Oh Wow! That kinda looks like mine! I couldn’t get a good look when I was changing but that’s amazing.” She gasped and Izuku looked over his shoulder. 

In the center of his back is a large black bear glowing surrounded by sharp glowing, green lightning. “The bear must be for you,” Izuku said as he stood up to his full height, facing her fully again. 

On his chest was another mark, abstract and colorful. Virginia wasn’t too sure of what it was as Izuku covered it too quickly for her to study it. He told her the sizes he would need and then they both left the room. Izuku wanted another opinion on the outfit, it was comfortable but he wasn’t too sure if the pants were too tight.

Yamada was looking down at his phone when they came out. Virginia passed him with a vocalization of her coming back in a bit, causing him to look up at her. “Hey, Yamada-san? Do you think these pants are too tight?” Izuku’s voice pulled his attention away from watching where Virginia went. 

His face darkened rapidly as he took in the sight in front of him. The pants weren’t tight enough to be indecent but oh did it leave little to the imagination. Especially, when Izuku turned around slowly giving Yamada a full look.

“A-are you alright?” Izuku asked when he finished his turn and noticed how red Yamada became. “You’re fine- I mean, I’m fine! I’m fine, just a little warm. If you can move comfortably in the pants then they aren’t too tight.” Yamada nearly was yelling and his voice squeaked a little. 

Izuku stared at the man in confusion before a gentle smile bloomed across his face. “Good to know! I’ll be finishing up soon.” Izuku said as he turned back to his room.

Chapter Text

Aizawa returned shortly after with the new cart to see Yamada squirming in his seat with a red face, slowly fading away. He just shook his head when Yamada signed, ‘HELP,’ at him. 

Instead of doing anything, he gathered Virginia’s clothes and dropped them into the new cart before sitting down again. He sighed as he leaned back against the wall while ignoring the whining coming from his best friend and soul brother.

Virginia appeared soon after with a small black bag that looked like a backpack, things were definitely inside and her arms had even more clothes. Some were for her, which she promptly dropped into the second cart that held the clothes she left behind. 

Izuku walked out of his stall, finally back in his own clothes. “Izzy, I found some compression pants for you, and they don’t look like underwear, more like decorative leggings!” Virginia said as she offered up the different pant options.

“Nice, thank you!” Izuku said as he took them from her, looking them over. “Go try them on, make sure they actually fit right,” She prompted as she began to sort the carts. 

“But I just got dressed,” He whined with a pout. “Are you really complaining about taking your pants off?” She asked not even looking up. “Buy me a drink first?” Izuku laughed, and Virginia deadpanned at him. 

“I’m your sister, go!” Izuku pouted and looked at Yamada, “Will you buy me a drink?” He asked in a playful tone, his pout turning to a grin as Virginia kicked him in the butt back towards the fitting room.

Yamada squeaked and covered his mouth and nose with his hands. His face once again turned bright red, and the noise caused Virginia to pause from pulling packs of socks and underwear from the black bag. She tossed the packs in her hands into the other cart as she looked at Yamada in concern. 

Aizawa was also eyeing him. “Are you feeling alright Yamada-san?” Virginia asked softly, concern coloring her voice. The man in question nodded rapidly and left the space. Aizawa sighed and followed after him.

Virginia stared after him for a long while before she finished sorting things in the carts and Izuku came out with the pants he wanted. “Where did Yamada-san and Aizawa-san go?” He asked when he walked over. 

“Yamada didn’t seem to be feeling too well so he stepped away, and Aizawa followed him. Maybe if we head to the checkouts they’ll catch up. This is only a clothing store right?” Virginia responded and Izuku nodded to her question.

The duo then made their way, slowly, back to the front of the store, pushing the carts while trying to keep an eye out for the two heroes. Both of them were concerned for Yamada’s health. 

Izuku was trying to think up of different solutions or possible health risks for overheating as he does recall Yamada turning pretty red as things went along. Virginia was left wondering if it was heat or something else was bothering the man.

He had been wearing full leather and what looked like a heavy speaker around his neck, when they first met. His civilian clothes looked much lighter and if he did patroles and taught in the leather, then what caused him to over heat. 

The check-outs came into view at the same time as the remaining members of their band. “Oh, Yamada-san! Are you feeling better? Gin said you left, not looking well.” Izuku asked, his expression conveying his worry. 

“I’m fine, promise!” He said in a cheerful tone, Virginia could faintly pick up the stain in his voice causing her to frown and look at Aizawa. He looked back to her and they seemed to come to an understanding. 

“Once we check-out, Yamada and I will bring the bags out to the car. While you two are left in a store to get your toiletries and textiles.” Aizawa said as he led them to a check-out with a short line. Even with all the items in the carts, they got done pretty quickly and were on their way to the next store.

True to his word, Izuku and Virginia were left in the next store while he and Yamada brought the bags out. The two were silent as they made it out to the car and loaded the bags into the trunk. 

Aizawa just looked at Yamada flatly, “Don’t give me that look Shou!” He whined, hiding his face in his hands. “You had a hard on in the middle of the store, Hizashi.” He reminded causing him to shrink into himself more. 

“I couldn’t help it! I was getting overwhelmed unexpectedly, then he went and said that, with that face and I- gah!” Yamada said before cutting off with a distressed sound.

“Maybe, you should keep your distance for now? We know he’s-” Aizawa gestured towards Yamada’s chest before continuing, “He just has to figure that out himself, but given that he has spent 10 years away, he needs time to just settle back in. He might be smart, but I don’t think he will put two and two together any time soon.” Aizawa comforted gruffly before giving a light push, back to the mall.

The two made their way back to the store they left the sibling at to find them again. Yamada went one way while Aizawa went another. Virginia was found by Yamada amongst the bathroom supplies. 

Currently, she was looking at all the hair care products, looking absolutely overwhelmed, “Need some help?” He asked, coming up to her side, her head snapped up, her eyes wide in surprise before her stance relaxed and she looked grateful to see him. “Please! I really never figured out what products either of us really need to take care of our hair.” 

Yamada smiled as the two of them began to break down different parts of haircare and what products did what and so on. Eventually, hair products for Izuku and Virginia were selected. 

The duo then moved on to other items; body wash, deodorant, cologne/perfume, hair brushes, body scrubs, shower totes, robes, and slippers. Yamada and Virginia had quite a bit of a blast choosing different scents of things.

They eventually end up wandering towards candles and incense where they found Izuku and Aizawa. Two carts being pushed between the males, both overfilled with textiles. 

A sage green bedding set was in one cart and a mint green set in the other. The cart with the mint set, was filled with a lot of blankets of different patterns, colors, and textures. The other cart had a mix of decorative pillows and rugs rolled up. 

Virginia ran a critical eye over the fabrics and ran a hand against the textures, nodding in approval as she did. At least that was until she touched one and jerked her hand back like she was shocked, a look of betrayal crossed her face as she looked at Izuku.

“Oh, sorry. That’s for me.” He said as he pulled out a blanket with a rougher texture and dropped it into the cart he was pushing.

Virginia just continued to glare at him as they went for the check-outs again. Yamada and Virginia this time took the bags out to the car as Izuku and Aizawa went to the next store. 

One filled with stationary and art supplies. Izuku gathered some sketchbooks, notebooks, pens, markers, and pencils pretty quickly and they were checked out before the others returned. 

“Can we go into that store?” He asked, pointing out a toy store across from them. “Why?” Aizawa asked as they stood near a bench, out of the way of the other shoppers. “A surprise,” Izuku responded. 

The two had a stare off before Aizawa pulled out the black card, “Give me those bags. I’m not going inside.” He said as he sat down.

Izuku just smiled, setting the bags down and grabbing the card before disappearing into the toy store. He was on a mission now. 

Aizawa watched him go, confused as to why he would want to go in there. He sent Yamada a text to let him know where to meet up. 5 minutes later, Virginia came bounding over, her hair swaying all around her face as she came to a stop next to him. 

Her eyes were instantly drawn to the bags next to him and she dug into them. Yamada appeared after her and just grinned at him.

“Where is Izzy?” She asked, finally looking at him, her eyes seemed to be shimmering with laughter from an unknown joke. “He went to get something, saying it’s a surprise.” Aizawa huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. 

“Ya know, I was thinking on the way back inside about the phones Izzy and I have. Do you think Nedzu would allow us to buy new phones? I can access the photos and music on mine, but nothing else works. Izuku’s phone most likely does the same.” She said as she sat on the bench, her feet dangling as she sat all the way back.

“I’ll call him and find out,” Yamada said as he stepped away. The two left behind just sat there quietly, peacefully. A child began to cry loudly, both Virginia and Aizawa snapped to attention, looking for the child. 

The child sounded scared, not like they were throwing a tantrum. Virginia spotted him first as a crowd of concerned adults, parents most likely, formed around him. No one could get him to calm down, spurring the two to go over.

Virginia pushed through the crowd and scooped up the child, who instantly calmed down as he clung to her. “Back up!” Aizawa commanded roughly, the crowd separated, giving him space to reach Virginia. 

She was gently rubbing the child’s back as she rocked him. Aizawa observed them for a moment longer before he pulled out his phone to contact Mall security to get some help. 

Security arrived quickly with a distressed father. The man began to cry when he spotted his son asleep in Virginia’s arms. “Oh my god! Thank you! Thank you!” The man cried as he reached them. 

The security men introduced the father and explained the situation. Gently, Virginia woke the child up, who instantly reached out crying for his father once he was spotted.

The man thanked her once again before he was escorted away by security, the crowd dissipated and Virginia turned to look at Aizawa. Izuku was behind him with Yamada, all of them were staring at her. 

“What?” She asked, confused by their looks. “I think you have a quirk.” Aizawa said flatly, Yamada and Izuku nodded in agreement.

“What?!” She asked again, eyes wide as she stepped back in shock. That was definitely not what she was expecting to hear. Not at all.

Chapter Text

Virginia was silent as they walked to the phone store, her hand held gently in Izuku’s as he guided her along. She didn’t speak, lost in thought as they got phones set up for the siblings. 

Izuku picked out the phone, phone case, and accessories for Virginia as she wasn’t receptive to questions. Gently, she was guided through the store and out of the mall. Izuku worried his lip as he helped her into the car while the remaining bags were loaded up.

Virginia blinked slowly at him when he covered her hands with his own. Now that he had seen how quickly she calmed down a panicked child with a hug, he could feel the effects of her quirk at work. “We can figure it out once we get back.” He smiled at her and she gave a weak smile, a little more aware.

The rest climbed into their previous seats and then they were off to the market to get some basic supplies. Virginia was a little more animated once they arrived, however, Izuku felt like it wasn’t enough, so he picked her up and loaded her into the basket of a cart. 

“Why?” She asked, puzzled, just as Yamada and Aizawa were. “Because you can fit,” He just grinned and pushed the cart into the store. 

“So what level of food should we get? Just snacks or like full meal prep?” Izuku asked as he pushed the cart along. 

Yamada walked along with him while Aizawa walked off elsewhere. Virginia’s back was facing the front of the cart while she leaned her head back to watch things pass by upside-down. 

“Fresh foods are usually delivered weekly when there are people staying on campus, so just get snacks and any deserts that you like. Drinks too.” He responded as Izuku spotted the American food aisle.

“How about that Gin? Let’s see how the food has changed in 200 years,” Izuku grinned as Virginia lifted her head up so she could twist to see where he was going better. They quickly rounded the corner and looked around, some brands they recognized but not the packaging. 

Some packaging looked familiar but not the brand. Yamada took to pushing the cart as Izuku walked down one side of the aisle and the cart was on the other side.

As Yamada would push the cart along the shelves, Virginia would snag an item or have him reach something out of her reach. They got to the drink section and Izuku grabbed a 4 pack case of Dr.Pepper and another one of cream soda. The cart was loaded up around Virginia’s legs as they went. 

Aizawa eventually found them down a different snack aisle, Virginia’s legs buried under food items and she was still being covered by more. Several snacks of sweets and chocolate were seen, along with sour candies, chips, sauces, drinks and more. 

“Shou! Welcome back,” Yamada cheered as one of the bags fell out of the cart. Virginia and Izuku shared a look and he carefully plucked her from the cart. She dangled like Rafiki holding Simba up in the Lion King, before he lowered her so she could stand.

She picked up the fallen bag and placed it in the far less overflowing cart. Neither she nor Izuku would look at Aizawa, her cheeks flushed pink in momentairy embarrassment. “I think we have enough, except for ice cream.” She said as she rubbed her left wrist and palm. 

“It’s that way.” Aizawa pointed before setting down the boxes of jelly pouches. Virginia looked at the boxes before she went in the direction he pointed.

She reappeared after a minute with a few pint containers of ice cream and a frozen pie slice. “Now, we’re good.” She said upon her return. The items were dropped into the cart and they were off to check-out once again. They all grabbed a few bags each instead of loading the cart up once the items were bagged. 

20 minutes later, they arrived at the dorms again. Virginia grabbed several of the grocery bags and walked inside leaving the men to get the other things. She unlocked her door and Izuku’s, propping both open and walked into her dorm to place the bags on the table inside. 

She pulled out what was her’s and placed them on the counters. Yamada dropped off her clothes on the couch, while she could see Izuku and Aizawa bringing the other bags into Izuku’s dorm. 

She grabbed the remaining grocery bags to bring to Izuku’s room, Yamada followed with the other clothing bags he had for Izuku.

Inside they began to sort out all of the beddings and textiles. Virginia got to throwing things around, curtains went up, blankets laid on the couch with throw pillows. The bed was quickly covered in the sage green set, more curtains and a rug. 

Yamada watched her, jaw dropped with how quickly she finished the space, now filled with life. He was in the bedroom to put Izuku’s clothes away while Izuku put his toiletries away. Aizawa put the snacks away to be helpful before he brought the items still in bags over to the other dorm.

They all eventually drifted into Virginia’s dorm where she was also scrambling around, putting things up and such. The three males sat on the couch while she finished putting her clothes away. The box that Izuku had from the toy store was sitting on the coffee table once Virginia finally appeared.

“What’s with the box?” She asked as she sat down in the chair in the room. “It’s for you but I think we should talk about you having a quirk first.” Izuku said looking absolutely excited, a fresh notebook and pencil at the ready. Virginia chuckled and conceded. 

“So, my guess given what I had seen and what I’ve experienced. Your touch seems to have calming properties to it, or maybe it’s a stress relief effect? I know when I was holding your hand, I felt grounded and could calm down gradually but consistently. I wonder how your hugs affect someone if your hand does that.” He pondered as he wrote quickly in his book.

“What language is that?” Aizawa asked as he watched Izuku write. 

“He is most likely writing in the language I designed. I made the letters and what the alphabet is based off of. He is the one who made the rest. I’m gonna guess it could be an unbreakable code as we are the only ones who know it and I wrote the original script on paper that most likely has been destroyed by time.” Virginia said with a proud smile as she stood up.

“Alright, who is gonna hug me so we can see Izuku’s theory in action?” she said with her arms held open. Aizawa and Yamada looked at each other as Izuku continued to frantically write. 

Yamada shrugged and got up to hug her. He wasn’t sure how he would react if the more physical contact they have, the more relaxed he becomes, if Izuku's mutterings had any truth.

Izuku looked up as he watched Virginia's arms wrap around Yamada’s back securely. The two dark-haired males watched in shock as Yamada practically collapsed in her hold, tears pouring from his eyes as he sobbed. 

Virginia looked momentarily terrified but the look quickly changed as she lowered the two of them to the floor so they were kneeling. 

“Hey, it’s okay, everything will be okay now,” She cooed softly in his ear, rubbing his back in slow circles. “I-i’m sorry! I don’t know why I’m crying!” Yamada cried out, his voice wobbly as he tried to speak. 

“I have a guess. You were with Izuku when he fell into my time, right? It probably looked like he died. It’s only been a week for you, so you were probably grieving for your missing, presumed dead, student. However, now he is miraculously back, alive and well, and older. You probably haven’t fully processed it yet and have unrealised stress build up.” She said gently, still rubbing his back as he rested his cheek against her shoulder, eyes focused on the coffee table.

“When you’re ready.” Virginia said softly, not rushing Yamada to get up. Izuku met her eyes and finished writing the sentence he was on before getting up. He walked over and joined the hug. 

Yamada jolted as he met Izuku’s eye, “Thank you for caring about me.” That sentence seemed to break Yamada as he let go of Virginia to hug Izuku fully, he sobbed into his shoulder, grief and relief heavy in his voice.

Chapter Text

Virginia and Aizawa left her dorm and went downstairs to the common space where Nedzu said waiting. “Oh, good. Where are Yamada and Midoryia?” He asked as the two sat down with him. “They’re crying in my dorm,” Virginia said lightly as Aizawa slid the black card back to Nedzu. “No matter then, now I just stopped by to give you some numbers to add to your phones should you need them. They are the numbers of some of the staff members. The ones that are most likely to interact with you and Midoryia.” He said as he placed a card down with several phone numbers.

“Also, tomorrow I would like you and Miforyia to come to my office at 8 am sharp. I’ll have some tests ready for you both to take. I just want to see where your knowledge falls and what important information you need to know without going over what you already do. After the tests, we will discuss things further for your future.” Nedzu said before he got up and left the building. 

Yamada and Izuku came down not long after, both of them were flushed and eyes red from crying. Virginia caught Izuku’s eye for just a moment before she groaned and got up. She walked into the kitchen and began to go through the cabinets, pantry, and refrigerator. She was quite noisy as she moved but it seemed very purposeful. Eventually, she pulled things out and began to cook a quick meal for the four of them.

Once they all ate, Yamada and Aizawa left for their own homes and Izuku cleaned up from dinner. Virginia wandered to her room and collected her toiletries for a bath after the day. Izuku had the same idea. This night it was just the two of them, so they chatted through the wall separating the bathrooms. They talked about non-important things until they finished and went back to their dorms. Outside, in the hall, they switched keys so if there was ever a reason, they could get into the other’s dorm.

Virginia remembered the box on her coffee table when she was about to turn the lights off in the main room. With a curious look, she grabbed the box and she returned to her bedroom. She plopped down in the middle of the mint green comforter and opened the box. Plushies of different sizes and shapes practically exploded out of the box. Around her, 25 plushies lay scattered, and a note was written at the bottom of the box.

‘Gin! The cashier has this really cool quirk that can temporarily shrink things to fit into a confined space. Once that space has been disturbed and/or the space goes outside the cashier’s range, things return to size. Surprise! Early start on a new collection! I wish there was a way to get your old collection, I know you will soon enough find yourself missing it. The sentimentality of it, I wish you didn’t have to lose.’

Virginia found herself crying as she looked over all the toys. Carefully she gathered the toys up and piled them and several blankets up on the bed. She essentially made a nest from the waist up, surrounding herself in the comfort of familiarity even if everything was shockingly new. She fell into an uneasy sleep that night, forgetting about the music on her phone that traveled through time.

In the morning, Yamada and Aizawa came to make sure they could get to Nedzu’s office at the requested time. Aizawa actually didn’t want to be there, but Yamada dragged him along. Izuku was just entering his dorm when the two stepped out of the elevator and saw him. “Oh, good morning!” He called with a wave, Yamada waved back and tried really hard not to stare. If those slacks from yesterday left little to the imagination, the compression pants he was currently wearing left nothing.

“I just got back from my jog, so I was gonna grab my key and see if Gin is awake yet.” He said as he used an arm to invite them into his dorm. They both declined and Izuku shrugged. He came back out after 10 minutes, looking refreshed and in fresh clothes. He pulled out a key and unlocked Virginia’s door and went inside. The heroes followed along. Inside, the space was entirely quiet, lightly filtered softly through the drawn curtains and Izuku walked with very little sound to the bedroom door.

He paused to listen outside before opening it to see her still fast asleep on the bed. Yamada and Aizawa were in just the right spot to see her still sleeping, surrounded by a halo of plushies. Her breaths were even and she seemed completely unaware. “Ginna, you need to get ready,” Izuku spoke calmly. Not loud or aggressive at all, but still, her eyes snapped open and she stretched out like a cat. Back arching and arms over the head only to come down and rub her face. She sat up and gave Izuku the middle finger prompting him to close the door fast.

Laughing, Izuku turned and saw his former (?) teachers behind him. “Does she always greet you like that in the morning?” Yamada asked, puzzled. “No, but if I had to guess, she either didn’t sleep well or was having a nice dream and I interrupted it. There are no classes today right?” He spoke as he went over and filled a bottle with water and got some food out for him and Virginia to eat once she surfaces.

Something fell in Virginia’s bedroom causing the three to pause in case she needed help, but when no further sound reached them they relaxed. “No classes today. Just some prep time for us teachers and a few meetings to attend too. When students aren’t around, we tend to be out of costume. More relaxed than anything.” Yamada said as he watched Aizawa poke around the kitchenette. 

“Sorry, but you won't find any coffee. Gin doesn’t like the smell let alone the taste.” Izuku said just as the bedroom door opened. The lady of the hour came stumbling out of the room, rubbing her face with both hands. “Glasses!” Izuku called out, Virginia promptly turned back around and grabbed her glasses from the nightstand. She shuffled back out and approached the table where they were sitting.

She quietly grabbed the water and granola bar. Between her yawns, she managed to drink most of the water and ate the bar. “We’ll need to leave in a few minutes to get to Nedzu’s office in time.” Aizawa finally spoke up and Virginia’s eyes darted to him before she got up and went to her small restroom to brush her teeth and finish waking up.

She came out as she had a large yawn escape her. Izuku smiled and walked over to her, he picked her up so she could cling to his back instead of walking. “We should go now.” He prompted as he hooked one arm behind his back to support Virginia and with his free hand, he grabbed her shoes. The two teachers nodded and followed him out, Aizawa closed the door behind them.

A five-minute walk later, they reached the elevator in the school. Virginia nuzzled her face more into Izuku’s neck trying to block the light that was making it hard to sleep again. The rest of the journey was pretty quiet, no one talked and only the sounds of breathing and footsteps broke the silence. Rounding the final corner, the door directly ahead opened up to reveal Nedzu’s office.

“Good luck you two,” Yamada said as he and Aizawa stopped. He gave Izuku a pat on his, very muscular, back as a way to say good luck and to push him forward. The two then left for the staff offices where there was a meeting taking place for the teachers that interacted with all first-year hero students.

Izuku took a deep breath and walked forward, jostling Virginia awake so they could face doom together. She promptly whined in his ear loudly, like a disgruntled cat, before she released her hold on him and landed on the floor. She took her shoes from him so she could put them on before reaching the office.

As they entered the room, they could see two desks with packets resting on them, waiting somehow menacingly, but that could just be nerves. Nedzu sat at his large desk, a pleasant expression on his face as he beckoned the siblings over to him. The office door slid shut behind them, trapping them for now.

At the same time, the two teachers reached the staff office and were greeted by their coworkers. “Zashi~ what’s that look for~” Midnight purred as she looked at him from over her coffee cup. “I gave Midorya a pat on the back for good luck and Holy shit was his back firm! Like I’m pretty sure he is close to being as ripped as Endeavor or All Might when puffed up! I mean I know he definitely got bulkier, but I wasn’t expecting the wall of muscle.” He said as he plopped down in his chair.

Aizawa walked past to get some coffee. “I’m surprised you didn’t realize yesterday when you practically dressed him up and were a total disaster about it.” He snarked, throwing his ass to Midnight. Who of which looked absolutely delighted at the thought. “Also discovered yesterday that Virginia-san has a quirk. Touch-based stress relief, restricted to her upper body it seems.”

Aizawa’s coworkers all looked surprised to hear that. Who knows what will happen now?

Chapter Text

“Good morning you two, right on time!” Nedzu chirped as they walked up to his desk. “Now then, I have created two test packets for you to work on. You will have all day so don’t stress about it. If you finish before 4 pm, then we can discuss more about how your futures will play out. If you don’t finish until 4 pm, we will discuss things tomorrow. How does this sound?” He asked with a wave of his oversized paws.

The siblings just silently nodded and sat down at the provided desks. “You may begin,” Nedzu said and the two worked on. The first section was English, everything was in English so it lowered the stress levels even more. Izuku was currently doing 2 pages of work for every page Virginia did. She did appear to be trying her best but as the hours dragged on, she grew increasingly frustrated.

Izuku would pause occasionally to look over at her, to see how she was doing. At one point he spotted her doodling the office and Nedzu instead of doing the test. But it seemed like it was more for a mental break than her getting distracted and forgetting about the test in front of her.

They ended up taking a break around lunchtime. 

Nedzu shooed the two out of the room to head for the cafeteria where the other staff would be heading for lunch. Virginia immediately went to a table, where Yamada and Aizawa were sitting with Midnight, plopped down in her claimed seat, gently removed her glasses, placed them to the side, then acting like a rag doll, her head slammed into the table. 

A loud bang resonated through the room causing all chatter to stop and everyone to look at her. 

Izuku walked up with the food and placed the trays down before he sat as well. “Quit being a drama queen Gin.” He said as he grabbed her glasses and poked her with them. Grumbling, she lifted her head and glared, or maybe was just squinting at Izuku. “ Oh fuck you with a rusty pitchfork. ” She cursed at him, before snatching her glasses.

She frowned as she pulled her food closer and put her glasses back on. “Are you okay?” Midnight asked, eyeing the large red mark on Virginia’s forehead. “Stupid tests... my head is physically fine. Brain is trying to impersonate a smoothie though.” She said as she stabbed at her food with a fork as Izuku was kind enough to take pity on her cramping hands and not give her chopsticks to work.

The cafeteria slowly filled with chatter again as people determined everything was essentially alright. “So, Virginia-san, Aizawa-kun here says you discovered that you have a quirk?” Midnight asked, choosing the safe topic. Virginia paused mid-bite, looking at her and then at Izuku. The siblings had a stare-off until Izuku realized what she wanted. “Oh, right. Gin this is Midnight. Remember me talking about her?”

“Oh, where are my manners, my name is Kayama Nemuri, Pro hero Midnight. It’s a pleasure.” She smiled softly, far from her usual persona smile. Virginia smiled back as she placed her fork down, “To answer your question. Yes, it does appear to be the case. I have a calming touch?” “I would suggest calling the quirk, Comfort. Seeing as you bring comfort to those you touch. It seems to be focused on your hands, arms, and upper chest.” Izuku offered up.

“That’s fair. Izzy, how far are you into that hell pack?” Virginia whined, a frown weighing heavy on her face. “I think I have a third left. I don’t think I am too far behind in knowledge, most of what I have forgotten, I think the average person would have also forgotten.” Izuku said before he took another bite of his food.

She groaned again, her head rolling back before it seemed like her neck just gave up supporting her head and she was dropping forward again. However, this time her head didn’t meet with the hard table, but instead, a warm hand. Aizawa’s to be exact. She blinked slowly at him before lifting her head up, “Sorry, and thanks.” She said, looking down and just focusing on eating.

Kayama and Yamada both looked at Aizawa for several long moments, the three friends just stared each other down silently. Their showdown was disrupted by Izuku standing up, “We should head back.” He stated and Virginia looked up at him as if he suggested something blasphemous. She was still clearly eating and she very much growled at him, low in the throat, when he tried to take her food.

“You are purposely eating slowly so we don’t have to go back.” He said as he tried to grab the dish again. This time she began swatting at him and hissing, going Cat mode on him while leaning away from his grabby hands. She was practically squishing herself into Aizawa in an attempt to get away. “I’ll take care of your trays.” Yamada offered and Izuku nodded before quickly snatching Virginia up and throwing her over his shoulder like a sack.

She kept squirming and digging her fairly long nails into his back, causing him to flipper her so that instead of being face down, she was now staring at things upside down. An annoyed pout pulled at her expression as she gave a lazy wave to the heroes at the table she was plucked from. The cafeteria doors closed and the room stayed silent.

Yamada hadn’t even realized that the room fell quiet again once the two started to make a scene again. No one was quite sure what the hell they just watched or how to feel about it. Some felt it was hilarious, others felt like they should have helped as that did pretty much look like a kidnapping. Others were thinking they needed a raise if this was going to become the norm.

Back in the office, the siblings returned to a crackling Nedzu. He had been watching them while they were down there. He even played back the security feed to show them how silly they were. Izuku was embarrassed over it but something caught Virginia’s eyes. Expressions have always been something she could read easily, and the expressions on Yamada’s and Aizawa’s faces held a level of fondness she didn’t expect to see. She wasn’t sure what she was seeing but there was definitely something more to the expressions than what one would give acquaintances and it wasn’t annoyance she was seeing.

“Now then, you have tests to get back to,” Nedzu said once the video ended. Virginia let out a pathetic whine but did plop back in her seat, picking up her pencil, and going back over the mind-numbing test. After another hour, she gave up trying and just started to fill in the answer sheet following the pattern she was seeing in the bubbles. 

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Izuku writing an essay causing her to panic flip through the test book. When she stopped after the 5th check and looked at Nedzu. His beady black eyes stared at her, his nose twitching in amusement leading to Virginia carefully setting her pencil down and staring at her book in betrayal. She wasn’t sure what emotion she was feeling, but it hits her at this moment that the book she was working on, was vastly different from her brother’s book.

She sat there silently as she had filled bubbles in up to the point that matches on the test book, so she just had to wait now. Izuku took another half hour to finish his test. Once he looked up, Nedzu smiled and waved his hands for the books and sheets. Izuku collected both his and Virginia’s to hand over. “Now then. We don’t have enough time to discuss much of anything however, is there anything I can provide for you to be more comfortable while essentially wards of UA?” He asked, folding his paws together.

Izuku paused and tried to think of anything but shook his head no. Virginia however sat up and asked, “Do you know about aerial silks? I’ve learned how to use those over the years and I love it so much. It’s my way of working out instead of lifting weights or jogging like Izuku.” Nedzu tilted his head lightly before he typed on his computer to see what she was talking about. “I’ll see what I can do to provide you with this equipment. You both are free to go now.” He said chipper.

Virginia smiled before running out of the office and down the hall, Izuku’s laughter followed her out far sooner than he did physically. She ran nonstop until she crashed into the solid form of Aizawa. His arms snapped up and around her to keep her from falling to the floor. She practically became jello in his grip as her soul figuratively left her body now that she was free from the hell room. She grabbed hold of the front of his uniform to steady herself and dropped her head to rest against his chest.

A door slid open and someone stepped out just as footsteps approached from behind. “Virginia-san! Are you alright?” Yamada cried out, so he was the one from the door so that must mean that it was Izuku from behind. “She’s fine, just dramatic. The test wasn’t that bad.” Izuku said calmly, causing Virginia to turn sharply and glare, “Say’s you! There was no fucking essay part in my test! We didn’t have the same shit! I had to wait for you to finish once I realized that and gave up!” She hissed out at him in a very childish manner. The three just stared, they really didn’t know what to say to that. “I’m gonna cry.” She seemed to deflate and her eyes grew wet.

Chapter Text

The rest of the day pretty much proceeded as the previous evening. Yamada and Aizawa joined the siblings back to the staff dorm and had dinner with them. Izuku decided to cook this night while Yamada, Aizawa, and Virginia sat at the table. Aizawa made himself a cup of coffee as he had a patrol later. The three sat quietly, Aizawa nursing his coffee, Yamada scrolling social media and Virginia was setting up the new phones and adding the contact information in them.

Some reason, Yamada remembered Izuku’s statement from this morning and looked at Virginia confused. “Virginia-san? Are you feeling okay?” “Yeah? I mean I’m hungry and have a headache from that test but I’m fine beyond that. Why?” She asked, looking up to see both eyeing her. “Midoriya told us that you can’t stand the smell of coffee.” Aizawa said in his usual tone.

“Oh, yeah. I can’t stand it and avoid the taste of it completely. However, I’ll tolerate it for you. You need it and enjoy it so I’m not gonna try to make you adjust for me.” She said before going back to the phones. She missed the small appreciative smile he gave her, but Yamada didn’t. Soon enough the food was finished and served. Aizawa had to head out so Yamada decided to clean up as the sibling had a long day. Virginia was so appreciative, she booped his nose before running to her dorm.

“That was the equivalent of a kiss on the cheek and saying ‘I love you’, from her in a platonic or familial sense. She always did that with her mom and occasionally me and her niblings.” Izuku said from his chair, noticing the shocked look on Yamada’s face. He looked at him still shocked. “All I did was say I’ll clean up?” He said confused. Izuku just shrugged, “I don’t really know. She has always seen something faster in people than what I can.” He said before helping clear the table. Once that was done, he brushed past Yamada, wishing him a good night before going on up.

Yamada had a goofy smile on his face as he cleaned up the dishes. A warmth settling in his chest, a feeling of blanket acceptance. He wasn’t sure but he felt like no matter what, Virginia would accept him, his behaviors, and his feelings towards Izuku. He went home that night feeling great, and as he went to bed happy. At least until his brain decided that he was definitely reading things wrong and she was just acting her default with a stranger and if she really knew then she would absolutely hate him. Safe to say, he did not sleep well.

The next morning, Yamada woke up to a rat’s nest of hair, he had to quite literally fight his hair to get it in its usual style for classes. He had to look presentable, can’t let the students or public see just how out of it he is. There is no hope in his coworkers won’t noticing. He got in late. He had to rush to gather his things and get set before homeroom. Kayama and Aizawa looked at their friend worried but chose not to ask, worried that it would make things worse. Maybe at lunch they’ll ask.

During the morning classes Izuku and Virginia joined Nedzu once again. “How did you two sleep?” The mammal asked as the two got comfortable in the chairs. Virginia curled up, tucking her legs under her in a pretzel like fashion while Izuku just leaned back in his spot. “It’s a bit odd. The beds are comfortable, just different but that’s not a surprise.” Izuku said as Virginia was still fidgeting in order to get comfortable.

Once she was done, she went right to asking, “Do you already have the results of the tests? Did you give us different tests?” Her head tilted as her face twisted in confusion. “Indeed!” Nedzu chirped, “You two had different tests indeed. Many of your questions after lunch were very difficult, even for one of the staff members to be able to answer. It was around the time I predicted that you would stop trying. I ultimately made your test to see if you will recognize a pattern after you reach the point of failure. Your strength comes in pattern recognition, you can look at a detailed pattern and see what is wrong or look at something with no seeming pattern and find it.”

The duo looked confused as to where he was going. “The beginning of your test was based on the average information citizens should have at your age. You tested higher than expected but I do account that to discussions you and Midoryia may have had in the past. There were some things you lack information on and I’ll provide you a general list of things to work on. You will have free access to the library and gym delta. It’s a smaller space with high beams, and floors made of mats. I believe you will find it quite suitable for your aerial arts. The equipment should arrive tomorrow and be ready for you by 9 am.”

Virginia was wide-eyed staring at the principal in awe, she really couldn’t believe it. “Now, Midoriya. You have met expectations as well. Compared to your entrance exam test, you have scored higher and provided much more detail in your analysis. You have a few classes that you would need to take an accelerated course to complete, other classes you have tested out of. I would expect by Christmas that you will be able to graduate high school. Once that is done, you can transition to an apprentice in title to become a hero.” Nedzu continued on, focusing on the younger now.

“You will be a first year hero student as long as you don’t have your high school diploma. After you have it you will be UA's only hero apprentice. Under the tutelage of UA as a whole and not just under one hero. This is the easiest way for you to continue your path to be a hero. If all of this sounds good, we just need to get you a new costume preferably before the semester exams.” 

Izuku seemed to bounce in his seat, “That sounds great! I do have some ideas for a new suit and I was wondering if I can change my hero name? I’ve had 10 years to think about it and Deku, while it was sweet of Uraraka to put it in a positive light, just feels wrong.” “Oh and what name would you go with now?” Nedzu asked, his expression curious. “I was thinking, Sage. The impossible hero: Sage. With how my quirk has developed, it seems impossible so it's fitting.”

“Yes, that is another thing we should discuss. The sooner we assess how your quirk has developed, the better. Especially if you wish to join your classmates for the physical test. Changing your hero name won’t be an issue. The only time your hero name was mentioned in reports was with Stain.” Nedzu said as he pulled a few forms up on his computer to make that adjustment.

“Coming back to your quirk, I was aware that you were working with less than 10 percent and just figured out how to control it, yes? How would you describe the changes now?” Nedzu asked calmly. “God mode mixed with eldritch horror!” Virginia chirped with a grin, laughter dancing in her eyes. 

“Not helpful, Gin! I am able to use a higher level, if I had to estimate, it’s around 83%. It turns out that I can access the previous users' quirks. I have access to a smoke screen, float, black whip, and a sensing quirk. I’ve noticed that there have been some effects with the weather when I use higher levels of my quirk’s power. One effect is a full on green lighting storm.” Izuku explained in summary before delving deeper. 

The two began going over a lot of detail so Virginia decided to just leave. Let the two gush over his quirk, she was gonna try finding the staff lounge and lay on the couch. She arrived pretty quickly and sat at someone’s desk. Just looking at everything in more detail around her. Currently she was alone but with a glance at the clock, she knew it wouldn’t be much longer before the teachers arrived.

The door slid open as she was spinning around pretty quickly, the world was a blurry kaleidoscope of color. She could see flashes of color blobs approaching her and then suddenly she was stopped. The world was still a blur of color as she fell from the chair to the floor with a giggle. Aizawa was looking at her so very exhausted, “What are you doing?” “Well currently I am laying on the floor waiting to see straight. If you mean a moment ago before I ended up on the floor. I was spinning. That chair is very spinney and I wasn’t bothering anyone.” Virginia said as she rolled over to her knees. 

The motion made her dizzy again so she had to pause, accidently leaving her butt sticking up in the air, before she sat up straight. She used the closest desk to her to pull herself up steady. “Nedzu-san and Izuku started to talk in depth over his quirk, pretty much going completely over my head so I left. Didn’t want to get lost or spotted by the students I know are here, so I just wandered my way back here. Sat in a random chair and spun.” “Of all the chairs, you randomly sat in mine?” Aizawa said with a raised eyebrow. Kayama looked like she was dying of silent laughter behind him, Yamada wasn’t in view.

Virginia looked at Aizawa, then at the desk and the chair. “How was I supposed to know? Your desk doesn’t have any personality- actually that might have been the way for me to tell. Sorry.” She said with a grin, Kayama burst out laughing as Yamada walked in with a tray of food. “Did I miss something?” He asked, causing Kayama to fall to the floor laughing as Virginia slowly backed away as Aizawa sighed from the depths of his soul in exhaustion.

Chapter Text

On the second morning, Virginia got herself settled in the lounge of the staff dorm to binge watch movies. Izuku had left at some point in the day to wander around, or to find a gym to work in. Just after 9 am, she received a text message from Nedzu giving her a head's up that the gym was ready for her. She grinned but settled back in to watch her movie. After lunch she will take a look at the space.

While she was into her fourth movie, Izuku returned looking flushed and sweaty, coming back from working out. The two had a stare off just as a surprise moan to cut in. The two jumped in surprise, faces turning red at the very sexual seen, loud sexual moans and grunts filled the air as both of them scrambled to grab the tv remote on the coffee table. The table got bumped, the remote went sliding, the noise continued, and the panic increased out of embarrassment. They heard the front door open as Virginia finally grabbed the remote in a final belly flop lunge and turned the movie off.

“What the hell?” The flat tone of Aizawa reached their ears after the sharp silence following the noise. The two slowly looked over in unison to see several teachers watching them stunned. “Uh, hi?” Izuku asked from under the coffee table that somehow got flipped onto him. Virginia’s face is just beet red, clutching the remote tightly in her hands. “What the hell was that?” He asked again. “Embarrassing.” Virginia whispered as Izuku placed the table back in its place and she set the remote down before placing her hands over her flaming cheeks.

“Aren’t classes right now?” Izuku asked as he got off the floor, his face also pretty red. “Most of the classes are self-study with the exams coming up.” Yamada said as the teachers moved into the room more. The closer they got the better they could hear Virginia muttering on repeat, “My Ace ass was not ready for that.” Her face was still very red as she glared at the remote control as if it betrayed her. “Nedzu sent us to collect you two. He wants a demonstration of your quirk control.” 

“Oh, okay? Do I have time to get cleaned up? I just got back from a work-out.” Izuku said with a gesture towards his room. “You have 10 minutes to get ready.” Aizawa said and the siblings looked at each other, with a shared nod, Izuku sprinted into the showers while Virginia jumped the couch and ran for the elevator. The teachers all sat down around the lounge to wait. After 6 minutes they heard the elevator ding and sprinting towards them. “ Ready ?” Virginia shouted as she rounded the corner. A reply came from beyond the entry to the showers in confirmation.

Virginia had a bundle of clothes wrapped pretty solid and threw it through the threshold with a yell, “ Yeet !” She slid past as her previous momentum kept her going when she stopped running and was wearing socks on a smooth floor. She crashed into a wall with a yelp and as she got back to her feet, Izuku walked out of the showers, still pulling his shirt down. His toned abs were on display and the v-line disappearing into his waistband. His exposed skin was covered quickly as Virginia jumped up and clung to his back.

“9 minutes even, I’m impressed.” Aizawa said as he and his coworkers got up. “Really saves time, leaving my shower stuff in the showers and Gin running to get me a change of clothes.” Izuku said with a laugh as he pulled on his shoes, Virginia is still a koala bear on his back. He grabbed her shoes and walked out the door, the others followed from behind. “Where are we heading?” Izuku asked as he looked over his shoulder. 

Yamada quickly caught up to him, “We are heading to the training grounds epsilon. It’s an open space more suitable for parkour training, lots of structures with handholds, railings, trees, etc. Nedzu indicated that it would be the ideal space for you to show off.” “Hopefully, Recovery Girl won’t be needed.” Aizawa added. It took a bit of walking to reach the grounds, during that time Virginia climbed to sit on Izuku’s shoulders and he slipped her shoes over her feet.

The group gathered under a bridge where Nedzu was waiting. Above them was an observation deck that everyone but Izuku will go to while he has to fight robots. “Now then, Midoriya all you need to do is head for the middle and we will begin at the buzzer. The rest of us will head up to observe behind quirk safe glass. So do feel free to go all out, see what your body can handle.” He spoke. Izuku nodded and Virginia reached above her to a horizontal beam that she used to pull herself up and off Izuku. 

“Good luck Izzy!” She said with a one-handed wave while completely upside-down holding to the pole with her other hand and her legs. Izuku smiled and walked off. Virginia, in a controlled movement released the bar with her legs, allowed herself to dangle straight before dropping to the ground. She stood up straight with no issue and turned to face the others. Nedzu was already sitting in Aizawa’s scarf, so they headed on up. 

While they rode the elevator up, Yamada was signing to Aizawa, teasing him for how he watched Virginia the entire time they had been at the grounds. The other teachers watched silently as the two bickered behind her. The elevator dinged and Virginia went straight for the large viewing window, several large monitors hung nearby to give more angles of the field. The staff spread out in the room, some sitting on couches, some next to monitors, only Yamada and Aizawa came to stand with Virginia.

A buzzer sounded and in the center of the grounds, Virginia could see Izuku running around cautiously. He was keeping an eye out for the robots that Nedzu mentioned when he passed by an alleyway, only for something to grab him, pulling him into it. One of the robots had wrapped rope bindings around him, keeping his arms trapped to his sides as it dragged him in closer. He smiled and activated float, boosting higher into the air with a strong kick, and dragged the robot with him before flexing his arms and breaking the bindings. The robot fell several stories and was destroyed once it made contact with the ground.

Virginia cheered as lighting began to dance across his skin, preparing for the barrage of lasers he could see being readied. He waited for the blasts to be launched before he drew his fist back and punched out a strong blow back. The air pressure from his counter, caused several robots to be destroyed and clouds to start gathering overhead. Izuku cut off Float and began to free fall, Virginia was bouncing in excitement finally getting to see him at full strength. Izuku was drawing closer and closer to the buildings just falling, Yamada grew more and more freaked out and Aizawa grew more tense, but Virginia was just excited.

Just as Izuku passed the first roof, inky black tentacles whipped out of the man and snagged several anchor points causing him to swing around like the old comic book hero Spider-man. Virginia cheered again, hands wrapping around the rail in front of her and leaned forward, watching him swing below. Yamada dropped next to her, hands also holding the rail to keep himself up as he kneeled in relief. Virginia glanced down at him, she just now noticed that he didn’t have his speaker on, so she reached down and rubbed the back of his neck that was exposed to her.

The tension seemed to dissolve from him as she kept her hand on him. Her focus being on him, she failed to notice the tension Aizawa still had as he watched Izuku swing around, his quirk flying all around as the sky continued to darken. A loud crack snapped all attention up to the sky. The clouds darkened over head to a dark, dark green. A streak of neon green lightning brightened the sky for just a moment. Down below, Izuku was still fighting robots, Nedzu recording his actions with an animalistic grin.

Aizawa looked away finally from Izuku and stared at Virginia in open surprise. “What the hell?” He whispered, causing Virginia and Yamada to look at him concerned. Yamada was the one to notice what Aizawa was seeing, and he also stared at Virginia. The others in the room also spotted it causing them to come closer. “What’s wrong?” Virginia asked, worry clear in her voice as she turned to face everyone. A flash of green lightning filled the space with lingering green light.

“Virginia-san, if you please turn around and show your back, you seem to be giving off a faint green light.” Nedzu spoke up as he walked over. Virginia looked puzzled, “Really? Can that really give off light?” She asked as she turned around and pulled her shirt up, exposing the skin of her back and the large soulbond mark there. The green lightning depicted was actually giving off light, the bear was just as intimidating as before if not more with the actual light. “A familial soulbond? This would be with Midoriya, correct?” Nedzu said as Virginia fixed her shirt and turned around. 

She nodded slightly as she looked at him, still clearly confused. “Is it weird that my back was lighting up?” She asked as she had yet to look into soulmates and soulbonds to get a better understanding. “It isn’t common, actually it’s very rare to see any bond strong enough for some level of effect from the other person’s quirk to show on the other.” Nedzu supplied. Behind Virginia, Izuku landed on the small ledge outside the window and knocked on the glass causing Virginia to turn and frown at him. He looked at her before jumping down to head for the elevator to bring himself up so they could all talk.

Chapter Text

The elevator dinged and Izuku stepped into the room seeing everyone gathered by the window, his eyes locked on to Virginia and before he could even ask, she launched into what was seen. “ While you were running around and showing off, my back started to glow! The lightning there was glowing! Like the visual effect of your quirk was affecting me. Nedzu said it is rare for that to happen. Did you know anything about that?”  Virginia summarized practically on one breath, her chest heaving lightly from trying to catch her breath.

Izuku had to catch her as she got a little light-headed running and talking at the same time. He had to process a few heartbeats before he responded, picking her up once again. “Was she really glowing?” He asked as he reached the rest. Yamada nodded as he finally got off the floor. “It was odd to see, even more so when she lifted her shirt up to show the soulmark. The lightning there was glowing and would flash in time with the lightning strikes.” Nedzu said promptly. “ Weird, guess we should actually look into that stuff huh? ” Izuku muttered looking down at Virginia, hanging on his arm.

“ Maybe I should have gone to the library instead of watching movies. ” She agreed. Bringing those up probably wasn’t the smartest idea with the English teacher being in the room. “About those movies. What the hell was that when we walked in?” Yamada asked while smirking at them playfully. Izuku startled, causing him to drop Virginia, who yelped as she fell and landed with a grunt. Izuku’s face grew very warm as the sounds came back to haunt him. He was doing a lovely impersonation of a fish while Virginia got up with a huff. 

“That was unfortunate timing. I was just watching movies at random, not looking at any of the ratings as I did so I wasn’t expecting any sex scenes to come up. Izuku arrived before the scene began and we did our usual greeting when we haven’t seen one another for several hours, blankly stare until something happens to cause the other to look away. What caused it to end was a very loud moan. It more than a little awkward to watch a sex scene with family so we both panicked and tried to grab the remote to turn it off or skip it.”

“I, however, got tangled in my blanket, and Izuku suddenly had two left feet. Someone, I really don’t know who, hit the table, possibly Izuku when he fell. I finally got untangled and tried to grab the remote, but it had disappeared in the activity. The noise from the Tv was still going on, loud and clear, causing us to be even more frazzled. I was able to find the remote, I jumped to grab it, landing on my stomach and chest, which, ow, got the tv off. It was probably around them when the table ended up on Izuku. It was around then you all walked in.” Virginia summarized as held her arms crossed over her chest, cheeks-tinged red.

“Really?” Kayama’s voice cracked with laughter as she asked in disbelief. Nedzu walked over to a monitor and pulled up the security feed from the dorm lounge. He played back those 3 minutes in slow-mo which made the scene even more ridiculous. The staff were all at different stages of laughter. “Welp, with that, I need a nap.” Virginia said as she walked off to the elevator and left.

The next morning, Izuku and Virginia made their way to the library to research soulbonds and to look over things that Nedzu advises them to study. Virginia decided to spearhead the research into soulbonds as Izuku only had a bit more to learn in order to graduate so that is where his focus would lay. They would spend hours poring over books and research on the computers. Usually around lunch, the two would go back to their dorm and eat there.

Each day they would repeat the same pattern. Early morning head to the library, eat lunch in the dorm, head off to the gym to exercise or train depending on the person doing the activity. During one of those times, Izuku went down to the support department to submit his new costume and new measuments. They finished off the week on an odd note. It was Friday morning, still several hours before lunch, where the two have been usually found. 

A table with a computer near the back corner of the library, they were usually alone there, so they were equally surprised when a young brunette with rosy cheeks came around the corner quickly with a shout of, “Deku!?” The girl stopped short as she took in the sight of the familiar green hair attached to a familiar adult? But that can’t be right, he looks like Deku, but he is supposed to be a teen like her. “Deku-kun?” The girl’s excitement seemed to fade as she looked him over, her hands hovering at her chest unsure whether to reach out or hold back.

Izuku and Virginia shared a glance before he smiled softly at Uraraka, seeing her unease. “Hey there Uraraka-kun, it’s been years since I’ve seen you.” He greeted lightly, staying in his seat to not scare her off with his size. “Oh, you’re Uraraka-kun? Izuku has told me a lot about you! He has told me just how amazing you are and how passionately determined you are. My name is Virginia, Izuku and I are soul siblings.” Virginia picked up, her voice slipping into her more maternal voice, warm and comforting.

Uraraka relaxed slowly as the two talked to her, relaxed enough for her to finally approach the table they had claimed. “Is that really you Deku-kun? You look older....” her voice was so soft and unsure as she stopped next to them. “Yeah, I ended up time traveling. The week for all of you was 10-years for me. Virginia here was the one who practically saved and raised me.” Izuku said gently, he didn’t want to spook one of his dear friends. “Does anyone else know?” She asked, as she fidgeted with her hands.

Virginia slowly reached over and placed a hand over her’s, stopping her from twisting her skin. “Only some of the teachers know about this situation. Both I and Izuku are considered wards of UA as things get sorted. Neither of us have even thought about any reunions yet. I think we have kinda decided just to let things happen as they happen.” Virginia comforted Uraraka as the girl relaxed. “Our class has a free period right now, right?” Izuku asked as he closed up his books and got up, being very clear with his movements.

Uraraka stared up at him in surprise at just how tall he got before blinking slowly, processing his words. Once it fully sunk in, she was bouncing in her spot, “You have to come see the class! Everyone will be so happy to see you! Especially Iida, Todoroki and Kaminari! They have been really down after you disappeared,” She grabbed Izuku’s hand and began to pull at him. In her haste, she used her quirk, but he used Float to counteract it. Virginia just giggled as she collected their books and papers into a satchel before she followed the two.

“ I don’t think she has noticed that you aren’t walking right now. I can definitely see what you mean by determination. ” Virginia switched to English as Uraraka seemed too focused to really hear them if they talked. “ You’re probably right. Once she does notice, I think she will apologize profusely for using her quirk on me. But at least it’s more practice for me. My body wants to float higher up because of her quirk but I’m actively using Float to keep me right above the floor. It’s a surprising amount of core strength to do. ” Izuku responded back, looking over his shoulder to her, a large, amused grin decorating his expression.

They soon enough were in sight of the door to class 1-A, “Uraraka-kun are you aware that you’re using your quirk on Izuku?” Virginia asked with a smile on her voice. The girl stopped short and looked down at Izuku’s feet, not touching the ground. “I know you are a strong girl, but Izuku is a brick wall, you couldn’t have pulled him like you are if he wasn’t willing or under your quirk’s effect.” She continued in her playful tone. Uraraka panicked and blushed red as she steepled her fingers to deactivate her quirk. “I’m so sorry!” She shouted out.

Both of the siblings chuckled before informing her that it was fine. They continued to walk, stopping just outside the classroom. “Everyone will be so, so happy to see you again, Deku-kun!” Uraraka said before she slammed the door open with a shout, “Look what I found!” Several voices rose, talking over one another in question of the brunette girl.

Aizawa looked up from his spot in his yellow sleeping bag, to see the two just beyond the door, still hidden from view. He let out a silent sigh before he climbed out of his sleeping bag to address the class. “Enough. Now, questions will be answered after. Be respectful and be quiet. Come in you two.” Aizawa addressed the room before gesturing to the two. 

Izuku took a deep breath before stepping into the room, Virginia followed in his shadow silently watching. All eyes fell onto Izuku, letting Virginia slip closer to Aizawa as the volume grew to a crescendo, several students were up on their feet. All of this was the exact opposite of what Aizawa told them to do, so he in turn, turned his quirk on all of them. A collective shutter went through the room as everyone froze, looking at their teacher. They could see a woman peeking out from behind him, hands hovering over her ears. 

Chapter Text

“What did I say?” Aizawa growled out before he blinked, releasing his quirk. Several students muttered apologies and Izuku finally spoke up. “Hey, everyone! It’s good to see you all again.” He chuckled as he rubbed the back of his neck, flashing them his sheepish smile. “Deku!” A spiky haired blond shouted, sounding angry and confused. “Is that Bakugou?” Virginia whispered softly, Aizawa nodded slightly as he glared at Bakugou.

“Yes, but please don’t call me Deku anymore. 10 years of reflection and therapy have helped me identify that keeping that name will only cause me harm in the future. I’ve changed my hero name to Sage.” Izuku said calmly and Bakugou just grunted in annoyance. Kaminari’s hand shot up and waved for attention, “Yes Kaminari-kun?” Izuku grinned at the energetic blond. “What happened to you dude? We- we saw you fall.” His voice grew quieter as he continued on, his face drew into a sad frown.

This caused Izuku to pause, his eyes flashed over to Iida who was surprisingly withdrawn. “Well, I don’t know fully what happened, or I guess why it happened, but I fell into a portal. That portal then dropped me several meters from the ground. I did pass out from pain and injuries; I ended up falling through a lot of tree branches. When I finally woke up, I discovered I was in America, practically in the middle of nowhere in the year 2022.” Izuku summarized, taking a pause when he expected noise to erupt again.

Virginia frowned again as she pressed against Aizawa once the noise picked up again. Mentally she was scolding herself for flinching at the excitement as she will listen to music so loud, she can’t hear a fire alarm going off. Izuku scolded her for that one. She was pretty embarrassed when the fire department showed up with Izuku expecting to need to save his sister from their burning home, only to discover her blasting heavy metal, grilling with windows open cause their air vent broke with the fire alarm screaming unheard.

Izuku noticed Virginia’s discomfort and loudly clapped his hands together, making a loud bang, instantly causing everyone to fall silent. “Sorry about that, but you all shouting is not only disruptive but also hurts those with sensitive hearing in this room.” He scolded his former class with a disapproving stare. He released a sigh, his eyes closing as he did so. When he opened his eyes again, he spotted Todoroki with his hand raised. “Yes, Todoroki-kun?” 

“Who is the woman that came in with you, hiding behind Aizawa-sensei?” He asked with a small head tilt, looking like a puppy. “Oh, this is Virginia. She is, for all intent and purpose, my sister. She was the one who found me and saved me. We came to this time together. We are actually soul bound siblings.” Izuku said grinning as he reached over to pull Virginia to his side. She didn’t struggle with his request.

She smiled warmly to the class and waved from her spot slightly behind Izuku. “It’s wonderful to finally get the chance to put faces to the names and people Izuku have told me about.” She said as her eyes roamed from face to face. Many of the students smiled back at her and one with pink skin and hair stood up quickly, leaning on her desk, “Oh! I’m Mina! What did he say about me!” “That you have a quirk that produces acid that you can control the corrosiveness and viscosity of it. You are very energetic and friendly, loud and outgoing and a dancer.” Virginia rattled off as she thought back to when Izuku first talked about her. Mina cheered before sitting back down, giving Izuku a thumbs up.

The class began to ask questions in a more organized manner for a while longer before Aizawa called them to attention. “Alright, that's enough. You all get back to studying, you will see Midoriya again soon enough for the exams. Go away.” He addressed the class before sending a glare to the siblings, causing both to giggle. Izuku grabbed Virginia, carrying her by his default way, just backwards, and ran out the room. Because Virginia was held backwards, she closed the door behind them as they left, a grin decorating her face.

After lunch, Nedzu arrived at the dorm before they could leave to get their practice in. He sat down opposite of Izuku in an open chair with a generic smile that he uses for most human interaction. Virginia was in the kitchen taking care of the dishes, so she offered to heat some water for tea. Nedzu appreciated her offer. 

Once it was all ready, she brought the kettle, the tea set, and the tea Nedzu requested, to the table. She sat down next to Izuku, and they quietly, peacefully waited for the tea to be ready before they discussed anything. “Nedzu-san, I don’t want you to think I’m rude but what are you?” Virginia asked, attempting at small talk but it’s never really been her forte. “I am an animal, first of all. I’m possibly a dog, a bear, or a mouse. I won’t say for certain.” He grinned as he poured himself some tea.

“Hum,” Virginia vocalized, disappointed with the answer. “What brought you to the dorm today?” Izuku asked as he wrapped his scarred hands around his cup, the warmth seeping into his skin. “I was in contact with your mother. She has agreed to come to campus tomorrow, as it is a weekend and she would not need to take any time off from working,” the rat informed the duo, sipping at his tea as he watched their reactions. 

Izuku paused mid-sip and Virginia met his gaze. A flash of worry shone in Izuku’s eyes as he lowered his cup. “What time?” Izuku asked softly, staring at the ripples in his teacup. “She will arrive at 10 am, where she will be escorted to one of the meeting rooms where you three can talk about anything and everything. Should there be any issues, the room will be near the staff lounge and several teachers will be present just in case.” The rat responded in a tone that set Virginia on edge.

“Are you expecting an issue to occur?” She asked puzzled, she has heard mostly good things about her from Izuku so what is it that the rat expects to happen? Nedzu just sipped his tea for several long moments before he responded, “Nothing. It is just a precaution, from what I do know about her, there is a likelihood of her fainting in shock.”

The siblings nodded and Nedzu finished his tea before leaving the building. The two looked at each other before cleaning up and going to their rooms to prepare for Inko’s arrival in the morning.

Morning came just like any other morning, Virginia wandered to get freshened up and to get dressed before going down to get breakfast going. Izuku as usual, is returning from the showers, clean shaven, after going for his morning jog before meeting up with Virginia to get breakfast made. This morning however, they were surprised to see Yamada with breakfast from a cafe. Aizawa came in with drinks.

“ GOOD MOrning! ” Yamada cheered, quirked at first until Aizawa cut him off. The two placed down their goodies on the table just as the siblings reached them. “What’s this for?” Izuku asked as he pulled a chair out for Virginia to sit. She eyed the bag of food as she sat down silently, Izuku pushing the chair in as he did.

Aizawa placed a hot drink in front of her while doing the same with the other drinks that clearly smelt like coffee. Her drink, however, didn’t have the pungent smell of coffee, it smelt more sweet, like chocolate.

“Today is a special day, so I bought treats for you both. I wasn’t sure what to get so I got a variety for you!” Yamada said as he began to pull things out, Virginia’s eyes landed on a large cinnamon roll that she quickly snatched up. “You also have Hot chocolate.” Aizawa said as he grabbed a sweet bread to munch. Virginia smiled brightly to him as she began to pull apart her roll.

Aizawa watched the duo as they ate. Their pace was calm, but he could see anxiety building in Izuku’s eyes. Virginia was relaxed as she continued to pull her bread apart and eat it like one long noodle. Both were well put together; Virginia had her hair half pulled up on the sides into braids to expose her face more. Izuku finally shaved and looked like he just showered. Both were dressed comfortably in a business casual style.

Virginia grimaced after sipping her drink, “Do you not like it?” Yamada asked, concerned as setting his own drink down. “No, ‘s not that. Hotter than expected, it burned my tongue a bit.” Virginia told him before sticking her tongue out in an attempt to look at where it hurts. The others in the room could see a spot that looked redder than pink like the majority of her tongue. 

“You’ve never been able to see before, Gin. Why are you trying again?” Izuku said as he poked her cheek causing her to pull her tongue back in. “Never hurts to try,” She shot back before taking a small sip of her drink.

They chatted as they ate, just passing the time before Inko was to arrive. 10 till 10, the four walked to the main building where Yamada escorted the siblings to the room while Aizawa stayed to wait for Inko to arrive. Virginia wandered off to use the restroom and Yamada stayed with Izuku. He watched him silently as he slowly began to spiral more in though, pacing the whole of the room. 

With a moment of hesitation Yamada walked over to his former student and hugged him. Stopping his frantic walking and mind. Izuku froze in surprise as he slowly relaxed in the arms around him, carefully turning in his arms to return the hug. His forehead dropped to rest against Yamada’s shoulder and just focused on breathing.

He listened to Yamada’s heartbeat and focused on the warm hand running soothingly up and down his spine. The two seemed to practically be in a trance so they were startled when they finally pulled away from one another, to see Virginia sitting on a chair, reading off her phone. 

“It’s 2 minutes till Inko should be arriving.” Virginia said after a moment of silence, seeing as neither male was going to speak. They seemed to jolt again, and Yamada began to walk backwards for the door, “Well I guess that’s my cue. See ya later, yo!” He said in an upbeat tone before practically running from the room, to Virginia, his ears were looking a little red. She watched him run as Izuku sat down next to her, his knee bouncing.

A soft sigh escaped her as she went to take a deep centering breath before taking Izuku’s closest hand in her’s. “Take a deep breath, working yourself up into a tizzy isn’t going to be good for either you or your mother when she finally arrives.” Virginia started calmly. She then began to exaggerate her breathing for Izuku to match.

His knee slowed down as he began to copy her; his heart rate began to normalize again as he fell into a small trance. His focus was broken when a timid knock came from the door before it opened to reveal the timid figure of Midoriya Inko. Izuku slowly stood up to greet her, a small wobbly smile pulling on his lips as he slowly opened his arms to hug her. 

Inko walked into the room, the door slid shut behind, and hesitantly walked into Izuku’s embrace, a dazed look in her eyes as his arms wrapped around her firmly but gently. “Kaa-San, I’ve missed you so much!” Izuku’s voice cracked as tears cascaded down his cheeks.

The two pulled away and Inko looked up to look Izuku in the eyes, “Izu-Kun? Is this really you?” She asked in a wavering voice. Virginia was still seated behind Izuku, unseen by Inko, and she was left wondering just what Inko was feeling. The tone in her voice sounded off to her and she wasn’t quite sure what it was. Inko was focused on Izuku’s face.

Her hand shook as she reached for Izuku’s face. His eyes fell closed as he felt her hand on his cheek, “Yes, it really is me. I promise it's me Kaa-San.” His voice was steady and soft as if he was trying so hard not to sob loudly. 

“How is this possible? My baby is all grown up!” Inko cried out as she pulled her hand away and clutched at the front of her shirt with both hands, shifting back just a smidge, just enough to set Virginia on edge.

Izuku shuffled a little awkwardly as he rubbed at his arm, “Well...what did they tell you?” Izuku started, he needed to know what was explained to her so he could explain. “They took you and two others out on a mini- controlled patrol where you ended at a private venue to have a little practice with the press. A civilian snuck through and lost control of their quirk, which led to you falling off the building and disappearing.” Inko told him in a voice that grew with frustrated panic.

A frown pulled at Virginia’s features as she realized that Inko is growing more distressed as time goes on than growing relieved or relaxed. Her voice has yet to sound even an ounce of relief, causing Virginia worry. “Right. Well, when I fell through the portal, I ended up back in time in a forest. I hit quite a few trees on the way down, so I was pretty hurt. Luckily, I was found really fast, and my injuries were treated.” Izuku explained as he shifted out of the way, revealing Virginia.

She stood up as Izuku gestured to her, “This is Virginia. She is the one who saved me and took care of me. She gave me a home and it actually turns out that we are soul siblings! It’s like it was fate that brought us together.” Virginia smiled as Izuku exclaimed. She walked closer to the two and bowed in greeting before offering her hand.

With a smile she introduced herself, “Midoriya-San, it’s wonderful to meet you. Izuku has always talked highly of you and shared many meals with me that you would make, always saying that your version is definitely better. Izuku is an amazing person, you raised him really well.” She said as her hand was ignored so she dropped it. Inside she was frowning but outside she kept the soft, hospitality smile on her face.

“Izuku has lived with me for 10 years now and it’s been amazing to see the person he has become. He has worked so hard in making the best of an unfortunate situation.” She continued on, looking up to Izuku who was currently turning red from embarrassment. “We ended up coming back through the portal or one similar to it, when we had been out and were crossing a street when a big rig came barreling down at us. Izuku tackled me out of the way and right into this portal. We appeared where he originally encountered the portal.” Virginia turned back to Inko; her eyes closed as her smile was large.

“Izuku really grew into an incredible hero without ever using his quirk as well. I helped him get into volunteer programs for Paramedics and firefighters. He often helped with search and rescues that happened in the area, there were so many people that he has saved over the years. And now he can continue the dream he nearly had to give up now that we are back in this time! Quirks didn’t exist back then so he could never use his to be a hero, but now he can be an even stronger hero! I’m so very proud of him and-” Virginia cut off sharply, biting her tongue hard.

“Y-you encouraged him? To risk himself for his dream? How can you be so cruel? There is no way he can be a hero now! You stole that from him by not giving him back! I missed him growing up because of you!” Inko shrieked, chest heaving with exertion. Virginia stared stunned, unseeing, at the wall as heat bloomed across her cheek from being slapped by Inko. Inko continued to yell but her voice grew distorted and faint as the sound of blood rushing roared in Virginia’s ears.

Izuku was frozen in shock from witnessing his mother slap his sister so unexpectedly. “K-kaa-San,” Izuku feebly spoke, hands stuck halfway up unsure of who to reach for. Virginia only moved her eyes to stare at Inko as she continued to shout. Her left cheek was flaming red while the rest of her features cooled into blank disinterest. 

Inko went to slap Virginia again, but she caught her hand with a firm hold. Inko attempted to use her few inches over Virginia, to pull her hand back but Virginia’s grip was unrelenting. “You do not raise your hand against me, ever.” Virginia said sharply, enunciating each work. Her eyes narrowed as she forced Inko to lower her arm before letting her go.

She stepped forward, into Inko’s space causing her to step back, “You better listen to me right now Midoriya-San. If you dare try to force or manipulate Izuku into giving up his dream one more time, you will learn what it means to fear me. I don’t take kindly to those who hurt my family. Izuku is my only family now. So, any pain, be it physical, emotional, or mental, will incur my wrath, regardless of who is causing it. This goes for anyone who grows to become family to me or Izuku.” Virginia’s voice was sharp and flat. 

Inko tried to hold her position, but Virginia was relentless in her pursuit, the only time she had touched the mother was to catch her hand, but the sheer anger emanating from her was enough to push her back. “I’m his mother! You can’t do this to me!” Inko cried but it fell on deaf ears as she tried to get around Virginia. 

Her hand shot out to grip Inko’s arm, fed up with her presence and dragged her out of the room. With a final pull, Inko was released into the hallway, falling to the ground. Virginia’s smaller form an unmovable wall in the doorway, Izuku’s much larger frame collapsing into a chair with silver streams of silent tears. “Get out,” Virginia said in a cold tone, several of the heroes were coming towards them from hearing the screaming.

“Leave now, if you dare to talk like that again, I’ll kick your fucking ass. Get the fuck away from us. You’ve done enough damage.” She seethed as Inko climbed to her feet. She tried to say something against her, tried to get the heroes to do something, but she watched as they took in Virginia’s drastic change in body language, and it was clear that they would enforce her will. 

Inko closed her mouth with an audible snap and left as quickly as she could. “What happened?” Aizawa, currently being the bravest, asked. Virginia’s eyes snapped to his, her entire body shifting to face them all. They took in that she was missing her glasses and the very red handprint on her cheek. Aizawa now wasn’t sure if she was glaring from anger or squinting from bad vision.

A heavy exhale steamed from her nose as she quickly turned and reentered the room, ignoring the cracked glasses on the floor and went right to the clearly heartbroken Izuku. Most of the staff that came out, left back to the lounge but Aizawa and Yamada stayed.

“We heard the yelling,” Yamada said softly as he watched Izuku cling to Virginia as he continued to silently cry. “What was that all about?” He continued as he sat down across from them. Aizawa leaned against the wall next to the door, guarding them all. 

“She pretty much said I corrupted him and stole his childhood from her. It’s my fault he was stuck in the past for 10 years. Basically. I stopped listening as I was in shock from getting slapped.” Virginia spoke as gently as she could manage but bitter anger was very clear in her voice.

Izuku pulled back, eyes still very watery as he gently cupped Virginia’s face. Carefully moving her head to get a better look at her cheek. “We-we need to get you some ice. This is gonna bruise.” He whispered and tried to stand but Virginia pushed him back down. “I’ll be fine Izuku. You are too distressed to actually walk yet.” She said firmly when he tried to get up again.

“You two just stay in here until you both calm down. I’ll go grab an ice pack and see if Recovery Girl is here or not.” Aizawa spoke up before he left. Virginia pulled back from Izuku and went over to the window to calm down more.

“Are you going to be okay, Midoriya-Kun?” Yamada asked softly as he leaned forward towards Izuku. The younger, seemed to flinch at his own name, “I... please just call me Izuku. I-I don’t know if I can handle being called anything else right now.” He whispered as he dropped his face into his hands.

Yamada got up and wrapped his arms around Izuku’s broad shoulders in a tight hug. His arms coming up around him in response, hugging him back like a large teddy bear plush. He cried into Yamada’s chest until he was all cried out. 

During that time, Aizawa returned with an ice pack and a few other things. “Recovery Girl isn’t here so I grabbed some bruise ointment too.” He told Virginia once he reached her side, gently reaching for her chin to turn her head towards him. Silently he applied the cream, covered it with a gauze before holding the pack to her cheek. She watched his face as he did all of this. His face at the moment was the only thing she could clearly see without her glasses.

Once the pack was held to her, she brought her hand up to take over holding it, Aizawa’s hand slipping out from under her’s. “Thanks,” she whispered out with a hoarse voice. “Are my glasses damaged?” followed with. He just nodded causing her to sigh. “Great. I guess I would have needed to see an eye doctor at some point anyway.” She said looking upset. 

“Are you going to be okay?” Aizawa asked gently. “Physically I will be. Mentally or emotionally? I’ll have to get back with you.” She said as she closed her eyes and leaned against the window.

Chapter Text

Days later, Virginia was relaxing in the library as Izuku was currently busy taking tests. She was diving deeper into the information surrounding soul bonds. Currently, she was looking into the history, trying to figure out a timeline of when these showed up. The time between when she lived and now was unfortunately blurred with the rising of quirks. A Third World War broke out nearly 30 years after Virginia left her time, leaving her shocked to realize just how close the world had been to these quirks.

That was probably why she even had one, it was already there just weak, and traveling through time led it to become stronger, to it being noticeable. When she had that realization, she quickly left the library for Gym Delta. In the attached locker room she changed out of her loose but light long-sleeve top and jeans into a high-neck tank top that hugged her figure so nothing would snag along with workout leggings.

Once she reached the mats that made up the floor of the gym, she slipped off her shoes and walked over to a rigging that held yards of fabric piled on the ground. With a few pulls on a panel nearby, the fabric rose up towards the high ceiling until the end of the fabric hung hip level to her. 

With a light sigh, she walked over to the fabric and began to climb it, confidently she rose until she was about halfway up before she began to wrap the material around her body. With practiced movements she began to twist and turn, fall and rise; a few long stretches and splits. She moved in careful measures that gave off the feeling of ease, the feeling of ‘yeah I can do that'. 

Up in the air, she was able to zone out, able to ignore the shocking information of just how close she had been to the reveal of quirks. She currently had the fabric wrapped just right to act as a swing. Her own strength was holding her in place as the two sections were wrapped under her and held with the opposite side. Gently she rocked back and forth, gradually lowering herself from the middle of the fabric, so with each arc, she went further out and rose higher.

So lost in the repetitive motion she didn’t notice the doors of the gym open to let in Yamada. He had been searching for her to join the staff for lunch but couldn’t find her in the building so he had to ask Nedzu. He was directed to this very building and was stunned to see her flying. He had been watching for a while now, absolutely hypnotized watching the fabric flow like huge wings behind her. 

A flash of gold caught his eye, breaking his trance and he finally called out to the shorter woman. “Virginia-san! I’ve been looking for ya!” He shouted with an unquirked shout, still causing her to jolt in surprise. She twisted around to look over at him while manipulating the fabric to stop swinging so she could safely slide down to the ground. 

“Yamada-san, did you need something?” Virginia asked as she disentangled herself from the fabric to walk over to him seeing as he was hovering at the edge of the mats with his heavy boots on. She didn’t notice his focus was on her inner right arm as she pulled her hair up into a short ponytail. 

She let out a yelp when Yamada suddenly grabbed her and ran from the gym. She peeked at his face to see a large grin but had to close her eyes as it was really bright out. She grumbled under her breath as she dangled from his arm in the same hold Izuku tends to use on her. Eventually, they round to the staff lounge where Yamada bursts into the space and goes directly to Aizawa.

He gently placed Virginia down and moved her arm to expose the mark resting there, “Sho, look! Look!” He exclaimed excitedly, Virginia just stood there barefoot and confused. Aizawa looked at her arm to see an old golden gramophone, before looking at Virginia's expression. He let out an exasperated sigh while rubbing his face. “Hizashi... did you kidnap Virginia-san to show me her platonic soul mark?”

“Platonic soul mark? How do you know?” Virginia asked as she had been more focused on familial marks given her’s was sparking from Izuku. “Romantic marks are always over the heart, your familial mark is clearly on your back so that just leaves platonic which shows at random locations,” Yamada explained as he released her and pulled up his shirt to show off lean muscles and a pair of glasses that matched Virginia’s new ones with added paw prints of a bear’s.

Virginia’s expression turned to a surprised oh, but she made no noise. She actually fell into deep thought going over what knowledge she has gained about marks in passing. Just as she was gonna bring up a question, the door to the lounge opened to reveal Izuku who was mid-sentence when he spotted Virginia. His eyes looked to be on her, but with her standing right next to Yamada whose shirt is currently up but dropped it once he realized who was at the door.

“Oh...why are you here?” Izuku asked, walking over to Virginia, her shoes in his hands. “I was kidnapped.” She said bluntly as she took her shoes from him and side-eyed Yamada who was blushing while avoiding eye contact, “Sorry, I was just excited.” “I could have never guessed,” Virginia replied dryly.

Izuku just chuckled before picking Virginia up, shoes firmly in place, and left the room for lunch back at the dorms as usual. It wasn’t until they were practically outside, that Yamada finally remembered he was going to ask her to join them for lunch today.

The siblings were eating lunch when Izuku finally noticed the Cheshire grin on Virginia’s face and was instantly blushing. “So you ARE  an abs guy,” she mused out loud, laughing when Izuku began to sputter in embarrassment. The two continued their usual pattern for the rest of the week. Occasional teasing from Virginia when she notices Izuku looking .

As the written exams come to an end, Virginia finds herself wandering the halls. Miraculously she had yet to run into any students that misinterpreted her as a student or run into All Might. She eventually found the support department after an explosion removed the door to one room. 

Hesitantly she peeked into the room to see a crackling Pinkett with dreads being yelled at by Power Loader. She rapped on the door frame, catching the attention of all in the room. “Everything okay in here?” Virginia asked as she stepped into the room, careful of the debris on the floor. 

“Hatsume here has a tendency to cause explosions somehow. Even when her project has nothing that should be able to explode.” Power Loader gruffed out as Virginia reached him. She reached over and placed a hand on his arm in sympathy while also helping him relax a bit. “I see, well what were you working on that caused that?” She asked, pointing to the missing door. 

“Oh! One of our projects here is gonna be used for the first-year hero students' practical exam! Whoever does the best for the requirements gets a prize!” Hatsume was practically bouncing. Virginia looked at her puzzled before stepping closer to her and gently holding her still. Her quirk makes quick work of calming the girl down, “That’s quite interesting. What are you making then?” She asked. “You aren’t going to tell Midoryia right?” Power Loader asked.

“Not if you can provide Laxes!” She grinned as Hatsume explained the purpose of the weights she was creating. Power Loader seemed to deflate as he agreed to provide her request in several forms and locations throughout the school grounds. Virginia left that room scaring several of the students as she crackled, plans stirring in her mind.

On the day of the practical exams, Virginia had disappeared before Izuku returned from his morning jog, a plate of food was ready and waiting for him but his sister was nowhere to be found. He ate his food and got ready for the day, heading off to the staff lounge as no one had previously told him where the practical exam was taking place.

Aizawa crossed paths with him before he could reach, “The class will be meeting in the homeroom then heading down to the training grounds. Get changed into your hero costume and meet us down there for the assignments.” He told him with a flat look. “Cool, good to know. Have you seen Gin by chance?” Izuku asked before he could walk off. Aizawa just shook his head, “No. But I heard that she was seen heading for the support labs for some reason.” He gave before walking off.

Izuku sighed and went off to the locker rooms to get changed into his new suit. He paused to look over the folded material and armor, a shuttered breath escaping him. This right here was the first step forward in his journey to being a hero. “How long are you gonna stare at that?” Virginia’s voice cut through the air.

Izuku shrieked and nearly jumped out of his skin as he turned to see Virginia leaning against the wall next to the door. “Ginna! A warning next time! Please!” He squeaked with a hand over his heart. She walked over, laughter in her voice, as she picked up a leg guard. “Are you ready for this?” She asked with a grin. He smiled back with a nod before he began to strip out of his clothes, down to his boxers. 

Virginia kept her back to him until he pulled on the suit pants so he was decent. She turned to face him once he gave the okay, her eyes landing on the abstract mark over his heart. Now that she has seen it a few times, she is able to recognize the depiction causing her to smile, a small warm grin. She blinked before looking up at Izuku’s face as he finished pulling the undersuit on.

She helped him with the rest of the pieces as this was the first time putting it all on. 5 minutes later, she stepped back and looked him over. “Now this is a hero I can stand with.” She said with a proud grin, looking over her brother. Armor was placed to support his legs and his dominant arm, a strong plate giving extra protection to his heart. Materials that are strong against tears to help protect his soulmarks and those connected to those. 

Pouches with additional supplies and materials for several scenarios. Izuku did a few light stretches to test the feel of the suit before he shook out his arms and bounced lightly in his spot. “Ready?” Virginia asked brightly.

“Ready.” Izuku parrotted and Virginia pulled out her phone to take a photo of him, and so he could link his earpiece up with it. “Let’s put on a show for All Might,” She giggled with that Cheshire grin of her’s causing Izuku to pause before letting out a concerned chuckle. “You gonna signal me or something?” He asked as he walked past her to open the door for her.

She did a small curtsy as she passed him with a thank you, ignoring his question and the two walked off for the training grounds. Virginia messaged Mic to call her so the two of them could still hear what was being discussed but could still give All Might a big surprise. Izuku wasn’t sure what was planned for the exams but it was very clear to him that Virginia knew. A few moments later her phone rang and she answered, putting it on speaker mode so Izuku could listen too. 

“ I’m sure by now you all have some knowledge of the exams. ” Aizawa’s voice came over the speaker. “ We’re fighting Robots! ” Two voices cheered together, however, Nedzu’s voice cut off their party, “ Usually you would be correct students! However, with the recent surge of Villains, we had to improve the exam to increase your battle experiences! Henceforth, the practical exams will be battle simulations against living people! Your class will be the first to go through this new exam. Teams of two will be facing off against one of the staff members before you and each team has already been determined. ” 

Aizawa picked up the conversation from there, “ The groupings are as such. Kirishima and Sato vs Cementoss. Yaoyorozu and Todoroki vs Me. Kaminari and Ashido vs Principal Nedzu. Ojiro and Iida vs Power Loader. Asui and Tokoyami vs Ectoplasm. Hagakure and Shoji vs Snipe. Sero and Mineta vs Midnight. Uraraka and Aoyama vs Thirteen. Jiro and Koda vs Present Mic. Leaving Bakugou and Izuku to fight against All- ” 

Aizawa was interrupted by a loud boom, “ I AM HERE !” All Might’s voice boomed from the speaker, however, the duo didn’t need it to hear the man from where they were hiding 12 meters (about 40 feet) away. An annoyed sigh came from Aizawa before he continued to speak, “ Against All Might. Given that you are all students, in order to give you all a chance, all staff will be wearing a handicap. Braces that total half of our body weight. ” 

“ Aizawa-sensei, where is Midoriya-Kun? ” Uraraka’s voice filtered over and Virginia nodded to Izuku, who rose up quickly in the air to hover above everyone for the cue. “ Indeed, Aizawa-kun! Where is Young Midoriya, I have heard that he was found and is back. ” All Might asked, shifting from his pose with his hands on his hips all confident to a more loose concerned pose.

Virginia had snuck closer to the group until she was about 6 meters (20 feet) and true to his promise, Power Loader had hidden Laxes around for her. 3 of which were in a cubby right next to the spot she was currently hiding behind. She grinned as she gripped the handle of one while signaling Izuku to drop. From her spot, she watched the dot that was Izuku increase in size quickly as he free-fell to the ground.

Activating Float at the last second to help soften his landing. Even still, blooming clouds of dirt bellowed out from his landing. “ You called? ” Izuku’s voice came over the phone now, laughter in his voice as he took in All Might’s jaw-dropped look. He was stunned to see the grown-up version of his successor standing before him. “ Y-young Midoriya? Is that really you? How is this possible? ” The Old hero asked, back completely unguarded.

Virginia grinned wickedly as she placed down her phone on the ledge of the cubby and stepped out to line up. She swung it back and forth between her legs to get used to the total weight before she arced it over her head for a few more test swings. Once satisfied she got ready to throw. “ Not as young anymore All Might. Time travel is finicky but I’m back! ” Izuku answered and Virginia grunted with exertion as she released the lax. 

It arced beautifully with a fast spin allowing it to travel the necessary distance with its weight. The students were confused as to what they were seeing, Izuku ignored the flying object and All Might was none the wiser until it hit him.

Literally.

“ What the hell ?” All Might exclaimed as he folded forward from the impact to his head. The log split and the ax was released, propelled forward more before landing harmlessly in the ground halfway between everyone. The metal gleaned under the sunlight as everyone silently stared at the offending object. All Might turned around to look at where it came from, only to see empty space. The few with enhanced hearing along with those who literally were on the phone with or had an earpiece in, could hear the maniacal laughter.

“ Each group will be transported to separate training grounds where the exams will take place. You will have 30 minutes to accomplish 1 of 2 things. You either escape or capture your opponent. Recovery Girl will be on standby. ” Aizawa continued on, ignoring the startled look from All Might along with the rest of the staff. They all knew what that was about but none felt the need to inform All Might.

11 Buses arrived and everyone loaded onto their designated bus, a few were confused as to why there were 11 and no one was getting on until they spotted Recovery Girl sitting in there. The door opened just as Virginia appeared, rounding the front of the bus to get on. Where she came from was completely blocked by the bus so only the staff and Izuku were aware she had even been near.

She and Recovery Girl made it to the observation room where all the exams would be recorded from. “Only 2 exams will be happening at the exact same time. There will be a 10-minute delay between each exam to give each enough time to reach and enter their fields from the correct entry point.” Recovery Girl informed Virginia as the two sat down on the chair in front of the monitors.

“Good to know. Do you expect there to be any injuries?” Virginia asked softly as she saw two buses unloading. Midnight and Power Loader were the first people off their respective buses followed by the students. “I don’t expect any broken bones, bumps, and scrapes at most. Maybe some upset stomachs. If your brother was still at the same level of quirk control he had before the time travel I would be worried about severe injuries then.” Recovery Girl admitted with a tired sigh.

“I understand that. I’m equal parts worried and excited for their showdown.” Virginia commented lightly as she got comfortable as she saw the first teams getting ready to start. The two women relaxed as they observed the two groups. Sero, unfortunately, succumbed to Midnight’s quirk while Mineta managed to use Sero’s tape to block the quirk. He managed to escape and pass the exam.

Iida and Ojiro also passed their exam by working together. Iida used his speed to jump over the holes Power Loader made, sacrificing himself in order for Ojiro to escape. “They did well, with only light scratches.” Recovery Girl had commented when she saw the first exams finish.

By the time Sero had fallen to Midnight’s quirk, the next two buses were offloaded and the exams started for Jiro with Koda facing Present Mic and Hagakure with Shoji facing Snipe. The fight with Snipe took the shortest amount of time so far, finishing in 10 minutes as Hagakure snuck out behind Snipe as the man was focused on his only visible opponent.

Virginia hadn’t paid much attention to that fight as she was far more interested in what Yamada was gonna do against a soft-spoken student and one with sensitive hearing. Honestly, she was giddy to see what his quirk was like, Izuku had described it as did Yamada himself but it was one thing to hear about it and another to witness it, even if she wasn’t in the direct path.

She watched him take a big breath before shouting, she could see dirt and plants being disturbed by the waves of sound. Animals scattered and both students cowered behind large boulders covering their ears trying to muffle the sound. Virginia leaned forward, enthralled at how he was using his quirk. She could see just how much destruction he could cause and how much he must be holding back given the relaxed air he gives off even from beyond a tv screen.

The two students, Jiro and Koda seemed to come up with a plan, Koda looked like he was talking to the ground while Jiro tried to use her heartbeats to combat Yamada’s shouts. There was a lot of back and forth, Yamada looked completely at ease at least until something caught his eye, halting his attack. The next time he yelled it was more of a panicked scream as hundreds of bugs started to climb up him.

Virginia’s jaw dropped in shock, “Oh dear. Yamada-san actually has entomophobia.” Recovery girl muttered as the two students rushed past the man curled up on the ground crying in shock. The bugs crawled off Yamada and the students quickly helped the man onto the bus to head for Recovery Girl. Virginia’s leg started bouncing as she really wanted to get to Yamada to help him calm down. But she really couldn’t do anything but wait for them all to arrive.

By the time the first two teams arrived at the observation room, the next four exams had started. First up was Kaminari with Ashido against Principal Nedzu. Virginia stared blankly at the monitors before she looked at Recovery Girl, “Are they gonna be more than just a few bumps and scratches?” Recovery Girl just sighed as she shook her head, having no need to verbally agree with the woman.

The other group was Asui with Tokoyami facing Ectoplasm. The duo struggled to make much progress against Ectoplasm for the longest time but using some magic tricks and misdirection, they managed the first capture of the exams. Tokoyami managed to distract the giant clone Ectoplasm long enough for Asui to regurgitate the cuff she had hidden in her stomach and pass them off to Dark Shadow. Dark Shadow used their maneuverability to click the cuff into place around one of Ectoplasm’s legs. They completed the exam with 10 minutes left.

Yamada came stumbling into the room being supported by Jiro and Koda just as the exam for Yaoyorozu and Todoroki began. Virginia abandoned her spot at the monitors to get to Yamada, easily and surprisingly taking all of his weight from the two. She waved the two off as she partially carried-dragged the man off to a corner. She carefully sat him down and sat in his lap, his arms instantly wrapped around her smaller form and clung to her like a child holding a large plushie.

She cooed softly in his ear as she rubbed his back, his shaking slowly stopping as her quirk worked on calming him down. Eventually, she quit her whispers and watched the screens to see Aizawa chasing around Todoroki. She was completely unaware of the pleased squeaks coming from her as she watched the man move. Her attention was completely captured so she didn’t realize Yamada was back to normal and was watching her very amused.

She really didn’t notice her face darken in color when the cameras caught Aizawa’s face as he rubbed his eyes after the flash grenades went off and his students seemed to finally work together. Yamada carefully stood up, still holding Virginia as her eyes were locked on the screen, and walked over to claim the seat Virginia had been in.

The staff in the room were amused to see the look on her face, lips slightly parted, eyes wide in awe. The students in the room were a little confused at the fact Virginia was sitting in Yamada’s lap. “ Ninja man. Those look like my straps and silks. ” Virginia muttered under her breath as she watched the man fly through the air pursuing the students, running on the powerlines. 

Soft coos and hums of excitement continued to escape her, completely involuntarily as she watched how the man carried himself and responded to his students. She snorted when Aizawa got captured and dropped to the ground, leaning back against Yamada. The man just held her in a loose hold as he propped his chin on her head, both comfortable in the position. 

“Why is she crying?” Virginia asked in a whisper once she saw Yaoyorozu cover her mouth. “Probably because Sho is a softy at heart and Yaoyorozu has a lot of self-doubts so he probably said something supportive,” Yamada whispered back. Virginia was still entranced by the scruffy hero so she really didn’t mean to say what she did next out loud, “Hun...Dadzawa. Who knew.” The way she said it caused Yamada to burst out laughing, startling everyone in the room.

A buzzer rang, startling everyone, signaling an exam running out of time. A few heads snapped up to look up and see that Kirishima and Sato failed their test by running out of time and stamina. “Oh crap,” Virginia muttered as she realized that the fight between All Might, Bakugou, and Izuku had already started. Both she and Yamada focused on the fight, several others also focusing on the same fight, and only a few took notice of the struggle Uraraka and Aoyama were currently in.

Izuku was currently standing on a roof ledge leaning against the fencing as he watched Bakugou attempt to fight All Might solo. Virginia could only guess that the blond demanded that Izuku piss off so he could take on All Might, claiming he needed no help. She watched as All Might threw Bakugou hard and far, the teen bouncing like a skipping stone on water causing her to cringe heavily back into Yamada.

A pissed-off look crossed Izuku’s face for just a moment before All Might looked up at him from the ground. Izuku sighed and jumped down, landing 3 meters (9ft) from the Pro. “You know, the point is to give us students a chance to either beat you or escape from you. Treating Bakugou like a rag doll certainly doesn’t match any of that.” He said, arms crossed and body tense.

“If you are so concerned for him, why did you just watch?” All Might countered, matching Izuku’s pose. “I like to be petty...or was it vindictive?” Izuku stated casually, shifting his weight between each leg in a swaying motion. “Vindictive? Surely that can’t be right, Young Midoriya.” All Might gesture loosely in disbelief.

“Well, I certainly have the ability to have pulled him away from you at any moment but I chose not to because I didn’t want to. As cruel as it might sound, I liked seeing him get thrown around a bit. I mean, he did torment me growing up and it literally took me traveling into the past to come to terms with it. And it so happens that my beloved soul-bonded sister is sassy and brought out a side of me that I repressed because of certain conditions I had.” Izuku responded with a dismissive tone.

The two were apparently nearby a microphone that survived the initial attack by All Might. “Oh and before I forget again All Might. It’s Sage now, no more ‘Young Midoriya’ or ‘Izuku, my boy’. To you, it’s just Sage until I say otherwise.” Izuku stated, before lunging for an attack, catching All Might by surprise and landing a quick blow to a very specific area. Not with the intention to harm, just shock more in order to get him to chase.

The two were off at high speed, Izuku strictly using the base augmentations given to him, not using any of the other unlocked quirks for now. At some point, they ended up high in the air, trading blows for blows, gradually falling closer to the ground. During this time Bakugou woke up and was left stunned as two monsters fought in the air. It however didn’t last long as his complexes triggered and he was launching himself into the air to interrupt the fight.

Izuku noticed and activated Blackwhip to stop the teen from getting hurt more. This move shocked All Might and all of the students watching as Bakugou started to struggle and yell obscenities but couldn’t escape the hold. Izuku continued to fight like nothing happened, showing off the drastic improvement with his quirk control. He pushed off from All Might, causing the man to fall faster to the ground as he activated Float and looked down at the man.

Once again, All Might was left stunned as he watched Izuku float there, arcs of green lighting coming from him as inky black tendrils withered around him. Enough power was coming off of him, small arcs were coming off Virginia. Only she and Yamada noticed, however. 

During this standstill, Aizawa, Cementoss, and Thirteen walked in with their students. The 6 teens froze in shock as they saw a God until they realized it was actually Izuku. “How is he doing that?” Todoroki asked as he walked further into the room. The rest of the students wanted to know as well but were too stunned to ask.

“Izuku is a unique situation. He probably has one of the latest quirk activations by age so there are some unexpected effects. He is essentially at the same level you are at year-wise. Quirks typically show around 4 or 5 years old right? And you are usually 15 years old entering high school where you can train to be heroes. Giving you 10-ish years to practice your quirks. His quirk didn’t come in until he was 15, not long before the first day of classes. So the time travel gave him those 10 years he should have had to practice and discover his quirk.” Virginia broke down, shattering several personal views the students had of their former classmate.

“He usually practiced for an hour or two each day and had to be very careful as the closest hospital or doctor's office was roughly an hour away by car on pretty empty roads. The main difference I think between him and you all is that his hobby is to study quirks and theorize how they work and what they can do. He did that for his quirk and you know, didn’t have to learn fine motor control over his body while learning his quirk like the average person.” Virginia continued, eyes never breaking from the screen displaying Izuku floating there.

Bakugou at some point stopped fighting against Izkuku and just watched. All Might wasn’t sure how to approach this situation. He wanted to stop and just talk with Izuku but they were also in the middle of the test so he couldn’t. No one did anything for several long moments. Over the intercom system that was everywhere in the training ground, Virginia’s voice called out and got things moving once again, “There are 15 minutes remaining.”

Izuku dropped to the ground, keeping a hold on Bakugou, and wound up a strong punch but kicked out instead into All Might’s unguarded side. The blow caught him and he went flying back, Izuku pulled Bakugou close and launched into the air at 75% speed to easily sail through the gate, passing the exam with ease. 

He released Bakugou and looked him dead in the eye, “I won this without you ever being a concern of mine. You needed me to pass this. I could have walked through this gate at any point and stopped you from getting hurt. But I didn’t and I don’t feel guilty.” He whispered before taking to the sky and just flying back to the locker room to get freshened up.

No one in the room heard what Izuku had said to Bakugou but Virginia knew him well enough to know he finally spoke some of his peace. She made a hum-toned low before she got up from Yamada’s lap. “Definitely a movie night. I wonder if I can find some classics.” She muttered as she walked off.

As her focus shifted, her footsteps became quieter to practically a whisper as she glided from the room. Unconsciously weaved through the students and staff that were between her and the exit. She didn’t even look up as she passed Aizawa, who was focused on her. Yamada and Aizawa shared a look as the students were dismissed after they were informed that everyone will be attending the training camp. 

The class made plans to go to the mall the next day to get supplies for the camp, while the teachers gathered around to review each exam and grade the students on the practicals. Aizawa was left to watch the recordings at a later time, but for now, they all discussed the individual exams by those who gave them.

Several hours later, the room was abandoned and Aizawa went to his private office near the lounge to go over the videos. One by one he reviewed everything and graded his students based on what he saw and the testimonies from his coworkers. The tenth video just finished playing, showing Izuku flying away when a new one started. It was a camera in the observation room from the moment Recovery Girl and Virginia walked in.

“What the hell is this Nedzu?” Aizawa grumbled but continued to watch instead of turning it off for being pointless. He watched Virginia as she watched each test. He could see how her body language changed with each one. She looked fascinated with each one she watched. Such a pure form of wonder was clear on her face that seemed to shift into excitement when he noticed Yamada’s exam had started.

Aizawa chuckled to himself as he watched her seem to be giddy seeing his soulbound brother work. He saw how concerned she was once the bugs made their appearance and how anxious she was waiting for him to arrive at the room. How she responded quickly to help calm him once he did arrive. The two had sat down next to one of the mics so he was able to her calming voice comfort Yamada. He found himself falling into a trance until a new noise caught his attention.

He wasn’t expecting to hear such a noise of appreciation come from her. Even more surprised when he realized what was causing her to make those quiet noises. She was watching him and didn’t seem to realize she was doing it. Those little sounds of appreciation set his entire being on edge and fire causing him to feel uncertain about his reactions. Despite this, he didn’t stop watching, wanting to finish watching her.

Nearly 40 minutes later, the video stopped and he turned off his computer. “What the fuck is wrong with me.” He breathed out as he leaned back in his chair. Rubbing his face before threading his fingers through his hair for a few moments before he released the tension in his body. “I’m too tired to deal with this right now.” He huffed as he got up and left his office.  Slowly he made his way out of the building and towards the staff dorms, too tired to make his way to his apartment after today.

He entered and passed by Virginia, Izuku, and Yamada all curled up on the couch watching a movie. No one noticed him as he slipped upstairs to collapse in his bed there.

________________

Hero Suit

Chapter Text

Morning arrived with the sun shining bright, Izuku was missing from the couch and Yamada had pulled Virginia into his arms at some point, cuddling her in his sleep. She however has been awake for a while now and just hasn’t gotten up. Footsteps caused her to go on alert and wiggle around a bit more in order to see who was there. Aizawa was walking into the kitchen, dressed in loose pink sweatpants and a black tank top.

Without any doubt, she knew she was staring at his arms. She admired the markings on his left arm but was really focused on just how ripped he is and didn’t have that gross veiny look. He must have felt her staring because he turned quickly and met her gaze. Neither of them broke the stare for the longest time. Both froze for different reasons that they couldn’t admit or name if they were ever asked.

Yamada shifted under Virginia as he woke up, his voice heavy with sleep still as he spoke up, “What time is it?” Virginia was the first to look away, but Aizawa was the first to blink, “It’s 10 till 8. I should get breakfast going, soon.” She responded before she wiggled from his arms and finally got up. Her first goal was to get changed and finally use the restroom.

While she was gone, Yamada finally rolled off the couch and stood up to stretch out his stiff muscles. As he did this, he noticed Aizawa still frozen in his spot just out of reach from the coffee machine. “When did you get here Sho? Sho? You good man?” Yamada asked, walking over to his best friend when the man didn’t respond. A poke to the cheek finally got a reaction after several attempts.

Aizawa batted his hand away with an annoyed glare, “What?” He asked sharply as he turned away to get his coffee finally. “You zoned out.” Yamada said as he leaned against the counter. “No, I didn’t.” Aizawa grumbled not looking at him, trying to ignore the conversation.

Yamada just raised an eyebrow at him with an unimpressed look. Once Aizawa finally looked at him, he sighed, “She was staring at me.” He grumbled into his coffee cup, hiding his face. “She was staring at you...” Yamada parroted back before inhaling and holding it for a moment before releasing it slowly. 

“I know it's a bit hypocritical of me to say it, but she is gonna figure it out. She was telling me about the research she has been doing on soulmates and bond-marks.” He stated as he uncrossed his arms to grip the countertop behind him.

“What about Izuku?” Aizawa jabbed back before wincing at his tone. “I’m still trying to come to terms with him being older now! I really don’t know how to approach this with him and I’m worried on how both of them will react to the news. You can see just how close they are with each other and Virginia-san is definitely protective of him.” Yamada rambled out before letting out a distressed sigh. Aizawa lowered his cup and just stared into the dark liquid.

A door opened and Izuku walked into the dorm building, earbuds plugged in and oblivious to his surroundings. His shirt was missing and sweat gleamed off his skin as his head bobbed to the music. He was rolling his neck and shoulders as he walked past the older men and went right to the showers. Yamada was staring hard and was unconsciously holding his breath. A sharp kick to the shin had him gasping for breath and coughing.

Virginia came down moments later in loose but form fitting clothes, high neck and no sleeves, capri length pants. “Are you alright Yamada-san?” She asked, panicking as she ran over to the man in question still trying to figure out how to breathe. Her hand landed on his back gently and it did help to calm his coughing fit down.

“Are you good now?” She asked once he was taking easy breaths, Aizawa had placed his cup down as this was happening in case he needed to do something more. Yamada nodded his head quickly, “Choking on my spit.” He croaked out. Virginia hovered for a few moments more before stepping back. “I hate when that happens. But if you are sure you are good now, do you both want something to eat?” 

She looked between the two men in quick searching glances. Both agreed so she began to work on making some breakfast. She began to work on a traditional Japanese breakfast while the two sat down at the table the siblings usually use. The two used sign language to talk more about their previous conversation when Izuku came around the corner, “Gin! I was thinking that because we both are pretty much starting over we should do by the same family name! I was thinking Mori would be good, since a forest is what brought us together.” He called out unaware of the additional two.

Virginia turned around to look at him and threw the wooden spoon she had in her hand at him, “ Where is your damn shirt! Go put it on! ” A thwack sounded before Izuku whined out while rubbing his forehead, “ I don’t wanna! I’m gonna get all sweaty again anyways! ” He continued to walk closer, stopping short when he spotted Yamada and Aizawa. He started to back away when he realized that Virginia was now holding her slipper. 

His hands went up in surrender as he backed away and returned to the showers to grab the shirt he left behind. By the time he came back out, breakfast was set on the table and the three were just waiting on him. He sat down in the free chair between Yamada and Virginia before they began eating. The only noise was from the utensils and from eating. It wasn’t awkward for any of them, just a comfortable silence. 

Virginia was the first done as she didn’t have any fish, Yamada was next, followed by Aizawa who took his time drinking his 2nd cup of coffee. Izuku was last but he did also have the most to eat given how much energy his body needs in a day. “What are your plans for today?” Yamada asked once Izuku returned to his seat after clearing the table.

“We made plans to just have a relaxing day after all the tests. I haven’t done any of the routines with Gin since Nedzu-san got her the equipment so we’re gonna run through those for a bit before doing something else. We tend to lose track of time when we run through those so we don’t have any set plans.” Izuku answered first as Virginia was doing some stretches for her hands, warming them up to get ready. 

“What routines?” Aizawa asked as he shifted forward in his seat to lean on the table. “Oh! You mean that fabric thing I found Virginia-san using a few days ago?” Yamada blurted out, excited. “You mean when you kidnapped me? Yes, those are my Aerial Silks. For aerial arts, we have a few routines that we do together. Typically, we use straps that look similar to your scarf Aizawa-san, they just have loops at the end for us to hold onto.” Virginia informed and Yamada looked bashful at the reminder.

“You can watch if you want. It’s just some basic stuff,” Virginia offered as she stood up from the table and went to get her shoes on to head out. The two agreed with different levels of enthusiasm and the four left for gym delta. Once inside, the two pros took a seat on the benches along the wall as Virginia and Izuku walked off to get ready. Virginia went over to a control panel and dropped the anchor that had silks attracted to change out what was attached. 

Izuku went over to the storage room and grabbed the straps that they were going to use. Once everything was lowered and switched over, Izuku took over at the panel and Virginia went to test the straps for the first time. She just laid flat on the floor, straps wrapped around her wrists to secure them as the anchor rose up. Eventually the slack came to an end and using all the core strength she had, Virginia rose to, planking in the air. 

The straps eventually stopped rising and Virginia pulled herself into an upside-down splits before dropping and swinging around till the straps were no longer wrapped around her wrists and just locked in place. Izuku gradually lowered the straps again until Virginia was able to stand flat on the floor with her arms straight out in front of her with no slack in the line. 

“I’m glad some of the programs you had on your old phone were able to be transferred over. I have the 3rd set pulled up.” Izuku said as he walked over to her and took the straps from her and locked his wrists in it before kneeling so Virginia could step up and climb to his shoulders.

Virginia just nodded as she carefully got in place for him to stand up. Once her hands were set on his palms and he nodded, she kicked off and held a handstands-split. Izuku then carefully leaned back until his whole body was parallel with the ground, showing off his own core strength. There they spun for a few rotations before Izuku stood again and Virginia stood on his shoulders again so he could slip his hands out of the straps and her feet could step in.

She sunk into another split and Izuku spun her slowly. As she stood back up, her shift in mass caused her to spin faster, while doing this she crossed the straps behind her and flipped into yet another upside-down split. With her hands now free, she held them down for Izuku to take. There, Izuku was held up by Virginia directly as she was suspended in the air. He did a tuck through their joining hands so his arms ended up behind him as he faced the ground. 

He revered that and released one hand to twist and wrap around the still connecting hands. A few moments later, he dropped back down so Virginia could flip back and sink into another split. Once lined up, Izuku jumped up and climbed up till he was standing on Virginia’s legs. It took a few moments before he used one hand on her shoulder to do a handstand, while keeping a hold of the strap with his other hand.

Eventually they traded spots and Virginia plopped on the ground as Izuku began to climb the straps by slowly winding them around his arms till he was about 15 feet in the air. Once at that height, he leaned parallel to the ground on his side, before unwinding his arms to stand on the ground.

Virginia stood up and had to jump a little to wrap her hands around his neck as the anchor began to rise, lifting them both up into the air. At 15 feet, they spun, Virginia being supported by Izuku only. He wrapped his legs around her and she dropped into a backbend before dropping further, now supported solely by Izuku’s feet under her arms. 

A sharp gasp caught their attention for a moment as they spun, Yamada’s eyes wide and locked on to the two of them, Aizawa silent but also wide eyed, kinda. The duo in the air grinned as they lowered down again. 

It took a few moments before they shifted the straps around and the two were circling each other, one strap to each of them. They continued to circle each other, grabbing hold with their free hand as they began to rise once again. Changing connecting points between the two before the two twisted around and had their backs to each other, while holding the ankle of the leg closer to the floor. This caused them to spin quite fast as they twisted around again so their knees connected them together.

A quick release caused Virginia to go sailing away with a spin from Izuku, being the lighter mass, curving as she returned to his side while the anchor lowered again. Once they were on the floor, they stepped back and it was clear to the heroes that the routine was done. Yamada got up and bounded over to them. “That was amazing! Can I try something?” He asked, causing the two to laugh.

“Sure, but you really aren’t in clothes that are appropriate for this so you would need to change. And you would start on the silks.” Virginia instructed. Yamada grinned and ran off to the locker room where he did have some work out clothes stashed that were similar to what Izuku and Virginia were wearing. When he returned, Aizawa was talking to Virginia at the straps. Yamada walked over to Izuku who smiled brightly as he approached.

“The first thing you’re gonna learn is how to stand.” Izuku smiled as he separated the two strands of fabric so he could demonstrate. “How to stand? You mean in the air?” He asked, as he pulled his hair back into a messy bun. “Yup. Exactly that. There is a way to wrap your feet so you are locked in place but can still easily get out. Then I’ll show you some other stuff and how to make these two strands become a swing.” He grinned as he began to show the process.

While Izuku was doing this, Aizawa was trying the straps as Virginia did have a point, they are similar to his capture weapon. “I would think you already have the upper body and core strength needed for this, think you can do that spinning climb that Izuku did earlier?” She asked as Aizawa was messing with the hanging strands. 

“Maybe. You don’t mind me trying?” He asked as he slipped his wrists into the loops and she secured them on. “Go for it, forward rolls. Try getting the straps to wrap a few times to reach just below your elbows then focus wrapping there.” She advised as she stepped back so he could try.

The four spent several hours there, Yamada and Aizawa trying for a little while before the two sat off to the side again to watch more of the routines. This time they used the silks and played music. The two glided through the air, so very graceful, powerful, and strong. 

Before they knew it, it was nearly 4 in the afternoon and they only realized that when Virginia’s stomach sounded like a whale’s mating call and belched. All of them froze as she blinked repeatedly in surprise. “Oh...I guess I’m hungry.” She muttered and Izuku burst out laughing. “Let’s go out to eat! You two haven’t left campus since you arrived!” Yamada exclaimed as he got up. 

“Well, that’s probably because we don’t have money.” Virginia stated as she walked to the panel and lowered everything down. “I wouldn’t have suggested it if I wasn’t going to pay for it, Virginia-san.” Yamada stated, crossing his arms almost insulted that she would believe he would make them pay. 

She blinked slowly at him, “That makes sense, wouldn’t be that great of a friend if you did that. Actually, you know what?” Virginia asked as she turned quickly, “For you to be friend status with me, it's just weirding me out calling me Virginia. My friends and family are the only ones I let call me Ginna. So start doing that.” She demanded. Yamada just slowly blinked at her before nodding in agreement.

“Well if we’re going by that logic, feel free to call me Hizashi.” He grinned as Izuku and Virginia pulled their shoes back on and the group left for the front gate. “Where are we going to eat?” Aizawa spoke up, causing everyone to stop short. They all looked at each other to see if anyone had an idea but no one spoke and Virginia was even scratching her head. 

“How...how about ramen? Finally try genuine ramen and not the bootleg versions we had?” Izuku finally offered up, causing Virginia to giggle with a snort. “I know the perfect place to go! Follow me!” Yamada shouted before running off, Izuku ran after him but Virginia was having none of that. “Hizashi don’t fucking run! I’m short, damn it!” This caused the man to trip and fall from surprise.

A snort of amusement sounded from behind, causing Virginia to look over her shoulder at Aizawa. “Let’s catch up. Even if they run off again, I know the place he is going for.” He said before leading the way over to the two. Izuku was laughing as he helped Hizashi up off the ground. “Honestly, you deserved that.” “You were running too,” Hizashi whined but shut up quickly as Izuku was brushing him off quickly like it.

“I was gonna grab you, to get you to stop. But I didn’t want to use Blackwhip on you. Gin says it feels weird to be grabbed like that and I didn’t want to startle you.” Izuku explained just as the lagging two caught up. “It’s not something easily explained on how it feels, just not something you want to experience without warning.” Virginia commented. Hizashi got a strange look in his eye as he zoned out in Virginia’s direction. 

Aizawa thwacked Hizashi on the arm to snap him out of his daze before he led the way out of the gates. Izuku followed him as Virginia raised an eyebrow at Hizashi, prompting him into a blush before walking past him. They chatted along the way to the shop, talking really about nothing until they reached the shop.

It was a quaint place, family owned and small. Hizashi directed them over to a table and they sat down to look at the forms that they can fill out for what exactly they would like to have. “What does this even mean?” Virginia whispered out looking very lost as she looked at all the different options available to her. Izuku looked up and pulled the form away from her and filled out a few base options before giving it back to her. She blinked a few times at him before looking the form over again. All he left for her to choose was additives.

Meats, veggies, spices, and other proteins. She let out a little huh before making a few choices. By the time she was done looking it over and felt satisfied, the other three had already finished and were watching her. Aizawa had a small grin, just the corner of his mouth ticked up. Hizashi was smiling as was Izuku. “What?” She asked confusedly as she sat up straight. “Do you always do that?” Hizashi asked, up beat.

“Do what?” She wasn’t sure what he was getting at. “Your tongue was sticking out of the corner of your mouth while you were filling that out.” Aizawa said amused, Virginia’s face darkened in light embarrassment. “Oh. That. I don’t mean to do it, but whenever I’m focused or concentrating on something I end up doing that. It can get so bad my tongue ends up pretty dry by the time I realize.”

The two unused to her quirks chuckled just as a waiter came by to give them some water and take the forms. Once those were cleared out and a few sips of water had been taken, they all were silently relaxing. It was a very peaceful environment and they all felt at ease. “Oh, Izzy. Your idea from earlier. I like it. Mori, for the forest that brought us together.” Virginia spoke up as she stared at the ripples of water in her glass.

“Awesome, I can message Nedzu-san about that and maybe we should see where he is at, in getting you established. He hasn’t said anything to us lately.” Izuku agreed happily. They fell silent for a moment before Virginia spoke again. “Classes are over now for the summer right?” 

“For every department, except for the hero-course. There are still a few days of practical work, simulations and such that happen before Summer break officially starts.” Aizawa explained a little bit. “The Hero-Course will pretty much have free reins of the school for another week or so. Summer break, no classes, fully starts on the 20th this month. Gotta give the kids some time to get their supplies for the camp and give their brains a break from the standard academics.” Hizashi explained more.

“What are some of the simulations?” Izuku asked and Hizashi grinned playfully. “Trying to get some extra prep time?” He waggled his finger at him in a joking scold. “If I was, would you still tell me?” He responded back, leaning closer to the blond with a hooded gaze to his eyes. Hizashi was left speechless as he tried to answer back in any way. Virginia and Aizawa glanced at each other before looking away. “Are you done flirting? Our food is here.” Virginia’s voice cut through causing them to lurch away from each other.

The bowls of ramen were set down before them and they all dug in happily. They fell into silence again as they enjoyed their food. Happy, pleased hums escaped Virginia as she did a little wiggle dance in her seat, absorbed into the food. Completely missing the soft whispers from the males watching her.

“How is she so adorable?” “I guess in the same way she looks younger than me?” “You look old.” “Sho! That’s so rude!” “Damn, I thought I had a baby face.” “Seriously, how is she so cute!” Virginia had just slurped a noodle that hit her on the nose causing her to stare cross-eyed at her nose.

“Most innocent, cute things will stab a bitch.” “I doubt she would stab herself.” “She would definitely stab you.” A grumble came from Izuku as he went to eat, Hizashi silently gasped in shock and Aizawa stared clearly surprised. It took a few more moments for Izuku’s brain to catch up to his mouth and he began to panic wave his hands as he stuttered out an apology. That was quickly stopped by a sharp kick from under the table from Virginia, who looked pissed off that he was causing a racket and disrupting her meal.

“Sorry!” He squeaked out again before digging into his food, not looking up at all as Virginia went back to eating. Aizawa met Hizashi’s eyes that were lit up with laughter. He just shook his head and the two went back to eating. Eventually they all finished eating, Hizashi paid and they left. It was nearly 6 now so they decided to go see a movie. Aizawa was just dragged along. 

Literally.

By Virginia, grabbing the back of his shirt when he started to walk away.

The movie had actually been really boring but it was made far more enjoyable by Izuku and Virginia making obscure references to dead pop culture from her time or even from before. Any time something had been thrown hard, Virginia whispered a small Yeet . Any time a police car was seen, even if it didn’t have flashing lights, she whispered a little whe-wo. The pros once again found it to be adorable.

The sun had gone down by the time they returned to UA. Aizawa and Hizashi decided to just sleep in the dorms again but actually in their rooms, just as Virginia and Izuku planned on doing. They were actually all chatting as they reached the floor the time travelers were on so they continued to Virginia’s room to finish talking. However, they didn’t make it past the threshold due to Virginia stopping short.

In the middle of her room were several large black storage bins, unmarked and definitely hadn’t been there when Virginia had left her room. Once she made this known, Hizashi was contacting Nedzu to see if he knew of any deliveries being dropped off and Aizawa cautiously approached to open the lid on one container after checking it over.

Carefully the lid opened, what was inside caused Aizawa to pause before he threw off the lid in one smooth movement. Inside was a distinctive stuffed bear with a bright red bow around its neck tying one of the back legs up. Its fur was brown with red and gold tones to it and attached to it was a letter written in a very odd font that didn’t look English or Japanese.

Aizawa picked the bear up and the golden lettering gleaned in the light. Virginia’s jaw dropped as her eyes tracked the toy, all the while walking closer to it and tears began to gather. A shaking hand reached out and opened the letter to read.

“ Oh my god. Th-this can’t be real. ” Her voice cracked with emotion as she read the letter. Izuku came over and gently took the letter from her and slowly read it out loud. 

“ Memories are forever important and reminders have been stripped from you unfairly and suddenly. A gift for a beautiful soul like you. For the lonely night you are paralyzed with homesickness and can not call out for comfort. Let your comfort always be near. ”

“How can you read that?” Aizawa asked as Virginia snatched the old toy from his hand and buried her face into the fur. Her tears fell into the soft fur as she silently began to sob. “It’s a language I created from the lettering system Virginia made. We are the only ones that should know how to write in this.” Izuku said as Hizashi had guided Virginia to sit down on the couch.

Izuku and Aizawa then went about opening the rest of the bins and saw the same thing. All of them were filled with plushies. Many of them Izuku recognised. He grabbed one, a little giraffe and checked the tag on its butt. In the handwriting he recognized as Virginia’s was the name Geoffrey. He found another that he remembers getting her, a large black cat that she named Satan the dislexic cat as a joke because it was Christmas and he spelt Santa wrong.

That night, the four did in fact not make it to their own beds. Once Virginia calmed down enough, she gathered things from her room, demanded they do the same and come back. She really didn’t want to be alone now. By the time the guys returned, all of the plushies had been dumped out and she was found curled up under a large pile of them. Izuku smiled softly and began to carefully set up a very large pillow fort that could fit them all. 

Hizashi helped him as Aizawa worked on getting Virginia out of the pile, getting confused as to where the three massive plushies came from. They towered over him as he sat on the floor. They ended up getting used as a wall of the fort being built around them. Aizawa managed to get her out by taunting her with the bear, holding it just out of her reach so she had to climb out. She huffed at him as she curled around the old bear and leaned into his side. Like a cat claiming a lap, he was now stuck as her pillow.

Being surrounded by many eyes, even as toys, initially freaked out Hizashi and Aizawa but as they spent more time in the hoard that was Virginia’s 35 year old collection of plushies, they grew more comfortable. Finally after a few more adjustments, Hizashi and Izuku sat down under the canopy and flopped on the scattered toys. “Surprisingly, laying on all these toys is pretty comfortable. Except for Fred and his gang. Fuck Fred.” Izuku chuckled before glaring at the adorable monkey that was soft but very hard.

There were a few more very dense plushies at the opening of the sheets that were being used as weights. They all stood independently of each other and any object. Hizashi snorted as he nodded in agreement cause he understood exactly how hard those toys were when he accidentally threw one at Izuku and he returned the favor with strength behind it. He is pretty sure that left a bruise on his shoulder.

Izuku shifted around a bit before he was comfortable and fell asleep. Hizashi and Aizawa were silently talking with each other as he did and Virginia shifted to lay on the floor, back to Aizawa now, bear held close to her chest.

Exhaustion eventually crept up on the two still awake and they laid down where they were. Hizashi poked Izuku lightly to see just how asleep he was. When he didn’t move, he curled up to his side. “Really?” Aizawa breathed out in a whisper as to not disturb the two already asleep. “Shut up! Let me have this,” Hizashi hissed back before carefully resting his head on Izuku’s chest, right where he knew his mark was hidden.

Because of his position, Aizawa saw Izuku relax more as he slept, a content smile appearing on his face. He just silently huffed before turning his back on the two, leading him to face Virginia all curled up. “This is okay...Right?” He asked out loud to himself as he stared at her, carefully laying next to her. Becoming the big spoon for her curled up form. An arm gently draped over her form as his own content, relaxed sigh escaped him. 

He drifted off to sleep, completely unaware that Virginia wasn’t as asleep as she seemed. Or at least, he hadn’t been aware of how easily talking or music could wake her up. She felt more relaxed with his arm over her, the warmth of his body sinking into her back. A gentle smile pulled at her lips as her eyes fluttered closed, pulled back into the embrace of sleep.

Chapter Text

Virginia decided to visit Nedzu the next day once Aizawa had dragged Izuku away to attend the hero classes the rest of class 1-A would be participating in. The door opened before she reached it, inviting her inside where the smell of tea and chocolate drifted out. “Good morning Virginia-san. I do hope your night went well after the call I received from Yamada-kun.” He greeted from the couch, inviting her to sit opposite of him. 

Once she sat down, she saw a cup of hot chocolate waiting for her, prompting a smile onto her face. “Yes, it was a surprise but I’m getting the feeling that the portal that brought Izuku to me and us back here isn't the work of a quirk. The message that came with it was strange. It was even written in the language I designed and Izuku brought to life.” Virginia lamented as she gently swirled her cup in her hands.

“What do you mean by you designed and Izuku brought to life?” Nedzu asked, interest peaked. “I was bored one day and decided to try creating my own language. I got as far as how the alphabet was shaped. What each symbol equates to in English but used what letters in English that sound similar to be the same symbol. And I created how the number system would work and look.” Virginia informed him before taking a sip of her drink as her throat was getting dry.

“Now, I didn’t get beyond that point. I lost interest even if I did love how it looked. Izuku found it one day and when I explained it, he went right into studying cryptography and eventually built the language using the little framework I had created. He even went so far as to make it into a spoken language.” She boasted, proud of the work Izuku made.

“He told me, part of the reason he was interested in it was because of the hero analysis he did. After long discussions we had, he had the realization that if his work was to ever fall into the wrong hands, it could cause some serious issues. Even if his isn’t on the same level of those who make a living off of it.” Virginia said off-handedly as she sipped at her drink. When she went for a larger drink she froze.

She blinked rapidly before looking up at Nedzu. “He last had 13 journals with the information. It’s back at his mom’s house. Do you think she may throw out or destroy the journals?” She asked the rat, worry coloring her voice causing him to even pause. “Well then. It would be irresponsible of us to let those journals out of the eyes of heroes un-coded. I will contact Detective Tsukauchi to see if he can get those books for us. For safety measures of course.” Nedzu said in a way that comforted Virginia.

“Now then, we haven’t had much opportunity to talk in more recent times. We needed to talk about your background to finalize some details.” Nedzu changed the topic to what Virginia was originally coming to see him for. “Oh, yes. The first thing, first. Izuku and I decided on a family name of Mori. Second thing is, I’ve been thinking on what to call my Quirk as it does seem like everyone names their quirk.” Virginia started out and Nedzu took some notes as she went.

“I want to call it Repose. Written in English. Seeing as it means a state of rest, sleep, or tranquility. I thought it was fitting to describe my quirk.” She continued on and Nedzu nodded in agreement. “Wonderful, I’ll get those added in. Furthering your background, do you wish to list your college experience or previous work history?”

“I don’t think adding any of that would be effective. For job history, I guess you could do something along the lines of an independent contractor or freelance artist. I ran a small business of things that I created. Izuku helped so that was how he made money. Otherwise I think I could really only be noted as either an Aerial instructor or a homebody.” Virginia stated as she leaned back into the couch.

“I see. Well, for a while now I have been trying to get the school board to approve some student dorms. For those whose home is far away, they have to rent an apartment to attend school here. I believe if there was a designated adult that was to oversee and or live in the building, the board would be more accepting of it. If I were to purpose it at again, would you be willing to take the position on? You would officially be paid as a staff member at this school.” Nedzu offered up.

“Taking this possible position, you wouldn’t need any qualifying job skills that most of the job force needs nowadays. There are opportunities for certification classes in any subject you wish to take will be a lot easier with the backing of UA as an employee. You also gain the same level of authority as any other staff member. With you interacting with students on a more active level and not being a known hero, you can use that as an opportunity to see when students are misbehaving when they believe no one with authority is near.” Nedzu began to list off some of the benefits that would come with her employment there.

She really didn’t need any convincing, she was just waiting for him to stop talking. “Additionally, as all staff members are either Heroes, sidekicks, or retired pros, if there was ever a situation to occur beyond the walls where you used your quirk on another person. If it is to help them, you can be granted a level of immunity as well. It is something called Civilian Assistance when the person in question has the backing and employment by heroes. It isn’t a common practice but the law is there.”

“Furthermore, you receive all the health care benefits, social security, sick leave, vacation days, travel expenses and such the rest of the staff receive. However, you also receive free housing and a generous spending account for groceries and other necessities for the dorms. With this, it wouldn’t be possible to pay you an hourly wage so instead I would offer you a monthly salary of 550,000.” Nedzu continued on casually throwing out all the benefits then the pay. 

Once Virginia registered the amount, she did a spit take and was slack-jawed at the information. “550,000 yen (4,058 usd rounded up) a month? Why that much? I would be living on campus already?” Virginia asked beyond gobsmacked. “Easy. That is the same salary Izuku will receive once he reaches the apprentice status here. That amount is just under half the rest of the staff makes. We have the budget for these wages.” Nedzu exclaimed as he offered Virginia a towel to clean up her mess.

“Wow. Um, I was gonna say yes right after you even mentioned the potential position. I’m just blown away with everything else.” Virginia muttered in a daze as she cleaned things up. The two continued to discuss things for a while longer until Nedzu had to take a call. Virginia left the room and wandered to the staff lounge. Inside she said hello to a few of the heroes in there for their free period before she sat down at the window by the couches and looked out the window.

The bell rang a few times before Hizashi and Aizawa arrived. Neither noticed Virginia at first, but when she moved to look over at them, they spotted her in their peripherals due to her movement. “Hey! What brings you to our little corner?” Hizashi asked as he walked over to sit with her. “I was in a meeting with Nedzu to go over some things and he offered me a job if he can get the school board on board with his plan for a student dorm for those living alone due to commuting not being feasible. I’m just stunned by the amount he said I would get monthly.” She answered in a soft voice, still stunned.

“What did he offer?” Aizawa asked as he sat down, coffee in hand. “550,000 yen a month. That is practically double what I made in a month working previously. And on top of that, all of the benefits and free housing. Like, I would be less surprised by the amount if I had to live elsewhere and actually had bills but I don’t have anything for that money to be necessary. It literally would just go into savings because I would only need it if I wanted to spend it purely on me. Like for clothes or gadgets or books or such.” Virginia gestured in exasperation, not really comprehending what it means to have money like that so easily.

“I was living in the lower-middle class all my life. I rarely went on vacations, my dad was always keeping track and figuring out how to keep us out of the red. I didn’t have the newest gadgets or clothes. We always had food on the table, never worried about losing the home, but there were times where I would take care of the grocery shopping or loaned my parents money to help cover the bills for the month. I was thousands of dollars in debt due to college that I never finished. I only owned half my house even after the 12 years I lived in it, 10 with Izuku.” Virginia rambled, zoned out so she didn’t not8ice the small frown on the faces of the two sitting with her.

“But now? I don’t have any bills to worry about. I won’t really be working. I have a home. I have access to health care that I won’t have to worry about not being able to afford. I can have all the gadgets, nick nacks, clothes, and objects I want because I can. I could finally explore and have a true vacation. And I just don’t know how to feel about it. I’m overwhelmed by the prospect and I don’t even know if it will happen. How will I respond when it actually happens?” She exclaimed before dropping her head into her hands.

Hizashi wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her gently to his chest. “You’ll be alright. There’s no issue with putting all of that into a savings account. Plus, the costs of goods in this city does tend to run higher with UA’s presence here. But just as you said, none of this is quite set in stone yet. So getting so worked up about it is redundant.” He comforted and rubbed her back gently. She slowly relaxed as her eyes drifted closed. 

Aizawa just watched in silence, a miniscule feeling of jealousy rising in his chest that he forced away. He knew he was awful at comforting someone and Hizashi was great at it. She obviously needed someone who knew how to comfort. The two glanced at each other as Virginia’s breaths became steady and slow. “I guess she is still emotional from last night.” Hizashi offered up and Aizawa just nodded lightly.

Eventually, Hizashi needed to complete a task so he had to leave. He and Aizawa had a silent argument until the hobo conceded and took Hizashi’s spot as Virginia’s body pillow. The moment her body contacted him, he felt the calming effect of her quirk and she unconsciously climbed into his lap. This caused both him and Hizashi to freeze in surprise. “What do I do?” Aizawa asked panicked.

“Treat her like a sleeping cat. She definitely hisses and swats like one.” Hizashi laughed before sprinting from the room. Aizawa just grumbled as he leaned back on the couch. Virginia snuggled in closer to him, her head burrowing under his scarf with a content sigh. Eventually, he also fell asleep. It was hard not too with how cuddly Virginia is as she sleeps and the fact that her quirk doesn’t turn off even in her sleep.

By the time he woke up, the sun was setting and Virginia had vanished. She was most likely back at the staff dorm, maybe making dinner or watching tv. Maybe chasing Izuku with a spoon or power sliding into walls. He couldn’t dwell on thoughts of her tonight. He had a patrol to get ready for.

Chapter Text

The next time Virginia was seen was a day later, she was hunched over the coffee table in the lounge with Kayama looking over sheets of paper and their phones. “What’s going on?” Aizawa asked as he stepped over with Hizashi at his side.

Virginia looked up, a small crazed look in her eyes, “I recently looked at a calendar, surprising I’m sure, and I realized it’s almost Izzy’s Birthday. All the plans I had before are null and void given that they are more than 100 years old now! Kayama-san was helping me with planning. She suggested a bar but Izzy isn’t a fan of drinking and I don’t like how crowded bars can get.”

She ran through the few ideas they came up with, “I was thinking about karaoke. Izzy has an amazing singing voice, but he lacks the confidence to share it. I can’t blame him, I have the same issue but if there are karaoke places that you can drink at, I probably would be more bold.” Virginia rattled off, flapping her hands to enunciate her words.

“Oh! Maybe you have some suggestions, Zashi-kun!” Virginia grinned and gestured for him to join the table. “Not going to ask me to join?” Aizawa asked, feeling jealous again and a small bit hurt. 

Virginia looked up at him with a surprised look. “Well... I mean you give off the feeling of suggesting a cat cafe. Those are great and all but Izuku is more of a dog person. Going to one is more for a first date thing, not a birthday. Unless the first day is on a birthday, but I’m not dating my brother.” Virginia said with a shrug, looking away from him back to the table. “This isn’t Alabama.”

“What?” Three voices intoned together causing Virginia to jump in surprise. “What?” She asked back, bafflement clear on her face. “What did you mean this isn’t Alabama?” Kayama asked. “You don- never mind. It was just an old stereotype.” Virginia waved off. 

“Okay then. What about a theme park? Tokyo Disney isn’t that far away, around 3 hours from here.” Hizashi offered up and the three had a flash of worry for Virginia, thinking she just gave herself whiplash from how fast she turned to look at him.

She stared, jaw dropped for several long moments before she pulled out her phone to call Izuku. Her knee bounced impatiently as she waited for him to answer. On the 4th ring, he answered. “IZZY DISNEY TOKEO STILL EXISTS!!!!!!!” She yelled into the phone. The other line was silent for a few heartbeats before Izuku responded with equal excitement. 

“OH SHIT! IT DOES!! Shit I completely forgot! I WANT TO DO THAT FOR MY BIRTHDAY! CAN WE GO!.....wait, shit. We don’t have money...” Izuku’s voice softened and grew sad once he remembered that fact. Virginia’s eyes snapped over to the three. “I mean, I did suggest it and I have 3 well paying jobs.” Hizashi whispered so he couldn’t be heard by Izuku. “Miracles can come true, brother dearest!” Virginia grinned brightly before she hung up quickly.

“Are you absolutely sure? I wouldn’t think it's necessarily a cheap ticket.” Virginia asked softly as Kayama pulled out her phone to look over the ticket costs. “Do you have a good understanding of our money system or would converting it into American dollars help?” She asked, scrolling through the website for the ticket prices. “Do you even have his birthday off? Like from teaching, hero work or your radio show.” Virginia asked.

Hizashi looked confused and he felt hope swell in his chest, “You don’t think I would ever consider the idea of you paying and not have you with us, right? It’s alway just been Izuku and I for any birthday celebrations. We’ve never had friends to celebrate with.” Virginia said firmly with a small head tilt.

“The cost for one person, day pass and travel costs, would be close to 190 American dollars. So, for the three of you to go, it would be 570 American dollars.” Kayama spoke up and Virginia blinked in surprise. “Oh, wow. That is actually less than I expected. Although, I guess I was still thinking in terms of living in America. Just to get to Disney World, it would be a nearly 6 hour flight for 530 USD for one person, one way.” Virginia said shocked as she leaned back in her spot, arms limp in her lap.

“So.... what day is his birthday?” Hizashi asked after a few moments. “July 15th, in two days.” Aizawa finally spoke up after all of that. “Tickets are still available!” Kayama said with a grin as Hizashi looked over his schedule to see if he was indeed open. “We’re doing special simulations in small groups for the next few days. Different teachers are assisting in the simulations so Kayama and Hizashi can be free from teaching for the 15th.” Aizawa continued on.

“I don’t have any patrols and my show is on Friday night, so! Let’s make this happen!” Hizashi cheered as he pulled up the website on his phone to buy three tickets. Kayama also bought one for herself to join in the fun. “So now we have the main event, any suggestions for gifts? Or will shopping at Disney be good enough?”’ Kayama asked with a grin. 

“Shopping there would be enough. I kinda turned him into a classic Disney fan, or at least fan from my time. Honesetly, I hadn’t even considered Disney to still exist. So, I’m really looking forward to seeing what’s new.” Virginia smiled as she went about straightening the mess on the table.

“The tickets are bought and are good from opening till closing at either the main park or at sealand. The park opens at 8 am so if we leave here at 6 am we can sleep on the train or we could leave later in the day. During the week, things tend to be less busy so it shouldn’t matter too much if we arrive later in the day.” Hizashi informed and Virginia mulled over the idea.

“If we leave at 6, that would mean we would need to get something to eat as soon as we arrive. Unless I have to be up sooner, Izuku and I don’t eat till 9. He eats something light before his jog in the mornings and I have food ready once he comes out of the showers around 8:50- 9 am. So, that most likely would be the ideal time.” Virginia agreed. “That works for me too.” Kayama added on.

Virginia got up and wrapped her arms around Hizashi tightly in a quick hug. “Thank you for this, Hizashi-kun.” She whispered in his ear before letting him go and leaving the room. “I guess this really pushed you into her good graces huh Zashi-kun?” Kayama teased, drawing out his name as she did.

The man blushed and pushed her face from his as she leaned into him. “Shut up! That isn’t my intention at all!” He denied loudly in a whining tone. “Maybe not, but I think that’s why it works even more. A genuine desire to actually help. Not just get her blessing to get in his pants.” Aizawa grinned that creepy grin he uses on his students. “Shota!” Hizashi screamed as he grabbed the closet object and threw it. Aizawa didn’t avoid the pillow that came at his face.

2 days later, Izuku was woken up by Virginia when she dive-bombed him in his sleep. “ Good morning, good morning, GOoD moRnINg! ” She shrieked in his face as he jolted awake. “Birthday day, I have a special surprise for you! Get ready, a busy day of exploring and walking and fun! T-shirt and shorts would be the most practical. Hurry!” She cried out before running from his room back to her room.

“How are you so awake?” His cry followed her as he did as told. 10 minutes later he was stumbling down to the common space to find Virginia sitting with Kayama and Hizashi. “What’s going on?” He asked as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “Since we don’t have money, they offered to help make your birthday today special. We need to head out to catch the train.” Virginia said as the three stood up. 

“Where are we going?” “A surprise!” She chirped and he looked to the others, who signaled that they were keeping quiet. “The one day I let myself sleep in, and you have me getting up to go somewhere unknown?” He asked incredulously. “It’s gonna take like 3 hours to get there so you can sleep again soon. We’re gonna need it.” She responded.

“I got us tickets for private sitting so we can sleep longer undisturbed.” Hizashi grinned as he held the door open for them all to leave. Soon enough they reached the train station that would take them the majority of the way before they had to change lines. Hizashi led the way to their seats and the group got comfortable in the seats. 

Virginia didn’t fall asleep until the train started to move, it had enough sway for her to feel and she was rocked to sleep. Izuku fell asleep instantly. Kayama crossed her arms and reclined her seat slightly while Hizashi, once he was sure Izuku was asleep, used his arm as a pillow. Time passed quickly and before anyone knew it, they were changing trains and Izuku still had no idea where he was going. 

Didn’t help that Hizashi forced headphones over his ears to block noise, Virginia climbed on his shoulders and covered his eyes, leaving the other two to lead him. All of this so he wouldn’t be spoiled. He sighed heavily, just imagining the sight they must make but oddly enough, he was happy that they cared so much.

He rode with the headphones on and the window shade covering the view from outside. He had absolutely no idea where he was. They all worked hard so the surprise would be revealed at the last moment. Soon enough, the train finally pulled into the station and the group took the same positions that they had to get him on the train. Only for them to get on another train, it was the shortest ride yet. 

He sighed as he was led off the train, expecting to end up on another one but instead, he could feel the wind and could smell the sea and could feel a buzz in the air. Guiding hands led him to a stop and shifted him around a little bit till he was apparently in the perfect spot. Music assaulted his ears as the headphones were slowly removed. Virginia’s voice right next to his head, “I’m gonna move my hand but keep your eyes closed until I tell you to open them. Okay?” She instructed.

A nod of agreement got her off his shoulders and away from him. He could hear voices all around him, excited shouts and cheers. “Okay! Open them!” Virginia cheered and his eyes snapped open. Ahead of him stood the main gates to Tokyo Disneyland. “Surprise!” The three cheered as one caught the expression on his face in a photo. “I told you miracles can happen!” Virginia giggled as she grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the gates. 

Kayama and Hizashi had to jog to keep up with the two, Virginia is surprisingly quick when she is excited and Izuku may or not be using his Float to give her no resistance. The two waited at the entry for the two holding the tickets to arrive so they could finally enter. Hizashi grinned at the two as he handed over the tickets and was given a map of the area. Izuku took that as Virginia continued to pull him.

“A lot of this doesn’t look familiar but I guess that’s just what happens with 200 years passing. Oh! There is a historic district to the left of us.” Izuku commented as he looked at the map. “That way?” Virginia asked, stopping at a bench. “I wonder if the same logic works here. Most people go to the right when exploring theme parks so if you go left, you have shorter lines to deal with.” She continued on.

Hizashi was about to say something when Izuku’s stomach reminded them that no one had eaten yet. “Perfect timing,” Hizashi snorted, “I was just about to suggest we get some breakfast before exploring.” “Smart man.” Virginia praised, as Izuku looked over the map. “There are a few cafes in the historic district. Might have some food we’re more familiar with given that it’s Disney’s history, so American foods.” He suggested, finally looking up from the map since he received it.

“That sounds perfect!” Kayama cheered as she wrapped an arm around Hizashi’s. Izuku had tracked the movement and stared a moment too long before looking away. He scooped Virginia up in a one arm carry, leaving her sitting on his arm. “Why?” Kayama asked as he did this. “Is it not obvious?” Izuku asked sassily.

“I am quick on my feet. And short. I will get lost.” Virginia said from her perch, looking around given the new high elevation. “That...that’s fair.” Kayama tried to rebut but she had nothing and could only agree. The group then moved along to find a cafe for breakfast finally. Virginia was in charge of the map now that she wasn’t walking. At her higher view, she was clear of most of the crowd, so she was the guide.

“Star and stripes Cafe. I guess that is American themed?” Virginia called out when she spotted the closest cafe. They wandered over there and were quickly seated with menus. A waiter came over to get their orders, it was about 10 minutes later that their food was delivered. “Wow, that was really fast!” Virginia exclaimed as her plate was placed down. The group thanked the waiter before they went about enjoying breakfast.

As they ate, they made plans for what to see, where to go, what to do and when to do souvenir shopping at the insistence of Hizashi who waved away the concerns of the siblings. Once they were all fed, the bill paid for, they went for the main attraction in the Historic district. Inside were large portraits of the Disney princesses, from the very first of Snow white all the way to the newest before quirks, Asha. That seems to be what defines historic Disney with new Disney.

There were also smaller portraits of other iconic females, the not-a-princess-princesses. The group strolled through the halls, seeing the original drawings with the most recent drawings from the 2030’s. Name plaques were set up underneath, but many were too small to see or set too high for most to read. They found out why when they reached the end of the hall to see a game station set up.

“Gather around, ladies, gentleman, and all in between! Who amongst you is up for the challenge? If you can name all of the main princesses in the hall, you receive a grand prize. For every additional name of our wonderful not-a-princess-princesses you receive a special secret prize just for you to know about. So, who is up for the challenge!” A cast member called out over the crowd.

A few people attempted but none could get even half the princesses correct. Izuku had eventually lifted Virginia up so she could see over the crowd in the lion king's hold. There she spotted the grand prize, a giant Stitch, a Heihei the chicken, and a Pascal the chameleon. Her jaw dropped and she ended up kicking Izuku accidentally. “I wanna try!” She cried out over the crowd causing several people to start laughing. 

Coincidentally there happened to be a stained-glass version of the scene of Rafiki holding Simba right above Izuku and Virginia in the same pose. Not that either will realize this until much later when a random photo of them at this exact moment surfaces and goes viral online. The caption on it will read, ‘They never knew the picture was in the background!’

Izuku places her back on the ground and she steps up to the stage. The cast member waves her up and she faces a blank screen that has all of the photos from the hall on it just blacked out to be hidden until she says the matching name. “Let’s test your knowledge young lady! If more than 5 minutes pass from the last name, you give your attempt is over. If you understand this, you may begin.” The cast member instructs as he steps over the panel that he uses to control the screen.

“The first is Snow white, followed by Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Moana, Tiana, Rapunzel, Jasmine, Merida, Raya, Asha, Belle, Mulan, and Pocahontas. Elsa was a princess, became Queen, then the 5th spirit. Her sister, Anna was a princess then became Queen after her sister stepped down.” Virginia rattled off the names and the cast member was amazed as he worked on lighting up the board. All the princesses were back lit in Silver. Elsa and Anna were backed in gold.

“Congratulations! You are the first person in 5 years to name all of the princesses and to know all the titles for our beloved Queens! Now, you really seemed to be in a groove! Do you wish to claim your prize now or do you wish to try for the secret bonus prize?” The man exclaimed as Izuku, Hizashi, and Kayama cheered for Virginia.

“I got more names ready to go!” She cheered back as she bounced lightly. The man nodded and everyone focused on the board. Every new name was now back lit in blue. “Nala the lioness, Tinkerbell, Jane, Esmerelda, Kida, Megera, Vanellope von Schweetz, Anya, Charlotte la Bouf, Giselle and Nancy, oh and I can't forget Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck, and Clarabelle.” Virginia listed off once again, pausing a few times before listing more until she came to an end. She twisted her face and bit her lip while bouncing the heel of her hand against her leg, thinking.

“That’s it.” She announced as the final lights lit up and there was a grand total of 30 names. There were an additional 25 to go unlisted. 14 princesses, 2 former princesses, and 14 other names. The crowd cheered as the crew member gathered her surprise prize and her grand prizes. 

“A large round of applause for you Miss! Here are your prizes, I do hope you enjoy them all and the rest of your stay here with us!” He said as he passed the large plushies off to the three she went to stand with. He handed her an envelope, indicating that that was the secret prize. She smiled and thanked him before the group left to explore more of the historic district. Once outside the hall they wandered to a train ride. 

As they walked, Virginia looked into the envelope to see many vouchers and a special invitation to have dinner at the castle in a private dining room with a full 4 course meal. “ Oh my god! ” She exclaimed as she stopped abruptly, staring down at the note. “What?” the three chorused together. 

She just tilted the note to them, and their jaws dropped. “That’s amazing!” Izuku whispered in shock. They looked through more of the vouchers to see some Genie passes that they just needed to scan on their phones to use them to skip lines. There were some gift cards to use at any food cart/ stand/ or restaurant, a few gift cards for the gift shops and a voucher for 1 custom outfit. 

“Who has pockets with zippers? I don’t trust myself with these to not lose them.” Virginia said as she pulled out the passes before closing the envelope. “I have a better spot.” Kayama said as she took the envelope before glancing around to check if anyone was looking. “Tits?” Virginia asked a moment before Kayama stuck it in her cleavage. Izuku blushed and looked away, Hizashi also looked away but didn’t blush as he was more used to her boldness. Virginia didn’t look away. 

Completely unbothered.

She probably would have done the same if she had a larger rack like Kayama. Either way, the envelope was safe so Virginia handed out the passes to scan and activate so they could skip lines. Once they were active, the group threw out the vouchers as they no longer would work if someone else tried to use them. Finished, they continued on and went for the lightning lane to access the train ride first. The regular line wasn’t long at all, everyone would be able to ride the train at the next boarding, the 7 in the lighting lane would just be able to get first pick of the seats.

The ride was fast but peaceful. There were storage bins for Virginia’s plushies to be tucked away until the ride was over. The group enjoyed the ride and got to see a sneak peak of several other areas and of the ocean. Once the ride came to an end, the toys were collected, and they were off for the next place. 

They got autographs and photos with new (since quirks) characters, went on many rides, saw many attractions, tried many foods and just had an overall blast. They made their way to the castle at 5 pm and spoke to a cast member outside. “Excuse me, Miss?” Virginia asked as she approached the tentacle haired woman. She turned with a smile as she faced her, “Yes? How can I help you today?”

“Yeah, um earlier today I was in the historic district and won several prizes. One was a voucher for dinner here at the castle.” Kayama pulled out the envelope from her pocket, that she had moved there so the cast member didn't have to see her pull it from her cleavage and passed it to Virginia. She showed it to the employee, who took it to look it over. “Would this be something we can use tonight, or do we need to book dinner on a different day?” She asked as she kept her eyes on the voucher.

“Oh, yes! We would absolutely love for you to dine with us tonight! Are you ready to eat now or do you need more time?” The cast member smiled as she passed the voucher back to Virginia. “We were hoping to eat at 7pm after looking at the shops in the Grand Market.” She answered back with the three nodding along. “Wonderful! As part of the experience, would you like to choose what you will be receiving now for dinner or wait until your requested time? We can also just take note of any restrictions now and give you a menu that reflects those restrictions when you are ready.”

“Oh, restrictions now would be nice. They decided on no seafood, no one has any allergies. It’s just for my sake as I’m sensitive to the smell. Also,” Virginia said before grinning and eyed Izuku over her shoulder, “Today is my soul brother’s birthday. So, if something special could be done or added to the meal that would be amazing.” The cast member smiled brightly, “We definitely can prepare something special for him.”

“Besides that, there isn’t anything else.” Virginia said as she looked back at the cast member. “Perfect. I will inform the dinner cast of you dining with us tonight. May I have your names so we know who will be with us tonight?” She asked as she pulled out a small tablet to write down information. “Yes, of course. My name is Mori Virginia, my brother is Mori Izuku, the blond is Yamada Hizashi and the bluenette is Kayama Nemuri.” Virginia smiled before the woman bowed and went inside the entrance they were by.

Once that was settled, the group went to the Grand Market to do some shopping. Virginia quickly disappeared into the apparel store that was listed as the place to get her custom outfit from. Inside she showed the attendant the voucher and she was whisked away to the back where someone was ready to help. They talked about silhouette and fabrics, the colors and embellishments. 

Virginia chose something simple, a floor length A-line gown with a sweetheart neckline that did indeed reveal her soul mark. It had a sheer panel on her chest that gave her a high collar and no sleeves but did allow for the illusion of a strapless dress. The bodice looked separate from the skirt that ended a little lower than her waist. A slim black decorative belt helped give this illusion more. The skirt was light and flowy with many layers of shear materials over a solid slip layer. They decided on a burgundy color for the entire dress.

Virginia smiled softly as she watched the dress come together on her body. She had no idea when she would ever wear something this nice, but it will now be there for whenever she needs it. It took about 45 minutes for the dress to be completed with the help of the seamstress’ quirk. Once it was done, Virginia changed back into her clothes and went to the counter with her dress packaged. She handed the voucher over and the dress was placed in a nice box before she left. 

Izuku messaged her and told her they were in the Grand Emporium. Kayama was waiting for her at the entrance so she could easily find the men. They met up and enjoyed their exploration throughout the space. At the end, several souvenirs were purchased. The gift cards left untouched at Hizashi’s insistence. “Hey, you should save them for your next trip here. It’s a lot closer than Disney world was for you before.”

Virginia pouted but agreed and they checked out. She was saddened when she realized that there wasn’t enough time to go to the toy station for more plushies, (She doesn't have an addiction, not at all. It’s a collection.) when she saw that it was time to head back to the castle.

They reached the archways leading out of the Grand Market when they saw a horse drawn carriage. A footman was holding a sign with their last names on it. Virginia led the way over and greeted the man. “Hi, those are our names.” She said with a small smile as she pointed at the sign. The man smiled as ushered them into the carriage before taking the reins and driving to the castle. Many people stopped to watch as they went by. 

“Is this how all dinner guests are treated or is this because you mentioned it’s my birthday?” Izuku whispered to Virginia who just shrugged. She and Izuku sat on one bench, facing the driver while Hizashi and Kayama had their backs to him. All of the shopping bags were on the floor, some of which Virginia hadn’t realized they had. Definitely wasn't from the Grand Emporium. 

She just eyed them for a moment before looking back up to the castle ahead of them. The carriage pulled around to the gate using the low grand ramp up. Once the carriage stopped, the driver helped them all off and 2 more cast members stepped forward to carry their bags. The original tentacle haired cast member approached them with a smile. “Welcome back Mori-San. If you all follow me, I will guide you to your dinner.” She said and made a gesture that said this way.

They were led through the walking tour of the castle, got to see the glass slipper before they were shown to a door that was restricted access. Through the doors, they got to see a drastic change from the cartoony whimsical effect the hall just was to a much more mature and elegant. Rich dark toned woods, light cream-colored walls, and golden accents elevated the space. Peacefully they walked down the hall, made a few turns before they stopped outside a set of grand French doors.

The doors opened to a small antechamber, where several crowns sat waiting. The two acting as footmen placed their bags down on the countertop before leaving. “For your birthday today Mori-san, we have prepared a wonderful meal and a few special treats for you. First was the carriage to collect you, now we have crowns for you all.” Their host said as they appeared from a side door. “For the King of the day,” The largest crown was lifted up and placed on Izuku’s head like magic (or a telekinesis quirk)

“For the Royal Mother,” A thinner but still extravagant crown rose before settling on Virginia’s head. She looked at the host surprised, “I’m not a mother?” She stated in a questioning tone. “Maybe not now, but I get a strong material feeling from you and you do seem like the one responsible for your brother for quite some time now.” He said smoothly, causing Virginia to blush.

“For the dearest companions as well.” The remaining crown rose, it was plainer and smaller than Izuku’s, but it did match, before landing on Hizashi’s head. Followed by the thin tiara-like piece that had a jewel hanging to rest on Kayama’s forehead. Once all crowns were in place, the doors opened, giving them access to the dining room.

Kayama and Virginia sat down to the right of Izuku while Hizashi sat to his left. They got settled in before a waiter came around to pour some water in glasses for them before another offered a selected local sake.

The first round of food came out and it was so very beautifully plated and displayed. The food was fresh and vivid in color, portioned perfectly with tons of flavors. They started with some basic dishes for the first two courses before the main meal came out just as gorgeous as the rest.

Thin slices of Wagyu beef rested on a side plate to the main dish and Virginia happily sampled the beef she had heard so much about. It was amazing to her so she only ate it in between several bites of the actual main course. The 4 chatted happily as they ate their meals, so very happy that Virginia won that voucher. Their drinks were refilled occasionally between each course. 

Once the main meal was finished and the dishes carted away, Kayama and Virginia asked to be shown to the restroom before the final dish came out. The few minutes Izuku and Hizashi had alone was a little awkward as neither really knew what to talk about. One topic was on both of their minds but neither spoke of it.

The woman returned and the mini tiered cakes were brought out to them, it was perfectly sized for one person to eat. Izuku’s was more decorated and had a candle on top while the other cakes. The staff members performed a happy birthday song with little party poppers before leaving the group alone. Izuku was grinning bashfully as the others smiled at him. He gently blew out his candle before taking a bite of his cake.

The others joined him, and the cake was amazing. Nice and fluffy, far from being dense and dry. The frosting was perfectly sweet and not overpowering or chemically tasting. “I feel like I’m so close to a food coma. You might have to carry me at some point.” Virginia said with a satisfied sigh, leaning back from her empty plate.

“I have a tendency to carry you regardless.” Izuku pointed out as he finished his own cake. The host returned with several waiters to clear the table. Izuku greeted him first with a smile, “Please give my complement to the chefs. Everything was so amazing.” He said and everyone joined in with agreement. “Wonderful to hear. When you are ready, I shall escort you out where we have the carriage waiting for you all. Are you staying at the resort tonight or will you be returning to your homes?”

“We’ll be heading home, and I think we all are ready to go now?” Izuku answered before looking at the others to see if they were ready as well. A sleepy yawn came from Virginia as she nodded. Hizashi and Kayama both verbally agreed. Virginia began to reach up to remove the crown but was stopped by the host. “Those are for you to keep. A gift for your day.” He said as he stood at the open doors. The cast members that had carried their bags into the antechamber came to collect them again as the group left for the carriage.

Once again, they thanked the staff for the wonderful experience before they got on and were taken to the train station at the main gates. Virginia was clinging on to Izuku to keep her from stumbling in her sleepy food haze. The carriage man waved them goodbye as they loaded onto the train to head back to the main station to catch the train back in Tokyo to head home. 

Finally situated on the final train, Kayama assisted Virginia into the women's restroom as she kept running into the walls as if she was drunk despite being sober. While they were gone, Izuku yawned before looking at Hizashi with a tired gaze. A warm gentle smile made its way to his face. “Thank you.” He said simply, catching Hizashi off guard. 

“What for?” He asked back, surprised as he wasn’t expecting anything. “For all of this. Gin, while she would have figured out something amazing for my birthday, she wouldn’t have thought of this. Money has always been a limiting factor for us, so we were always restricted to going to a movie or restaurant or camping or stuff like that. Disney? No matter how much either of us wanted it, it wasn’t possible. I doubt it was even on her radar, so I figured that because you had the tickets, you made this happen. So, thank you.”

“I know she has been extremely stressed out with this change. The time travel and quirk emergence. She needed something to let herself be herself and relax.” Izuku said as he shifted in his seat. “What do you mean?” Hizashi asked, concerned as he turned more to face Izuku.

“Don’t be so concerned,” He continued to smile softly, happy that the man is concerned for his sister regardless. “I just mean that she often holds herself at a certain level of maturity like she believes that is what is expected. Sure, her maternal behaviors are part of her nature, but she is also really sassy, really goofy, childish at heart and so full of love. However, with the stress of everything lately for her, she hasn’t let those sides of her show. The most you’ve seen before was her swatting at me in the cafeteria that one day.” The two chuckled at the memory of hissy Ginna trying to hide against Aizawa.

“I see. I’m glad she enjoyed today. What about you? Are you just thankful she was able to relax?” “Yes and no. I’m glad that was an effect but I’m also really glad you joined us and spoiled me today.” Izuku grinned brightly, eyes closing so he missed just how quickly Hizashi’s face lit up red. The man coughed before standing up, putting his back to Izuku. “I’m really glad, I’ll be back in a moment. Nature calls.” He said before moving as quickly as he could to the restrooms as he really didn’t want Izuku to see how flushed he got. 

He passed the two women on the way, both eyeing him with knowing grins of different intensities. The two returned to the seating, sitting together to force Hizashi to sit with Izuku again when he got back. Virginia just smiled softly, her motherly smile coming out in full force in her tired state. “Happy Birthday, Izuku.” Her voice was just as soft and warm as her smile, stirring emotions in Izuku who began to silently cry. “Thank you,” He whispered out and reached across to hold her hand.

Hizashi returned a little later to find that both Izuku and Virginia had fallen asleep while he was gone. He and Kayama got comfortable as they settled in for the remainder of the ride back to town. 2 hours later, Izuku was carrying the fast asleep Virginia while Hizashi and Kayama carried all the bags all the way back to campus. They helped bring everything up to their rooms, Izuku getting Virginia into her room and Kayama came in after to change her into pajamas before heading home.

Izuku and Hizashi sorted out the souvenirs of what was his vs the siblings. Once everything was sorted, Izuku walked Hizashi down to the entrance of the dorms. They stood there at the doors, one with his shoes on, the other in his slippers, bags carried between them both before Izuku handed them over and held the door open.

Hizashi stepped out and before he could walk away, Izuku spoke again. “Hizashi-kun?” The man froze in surprise. This was the first time Izuku had ever muttered his name while speaking to him since he gave permission to call him by his given name. He turned back to Izuku with a questioning gaze. Mouth opened to ask a question, but his voice got caught and died in his throat as Izuku leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Thank you again for today. I’ll always keep this day in my heart.” He said softly before backing up and gently closing the door.

Hizashi stood there absolutely dumbfounded and blue screened for several long minutes. Izuku had quickly left back to his room once the doors closed so he didn’t see just how long the man was frozen in that spot. He managed to get home after a while, almost like a puppet as he changed from his clothes to a pair of sleeping pants.

Standing in the bathroom, staring into his shirtless reflection in the mirror. His fingers ghosted over the cheek he could still feel Izuku’s warm lips on. His heartbeat loudly in his chest as he slowly woke up from the daze he had been in ever since.

A small joyful smile grew on his lips as his eyes glanced down to his ribs where the red glasses sat before darting up to the soulmark over his heart. He knew he was imagining it, but even that didn’t stop him from the excitement of seeing the flashes of lighting in the way he saw reflected in Izuku’s quirk or see the fake wind causing the pages of the notebook to flutter. That night, he had no issue falling asleep. Heart warm from the amazing day he spent with his newly found soul bonds. 

Now, if only he could actually confess out loud and not just mentally. He just needs to get Virginia’s blessings before he would be brave to do so.

Chapter Text

The days following Izuku’s birthday, there were 2 days where there were class simulations. One of which was to return to USJ to finally do their introduction to rescue training. Each night, Izuku returned home to find Virginia cooking a filling but light meal as his exhaustion wouldn’t let him eat much. 

Pretty much every day they did several hours of quirk training followed by non-quirk training. If they had a simulation going on that day, the physical training was replayed with lectures before the simulation.

He was always tired at the end of the day, but he still would sit with Virginia in his dorm for an hour after he ate, showered and got ready for bed, to tell her about the day’s events. He had yet to see Hizashi after his birthday and he hasn’t told Virginia yet that he did kiss him.

Each day, even if it was repetitive in the end, was new with something to learn each time. Finally, his day arrived for the special simulations. It seemed as if none of the simulations were the exact same as Aizawa couldn’t really prevent the class from talking about their own. Izuku met up in the classroom with the others in his group feeling a little out of place as he stood in the back in jeans and a black shirt with the words fancy suit on it.

Bakugo, Uraraka, Izuku, Iida, Todoroki, and Tsuyu all waited for Aizawa to tell them what they were doing today. “We’re running this course in small groups of students, multiple times. It's now your turn. This will be much harder than a regular class. So, prepare yourselves.” Aizawa began shortly after he entered the room and made sure those who were supposed to be present were.

“In this scenario, you will be fighting and capturing a hypothetical villain. It should be obvious by now, but villains commit many different types of crimes. You all will work together once you enter the scene of the crime in order to determine what happened there. Did the villain cause it or not, do you fight or not? This is all to train your abilities to assess the situation and how you deal with the situation.” Aizawa said seriously, the student’s attention enraptured.

“Your special instructors will be,” The door slams open as the grate above Izuku opens. All Might bursts in at the back near Izuku claiming his usual tagline. This appearance caused the students to all turn to him with pleased looks or happy greetings. The man just laughed as Aizawa got the attention when he spoke again.

At the front of the room, Aizawa was joined by Cementoss, Midnight, and Present Mic. “It’s not just All Might. Cementoss, Midnight, Present Mic, and Virginia will also participate as special instructors.” “Virginia-san is joining! Where is she?” Uraraka asked as she has been wanting to talk with the woman again. Aizawa just sighed as Present Mic snickered as he pointed back at Izuku who now Virginia had crouched on his shoulders with an open air-vent above them. 

She just smiled and waved at the group. “Everyone meets at ground Beta. We’re beginning the class.” Aizawa said, causing Izuku to stand up properly, giving Virginia the height, she needed to climb back into the vent and scamper away. By the noise she made, she clearly didn’t care about stealth as it sounded like she was sprinting down the space.

15 minutes later, the students, Izuku, and Aizawa stood down the road in an alleyway as they prepared to begin. The other adults were nowhere to be seen. Izuku peeked out to see many cardboard cutouts of police facing a jewelry store. He comments on this as Iida, Uraraka, and Tsuyu join him, totem pole style with Izuku’s head at the top. “This must be where the scene of the crime is.” Iida comments along with Izuku.

“I will tell you about the situation at the crime scene.” Aizawa says from behind them along the opposite corner from the entry of the alleyway. “There has been a villain attack at a jewelry store. The employees and customers have been taken hostage and everyone is barricaded inside. The number of villains and hostages is unknown. You have been asked by the police as pro heroes to come and resolve the incident.” Iida interrupted to ask a question, but Aizawa shut him down quickly.

“Verify the situation and resolve the case.” Aizawa continued on. “Yes, Sir!” Most of them responded and Aizawa gave them the go ahead to begin the training. A loud horn sounded, giving the 5 inside the building a heads up that things were starting now. Virginia finished tying the ropes before tucking herself away behind a counter and pillar.

Outside the 4 that peeked out originally looked back to discuss what their first steps should be. “We need to figure out how many villains and hostages there are first before we do anything else.” Izuku pointed out, thinking back to all the Law and Order, NCIS, and Criminal Minds he binge watched with Virginia. Bakugou spoke up and suggested for Uraraka to go alone. When she asked why, he told them, “If we all stream in, the villains’ll notice. You can just look in through that window.” 

The group agreed and Uraraka used her quirk on herself looking like Kirby floating up. Izuku gave her a light push in the direction after telling her how to communicate with them the numbers inside. However, before this, a distraction was needed. Todoroki accomplished this by calling the store and the Villian played by All Might answered. While he talked with the ‘Villain’ the group went about finding out the numbers as planned.

From Uraraka’s view, she could see the hostages (teachers) dressed in civilian clothes. All were tied up and gagged, backs against different display cases and separated from one another. Despite knowing that Virginia was helping in the training, she couldn’t spot her, so she had to indicate there were 3 hostages and 1 Villain.

As the others comprehended the information given, the villain walked up to the doors and looked out to see if they had left the space. They had to draw back farther into the alleyway to avoid being seen. They began to discuss next steps when Bakugou had an outburst calling their current actions stupid. “While I go blasting at the villain, you guys go save the hostages or something.” He exclaimed as he walked towards the opening of the alleyway. Aizawa watched him with an impassive but judgmental look, still not saying anything.

“You’re being too impetuous, Bakugou.” Tsuyu commented and Izuku grabbed the teen’s arm. “We are meant to be treating this like a real-life situation Bakugou. You go charging in, aiming for the villain we have no further information on, and you can get all the hostages killed or seriously injured. You don’t know what the villain will do if you do guns blazing in this situation. You will get someone killed if you always charge in because you get impatient.” He says firmly, cool green eyes locked onto fiery red eyes.

He tsked at him before yanking his arm away, “What are you talking about? This is our chance while he is by the window!” He yelled before blasting forward forcing the rest to follow after him. Izuku paused for a moment and looked back to Aizawa. “Can anger management classes be required for him?” “I’ll look into it.” He responded before Izuku nodded and took to the air with a quick quirk powered jump, clearing the distance in time for Bakugou to blast the door open.

A plume of smoke followed the distraction and as it cleared, the students got to see what was waiting for them. The villain laid down face first on the ground. A large combat knife a few feet from him, mask missing, and a large ass ax sticking out of his shoulder. Virginia was seen unbound, eye wide in shock as she stared at the villain, sitting on the floor with her back pressed against a column.

The group was frozen in surprise, not expecting this to be the situation. The Villain's face was to the side so Tsuyu walked over and using the end of her hair tickled his nose, getting a small response of just reflex. She however dismissed it as she believed that he was supposed to be and it was just a reflex that he couldn’t help.

After a quick discussion where Bakugou tried to scold Uraraka for not seeing anything despite the smoke he created. Iida proposed that as long as no one had been able to get in or out of the building. The killer was amongst the hostages. The three still bound looked over shocked at him. Izuku softly proposed that they slow down, “We can’t go making accusations. It’s too soon to decide on that. Let’s hear what the hostages have to say first. We need to make sure none of them are injured from the attack as well.”

He spoke calmly and motioned towards the hostages, prompting Iida to untie Midnight, Tsuyu to untie Present Mic, and Uraraka went to untie Cementoss. Izuku walked over to Virginia to check on her. While they did all of this, Todoroki and Bakugou stood guard at the destroyed doors. “Hello Miss. Are you injured, anything hurt?” He asked gently as he slowly reached forward to Virginia who was still unblinking at All Might. “I hwai antaienw ahs-behan.” She muttered, causing Izuku to pause.

“Fuck,” he grunted in a whisper as his mind quickly translated the sentence into English the Japanese. (Something is wrong. Sounded wrong) He turned back to his former classmates with a frown. “She is a foreigner, doesn't seem like she understands Japanese.” He said as he helped her up and away from the ‘dead’ body on the ground.

Cementoss told the kids his side of the story first, identifying as the store employee. He was threatened by the villain who appeared suddenly. After the jewelry was handed over, he was tied up with the rope.

Midnight identified as a big advertisement agency employee there to buy accessories. She arrived to find the Villain already inside. The villain caught her as she was too surprised by the scene to flee.

Present Mic was obnoxious if Virginia’s expression said anything. He is a musician there to find an engagement ring for his girl when the villain appeared. Izuku had to fight back a small frown from spreading, at the fake image of Hizashi marrying a woman. He mentally scolded himself for being silly and not paying attention. Present Mic very dramatically exclaimed that he was knocked out by the villain, yo.

“Usbabbo e. Poionet hu ahs-behan. Iohwe japso heo avpaiye sjab’slky. Auiag asu hs apwae v apwae bo... have.” Virginia spoke up again, looking more alert as she glanced back to All Might. The room was filled with confused expressions as Izuku once again was sorting the sentence. It didn’t take long, and it did cause him concern. (Check on him. It shouldn’t have sounded wrong. It was meant to be metal on metal not... flesh)

Everyone decided to move on, and Todoroki asked for confirmation that Present Mic was indeed unconscious. Once he received that, he asked Midnight if they both were in the store when she arrived. She confirmed that when she was getting tied up, she saw both separated and bound already. 

“Hey guys. I’m going to move the villain out of here. Get his body into police custody and a medical examiner can go over him for findings. We can then see if what we conclude lines up with what the examiner gets.” Izuku spoke up as he really didn’t like the implications of Virginia’s worry. The group agrees and Izuku picks the Villain up and leaves the building to disappear around a nearby corner. Aizawa appears as he places All Might back on the ground.

“All Might? Are you okay?” Izuku asks as Aizawa pulls out his phone to call for a medbot to come collect the injured hero. Izuku pulls a knife out of his pouch and cuts away the fabric around the lodged ax. “Where the hell is the plate?” Aizawa hisses when he sees the ax head buried into the meat of All Might’s shoulder. The man groaned in pain as Izuku removed the handle to help stabilize the metal. 

“I didn’t think I needed it,” He hissed out as he tried his best to keep puffed up. Nothing was bleeding yet, but that most-likely meant that the ax head was keeping him stable for now. Removing it would be a very bad idea. “Why the hell did you think it wouldn’t be necessary? The ax needed something to sink into to hold it in place. We chose the metal plate so this exact scenario wouldn’t happen.” Aizawa hissed before telling Izuku to get back to the store. The medbots will be there soon to bring All Might to Recovery Girl.

Izuku nodded and returned to the store. Todoroki caught him up and he asked to see into their wallets. The amount of money inside did coincide with their stories as well. Bakugou suggested that the motive was because of the stolen jewelry. That was tossed by the others and then they came up with an internal conflict. Someone was a secret Villain and they argued about how the loot would be split.

All three Japanese speaking hostages denied hearing anything and that the villain was alone. Iida arrived from a side door after investigating if there was a back exit and checked if all the windows were closed. Virginia shuffled closer to Izuku and he whispered to her, so she was the only one to hear him. “Aosd he paoij iwa biyqwr.” (Dark man is helping stupid) Virginia snorted loudly but covered it with coughing like she swallowed her spit wrong. 

She had to turn her face away and wave off the concern of almost everyone as she tried to play off her laughter. The group is now at a standstill on how to proceed. Virginia was a lot more relaxed now and she walked over to join the others acting as the hostages. “We’ve determined he was working alone so the killer must be amongst the 4 then.” Iida announced and again the 3 speaking Japanese denied it again. Bakugou threatened to make them confess, accompanied by explosions.

During all of this ruckus, Izuku was deep in thought and Bakugou noticed. “Hey, damn Deku. You’ve thought of something, haven’t you?” He asked, causing Izuku to break out from his thoughts and glared at him. “Don’t call me that. But yes, there is something bothering me about all of this. Why did the villain barricade himself in the store? He had his loot, why didn’t he run away with it?”

“That’s because the police showed up while I was filling the bag.” Cementoss offered up. “Did you call them?” Izuku asked and Cementoss denied calling. “Then someone from outside the store must have seen it happening and called.” Iida mentioned and Izuku stared directly at Midnight, “That must mean that the one who called was you, Midnight. You said it yourself, when you arrived the villain was already inside.”

Iida and Bakugou essentially called him stupid and Bakugou asked why the hell would the person who called purposely get caught. “That’s because I think that is why the villain barricaded himself inside. Midnight, you knew this villain beforehand, didn’t you? You knew he committed crimes so knowing this, you called ahead to report it before entering. The villain was shaken to see someone he knew appear, but he understood your real intentions. He decided to continue the robbery and while he was tying you up, the police arrived.” Izuku said, stepping forward.

 Virginia being the scared foreigner stepped back and away. Bakugou scared her more, so she scooted around him, unbothered. “Wh-why would I need to do something like that?” Midnight asked. “Isn’t it because you wanted to stop him? No matter what you did before, he wouldn’t stop so you had to take more drastic actions so he would be caught by the police.” Izuku said calmly, firmly but gently.

“Wait, Izuku-kun. Even if everything happened the way you said, why was the villain killed?” Uraraka asked and the others besides Bakugou agreed. “She has no motive to kill him, that's true. That’s why the villain isn’t amongst us now.” Izuku stated as he turned to look at the others. “Could it have been an attempt at suicide?” Todoroki asked.

“Maybe, but what I think happened in the end was that the one foreigner didn’t understand what was happening, she got really scared not being able to understand. So, when his back was turned and focused on the doors, she threw the weapon as a desperate act of self-perseverance and it hit an artery, sending the villain into shock and died.” Izuku summarized before continuing, his back turned to what’s left of the doors. 

“What I think was about to happen before the ax was thrown, was the villain was prepared to commit suicide as he didn’t want his relationship to Midnight to be exposed. If that happened, then her life could be ruined for years. When he saw us coming, he was going to silence his voice with his own hands. Midnight didn’t tell the truth because she realized what he was thinking was for her sake.” Izuku said softly as Midnight began to sob and cry.

The girls began to tear up, sad that this was how the events turned. A lover ending his life in order to protect the other only to end up dead at the hands of someone else who was afraid. “This is the truth behind the villain jewelry store attack.” Izuku said as he watched Midnight cry. Bakugou looked pissed and Aizawa appeared at the door.

“Okay, that’s it.” he called, and Midnight bounced up with an exclamation of how this scenario was so fun. The more positive emotional people were surprised with how quickly she broke character and Izuku noted how the others relaxed from their characters. He also noticed that Virginia was missing. “Hey, wher-” He began to ask, stepping forward with an arm raised when a voice cut him off.

“See you later, Heroes.” Virginia shouted as she ran from the building, the bag of stolen goods in her hands. The group froze in shock and Virginia cleared the necessary distance to end the scenario as failed. Aizawa dismissed the other 3 heroes before he turned back to the students.

“Mori, your deductions were the same as what we prepaid for this.” He started. Iida and Uraraka congratulated Izuku for his work. Causing the man to blush.

“However, you guys overlooked one major thing.” He continued, “You all dismissed the one person not speaking Japanese. The one who in fact threw the murder weapon was the only other person unbound.” The group ran outside to see Virginia disappearing down the street.

“You dismissed her because she wasn’t speaking a language you recognized. About 30 percent of the world can only speak one language. You looked at the wallets of the other hostages but never checked her. In this exercise, she was a second villain that arrived to scope out the store before robbing it. She was interrupted by the other. He did all the messy work for her so all that was left was to kill him, get the bag, and escape. You failed this special course. You’re dismissed.” Aizawa stated before leaving.

Izuku facepalmed as the others came to a realization (Aizawa called Izuku- Mori) and the outer wall of the store collapsed from all the damage. Izuku sighed and looked at Bakugou, “I’m pretty sure, even heroes can get fined for excessive use of force and property damage.” He said, completely done with the day before launching into the air. 

He spotted Virginia and used Blackwhip to grab her as he continued to fly past. She screamed as her feet were yanked off the ground and was pulled up to Izuku. “Figured you would want the express to check on All Might.” He said once she was in his arms. “A fucking warning next time! But yes. I am worried about him.” Virginia shouted over the wind as Izuku made a beeline for the main building.

Once they arrived, Virginia made Izuku go get changed back into his clothes before they went to see Recovery Girl. Making the final turn to her office, they find the other 4 involved in the class. “Ah, Virginia-san! Are you alright?” Hizashi asked as the siblings got close enough to comfortably have a conversation. 

“I’m fine, just worried. I threw that ax with the intention of it getting stuck in metal, so it needed more force. Obviously too much force as he wasn’t wearing the protective metal.” She huffed out as she crossed her arms, annoyed and worried. 

“Recovery Girl is treating him now so we should know soon.” Aizawa spoke up from his spot leaning against the wall. “Did he say why he didn’t have the piece on?” “Only that he didn’t think he needed it.” Aizawa sighed as Virginia’s face twisted into a scowl. “ What the fuck? Did he think I couldn’t hurt him as a civilian? ” She growled as she glared at the door.

Which Recovery Girl chose that moment to open said door. “Come in, all of you.” She beckoned and they all filled inside. All Might was awake but drowsy on the bed, his neck wrapped up with bandages. “Why didn’t you wear the protective piece?” Virginia demanded the moment she saw him, and the door closed. “I didn’t think it was necessary?” He responded in a questioning tone.

“I threw a razor sharp, 5-pound ax at you with the intention of sinking it into fucking metal ! Not your flesh, so I threw it with the intention of needing more force. How close were you to dying?” She shouted, her voice raising to volumes they were all under the impression she didn’t use. 

“If it was thrown with even the slightest more force or if he had been any closer, you would have fully severed the artery and he would have bleed internally before anyone could get him help in time. The ax wasn’t all the way through so the natural strength and the pressure of the ax kept the blood in.” Recovery Girl replied crisply. 

Virginia’s jaw clenched shut as a horrified look crossed her eyes and she stormed out of the room. Aizawa glared at All Might before following Virginia as he was the one who knew more directly what she was feeling. Izuku turned to All Might with a disappointed look. 

“You really aren’t giving my sister a great impression of you and her approval means the world to me All Might. Do you understand what the implications would be if she did end up killing you in a training accident? How not taking the right precautions even if you don’t think it is necessary can ruin her life and mine by association. You know the saying ‘don’t burn your bridges’?” Izuku asked after he paused for a moment to take a long breath. Hizashi stood next to him and gently rubbed his back as Virginia wasn’t here to help destress them all.

All Might nodded hesitantly. “The bridge between you and me now has a connecting island, that is Virginia. I put her there. You now have a lit match from your stupidity. Don’t let the bridge you have connecting to her burn from that match.” Izuku said in an exhausted tone before he calmly left the room. He decided to return to the dorms and hope Virginia was there. He trusted Aizawa to find her.

Aizawa did indeed find her. He had cut her off on the way to her gym. She glared at him, body tense and ready to strike out. He held her gaze with an impassive look before he let his body and face relax into a more open and comforting look. She tensed more, face dropping from anger to frustration and the fear was back. A small tremor shook her and Aizawa wrapped his larger hands around her wrists before gently pulling her along a different path.

They vanished into the surrounding woods till they reached a clearing with a wooden pavilion and benches. “What’s going through your head?” He asked once they were seated underneath, him giving her some physical space. “I just learned I almost killed a man. What do you think is going on in my head? I’ll give you a hint, it’s not fucking puppies and kittens!” She snapped, glaring at the forest around them. He just watched her silently for a moment, not reacting outwardly.

A quiet sigh passed his lips before he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her to his side, her ear landing against his chest above his heart. “You’re angry because the situation was easily avoidable. You’re annoyed that he thinks less of you. You’re worried because you know what he means to society, and you’re scared because you value life.” Aizawa said softly as she stared up at him. He watched as the tears began to pool in her eyes before she began to sob into his chest.

She clung to him tightly as she cried out her emotions. He suspected that she doesn’t truly express them often so coming so close to killing someone really hurt her emotionally. “Death, accidental or purposeful, is an unfortunate part of life for heroes. Especially underground ones like myself.” Aizawa spoke up again after several minutes, he waited till the crying began to subside.

She shifted her head a little to look up at him through her eyelashes, over the frames of her glasses. Her blue eyes, vivid with the redness caused by her sorrow. “I remember the first time I had a scare of accidentally killing someone. I remember the first time I actually killed someone out of desperation. Of when I unintentionally killed someone. Other Pro’s will have similar stories. Hizashi does.” He said keeping his eyes locked on her’s.

“You didn’t kill him. He knew the plan going in, he was the one who chose to change things without telling anyone. You can’t be blamed for his actions as you followed your as you meant to. No one blames you, so enough with blaming yourself.” He said once she finally looked away, tucking her head against his chest again. She made no sound for a long time besides the sniffles that escaped after her crying.

“Is it petty to leave little reminders of his fuck up until I feel better about it?” She asked after the longest time. “Like what?” Aizawa asked, a small head tilt happening as he looked back down to her after he had looked out to the trees. 

“Like putting stickers or pictures of laxes where he would be. Stickers on his picture frames. Pictures on the wall behind whoever he sits in front of. Stuff like that. Get my hands on his phone and change the background to a lax. Any contact photo to a lax.” She rattled off and gestured with a hand while the other remained with a tight grip to the back of Aizawa’s uniform. He snorted at the imagery in his mind, “I think it would be deserved. Pretty sure if you mention it to Nedzu, he would encourage it, help even.” She giggled weakly before sinking more into his side.

They fell quiet for a moment longer before Virginia pulled away. “I should get back to the dorms. Izuku will be worried more if I don't show up soon.” She said before trying to stand up. However, her legs were filled with pins and needles, so she fell back down with an umph. Aizawa stood and picked her up before she could try again. She just gaped at him like a fish, unable to actually talk in her surprise.

He smirked at her slightly, before walking away from the clearing and out of the forest to drop her off at the dorms. Virginia relaxed into his arms, resting her head on his shoulder as her eyes began to drift closed from the steady sway from his steps and the strong beat of his heart on top of the emotionally draining day. She stopped fighting against the allure and fell asleep, a small peaceful smile etched on her face.

Chapter Text

A day later Hizashi was at his office in the radio station when he received an email invitation to I-Island to experience the Expo held there. The idea is for him to then return and so a segment on his show about the experience. He was offered to bring 2 guests with him as the Expo is more enjoyable with multiple people. Hizashi was excited and agreed to the invitation, instantly he thought of inviting Izuku and Virginia to visit with him. 

Once he was done at the radio station, seeing as he didn't have his show that night, he went right to UA for the staff dorms to ask the two. It was a little past 2 pm (14:00) when he arrived and found the two lounging at the couches. Izuku flipped upside-down floating over the cushions as he watched tv bored. Virginia was leaning over a sketchbook, hyper focused on the page. Occasionally sitting up and looking this way and that before leaning again to draw more.

“Yo, yo, yO!” Hizashi cried out when he entered the room with a jovial wave. Virginia was really focused but Izuku’s eyes snapped from the tv over to him and his face lit up. “Hizashi-kun! What brings you today?” Izuku rightened up and sat on the couch, beckoning the man over. Virginia glanced up as he approached and slammed her book closed and sat on it. The two males looked at her weird as she just grinned.

“Anyways....I received an invitation to I-island and can bring 2 guests with me.” Hizashi grinned and Izuku’s expression froze in shock. “I-island?! Is it for the expo? Oh my god that’s amazing! Who are you going to bring? Is there going to be a segment on your show about it! That’s so exciting, it would be amazing to visit one day!” Izuku rambled on completely missing the baffled look Hizashi was giving him, especially after he asked who was invited.

He almost frowned if it wasn’t for Virginia smacking Izuku in the face with a pillow. “I think it’s obvious who he is inviting. Seeing as he is here talking to us about it.” She said with a laughing tilt to her voice. Izuku blinked slowly at her before looking back to Hizashi. “Us? You’re inviting both of us? Wouldn’t Aizawa-san go with you?” 

“If I asked, then probably but not with a lot of feet dragging and grumbling. But I wanted to ask you both. You’ve pretty much been cooped up on campus ever since you got here. Which is like 2 months now. It’s something new to experience!” Hizashi said excitedly. “Sounds like fun, what do we pack? Actually, we don’t have suitcases so that should be dealt with first before we figure out what to pack up.” Virginia agreed before pointing out an issue.

“Well, for some context, I-island is a manmade island that is constantly moving around. It has a warmer climate, and the invitation does say we are invited to the evening party the day of arrival. We would arrive the day before the expo opens. So, clothes wise, light, loose, swimwear, and formal wear.” Hizashi informed her. “I can take you two out to get a suitcase and formal wear as I really don’t remember if anything was picked up when we went shopping.” 

“Oh, then Izuku just needs a suit. When we were at Disney, I had that custom dress voucher, remember? I used that and got a really simple dress exactly my size and style for free!” Virginia grinned before she got up, holding the book close to her chest before she ran for the elevator to go put it away. She called over her shoulder as she went, “We don’t have plans today so if you're free now, we can go.” “ Okay! ” Hizashi called just as the elevator doors closed.

“What was she working on?” He asked Izuku, who just shrugged confused. “Her hair blocked most of it and I wasn’t really paying attention to her. Seeing her draw is kinda a default so I’m pretty numb about what she is doing then.” Izuku said as he relaxed back in his seat. “So, formal wear? I remember having a brown suit with pinstripes that was apparently my dad’s that m-mom got resized to be more my height.” Izuku said, looking up at the ceiling, stuttering at the mention of his mom.

“So, I will definitely need something new and my size and maybe more stylish than that. Pretty sure Gin would find a flamethrower and burn the suit if I dared to get anything similar. Also, I don’t think my red sneakers will really work for a suit, but I still have the double-jointed pinky toe, so most shoes don’t fit.” Izuku said as he stretched and unconsciously placed his arm on the back of the couch behind Hizashi.

“Well, it's a great thing I have a wonderful fashion sense and we should be able to find something and if not, maybe I-island will have better shoe options.” Hizashi grinned as he got comfortable at Izuku’s side, consciously aware of the muscular arm behind him. They sat in silence for a little bit just peacefully enjoying the time before the elevator opened and Virginia stepped out. “Are we going now or in a bit?” She asked, coming around the corner.

Hizashi glanced at his phone for the time before he stood up. “We can go now. Crowds shouldn’t be horrible right now.” Izuku followed his movement and got up, the three heading for the doors to get shoes on before leaving. A quick trip to the train station had them on their way to the mall once again.

Inside, Virginia was placed between Hizashi and Izuku, the two rotating around her when they had to slide past in a smaller space that wouldn’t let them all walk side by side. Hizashi led the way to a suit store to find something for Izuku as that would take longer than finding suitcases. The store catered more to the tall and wide. Izuku was brought up to the platform to get measured as Hizashi and Virginia went around looking at styles of suits.

The two looked at shirts, vests, jackets, belts and ties. They left the pants alone once Hizashi had spotted leather pants, Virginia shot him a look and he quickly backed away from that style of pants and pants in general.

They decided on a few styles and colors before bringing them over to the gentleman that was helping them. He took a look at their choices before going off to the back to grab the matching pieces that matched, just in Izuku’s size. 

Izuku felt awkward as he stood on the platform waiting. The man returned before ushering Izuku into a fitting room where the man assessed in dressing Izuku in a set of charcoal gray pants and jacket with a burnt orange vest and light gray shirt. He came out to show and both said no. “A gray shirt would work and maybe pants but not a jacket.” Virginia offered.

So, they tried again in a classic black suit with a red tie and pocket square and the same gray shirt as before. “Black looks great but it’s too much. Maybe just as pants?” Hizashi suggested. The next time Izuku came out, he was wearing black pants, a dark gray jacket, purple vest, with matching tie and a white shirt.

The two scrutinized this look for longer, but they annexed it again. “Maybe try no jacket?” Virginia suggested, unsure. Izuku agreed and went back to the fitting room to tell the attendant. When he returned, he was wearing dark gray pants, a matching waistcoat and a pale green shirt. Virginia stood up and circled him before coming back to the front of him and had him bend down some. She undid the first button of the shirt and hand him push up the sleeves so they are just above his elbows.

Hizashi stared wide-eyed at Izuku as Virginia stepped away. “That looks great on you.” He said, stunned. Izuku bashfully rubbed his neck before returning to the fitting room, this time with approval of his clothes. It took another 30 minutes of fine tuning before they were able to check out and head off to the luggage store. 

Izuku and Virginia both found ‘safe’ options, a deep forest green suitcase with matching carry-on bag for Izuku and a deep burgundy set for Virginia. However, neither one really felt settled with the options so they kept looking. Hizashi went off one way looking for something else so he wasn’t present when Virginia found a luggage set with his face on it. Izuku found one that was shiny black with cat ears and a nose on it. 

Both found each other to show off their finds. The two were in discussion of the pros and cons of Izuku getting the hero themed set when Hizashi returned with a nice leather duffle bag as a carry-on. “Hizashi-kun, would it be awkward for you if Izzy got this as his bag?” Virginia asked when she noticed him approaching. “For me?” He asked puzzled before he got to see what bags they had found.

“I’m still a hero nerd, no matter what. Gin impulsive buys stuffed animals, I impulsive buy hero merch, and um,” Izuku explained before pausing, not looking at the stunned man, “You are one of my top heroes, have been for a long time now.” Both of them were now flushed and the energy was making Virginia uncomfortable so she picked up the bag set Izuku found and shoved it between them, forcing Hizashi to look at it.

“Izzy found this one for me. I love black cats so this was a neat surprise. What do you think? Is it obviously cat themed or is it more subtle?” The man froze looking at the bag then Virginia before glancing at Izuku again seemingly reset. “It’s definitely subtle and Izuku-kun while I am flattered, I think you would get a lot of looks for the bag at your age.” He said calmly, face still red. Izuku nodded as Virginia set her set down and went off somewhere. 

“Then I guess, the green set for me and the black set for Gin.” Izuku muttered as he placed the hero set back on the shelf it came from. Virginia reappeared, “This is probably more appropriate.” She held up a carry-on bag with the branding of Hizashi’s show on it. “Oh! That’s one of the new designs!” Hizashi said as he took the offered bag and looked it over. Izuku grinned at Virginia and the three headed for the checkout desk.

They left the mall feeling quite successful and when Hizashi tried to convince them to eat at a restaurant, both Izuku and Virginia shut him down, insisting on cooking a meal for him after all he has done today for them. He accepted without issue but was very dramatic about it. When they returned and began to cook the meal, Nedzu showed up with an envelope. “Good evening you three!” The rat chirped  as he sat down at the table with Hizashi.

“Good evening sir,” “Hello God!” Hizashi and Izuku looked at Virginia flatly at her greeting. She just grinned before going back to stirring the dish she was working on. “What brings you by today sir?” Izuku asked after shaking his head at Virginia. “I have finished updating your information and I am here to give you two, your new ids and bank cards.” Neduz said as he offered the envelope he had to Izuku.

“Bank cards?” Izuku asked as he pulled out the contents to see 2 new ids and 2 bank cards. “Yes, as you have agreed to the plan of being an apprentice of UA, you will receive a bi-weekly deposit of money. Your sister has agreed to a position here at UA as well should certain requirements be met. As you both have also become wards of UA, you receive an allowance to spend on pretty much anything you deem necessary. However, because you both didn’t have valid identification, you couldn’t access it.” Nedzu explained away the cards at the surprise of Izuku.

Virginia stared at the pot as she realized she completely forgot to tell Izuku about the offer. “Wait, does that mean you made the accounts and were depositing the allowance money since we arrived?” She asked as she quickly turned around and pointed the spoon she was using at Nedzu. “Correct! While it isn’t a large amount, you have been here for a total of 35 days or 5 weeks, so you would have exactly 132,878 yen ($994) each in both accounts.” Nedzu grinned.

“Hold up, I get paid as an apprentice? How much?” Izuku asked as he looked up, baffled and slightly upset that he hadn't been told before. “You both would start at 550,000 yen (4,058 usd rounded up) a month.” Nedzu said and Izuku repeated the number. “Indeed, however, receiving more is up to my discretion so who knows if that is really the amount you will see from the beginning. Have a good night and a wonderful trip.” Nedzu grinned as he quickly left the building leaving the three stunned.

“Did he just say that we are going to get more than what he originally told me?” Virginia asked in a stunned whisper. Hizashi looked between the two to see matching expressions. Neither really comprehending what was said. Virginia robotically went about plating the food and serving it.

“I’m not really surprised by his timing.” Hizashi started after they began to eat. Both looked to him, “He always seems to know when things are happening to his UA family. I did ask you two while on UA property so he most likely heard, expedited things if they weren’t already so you two would have no issue leaving the country or arriving at I-Island.”

The two slowly nodded as they ate. “And now, you two can buy things on your own seeing as you get awkward when I insist on buying you things.” Hizashi said before following up with sticking his tongue out at the two, causing giggles and chuckles to escape them both, finally relaxing.

“Let’s have a movie night!” Izuku insisted after a while and dinner was done. Hizashi agreed readily and Virginia shooed both off to get changed into pajamas while she cleaned up. Seeing as Hizashi did have a dorm room there, he was able to change into his own clothes, mentally disappointed there wasn’t an opportunity for him to borrow one of Izuku’s shirts without a good reason.

They both returned to get the lounge set up for movies while Virginia went to her room to change. Both men were wearing loose lounge pants and graphic shirts, Hizashi grinned at him as they gathered pillows and blankets and snacks. Virginia came back after a little while, dragging several more blankets and had her special bear with her. She really hasn’t slept anywhere without it in her arms now. She was wearing a button up one piece with cats on it. 

“Do you also have a thing for cats?” Hizashi asked when Virginia dropped her collection on top of the rest. “Also? Well, I do love cats. I just love owls more but I wasn't able to find any clothes with owls on them so, the next best thing was cats.” She said with a shrug before she plopped down on the couch. “Really? Cool to know. Now what do we watch?” Hizashi said as he plopped down next to her, Izuku taking the seat on her other side. The blankets were bundled up around them, the bear plushie on her lap and the tv was turned on.

“How about a comedy?” Izuku asked as he flipped through the channels and stopped on a stand up comedy show. The other two just muttered agreements and they sat back and watched. It didn’t even take 10 minutes before the three were practically doubled over in laughter. The minutes passed along filled with laughter and joy, a few times the joke flew over Virginia’s head as it referenced an event with a few heroes that most people born in the last 10 years would know about.

After the show ended, a new comedy special came on. Turns out there was a marathon going on on this station. It was well after midnight when the three finally collapsed into sleep. Izuku and Hizashi leaned against each other while Virginia was curled up on their laps.

Morning rolled along slowly and Izuku felt no need to go for his run, still half asleep he just watched Hizashi use him as a pillow. At some point during the night, Virginia fell off the couch and Hizashi took her place on his lap. Sunlight streamed through the windows catching Hizashi's hair. Dazed and sleepy, Izuku gently began to stroke the long blond strands.

His body was so very relaxed and the room was peaceful. While Izuku was slowly falling asleep again, Virginia stirred and waved at him before taking her bear on one arm before silently crawling away to the elevator. The doors dinged softly and Hizashi stirred lightly. Izuku froze his movements until the man stilled again, sleep pulling him back.

Virginia came back a while later, Izuku and Hizashi still in their spots when she left. Izuku was more awake now and the two had a conversation with just expressions and small gestures, staying silent as Hizashi seemed to still be asleep. Eventually though, they did have to wake the man up as Izuku’s bladder wasn’t going to last much longer. Hizashi jerked awake and away as Izuku bashfully greeted him before leaving to take care of business.

He didn’t realize Virginia was still in the room as he zoned out with a goofy grin on his face, “Interested in coffee?” Virginia’s voice startled him as his head snapped up to look at her leaning on the wall, dressed for the day in a relaxed outfit. He stared at her for a long moment before nodding. “Yes, please.” He whispered as she smiled and turned to the kitchen. “So, when do we leave for I-island?” She asked.

“Tomorrow. We’ll need to be at the airport for 10 am to catch our flight.” Hizashi told her, slowly getting off the couch and stretching out the kinks in his joints. “Being as tall as you are, I’m sure you have quite a few knots huh?” Virginia smiled as she placed the coffee cup down at the table. Her eyes tracked the bird's nest of hair on his head. “Do you have any commitments for today?” She asked as he wrapped his hands around the warm porcelain.

“No, I have today off. No lesson plans to make, no radio show to do or plan, and no patrols so I really have the day off today and for the trip.” Hizashi said, slowly relaxing seeing he was worried she was going to say something about him sleeping on Izuku. “Can I braid your hair?” She asked after a long pause, eyes still on his hair.

He blinked at her, finally realizing she had been staring at his head. He reached up and touched the nest before responding. “Um sure, I guess?” He was kind of baffled at her request. She grinned and raced upstairs, impatient so she ran up the staircase instead of the elevator. Izuku returned soon after and began to cook breakfast. Hizashi watched him as he worked silently, watched how his muscles moved under his shirt, how gracefully he moved despite his size and muscle mass.

“I have a random and maybe invasive question for you Hizashi-kun.” Izuku stated, still with his back to the table. Hizashi started at Izuku’s sudden voice. “Oh, you can ask but I do reserve the right to not respond.” “That’s fair. A little backstory, living in the past was freeing to me so I was able to discover things about myself.” “Okay, that makes sense.” Hizashi nodded along, taking a sip of his coffee.

“Are you gay?” 

Que spit-take from the blond and a lot of coughing. 

Izuku was instantly at his side, making sure he was alright. His eyes watered as he tried to stop choking. Virginia returned at this time, frozen in confusion as she watched a very flushed Hizashi coughing with Izuku in front of him looking flustered. It was clear to anyone even an inch taller than her what was happening but from her perspective if you had a dirty mind, it would be in the gutters.

She eventually unfroze, and came over to rub Hizashi’s back, her calming effect instantly working and cleared the coughs. “What was that about?” She asked, concerned. “I maybe should have asked differently about my question or at least asked when he wasn’t taking a drink.” Izuku said bashfully, sitting down next to Hizashi as he sat up fully and looked between the two.

“I’m okay, I was just really surprised. Um, w-why do you ask?” Hizashi responded after a moment to collect himself. “Oh, well I, um, I realized that I was gay. When I started to realize that I obviously looked into the queer community in my area. It wasn’t super large like what you can find in a city but it was still strong. Now that I’m back in Japan, I really don’t know what the community is like here or how open I can be about it as a hero. So, I was just wondering if you have any experience or insight? But, I kinda panicked, forgot what exactly I was going to ask. Just remembered it has something to do with sexuality and just asked if well, if you are gay too.” Izuku rambled off, not looking Hizashi in the eye as Virginia shifted behind Hizashi to gently tug at his hair.

She used a fine mist of detangling spray before starting to comb out his hair starting from the ends, working till she reached his scalp in small sections before moving on. “Oh! Well, I’m not gay," Both he and Virginia saw the small twitch of a frown cross Izuku's face before he continued.  "I’m actually Pan with a stronger attraction to male presenting. There is a large community for those like us and a lot of support systems and groups. When it comes to being open with your sexuality as a hero, you’re more likely to face more scrutiny especially if it's found out who you’re seeing isn’t your soulmate. But overall, Japan is very accepting of it. It would be sad if you were hated because of the gender of who you’re destined to be with.” Hizashi said now that he calmed down from the initial surprise and the soothing feeling of the comb gliding through his hair.

“The pan is close to burning.” Virginia muttered, causing Izuku to jump up and race to the stove to save breakfast. The two at the table chuckled lightly before Virginia began to hum and sway lightly as she continued to work on Hizashi’s hair. By the time the food was plated and presented, she managed to smooth out his hair, knots free. The three ate and chatted about I-Island, the two males telling Virginia what they knew about it and what they could possibly see while there.

She was beyond captivated and excited over the trip even more now. Izuku cleared the table while Hizashi and Virginia moved to the couches to be more comfortable as she played with his hair. An hour later, Izuku called out as he left to go do his usual jog around town, this time wallet in pocket with only the id in case trouble finds him while he is gone.

Hours passed with Virginia playing with Hizashi’s hair, tv filling the silence. Several times it seemed like Virginia wanted to say something but she always aborted before her voice escaped. He wanted to ask but he also couldn’t vocalize his own questions. The air was slightly awkward because of this but also relaxing for them both. So relaxing in fact, neither realized his phone had been on silent, buzzing with several texts and missed calls.

They hadn’t realized this until Aizawa came through the front doors looking frustrated which was meant to mask his worry but both saw through it. “Yo Sho! What’s up?” Hizashi greeted, his hair was currently twisted in a way that looked like a braided rose from behind. Virginia was kneeling at his side as he was still taller than her when both were sitting. “Don’t yo me. Why the hell haven’t you been answering your phone?” Aizawa snapped as he walked over, the relief was palpable even if his voice was pissed.

“Shit,” Hizashi said as he fished his phone out from under several blankets since they hadn’t bothered to clean up from the movie night, yet. “Sho, I’m so sorry! I really didn’t notice my phone was on silent. I’ve been here since last night.” “He has,” Virginia confirmed when Aizawa narrowed his eyes at them. “He was invited to attend the expo on I-Island and invited Izzy and I to go with him. We realized we didn’t have any luggage so he took us out to get some and a suit for Izzy since there is a party happening the invitation is also for. After that we came back for dinner and movie night. We woke up late. Izzy has only been gone for like...oh...4 hours now.”

Aizawa took a deep breath before releasing it in a huff. “Fine.” He grumbled as he opened his eyes and looked away from them. “You need to relax Sho. Sit down on the floor.” Hizashi instructed and pulled the man, who didn't fight it. “You worried me.” He grunted as he got comfortable on the pile of blankets under him.

Virginia pokes his shoulder, testing his reaction before she plays with the end of a section of hair, still testing his reactions. He didn’t respond in any negative fashion so she took that as an okay to fully play with his hair. Aizawa began to sign at Hizashi while she did this, eventually pulling out the wide tooth comb she used earlier to work out the knots in his hair. Obviously to her, he rarely brushes it despite its length and thickness.

A small smile worked away on her face as she slowly worked the mass smooth, the waves becoming more pronounced as she worked. Eventually she was able to freely run her fingers through his hair without pulling. She didn’t do any braids, just running through the strands and gently scratching his scalp as she did. He practically melted at the attention, nearly moaning from how nice it was. Nearly an hour after he showed up, Izuku returned. Virginia looked over to him as he walked into the room, her hands still buried in Aizawa’s hair. A smile on her lips dropped when she saw his expression. A contemplative look caused her to take a neutral expression, which did mean it looked like she was frowning.

“What’s wrong?” She asked, causing the other two to look over to Izuku as he sat down on the chaise of the couch they were at. “I need your opinion on something.” Izuku said after a long moment. Virginia stopped playing with Aizawa’s hair as she turned her full attention to Izuku. The other two are doing the same.

“While I was out jogging, All Might found me and asked to talk for a moment. I agreed and also asked how he was doing after, ya know. He is fully healed now and has thought a lot about what happened. He said he did a lot of reflecting on his actions since we originally met. He wants to repair or strengthen the bond we have, in a way that isn’t focused on this quirk we have or the progres to being a hero. So, he invited me as his plus one to I-Island. He received an invitation from an old friend of his and he wanted to see if I would go with him.” Izuku said as he kept his eyes on the floor, gently rubbing and twisting his hands.

“I told him, I’ll have to get back to him. All I said was I already had plans for that time with you so I needed to get your thoughts on it. I may have mentioned that you don’t fully trust him with me so I didn’t want to stress you out by saying yes right away.” Izuku confessed as he rubbed his neck. “You know, that actually sounds really controlling. Like emotionally manipulative.” Virginia commented absentmindedly as she thought it over.

“Would you be upset with me if I did go with All Might instead of you Hizashi-kun?” Izuku asked since the original invitation had come from the blond at his side and not his mentor. Hizashi bit his lip as he thought it over. On one hand, he was saddened at the thought of not being able to spend the flight with Izuku, but on the other hand, he would still be at the expo and they can still have fun together there. But what to do with the extra ticket? 

He glanced at his soul brother, who was absolutely the soulmate of the brunette he was already taking. Properly invite him last minute and pressure him into accepting or just kidnap him and use Virginia as a sedative to keep him complacent until it was too late? Aizawa noticed his stare and the two bickered in hand gestures.

Virginia and Izuku ignored the fast moving hands, “You think this is an attempt to make amends?” She asked softly, standing up on the couch and walked over Hizashi, who did pause long enough to make sure she didn’t fall before going back to arguing with Aizawa. She sat down next to Izuku and he leaned lightly on her. “I think so. I’m pretty sure he would talk with you to apologize but because you’ve never interacted before and he can't treat you like any other civilian, he just isn’t sure how. His invitation might be his way of trying to find out how to interact with you without causing more issues.” Izuku muttered.

“Fine! Just shut up already.” Aizawa snapped, causing the siblings to look at the two. Hizashi looked smug and Aizawa was annoyed. “Um, you good?” Virginia asked hesitantly as she was startled at the sudden volume change. “Yup! If you want to take All Might’s invitation I’d be alright with it. It’s not like we won’t be able to see each other on the island. I just managed to convince Sho to take your spot if you do accept. He needs a break and it would be a good opportunity.” Hizashi said with a grin.

“Well you did say you could get him to go just with a lot of feet dragging and complaining,” Izuku snickered before he pulled out his phone, pulling All Might’s contact up. He glanced at Virginia and Hizashi one more time before he called. “Izu- ah, um, Mori-kun! Have you come to a decision?” All Might’s voice came over the speaker and Izuku physically nodded as he verbally confirmed that he would go. “Yeah, I’ll go with you. When do we leave?” 

“We would need to be at the airport by 10am!” “Alright, I guess I’ll meet you there. Just text me what counter I should meet you at tomorrow. I’ll see you then.” Izuku said before he hung up with a sign. He leaned back until he was draped over the cushion. Virginia stared at him for a long moment before poking him in his side causing him to jerk with a yelp. She grinned before jumping away from the couch. He followed her as she started it. 

Aizawa and Hizashi both watched amused as Virginia managed to avoid most of Izuku’s grabs until she lost traction and hit a wall, allowing Izuku to pounce on her. Peals of laughter and pleads to stop escaped her as he tickled her sides and neck. Her limbs flailing in unguided attempts to get him off her.

When he wouldn’t stop, she returned the favor. He might have her trapped but if he isn’t willing to get off, he is also trapped. Soon enough, both are laid out on the floor panting from the laughter, no longer tickling each other. “We should really pack and have dinner.” Virginia said after a long while. Hizashi looked over at the clock and saw it was already 5 pm (17:00).

“As fun as that was, you’re right. How about we all gather at the train station at 8 am so we can stick together until the airport?” Hizashi said as he stood up from the couch, Aizawa doing the same but from the floor. Both Virginia and Izuku agreed and waved the two goodbyes as they left.

The 2 sets of soul siblings spent the rest of the night getting everything ready for the vacation. Izuku, Hizashi, and Aizawa packed up their hero uniforms just in case. On I-Island they were allowed to wear them so there really wasn't any harm.

Dinner was very simple with Izuku and Virginia, very simple, very western/ american. A big o-box of generic powdered mac-n-cheese. Once dinner was done, they discussed what to pack, what the weather might be, and should they bring the bank cards they were given or just this once not argue with Hizashi if he wants to buy them things. He didn’t seem like them having money of their own will actually stop him from spending his.

Chapter Text

The next day many people awoke bright and early, having planes to catch to travel to an amazing moving island. Izuku as usual was up first and got breakfast ready while Virginia took a relaxing bath before emerging with wet hair wrapped up and dressed in fashionable yet relaxed clothes for the flight. While she ate, Izuku took a bath to finish getting ready.

They walked out of UA with luggage in hand, 20 minutes before they needed to meet up. They did this to ensure they made it to the station in time. They waited 3 minutes before Aizawa and Hizashi showed up. “Good morning!” He greeted the two once he was close enough. “Morning! You both ready to go?” Izuku was far too awake for Aizawa and even for Virginia.

“Let’s just go. If you aren’t ready then that sounds like a you problem not an us problem.” Virginia grumbled as she grabbed Izuku’s shirt so she wouldn't get lost in the growing crowd. The two sunshines agreed and they went to catch their train for the airport. 

They were walking inside just as the clock turned to 9:20. This gives them enough time to get through check in and to their gate. At the counters, they saw All Might in skinny form just a few lines down so Izuku said his goodbyes and parted from them to head over. Virginia’s hand shifted from Izuku’s shirt to one of the ends of Aizawa’s capture weapon still around his neck. He just glanced at her before they walked off to the detectors.

After that small hassle, the three proceeded to the gate for their flight, Virginia still holding on to the end of Aizawa’s scarf. It’s a good thing too as they did have to squeeze through a crowded space and she definitely would have gotten separated if she wasn't attached at all. They made it to their gate just as those with priority were set to board. 

Due to Aizawa and Hizashi having hero licenses and Hizashi being the ticket holder, they were able to board at that time. There were left and right sections with 3 seats at each window so they decided Virginia would sit in the middle, Aizawa by the window so he was less likely to be bothered by people and Hizashi would be in the aisle seat because he doesn’t mind the people. 

Nearly an hour later, the plane was leaving their dock and taking to the air. Aizawa settled in by crossing his arms and leaning against the wall to sleep, Virginia settled in by sitting crossed on her feet as she watched the movie Hizashi put on. There were complementary headphones so the two plugged in and let the time pass via show while Aizawa slept.

It was 3 full movies later that Virginia glanced out the window and saw their destination. She made an excited noise as she leaned over Aizawa who was woken by this. He looked at Hizashi low-key panicked, as she hovered over him, face as close to the window as her glasses allowed. 

“There it is!” She exclaimed softly as she looked away to the two sitting with her. They both nodded as she pulled away from the window. Moments later, an announcement was made for everyone to prepare for landing and to buckle back up. Once they were able to off load from the plane, they and several others went down one tunnel while the other passengers went down the main tunnel. “Why are we going this way?” Virginia whispered as she held her carry-on close to her. “Customs is this way. There are separate sections for civilians and those who are higher standing, like politicians, celebrities, or heroes and their guests.” Hizashi explained as they passed a set of doors to a moving walkway. 

As they rode past sensors, holographic screens popped up with their information. Virginia stared in awe at the technology, the bubbly feeling of giddiness rising. She may not be a science nerd like Izuku but she does find it fascinating, she is more interested in the what not the how of science.

She watched as the person ahead of them got clearance and the large doors ahead of them opened and then closed behind him. They were next and she grew nervous, she only just received her own form of identification, what will happen if she doesn’t get the clearance. The two realized her growing anxiety, they both wrapped an arm around her as comfort. She took a deep breath to calm down just as they reached the final point. Her eyes were clenched tight due to her worry, so when she heard the door hiss open just like before, a huge wave of calm crashed over her and she breathed a sigh of relief.

She had felt both of their arms tighten as her legs lost strength from the nerves dissipating suddenly. “I’m gonna need to sit down as soon as possible.” She muttered as she tried to get her feet to be steady under her. The moving walkway came to an end opening up to the main terminal where benches were immediately to the right and baggage claim was to the left. Hizashi shifted her more into Aizawa’s hold to go to the benches while he went to claim the bags.

Virginia sunk onto the bench with a light groan as sighed as she leaned back. “Are you alright?” Aizawa asked as he slumped next to her. “I guess I was more nervous than I expected. Also, it's been around 20 years since I’ve been in a plane so that probably didn’t help.” She said as she gently began to kick her legs since they were dangling, getting strength back to them as they waited for Hizashi to return with their bags.

10 minutes later he appeared with two suitcases and a black duffle bag. Aizawa took his duffle bag and Virginia’s suitcase before she could grab it. He wouldn’t give it to her when she tried to take it so she just huffed at him and carried her carry-on. The three made their way directly to the hotel in order to drop off their bags before adventuring. They were given a suite that had a main lounge space, 3 bedrooms, and a large bathroom with separate toilet. 

Virginia’s jaw dropped as they walked into the room. “I’ve never seen a guest room like this.” She said, stunned as she wandered over to the windows that overlooked the expo. “Looks like this makes up the entire end of the hall.” Hizashi said as he walked over with her while Aizawa poked around. He set Virginia’s bags in one bedroom, Hizashi’s bags in the bedroom opposite of hers, while he placed his own bag in the remaining room adjacent to Virginia’s.

“Are you going to go wander?” Aizawa said as he finished up and went to wait by the door. “Yeah, I just want to unpack a little bit. The party is tonight, right?” She asked as she glanced around for her bag. When she couldn’t find them, she looked over to Aizawa who was already pointing in the direction of her room. She smiled at him as she moved to go remove her boxed up dress to hang it up while they are gone.

“Yeah, it's tonight. It starts around 6 so we have about 4 hours to explore.” Hizashi said as he did the same as her, pulling out his suit for the party to make sure it’s not wrinkled. Once the two were done, they met up with Aizawa and the three left for the expo. “I wonder how difficult it would be to find Izzy.” Virginia commented as they rode the elevator down.

They wandered for a little while, looking at all the exhibits outside when they came across a challenge to beat the robots as fast as possible. Explosions drew their attention and they wandered over to take a look. There they watched as Bakugou raced to the top of the mountain and currently had the lead on the competition. “Oh! Look there’s Izzy and... is that some of your students?” Virginia pointed over just as Bakugou exploded his way up to the railing and looked like a rabid dog shaking the rails.

“OIh heua!” Virginia called out to Izuku, whose attention instantly dropped from Bakugou trying to bait him and looked to Virginia. His face lit up and he waved in greeting as the three approached. “Aizawa-sensei!” The girls all exclaimed when they spotted him, this caused the rest of the students to look over in surprise. Aizawa just raised a hand in greeting while Izuku picked Virginia up in a hug.

“Excessive! We saw each other a few hours ago!” She giggled as he placed her back down. “I know. Anyway, Virginia this is Melissa Shield. Melissa, this is my soul-sister Virginia. Melissa is the daughter of David Shield, who is an old friend of All Might’s.” Izuku introduced. Virginia pouted at the teen, “ Damn genes making me short. ” She grumbled in English before smiling brightly, “Don’t mind me, it is so nice to meet you dear.” She said as she offered her hand to shake.

“ Can’t really control genetics after someone is born ,” Melissa giggled as she shook Virginia’s hand. “It's nice to meet you as well. I’ve been showing Mori-san around the expo as Uncle All Might and dad are spending time together now.” “That’s so nice. Has my brother caused any trouble?” Virginia asked with a teasing smile as she looked at Izuku. “I’ve been an angel!” He defended.

“He did fanboy at my dad.” “I’m so sorry.” Virginia said gravely and so very sincerely causing giggles to escape the girls as the indignant look Izuku gave. He looked to Hizashi for help but he was just met with raised hands of complacency. Izuku groaned and hung his head playfully. “Damn nerd! Fight me!” Bakugou exclaimed, still hanging from the railing. Virginia frowned before walking over to him and poking him straight in the forehead. “Bad.” She scolded as Bakugou stilled and looked at her finger cross-eyed. He huffed and climbed over the railing before crossing his arms, annoyed but not arguing.

“Are you going to try?” Hizashi asked Izuku as he watched a new person attempt to beat the leader board. “I guess I can give it a shot. Probably stick with my full cowling.” Izuku responded before making his way, properly, down to wait his turn. He smiled at the proctor and waited for her signal to go. He raised his arms and flexed the muscles there as he waited. The buzzer sounded and he released the energy building. Flashes of green danced through the air as he practically teleported to the top with several explosions from destroyed robots following.

Izuku grinned as the time was read off and he took the lead by 6 seconds. A round of applause rose as he left the arena to meet back with the group. The students talked more and there was suddenly the sound of ice crackling as a wave encased the robots, pushing Bakugou’s score to third place. Bakugou raged as Todoroki joined them all.

While Virginia was snickering at Bakugou, Hizashi asked Izuku if he was going to spend some time with his classmates or if he was going to join them. “Ah, well I was thinking of just meeting up at the party. Melissa wanted to talk more about her work and there is something she wants to show off. But there is always tomorrow, I haven’t agreed to any plans to stick with All Might during the expo so as far as I’m concerned, I’m all yours tomorrow.” He grinned.

Hizashi blushed lightly before grinning, “Then it's a date.. Er, plan! I mean plan.” This time Izuku blushed and seemed like he wanted to say something but shook his head and smiled. “Great, then I’ll see you later at the party?” Hizashi nodded and Izuku walked off as Virginia took his place with a questioning look.

“You look sad.” She said looking at his eyes. He stared back as he blue screened. “I-I’m just a little disappointed I guess.” He started as Virginia led him away with Aizawa following. “Izuku is staying with his former classmates? He’s still coming to the party, right?” Virginia asked with a head tilt as she took Hizashi’s hand in hers. “Yeah.”

“Well, we can leave the expo and explore the cities if you want to wait for Izuku to join us.” She offered with a soft smile. Hizashi looked at her for a long moment before agreeing with a smile. “Sure, let's do that then. There are 3 cities here so there’s bound to be more to explore.”  Hizashi agreed and the three went off, using the trains to get to the next place. They did indeed explore and find some interesting places before they had to return to the hotel to get ready.

“Are you almost ready, Virginia-kun?” Hizashi asked through her door. “Mostly, I have a few things left to do but can one of you zip me up please.” She said as she opened the door to expose her back. Hizashi easily did as asked. “Thank you. I’ll just meet you downstairs in the reception alright?” Virginia asked as she turned around again, the way she was behind the door kept pretty much everything about her dress hidden besides the color.

“Sure. How much longer do you think you’ll be? “Maybe 15 minutes. I’m going to use the toilet before I leave.” She said while he passed her one of the door keys before he bid her goodbye and left with Aizawa. A soft sigh escaped her as she opened her door fully and left the room to use the toilet as she said she would. Once out she stared at her reflection as she washed her hands. 

“Am I really doing this?” She asked herself as she looked down at her chest, where under the sheer mesh layd her soulmark. A large black panther stood out against her pale skin. She has stared at that single mark every night, gently tracing the outline with a single finger feeling her heartbeat underneath her skin. “It only makes sense. Izuku is the romantic soulmate of Hizashi, Hizashi is my platonic soulmate and he is Aizawa’s soul brother. The platonic, sleeping cat on Izuku’s leg matches in concept to my soulmark so all the studies say Aizawa is my soulmate.” She rambled out loud, seeing if saying it out loud would reveal a loop hole she hadn’t seen but nothing came out.

“ I’m scared, ” She whispered as she tried to push back the nerves. She isn’t often direct about important things, or the first to mention it, so her choice of wearing a style dress that shows all of her marks after constantly covering, is very bold of her. Her hands shook as she stood up to her full height and patted her cheeks. “I can do this,” She encouraged herself before leaving the sink, putting on her shoes, tucking her keycard into her boobs, before she left the room.

The layers of chiffon swayed around her legs as she walked, her eyes tracking the motion as she walked to the elevator before going down. As the elevator sank, she shook out the nerves in her arms and hands until the elevator dinged, doors opening to a staircase (because drama) and she stepped out. Looking down the stairs, she found Aizawa and Hizashi both looking sharp in their suits, both had their hair half pulled back from their faces.

Hizashi glanced up as she stood there, his eyes widened as he backhanded Aizawa’s arm next to him. The man looked annoyed as he looked to Hizashi then up as Virginia began to descend the stairs to reach them. One hand glided along the banister of the stairs, ready to clench on if she trips. She felt both of them looking at her even if her eyes were locked on the floor to watch her step.

“Thanks for waiting,” She greeted as she reached the last step. “No problemo and might I say you look stunning! That dress looks like it was made for you!” Hizashi exclaimed as he pulled her into a side hug. “Thank you and it was made for me.” She giggled, relaxing more with his distraction. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Aizawa staring at her, more exactly, at her exposed mark on her chest. The burgundy organza over it did make it slightly harder to see but it was still obvious. “You look good,” Aizawa said awkwardly after a moment.

“Thank you. You both look great too. Have you seen Izuku yet?” She asked as she stepped away so she could actually step off the stairs. The three walked off to go inside the reception hall, “Not yet but I have seen All Might so maybe he is waiting for his friends to gather?” Hizashi offered as he walked alongside Virginia, Aizawa was a step behind her to her other side.

They wandered around the space, Hizashi socializing with different people while Aizawa and Virginia lingered behind as they were the opposite. Aizawa left Virginia’s side for a moment before returning with a couple of champagne flutes and offered her one of them. She gently smiled as she took it from him, they stood close with her kinda tucked into his side while neither touched. It was a little awkward as both had the same idea about what this move means but neither wanted to talk about it around so many strangers.

All Might was called up to the stage to give a speech as Virginia wandered off for a moment to get a snack as her stomach was doing flips from nerves. While she was at the snack table, the screen behind All Might turned red and emergency lockdown procedures started. She froze in her spot while whipping around to look for Aizawa and Hizashi. Murmurs of worry rose as the heroes in the room began looking around. 

Virginia finally was able to shake out of the rising panic enough to start moving back to her companions. As she was passing one of the metal doors, it opened to reveal masked men with guns. One aimed at her causing her to open her mouth to scream but it died in her throat. She quickly backed away as the men pushed forward and she scrambled away towards Aizawa and Hizashi. 

Both were tense and on guard, ready to respond if they tried to hurt Virginia. Disks were thrown and activated once on the floor. Blue bands rose and captured all of the heroes in costume just as Virginia reached Aizawa who had his arms open for her to fall into. Her heart raced as she pressed into him, fists clenching to his jacket as he pulled her closer, turning his body so she would be hidden more, putting her farther from the gunmen. 

The brothers both were clenching their jaws as the room was addressed about how the entire island is now their hostages and bombs were placed around the island. If anyone tried anything, the civilians would die. All Might struggled on the stage as the main bad guy took a pair of scientists out of the room. The rest of the captives were instructed to get on the floor. They all sat, they kept their positions even on the floor. Both males sat in a way that they could easily get up to fight if needed. 

Virginia was shaking in Aizawa’s hold, gently he ran his hand up and down her back to help her. “ I’m scared, ” She whispered as she buried her face in his chest. The two brothers glanced at each other, worry growing as they were concerned for the civilians, for her, and for the students they knew were in the building.

Above them, plans brewed for villains and heroes-in-training alike.

__________

Also, for those of you who couldn't see Izuku in his hero costume before:

Chapter Text

Izuku glanced down at his watch as he walked forward towards lobby 7 as Iida had instructed everyone to meet at. The doors hissed open followed by a shout from Iida claiming him late. “Sorry Iida-kun, I had to remember how to put on a tie.” Izuku excused as he adjusted his tie as it wasn’t quite comfortable yet for him. He looked around and saw that they were still waiting on the girls. When they did arrive he politely complimented their outfits and reassured Jiro that she looked nice even if it was different from her usual look. 

Seeing them all nicely dressed made him curious as to what Virginia was wearing as he has only seen her in formal dresses twice. Both were as a maid of honor in her younger brothers’ weddings. He got a little lost in thought as he also realized he would see Aizawa in something other than his hero uniform and the few workout/ lounge clothes he’s been in. Then he realized he would see Hizashi dressed up too and his brain short circuited so he wasn’t aware of the conversations until the security system triggered.

He instantly snapped from his daze and looked around as the room was locked down. “I don’t understand why this is happening!” Melissa said as the group tried to get the different doors opened. “Is there a way out of this room? We need to try reaching the party. Heroes are there and they should have a better idea of what’s going on, right?” Izuku asked calmly, his mind shifting into crisis mode from all the volunteer work he did.

Melissa nodded as she pointed to a set of doors for the emergency escape. “If we go through here, we should be above the party. There is a glass dome over it to let more light inside so we can see what’s happening inside.” The group agreed and traveled through the stairs to reach the overlook. Izuku and Jiro approached, one to look, the other to listen. 

Below him, Izuku saw the room was taken hostage, heroes captured and All Might on the stage. The old hero looked up at that moment to see Izuku. Izuku mimed listening with his hands and All Might nodded subtly and explained the situation. Izuku gave a thumbs up before he and Jiro returned to the others and gave them the situation from their observations and All Might’s information.

“How do we get the lock down to end?” Uraraka asked as she looked between everyone. “The security office is on the top floor of the building. We would have to take the stairs to get there to have any chance of ending the lockdown to get help.” Melissa said as a silence fell over the group. “We can’t do that, we’re just kids. Those are villains with guns, holding the island hostage and the Pro heroes too! If they can’t do anything, what can we do?” Mineta said, flapping his arms wildly as he spoke.

“We are heroes in training. We are preparing to be pro heroes and currently we are the only ones who can do anything. All Might is down there, unable to do a thing. So is Aizawa, Yamada, and Ginna who...” Izuku stopped sharply once he mentioned his sister. Was she down there? He doesn’t recall seeing her or Aizawa and Yamada for that matter. “I’ll be right back.” He whispered before jogging back quickly, not hearing the others call out to him.

Back at the glass dome he looked over and circled until he spotted the familiar long blond hair of Hizashi. Next to him was Aizawa, still dressed in black with a red mass in his arms. Izuku stilled for a moment as his brain processed that that mass was Virginia. The longer he looked the more he could see her shaking, could see how both Aizawa and Hizashi were shielding her, comforting her. At that moment she lifted her face from Aizawa’s chest and looked at the main man, a metal mask covering his face as he sat on a table casually. 

Fear was evident in her eyes, terror clear on her face and the sight of how small she looked and how scared caused Izuku’s blood to boil. His face twisted into an angry scowl before he pushed off and returned to the others in a fury of energy. They all fell silent when he approached. 

“I don’t care if any of you come with me, but these bastards are done for. I have never seen such an expression of fear on my sister’s face and I won’t just sit by twiddling my thumbs because I’m not a licensed Pro. I’m going to put my training into action, be the hero I know I can be and the hero those people need. Come with me or don’t, that’s up to you. Melissa, I know it’s a lot to ask, but will you come with me. Out of all of us, you would have an understanding of the system, so I need you.” Izuku said firmly.

Worried looks passed around as Melissa met Izuku’s gaze, “Of course. You wouldn’t have been able to stop me.” She said boldly, causing Izuku to quip a smile. “Pretty sure I could but that isn’t the point.” Izuku said as he began to step towards the stairs again. Uraraka and Todoroki stepped forward, followed by Iida, Jiro, and Yayorozo. Kaminari and Mineta were the last, with Mineta being the most hesitant.

Together the group ran up the stairs for several floors before they came to a dead end. A security door was preventing them from moving forward so they had to figure out a new route. During this time, it was revealed that they had to get to the 200th floor while they were currently on the 80th floor. As they were trying to figure out a way around, Mineta opened a door which did trigger an alarm which prompted the students to run.

Soon enough they entered the plant factory. They tried to make a run for the elevator there to bring them up more but quickly hid when the elevator started to rise. As they hid, 2 villains that Izuku had seen in the reception stepped out and began to approach. “What are you doing up here?” One of them called out, causing panic to flash through the group. “We got lost, what’s it to you?” Bakugou’s gruff response came. “We were just trying to find the party and ended up here somehow.” Karshima called out too.

‘Plot device,’ Izuku thought to himself as he silently watched as the villains went to attack but was stopped by a wall of ice. Todoroki stepped forward and to the side of the other two, he waved the group forward and used his ice to create a large platform in order to lift them up to the catwalk above them.

The villains lashed out as the group rose up, Bakugou and Kirishima intercepted it in time. While the three students dealt with the attackers, the others spotted an emergency maintenance hatch but none were small enough to fit besides Mineta. It took a little convincing but he did it and they managed to escape the plant-ery. In the new hall, Melissa praised Mineta who gained a perverted determination to continue helping.

Izuku subtly rolled his eyes as they ran, the more mature mind of his felt indignation at his behavior involving women, a small immature part of his mind sparked with fury at the thought of Mineta treating Virginia like that despite her being twice his age. He pushed that down, there hasn’t been any chance for Mineta to be perverted to Virginia yet so he shouldn’t punt kick a child sized teen. For now at least.

They continued to climb the tall ass tower, several times being forced to change paths until they reached the 130th floor where there was an attempt to capture them; it failed and they made it another 9 floors before they got trapped in the server room. A few tried to attack but Melissa stopped them, “You can’t harm any of these servers! They run the island and have so much stored data!” She cried.

They had to rework their plans a little, Iida told Izuku and Melissa to continue on. A small moment of hesitation from Izuku followed before he agreed. Melissa told Uraraka to come with them before they continued on. Melissa led the way out to the wind farm, where huge turbines lined the air. She pointed out a walkway high above them with a door, “That would be the fastest route, there is just a few more floors after that door till the security room. That’s why I asked you to come with Uraraka-kun. You use your quirk on Mori-kun and I and we reach that platform.”

Izuku hesitated with that plan for a moment before looking to Uraraka. “Think you can handle it?” He asked her and she confirmed yes. “Alright then. If I tell you to release you do so, no arguing, understand?” He asked firmly, a spark of reminder from witnessing his practical exam rose up. She nodded fiercely before he knelt to allow Melissa to climb up easier on his back.

Once she was in place, Uraraka touched them both to activate her quirk. Izuku fired up One for All in his legs as both he and Uraraka pushed forward, launching him into the air quickly ascending to the platform. They were half way up when doors opened and several security bots came out. Melissa called out for Uraraka to stop her quirk so she could fight but she denied.

“Melissa, listen for a moment alright? You can’t tell anyone about what you see here. Promise me and Uraraka will drop her quirk.” Izuku called over the wind, loud enough to be heard by the girl on his back. “What?” “Promise me now and I’ll explain more later!” Izuku called as his eyes tracked the bots closing in on Uraraka. “Okay! I promise, I won’t tell a soul or write about it at all!” She promised and Izuku called out to Uraraka to drop them. She complied just in time for several bots to jump at her. 

She dodged as Bakugou blasted them away with a wicked grin. Melissa clung to Izuku’s back, jaw dropped as they stayed in the air, floating even after Uraraka’s quirk ended and the feeling of gravity came back. “Alright!” Izuku cheered when he saw Kirishima and Todoroki arrive as well. The four on the ground dealt with the bots as Izuku continued their ascent to the platform. “Here we go,” He said, landing on one knee so Melissa could slide off him. She looked at him in awe before he gently poked her cheek, “Ask later. Let’s go.” He said before jogging over to the door and tried opening it. It didn’t budge so he punched it.

Red bands came out and wrapped around his arm before he swung and shattered the door. “You still have it on!” Melissa said, surprised. “Yeah, I wanted to show my sister and, um, honestly I couldn’t get it off.” Izuku admitted shyly before they proceeded through the door. Together they ran further up the stairs. At one landing they were caught off guard by one of the henchmen and Izuku fought him quickly, a sharp strike to the back of the head had the man out cold.

Now powered up, Izuku raced forward to clear the stairwell, dodging the bullets as he was fired upon and knocking the men out. He reached the final door and cleared it just as Melissa came up behind him. “The security room is just ahead of us.” She said as they were couched down behind a wall. A head was a large open door where they could hear voices come from. One of those voices Melissa recognized as her dad. The two shared a look before creeping closer to take a look inside.

There they listened to how the plan was meant to happen, what all of this was for and Melissa walked forward, drawing attention to herself before Izuku was able to pull her back. “What are you doing? Dad, why are you working with these Villains? The whole island is on lockdown! They have guns and are trying to kill me and my friends.”

Izuku moved to stand with her, a deep frown marring his face as he looked at David. A flash of deviation crossed his face when he and Izuku had a moment of eye contact. “I did this all for All Might. I created this device to mechanically amplify quirks. To boost the quirks of natural abilities without drugs. The council thought it was too dangerous to allow my research to continue so they locked it up. Sam helped to get this plan in motion so we can take back my work. I just wasn’t expecting All Might to be here during it.” David explained as he handed the case to Sam to hold.

When he went to take the case back once done to show it off, Sam backed away. Izuku’s hearing grew fuzzy as his anger peeked as it was revealed that Sam highered actual Villains not actors. When Sam got shot and David blocked the second bullet despite his friend’s betrayal. When Melissa rushed over to her dad, only to get hit in the head with the butt of the gun the man had.

Izuku rushed forward to protect Melissa and David but was blocked by the man activating his quirk and slapping Izuku away, pinning him to the far wall. Izuku was momentarily stunned after this but quickly broke free and flew at the man, tackling him away from Melissa before he could shoot her as well. Pushing away from the man, Izuku bounced back to Melissa and picked her up. A strong jump over to the control panel and he left her there to deal with the security system. 

As he turned to deal with the man again, he was met with several columns of metal coming at him. He attempted to dodge but was caught in the gut, sending him flying into a wall again. However, this time all the metal columns followed and relentlessly collided on top of him. The villain was sure he killed Izuku so he grabbed David and dragged him away as he made his escape.

Toxic lines of green traveled along the metal columns moments before they shattered and Izuku emerged with his new suit torn in a few places, his face and arms scratched up slightly along with a large bruise forming on his stomach already. Melissa tried to go to him but a quick shake of his head stopped her. “No, don’t. Disengage the security system. Free the heroes and the Island. I’ll go get your dad back.” He said as he caught his breath. Once he could breath normally, he followed the trail of blood trying to catch up quickly.

Pushing through the final door, Izuku found himself on top of the building, the villain throwing David onto the helicopter that was waiting. “Stop!” He bellowed instinctively before his mind could tell him otherwise. The man turned around looking a little shocked to see Izuku arrive. He growled as he pressed his hand to the ground and activated his quirk. Izuku had to quickly dodge as huge pillars came chasing him. He was trying to stick to one ability, but that ability left him at a disadvantage begging a close range skill instead of long range like his opponent's.

A smaller band of metal caught him off guard, wrapping around his neck and flinging him away to the far side of the roof. Izuku growled as he spit out some blood and charged again at the helicopter now rising in the air. He focused solely on the rising helicopter, focused on trying to save David. He should probably also get the experiment back too. What would be more important to save right now? The living person who got them into this situation or the experimental powerboost that the situation is about?

Virginia would have slapped him for hesitating if he ever told her. He jumped and clung to the helicopter with a vicious grin. Izuku grabbed the man’s ankle quickly before he could shoot and threw him from the helicopter. He turned to David to assess his injuries before trying to move him. 

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw several projectiles heading his way from the roof. He gritted his teeth as he scooped David up in his arms and prepared to jump when a blur shot past and broke all the projectiles. Izuku used that moment to jump to the roof, Float activating at the last moment to soften the landing for David and his injuries. All Might picked up a large chunk of metal and chucked it at the helicopter, causing it to come crashing down, permanently grounded. Its pilot may or may not be dead. They didn’t think of that until much later.

“David! Are you doing alright? Melissa called and told me what was happening.” All Might asked, concerned for his old friend when Izuku placed the man down by the elevator that brought them up there. “All things considered, yes. Toshinori I’m so sorry about all of this. I just wanted to help you.” He said with a grunt of pain. Izuku looked over to the Villain, curious as to why he stopped attacking.

Horror dawned on his face as he realized the man had put on the device and was powering up. “All Might!” Izuku called out as he took a defensive stance as the ground began to shake and the man started to turn red as a sinister smile twisted on his face. “Allow me to take it from here young Sage. You have earned the breather.” All Might said before pushing off and engaging with the metal arms.

All Might batted away each attack, bouncing around, never staying still for long as the ground began to break apart as more and more metal was added to the man. A few stray arms forced Izuku away from David and pulled the man into the mass of metal. The villain laughed and taunted the duo as they both were now fighting. 

While this was happening, the rest of the original group arrived to help but were left stunned as they watched the two fight this monster of flesh and metal. Large chunks of debris fell from the building as All Might was essentially pinned by a massive pillar bore down on him. He screamed out “Go beyond! Plus Ultra!” as he shattered the pillar and was able to catch his breath. He jumped forward and was able to talk slightly with the Villain, finding out he was contracted by All for One and gained a few quirks in case he encountered All Might.

Wires wrapped around All Might more as he struggled to escape from the villain’s hold, pillars were quickly approaching him in his trapped state, when Izuku shattered it all, freeing All Might. The two jumped away to get some space before glancing at each other in silent agreement. Both took their stances as a massively gigantic cube of metal took shape as the villain’s grand final attack, “I think you’re going to need a different way to start making things up to me.” Izuku grinned before they both were off in a brilliant streak of light and stars. 

As they grew closer to the cube, fists drawing back, the man’s attacks coming forward, they were able to just power through it all with a determined scream of Double Detroit Smash!!!! A supernova-like blast followed their attack in a brilliance of light and wind. As the dust settled and the sun rose, All Might and Izuku were seen standing over the incapacitated villain. All Might was looking worse for wear but at least he had been in his hero costume, it only had a few tears.

Izuku however wasn’t as lucky and was completely missing his top with some pretty big tears in his pants. Small trickles of blood came from the few cuts he had on his body. He sighed a huge breath of relief as All Might went to find David. Izuku went to check on his friends before they all made their way down the elevator where paramedics would be waiting for them all.

Downstairs, once the security was lifted, police arrived and took away the villains inside the reception hall. Each guest was questioned before they were able to leave the building. Gently Aizawa guided Virginia out into the early morning light as Hizashi looked around at the ambulances, checking on the students he spotted there.

From behind one ambulance, Izuku came walking over, chest still completely bare as he met with Hizashi. The blond didn’t even pay attention to the visible soulbond on his chest, more worried about his injuries and what the hell happened.

Virginia stood still on the top step, gazing at the destruction around her. Seeing her stability in her stance, Aizawa stepped away to check on his students before returning to Virginia. While he was gone, she slowly stepped down the stairs to get a better look around. She raised her gaze to the top of the building to see it completely misshaped. Her blood raced in her ears, drowning out all the sounds around her as her gaze dropped and found Izuku. She took in his banged up appearance, how Hizashi’s hands flapped and hovered around his form.

She looked around her once again as Aizawa approached cautiously as she seemed to be on the verge of dissociation. “Is this how it goes? How quickly something can change in this society?” Her voice was soft and far more clear than what Aizawa was expecting. Her expression was soft, scared, worried, and for some reason, determination shone in her eyes. “Unfortunately, yes. It doesn’t happen on this scale very often but it happens enough for there to be procedures.” He said as he came within arm’s reach of her.

She frowned, worrying her lip as she continued to watch what was happening around her, not hearing anything but Aizawa’s voice. Focused on that, only fully seeing him as pretty much everything else began to blur together. “Things in heroic can change on a dime, right? So, there can often be things left unsaid that never gets a chance to be said.” Her eyes locked onto him and he felt his heart skip a beat from the intensity of her gaze.

“I hate leaving things unsaid,” She whispered before her hands snapped forward, one wrapped around his neck while the other fisted into his jacket, all to pull him down so she could crush her lip into his. He was frozen for a moment longer, eyes wide as he tried to do anything. But before he could do anything that could be perceived as negative, he melted into the kiss. Gently pulling her into his arms once again, causing her hold on him to relax. Both melted into their first kiss, completely ignoring the world around them.

________

Chapter Text

Eventually, everyone returned to their hotel rooms and collapsed into their beds to get some sleep after being up all night. Many didn’t even bother changing from their dirty clothes before falling asleep. The sun rose steadily as it reached its zenith before anyone began to still, all except for Virginia. For a variety of reasons, she hadn’t slept. She just sat in her underwear on her bed. Often, she found herself staring at the mark on her chest before going to look outside again.

Sounds caught her ear occasionally from the other two sleeping, her mind would wonder how they can sleep so soundly in new spaces but maybe that is also just her own isolation speaking up. Soon enough, in reality, it was 6 hours after returning to the hotel, she heard Hizashi get up and head to the bathroom. She waited until he reentered his room before pulling on a robe and wandered to the bathroom to take a scalding hot shower, trying to wake up.

She stayed under the water far longer than she intended so when she did finally come out, both Hizashi and Aizawa were already dressed and having coffee. “Morning or I guess afternoon.” She called with a smile as she made a beeline for her room. The door thudded closed softly after her before either man could respond. The two shared a look before Hizashi started back up. “We can get an early flight back to Japan. I’m still worried about the kids that were part of that fight, so I want to check on them before we really do anything solid.” 

“Agreed. We should talk with Virginia about how she is feeling after all of that. See if she wants to leave or stay and make better memories about this trip.” Aizawa said as he watched the closed door subtly. “Speaking of her, I saw her pull you into a kiss and you didn’t pull away.” Hizashi teased over his coffee cup, hiding his grin.

For an instant, Aizawa's eyes snapped from the door to him. He just glared as he couldn’t come up with any explanation that didn’t make him sound like a complete fucking ass for not pulling away from the kiss. He also didn’t want to talk about it before he had the chance to talk with Virginia first about it. 

“I hate leaving things unsaid.”  Her words echoed in his head along with the feeling of her.

Her words and actions were so clear and calm in that moment, so different from the usual mess the average citizen reaction in those chaotic situations. It was the level of calm he usually only saw heroes display during a crisis. Her words and actions had to be genuine and not just because of the moment but he needed to clarify before anything else happened.

“Sho?” Hizashi prompted looking a little concerned as he was expecting more than just a glare. Aizawa blinked at him before looking away, speaking into his coffee cup, “Not now.” That just made Hizashi more worried but as he opened his mouth to ask, Virginia stepped out of her room dressed in shorts and a baggie top that hid her marks unless you were right next to her.

“Afternoon! Are you hungry? We were planning on going to get a late lunch but wanted to wait for you.” Hizashi smiled as Virginia wandered over and sat down, halfway curled up in her seat with a very small gentle smile on her face. “I am famished honestly. Did you see if Izzy was awake yet? Pretty sure he promised to spend today with us before the um...” She trailed off, blinking slowly for a moment, puzzled. 

A flash of worry crossed the brothers’ faces before she continued, “I guess it really shouldn’t be addressed as a party after all of that. Either way, we should check to see if Izzy is up to join us or not.” Both released a small sigh as her pause was thinking not trauma. Hopefully.

“I’ll give him a quick call then and if he is, we can meet him in the lobby so we can decide where to go for lunch and maybe explore around some if you feel up to it? Or there is also the option of returning to Japan early. We’re both fine with either option. We just want you to feel comfortable and safe wherever you are.” Hizashi said warmly before shifting his tone to something softer to express his concern.

Virginia just slowly blinked at him before glancing over to Aizawa. She was looking for something in both of them before she began to talk. Her head tilted to the side to express her confusion, “What do you mean? Both of you make me feel safe and comfortable. Seriously, you would be able to tell if I wasn’t.” She said matter-of-factly, holding eye contact with Hizashi as he was directly in front of her.

“You do?” Hizashi asked, voice cracking slightly, causing him to wince from a flash of pain. “Yeah. I’ve heard you tell Aizawa to treat me like a cat, before.” She said with a sly grin, both shifted from being caught. “My cat-like tendencies don’t show around those I don’t feel comfortable with, even less likely when I don’t feel safe in your presence. I tend to be more reserved and cordial with those I see as acquaintances at best. I feel like I can be myself without worrying about anything beyond my own ability to gain a bruise.” She said before holding out her left arm and pointed to a healing bruise.

“No idea where this came from or when it happened.” She said as she poked it, Aizawa quickly grabbed her hand to stop her. “Why?” He asked with an inkling of annoyance. “What?” She asked back baffled at him stopping her pokes of her own body. He sighed as he sat back, “Never mind,” he said watching her with a softer gaze than what he usually has. She watched him back with a curious gaze, both tuned out Hizashi on the phone, sounding more and more positive.

“Izuku is in! He’s actually already up and was nearby when I called so he should be in or arriving at the lobby just as we do.” Hizashi cheered as he ended the call and stood up. The two watching each other slowly blinked before looking at Hizashi.

“Perfect! Then let’s head out. I wanna see how he’s doing.” Virginia smiled as she got up and went to get some shoes on before they would leave. Once she was out of sight, she slumped over as a wave of exhaustion crashed over her. Silently a large yawn escaped her as she struggled to pull her shoes on. Once they were comfortable and her socks weren’t sideways, she shook herself of the sleep she was feeling, straightened her back to usual and ran her fingers quickly through her still damp hair before leaving the room. Aizawa was holding the door open as Hizashi walked through so she easily caught up and smiled at Aizawa as they made eye contact. 

She had a small moment of deja vu as she walked into the hall. He pulled the door closed before the three made their way to the elevator so they could meet with Izuku. In the lobby, it was pretty easy for them to find him, they just had to look for the large form with green hair. Which, even in this vastly diverse array of appearances, he still stood out. 

Virginia bounded over to him, throwing her arms around his neck in a hug. He returned the sentiment easily before standing up, her sitting on his arm. “Surprised you don’t look like shit after all of that.” Aizawa said in greeting. Izuku just laughed, “Surprisingly an island of advanced science and ingenuity has amazing medics and doctors. So, they got me all patched up. Bruises and cuts healed pretty quickly.” Izuku said as they all began to walk out of the hotel and down the street.

He and Aizawa were just following Hizashi, who pulled up some recommended restaurants in the area on his phone. They all were silent as they walked, Virginia was looking all around them given that she didn’t have to pay attention to where she was walking. Another 10 minutes of walking brought them to a lovely cafe, where they could get lunch or breakfast if they wanted too. It was a cute and cozy space, far different than the vibe of the expo yesterday.

They were led to a smaller room, off to the side where they could be out of sight of anyone besides the waiter serving them. All of them were able to relax in this space as they got comfortable sitting at the low table on the tatami mat floor. Izuku finally placed Virginia down, next to the zaisu farthest from the wall. She didn’t have the option to sit anywhere else as Izuku took the spot to her right, Aizawa to her left and Hizashi had his back to the door.

Her knees cracked and popped as she sat down, Izuku looked at her flatly, “Were you sitting on your legs again for hours.” “Maybe.” She said back quickly, looking down at the menu on the table to figure out what she wanted. Izuku glanced at the other two to see if they could confirm but they looked confused, so he dropped it. A while later, the waiter came back for their orders. Virginia ordered crepes while Izuku got katsudon, Hizashi ordered an omelet and Aizawa ordered ramen.

Their meals were prepared quickly and brought to them in a very timely manner. As they ate, they made plans once they, again, confirmed that Virginia was okay with staying. They decided to just explore around the city they were currently in, do some sightseeing, and some shopping.  The next day they would head to the other city to explore more and go to the beach.

The hours passed, filled with visiting interactive exhibits and shopping. During the shopping excursion, Hizashi and Izuku were so lost in conversation they unconsciously left behind the slower two. So, that did give Aizawa a better chance to talk to Virginia after observing her all day. Her reaction time has been consistently slowing down and she was yawning every time she thought no one was looking.

Her eyes were blinking so slowly it was more like she was trying to stay awake. He was trying to figure out how to approach the topic and the topic he really wanted to get to when she tripped. His hand shot out and grabbed her arm, abruptly stopping her fall and bringing them both to a halt. She couldn’t fight off her next yawn as she tried to stand up properly. “Ssorry,” Her voice slurred lightly as she blinked back the tears that formed from her yawning. Aizawa sighed as he assisted her to a bench for them both to sit down at.

“Did you sleep at all?” He asked bluntly, worry coloring the edges of his voice. “Of course, I di-” She tried to deny it but when she looked into his eyes and saw nothing but worry reflected there, the denial died in her throat. “-dn’t...” She looked down, embarrassed and feeling ashamed. Aizawa saw her mask fall at that moment, how dark the skin under her eyes looked, how tired her body was once relaxed, how tense she had been this entire time. She was playing with her fingers, gently twisting them together or squeezing in a pattern.

He covered her hands in his larger ones, gently squeezing. Virginia looked at him, a frown drawing her lips down, a tired curiosity reflected in her eyes. “Was it because of last night?” He asked softly, surprising her a little. Her nose scrunched up in a relatively cute fashion as she bit her lip in thought. “Yes and no. It definitely didn’t help the situation at all. If it was just that but back in Japan where I could sleep in my room, then there would probably be some restlessness, but I would get at least 5 hours of sleep.” She said after a little bit of thinking.

“But we aren’t in Japan. I’m sleeping in an unfamiliar bed, after a very stressful night and I don’t have any of my comfort items with me. I’ve pretty much always had a plushie to hold when I go to sleep. I tried to hold one of the pillows in my room as a substitute, but it didn’t help. I didn’t bring any of my plushies because I was paranoid, I would leave it behind. I figured I could manage without, but no one could have planned for that attack and I...” She rambled on before she couldn’t and just gestured helplessly with her hands when her words failed her.

Aizawa knew he wasn’t very affectionate, but he knew she was, and it was clear, even to him she needed a hug so that is exactly what he did. She made a surprised squeak sound as she sat stiffly in his arms for a few heartbeats until her brain finally processed what he was doing as she sunk into his arms, her head lulled to rest against his chest under his chin.

They sat like that for a solid 30 minutes, completely ignored by the crowd, before both of their phones received separate calls. They pulled away from each other and answered their phones. It was their respective brothers, finally realizing that they weren’t with them and were worried. Aizawa sent their current location, and it wasn’t even 5 minutes later that the two came jogging over. “Why did you stop?” Izuku asked, concerned for Virginia as she visibly looked exhausted now.

“Sorry, I didn’t sleep super well, and I stumbled. Twisted my ankle and Aizawa caught me. I should be alright to get some dinner, but I think I’m pretty much done for the night.” She chuckled as she carefully stood up. She wasn’t lying either, when Aizawa caught her, she really did twist her ankle. Izuku released a breath and picked her up. They all quickly decided on a place to go and eat at. They chose an Indian restaurant nearby to eat at. 

They got a nice table to sit at and placed their orders on a tablet at the table. Virginia was more awake now from all of the smells from the strong spices in the air. She knew her tolerance for heat was on the lower side so she could only hope whatever mild to medium dish she ordered was actually in her tolerance level or they had milk.

The food was brought out and it all smelt amazing to the group, even in her tired state Virginia was able to enjoy her food. Her meal was just on the edges of her tolerance, so she did ask if they had some milk. She didn’t need a whole glass, just enough to calm the burn. The waiter understood her request and brought out an espresso size cup of milk for her.

Now with her belly full, she stopped trying to fight her sleep. The comfort of her fam.. favorite people were just as nice as her plushies. She knew one of them would most likely carry her back to the hotel if needed. The others were still eating so she rested her head against whoever it was that sat next to her, her mind too sleepy to remember. 

Once the rest finished and the food was paid for, Izuku carried Virginia while Aizawa said he would meet them at the hotel. There was something he needed to do before going back. The other two shrugged and wandered back, no real urgency as Virginia had indeed already fallen asleep and she was the one who needed it the most. They really didn’t want to wake her up so soon by moving her to her bed.

No matter how much they dragged their feet, Izuku and Hizashi made it back to the hotel room. Aizawa was already inside and changed into his own night clothes. Izuku was about to bring her to her room when Aizawa stopped him. “We’ve been walking around for hours, and no one has stopped to use the restroom. If she is to really sleep through the night, she should probably use the restroom.” He advised and Izuku conceded, nudging her awake. She let out a pathetic whine but did wake up with an impressive glare.

Izuku just placed her down in front of the bathroom. She glared at everyone before stepping inside and slammed the door closed. Izuku chuckled before he turned away and moved back to the door. “Alright, I should also get to sleep. Are we meeting for breakfast or after at like 10?” He asked, facing Hizashi.

“We should probably just meet at 10, give everyone a chance to sleep as long as they can.” He said as he opened the door for Izuku. “Agreed. I’ll see you tomorrow then.” The two held eye contact for much longer than what just friends would do. Aizawa loudly stood up and walked into his room which startled the two into blinking. Both blushed, then blushed more when they realized the other was blushing. “Good night!” Izuku spoke quickly before turning tail and jogging away. Hizashi closed the door with a longing sigh before locking it, securely and going to his own room.

Virginia came out, kicked off her shoes and went to her room. The light was off, so she turned it on once she had her door closed. Turning around she was greeted with the sight of a very round, black cat plush. A note was tucked under it. Approaching it with caution, she picked up the cat and gave it a small squeeze, her fingers sinking into the soft material, and she smiled weakly. She hugged it to her chest before placing it down to read the note.

‘ Get some sleep. -Shouta’

A smile bloomed across her cheeks as she picked up the cat and buried her face into the soft material of the plush. Gently she placed the plush down on the pillows after pulling the sheets back and the note on the side table. Once set, she quickly changed her clothes and climbed into bed. As she got settled, she pulled her glasses off and placed them over the note before turning the lights up and curled up around the cat, snuggled under the blanket. She fell back to sleep instantly, exhaustion winning finally that her mind was at peace.

A half hour later, the door to her room cracked open, letting in a weak stream of light through the gaps between the door and the person looking in. Shouta stood there, watching her peaceful expression as the blanket covering her gently rose and fell with each deep breath she took. Tucked under her chin, he could see the black mass of the plushie he left for her. With a small nod to himself, he gently closed the door and went to his room to get some actual sleep.

Chapter Text

Sleep did not want to let go of her captives but as day grew stronger, the sleeping were released. Hizashi was the first out into the living room followed by Shouta, both still in their pajamas. “I’m gonna order room service cause I don’t want to get dressed yet.” Hizashi exclaimed as he laid face down on one of the couches. “That’s fine.” “Do you see a menu anywhere?” 

“No.” Shouta said as he looked over to see Virginia’s door slowly open and she walked out wearing an oversized shirt. He at that very moment wasn’t sure if she was wearing any pants with how large the shirt was on her slimmer figure. The neckline was wide enough for it to be off-set and exposed one of her shoulders enough to show her soulmark slightly on her chest.

“Did you even look?” Hizashi asked as he turned his face to glare at Shouta. “Did you?” Shouta quipped back with a glance before watching Virginia wander over and climb into a chair, revealing the pair of black shorts she had on underneath. Once she was settled in her spot, sitting cross legged, the black cat plush appeared. A small smirk rose as he spotted the toy as Hizashi got up and smiled at Virginia. “Hey! Morning. Are you feeling hungry? I’m planning on calling for room service once I find the menu.” He greeted her.

She smiled and was going to speak when a yawn cut off her voice. “Sorry,” She said as she rolled her shoulders and blinked. “The menu is on the tv. Just turn it on and there should be an option. Food would be nice.” She said once she was able to fully talk. “How do you know?” He asked as he picked up the remote and turned the tv on. Instantly the menu was shown as an option along with an option for watching the channels.

“I worked at an international hotel brand, hotel. Room service menus were more often found digitally, either online or on the TVs in the guest rooms than on paper, especially after Covid. I could only guess that it was something that continued into now.” She said as she hugged the plush. “You worked at a hotel?” Shouta asked, initially not believing it but as he thought more on it, he could see it.

“Yeah, the front desk. Although, because I started just as Covid hit a point where it was pretty safe after nearly 3 years of the pandemic, the hotel I was at was still trying to get back to where it was before. It was also entering the slow season so there also were some time cuts to other parts of staff. With all of that, I was at the front desk checking people in or out, offering recommendations or directions, but I was also answering phone calls, acting as food delivery guard, guest request runner, and maintaining the gift shop. I would have to track down foam pillows for those who had allergies to feathers, despite being told the room was feather free by housekeeping. Bunch of stuff really.” Virginia rattled off as she shifted around to get more comfortable.

“Interesting.” Shouta said before pulling his gaze from her to the tv so they could figure out breakfast. After 15 minutes of debating, Hizashi walked over to the phone to order their requests. “Did you sleep well?” Shouta asked once Hizashi was on the other side of the room. Virginia looked away from the window to him. She stared at him for a long moment before smiling warmly, “Definitely. A mysterious black cat plush showed up and was the perfect size for me.” She said with a coy smile.

He quirked a smile, “Very mysterious.” He said as he nodded lightly, his eyes closed so he missed how her face shifted from the coy smile to one of fondness. “Thank you,” her voice drifted softly over to him. He opened his eyes to look at her soft expression. Her eyes were casted down as she gently ran her hand over the soft material. “This really does mean a lot to me.” She continued as she glanced up at him from her eyelashes. Her hair was falling around her face and with the glow of the morning sun behind her, she gave off a very angelic look.

Warmth bloomed in his chest as he tried to come up with a response. The silence lasted a tad too long for his liking so he just went with whatever corny thing that came to him. “I could only imagine.” His face twitched from being dissatisfied with his response. A small snort of amusement came from Virginia as Hizashi walked back over and plopped down on the couch he was on before. 

“So, breakfast will be up in about 15 minutes. Are you still feeling up to going to the other city to explore and go to the beach?” Hizashi asked as he stretched out his limbs. “I am. I will need to get a bathing suit. Didn’t think a moving island would have one so I didn’t pack anything.” Virginia said shifting her position to something more open, less shy and reserved now that the conversation is not just for her and Shouta. 

“You didn’t even pack one for the hotel?” He asked surprised. “No, if I did then I wouldn’t have wanted to leave the building. I want to explore but if I allowed myself the option of hanging out at the pool and just veg out instead, I would.” She grinned playfully. “That is such a mood.” Hizashi chuckled as he dropped his head back with a sigh and closed eyes.

Silence hung for a moment before Hizashi’s eyes snapped open and he lifted his head to look at Virginia. He bit his lip for a moment as a hesitant shy look crossed his face. “Does that mean Izuku also didn’t bring a swimsuit?” He asked, not being able to look at either person in the room. Shouta looked at him with a mixed expression of exasperation and amusement. Virginia looked at him indifferently on the outside, while inside things were clicking fully into place and she was left wondering who would make the first move now.

“Correct. We bickered for a little while when packing, trying to figure out what to bring. Both of us agreed not to bring suits for the same reason.” She finally said in her usual friendly tone. “We should be fine with our marks being exposed, right? Most of my outfits that I wear out in public, I make sure to cover them, but with bathing suits..." Virginia asked after a moment, trailing off at the end as it was pretty obvious what she meant.

“You were doing that consciously?” Shouta asked, surprised. “Yea? I mean, the one on my back is an exact match to Izuku who seems to have the habit of losing his shirt. He is most likely going to be a high profile hero in the future so I figured I should get in the habit of hiding them for my own safety. Even more so now that I know that my marks all connect with heroes.” She said casually as she stood up with a stretch. 

“I’m gonna go get dressed before the food arrives.” She said before walking back to her room. “Simp.” Shouta mocked flatly once Virginia closed her door. Hizashi threw a pillow in retaliation and a pout. “Shut up, I saw you watching her since she came out here.” He quipped back. “Yeah, but I’ve acknowledged it with her. Have you talked to either of them yet?” Shouta grinned back, taunting the blond. 

“What?!” Hizashi whisper-yelled. “When did you do that?” “Just now? Or at least, just now was her response to my acknowledgement?” Shouta said, hesitant now that he wasn’t fully sure if they did or not. Something crashed from Virginia’s room, causing both men to look at the door. Moments later, the door cracked open and Virginia came stumbling out, gently rubbing the back of her left thigh as she hobbled over to the chair she claimed.

The two watched her silently until she sat down. “Did you give yourself another bruise?” Shouta asked, clearly amused. “It’s my secret talent.” She said ruefully as she twisted to look at the large red splotch forming on her leg. “How did you do that?” Hizashi asked as he leaned forward from concern. “I may look elegant and graceful in the air but I will trip on nothing. However, this time I tripped on a chair and fell against the side table in my room. The chair fell over as I crashed.” She said with a sigh.

Shouta snorted just as a knock came from the door, “Room Service!” A call came and Hizashi went to open the door. Both men were still in their pajamas while Virginia was now dressed in shorts covered by a knee-length, thin dress with high slits on the sides. A staff member came in, pushing the meal cart inside and over to the dining table in the room. Shouta and Virginia both waited till the man left before getting up, Hizashi joining after closing the door. 

Virginia’s phone dinged from a received text just as she sat down. While Hizashi and Shouta shorted the food on the table, she reviewed the message before replying and placing her phone down. “That was Izuku, saying good morning and confirming that we are meeting at 10 to go exploring and swimming in the other city.” Her phone dinged again, “He also realized that he would need swimwear. Also, wondering if it is fine to have the marks on display or if he should hide it for my sake with the back being so telling.” She read off the message that appeared.

Shouta pulled out his own phone to look something up while Hizashi responded. “It’s really up to you if you cover your marks. Different people do different things. Some keep them uncovered in hopes of finding the other faster.” “There is a private beach for all hero guests to be able to relax with their guests and bonded.” Shouta said after a moment of searching. “Heroes just need to have their licenses on them to gain entry and all their guests must be present at that moment as well. Non-heroes get wristbands that will then give them solo entry.” He continued on as Virginia typed away on her phone.

With the message sent, the three began to eat their breakfast with gusto but no urgency. Hizashi was the first done, so he left to get dressed. He grabbed his clothes and went to the bathroom to take a shower beforehand, asking Virginia if she would braid his hair after. She agreed and he disappeared. The two remaining, ate silently for a moment before Shouta spoke, “So, you don’t like leaving things unsaid?” he prompted as he looked in his coffee.

Virginia paused for a moment as she was about to take a bite of food, jaw open but slowly closed as she sat up and placed the fork down. “Yes, I often find myself dwelling on things if I don’t speak up. Haunting me if it's really important. I have a tendency to hesitate when the discussion is potentially very emotional to me. I overthink and psych myself out of saying my mind. It’s actually why I didn’t leave for the reception hall with you both. I knew you would spot the mark instantly and I just wasn’t ready yet despite choosing to wear a dress that would show it.” She confessed shyly.

Shouta looked at her softly and rested his hand against the table, palm up towards her. She glanced at his hand, then his face before setting her own hand on his. His fingers curled around her gently, his callous hand warm. “I still have moments like that. Especially when I know I can’t act like a hero at that moment.” He confessed as well. “I was hesitant to do anything on my suspicion, to even acknowledge the possibility mentally. When Zashi came running in with you..” 

“When he kidnapped me to show my arm?” She interrupted, causing both to chuckle at the memory. “Yes, when he kidnapped you. When I saw that, I knew I really couldn’t deny it and with all the research you had been doing, I knew it was only a matter of time before one of us brought it up.” He said softly as he ran his thumb over her knuckles.

“I’m not a very affectionate person.” He said flatly, in a whisper like he was stating some big secret about himself. “That’s fine, as long as you don’t have an issue with me being affectionate. From what I figured out, most romantic bonds are either complementary or opposite. Matching energies like Hizashi and Izuku or like us, filling in where the other lacks.” She smiled gently as she wiggled her fingers in his hold, her nails lightly tickling his palm. He smiled back with a small agreeing nod of his head.

She saw the look of surprise cross his face after a moment from his mind catching on fully to what she said. “Hizashi and Izuku.” He said in a prompt to get her to say more. “Yes. I unsurprisingly didn’t realize before, just thought Hizashi was a little extra. The first time at the mall was very....enlightening when I think back.” She began explaining and Shouta snorted at the reminder of the mall.

“Since then, I would catch his gaze on Izuku occasionally and my mind would instantly label it as him being thirsty but I would dismiss it. But when Izuku started to do the same and I came across the information of what it always looks like when 4 people are linked together, things started to become more clear. I may be oblivious to quite a bit when it comes to attraction seeing as I am on the aro-ace spectrum but I was able to recognize that they were pinning for each other. His question just now about Izuku in a swimsuit pretty much locked the idea in place.” She finished up after a few minutes.

“Zashi wants to get your blessings before asking Izuku out and he is still hesitant with the whole previous student and time travel bit,” Shouta said as he heard the shower stop running. “Oh? He wanted to get my blessing to date Izuku? Do you feel the need to get his blessing to be with me?” Virginia asked with a playful smile as she stopped moving her fingers. He just grinned at her while he pulled his hand away as the bathroom door opened, Virginia did the same. 

“You know, I’ve never swam in the ocean. Are the beaches going to be saltwater or freshwater here with us being on the ocean now?” Virginia asked, changing the topic as Hizashi came within hearing distance. “It’s fresh water. You really have never been in the ocean to swim?” Shouta asked as he sipped his coffee. 

“Nope, not the strongest swimmer and being short, leads me to be uncomfortable when water goes over my head and I can’t stand straight up to get my head out. Plus, I lived across from a large freshwater lake, was surrounded by many lakes and 4 of the 5 great lakes. Literally had no reason to go swimming in the ocean.” She said with a shrug.

“Well, you won't have to worry about that at all here.” Hizashi said as he sat back down and offered a hairbrush to Virginia. She happily took it and stood up, moving behind him before she began to brush through. “I would hope not, especially if we go to a hero catered beach. If I start to drown and no one helps, then you all would fail as heroes.” She said teasingly, but the message was clear.

“A very fair point. Proper heroes are never really off duty. We’re trained to respond to emergencies and focused on protecting civilians. If a hero can’t or doesn’t do that at the very basis of all their actions, they are failures.” Shouta agreed as he stretched out his limbs before standing up. “I’m going to shower.” He announced before leaving for his room to get a change of clothes.

“I hope the water isn’t freezing. I would swim in Lake Superior and god was that water cold even on the hottest days.” Virginia commented as she finished brushing through Hizashi’s hair. “I’m sure they always have the water at the perfect temperature.” He responded as he closed his eyes, relaxed at her touch and the repetitive gentle pull on his hair. “Any particular style braid you want or am I free to do whatever?” She asked as she played with the damp strands.

“None at all, go wild with it! I just want it out of my face.” He said with a smile as he turned to look at her over his shoulder. “Perfect! Last thing, are you alright with it tight or do you want something loose?” “Tight is fine,” Hizashi confirmed before turning to face forward again as he felt her begin to braid.

She soon asked for a hair tie and she tied back a large section of hair before separating and braiding several small braids. Once each new small braid was done, she would ask Hizashi to hold on to the end while she worked on more. 4 small braids later, she was freeing the remaining hair. All to then, began the very annoying process of creating one large woven braid using the small braids and the loose hair. 

By the time Shouta came out, dressed with a towel around his neck to catch the water still dripping from his hair, Virginia was just finishing tying the braid off. She recreated the braid found in the Tangled movie. A proud smile stood out on Virginia’s face as she pulled away. “There we go! Hopefully that works and isn’t a pain in the ass once you go to undo it.” She said as she spotted Shouta. 

She frowned at him and pointed to his chair. He just raised an eyebrow at her before doing as she silently instructed. Once he sat down, she was instantly behind him, pulling his hair back and began drying his hair with the towel. “Maybe now you’ll actually take better care of yourself.” Hizashi quipped as he ran his hand against his hair, feeling the braid there, as he watched Virginia fuss with Shouta’s hair. “Shut up.” Shouta grumbled as he was practically melting with his hair being fussed with. He couldn’t feel the effects of her quirk through the towel and his hair but it was still very relaxing.

She eventually did stop with the towel and began to run her fingers through his hair, combing and scrunching the strands. Shaking out the hair as she did all of this. It really only took about 10 minutes before his hair was mostly dry, wavier, and fluffed. “That’s better,” She exclaimed before she stepped to the side. Before she could react, he hooked his arm around her waist and pulled her onto his lap. A small surprised squeak escaped her as she tensed from the sudden change of position.

Once her mind caught up, she relaxed and pouted at him, making no attempt to move from her new spot. Hizashi just blinked rapidly at the change in body language between the two. He just stared for a few minutes while the two just made faces at each other, Virginia’s were more full face while Shouta’s were small twitches. “I guess you did talk then.” Hizashi said lamely, feeling a sense of longing. 

Shouta and Virginia both looked at Hizashi to see his gaze take a far off look. Virginia turned back to Shouta, several emotions crossed their eyes before he released her and they both got up silently. Shouta pulled out his phone and they noticed it was time to go, with a final look between the two, Virginia sprung on Hizashi causing him to start while Shouta moved for the door.

“Come on slowpoke, you got all zoned out on us. It’s time to go meet with Izzy so we can go get swimsuits and stuff. Are you gonna get a new one or do you have one hidden on you now? Cause, if you still need to get your swim stuff, you need to hurry or we will be late.” She said in an upbeat tone, quickly changing the mood of the room. “I have mine on. Efficiency.” Shouta added to the conversation as he was pulling on his shoes by the door.

Hizashi blinked rapidly as he basked in the relaxing calm from Virginia as he tried to process what was being said. “Oh, oh yeah. I have mine on as well. I didn’t realize it was so late already.” He said, slowly building in energy before standing up. Virginia squeaked again as she was still holding on to him when he did and was surprised yet again at the sudden change, this time of elevation.

Hizashi’s arms wrapped around her as he made a few quick strides over to the door before he released her. “Why do I keep getting man-handeled?” She whined as she pulled her shoes along with Hizashi. “If it really bothered you, you are set at an even level for kicking.” Shouta offered as he leaned, arms crossed, against the wall next to the door. She jerked her head, flipping her hair out of her face to look at him as she fixed her shoe. 

Her eyes narrowed before her face relaxed, “Fair. If the action was unwanted then a kick to the groin is acceptable. Definitely if it was a stranger doing that. Probably would also go for the eyes.” She said, finishing and standing up. “Do you have any self-defense experience?” Hizashi asked, contributing to the conversation now that he was ready. He also opened the door so they all could file out.

“Kinda. While Izuku was getting certifications and stuff back in the past, he would show me what he learned and also what he had learned before meeting me. It would probably be a good idea for me to get actual lessons with how different things are from my time.” She informed them as they walked down the hall and called the elevator up. “I can show you some things when we get back to UA.” Shouta offered.

“Oh, I’m sure there is plenty you can show me.” Virginia said in a wicked tone, before continuing in her normal playful voice. “I mean, you are a very accomplished ambush hero. You are bound to have tricks and tips for self defense and being a teacher you should be able to translate what you know into information I can do, given our side and athletic differences.” She smiled and the elevator doors opened before he could respond.

There were a few other guests in the elevator, so the three silently filed in and stood close together. Virginia was positioned next to the wall, close to the doors, while Shouta stood behind her and Hizashi next to her. The elevator was silent as they all reached the lobby floor and filed out. Virginia glared at Shouta as they left the building, a smirk decorated his face as they all walked. Hizashi was scouting for Izuku so he missed the interaction between the two. 

“That was so not cool.” Virginia hissed as she and Shouta fell in step with each other. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He replied, still smirking. “You know exactly what you were doing, Mister. Poking my sides when you know I am ticklish! The energy in that elevator was so fucking stifling I was struggling so much not to make a noise!” She whined as she grabbed his shirt, his arm wrapped around her shoulders as they had to pass through a large crowd. Neither of them wanted her to get separated in the crowd.

“Oh! Izuku-kun!” Hizashi called out, spotting the green-ette first, leading the other two towards him. “Hey, good morning!” Izuku waved with a bright smile. His gaze quickly caught the arm casually draped across his sister’s shoulder but he didn’t react. Just a small feeling of jealousy rising in his chest, only to be squashed by the knowledge that it’s his own fault that he doesn’t have his own other half at his side in the same fashion.

“Morning Izzy, ready to get exploring and swimming?” Virginia asked, comfortable at her spot under Shouta’s arm. “Yeah, it would be nice to go swimming again. I honestly miss it, after not being able to do it pretty much daily.” Izuku said as they all began to walk again, heading for the train that would take them to the other city.

“You do know there are several pools at UA, from freshwater ponds to standard size pools to miniature oceans for rescue simulations. If you really wanted to swim, you could have just asked about it.” Shouta said flatly as they walked. Izuku blinked rapidly at him for a moment, “Huh. Now that you mention it, it is kinda odd for me to assume UA wouldn’t have any form of pools.” He finally said. 

Silence fell over them as they reached the train and boarded. The ride was short and soon they were tracking down the closet clothing store with swimsuits. Their path took them in the direction of the beach so they had a higher chance of success. A large boardwalk came into view with many shops lining the street facing the water. A light breeze ruffled their hair as they set their sights on one store that had swimsuits displayed in the windows. Virginia, in her excitement, ran ahead and vanished inside the store. The three walked a bit faster to catch up but with how tall the racks of clothes were, she was gone.

Izuku just shook his head and went off to where he could see the men’s section of clothes. “Good luck finding her. It’s easier now just for her to find one of us.” He commented as he glanced over in the direction of the woman’s section trying to see if he could spot her. He didn’t so he continued on. Hizashi trailed after him while Souta went to see if he could find Virginia. Occasionally, he would hear a giggle that sounded like Virginia followed by rustling but it quickly became clear to him that she was avoiding him. 

With a sigh, he gave up and went to find somewhere to sit. The closest seat was by the fitting rooms so he was bound to see her then. His guess was right, but she also seemed to be prepared to see him there as her bundle of clothes was hidden by a large black shirt. As they made eye contact as she walked past, she grinned mischievously at him before vanishing into a room. He just rubbed his face as he sat farther back in his chair to wait.

Eventually, Izuku and Hizashi found him, “Waiting for Gin?” Izuku asked as he came to a stop. A pair of swim trunks in his hand. Hizashi was behind him with slightly pink cheeks but relaxed so Shouta wasn’t even remotely concerned about another mall scenario happening. “Yeah, she walked past with what looked like several options but she did go about hiding it all under a large shirt.” Shouta said with a sigh.

“Sounds like her. If she is doing that, then she is probably planning on paying for it herself to keep her choice a surprise. She often did that to me, mostly when I was out shopping with her and she found something for my birthday or Christmas.” Izuku laughed and they heard a soft ‘Shut up!’ get called out. Clearly, Virginia chose a fitting room nearby. “She might also be done and has chosen but with you and now us being out here, she isn’t leaving cause she couldn’t hide her choice without looking like she would be stealing it.”

“Alright. Virginia, we’ll be waiting outside for you.” Shouta said as he got up. The three walked off to check out before waiting outside to the left of the door. Virginia came out a few minutes later, “All good to go. They actually let me get changed into the suit after I bought it so I didn’t have to, at the beach.” She smiled as she joined them. “Rockin! Let’s get going then! The beach has several food vendors so we can get lunch whenever we want without needing to leave.” Hizashi cheered as they began to walk again.

He was using his phone to lead them to the beach which they did have to go down a few hidden paths before they reached the gates to the private beach. There was a small line at the entrance as ids did have to be checked. The four got in line, staggered with Hizashi leading, Izuku behind him. Shouta was after him with Virginia at his side. It would appear that the two heroes planned that one each will be the one getting passage for the other two. 

Virginia leaned against Shouta as they waited. Ahead of them was a civilian arguing with the guard about something stupid, “Wow, Karens still exist and are just as entitled.” She murmured as she was getting annoyed at how long they had to wait because of this person. When they had been approaching, they could see the line going quickly, only pausing for a moment for civilian guests to get their bands.

“I’m surprised they are even letting this go on.” Izuku added as he stood crossed armed as he stared down the arguing woman. Virginia frowned more and pulled out her phone. She slunk closer to the front to see if she could catch the name on the id being flashed. Once she got a good look, she searched up the hero to see where he was from. The id clearly didn’t belong to the woman but if her screaming was to be believed, the hero is her husband, who isn’t on the island with her if the news says anything.

Once Virginia had the information, she returned to Shouta’s side with only a few glances from the rest of the line. She snuggled into his side, he did tense up as he really wasn’t used to physical affection even after all the years of Hizashi throwing his arm over him. The longer she leaned against him, the more he relaxed as he soaked in her quirk and was curious as to what she was looking at.

On her phone she had several websites pulled up and was flipping between them. She was muttering under her breath in her language so Shouta had no idea what she was doing. Up front the woman was still arguing and several people were really starting to look agitated. A satisfied hiss came from Virginia and before Shouta could ask she slipped away from the group and scampered to the gate booth. The woman was arguing in English so Virginia interrupted in Japanese.

“Excuse me, do you speak Japanese?” She asked, looking between the two. The woman pulled an annoyed face, “ What the hell did you just ask me? ” “Guess not,” Virginia murmured as she turned her attention fully to the attendant. “Yes. I’m sorry about the wait. She really isn’t listening to my words.” The attendant apologized with a bow. “Is she claiming that she is allowed to use the id because she is married to the man?” Virginia asked calmly while the lady was getting angry at being ignored.

“Yes, but without her husband here with her, I can’t let her in. The owner of the id has to be present for the wrist band to be given. She is arguing that he is asleep in their hotel room and gave her his id so he could continue to sleep.” The attendant bemoaned. 

“Well, I have some interesting information for you. If I looked everything up correctly, then her husband is an American hero. The law states any active duty hero must have their id on them while in action. Based on this news clip, her husband is definitely not on the island asleep in his hotel room.” Virginia said with a cheshire grin as she showed the news clip where the hero in question was clearly fighting a villain as of 2 hours ago.

“I see. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Are you a hero or civilian?” The attendant asked after reviewing the footage and standing up straight, a new fire lit up in their eyes. “I’m a civilian, the rest of my group includes another civilian and two heroes. They are still back there.” Virginia said as she pointed them out. All three looked confused and worried. She smiled and waved back to them, “Well then, if you don’t mind staying here for a few minutes, I’ll be getting the line moving again.” Virginia agreed as she leaned against the wall of the booth where she was able to hide in the shade.

A few moments later, police showed up and they tried to get the woman to peacefully go with them but because she is very clearly a Karen, she tried to fight them. A slithering black mass, slunk along the ground before loosely circling one of the woman’s legs before pulling. The sudden force sent the woman to the ground, sand and dirt displaced into the air as the tendril retreated and Virginia grinned.

Before the woman could get back up, the police cuffed her and dragged her away, kicking and screaming. A collective sigh came from the line, along with a few cheers, and everything got moving again. The people that had been immediately behind the woman thanked Virginia before gaining access to the beach. 5 groups later, Hizashi, Izuku, and Shouta were standing before the booth and Virginia wrapped her arms around Shouta. He pulled his arm out from her hold and before she could frown, he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer.

“Do you like to cause chaos?” He whispered in her ear as they watched Hizashi show his id and got Izuku his band. “It’s never intentional. I was just showing how the man the id belonged to wasn’t on the island and that was illegal.” Virginia whispered back with a grin still present on her face. He just rolled his eyes before stepping forward to offer his id once Hizashi and Izuku walked through the gate. 

The attendant smiled as they approved their entry, Virginia offered her wrist when indicated and the band attached was a different color than the ones she saw everyone else get. When she looked up to the attendant she was greeted with a smile that promised no answer, “Enjoy your day!” Was all they were given. Virginia smiled back as she followed Shouta through. 

“Do we get chairs or just sit in the sand?” She asked as they looked around off to the side to stay out of anyone’s way. There were several beach chairs and umbrellas scattered around with a rental place with them farther to the left. “I just realized none of us brought towels.” Izuku exclaimed, all of them then proceeded to look between each other to see that he was indeed correct. “I mean we could always just sunbathe until we dry off.” Virginia suggested before Shouta began to walk off to the rental stand.

“I’m not sitting in the sand,” He grumbled as he walked away. The other three blinked in surprise before following after him quickly. Virginia was scooped up as she would be even slower on the sand. The three caught up quickly and Virginia looked around to see if she could spot any vendor selling towels so they could get some before going in the water. Izuku had shifted her so she sat on his shoulders, at that height, she just wrapped her hands around his forehead and closed her eyes. 

She enjoyed the sun on her skin, the breeze was stronger at this height so she enjoyed the feeling of her hair flying from the cool air and the faint smell of the ocean beyond the walls of the island. She relaxed as she felt Izuku come to a stop. “Hey, can we get 4 chairs and an umbrella or a canopy if you have those?” Hizashi’s voice drifted to Virginia as she leaned over Izuku’s head before opening her eyes.

“Do you have any red chairs?” She asked, causing the clerk to look up at her. He spotted the band around her wrist before nodding. “Yeah, I can get you guys the chairs and a canopy no problem.” He said before turning away to gather everything. He came back after a few minutes with the chairs and a disk that was about the size of Izuku’s hands. “Alright, so you get an all day rental for these for 9463.12 yen (74usd).” The man said as he rang them up. Hizashi nodded and went to pass on his card when Izuku spoke up.

“Um, that doesn’t math,” He said as he looked over the prices on the board behind the man. One beach chair was 1918.20 yen (15 usd) each and the canopy was 5115.20 yen (40usd). “Shouldn’t the total be 12788.00?” He asked, clearly confused as he looked at the man. The man looked equally confused before responding. “Is this your first time at the beach here?” “Yup. Is there something we’re missing here?” Virginia asked from her spot, causing the man to look up again.

“That band you have is pretty much a lifetime pass with or without a hero present and you can get certain things for free or at a discount at any of the vendors here. So, the fourth chair is free and the canopy is at a discount.” He explained. The four blinked at him in disbelief. “Are you serious? How do they even determine who gets one?” Virginia questioned in shock. “Usually, there are 5 to give out throughout the year. It’s completely up to the gate keepers who gets one. I know they have a general guideline to help.” The man shrugged as he took the offered card from Hizashi.

The exchange was quick, so they were searching for a spot to set up soon after. Izuku carried the canopy and didn't let Virginia get off his shoulders while Hizashi and Shouta carried two chairs each. Virginia did complain about not helping but they all told her it was fine and she could choose the spot since she had the best vantage point. She pouted but did comply and quickly spotted a nice area, without too many people because it was in a shadier area farther from any of the stands and people wanted to enjoy the sun.

Izuku finally let Virginia get off him once they determined the exact spot they were going to set up. He left the three to get changed as he was the only one not wearing a swimsuit under his clothes. Virginia pretty much snatched the disk from him before one of the other two to grab it. She fiddled with it for a few moments before tossing it on the ground. The moment it made contact, the canopy emerged in a burst.

Once things settled, Shouta and Hizashi adjusted the chairs underneath before they began to remove their outer clothes so they could go swim. Izuku returned around the same time with towels in hand. “Ready to swim?” He asked as he dropped the towels he got from the changing rooms on one of the chairs. Hizashi turned around and very much ogled Izuku who was doing the same with the blond.

Shouta and Virginia both looked at the two, curious to see what either did. Both men were shirtless, completely exposing their soul marks. Hizashi’s mouth turned dry as he tried to speak as he stared at the mark that symbolizes him. Izuku shifted in his spot before a hand rose to run at the back of his neck. He also was trying to think of what to say but his mind kept blanking.

“ God damn it ,” Virginia grumbled under her breath before she began to pull off her clothes to reveal her new suit. She purchased a two piece suit that was shorts on the bottom and a top that fully covered her chest with thick bands for straps and a thick band around her ribs. Izuku blinked and addressed Virginia as he chickened out from saying anything directly to Hizashi.

“I thought you weren’t going to cover your mark?” He commented, stumbling a few times with his syllables. “I wasn’t going to but this was literally the only top I could find that offered support. Everything else was more for the intention of lounging poolside, not for swimming at all. I didn’t want a top I could potentially pop out of.” She said as she folded her clothes nicely before taking off her glasses. “Makes sense.” Izuku muttered, still awkwardly shifting in his spot before he scooped up Virginia and made a break for the water.

She screamed in surprise causing a few to glance over, alert for a moment but realized there was no danger when they got a look at the matching marks on their backs. Hizashi slumped down into one of the chairs and covered his face with his hands as he leaned forward with his elbows on his legs. Shouta just sympathetically patted his shoulder awkwardly, unsure of what to say about that entire interaction.

“At least you know what your mark looks like now.” He attempted but Hizashi glared at him from his hands at the pathetic attempt. “Not helpful whatsoever Sho.” He grumbled as he sat up and looked out to the water where Izuku was gone as Virginia floated on the surface. “Where’d he go?” Shouta grumbled, Hizashi was also trying to spot him. After a few moments of not spotting Izuku, both began to make their way to the water, concern growing in their chests. 

“Virginia! Where’s Izuku?” Hizashi called out as she was floating pretty far away. She turned her face towards their direction, carefully before she shifted so she no longer floated on her back. She paddled over closer as she wanted to see more definition than colorful talking thumbs. “He’s under. Swam under the water and once again is practicing how long he can stay under in one breath.” She said as she stood up, now that she was at a more comfortable water level to her height.

“Does he do that often?” Shouta asked as the brothers wandered into the water to join her. “Every time he is in deep enough water. So, he is going to surface shortly because he is out of practice. He tends to swim deep as he holds his breath so the pressure is increased. His usual endurance training doesn’t help as efficiently as the water does from what he has figured out.” She explained as she sunk back into the water to float around again. 

Moments later, Izuku burst out of the water, taking long controlled breaths as he wiped the water from his eyes. “It’s so clear under there!” He said loudly as he still had water in his ears making things muffled. He shook his head to clear the water away, spraying the two still mostly dry with water. Virginia giggled at the shocked look from Hizashi and the deadpan glare from Shouta.

She quietly maneuvered herself over to Shouta’s side before grabbing his hand, tethering herself in place. He just looked down at her before smirking and walking away from Hizashi and Izuku. Going deeper in the water but not by much. If Virginia was to stand up, the water would be at her collar bone. She continued to float next to him as he found a rock to lean against. Once he was comfortable, he pulled his hand from her and pulled her to his chest.

The water lapped comfortably around the two of them, Shouta relaxing as he allowed himself to just focus on the water and the woman in his arms. Virginia was practically asleep in Shouta’s hold, as the water gently rocked her, the white noise of the waves crashing lulled her, and the mixed warmth from the sun and Shouta was sending her into a trance.

Back with Hizashi and Izuku, there was still a bit of an awkward air but they both were trying to relax and actually enjoy the beach. “So...um, how have you been feeling? I know you said you were seen by medics but I..” Hizashi asked weakly as he sank into the water. The two had moved farther up the shore so they could sit shoulder deep in the water. “I’m feeling pretty good. There are a few deep bruises around my stomach that still twinge here and there but I’ve had worse leg cramps honestly.” Izuku started a bit stiff but did relax and chuckle at the end.

“I’m glad,” Hizashi said softly, looking out over the water. “Oh, right, before I forget. I haven't thanked you or Aizawa yet.” Izuku said as he leaned back on his hands while looking up at the sky. “Thank us?” Hizashi asked, confused, turning his head to face Izuku, silently admiring his jawline and how his wet hair fell across his forehead. Izuku looked at Hizashi from the corner of his eye, Hizashi jumped a little bit with the sudden green gaze landing on him, Izuku smiled softly as he turned his head so his cheek was more on his shoulder as he looked at Hizashi.

“Yup. For protecting Ginna. When the lockdown happened, I was able to access the room above the reception hall. The hall had a glass dome as part of the ceiling above the stage. I was looking down to see the situation when I spotted the three of you. How you both sat ready to act while keeping her between you for her safety. I was beyond pissed that she was even experiencing that but now that I’m in a calmer state of mind, I really appreciated seeing that.” He explained, not breaking eye contact with him

“W-well we are heroes. It’s kinda our job.” Hizashi said breathlessly. Izuku smiled wider and shook his head, “Maybe, but you weren't on active duty. Not on this trip. Sure, it was instinctual to be on guard and protect, but Gin wasn’t the only scared civilian but she was the only one sheltered by the two of you.” He continued softly as he wrapped an arm around Hizashi upper back as a side hug. 

Hizashi froze up, but did lean into the hug. Izuku whispered into his ear, “Seeing that the other day really cemented in my mind that I can trust you both without any hesitation in my heart. I’m not sure if you understand just how much that simple instinctual act meant to me.” Izuku squeezed Hizashi close before releasing and going deeper underwater with a small splash.

Hizashi’s face was absolutely a flame as shivers raced up and down him. He sat stiffly in the water, not daring to get up because his swim trunks maybe loose, they however weren’t that loose. He had to sit there until Izuku surfaced once again before he calmed down enough to finally swim. Before he dived in fully, he glanced over to where Shouta and Virginia went. Both were fast asleep holding on to each other.

Hours rolled by, Izuku and Hizashi fully relaxed around each other so they were able to swim and have fun together. Virginia and Shouta joined them after an hour or so. They all eventually got hungry so Izuku and Hizashi volunteered to get lunch while Virginia and Shouta went back to their stuff.  Lunch was enjoyed and they spent 5 more hours at the beach before all 4 returned to the hotel the majority were staying at. They decided against going out to do more and just stay in to watch movies. 

The three men sat side by side as Virginia stretched out across their laps, her head resting against Shouta’s lap as she watched the tv sideways. A sudden thought came to mind, causing her to blink rapidly and turn her head to look at the three. “What?” Shouta asked as he felt the movement. “I just realized we spent like 8 hours in the water, under a clear sunny sky. None of us brought sunscreen. I’m going to be a lobster in the morning.” She said bluntly as they all blinked at her. Glances passed around before anyone spoke.

“Shit.”

Chapter Text

Flopping into your own bed after a long journey is always super satisfying. Izuku and Virginia were both reminded of this once they returned to the staff dorms at UA and visited Recovery Girl for the very red sunburn Virginia had received. Virginia still slept with the black cat plushie every night after their return. It stayed situated by her pillow everyday once she made her bed and then in her arms once she fell asleep. 

Virginia found herself idle most of the days following their trip. She wasn’t sure what to do, what projects to work on or even had inspiration to create anything. Izuku saw her in a slump so he always insisted on her joining him for light exercise. Just to be in the same room with him, doing her own exercises was the goal. Because of this, the two were pretty much glued to each other’s hips daily.

Occasionally, the siblings saw their other halves but weren’t able to interact due to scheduling constraints. Hizashi whined to Shouta several times about not being able to even enjoy lunch with the two. Shouta was annoyed from all the complaining but he couldn’t help but agree. He had grown used to the chaotic calm energy both carried but he had to finalize the plans for the camp and pick up several patrols.

Hizashi wasn’t in much better shape. He had to finalize test grades, prep for the new semester, plan out his next segment for his show, and he had a few patrols to cover during the day. Hizashi wanted to spend time with the duo just because he loved being around them and he just missed it. He also knew he had to talk with Virginia soon. Several nights now, he has woken up from dreams of Izuku. 

The dreams were family friendly but it was clear how much he wanted to just pull Izuku into a hug and not let go. How much he just wanted to pepper his face in kisses and just cuddle into his side as they watched movies. But he knew it wouldn’t feel right if he didn’t ask for Virginia’s blessing first before he asked Izuku out or even talked with him about their bond. He tried several times to speak with Virginia alone but something always happened to prevent their talk.

Whether it was work for school, a phone call about a sudden change in needing coverage for patrol, Virginia disappearing into the vents because Nedzu called her, he couldn’t find his boot in time to catch her before he had to get working, or even because he overslept from stressing over talking with her. It was like the world was against him now that he was actually trying to have this discussion.

5 days after returning to Japan, Izuku remembered the question Kaminari and Mineta asked him. “Gin! I’m heading off to the pool. 1-A got permission to use the pool for endurance training for today.” Izuku called, a smirk present on his face that was clear in his voice. “Oh? Endurance training, huh? Who’s idea was that? I’m surprised that the kids wanted to do that during their break where they could just relax.” Virginia called back as she leaned her head back over the couch to look at him.

“Just the class pervert and class clown, they really thought I was a good person to ask about ‘endurance training’ at the pool on the same day I heard Yaoyorozu asking if she could get permission for 1-A to use the pool over break.” Izuku smiled thinking back to two days ago when he encountered the scenario.

“Well, have fun. I’ll probably be here or maybe actually go into the school to bother whoever I can find.” Virginia said as she turned back to the TV with a dismissive wave. Izuku laughed as he left the building, jogging off to where he recently learned the pool was. He slipped into the locker room where he found the two trouble makers getting changed. “Afternood guys.” He called out as he entered. The two jolted but smiled excitedly.

‘This is going to be fun,’ Izuku thought to himself as the two began to blabber excitedly, thanking him for coming and so on and so on. He just smiled pleasantly to them as he disappeared behind a stall to change into the swimsuit he got from I-island. He pulled on a swim shirt so his soul marks were covered for the most part. “I wonder if Nedzu has cameras at the pool to catch their reactions.” Izuku muttered under his breath as he stepped out, ready for the chaos.

Back with Virginia, she finished watching the tv show that was on and watched the following episodes until a new show came on. With a pout she turned off the tv as she couldn’t find the next episode of the series. A depressed sounding sigh came from her before she stood up and wandered up to her room to collect her bag with sketch book, markers, and pencils before leaving to go to the staff lounge where she hoped to find someone to sit with since Izuku is now busy.

Maybe she should finally draw those stickers of laxes finally. Should they be cute or scary, realistic or cartoony? Maybe she could just get the opinion of whoever she finds. The walk into the building and up to the intended lounge took her about 14 minutes as she was in no rush. Once she made it to the door, she didn’t bother knocking before she entered. Inside she only found Shouta and Vlad King working on paperwork. 

Both men looked up when she entered, Vlad, once he realized who came in, turned away uninterested. Shouta nodded to her when she smiled at him and began to walk over to his desk. She saw that he had several things pulled up on his computer as he was working on some paperwork. “What brings you by?” He asked, managing to not break the stillness in the air. 

“Bored and the tv show I was watching hasn’t released the next episode. Izuku is at the pool with 1-A. Apparently, Mineta and Kaminari asked him to do some endurance training with them there. He told me and I quote, ‘The class pervert and class clown’ invited him. It just coincides with when the girls of your class were thinking of asking to use the pool during break.” Virginia said in a playful tone as she sat down at the desk adjacent to Shouta’s.

She pulled out her sketchbook and a pencil to sketch out some ideas for her lax stickers. “You really should do something regarding Mineta’s behavior around women. The way he is currently going is a potential public safety hazard. Possibly ending up on a sex offender list. The things I’ve heard him say when he didn’t realize I was just around the corner or out of sight were very unsettling.” She informed him as she kept her pencil moving. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw both men freeze and look at her.

“What do you mean?” Shouta placed down his pen, turning his full attention to her as he asked. “I can only assume he is a lot more tame when a teacher is potentially near. But when he is clear of any staff he is very....gross. Like for example-” Virginia clarified before leaning over to whisper in Shouta’s ear of what she has heard from that teen’s mouth.

Shouta’s jaw clenched in frustration from how much he was missing. When Virginia finally pulled away he had to take a calming breath with his eyes closed. He slowly let it out before responding. “I’ll talk with him during the training camp. If he tries anything, he will join the remedial classes.” Shouta determined after several long moments.

“You’re still going to bring him along?” Vlad King spoke up, shock clear in his voice. “Yes. With it just being the two of us with the guest instructors, it would be the perfect time to make his life hell for a week where he can’t escape.” Shouta said as he scribbled down a note to himself so he wouldn't forget about it. Virginia had returned to her sketching as he did this. “Wait, what do you mean he can't escape?” Virginia asked suddenly as she registered his words fully.

“Class 1-A and B will be brought to an undisclosed location where only Nedzu, Vlad, and I know where it is. None of the students are allowed their phones on this trip, pretty isolated with spotty cell service.” Shouta explained and Virginia carefully placed her pencil down. She blinked in shock, “Oh...” She whispered out. Shouta looked back to her, concerned for her change in mood.

“What’s wrong?” He asked as he reached over and covered her hand with his. She shook her head to clear her thoughts physically. “I was just being stupid, I suppose. It hadn’t clicked in my mind that you and Izuku wouldn’t be around for like a week. I... I haven’t been without Izuku for that long in such a long time. A couple days at most. For 10 years he’s been in easy contact so I guess my mind just didn’t agree with the thought that I couldn’t reach him for days.” She said with a weak shrug.

Shouta was silent after she spoke, just calmly running his thumb over her knuckles. “I understand. We might be gone but Hizashi is still going to be around. He’s actually been failing at hanging out with you since we got back.” He finally said with a smirk as he brought up Hizashi. “What do you mean?” Virginia asked as she twisted her hand under Shouta’s and wove her fingers through his. Her grip seemed to help her shake off the surprise.

“He’s been whining to me about how the universe is against him now that he is more determined to ask you that question in person.” Shouta answered which triggered the knowledge of what exactly the conversation would be for. “He has tried coming here early before he had a patrol but couldn’t find his boots and was almost late for the patrol. There were a few times where he simply couldn’t find you, some of those times was supposedly because Nedzu called you away. Or he has overslept and would miss his chance. He’s been called to his agency to deal with some issues that they weren’t able to correct without him. So on and such.” He continued on explaining, prompting a few giggles from her.

“Why is he so desperate to talk with her?” Vlad questioned since it seemed like the two forgot he was there, and he was feeling annoyed. “You’re lame, I’m wonderful to talk with and we haven't talked in days!” Virginia stuck her tongue out at Vlad completely not wanting to actually answer. Shouta just stayed quiet as he blankly looked at him.

“Fine, don’t answer me.” Vlad grumbled as he went back to his work. Shouta continued to hold Virginia’s hand as he too returned to his work. As his dominant hand was free, this was no issue to him, Virginia however, couldn’t return to working unless she lets go. She decided just to bask in their shared touch for a while longer before releasing his hand. Vlad shifted before asking Shouta about his student’s quirks. “You literally have access to their files,” Shouta said flatly before Vlad convinced him to explain them.

Virginia finally returned to her book, zoning out to the sound of Shouta’s voice as he talked about his kids. A small smile made its home on Virginia's face as she fell completely at ease being in the room at Shouta’s side. About an hour later, Shouta stood up. Virginia blinked as she snapped out of her peaceful bubble and looked up at him. 

“Pool time is over. I’m going to make sure they leave.” He said before she could answer. She silently blinked at him before closing her book and got up, “I want to say hi to your class, so I’ll come with.” She decided as she looped her arm around his, pulling him towards the door. Once they were past the door and a few steps down the hall, Virginia stopped pulling and just held on to Shouta’s arm.

He didn’t stop her as they silently walked down the hall to the elevator and out the building to where the pool was. As they drew closer, the sounds of talking and laughter reached them. Virginia pulled away as a small flash of lightning danced across her hand. The two stared at her tanned hand in surprise before moving quickly towards the gate that led up to the pool. Coming around the corner, they saw Izuku, Bakugou, and Todoroki charging up, about to jump into the water to race.

Virginia chuckled softly as Shouta rolled his eyes and activated his quirk moments before they all launched into the air. Todoroki fell feet first and Bakugou did a spectacular belly flop, all the while Izuku smoothly dived into the water. Shouta waited for the three to surface. 

The two teens surfaced first, looking around frantically for a moment before spotting Shouta who still had his quirk active. Izuku surfaced a few moments later, prompting Shouta to stop his quirk finally. Izuku grinned from the opposite side of the pool, having still swam despite the sudden feeling of his quirk vanishing. “At least you know now that Izuku can still carry out his task at hand even when the unexpected happens.” Virginia commented much to the displeasure of Shouta, who was the only one to really hear her.

“Your time is up. Leave.” Shouta announced once he had everyone’s attention. Several students groaned in disappointment as Izuku climbed out of the water while Virginia grabbed some dry towels for the three in the water. Bakugou begrudgingly accepted the towel from her while Todoroki calmly albeit a bit stiffly accepted his towel. Izuku had a mischievous glint in his eyes as he approached Virginia. “ I have my phone in my pocket. Do not dare. ” She hissed out as she thrusted the towel against his chest when he came in reach.

Several students openly gaped at them as Izuku responded, “ Well, then take your phone out of your pocket! ” “ Throw me in and I will castrate you ,” She hissed with narrowing eyes. Izuku opened his mouth to retort but he quickly snapped his teeth together to squash the words. His cheeks darkened a little, causing Virginia to look at him strangely with a raised eyebrow, before a random thought came to mind and she rolled her eyes feeling certain of why he stopped. 

“Come on, let’s just get home. You get changed and I have to get my bag.” Virginia said as she stepped away from Izuku. She wandered back to Shouta’s side as he began to address the students again. “You have 10 minutes to get out. I’ll see you all again in a few days. Don’t be late.” He said before leaving, Virginia waved goodbye to them before trailing after him.

Out of view again, she slipped her hand into his. His fingers twitched at her touch, but he gently closed his hand around her as they walked. She quietly hummed as she just enjoyed the light breeze and clear sky of the day. Shouta glanced at her a few times as they walked, coming to a decision as they entered the staff lounge. The moment Virginia stepped into the room, she froze for a heartbeat before launching at Kayama’s back, toppling her over with a surprised shriek.

Virginia’s sketchbook went sliding across the floor as it was flung from Kayama’s hands from the momentum. She scrambled after her book and scooped it up, clutching it to her chest with reddened cheeks. “What did you see?” Virginia asked with narrowed eyes as Kayama huffed, flipping her hair out of her face as she sat up. The others in the room, Vlad, Shouta, and Snipe just stared in shock.

No one expected the usually very tame brunette full-on tackle someone like a linebacker. Kayama focused on Virginia’s face, trying to get over her shock, before she smirked mischievously, “Plans~” She purred as she got up from the floor. “Tell no one,” Virginia hissed with a pout, “Or you can’t help.” She finished childishly. Kayama gave her an impish grin before sitting down at her actual desk. Virginia got up and collected her items from the desk next to Shouta’s before she left to bug Izuku who had returned to the dorms already. She did not acknowledge anyone else.

After a very brisk jog, Virginia reached the dorms and quickly found Izuku stretched out on the couch. She placed her bag down and flopped on the adjacent couch. “What were you going to say in response to my threat?” She asked after a moment to stretch out. “Just that castration wouldn’t really affect things. It’s not like I would have sex with a woman and need my sperm for reproduction. But then I remembered that that was where testosterone comes from so that would actually indeed affect things. So, I stopped before being stupid.” He explained, causing Virginia to snort. 

“There could be a quirk out there that allows male pregnancy.” She suggested. Izuku groaned as he shot her a look, “Even so, it’s not like I would be the pregnant one.” He said without thought, leading to Virginia bursting out in laughter. Tears formed in her eyes as she clutched her stomach. “What are you laughing for?” Izuku asked, absolutely baffled as he sat up to look at her. “You just called Hizashi a bottom!” She snorted through her laughter. 

Izuku’s face instantly turned bright red as he covered his face as embarrassment overtook him. “I’m pretty sure there is supposed to be some level of verbal communication on who takes what place in that.” She continued on, fully crying now. “Oh my god! Stop!” Izuku cried out as he tried to make himself as small as possible.

Virginia was still dying of laughter while Izuku was dying of embarrassment when Hizashi and Shouta came into the doors carrying to-go bags of food. Hizashi was determined to just spend time with the duo even if he wasn’t able to talk alone with Virginia. He had rushed through paperwork and sprinted to the restaurant he had called ahead to pick up dinner before racing to campus before Shouta could leave so the 4 could all have dinner together. He was pretty much out of breath by the time the two reached the dorm.

Hizashi had planned on his usual greeting but being so out of breath and caught off guard from the scene before them, he didn’t. The two brothers looked on in confusion before Hizashi spoke up, now that his breath was fully back. “Um, everything good?” He asked.

His voice caused both to freeze and stare at him for a solid minute before Virginia burst into a renewed round of laughter, much harder than the last as Izuku gaped at him like a fish out of water before his face darkened even more and he ran from the room, desperately needing to cool off. “What the hell just happened?” Hizashi asked as Virginia fell off the couch, now struggling to breathe through her laughter. Shouta went over to her side to try to help her.

A good 15 minutes later, Virginia was breathing deeply with a few giggles here and there, very light-headed, leaning against Shouta. Hizashi was sitting at a table with the food, feeling a little dejected as every time Virginia saw him, she would start laughing again. Izuku still hadn’t returned. A moment before Hizashi was about to give up, sadness filling his heart after he tried so hard to make it here tonight, Izuku came down looking a lot calmer. 

He stopped short and stared at Hizashi. He had to take a deep centering breath as he closed his eyes before he could actually address Hizashi. The blond’s eyes were locked on Izuku, worry causing his eyes to dilate. “Sorry about that. Gin just said something embarrassing and I um, didn’t handle it well?” He attempted to explain but it fell short as he couldn’t really admit to what was said.

“I’m so sorry Zashi! I promise I wasn’t laughing at you; it was just the timing of your appearance that got me.” Virginia called out, her voice still a little wobbly from all of that. “I smell food, did you bring something?” She continued as Shouta helped her stand as her entire body was still pretty weak from the effects of the laughing fit. “I did. I’ve been so busy this week that I really missed having dinner and spending the evening with you both so I made sure I could do it tonight and brough dinner.” He said, trying to shake off his dejected heart.

“Is it still hot or does it need to get reheated, I know my fit went for a while.” She asked as Shouta lowered her into a chair next to Hizashi. “It’s good to go!” He said as he began to pull the still warm food from the bags. Izuku came over and helped get things set up while Shouta went and grabbed drinks for everyone. Izuku watched Hizashi from the corner of his eye as they worked in tandem to get the table set for dinner.

“Ohout,” (shit) Izuku hissed under his breath as he huffed through his nose. “Aop hoat buiewosux,” (Don’t stay up too late) Virginia smirked as Shouta placed a glass of water in front of her. She smiled at him as Izuku glared at her. “Shut up,” He grunted as he sat down, now that everything was in place. “You started it.” She teased as Shouta and Hizashi passed looks of confusion. “Let’s just eat,” Izuku said, no longer able to look at anyone. The others agreed and they said their thanks before digging in.

The faint awkward air soon dissipated, and chatter rose us as the meal went on. Shouta had to leave first to get started on his patrol and Hizashi was disappointed that he couldn’t stay longer because of his schedule for the rest of the week. Virginia did follow him to the door, leaving Izuku to clean up. “Hizashi? Are you going to be free while Shouta and Izzy are gone during the camp? Maybe I’m being selfish, but I don’t want to be alone while Izuku is gone. I haven’t gone more than a couple of days completely alone.” She said as she leaned against the wall as Hizashi pulled on his shoes.

The blond froze, staring at his boot for a moment before looking up at her. It was a perfect opportunity to finally talk with her, “Yes! Absolutely. I just have 2 patrols and my show while they’re gone. Oh! Do you want to be a guest on my show? It is pretty late at night but it's really a blast!” Hizashi practically lit up with joy, a weightlifting slightly from his shoulders. Maybe tonight he will be able to sleep more soundly. “Sounds like fun.” She agreed and was quickly pulled into a hug. Hizashi soon left after that, and Virginia went to see if there was anything else to clean up.

The table was clean, the leftover food was dealt with, and the dishes were in the dishwasher waiting to be filled enough to run it. Izuku however was no longer around, leaving Virginia to debate if she would go to her room or crash on the couch for the night, just in case. She determined that she would need to go to her room regardless. 

When the elevator opened on her floor, she creeped out, listening intensely. When she heard nothing, she quickly entered her room and went to her bed. She sat down and waited once again, just in case. Either she misread Izuku or the individual personal dorms for the staff are soundproof. She would ask Nedzu in the morning if she remembered.

Chapter Text

Sleep came pretty quickly for Virginia, she determined that as she woke up without much memory of relaxing in order to sleep. The laughter last night probably really took it out of her. She dressed in leggings and a soft summer sweater to lounge in as she settled in her living room to watch a movie while she had her breakfast. Nearly at the credits, a knock sounded from her door. She started a little and got up as the remaining scene of the movie was the male and female protagonist kissing on a hill at sunset. She didn’t care if she missed it.

Opening the door revealed Shouta. He wasn’t in his hero uniform and was actually dressed in black pants, a dark blue shirt with a black open jacket. She blinked rapidly as she looked him over, surprised at his appearance. “What brings you by?” She inquired after she stepped back to beacon him inside. “Do you have plans for today?” He asked as she closed the door behind him. He looked her over, the soft brown oversized hoodie seemed to fit her really well. The small cat printed on it looked like it was popping out of the large front pocket. 

Overall, she looked really cute and the sweater was very appropriate if she agreed. “No, nothing on the docket. I was honestly planning on just binge watching movies if Izuku doesn’t drag me off to exercise.” “Then you’re free to join me?” Shouta asked, not really moving more into the room. “You have something planned? Yeah, I can join. Is what I’m wearing fine or should I change?” She asked as she turned off the tv.

“That would be fine.” Shouta stated and she hummed, grabbing her shoes to put on at the exit. Shouta opened the door for her. She grinned as she walked past him, making eye contact as she did. He rolled his eyes with a soft huff before he closed the door after stepping out. The two walked to the elevator side by side, occasionally bumping the back of each other's hands. Neither bothered to talk as they made their way to the exit, pausing to put their shoes on before leaving.

Shouta led the way off campus and into the city, walking the entire way to their destination. Virginia didn’t ask, she was just happy to spend the day with Shouta even if she was curious. When they did reach the more crowded sidewalks, Shouta was the one who grabbed Virginia’s hand before the first person was even able to accidentally bump into her. She tucked against his side, slightly behind him so they could move through the crowd easier.

Trusting Shouta fully, Virginia kept her eyes moving all around them, observing the people and stores that lined the streets. Observing all of the different appearances and visible quirks that people have. She was really amazed at just how similar the future really is to the past. It really surprised her when Izuku first told her about his time, how it sounded like in a lot of ways like it stopped reaching for the stars. When she thinks about it, it's not that surprising with the development of quirks and how society needed to quickly adapt and study the changes humanity was facing.

Shouta pulled her to a stop outside a cafe. Virginia could taste the sweet smells coming from the restaurant and her stomach growled. She finally turned away from the street and looked at their destination, “Is this a cat cafe?” She asked, surprise coloring her voice as her eyes lit up in joy. “Wait!” She exclaimed as she turned her head so quickly, Shouta was momentarily worried about whiplash. “Is this a date?” She asked, her eyes so wide that Shouta could see his reflection in her blue irises.

“You said it is a good place for a first date.” Shouta said with a grin, enjoying how her face darkened as she bashfully looked away. “Let’s go in,” He gently pulled her into the building and up to the host stand to get their timer. Turns out Shouta had called ahead, as the cafe was fairly small and popular so it was necessary to make a reservation for the two of them. The two made their way over to a corner where an empty table sat with a single cat watching them. “I come here pretty often,” Shouta offered as the cat seemed to be waiting impatiently for attention.

Virginia giggled as she sat down on the plush cushion of the bench at the table. The cat stared at her for a long moment before headbutting her hand. A beautiful smile bloomed across her lips as she gently stroked the cat, from the top of his head all the way down his tail. Going slowly, to see if he didn’t want her to touch him in any spot along the path.

While she was enraptured by the cat, Shouta walked off to the counter to order some drinks and snacks. When he turned around, he was surprised to find several of the recluse cats hanging around Virginia. A small black cat was curled up on her head while the original cat sat guard next to her, he seemed to be giving permission for any of the cats to approach. A few got hissed at while others got to join Virginia. She was happily petting all of the cats she could reach without disturbing the one on her head.

“Sir?” The worker prompted, startling him. Turns out he had been standing there long enough for everything to be made before he could return. The worker glanced over to where Shouta had been looking and surprise became evident in all of their body language. Shouta turned and collected the tray before walking back to Virginia. The guard cat hissed again at several cats as he approached, causing most to scatter, giving him space to walk.

Virginia looked up and smiled warmly at Shouta as he placed the tray down. “I think they like me.” She giggled as he placed a parfait in front of her. A cute cat face was drawn on to the cream swirl on top with little cookie ears added. “Thank you,” She whispered as she pulled the spoon out to take a bite. “The ones closest to you usually hide.” Shouta said as he got settled. 

The original cat jumped up onto his lap and settled in as well. He sipped his coffee as Virginia began to talk about anything and everything in a peaceful manner. Stopping occasionally to eat her parfait. Once their drinks and snacks were gone, they shifted from the chairs to the floor where several cats came back over to play. The small black cat that was on Virginia’s head, was the first to jump down to play with the wand toys she had begun to flick around. 

Light giggles escaped her as the cats played and walked over her. A few would lick her fingers causing more giggles. She was disappointed when their time came to an end. The black cat and the original cat were very insistent that she didn’t leave, which melted her heart and secretly melted Shouta’s. “I’ll come back one day,” Virginia promised before she held her hands out for Shouta to help her off the ground as the cats still refused to move off her. 

He lightly shook his head at their antics before pulling her up. Several annoyed meows trailed after them as the two walked back to the front to pay for their stay. A couple of the workers had to grab the two cats when they tried to leave with Virginia and Shouta, causing Virginia to pout and wave goodbye to the pair. 

Shouta again led Virginia away from the cafe, heading in the direction they had come from leading Virginia to ask a question, not wanting the day to be over. “Was that all you had planned?” She asked softly as they walked, hand in hand. “Did you want it to be?” He retorted as they came to a stop at the crosswalk. She shook her head prompting a small smirk to form from Shouta. The indicators changed and Shouta led the way, turning to cross to the right instead of waiting to go straight. 

“I figured you would want to see more of the city. Experience something new so I figured we can go to a few museums or see a movie, take a walk through a park, or something...” Shouta said as they walked, a little awkward as he honestly didn’t have any set plans beyond the cafe. “I like museums. There weren’t any close enough where I lived before to visit on a regular basis, so it would be enjoyable.” She said softly, eyes still surveying the ever changing landscape around them. 

“Alright, then that’s what we’ll do.” Shouta agreed as he began to lead the way to the largest museum in the area. It consisted of many connecting buildings that covered art, natural science, technology, history, conservation, and several hands-on exhibits. He figured that would be the best option to visit with how diverse the exhibits were. It was a long enough walk that Shouta figured it was faster to take the train so he redirected to the closest one. What would have been a 30 minute walk turned into a 7 minute train ride, which was mostly due to waiting for the next one to pull into the station.

At the ticket office of the museum, they decided to get tickets that would grant them access into 3 of the 7 connecting buildings. The one they entered first covered general history, it gave her a more visual insight of the 200 year gap she is experiencing. One of the wings actually covered American history during her time, several displays showed the 2020 Capital riot, the riots from Roe v. Wade, attacks on Pride parades and so on and so forth of all the horrible events that happened before Virginia had time traveled. 

It was so heart-breaking to see it laid out like that but as they walked further, there were also displays of some of the great things that happened, or the silver linings that occurred. The people that arrived dressed as Angels with large cloth wings that arrived to block the haters at a Pride event. The huge community gatherings that supported people in need during the pandemic. It was beautiful to see after all that darkness but Virginia knew she would need to take several breaks as they went through the history portion of the museum. 

Shouta kept his hand securely wrapped around Virginia’s hand as they walked after each display; she insisted on going through the section that depicted the rise of quirks. He held her when she couldn’t hold back her tears, the two tucked away into an abandoned corner out of sight. When she calmed down, he decided it was time to change scenery and they went to the cafe inside to get lunch as the trip to the cats was several hours before noon.

Virginia was pretty silent as she ate her lunch, trying to recover from her crying, nursing her drink as she was feeling a little dehydrated. They sat there for a good 30 minutes before getting up again. Shouta chose to take them into the hands-on museum, something more light hearted, something fun. He even allowed himself to mess around with some of the exhibits. 

One, Virginia practically tackled after a full on sprint as it was a giant bell attached to an equally long thick rope. She was able to pull it down and cause it to ring, but the lower the bell went on one side, the higher the rope rose when it rocked to the other side. Neigher adult was expecting this so when Virginia’s feet suddenly left the ground, both jolted in surprise.

She curled up, clinging to the rope while Shouta quickly walked under her, now clear above his head and grabbed at her ankle to pull her back down. Another person came to help get her down as she was still rising. “Let go! I got you,” Shouta called out and Vigrinia instantly listened. 

The bell tolled loudly above her as she was carefully held in Shouta’s arms. She took a few moments to clear her head from the surprise of it all before she began to giggle relentlessly. “Remind me not to do something like that again,” She asked between breaths, giggling against Shouta’s neck. He released a sigh and walked over to a bench to sit for a moment after that mess.

“You are chaos incarnate, I swear.” Shouta grumbled as he kept her securely on his lap. “Maybe it’s a secret quirk, like how Izzy has the innate ability to get into questionable scenarios or break something. I  have the innate ability to cause chaos.” She declared thoroughly amused. Shouta rolled his eyes as he released a dramatic sigh. Virginia giggled again before lightly smacking his chest before getting up, pulling him with her.

“I promise to be more careful.” She swears and he just nods before they continue to explore, eventually reaching their final building. Inside they slowly wandered and observed the art work decorating the walls, that were in the middle of the rooms, the sculptures and recreations, the vast array of styles through the years was an amazing, calm, and beautiful experience. There was even an exhibit that pretty much made it feel like you were walking through many famous paintings.

The duo began to yawn near the end of their stay in the museums. Their hunger had also risen during this time so they decided to call it a night. They soon enough boarded a train to head back towards UA. They stopped for dinner at a cozy ramen stand, deciding to eat dinner there before they went to Shouta’s apartment, which was closer than campus and Virginia was starting to stumble from how much walking she had done today.

Dinner was a quiet affair for the two and quickly eaten before Shouta found himself opening his front door and welcoming Virginia inside. She smiled as she entered and removed her shoes in an easy practiced move. Shoes removed and placed on an empty shelf without anyone ever bending to touch them, “That was excessive.” Shouta commented after he watched her move her shoes by grabbing them with her sock covered toes.

She giggled as she walked further inside, giving Shouta space to remove his own shoes. On the couch was an orange tabby cat, “Who is this?” She asked as she held her hand out for the cat. The cat sniffed her a little before jumping on her lap and becoming a loaf. Shouta came into the room as his cat did this. “That’s Captain.” He said as he dropped onto the couch next to her. Captain looked annoyed at Shouta before settling back.

“Well then, it's nice to meet you Captain.” Virginia said gently as she ran her hand slowly down his back lightly. The cat started to purr as Shouta turned on his tv and flipped channels before landing on a movie. The two settled in against each other as they focused on the film. A little past the halfway mark, Shouta noticed that Virginia had fallen asleep. He finished watching the movie before he got up and went to his bedroom to change clothes. Once he was changed, he pulled back the sheet and blanket on his bed before going to collect Virginia.

When he returned to her, Captain looked at him lazily before getting up and wandered away. Shouta then carefully picked Virginia up in a bridal hold and brought her to his room. He set her down on his bed where he had pulled things back, he rested her back before pulling her glasses off and set them on the side table before carefully sliding his hand under her hoodie to check if she had a shirt on underneath or not.

Once he determined that she did have a top on under, he gently lifted her again and removed her hoodie. She slightly stirred as he did, unconsciously helping him remove the hoodie with a sleepy gaze. “Wa-?” She grunted as she tried to look at him as she sat up unsupported. “It’s late, just sleep.” Shouta said softly as he pulled one of his own shirts over her head, she instinctively pushed her arms through the arm holes before he guided her back to laying down. 

“Ok-ay,” She whispered through a yawn as she blinked her eyes slowly. He pulled the sheet and blanket over her before he went to the otherside of the bed to get settled in. Virginia was curled up on her side, her back to him, so he curled around her. An arm slipping under the pillow she had her head on, while the other wrapped around her.

A soft sigh came from her as she relaxed further in the bed, grabbing his arm over her and holding his hand to her chest as if she was hugging one of her plushies. Shouta snorted lightly at her actions before he closed his eyes and fell asleep quickly, her quirk apparently more effective when she is sleeping.

Neither woke from their sleep as the sun rose, it wasn’t until an agitated Captain came in and sat on Shouta’s face, that the two woke up. Shouta, from not being able to breath and cat hair, Virginia from the surprised coughing and the yowling of said cat. “Shouta?” Virginia asked, confused and sleepy, as she reached over and rubbed Shouta’s back, the coughing fit calming.

She couldn’t quite see, but she could tell she wasn’t anywhere familiar and she wasn’t wearing her hoodie anymore. Captain jumped to her lap as he continued to glare at Shouta. “Where are my glasses?” She decided on asking as a lot of her questions could potentially be answered if only she could properly see.

“To your right, on the table.” He informed as he caught his breath, glaring back at his cat. She twisted and blindly tapped out for her glasses, not wanting to hit them away. When she found them, she quickly put them on and looked around. “Is this your bedroom?” She asked as she turned back to see him getting out of bed and stretching his arms over his head. “Yeah, I wasn’t going to make you sleep on the couch.” He said as he turned back to her and his cat.

“Little shit. Can’t be normal.” He grumbled as he left the room, rummaging sounded in the kitchen before a can was opened and Captain went running from Virginia. She giggled as she watched him run, her eyes continued to dance around the room before she spotted her hoodie and finally got out of bed. She pulled her hoodie over Shouta’s shirt, with the thought that he wasn’t getting it back, and left the room. Her footfall was silent as she padded down the hall with her sock covered feet, peeking around the corner she saw Shouta reaching up into a cabinet, causing his shirt to rise to reveal a happy trail of black hair on his stomach.

She snorted, pulling back around the corner, having not expected him to have such dark body hair given how his arms didn’t appear to have any. “What?” His voice startled her, she blinked and peeked around the corner again to see him staring at where he had expected her to be. She giggled from surprise before coming out and joining him in the kitchen. “Nothing, just a random thought. Do you have to get back to work today?” She asked as she settled at the table while he worked on his coffee. 

“Yeah, I have more paperwork to do. I can at least do it at UA so I’ll walk back with you.” He said as he turned to face her as he just had to wait now for the pot to fill. The two just silently looked at each other, the only sounds were from the brewing coffee and Captain eating. Virginia found herself smirking at Shouta, who just raised an eyebrow amused at her expression. “What’s on your mind?” He asked after a long moment. “Nothing really, just thinking back to my first impressions of you and what Izuku had spoken of you before. I’m just amused to see you as yourself, not with any titles added.”

Shouta blinked as the coffee finished, he poured himself a cup and prepaid it as usual. “What do you mean?” He asked as he settled down at the table with her. “I just mean, you give off a different vibe when you are in hero mode and teacher mode than what you were like yesterday and right now. You’re more relaxed and I guess, open right now. But, I’m pretty damn positive that once we leave this building and head for UA, you’ll feel more guarded, tense, and vigilant. Like a between faze from your hero mode and your teacher mode.” Virginia explained as she began to run her fingers through her hair, gently combing out the knots that formed.

“I’ve seen you almost relax like how you currently are, when Hizashi drags you to visit the dorms with him and when we were at the beach. Maybe you’re just this relaxed right now because I had your arm pinned to my chest for a while. I might not remember a whole lot from last night as you put me to bed but I do recall holding your arm.” She grinned as she propped her cheek against her hand with her elbow on the table. “You’re very warm.” She added.

A faint tinge of pink rose on his cheeks as he sipped his coffee. “Maybe,” Was all he uttered, causing her to giggle more, dropping her wrist as she placed her head on the table for a moment before sitting up. “Do we need to be back at a certain time?” She asked to continue the conversation. “No, but I have a patrol tonight so I need to get the paperwork finished sooner rather than later.” Shouta answered as he finished his coffee. She nodded and he left to get changed before he returned and the two left after some difficulty from Captain. “I promise you’ll see me again.” Virginia comforted as Captain kept trying to trip them both.

He did stop after that, allowing the two to head out. Virginia chuckled as Shouta locked his door and the two exited the building. The walk to UA was about 5 minutes which surprised Virginia but she just shrugged it off. Shouta walked with her all the way back to the dorms and would have walked with her to her own room but they both were accosted by their bonded brothers. “ Where the hell have you been? ” Izuku shouted as he and Hizashi both quickly approached them from the couch.

“What do you mean?” Virginia asked as she had flinched back into Shouta who was behind her, the energy in the room was drastically different from the vibe the two had just been enjoying. “I couldn’t get in contact with you since your phone was still in your room! Nedzu said the security cameras showed you and Aizawa leaving together but neither of us could reach him so do you know how fucking worried we both were?” Izuku said as he came to a stop in front of the two.

Shouta blinked in confusion as he pulled out his phone to see that sound somehow was disabled and there were many missed calls and messages. “Shit.” He muttered as he tried to get the sound turned back on. Virginia’s phone started to ring in the tone she had specifically set for Nedzu when he sent her a message. “That was Nedzu,” She announces weakly, still startled by Izuku’s shout.

Hizashi turned around and snagged her phone from the table before turning around to hand it over. She read over the message and dropped her head with a groan. “God damn it Nedzu.” She grumbled, causing everyone to pause. “He remotely disabled the ringer on Shouta’s phone so we wouldn’t be disturbed on our date and just happened to forget to notify you two that we were unavailable.” She announced. When she lifted her head she saw stunned looks before the two suddenly awed at them. “You were on a date?!” Hizashi asked, practically with hearts in his eyes.

“Yes. I had a free day so I asked her out.” “Well, technically you asked if I was busy today and when I said not really you asked if I wanted to join you. It wasn’t till we got to the cafe that I realized what was happening.” Virginia clarified with a smirk, now relaxed after the agitated and worried energy from Izuku and Hizashi had dissipated. “Shou! That is so not romantic at all!” Hizashi complained but Virginia just giggled.

“Complain all you want, I’m going to shower and change.” Virginia said as she stepped away and went right for the elevator. Once the doors started to close, Virginia raised the bottom of her hoodie and caught Shouta’s eye. He scowled at her when he realized she still had his shirt. Her laughter caught the other two’s ears before it was sharply cut off from the doors closing fully.

“What was that about?” Hizashi asked as the three sat down on the couch. Shouta knew he needed to get to work here soon but figured he owed the two an apology in the form of his presence. “She still has my shirt.” He answered bluntly as he rubbed his face. Hizashi and Izuku froze, minds going south despite knowing her distaste for the action. 

When Shouta realized that they hadn’t responded, he looked over to them and glared at them both sharply before snapping. “My couch is a piece of shit to sleep on, I wasn’t going to make her sleep on that. I gave her one of my shirts so she didn’t have to sleep in her hoodie after wearing it all day.” The two flinched away looking ashamed to think whatever it was they had been thinking.

Virginia reappeared, now just wearing Shouta’s shirt and legging while carrying her change of clothes. “Don’t you both have work?” She asked, puzzled as she blinked rapidly at them. Hizashi and Shouta both looked to her then to the clock on the wall. She was right, Hizashi jumped up and ran for the door as he was going to be late for his patrol no matter what now. Shouta got up and left the dorms as well with a sigh. Izuku looked like he was going to say something to Virginia but when he turned to face her again, she had already vanished into the showers.

The next few days were spent with all parties finishing to get ready for the training camp. Virginia had a meeting with Nedzu the day after her return to campus, after the meeting she and Izuku spent the day doing chores and other odds and ends. Since they took all day cleaning, the next day the two actually packed Izuku’s bags for the trip. One was just clothes and the other had some basic equipment he uses as warm ups or cool downs that are easy to travel with. The following day, one day before the trip Hizashi appeared with bags of junk food and a grin.

“Movie day!” He exclaimed as Izuku and Virginia didn’t fight him and helped to get set up for a movie marathon. Shouta eventually joined them as the men all had it in the back of their minds that this was the last day Virginia would have someone constantly nearby for a week. Hizashi was going to do his best to be around all the time but he still had work to do that she couldn’t keep him company for. Virginia was just content spending the day with her family.

Chapter Text

Waking in the morning is always a struggle to Virginia but she knew she needed to get up to see her brother and boyfriend off for the camp. The movies continued on long into the night, with each nodding off at different times. Shouta had woken the group up about a half hour before they needed to be at the busses. Hizashi and Virginia sat curled up together on the couch as they waited for Izuku to return with his luggage. 

Shouta had his bag already by the door from when he came to campus, so he was just taking a brief shower before he had to deal with the hell class. Izuku was going to take a quick shower as well once he came down in order to wake up more. The two on the couch continued to yawn and nod off only to jolt suddenly, which also jolted the other awake again. 

Izuku came down and placed his bags down before racing off to the showers. Shouta passed him and went to grab all the bags before walking out the door ignoring the two on the couch. Virginia backhanded Hizashi’s chest lightly before they both stood up and followed after the dark-haired grump. Once they all reached the parking lot with the bus ready waiting, the two slumped next to each other again along the wall as they waited for the students to arrive. Shouta walked off after setting the bags he had in the storage compartment under the bus. 

He vanished around the corner just as Iida arrived. He loudly and enthusiastically greeted the two slumped adults, who had different reactions to his greeting. Hizashi pulled on his Present Mic persona, just toned down and sleepy to direct Iida where he could put his bag and that Shouta would be here soon. Virginia hissed.

Iida looked a little perturbed at Virginia’s response but did as instructed as more students arrived and Present Mic was gently scolding her for hissing. He lightly shook his finger at her like he was talking to a misbehaving cat.

She tried to bite his finger.

Realizing it was hopeless, he gave up and just chilled next to her, dropping his hero persona as Iida was taking over directing the students. Izuku came out at the same time Shouta returned, he had been tucking a phone in his pocket when he arrived. Izuku came to a stop next to Virginia and she climbed up him, so she was draped across his back as a very strange cape. He looked over the class to see the majority had arrived and were currently gathered in clusters.

Shouta looked at his phone for the time, with a sigh he called for the group’s attention. Virginia slid off Izuku’s back after giving him a kiss on the cheek followed by a don’t die. Friendly family banter kinda thing. “Get on the bus,” Shouta spoke, prompting Yaoyorozu and Iida to take roll call as the bus was loaded. Virginia wandered over to Shouta and pulled him down to her level to whisper in his ear. “Make sure my stupid doesn’t break anything.” She said before softly and quietly kissing his cheek since it was already at her level.

Shouta pulled back with a nod, “He won’t be breaking his bones at least.” He promised with a small smile. His back was to the bus, so the full extent of the exchange was hidden. The kiss was unheard by the two with enhanced hearing as well. Izuku leaned against the wall for a moment with Hizashi as they watched Virginia and Shouta. “You are planning on keeping her company, right?” He asked Hizashi softly.

“Yeah, of course. I’ve even invited her to join me on my show while you guys are away.” Hizashi said with a grin and Izuku pulled him into a side hug. “Thanks, I know she likes it when she is alone, but I also know she never sleeps well when she knows no one is near.” Izuku said he held Hizashi for a moment longer. He kept the language, both physical and verbal, friendly as his class was watching even if it was just a few that were looking out.

Virginia wandered back to Hizashi’s side as Shouta called (threatened) Izuku to get on the bus. The green-ette grinned as he pulled away from the wall, gave Virginia a final hug, before bounding over to get in the bus. Shouta followed after him and the doors closed. The two outside waved as the bus pulled away and they continued until the bus was gone from sight. “Want to go back to sleep?” Hizashi asked after he dropped his arm. “Halfway there now.” Virginia said as she slumped.

“I’m not carrying you back.” He grumbled as he began to pull her back to the dorm. She followed after, actually picking up her feet as she walked. The two kicked off their shoes and collapsed back on the couches, on the pile of blankets and pillows from their movie night. They were quickly pulled back into the realm of sleep. An hour and a half later, a text message came through the group chat from Shouta informing the two that they arrived at the drop off point and were going radio silent for the rest of the week.

They didn’t wake up for another hour to see that message. Virginia was the first up and she wandered over to get some breakfast going. Opting for a simple American breakfast, pancakes and bacon. Hizashi woke shortly after she started the bacon. He greeted her before heading upstairs to change his clothes in his own room. When he came back down, the table was set, and the food was ready. “Good morning!” She chirped in greeting as she sat down. He greeted her back as he joined her.

“Did you see the text from Shou?” He asked as he pulled his own servings on his plate. A cup of coffee was set at his spot, and he was very thankful for its presence. “Yeah, I saw that it came in. Do you know who the guest instructor is? I remember Shouta had mentioned that it would just be Vlad, him and the guest that will be there with the 40 students.” She asked as she dug in.

“I believe it’s the Wild, Wild Pussycats. I think they were planning to join in before it was decided to go radio silent.” Hizashi informed her before taking a sip of his coffee. “You know, for not liking coffee or even the smell of it, you make a really good cup.” He teased her. She snorted amusedly as they continued to eat. 

Hizashi set about cleaning the table and dishes after they finished while Virginia went to get dressed. When she returned, Hizashi was stretched out on the couch watching TV. “So, do you have any work today or are you free to hang out with me?” She asked as she plopped down next to him. His hair was thrown over the back of the couch, so he just tilted his head in her direction.

“I am free otherwise I probably would be getting ready for a patrol by now.” He grinned at her. “Wonderful, then should we do something today or just veg out?” She asked as she settled in, tucking her legs underneath her as she twisted so her side was against the back cushions. Hizashi bit his lip as he thought of how to respond, Virginia hoped he would choose this moment to approach the subject.

“Let's go shopping!” Hizashi cheered as he sat up fully. Virginia dropped her head with a small huff. “Why shopping?” She asked with a pout when she looked up again. “Because we only went to get necessities before! This would just be for fun and because I want to spend money. We could just window shop or just mess around, but I just want to go out on the town. What do you think?” He explained with puppy eyes trying to get her to agree. She rolled her eyes dramatically before begrudgingly agreeing.

“What? Not a fan of shopping?” Hizashi asked as he relaxed his excitement. “No, not super interested in wandering around and having to carry anything purchased for several hours, potentially.” Virginia said as she crossed her arms over her chest as she shrugged her shoulders. Hizashi blinked and began to think again about what to do. He rubbed his jaw for a few moments before a new idea came to mind.

“Ooh, what about a spa day? There are a few hero-centric facilities that are for the discretion of heroes and protection of hero-bonded civilians that go.” He suggested, tilting his head causing some blond strands to slip around his shoulder. Virginia mulled the idea over for a long moment, he could see her come to a conclusion before she even spoke. “Well, the last time I went to a spa was for my 25th birthday. So, you know about 200 years since then.” She grinned and Hizashi cheered.

“All right! Let’s take a look here and see which one is available today.” Hizashi said as he pulled up a website on his phone and clicked a few different links before finding a spa they could go to today. He just had to fill out a few bits of information, the very first option was solo or group and if it is a group what type of bond is it and what the status is of the individuals. The two looked over all the information, filled out their preferences and selected their time block at the end with all the requested services.

After submitting everything, they only had to wait 15 minutes before Hizashi received a phone call to confirm their booking as it was a same day thing. The confirmation also went over some basic information for the two that they needed to know before arrival before they had hung up. Timing wise, the two had to leave right away to get on the correct train to reach the spa in time for the sessions.

The two did have to jog in order to get there on time as there had been a small delay from the clean-up of a small villain and hero encounter. Hizashi led the way through a large open alleyway to a back door with a scanner on it. He produced his Hero ID and held it to the scanner until the door clicked and he held it open for Virginia to enter first. Inside, the vibe was much different from what the unmarked door made her think inside would be. 

Warm browns, soft greens and light blues decorated the space giving it a very serene feeling to the space. “Welcome in, Present Mic, I see you have a visit for you and your soul bond today. If you both follow me, I just need a few bits of information from you both before I leave you to get changed and settled.” The receptionist greeted and introduced herself as Watanabe as she stood. She collected a tablet before directing the two to follow her off to a side room.

Once the door closed behind the three, Watanabe directed the two to place their belongings in the lockers nearby and that this room will be their retreat between each session they have. She showed where the bathroom was for them to get changed in, it also had a toilet and shower for them to use at any point.

“Now then, do you think you will use our services again in the future at any point?” She asked as she pulled something up on her tablet. “It’s a possibility. This facility is definitely the closest to UA.” Hizashi replied as he shrugged off his jacket. “Wonderful. Would you both be coming together each time or is there the possibility of separate visits?” “Oh, is that an option? I’m not a hero, just connected to two.” Virginia said as she sat properly in the closet chair.

“It is an option, if you believe you would want to come independently of your bonded heroes, then we can provide you a membership badge that would give you the access. We just need to take a few photos of your marks and note what type each is and who they link to. All of this information is completely protected and if improperly accessed will mass delete every trace.” She explained to the two. Hizashi and Virginia shared a glance before they both agreed. 

Hizashi went first as he was the hero. While he was getting the photos taken, Virginia went to use the toilet really quick. “The mark connected to her is this one,” He indicated as he lifted the bottom of his shirt to expose the glasses on his rib cage on the right side. Watanabe nodded, took a photo and noted that it was linked to a Mori, Virginia: Platonic, Civilian.

Since his shirt was already almost off, he just removed the full thing. On his chest was an open notebook with pages fluttering surrounded by green lightning. Again, a photo was taken with a note that it was linked to a Mori, Izuku: Romantic, Hero Apprentice. And once again for his arm sleeve, labeled Aizawa Shouta: Familial, Hero Eraserhead.

“Perfect, I’ll make sure everything is properly set in your profile. Mori-san if you are ready?” Watanabe stated. Hizashi turned to look at Virginia as she came out of the other room, “Do you want me to wait?” He asked as he pulled his hair back into a bun to give his hands something to do. “No, you go ahead, it would be faster that way.” She smiled and he accepted the notion and went into the bathroom to change.

“Are you comfortable with me removing my shirt?” Virginia asked Watanabe once Hizashi had left the room. The woman nodded and Virginia stood as she pulled her shirt off, still facing her. “This one is linked to Present Mic.” She said as she held her right arm out and away from her body to show off the old golden gramophone.

Watanabe smiled and took the photo and added the notes. “Present Mic and I are also linked to the same people. It’s just that the romantic and familial people are switched.” Virginia added as she held still for Watanabe to take the picture of the one on her chest. “Oh, how nice! It’s not often I encounter anyone here that is linked to three heroes. So, just to confirm, your romantic bond is to hero Eraserhead?” “Yup, he is my grumpy cat.” Virginia confirmed as she unlatched her bra and turned, holding her shirt up to her chest as she slipped the straps of her bra off to fully expose her back mark.

“Oh my, that is so huge!” Watanabe couldn’t help but exclaim as she took in the mark decorating the entirety of her back. “Your familial bond is a hero apprentice, right? Does he have a code name or do apprentices even get one at that point?” the woman asked as she backed up further in order to actually get the full mark in the shot. “He is going to be called Sage once he gets his license.” Virginia informed, as the picture was taken, and they were done. She continued to hold her shirt against her chest as she turned back to the woman.

“Perfect. I have everything set here so I will leave you both here. When it’s time for your sessions, you both will be collected through the curtain there and once you are all done and changed back, there is a door in the bathroom that leads out to the lobby. I do hope you enjoy your services and will visit again.” She said as she finished with her tablet, bowed and left the room. Hizashi cracked the door open, “I’m all changed.” He announced through the opening.

“I’m covered.” She informed Hizashi so that they could change spots. Hizashi pushed the door open more and stepped out in a dark brown, incredibly soft robe. Virginia looked at it with a small frown. “Is there only one size?” She asked as she walked over. “Yeah, remember one of the questions was if either of us had a physical mutation to us. I’m thinking if there was any ‘extreme’ like someone small like Mineta-kun or large like Fat-gum or maybe with multiple extra limbs or wings, then there would be other options, but I think these are the basic one size fits most.” He explained. She nodded and walked inside, Hizashi releasing the door as she entered.

Virginia looked like she was practically being swallowed by the robe and had no hands much to the amusement of Hizashi who had the realization of why she had asked about size. 10 minutes later, their masseuse collected them. “Present Mic and Mori-san?” A lithe person asked as they parted the curtains that led out to the hall, their purple hair looked very feathery. “That’s us.” Hizashi said as he stood up followed by Virginia. “And please, either call me Mic or Yamada.”

“Wonderful, my name is Sora and my partner for your messages will be Aimi. If you both will follow me.” They directed and the two got up to follow. They passed several other rooms before entering a larger one where Aimi was already inside getting things ready. “Oh, hello. Welcome in. The tables are warmed, and the blankets are weighted. Have either of you had a massage before?” Aimi asked once the three entered the room. Both nodded, “It’s been at least 10 years since I last had one.” Virginia commented.

“Oh wow, it’s been a while, so let's not delay anything. We’ll step out and give you both a moment to get situated under the blankets, we’ll knock in a couple of minutes.” The two left and Hizashi turned his back to Virginia so she could get under first. She removed her robe and threw it on his head. A grunt of surprise followed by a whine came from him as he pulled the weighted robe off his head and hung it up.

Once she got settled on her stomach and adjusted the blanket to cover her lower half, she propped herself up in a way that still covered her breasts before she spoke, “I’m all good now.” Hizashi nodded and turned to check which bed she settled in. “Hey, are you fully nude or did you leave your underwear on?” Virginia asked before he began to undo his robe. “Flappin’ in the wind,” He grinned as he pulled on the belt and dropped the robe. 

“Ah, full moon!” Virginia playfully squawked as she dropped her face to the table. Hizashi chuckled as he hung his robe up and was about to get up when Virginia remembered her glasses. “Oh, can you place my glasses somewhere?” She asked as she pulled them off, looking at him now that details were lost. She could make out him pausing before his hand came into clearer focus and took them from her. “I’ll set them on a shelf in the corner.” He said as he walked past before returning and getting covered just as the knock came.

“We’re all good.” Virginia called and the door opened. “Wonderful. Then let’s get started.” Sora said as they walked over to Hizashi and got set up while Aimi came over to Virginia’s side. The two made a few adjustments so Hizashi and Virginia were in more comfortable positions before they began the massages. “Before I forget, I don’t recall there being any note or question for my quirk, but it is touch based on my upper body. Has a relaxing effect based on how stressed the person touching me is feeling.” Virginia informed before Aimi could touch her. 

“Oh, good to know. I’m sorry that that was forgotten. Once we’re done, I’ll make sure that that information is added to your file.” Aimi said as she smiled. Virginia nodded as she settled back in, and the massage began. Light conversation drifted over from Hizashi and Sora accompanied by the soft music in the room. Occasionally Aimi would ask Virginia a question and she would respond with short answers as she had pretty quickly fallen into a near meditative state. At some point they both flipped around once their backs were finished. 

Aimi seemed to focus the most on Virginia’s neck, shoulders, and calves which did make sense with her aerial silks putting the most strain on those points. The hour-long massage session seemed to go by in a blink for the two and soon enough Virginia was being lightly shaken awake by Hizashi who was back in his robe. Her glasses were in his hand awaiting her to grab them. “Thanks,” she said as she carefully sat up, keeping the blanket over her chest as she put them on. “No problem. Ready to head back to the retreat room until our facials?” Hizashi asked as he went to grab her robe.

Once he returned to her side, he turned his face away and held the robe open for her to slip her arms inside. She slid off the bed and pulled the robe on before poking him. “Let’s head back.” She announced and he opened the door. Outside was Aimi with two cups of water for them, “I’ll show you both back to your retreat for you to wait until your next session.” She said as she handed the cups over.

The walk back was silent and once they were alone, Virginia slipped away to use the toilet before she sat down next to the little Zen sand garden to play with it until the next treatment. Hizashi used the toilet after she was done and pulled out a hot towel once he sat down again next to her. “So, the facials are next followed by a treat at the salon for our hair and a mani-pedi after that.” He reminded, much to her amusement. 

“Wonderful....I fell asleep, didn’t I?” She asked after a moment. Hizashi snorted and nodded his head, “Definitely, turns out you lightly snore, like a kitten. Honestly surprised at just how many cat qualities you actually have. It’s funny that Shou pretty much got a human cat for a soulmate.” He said as he leaned back in his seat. “Well, we don’t want to make any cat-dogs here. You actually remind me of a husky dog.” Virginia grinned as she stopped messing with the sand and turned to the blond. 

“A husky? Why?” He was puzzled not understanding what kind of connection she was seeing. “Oh yeah, definitely. You have pretty eyes, lots of hair, a loud voice, and a very energetic personality plus the screaming. Hence, a husky... Actually, when I think of it, Izuku might also be a husky. Stubborn, talkative, loyal, friendly and active. Plus, his green hair is pretty distinctive like a husky’s coat.” Virginia said as she really thought about her answer.

In the soft, dim light of the room, Virginia could see a light darkening of Hizashi’s cheeks. He seemed to mull everything over as the curtains parted again and someone new looked inside. “Mic and Mori?” She asked, causing the two to stand. They followed her out of the room and once again down the hall to a different room for the facials.

The beginning process was much the same, but they were given wraps to put on before getting under the sheets on the beds. They did this at the same time but kept their backs to each other and then chatted as they laid down on their backs. Their facial technicians came back in and began. That session lasted 40 minutes before they were brought back to the retreat room to wait to be brought to the salon. When the next staff person arrived, they asked if the two wanted to return to the retreat after their hair or if they wanted to change now and just transition to the salon section for the remainder of their visit.

“Oh, that would probably be a better option. Can you give us a few minutes to get changed?” Virginia asked as she stood up as she did have more to get on. “Of course. I’ll be right out here for you once you both are ready.” The man said before he stepped back out of the room. Virginia went into the larger space that had the toilet in it while Hizashi went to the alcove that was for changing in. Both stepped out of their respective hidey-hole redressed and dropped their slippers and robes in the deposit spot to get cleaned. Together they exited the retreat to follow the man waiting.

It was definitely an abrupt change in the feeling of the facility from a zen spa retreat to a chicer salon, mostly white with gray or black accents as contrast. They were led over to a private room where they could hold their belongings and could change into the slippers for their pedicures. They also had silky white robes to wear that kinda continued their spa-like experience. 

“Wonderful, if you both follow me now, I’ll take you over to the chairs where your stylists are waiting.” The man guiding them then led the way over to where two new people were chatting as they waited. “Here we are, I hope you enjoy yourselves.” The man said before leaving. “Oh, Present Mic! Love your show. What are we doing for you two today?” One of the stylists spoke up once the man had left.

“I wanted to get a head massage and a deep cleanse refresh done.” Hizashi said as he stood next to the chair. The stylist looked to Virginia then, “I wanted to get a cut done along with a coloring. I wanted to get some red tones added to my hair. I haven’t had it like that in a long while and I’ve wanted to go back for a while. Also, my hair is wavy so it’s important to me to properly take care of it to maintain that, please.” She explained what she wanted.

“Excellent, then I will be your stylist. My name is Hikari, I specialize in color, so we’ll get the perfect red tone for you.” Hikari said as he gestured for Virginia to sit in his chair. The cap went around her before he went to grab a book of red hair samples so they could determine the best red tone for her that looked more like a red stain instead of red dye.

Hizashi looked at the remaining stylist, “I guess that means I’ll be your stylist. My name is Sevon. Let’s head straight over to the bowls and get started on the deep cleanse.” Hizashi nodded and squeezed Virginia’s shoulder lightly before following. Moments later Hikari returned, he and Virginia going deep into conversation to determine the right color. By the time the two decided and the color was applied, Hizashi’s head massage was finished, and the treatment was added to his hair, so he and Virginia sat together as their hair absorbed their treatments.

“How was your scalp massage?” Virginia asked as she sat under a dryer, foils covering all of her hair. “It was nice, I could actually feel tension releasing from my head, it was very strange.” Hizashi commented as he stretched out his legs. “Probably have that tension because of your hair looking like a cockatiel crest.” Virginia giggled and Hizashi made an affronted squawk noise leading to Virginia laughing fully instead of just giggles. She did try to keep it quiet out of respect to the other people in the space.

“Pretty bird,” She snorted as he huffed while crossing his arms, turning his nose up at her before looking away. This just continued her giggles until Hikari came back to collect Virginia to wash out the stain. Hizashi was collected about 10 minutes later to wash out the conditioning treatment in his hair. Once that was cleared, Savon brough Hizashi back over to the chairs and did a little trim as he had requested. Hizashi watched while his hair was dried as at least 3 inches (about 8cm) were cut from Virginia’s hair and layers feathered throughout. 

Hikari then used several different products which practically transformed Virginia’s hair as he explained what each did and how to use it. Once he was done and finished drying her hair, gorgeous waves and loose twisted curls framed her face. “ Oh wow! Hello sassy hair. God, I missed this. ” She exclaimed as she instinctively switched back to English in her surprise and joy. She lightly played with the stands and lightly turned her head side to side, causing the hair to bounce around in her face.

“Thank you so much Hikari-san! I’ve been trying for forever to get my hair back to this, but I could never figure it out. It’s almost been like 15 years since I’ve seen this.” Virginia’s voice was clearly in aw once she switched back to Japanese. “You look great. I liked the fluffy, but it's awesome to see it like this.” Hizashi added as his cape was removed as Savon finished his work. Hikari did the same for Virginia shortly after. 

“I am so glad I was able to help bring this back.” Hikari said while Savon flagged down the man that originally brought them over. “Hello again! If you both are ready, I’ll show you over to our technicians who will be doing your next sessions.” He said once he came to a stop. Hizashi and Virginia both stood and thanked their stylists again before following the man over to the large spa chairs for their pedicures.

Their remaining stay was just as enjoyable as the rest as they sipped on sparkling juice while their feet were treated, then chatted together as their nails were painted. Hizashi went with a more neutral/ clear polish while Virginia went with a more decorated nail with several colors. While she had the decorated hands, the two switched when it came to painting the toenails. Virginia went with a simple mint green color while Hizashi went with a holographic rainbow feeling, much to the amusement of Virginia and the nail technicians. 

Once their nails were completely dry, the two collected their belongings and made their way back to the lobby. “Welcome back! Did you two enjoy your day?” The original receptionist was still behind the desk when they returned, and she greeted them both warmly. “I loved it! I haven’t treated myself to some self-care like that in years and it was definitely needed!” Virginia exclaimed as the two came to a stop at the desk.

“It was really nice. I definitely plan on coming back soon-” “Maybe with one of the other two?” Virginia interrupted with a smile that was on the border of being playfully teasing. Hizashi blinked at her, momentarily stunned, “Yeah, definitely.” He said a little hesitant.

“Well, I know I would like to come back. You said previously I can get a membership badge that would give me access when I come alone?” Virginia shifted the conversation, leaving Hizashi wondering just who she really was indicating. If she really knew what he wanted and if Shouta might have already said something about it. By the time he zoned back in, Virginia was handed a brand-new card with her name, class, and photo. “Alright, with that all taken care of, are we charging the card provided at booking?” Watanabe asked, turning to look at Hizashi.

“Yeah, that one is all good.” He confirmed. “Wonderful, then the total is 1-” “Actually, let’s keep quiet about that. This is supposed to be a treat for her and if she finds that out, she will definitely insist on paying me back even after I explicitly stated I wanted to spend money today.” Hizashi interrupted very dramatically with a very bad stage whisper. This caused Virginia’s jaw to drop and both receptionists to giggle.

“Damn it, are you spending the equivalent of my potential paycheck?” Virginia asked, trying to get a look at the receipt that Hizashi was handed. “Of course not!” He said as he tucked it away in his jacket, out of her reach unless she wanted to look like she was groping him. The price was actually just a third of what Nedzu had initially told her as pay. But the day was still young, even if it was nearly 5pm (17:00), so he had more time to spend money at her dismay.

“Well, we look forward to your next visit! Have a nice day!” Watanabe said once she calmed down. The two smiled and said goodbye before bickering out the door. “Come on!” Hizashi whined as they walked out of the alleyway. “We can still get some shopping in tonight!”

“No, no shopping. We just had a super relaxing experience; I don’t want to do a bunch of walking after that. I just want to eat a big dinner and watch more movies.” Virginia said in a near defeated tone. Hizashi paused at this and thought it over as the two stood at the mouth of the alley. “Actually, that does sound really nice. Let’s get take-out from a nice place and crash in the common room to have a movie night.” He agreed. 

“You don’t like fish, right? Do you have any interest in trying sushi?” He then asked as he pulled out his phone to look up nearby places. “I just don’t want to waste anything if I don’t like it.” Virginia said softly as she watched the people around them walk around. “That’s okay. Oh, this place should have sushi but also other stuff too. We can get a sampling of a lot and you can try sushi without worry. If none of it looks good to you, I will happily eat it.” He spoke as he turned his phone to her so she could see what was shown on their website.

“That works.” She agreed and the two set off for the restaurant to get their dinner. Movie binge night consisted of remastered American movies from Virginia’s time. She did sample some sushi, determined that most still wasn’t really her thing, but it was less of a taste issue like she initially thought it would be and instead was a texture issue.

Movie night did have to come to a close and Hizashi left for his apartment as it was closer to his patrol routes that he had to do in the morning. Virginia went to bed, feeling warm despite being completely alone in the dorms. She knew if it was really needed, Hizashi would get to her. As she reflected on the day, she did realize that his suggestions for the day led to no opportunities to talk about his future relationship with Izuku. 

She sighed heavily as she looked at the cat plushie Shouta gave her. “Should I bring it up myself? Just casually ask him when he is going to ask Izuku out? Would that be too abrupt?” She questioned out loud and continued to mull the idea over as she fell asleep.

Chapter Text

The morning started on a foul foot, Virginia had inadvertently stressed herself out and added to the sushi she tried in varied samplings, her stomach gave her a very rude awakening as she rushed to the toilet. She hadn’t even had time to grab her phone before she went in for over an hour. When she finally surfaced, she gingerly crawled back in bed and pulled her phone from the charger so she could be entertained with mindless scrolling while she recovered.

She found a few text messages from Hizashi as he had started his patrol:

Good morning!

08:30 am

Are you still sleeping?

09:00 am

I guess you are still asleep, going to the spa must have really helped

09:15 am

Just stopped a purse snatcher

09:45 am

Ar you up now?

09:50 am

Hey, sorry. Stomach had an attitude this morning. Forgot my phone.

I’ve been up for an hour or so now.

Good morning.

10:00am

Are you alright? Do I need to come over?

10:03 am

No, you big baby. I’m fine.

Always have had stomach issues in morning.

I’ll be right as rain by lunch time

10:07 am

Fine

But let me know if you feel worse ok?

Are you still going to be up to join me tonight for my show?

10:10 am

Def. You just might have to get me.

Might be asleep by then, your show is at like 2 in the morning right?

10:15 am

Yup! I’ll maybe see you before then.

I’ll try to stop by after my patrol,

gtg

10:25 am

Virginia sighed as she relaxed more and was able to sit up as she flicked back to watch videos on yet another variant of Vine or TikTok from her original time. After an hour of doom scrolling, her stomach made one last upheaval before she was fine for the rest of the day. At 1:30, she emerged from her private dorm and wandered down to the common space kitchen to make something light. While she cooked, Hizashi called her to check in on how she was feeling.

“ Hey! How you feeling now?”

“Feeling better, finally up and getting some food in me.”

“That’s good to hear. Was it the sushi?”

“Only partly, I think. 

I was unintentionally stressing myself as I fell asleep.”

“Anything I can help with?” 

“Technically, but not right now”

“When we meet up tonight?”

“Yeah, I’m sure I’m just nervous about joining you.

I’m not much of a public speaker and even if it just you and  me.

I think I’m still gonna feel the effects of stage fright.”

“That’s fair. I promise it’s super chill and you don’t have to  talk.

If you are nervous. Just a hello would be awesome.”

“Got it. Are you still on patrol?”

“Just finishing up now. I have some paperwork to do,

Then I'm finally getting lunch.”

“Speaking of which, I better finish cooking here. I’ll see you later.”

“Alright, then I will see you later!”

“Bye-Bye!”

“Bye!”

Virginia smiled as she finally ended the call while she worked on the finishing touches of her lunch. Once she was satisfied with the results, she plaited her food and sat down on the couch to watch tv as she ate. One of the shows she got sucked into was doing a marathon as it led up to a special showing of a new 3-part episode arc. She happily settled in as she ate her lunch and relaxed for the rest of the day.

It was almost time for the new release when she realized it was time for dinner and she needed to use the toilet after not moving for hours. She scrambled quickly off to the restroom to take care of her bladder before making a quick dinner so she could watch without missing anything. She heard the tv go to commercial break as she quickly threw together a chicken sandwich and small salad before she rushed back to the couch to place her plate on the table before running back to the kitchen for a drink.

Mid pour, she heard the announcement for the special coming on and she rushed again to return to her seat just in time for the special to start. As the 2.5-hour special ran, she ignored when her phone received notifications beyond marking them as read so Hizashi wouldn't get worried. Her mind was fully captured by the show as she went for an emotional rollercoaster. Every surprise twist, every betrayal, close call, heartbreak, comedic streaks; all of it kept her all of her focus.

She was left screaming for more, pissed with how the special ended in complete dissatisfaction and left her wanting more. Which in hindsight was probably the goal of the special. The special was actually the season ending, stopping on a very dramatic cliffhanger. She huffed in anger as she unlocked her phone and took a picture of the now broken tv and sent it to Nedzu with the caption, ‘Tv was bad quality, or the pillows are ridiculously strong.’

Virginia left the room and took care of her dishes before heading to her room to take a power nap for Hizashi’s show tonight. She knew she would need the energy, or she would be at the weird stage of tiredness where she seems drunk and very giddy. It took a while, but she did manage to sleep as she was woken by Hizashi standing over her. “Good morning!” He trilled in a sing-song tone once he saw her eyes catch on him.

Virginia looked up at him through squinted eyes, for a few moments she forgot who he was and where she was. All she was processing was a male leaning over her in a non-threatening manner and his hair was a long blond curtain to the side of them both. The dim light of the moon reflected off the surface of the stands giving him an almost ethereal glow and she would have thought he was an angel if it wasn’t for the soft punk aesthetic he had going on.

The illusion broke more as she woke up fully and he handed her her glasses. “Morning? I guess?” She croaked out as she sat up and fixed her shirt as it got very twisted in her sleep. “Got a cat nap in?” Hizashi asked once she finally put her glasses on and got out of bed after he took a few steps back. “Yup, figured I would need it. I get giggly if I am tired enough, didn’t feel like possibly being in that state first time I go on air with you.” She said as she stretched out her limbs, shaking them to wake up more.

“First time? You think you’d be up for more?” Hizashi asked, a warm feeling blooming in his chest at the prospect of someone important to him actually wanting to come back on with him. Shouta never had time being underground and the only other person who he would have invited was Kayama, but she values her beauty sleep and wouldn’t join him.

“It depends on how this one goes. I’m usually more mentally active after noon so I have a tendency to still be up until 1 or 2 in the morning before I realize I should probably sleep. And it really is only because I think I should get to sleep, not because I feel like I actually need to at that point.” Virginia said as she walked around her room and grabbed a change of clothes.

Hizashi mentally stalled as he watched Virginia, without hesitation, strip to her underwear and change to a new outfit that looked more relaxed and lighter to go out in. “Um...” He vocalized, still very stunned. “What?” She asked, pausing with her arms in the sleeves of her shirt, posed in the motion of pulling the fabric over her head. “Should I leave?” He asked after several false starts. “I mean, you can if you want but you aren’t bothering me.” She said as she completed her movement and settled the fabric of the shirt around her. She looked back to him only to see he was still frozen in shock, gaping like a fish out of water.

“Seriously Hizashi, you’ve seen me in a bikini. It’s not that different. Now, if I was actually in my pajamas, then I would have asked you to wait outside.” She said as she grabbed her phone and shoved it into the pocket of the shorts she had on. “Oh... t-that’s fair. Just unexpected from you, I guess?” “From me? I mean I don’t have the same level of body confidence that Kayama has but I really don’t care if those I trust see me in a state of undress.” She said with a shrug as he followed her out of the room. 

The two quickly left at that point to head to the studio where he airs from. He gave her a mini tour of his agency as they made their way to the booth. “All right, here we are, pick any seat and put on a pair of headphones. We’re gonna do a more chill broadcast tonight as it's your first one. The monitors show when the mics are on or off, what song is currently broasted with the name of the band, and it also shows a tentative schedule I keep to when doing my show.” Hizashi explained as he got comfortable in his usual seat.

Virginia settled into the chair across from him as she pulled on her own headset, “Wow, that's actually a lot more straightforward than what I expected.” She stated as she looked over the schedule. “I do a lot of prep work during the week so things would run smoothly during the show.” Hizashi said as he fiddled with some paperwork before flipping a few switches and buttons. “Are you ready?” He asked as he just had to press one last button before the mics went live. 

Virginia leaned against the desk and nodded her head. Hizashi smiled before pressing and starting the show, “HEY! HEY! HEY listeners! It’s time for ‘Put your hands up radio’ with Present Mic! Tonight, we are gonna have a chill night inspired by the special guest with me! This rocking chick always has a cool head on her shoulders, please welcome in V-” 

“Serenity. It’s wonderful to be here, even if you had to actually come wake me up.” Virginia chuckled with a soft grin, Hizashi momentarily stunned at her interruption.  “Alright! We are gonna get right into the first songs of the day, then we’ll have a lovely chat with Serenity when we come back!” Hizashi said with a large grin as he pressed a couple of buttons, and the mics went dead.

He adjusted his headphones before leaning forward and looked Virginia in her eyes, “Serenity huh? Got your own code name now?” He said in a teasing manner. “I’ve always had a pen name when I do anything publicly. Mostly has been applied to my writings or art but I kinda panicked. Stranger danger was instilled in me very young and with all 3 soulbonds of mine being heroes adding to the fact I’m pretty sure I’m the only Virginia in Japan...I don’t want to be easily found by the general populace or criminals.” Virginia rattled off.

Hizashi blinked as he thought over her points. “Oh, yeah that's actually a really good point. I guess I was just so excited I forgot about that being something to take precautions for. I’m sorry.” He apologized as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Oh, no you’re fine. You’ve been busy all week, I can at least think of something like this.” Virginia said, dismissing his apology as being unnecessary.

“Oh! I didn’t mean to insinuate that you couldn't think of this, I jus-” Hizashi’s nerves must be a little skewed as he began to panic backtrack. Virginia reached across the desk and grabbed Hizashi’s flailing hands, the calming effect of her quirk quickly seeped into him as he took a deep breath. “I did think anything like that, I just said I can think of added safety measures for myself that might get overlooked since I have been living in the protected walls of UA.” She explained softly, a flash from the monitor caught her eyes, the song was just about to end and a new one wasn’t in the queue. 

“The song?” She prompted as she pulled away, Hizashi jumped slightly as he pulled back to turn on the mics again. “And we’re back, I hope you all enjoyed that first song Listeners, I know I certainly do. Now then, let’s get to know my dear friend Serenity, here. Mind telling the listeners how we met?” Hizashi challenged with a playful grin.

“Oh, that’s quite easy. My brother got a special acceptance to UA as a hero apprentice, and I was scouted for a potential job at UA. So, we met the first time I ever stepped foot in UA, in the staff lounge to be exact. You certainly caught my eye with your crest of hair.” She explained smoothly, grinning at the surprise that reflected in his eyes.

“That’s right! You hear that Listeners; Serenity is possibly joining the staff at UA and her baby brother is the first apprentice UA is taking on. If you listeners don’t know, a hero apprentice is different from a hero student like the majority of those learning to be a hero at UA. The difference lands in the level of immersion and often age.” Hizashi went into explaining.

“That’s right. For several reasons, my brother missed the opportunity to join any hero schools when he was a teenager entering high school. He was bedridden for weeks due to several injuries and the recovery time took months. The closest person with a healing quirk was just too far away and I couldn’t afford the costs of a home visit. So, he had to heal unassisted.” Virginia leaned against the desk, adjusting the boom arm of the mic in front of her so she didn’t hit it with her face.

“By the time he fully recovered, he was graduating high school. Principal Nedzu gave him the opportunity to prove himself after he had reached out to plead for his help to achieve his dream. When that approval came through to test his skills, we packed up and made the trip to UA. The rest is pretty much history, and we haven’t been back home since. A few things got shipped to us but everything else, we got rid of. Start fresh in a new city.” She continued to explain, amusement rising as she watched Hizashi’s jaw drop.

“Quite a journey to get here. But that is all the time we have at the moment, let’s give Serenity here a moment to breathe while you all rock out for the next hour with these awesome songs, before you all join us again and we chat more with Serenity.” Hizashi took back over as it was almost time for the next segment. The mics turned off and he pulled off his headset as he leaned back in his chair, still quite baffled.

Virginia giggled as she pulled her set off and placed it on the desk softly. “That is one hell of a way to describe the events that happened. Did you plan that out or just on the fly?” Hizashi asked as moved his hair back over his shoulder as it had fallen forward when he leaned against the desk while Virginia was talking.

“I am a writer Hizashi, of course I absolutely came up with that on the fly. I never plan out what I write. Maybe I have a rough idea of something I want to work on, but I just let things flow as they come, no pre-planning or anything.” Virginia started with an affronted tone before it dissolved into giggles.

“Well then, we have an hour before we go live again so do you want a tour of the agency?” Hizashi said as he stood up. “Sure, it’ll be cool to see where you disappear to when you aren’t at UA or on patrol.” She agreed and followed him out of the room. “Do you have something in place that makes sure the music doesn’t randomly stop?” Virginia asked as they left the booth and wandered out to the lounge room connected to the booth. 

“Definitely. I’m not the only one here this late at night. I have an assistant that helps keep the show running when I step away for any reason. I can be in the middle of a show, and I get a call specifically for me to help with. I have to leave as I am a Hero first.” He explained as they left the room and traveled back down the hall and entered the elevator. 

“Ah, hey there, Present Mic-san!” A man with bright blue hair greeted, when the elevator doors opened. Hizashi and Virginia stepped inside before the doors closed. “Oh, Hey there Iwabuchi-kun. Iwabuchi-kun, this is Serenity. She is my guest tonight.” Hizashi greeted back and introduced Virginia. “It’s nice to meet you Serenity-san.” “Nice to meet you as well Iwabuchi-san.”

The elevator came to a stop and dinged as the doors opened and Iwabuchi left the space. Hizashi and Virginia traveled down another floor before getting off. “Do you know that I’m not the only hero signed on at this Agency? There are several heroes here that have similarly themed quirks and specialties. One of the big departments is our call center.” Hizashi led the way down the hall to a hallway lined in glass. On either side were large rooms just filled with people answering phone calls, running around, and making calls.

“We are one of the emergency broadcasting stations in Japan that help deal with sending out hero summons to deal with a variety of issues. We also can call on medical, fire, or police presence.” He explained as they came to a stop off to the side, looking into one of the rooms.

“Like 911 in America?” Virginia asked, feeling a bit confused as to why they would do it like this. “Kinda? I suppose that this would have a similar feel but not to the same extent. Japan has 119 and 110, 110 is for police while 119 is for fire and medical. Here is really for emergencies when those lines are down or to help with natural disasters or devastating villain attacks.” Hizashi clarified as Virginia nodded along, observing more people work.

“This seems busier than what you explained it as.” She muttered as a couple of heroes and sidekicks ran past them. “You’re right. We also have a different type of emergency line. Specifically for mental health and domestic violence. These people are answering and responding to smaller scale emergencies, often helping children and teens when social services can’t remove them.” Hizashi explained as they spotted one section of the room grew still for a moment before one of the people solemnly got up and left the room. 

They left for a different room where a pure white light turned on above the door after they entered. Hizashi fell silent before leading Virginia away. “What was that about?” She asked softly once they reentered the elevator. “That section does return calls; they are suicide watch. Callers that had called previously that were struggling a lot and called several times from the same number get picked up by them. Each number is assigned to the same person each time unless the previous call things didn’t go so hot, and it’s decided that a different person should take over.” He explained as they rode back up.

“So, the phone operators get pretty close to the callers?” She asked after a silent moment. “Yeah. What we just saw was life taking too much. The light above the door has different colors to it. When a call is too much and the operator needs a breather, they can go into that room, select the color to indicate the reason it’s occupied.” He said as the elevator opened and they two returned to the lounge with the booth.

“That’s smart,” Virginia said gently as they got settled on the couch. “Is white for mourning?” She asked further as the two leaned into each other. “Yeah. It’s a lot more eye-catching to give the room more of a wide berth until the light is off.” He answered as he pulled out a remote which turned on the speakers in the room so they could listen to the music playing for the remaining 30 minutes.

“What do you think they were doing today at the camp?” Virginia asked to break up the solemn air around them. “Probably just hell. Shou really isn’t forgiving when it comes to this camp, and he actually has students there to attend. You know, there have actually been a few years where he had absolutely no students to teach, the largest about before this year was 7. Now he has a full 20 plus 2.” Hizashi said with a slowly warming enthusiastic smile.

“20 plus 2? Are you counting Izuku as one of the 20?” She asked as she looked up at him from her slouched position. “Yup. During the internships Shouta took on a kid from general education to train as an underground hero.” He explained. 

“Okay but what about the last one? What you said is only 21.” Virginia pouted as she sat up more to see a playful expression on Hizashi’s face. The man reached over and poked her side, causing her to squeak in surprise. “You, silly. He did offer to show you some things for basic self-defense.” Hizashi laughed. Virginia did a wonderful imitation of the surprised Pikachu meme from her 20’s, “He was serious about that?”

“Of course, he was, he doesn’t joke about safety, and he definitely wouldn’t have offered it if he wasn’t serious.” Hizashi said before standing up, the current song playing he recognized as the one he had set for the last one of the hours. “Time to head back in. You ready?” He asked as he held a handout to Virginia. She nodded and took his hand; he pulled her from the couch and the two reentered the booth.

Headphones were pulled on just in time for the mics to go live as the song ended. “Hey, listeners! Did you all enjoy the tunes? I know Serenity and I did as we had kicked back and vibed for that musical hour. We are bringing the conversation back in here to chat more with my awesome friend here.” Hizashi easily slipped into his radio persona as the music faded out and his voice took over.

Virginia took a calming breath as she leaned with her elbows on the desk, her microphone was perfectly positioned so Hizashi could still see her face. “Now, where were we before?” Hizashi met her gaze as he really did have to think back, she just tilted her head with a smile on her face. “Ah, right! You had just said you didn’t return to your home after your brother got the chance to test his skills at UA.”

“Yup. Due to his unique situation and with my potential job, Principal Nedzu gave us a dorm room on campus so my brother could be closer for his apprenticeship.” Virginia said calmly, her voice clear and strong as she spoke even if her heart was hammering. “That’s wicked awesome. Does it feel strange living full time there? I know I can certainly pull some long hours, but I do eventually leave.” Hizashi asked even if he knew how the campus felt after hours.

“Oh, it's fine. My home was previously pretty isolated, so I actually find it relaxing when everything goes silent. But I will say that I do enjoy the noise, I love the energy that UA has both during the night and day.” She explained slightly, Hizashi nodded along in agreement. “I feel that. Being a hero and a teacher is very rewarding but also loud and exhausting so I absolutely love teaching my students, but I also really enjoy when I can unwind from a day as I bask in the silence.” He chuckled.

“You know you’re an awesome person, right Mic? You are such a lively teacher and so dedicated to your classes. I know when I was going through school, I always hated English because of the teachers, but if any of them had been like you then I don’t think it would have been one of my worst subjects.” Virginia giggled and Hizashi blushed from the complement. 

“Well thank you for that! I really appreciate it!” “I’m glad to have met you Mic.” Virginia said suddenly, her tone catching Hizashi off guard. “Eh?” “I’m glad to call you my friend and I am even more thankful that you are in my brother’s life. Every day since coming to UA you have been absolutely amazing. Checking in on us to make sure we had everything we needed or wanted, willing to buy us whatever despite our constant refusal, your caring nature, the constant movie nights. All of it. You are amazing, honestly and I am so, so thankful you are part of our lives. More so that my brother has you in his life.” Virginia said in a strong voice, her gaze not wavering from Hizashi’s face. 

His eyes watering as her words sunk in, “I couldn’t imagine anyone better to be by his side.” She smiled warmly as she pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket and passed it to Hizashi. A single word was written on the folded paper:

Blessings

A strained snort came from him as he started to cry, covering his mouth with his hands and he cried over that little slip of paper. Virginia’s expression softened more as she again changed the tone of her voice, “Ah. It seems I broke him. Well then, listeners, thank you for tuning in this week. Please enjoy the remaining 3 hours of non-stop music. This has been Serenity with Present Mic on Put your hands up radio. Have a good night and a wonderful morning. Thank you for listening.” She said smoothly, she had to adjust the microphone’s position so she could finish talking and reach the button to turn the mics off at the same time.

Once she was done and the button pressed, which also triggered the music to continue, she was out of her seat and hugging Hizashi. He pulled her into his lap as he cried into her shoulder, hugging her close. She began to rub circles into his back, “Shouta said you’ve been trying since we got back to Japan to ask for my blessing to date Izzy.” She whispered and she felt him nod his head against her collar bone.

Virginia squirmed out of Hizashi’s hold and pulled on his hands to get him to stand. She removed his headphones and her’s before guiding him out of the booth and they collapsed on the couch again in the lounge. “Are- are you really sure?” He asked softly, clinging to her hand. 

“Of course, I am. I know Izuku has some level of hesitation in pursuing you because of the time difference. He knows that neither of you could really ever ignore the connection you had previously had once you two are in a closer relationship. He has had 10 years to have a disconnection with that version of him, but he recognized that you didn’t. Izuku doesn’t want you to feel uncomfortable with being in a more intimate relationship with him, so he hasn’t said anything even if he really wants it.” Virginia comforted softly.

“He does? He really hasn’t said anything to me because he doesn’t want to make me uncomfortable?” Hizashi asked, sounding a little hysteric. Virginia blinked a couple of times, a bit stunned and confused as to why he seemed almost giddy. “Yes,” She confirmed hesitantly. 

“ FUCK, damn it.” Hizashi cried out in frustration. “What?” Virginia asked as she leaned away from Hizashi as he let out sad chuckles, he was currently on an emotional rollercoaster that was giving her whiplash. He looked at her through his tear-drenched lashes, “That’s pretty much the same thought I was having. I don’t want him to feel uncomfortable with being in a relationship with me given our previous history as teacher and student.” He croaked out pathetically.

Virginia’s body released the tension that had formed at that confession. “I see communication being a thing for you two to work on in the future.” She muttered as she dropped her hands into her lap. 

“Look, I understand the hesitation there, I mean, I am at least 2 hundred years your senior, so I understand the strangeness you're trying to wrap your head around. But you both have been dancing around this for weeks now. Someone needed to take the first step at figuring out expectations and wants. You both have seen each other’s marks on the island, there probably would have been a good time to have the difficult discussion, if I'm to be honest.” She spoke as she reached out to Hizashi and gently rubbed circles on his back.

“Wha-” “Hush, Shouta and I had that discussion already and you know how emotionally constipated he is.” Hizashi snorted, feeling calmer slowly but surely. “Maybe it was something that could have waited but after how stressful that first night was, I felt it was better to say something. It wasn’t anything grand, but I think it was fitting for the moment. I think it was also because both of us were out of our comfort zones, being somewhere completely new surrounded by strangers and chaos.” She continued on, Hizashi still relaxing under her hand.

“Shou told me you two talked but he didn’t say anything on how it came up or what was said.” Hizashi added on as he slowly uncurled from his bent over form. “Oh, well I told him that I don’t like leaving things unsaid then I pulled him into a kiss. There was some other stuff too but that was the gist.” She said off-handedly like it wasn’t a big deal.

“You drop a line like that then kiss him? That honestly seems like a cheesy action romance scene in a movie, just missing the explosions.” Hizashi chuckled weakly. “I’m pretty sure there had been explosions, I mean it was after Izuku fought during the hostage lockdown.” She said with a shrug. “Damn that is smooth but corny.” He said as he whipped his face.

The two fell silent for a few long-drawn-out minutes. “Are you sure?” Hizashi asked, breaking the silence as he pulled out the scrap paper. “Am I sure? Hizashi, I wouldn’t joke about this kind of thing. What I had said is absolutely true. I am lucky to have you in my life as my friend. I couldn’t imagine someone more fitting to be his partner in life. And honestly, I think fate wanted you to be my brother, but I could only have one soul brother so, a soul-bonded Brother-in-law is just as good.” She comforted.

Hizashi started to cry and laugh as he pulled her into a hug. Small streams of tears fell from Virginia as they hugged for several minutes. Eventually though, they pulled away. “Come on. We can talk more about all of this once we both get at least 6 hours of sleep.” Virginia instructed as she got up and pulled Hizashi to his feet. 

Sometimes, he really does forget just how strong she is, so it's always very jarring when she displays that strength. “Okay, okay. Um, my apartment isn’t far from here. Let's just crash there.” He said as he led the way out of the lounge and eventually out the building. Quickly, but in a fashion that made it feel super slow, they made their way up to Hizashi’s apartment. It was on the 6th floor of a 9-floor modern building, so they took the elevator on up with how bone tired they both were.

Virginia dropped onto the couch while Hizashi quickly grabbed a blanket and better pillow for her before he went to his room to sleep. There was still a bubble of uncertainty in his chest, but he did manage to fall asleep from feeling emotionally drained from the talk they had already. Virginia had laid awake for a good 15 minutes before she was able to sleep. She had been running through possible conversations and answers for tomorrow because her mind wouldn’t let her do anything else yet.

Morning came with Hizashi finding Virginia half off the couch, her head on the ground, back on the couch and one leg thrown over the back. He had to suppress his laughter as he scrambled to get his phone and take a picture. Once the shutter went off, it was loud enough for her to wake up, she ended up falling completely off the couch and looked around frantically. “Wah?” She grunted as she finally spotted the familiar blob of color.

“Za-chi? Where’m’I?” She asked, her words slurred as she tried to wake up more. One of those moments where you sleep so hard you forget where you are. “Morning, you’re in my apartment.” Hizashi said as he walked over and helped her up, sliding her glasses onto her face.

Her hair was a mess, and a trail of drool was on her chin. “Sleep well?” He chuckled as she got resettled. She yawned wide, small beads of tears formed in the corner of her eyes while she stretched out the few kinks that had formed from sleeping that way. “I think? I don’t remember falling asleep or any dreams, so I guess I did.” She responded, still rolling her shoulders and neck, “Do you have any pain meds? How ever I slept last night left me with a pain in my neck.”

“Yeah, I'll get you something here in a bit. None of it can be taken on an empty stomach so breakfast first.” He informed as he moved over to the kitchen which was just on the other side of the half wall dividing the room. Virginia silently nodded as she pulled the blanket over her legs and just nestled into the couch. “Are you awake enough to talk now or should we wait?” She called softly. She could hear him fumble for a moment before it was silent. 

“Can we talk once we have breakfast in hand?” He asked, looking over his shoulder to her. “Of course, this talk is more for your comfort, not mine.” She clarified as she leaned against the arm of the couch. She watched him nod his head as he returned to cooking a quick breakfast. 10 minutes later, Hizashi returned to the couch carrying two plates. He passed one off to Virginia and it had a simple American breakfast, French toast and bacon.

Hizashi took a few calming breaths before turning to Virginia, she was calmly watching him as she chewed on a piece of toast. “Okay, so um... why the paper?” He started out. “Because I am a dork and thought of leaving it on your desk in the staff lounge in a picture frame. I got as far as making the little note and forgot it in my pocket. So, on the walk over I rediscovered the paper and decided just to give it to you during the show.” She explained. He nodded along silently as he chewed on his food.

A thought occurred to him, “It was in your pants pocket? But you changed clothes before leaving. I, very distinctly remember you stripping in front of me so casually.” Hizashi exclaimed, affronted. “I wore these pants on a different day and I just pulled them on out of ease of access.” Virginia dismissed as she cut up her French toast so she could take smaller bites.

“Okay, I guess that makes sense. But again, why give me a paper in general?” He again questioned. Virginia chewed on her food for a little bit before answering, “To give you my blessings, physically. A reminder not to second guess things but because you worry, I don’t approve. Like a positive affirmation someone might write on a sticky note.” She said as she nudged his leg with her foot. 

“Oh,” Hizashi said lightly. “Okay, next question then. Why in general, like is it because of the soul bonds?” He asked for more clarification. “No, honestly, I do think you two go well together. You are very supportive and warm. You have a big heart, a sharp mind, and a thriving passion for what you do in life. Honestly,” She paused as she placed her empty plate on the coffee table in front of them. 

“You both are consenting adults with a past that in my mind is equivalent to former coworkers in a supervisor and a subordinate now wanting to date after both left those positions. Yes, there had been a significant age difference between you two for like months of you actually knowing him. Yes, you had a level of authority over him that is considered grooming if you did have a more intimate relationship with him.”

“But that isn’t the situation from a legal point of view now, it's more of a mental hang up you both have out of respect for the other’s comfort. You both are adults. There is a 5-year age gap. You aren’t his teacher; instructor maybe, when he is officially an apprentice, but I know English isn’t one of the remaining subjects he needs to complete. You both want each other, so the relationship would be mutually wanted. You already have my blessings. You have proven to me that you would be kind, respectful, loving, and involved.” Virginia rattled off, counting on her finger different points. 

“Your soulbond might help make things move faster but I believe that you two would have ended up in a relationship regardless. I think this, based on my own experience with how quickly I have connected with you, Shouta, and Izuku, and from my research. Soulmates and soul bonds didn’t exist in my time.” The two shifted into more comfortable positions, Hizashi kicking his feet up on the table, avoiding the dishes, Virginia stretching her legs out across his lap.

“I’m sure if it was anyone else that I had found in my forest as injured like Izuku was, I would have called for an ambulance. There was a large enough clearing where my house was to get a helicopter out. I could have done that and done away with the stranger I had no connections with. Maybe a police investigation would have happened, but I doubt I would have had to pay anything. But I did none of that. I personally tended to him for weeks while he recovered from all his injuries. I helped him adapt and heal.” She explained more, leading Hizashi to understand what she meant more.

“I, at most, keep a hospitable connection with strangers. But I pretty much instantly took Izuku under my wing. I was comfortable with you and Shouta from the first moments we met. When I meet new people, I’m pretty reserved and quiet. I don’t stand too close or display too much of my own personality. It usually takes several weeks of everyday encounters.” She informed Hizashi and he looked at her, blinking slowly in surprise.

“Really? You are worse around other people? Wow, I honestly thought what I was seeing the first time was how you are in general.” Hizashi exclaimed, “Actually, I thought you were going to try fighting Vlad that first day.” The two chuckled in amusement, reflecting back on the first few days. “Well, what about you? You looked ready to fight the world when Izuku revealed his tragic backstory. You did growl.” Virginia pointed out. Hizashi blushed, “No comment.”

“Anyways, I wouldn’t fight a hero outright. No way I could win against any of you.” Virginia agreed, nodding dramatically with her arms crossed. “True, you probably don’t have the skills to fight outright,” He also nodded along until it clicked, “Wait, outright? You think you could if you didn’t need to fight outright?” “Yup, I have a lot of free time and Izuku to bounce ideas off of.” Virginia nodded, a Cheshire grin spreading across her lips with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

“Save us all if you two team up for chaos.” Hizashi whispered in a teasing but sincere tone. “I promise that you and Shouta will inevitably get sucked into said chaos when it happens.” Virginia mimicked the tone back, just not in a whisper like he had done. The mood had definitely been lifted but Virginia just had a few more things to get out.

“I can understand your hesitance. Me giving my blessings isn’t my way of saying to jump right into a closer relationship. Don’t get me wrong, I will shed my introverted-ness to relentlessly tease you both once you two do get together and I’ll pull Kayama into it with me.” She declared, pointing a finger in his face. He went cross-eyed as he stared at the finger. Her hand dropped as she continued to talk.

“But I want you two to feel like you can accept the relationship without fear of another person judging you. I want you two to go at the pace you are comfortable with. If that means you jump in bed with him immediately then fine, if that means it will be several more months of pining and dancing around the subject, then fine.” Hizashi stared at her in stunned silence, blushing as she talked about the two extremes of pacing. Virginia did pause once she registered his expression, snickering lightly before continuing.

She sat up, pulling her legs from his lap as she leaned into his personal space, “I don’t give a damn how long it takes to be official, but you better believe that you are my brother from this point on. I want to see both of my brothers happy.” “O-officially? Like when we start dating?” Hizashi asked hesitantly as he did back away as much as he could without falling over.

“Well, yes but no. Like the now old song by Beyoncé: ‘ If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it.’ Once you two are married and you are officially my brother-in-law!” A fire was practically lit in Virginia’s eyes as she grabbed Hizashi’s shoulders, his face went beat red and the two fell over. “You two are my dorks, now and forever.” Virginia mutters against his chest as he just absorbed in her quirk’s effect. His flaming cheeks slowly cooled as he reflected on all of her words.

“How do I even tell him?” Hizashi asked softly, a steady warmth radiated from deep in his chest as the final proverbial weights lifted from him, his eyes watering as he wrapped his arms around Virginia who had yet to get off of him. The two laid there on the couch just comforting each other.

“Well, you could do what I did. Unintentionally dramatic, kissing right after a scary fight standing amongst the carnage from the battle. Or something simpler. Like, a hug can convey a lot by the intensity and duration. Or you can be direct. Or not be the one to make the first move. Many options.” She answered after a few minutes of thinking.

“I doubt I will be able to pull off what you did but... a hug would be easy enough, grounding.” Hizashi agreed. “Good, I hope to god there isn’t an opportunity for at least 4 years to confess in the middle of a battlefield.” Virginia said as she quickly sat up and returned to her previous position. Hizashi sat up as well, “Unfortunately, that kind of carnage happens at least three times a year here in Japan. Usually at the scale you’ve seen but there is at least 1 a year that is devastating. Like at least 1000 injured to different degrees and at least 3 casualties.” He confessed grimly.

A somberness filled the air around them as they sat in silence, reflecting on different things. Virginia was growing uncomfortable with those negative thoughts, so she stood up with vigor. “It got too moody. I can’t believe I am saying this, but we need some retail therapy.” She exclaimed as she turned to face Hizashi. The Blond’s eyes snapped up to meet her’s, eyes wide as excitement rose. “I won’t even fight you on anything, besides a few restrictions.” 

If Hizashi had a tail, it would be wagging at this point. “Really?! Okay, okay! What are the restrictions? I need to know to maximize the trip!” Hizashi was practically bouncing, excited since she has consistently fought him on how much he was spending. “Nothing extremely sexy or revealing for me, no makeup besides lip and eye products, and no leather, clothing or accessories.” She declared and Hizashi grinned widened, “Only three? Not going to set a budget?” “Nope, that is something I had fought against before so not this time.”

Virginia squealed as she was lifted into an excited hug and spun around. “Perfect! Let’s go then!” Hizashi said as he practically was about to just run out of his apartment. “WAIT! Shoes! Phone! Keys! Wallet! Make sure you have those!” Virginia shouted and Hizashi came to an abrupt halt. “Right. Right,” He placed her back on the ground. “I will grab those. Do you want to swing back to UA to get changed?” “Why bother, we’re going clothes shopping aren't we?” She said as she went and pulled her shoes on after making sure her phone was with her.

“Right but um, what about fresh...” He asked, gesturing at her. It took a few moments for her to figure out what he was asking. “Oh, that.... I’ll just shower when I get home. It’s not going to kill me for going longer without changing my underwear. Plus, I wasn’t feeling good yesterday, remember? I didn’t get properly dressed for the day until 1pm so it hasn’t even been a 24-hour period yet.” Virginia explained.

“Okay, far more information than necessary.” Hizashi muttered as he walked over to pull his boots on before the two left for the mall. The two were cracking jokes and laughing as they walked together to the parking lot. Inside Hizashi’s car, the two instantly rolled down the windows and rocked out to the radio as they made their way to the mall. Finding a parking spot was a little bit of a challenge but once found the two were power walking into the building.

Virginia wrapped her hand around Hizashi’s hand, he looked at her a bit confused. “Crowds give me anxiety plus I am short and fast. Remember at Disney? I will get lost if I am not tethered in some fashion.” Virginia pointed out as they entered the mall. 

“Fair. But this does mean I can lead you wherever I want.” Hizashi grinned as they were walking along the main section of the mall. “Carrying would be easier and less likely for me to fall while keeping up with you. As long as you don’t lead into the men’s restroom or a sex shop, I don’t care today.”

“ I wouldn’t lead you into a sex shop! What kind of person do you think I am?” Hizashi asked in a whisper, switching to English to make it a little harder for people to overhear them. “ Someone with desires and unfulfilled fantasies! ” She returned as they entered a heated staring contest on a bench that they had quickly found. “That’s it. The expensive store first!” He said abruptly as he hoisted her up and stalked off to the tech store. They didn’t emerge until an hour and a half later, arms empty but his bank account lighter as he bought a high-end computer, monitor, drawing tablet, laptop and gaming set for her.

All the items were set to be delivered to UA in the next few hours. Virginia left looking like a husk of herself. Hizashi didn’t hold back in his spending, and she really had to bite her tongue against dissuading him. Only answering questions regarding the aesthetic of each piece for what she liked. “You are evil sir.” She muttered. Hizashi snickered as they walked to the next store.

By the time they emerged from the mall, night had fallen and the two were starving. “Let’s go to a bar!” Hizashi suggested as they loaded his car up with all the bags they had collected. “I don’t really drink.” Virginia sighed as she rolled her shoulders, finally free from the weight of those damn bags. She very much regrets her choice today.

“You don’t have to drink! It’s more for the ambiance, the vibe as you say.” Hizashi explained as they got in the car and drove off. He traveled down the streets to the closest restaurant district. The bar he was planning on going to didn’t have direct parking, so he stopped in the closest public parking lot and the two got out.

Even at the parking lot, Virginia was able to feel a palpable energy and a wonderful array of smells in the air. Her mouth watered as she followed Hizashi down the street, the bar Hizashi was aiming for was 2 blocks away, so they had a bit of walking to do. The two walked side by side as the sidewalks were large and they could easily do that. They chatted as they moved as quickly as they could, urged on by hunger. 

“Alright, alright. I would be willing to try it, but and this is a big but, you can’t have any video, audio, or image record that I ever did it. Including from Nedzu, so you have to convince him to have none of it present during the time I am doing that.” Virginia bargained, finger poking his arm to further drive it in.

“Fine! Once I convince him you are going to do it then!” Hizashi agreed, proud he managed to get her to agree. “I mean, really. I don....” Virginia stopped abruptly with Hizashi, the two frozen as they watched as medium arcs of green lightning danced erratically over her skin. They stared wide eyed as her hand as the civilians around them gave them a wide berth from worry, thinking she was losing control of her quirk.

The two completely ignored their surroundings as they made eye contact. They both saw fear in each other’s eyes, they’re hearts began to race, and then they were off. Virginia was practically carving a path with Civilians rushing to get out of her way and the unknown quirk effect. Hizashi was hot on her tail, having taken a moment to pull out his phone to call Nedzu before following. 

“Yamada-kun, why are you calling so late?” 

“You need to tell me where the camp is!”

“Are you running right now?”

“Where is the camp Nedzu?! She is arcing like crazy. 

Something is wrong!”

“I see. I’m sending the directions to your phone now. 

You have a car nearby, correct?”

“Yes! We’re heading there now.”

“Good. I’ll be contacting police and emergency services here in a moment with the same information. Keep me informed when you can.”

“Yes sir.”

The phone call ended just as Hizashi overtook Virginia in the parking lot. Hopping into the car and putting the coordinates into his map for directions. Virginia jumped in and was buckled the moment Hizashi was peeling out of the lot and down the street. Hizashi very much took several road laws as suggestions as he gripped the steering wheel. Arcs continued to come from Virginia as her leg bounced. 

They were still 30 minutes away at the current speed Hizashi was going. Who knows what will happen in that time span. They can only hope everyone is okay. That this was just Izuku going all out for training only, but deep inside the two knew that this wasn’t that. Deep in their souls they could just feel the dark anger radiating from Izuku. 15 minutes away, the arcs stopped, and Virginia closed her eyes in fear, hoping and praying that they stopped because the danger was over and not because Izuku died.

She reached an unsteady hand over to Hizashi, his knuckles bone white as he gripped the steering wheel. “Breath please. Get us there safely, Zashi.” She whispered and she saw the car’s speed drop a bit. He was taking slower breaths trying to do as asked. Trees still whipped around them. They came around a bend and could see black smoke blocking out the stars ahead of them.

Chapter Text

A pillow violently smacked against Izuku, startling him awake. He watched with tired eyes as Aizawa did the same thing to Hizashi but only touched Virginia’s shoulder to wake them up. “Get ready,” Was Aizawa’s morning greeting to the three before he walked off to take a shower. Izuku got up after untangling himself from his blanket and stumbled away to his room, to grab his bags and his change of clothes.

In his room, Izuku quickly grabbed a pair of jeans, a gray shirt with the original plaid overshirt he arrived with, and a change of underwear and sock. He shoved those into a plastic bag, collected his bags for the trip, and returned to the common area to drop off his bags. He was more awake on the return, dropping his bags off next to Aizawa’s before passing the man into the showers. He had spotted Ginna and Hizashi half asleep still on the couches.

His shower was brief and refreshing but he was left momentarily confused when he didn’t see anyone or his bags in the common space. Izuku just shrugged as he quickly pulled on his shoes and ran out of the dorms to the front where Aizawa had instructed everyone to gather for the buses. 

Izuku lightly jogged on his way over. He knew he still had some time to get where he was going and with any luck, 1-B would have already loaded or had already left by the time he arrived. He wasn’t sure how he was feeling with that class learning about his changes. Especially Monoma, his very eccentric, holier-than-thou attitude really rubbed him the wrong way and like Mineta, he wasn’t sure if he would punt the teen or not if they interacted.

He and Aizawa walked through the gates at the same time, Izuku walked over to where Hizashi and Virginia were. “Morning,” He muttered as Virginia quickly climbed up his back and hung from his neck. He closed his eyes against the relaxing presence she carried and her quirk. Her soft sleepy breaths in his ear helped him keep a level head as he watched his classmates. Momoma just got chopped on the neck before he and his class loaded on their own bus.

“Students!” Aizawa’s voice rang out, drawing everyone’s attention. “Get on the bus,” he instructed and Iida, with Yaoyorozu’s help, loaded everyone on the bus. Virginia shifted on Izuku’s back, kissing his cheek before dropping off. “Don’t die,” was uttered before she wandered over to Aizawa to talk with him. Izuku leaned against the wall right next to Hizashi, their arms brushing against each other. The two quietly snickered as they watched Virginia very suddenly and sharply pull Aizawa down to her level. She was definitely asking something from him before he stood back up.

“You are planning on keeping her company right?” Izuku asked softly as he watched the two soulmates interact. “Yeah, of course. I’ve even invited her to join me on my show while you guys are away.” Hizashi said with a grin and Izuku smiled back as he pulled Hizashi into a side hug. “Thanks, I know she likes it when she is alone but I also know she never sleeps well when she knows no one is near,” Izuku stated as he was pushing how long his hug was before it moved into territories outside of being friendly.

Aizawa and Virginia parted ways, she approached the two at the wall while Aizawa stood next to the door of the bus. “Mori! Get on or you’re running there!” The grumpy man shouted. Izuku jolted as he pulled away from Hizashi and the wall, meeting Virginia for one last hug before he ran over to the bus. Aizawa narrowed his eyes at him aggressively, prompting him to get on quickly.

There were two single seats at the beginning of the seats behind the driver on either side of the aisle. Shouta sat behind the driver while Izuku dropped into the opposite seat. Izuku waved to his friends and saw that there was an open seat next to Iida but he knew that it would be cramped if he sat with him. The bus pulled away and was traveling down the road before Aizawa turned to talk to the class.

Izuku turned to look as well only to see practically mayhem behind them. “Alright, we will be stopping once in an hour for bathroom breaks.” Aizawa tried to say, but his voice went unheard. He sighed before turning back, his eyes caught Izuku’s and the green-ette grinned at the man. “So, we can stretch our legs after an hour? Man, a road trip back then was like 8 hours and maybe we will stop once for lunch and use the toilet. Stopping after an hour is lame.” He teased Aizawa.

The grump just rolled his eyes as he leaned back in his seat, tucking his face more into his scarf, arms crossing his chest. Izuku turned to his own window and just watched the world go by. He listened to the ruckus behind him, fondly enjoying the noise. He definitely felt that something would have to be seriously wrong for this group to be silent, Aizawa had to know that too and internally be glad for the noise. 

An hour later, the bus was pulling off the road to an overlook of a forest. Everyone clambered off the bus with enthusiasm, finally stretching their legs and enjoying the view. Izuku came to a stop next to Aizawa as he had spotted the only other vehicle in the area. The last car he had seen was at least 15 minutes ago. “Aizawa-san, is that the guest teacher?” Izuku asked as he looked over to his sister’s soulmate.

Aizawa just stared at him for a moment before nodding slightly. Mineta rushed up to Aizawa as the car doors opened and a female voice called out, “Hey, Eraser!” “Long time no see.” He responded with a polite bow in the car’s direction. Two women stepped out dressed in costumes and began a very energetic introduction.

“Lock on with these sparkling gazes!” The one dressed in pink said. “Stingingly cute and catlike!” The blue followed up before the two stuck a formation pose with the child behind them. “Wild, Wild, Pussycats!” The two said in unison. A child stood off to the side watching them flatly. “These two are part of the pro-Heroes, Pussycats. They will be joining us for training.” Aizawa clarified for the confused voices he was hearing.

Surprised murmurs filled the air, and Izuku had a grin forming on his face. “Oh, wow! Gin would have loved to have been here. I remember telling her about the wild, wild Pussycats! How they’re a veteran team specializing in mountain rescue. I wonder what techniques I used when I helped with search and rescues are still used today. Anyway, if I remember correctly they've been working for 20 years now!”

The blue one rushed at Izuku with a yell, “I’m still 18 at heart!” She tried to grab his face in her massive paw gloves but he dodged her strike, a laughing grin on his face as she huffed at him. A few stunned giggles came from the class before they all greeted the two heroines. Once Pixie-bob stopped chasing Izuku, Mandalay gave the class a run down.

“Alright, everyone!” Mandalay, the one in pink, called. She pointed off in the distance from the railing along the cliff edge. “We own this whole stretch of land. You all will be staying and training at the foot of that mountain over there.” She grinned at the class as her words quickly sunk in. “Huh? Then why did we stop here?” Uraraka asked, her voice laced with worry as the shock rippled through the class.

Someone yelled for them to all run back to the bus. As the students stampeded away from Mandalay and to the bus, Izuku activated Float as he stuck close to Aizawa just in case. “It's 9:30 a.m. right now. If you’re fast maybe around noon? kitties who don’t make it by 12:30 won’t get any lunch!” The brunette cat called and Izuku watched in wonder, curious as to how exactly their tails were moving so fluidly. Were there sensors in place that cause it to twitch? Like those cat headphones, he saw when he was living in the past.

“Sorry, ladies and gentlemen. Training camp,” Aizawa began to talk as the students rushed past him, Pixie-bob dropped down in front of them all, cutting off their escape and activating her quirk. The land stirred and rose, sweeping them all away with disbelieving yells. “...has already begun.” Aizawa watched as the mass majority of his class went over the edge and plummet to the ground below.

Mandalay looked over the edge and called out to them as a reminder and final warning. “Hey! Since it’s private land you can use your quirks as you wish! You have three hours! Come to the facility on your own two feet! After getting through...the beasts' forest!” “Man, that was wicked.” Izuku comments from next to Aizawa, floating 3 inches above the ground. “Get down there, Mori. You don’t get to slack off.” Aizawa glared at Izuku.

He was about to whine when Aizawa glared at him with his quirk, abruptly causing Izuku to land harshly. “I’m assessing you from this point on. I want to see just what you are capable of doing. Go at your own pace. Not the pace of the class.” Aizawa gave a final warning and Izuku nodded before quickly bounding over and jumping over the edge. He spotted a massive beast emerge from the forest right before Mineta. Izuku pushed off from the cliff face and barreled into the beast, causing an explosion of dirt. 

The next beast rose and Bakugou, Iida, and Todoroki were the first to attack with Izuku following with the final blow. Izuku stood off to the side as the class came to an agreement to work together in order to get through the forest. The next three beasts came charging and Izuku watched in a tree as the class worked together to destroy the dirt beasts. He rose into the air to check how far they were and what direction they needed to go.

“Damn,” He hissed under his breath as he saw how far it was. “This is gonna take all day.” He grumbled as he landed back down on a large tree branch and saw the beasts go down. Aizawa’s warning came back to him, sharply. “Hey, guys?” Izuku called out during a lull in activity. Several heads snapped up to him right away while others had to search. “Sorry, but Aizawa said I had to go through this solo. So, I’ll see you at the facility.” He informed them. 

Several whines of how that’s not fair rose up but Izuku just smiled apologetically before activating Black whip to impersonate Aizawa or Sero and swung away through the trees. More called out after him and a threat from Bakugou was clear in his ears before he was just too far away. He dropped to the ground and just ran on foot, keeping focused on what way was forward.

Several beasts came at him, smaller but faster and more durable. Izuku smirked as he activated Black whip in order to pull all of his attackers in front of him so he could deliver one powered-up punch to them all. The beasts might have more durability but Izuku doubts that Pixie-bob was made aware that he is equivalent to All Might’s strength in his prime days, as the beasts disintegrated instantly from the force.

If anyone was to have watched him after that point, they would probably be having nightmares about how he chose to move through the forest. Izuku was using Black whip to quickly pull him forward so he could avoid flying into trees. Float might essentially give him flight but it still isn’t great with forward momentum and changing direction in an instant. So, using these two elements of his quirk, Izuku was able to travel quickly and attack efficiently while looking like some kind of monster that had web-like limbs that moved with the fluidity of tentacles.

Izuku was just starting to grow hungry as he saw the trees thinning ahead of him. He stopped using Black whip and just glided through the trees and out into the clearing. Izuku spotted Aizawa sitting on the steps of the building but he was the only one in sight. “You beat the Pussycat’s time,” Aizawa said in greeting as Izuku came to a stop a few steps away from him. “The trees made maneuvering actually easier for me,” Izuku admitted as he sat down next to the grump. 

“Eraser! Lunch is ready, you are coming in...” Pixie-bob stopped short, causing Mandalay to bump into her teammate and cut off her sentence. The two women blinked in surprise to see Izuku already there. “Is there enough for me too?” Izuku cheekily asked as he grinned at the two. They nodded slowly together and the two males got up to follow them inside. The other two members of the Pussycats were waiting with class 1-b inside the dining hall where lunch was ready to be eaten.

“Who are you?” Momoma asked sharply once Izuku entered the room, trailing after Aizawa. Vlad looked up after telling his student to quiet down. “Right, I guess class B wasn't made aware of me,” Izuku muttered as he looked to Aizawa for confirmation. He received a nod before he turned back to the sister class. 

“You all most likely recognize me but mentally don’t want to accept it. I was the same kid from class A that kept shattering his arm during the sports festival. Maybe you have heard how Midoryia Izuku disappeared during the impromptu lessons for interacting with the public following the internships. Well, turns out time travel was involved and a week later I returned after living out 10 years of my life. So, I was Midoryia Izuku, Deku, part of class 1-A, age 15, with an unfortunate habit of breaking my arms. Now, I am Mori Izuku, Sage, UA apprentice, age 26, now with far less arm breaking.” Izuku introduced himself in a serious tone, even if his words weren’t as serious.

“You were gone for 10 years?” Someone asked, Izuku didn’t know who it was mostly due to the time travel. “Yup fell through a portal, had a very rough landing in the year 2022, and then lived there in the past for 10 years before I saved my sister and we fell through a portal again and ended back in this time a week later. I’ll admit it’s been an adjustment but Principal Nedzu has worked with me so I can still become a hero. That’s why I’m here. Class A is already doing a training challenge and I am the first one back.” Izuku provided more information.

“What’s your guess for how soon they will get here?” Aizawa asked as he got settled at a table where the other adults and the kid sat. Izuku walked over and sat next to him given the empty space. “Probably not for several hours now. They were working great together but most likely overspending their energy and quirks, given that they are fighting and navigating with no quick access to food or water. I remember when I was 19, Gin made a bet with me. If I can make it to the waterfall in the forest around our home with only a knife and my quirk, then she would take me to Disneyland, which was a large cost to us then.” Izuku explained as he served himself some food, pausing to take a drink as he was pretty thirsty after all that work.

“Did you go to Disneyland?” Pixie-bob asked since she had been invested in his story and felt disgruntled about the stop. “Nope, 2 days after I set out, Gin pulled up on our ATV to collect me. I hadn’t even made it to the waterfall before she had to rescue me. I got lost.” He said with a shrug and a chuckle. “Funny thing about it, I overshot the waterfall and was several miles northeast from my goal.” 

“When you said just a knife and your quirk, do you mean you brought no food or water with you?” Vlad asked, baffled. “Yup. The challenge was to live off the land and make it to the waterfall on foot which usually takes less than a day one way. If I had been successful then I should have been home by noon. We didn’t return home until close to Midnight as Gin did have to search for me.” Izuku said before he took a few bites of his lunch, stomach close to sounding like a whale’s mating call. 

“Was she blindly searching for you? If I remember correctly, back in the early 2000s, quirks weren’t around.” Mandalay asked after a few minutes as she could see just how hungry the younger one was. He nodded along for a moment so he could swallow his food before answering. “Correct. She had me wear a GPS tracker to give a general idea of where I am. The reception for the exact location was spotty that remote. So, she knew at least that I was northeast from where I was meant to be.” Izuku explained before silence fell over the table with the heroes.

After lunch, Izuku helped clean up while Vlad took his class off to do some light training before dinner. Izuku was given a tour of the space before he went to collect his bags from the bus, tempted to take everyone else’s but decided to leave it for the class after Aizawa glared at him once he tried to touch them. “Since you arrived several hours before the rest of your class, we’ll run you through the quirk assessment from the beginning again. See where you are now.” Aizawa said once Izuku returned to the lounge where he was waiting.

Izuku nodded his head and the two of them left the building to the clearing outside to do the tests. The first test was the ball throw, “Your last score was 705.3 meters. Let’s see where it lands this time.” Aizawa said as he tossed Izuku the ball. “I know these have read distance but does it do like coordinates? Like if I really threw this with all I can, and it goes sailing, there is potential that it flies for a long while until something else stops it. Like, I’m pretty sure I will hit a building regardless of how remote I am.” Izuku asked, worried and rambling.

Aizawa sighed before answering. “Nedzu had a similar thought so these will stop registering distance the moment it collides with anything and it bounces. All to reduce potential property damages.” Izuku snorted as he gently tossed the ball in the air repeatedly. “You know, it would be funny if the ball did hit someone. Like a villain currently in the act and responding heroes and or police have an issue with stopping them, when a random baseball knocks the villain out cold.” Aizawa quipped a small grin at the thought before clearing his expression.

“Throw it already.” He grumbled and Izuku nodded. “Give it your all but don’t worry Virginia.” He instructed as he shifted in his stance. Izuku again nodded and pulled his arm back as he powered up to throw. He raised the percentage to just over 50 percent before throwing like he had been shown by John when Izuku had joined the rescue fire department’s basketball team for that one year. Izuku threw the ball like a professional baseball player and a sonic boom caused both men to flinch back from surprise.

They both stood there in shock as the ball quickly vanished from sight. Tiger popped his head out to see what happened but neither outside noticed as they waited for the reader to respond. After 4 minutes they decided to continue the tests while they waited. They moved on to the grip strength test using the reader. Once again, Aizawa clarified that Nedzu had the machine built with All Might’s strength in mind so the device didn’t break when Izuku squeezed.

The device had two readings showing up, 17.5 tons (35,000 lbs) or 15,876 kg. Izuku made a faint ‘huh’ noise before they shifted to the next test of the 50-meter dash. Aizawa pulled out a speedometer instead of a stopwatch. Izuku looked at him baffled before Aizawa pointed out where the marker was. Izuku made his quick dash and returned to see Aizawa pointing the screen of the reader at him. A flashing 83 m/h greeted him. 

“Oh, I guess that’s why you used a speedometer instead,” Izuku said lamely. “Yes, so this also means we won't bother with the side steep or long jump and it would be a fair assessment to say that you can travel far in the 6 minutes I would give you for the distance run. I’ve already seen your flexibility and heard how many sit-ups you do in a day when I’ve come across you and Virginia training some days.” Aizawa said as he recorded some more information.

The two sat down on the steps again as they continued to wait for the ball to register. Nearly 12 minutes after it was thrown, the device beeped. “240 km,” Aizawa said flatly as the two stared at the small screen. “You never did say if there were coordinates,” Izuku muttered, trying to figure out where the ball might have landed. Aizawa tapped on the screen in a few spots before a map popped up. “Looks like it is somewhere in Kanazawa.” “The other side of the country..... Damn. I wonder if it hit a building.” Izuku mused before silence fell between them.

“I’m going to take a nap,” Izuku said sharply. Aizawa nodded, “I’ll probably do the same.” The two clambered up from the stairs and walked inside. Aizawa disappeared into his room while Izuku just flopped on the floor without any futons and slept. Wondering what Ginna and Hizashi were up to.

At 5:30 pm Aizawa kicked Izuku’s foot to wake him up. “They should be arriving soon. Get up, you’re helping make dinner.” He grumbled as he wandered out of the room. Izuku groaned as he rolled over and pushed off the ground so he could follow Aizawa out to the kitchen to help the other 5 cook. They were doing two rounds of food. The first round is for class 1-B as they were already here. The 7 adults ate their meal during this time before getting started on the next round of food, finishing the majority of it by 6:30 with only a few dishes remaining that needed to simmer. 

Aizawa, Izuku, Mandalay, and Pixie-bob all moved outside to wait for 1-A to finally arrive. Pixie-bob was closer to the forest as she tracked the movement of her beasts and the teens while Izuku and Aizawa sat on the steps together. Mandalay and Kota were off to the side. Around 10 minutes later, just as the sun reached the top of the trees, class 1-A came hobbling out of the forest and all but collapsed to the ground.

“You all did so well! You actually arrived before we expected you! I’m really impressed! Especially with you three, the first to move!” Pixie-bob cheered as she bounced around Iida, Bakugou, and Todoroki. All three huddled together and tried to block her advances. “Um, excuse me?” Uraraka piped up, timidly raising her hand. Mandalay acknowledges her. 

“I don’t mean to be rude at all but who’s kid is that?” Uraraka asked, drawing the focus of the class to the young kid. “Oh, this is Kota. He is my cousin’s son. He is spending the summer with us here.” Uraraka walked over and introduced herself to Kota, hand held out to shake but she dropped her hand when he glared at her and walked away, ignoring the hurt look that flashed across her face. He stomped past Izuku and Aizawa to vanish inside the building.

Aizawa stood at this point, “Enough with this charade. Get your stuff off the bus. Once you’ve put your bags in your rooms, we’ll have dinner in the cafeteria. After that, you’ll bathe and go to sleep. We’ll start for real tomorrow. Now, move quickly.” He ordered before going inside as well. Izuku stood up and checked on his classmates to see who needed help getting inside and their things. He ended up helping Mina grab her belongings since her hands were pretty sore from using her acid. 

Izuku showed the males where their room was, then walked with the girls to their room which was smaller since there were fewer of them. “Oh, Izu-kun, are you also staying with the guys or do you have a different room?” Uraraka asked as he set Mina’s bags down. “I’m still a student so I’m stuck with them for bed.” He said amused as he rightened himself from having been bent over.

“Ooh! We should do a girls’ night this week and you can join us! We so want to know more about your experience in the past and about your sister!” Hagakure cheered with agreement from the others. “Maybe if we have the energy at the end of the day. Let’s head to the cafeteria for dinner.” Izuku grinned and led the way down the hall, several others crossed paths with them as they all began to follow the smell of food.

Izuku helped serve the food along with Mandayla and Pixie-bob while his classmates chowed down like starving animals. After several long minutes of running around, Izuku joined Aizawa off to the side to watch the gremlins that are class 1-A. “Enjoy yourselves tonight! This is the last meal we will prepare for you students!” Pixie-bob commented after Kirishima said something to her. Izuku blinked and tilted his head towards Aizawa, glancing at him from the corner of his eyes.

Aizawa was doing the same to him, acknowledging the yet unspoken question. “You count as a student.” He said flatly before Izuku could even ask. His shoulders and head dropped with a dramatic sigh before he grinned. Izuku honestly expected that, but just felt he should ask. Once the students started to slow down, Aizawa reminded them to relax in the hot springs before bed. He pulled Izuku out of the room and walked off, fully expecting Izuku to follow after him.

Izuku silently trailed after Aizawa feeling puzzled at the silent command. They came to a stop outside the room Aizawa and Vlad were crashing in. Aizawa walked over to his bag and pulled out a box of water-repellant skin patches. “Here.” He offered them to Izuku, who accepted hesitantly. “You’ve been hiding your other marks around the rest of the class. Figured you would want to continue doing that.” He clarified at the confused look Izuku was giving him.

“Oh, cool. I had actually just been thinking I should wait till everyone else was done. Thanks, Aizawa-kun.” Izuku said with a grin as he gently smacked the palm of his hand with the box. “You know you can call me Shouta when those hellions aren’t around,” Aizawa said after a moment of neither moving. Izuku again startled, having quickly spiraled into the thought of when he should finally talk to Hizashi, he blinked rapidly and dumbly asked, “ Wha? ” 

“You can call me Shouta. It’s illogical to expect you to continue addressing me as Aizawa when we are soul bound to the same people and each other. The only reason I still address you as Mori around your classmates is strictly that none of us have discussed revealing any of the bonds to them.” Shouta said after a very long sigh.

“Do you want them to know? Cause, Gin and I both are completely fine not talking about it. Obviously, I can’t really hide my back when in the hot springs but the class already knows she and I are soul siblings. We’re both fine not talking about the bonds we have with you and Hizashi.” Izuku said as he looked over the instructions to apply the patches. 

“The bonds you have with Hizashi and me,” Shouta parroted, causing Izuku to stall for a moment before shrugging. “Yeah, the platonic bond with you and the romantic bond with Hizashi.” He kept his head down as he said this. 

“So, you know that Hizashi is your soulmate,” Shouta stated. “How could I not? Between Ginna’s teasing, my own reactions, my mark, and seeing his marks when we were on I-island, it would be stupid of me not to recognize him as such. I...I just haven’t figured out how to bring it up with him. I don’t want him to be uncomfortable given the previous differences by entering a relationship with me.” Izuku said softly.

“He has the same worries about you,” Shouta said before turning his back to Izuku. He silently nodded and left the room to head for the springs, hoping to apply the patches before the class arrived. Just as he finished tying his towel around his hips, several classmates finally arrived. Izuku greeted the few before he stepped outside to get washed up before sinking into the hot water of the spring. He relaxed back, sinking up to his neck as he closed his eyes, listening as more of his class arrived on his side and the other side of the wall.

He must have zoned out heavily because when he came back to reality, he heard Mineta over by the wall. “-food and stuff aren’t all that important. What I really am here for is hidden beyond this wall.” “What are you doing Mineta?” Izuku asked, his voice ringing out over the others. Several jolted since he had seemed to be asleep. “I’m doing what is natural. Beyond this wall, oh what a sight!” Mineta exclaimed, spiraling into a very perverted tirade. The sexually immature started to blush, but only a few didn’t react. 

Both Izuku and Iida stood up to tell Mineta off, Iida was blushing as he sped over. Izuku watched in disgust, ready to yank Mineta back just as he reached the top before dragging his ass to Shouta for the disrespect. Moments before the top of the wall, Kota popped up and shoved Mineta away calling him gross. Mineta fell in shock, towel fluttering away as Iida reached out to catch him.

Kota turned to look behind him for just a moment as Izuku heard some cheers from the girls. Kota made a surprised sound before he fell off the wall, Izuku lunged forward to catch him before he could hit the ground. Izuku looked over to see Mineta with his ass on Iida’s face. With a growl, Izuku grabbed Mineta with Black Whip, completely covering him like a cocoon, before storming out of the bath to find Mandalay and Shouta to report what happened.

“Izuku?” Shouta asked when Izuku entered the manager's office. Mandalay couldn’t help but stare at Izuku’s body before she noticed Kota. “What happened?” She asked, quickly standing and taking Kota from him. “This one happened,” Izuku said as he brought Mineta into the room, squirming and muffled yelling from the cocooned grape. Shouta glared as he focused on the crying teen. 

“He is naked,” Izuku said as Shouta stood up. He paused with a scowl while Mandalya called for Pixie-bob using her telepathy. A few minutes later, the blue heroine showed up with a towel and things for Kota. Izuku finally released Mineta to Shouta now that they had a way to cover him. Shouta looked beyond pissed off as he took the pleading grape away.  

Mandalay and Pixie-bob both were staring at Izuku when he finally turned back to Kota. Their eyes danced over the very toned, nearly fully naked body. Noticing the massive mark covering his back and the slightly lifted edges of the patches covering his other marks. Out of respect, they kept quiet about the thoughts dancing in their minds.

The three quietly talked about several things, about Kota’s displeasure with quirks and the current society around heroes. They talked about soulmates and how Kota’s parents had been soulmates killed in action. Eventually, Izuku left the room to finish his soak and then get dressed for bed. He quickly got settled in as several of his classmates continued to be rambunctious. As he turned his back to the group, he called over his shoulder, “Be ready to be up early. Aizawa is sadistic.” He warned before he grinned as he got comfortable.

5 am finally came and Izuku was up and out of the room getting ready. He went about getting breakfast before the others finally woke up. Shouta came walking into the cafeteria to get himself some coffee before getting his class up. The two silently kept each other company while they finished their own versions of breakfast. “I’ll get the girls up?” Izuku offered and received a nod before the two left the cafeteria.

Izuku knocked on the door for the girls, when he heard no stirring, he cracked the door open and sent Black whip in to stir them awake, while respecting their privacy. A few surprised shouts let him know at least 3 were up so he called inside again, “Time to get up. Training starts now! Aizawa-sensei is expecting us outside in 10 minutes or less.” He said before withdrawing Black whip and leaving to wait on the steps.

Shortly after sitting down, Shouta came out and got situated in the middle of the clearing, Izuku following after, coming to a stop several feet away where the rest of the class would soon fall in line. “What will I be doing?” Izuku asked since they still had a few minutes before anyone arrived. 

“From what I’ve seen, you dont need to strengthen your quirk so either Tiger or myself will work with you on quirkless combat. I assume you didn’t practice that in the past.” Shouta said after a moment. “Yup. It was a challenge to really get me in a lot of classes so I didn’t learn that much.” Izuku confirmed. 2 minutes later the first of his class trickled in line. 5 minutes after waking everyone up, everyone was outside waiting for instructions.

“Morning, today we will begin training camp to increase your strength in earnest. The goal of this training camp is to increase everyone’s strength AND with that, for everyone to obtain their provisional licenses. It is to prepare you all to face hostilities that are becoming more real by the minute. Proceed carefully. So, Bakugo,” Shouta paused momentarily to throw the ball they used from the quirk assessments to the blond he addressed. “Try throwing that.” 

Students woke up more as they started to grow excited as Bakugo grinned viciously and threw the ball with a scream of “DIE!” Izuku flinched lightly, deeply buried memories of that quirk going off in his face and that one time he was being a stupid teen with a firework on the 4th of July. That holiday was a lot quieter in the proceeding years.

“709.6 meters,” Shouta intoned flatly much to the shock of the class. “How is that possible?” Izuku heard someone whisper but he couldn’t decide who exactly said it since it was so soft. “You’ve all been in high school for about 3 months now. Through various experiences, you have definitely improved. However, those improvements had been at mental and technical levels, with some increase in stamina overall.” Shouta began his lecture as Bakugou finally stood up from his throw.

“As you can see,” Shouta gestured with his head in the direction the ball went, “Your quirks themselves haven’t improved much. So, that’s what we will be doing starting today, improving your quirks.” Shouta grinned in a very creepy, all-teeth manner. “It’ll be so hard you’ll feel like dying, but try not to actually die.” Shivers went through the class as they shifted uncomfortably.

Izuku was watching Shouta, if he had looked away right after, he might have missed Shouta's next words. “If you did die Virginia would probably be very disappointed in me.” He grumbled much to the amusement of Izuku who had lipread Shouta’s words, Izuku caught the eye of Jiro who had a puzzled look on her face. Izuku quickly looked away which caught Shouta’s eye, a slight glance from the corner of his own eye triggered a realization in him. A faint sigh escaped him before he began to give instructions on what he wanted each student to work on.

Tiger arrived after a few minutes and led Izuku off to a clearing. The two of them worked on direct combat, Izuku not allowed to use his quirk at all which was fine with him. He was able to have one-on-one instruction for 2 hours before Class 1-B finally arrived to freeze at the spectacle 1-A was making. Many paled as Shouta walked over to join Vlad. Tiger also popped up stating that those with power-up types were with him. He gestured behind him where Izuku was doing push-up handstands like he was doing a leisurely stroll through the park.

The students that were going to be working with Tiger balked as they watched Izuku. “Don’t worry, you won’t be doing the same as him. He is doing the opposite of the goal the rest of you are working towards.” Shouta comforted with his creepy grin, causing the students to pale even more. Izuku smoothly stood up and stepped closer to the class. “Remember the whole time travel thing, I’ve been training my quirk for 10 years so now I need to train in combat instead of quirk power.” He tried to comfort but Tiger decided to throw a punch to the side of his head.

Danger sense triggered, giving Izuku a split second of time to dodge without glancing or flinching. A few jaws did drop at how fluidly he did this move. “Get back to your exercises.” Shouta hissed, causing Izuku to chuckle before turning away to do as he was told.

 Several hours later, the students all stumbled back to the lodge, where tables were set up outside with ingredients for curry laid out. Pixie-bob reminded the students that last night was the only day that the adults were going to cook for them. Many complained about the extra work and how tired they all were but Izuku just pushed forward and targeted the potatoes. 

His mind defaulted to all of the peeling he had to do over 10 years, zombie mode activated as he just smoothly and quickly peeled and cut the potatoes while the rest all worked together to get everything else going. Soon enough, Izuku finished the potatoes and went to help gather firewood while the rest were hard at work preparing the food. At one point he heard Iida encouraging the classes and saying to treat this as further training somehow. 

Izuku chuckled to himself as he walked past and approached Mandalya, “Is there a wood pile or do we need to get our own firewood?” He asked once he was close enough. “We have a wood pile of wood that has been drying but it hasn’t been split yet, just cut to smaller logs. There is a wood axe over by the pile to split with.” She informed him as she pointed out where the pile was.

Izuku thanked her and lightly jogged over and picked up the axe casually with one hand, gripped just under where the axe head was attached to the handle. He grabbed a bucket to fill with the split logs before he picked up and placed a log into position before bringing the axe over and behind his head.

Carefully loosening his grip on the handle while it was behind him so his grip ended up lower on the handle, giving him more of a solid force behind his swing. With a quick strike, the log practically shattered as the axe cut through it like soft butter. A few stopped at the sound to watch Izuku as he cut the logs into easier-to-burn pieces. Several minutes late he was done and restocking the grills as students worked on the curry. 

Nearly a half hour after starting, the classes were finally sitting down to eat. Exhaustion weighed down on them all and they were just happy to have food even if it wasn’t super nice. The teachers watched on in silence as the students ate and eventually slipped away to get cleaned up.

Izuku at some point did go to use the restroom after eating. When he returned he noticed Kota vanishing into the forest. A frown pulled at his lips as he thought back to if he had seen Kota eat anything. Shaking his head, Izuku went to see how much was left over before making a small plate and followed Kota’s footprints through the woods and up a cliff. Izuku paused in the shadow of the rocks as he watched Kota brood for several long minutes before he finally made his presence known to the young hurt child.

“I’ve had a similar view back home, you know. It was always my favorite one to see.”

Chapter Text

Kota jolted before spinning to see Izuku standing nearby, a plate of curry held in one hand. “How’d you find this place?!” He shouted, body shifting to a defensive stance. “Hey, relax. I won’t stay. I just wanted to bring you some dinner, you left footprints, and I can fly. I could have found you regardless. I just wanted to find out how you are doing. I’m sure having all of us around is a little overwhelming.” Izuku said calmly as he gently placed the plate down on the ground.

“You all are stupid.” Kota snapped, like an angry puppy. Izuku paused and glanced up at the boy, still hunched over from setting the plate down. “What do you mean?” he asked, trying his best to channel Virginia’s maternal aura. She was always great with kids, gaining their trust pretty quickly. “Getting all into trying to improve your quirks. It’s gross, showing off your power that badly!” Kota responded, still very defensive by Izuku’s very presence.

“I guess you could see it that way for some. But, personally, for me, I’m not here training my quirk. I did some tests yesterday to see where my scores are, compared to the first time I did them. The results gave us the idea that I don’t need to train my quirk anymore and I’m just learning quirkless combat.” Izuku said as he sat down so he didn’t tower over Kota, now that he seems to have Kota’s attention.

“Why would you do that? You’re one of those stupid people flaunting their power!” Kota yelled as he stomped one foot against the ground, turning his body fully towards Izuku. “Kota-kun, the only times I used my quirk so far were for the test and transporting Mineta after you fainted from falling from the wall. How is that flaunting my power?” Izuku asked nicely, trying not to lose what little he had gained with him.

“It...it just is!” Kota snapped as he turned away, crossing his arms with a huff. “Kota-kun, I have a question for you, you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but why are you so angry with us all being here? Is it because of our quirks? Because we want to be heroes?” Izuku prodded gently, watching Kota’s unspoken words through his body language.

The young child tensed up at Izuku’s question, glaring at the trees below them. “It’s stupid. Everyone calling each other stupid names like “Hero” and “Villain” and killing people because of it. They all are showing off, talking about their quirks and stuff. That’s why it happened. Stupid...” Kota whispered harshly as he clenched his fists at his sides.

“What happened? Did someone hurt you? Was it Mandalay or Pixie-bob or Ti-” Izuku asked, getting cut off by Kota who had turned quickly around to face him, “No! They didn’t hurt me at all! Mandalay took me in when my parents died! People kept praising them for dying and leaving me behind! They’re stupid! All of them!”

“Died? People praised your parents for dying? They would say that to you...?” Izuku paused for a moment before asking, “ Were your parents, heroes?” Kota’s head dropped as a single tear fell from his eye, a track of silver from the dying light of the sun. A small nod from him prompted Izuku to continue slowly. 

“Would I be right in guessing that they were Water Hose? I remember the news reporting that the two died by a villain when they were trying to rescue some people. They were really good people and an amazing rescue duo. So many people aim to be the top hero in the spotlight, so often there aren't enough heroes in Japan that specialize in rescue. I cried when I heard the news.” Izuku said as he looked out to the forest, watching Kota with his peripherals.

Kota’s head snapped to Izuku when he guessed right and was going to shout at him when Izuku continued on unperturbed. His shoulders slowly dropped as more tears fell from his eyes. “You cried for them?” Kota asked in a broken whisper. “Of course I did. They fit my definition of what a true hero is. Someone that works to protect, save, and help others, in the face of danger to themselves they push forward with strength, kindness, and bravery.” Izuku said as he held a hand out to Kota, for him to take if he wanted to.

“That doesn’t sound like a lot of the heroes on the news,” Kota said lightly, still defensive but slowly opening up to Izuku. “No, unfortunately, a lot of the heroes commonly found on tv are there for glory and fame. A lot of them, I personally wouldn’t trust to save me even if they were the only ones present to do so. Some of it could just be from them being still new but the rest, I wouldn’t trust them as far as my sister could throw them.” Izuku explained as Kota took small steps closer.

“Why would you say your sister?” Kota asked, confused at that exact wording. “Ah, well even if I didn’t use my quirk, which is strength enhancement, I could still throw them fairly far from me. My sister, however, can maybe drag me if needed and I was unconscious. She doesn’t have the strength to throw anyone that is over half her height.” Izuku chuckled as he explained this.

“You know, in actuality, it wasn’t until I was 15 that my quirk came in because of how strong it is. I wouldn’t use it without breaking my bones. My mom was always so worried for me because I didn’t have my quirk yet. But that never stopped me from wanting to be a hero. I didn’t want to be famous like the heroes on tv. Just someone who saves people and someone who people like me could look up to because, at that point, I thought I was quirkless.” Izuku continued softly.

“I know things are different now that my quirk has come in, but I still just want to be someone who saves people and can be someone others look up to. As my sister says, I may have the power of a God but I have the humility to not act like one.” Kota was now just standing outside of Izuku’s reach.

“Now, I don’t really expect you to change your view after just my words but, I know this at least. The more you reject society and quirks as it currently is, the more painful things will be for you. The current path society is going with quirks isn’t ideal but don’t just think of how things are now, but how they could improve in the future. I know that probably seems really far for you, but right now, things that we do now, will affect the future. So, if you don’t want others to feel the same as you do now, there are things that you can do to change it all. Small, sure, but change has to start somewhere.” Izuku tilted his head as he met Kota’s eyes under his horned hat.

Kota looked away quickly and Izuku gently floated up to stand quietly before Kota noticed. “Well, I’ll get out of your hair. Remember to eat and not stay out too late, okay? I’ll see you later, Kota-kun.” Izuku said as he took several steps back before turning around to leave. A whisper of Kota’s voice drifted after Izuku as he walked back down the hill into the trees, heading back for camp.

Outside, Shouta was standing, waiting for Izuku when he finally came into view of the clearing the building was at. “Where’d you go?” Shouta greeted him flatly. “Brought Kota some food and we just talked...I guess it was more like I was talking to him.” Izuku spoke once he was close enough to Shouta. He gently shook his head, sadness heavy in his heart. “He could really use one of Gin’s hugs, quirked or not. There is so much hate and pain in him. I know it’s not my place, but I do wonder if Mandalay has gotten Kota any grief counseling or if being out here is what she thought would be enough.”

“I’ll ask her. You get to sleep, tomorrow is going to be the same circus as today. There is going to be a test of bravery as well in the evening. This is still a summer camp so there’s a few fun activities planned as well.” Shouta said as he uncrossed his arms and the two entered the building, eventually heading down different halls to get to their sleeping areas.

The next day went very similarly to the previous with everyone repeating the same training exercises however for a few hours Shouta pulled Izuku away to run a few quirkless fighting drills with him. A wicked grin on both faces as they traded blows and dodges. When everyone finally broke for lunch, both men were littered with bruises however given that Izuku was in a t-shirt and Shouta had long sleeves, many believed Izuku got his ass whooped.

After lunch, everyone got back to it. Izuku was tasked with climbing up the sheer cliff face behind where Sato and Yaoyorozu were eating more food. Shouta stood at the top of the cliff watching over everyone and waiting for Izuku to finally reach him. They had a stare-off once Izuku’s head popped over the edge, Izuku still clinging to the side of the cliff until Shouta smirked at him. 

Izuku rolled his eyes as he hefted himself over the edge and sat down, overlooking the students. Iida ran past behind them as several others worked on the same platform Izuku sat for a few moments before he finally stood up. “Do I continue climbing?” He asked sarcastically, meeting Shouta’s eyes. “Pixie-bob set up a parkour course for you over that way.” Shouta gestured with his chin, hands remaining stuffed in his pockets.

Izuku turned to look in the direction indicated, spotting it in a smaller clearing out of the way. He nodded before looking back to see his classmates and class b looking a little where and warn down. “Maybe you have some motivational words for them?” He stated, before jogging away to his new assignment.

“ Don’t lose focus. All of you, move faster. No matter what you’re doing, you should always be aware of where you came from. That’s what it means to improve. Always keep in mind why you’re sweating and why you keep getting nagged. ” Shota’s voice rang out over the students even as Izuku got farther away from him, a steady beat of a song starting to ring in his mind as he focused on the task at hand. While he had no further instruction he did find a stopwatch waiting for him so he figured things out for himself.

Several hours later, Izuku sat on a low step at the parkour course just catching his breath when Shouta came to find him. “The classes have started working on dinner.” Was how Shouta greeted Izuku, snapping him out of his thoughts. Izuku blinked rapidly at him before registering his words. He looked around to see the sun had already set. “Oh, wow... I must have really gotten lost in thought.” Izuku muttered before standing up with a long groan.

“Hey, the test of courage-thing is tonight, right? Can we use our quirks to help with the scares?” Izuku asked as the two walked together back to the building. They could already see the glow of several fires from where they were at. Shouta nodded, “Yes but try not mentally scarring them. I’m fairly certain that if Virginia heard that you did that, she would come after both of us.” Shouta said and Izuku shuttered in agreement. “She would. She definitely would.”

Izuku wandered away once they got to the outdoor kitchen, quickly making himself useful and splitting more firewood for the people currently cooking. Occasionally someone would call him over for more wood but for the most part, he hovered around the edges watching. He could see a few of the other larger framed students also staying to the edges in one spot as they wouldn’t have an easy time maneuvering around everyone cooking or cutting or prepping.

After dinner, Izuku helped with cleaning up since he didn’t do much when preparing for dinner. By the time he joined his classmates, class 1-B had already spread out through the forest to get ready. All that was left was for his class to draw lots for partners. As it seems to follow Izuku’s luck, he is solo for the walk. He wasn’t bothered by the thought as he was also the last to go through it. 

Izuku found somewhere to sit while he waited for his turn, chatting with those who were also waiting, a grin on his face as he heard the occasional scream from his classmates getting spooked. Pixie-Bob was standing near the forest edge, directing his classmates to enter after a certain amount of time. Slowly but surely the groups dwindled till it was just Izuku and two other groups. He chatted with Iida, side-eyeing Mineta as he stood uncomfortably close to Pixie-bob. 

Ojiro and Koda were quietly talking off to the side when everyone started to smell smoke. Izuku stood up quickly as he spotted the black smoke rising followed by faint ambers of blue. As everyone was focused on the smoke rising, they all jumped when Pixie-bob screamed as she was yanked backward in pink light. By the time everyone turned in shock, Pixie-bob was already knocked out and pinned under a villain’s weapon. 

Izuku let out a frustrated growl, a deep quiet rumble in his chest as he glared at the two villains. Mandalay and Tiger get ready to fight as the Lizard man steps forward with a grand gesture of his arms. “How are you all doing tonight UA students? We’re the Vanguard Action Squad!” He shouted out. Izuku shifted into a wider stance when the other person spoke up, “Shall I crush this girl’s head?” Izuku’s face twitched in uncertainty, a trailing thought, questioning the person's gender and wondering if they are trans. 

Followed by how they are just exacerbating the trans community by their actions before he physically shook his head to clear his thoughts as those points have nothing to do with the current situation. Maybe it plays a part as to why they ended up as a villain but that is beside the point. “What d’you think? Well, what do you think?” They asked again with a cruel smile as they pressed down more on Pixie-bob’s head, making her groan weakly.

Tiger took a threatening step forward, “Like I’d tell you, you---” “Wait up, big Sis Mag! Don’t be hasty.” The lizard man stepped forward as he prepared to go on a rant about the greatness that is Stain. Izuku huffed as he released a few tendrils of black whip to carefully and slowly creep along to grab Pixie-bob from the villains before any fighting could begin. Focusing as he was, he didn't notice that Iida got called out for his part in Stains capture. 

Mentally Izuku grinned as he carefully wrapped Pixie-bob up and yanked her over to him as Mandalay spoke up, “Tiger! I’ve broadcasted instructions. Leave the safety of the other students to ragdoll. The two of us will hold them back here! Go, everyone! Listen carefully. Do not fight. Class rep, you’re in charge!” Izuku grinned as he handed Ojiro Pixie-bob and pushed his classmates towards the forest. The two villains shouted in surprise with Pixie-bob getting pulled out from under them.

“Mandalay, I’m going to get Kota!” Izuku called out as Mandalay and Tiger engaged the villains. He saw her glance back at him before she needed to dodge. Izuku raced off for the cliff where Kota most likely was at. He just hoped that no one had found him before he could reach him.

Izuku broke through the tree line, his initial thoughts was that it was peacefully quiet, that Kota was safe at least until he heard a loud crash. “Kota!” He shouted as he bounded over the cliff to where the bang came from. “Let me get a shot in to cheer up!” A cruel voice laughed and Izuku zipped in to grab Kota before the man could kill him. He skidded to a stop as he twisted to face the villain.

“Who the hell are you?” The man yelled, annoyed that his fun was interrupted. “Doesn’t matter. I’m here now and I won’t let you hurt him.” Izuku snapped back as he placed Kota down behind him, instinctively knowing that he wouldn't be able to get Kota out of there without a fight. “Won’t let me hurt him? HA!” The man grinned and laughed like Izuku just told the world’s greatest joke. 

Izuku sank into a lower stance, ready for anything as he watched the man become more deranged. “You know, you kinda look like one of the kids we’re after if you were younger. Now, how about you tell me where Midoriya and Bakugou are and maybe I will be nice and kill you quickly.” The man said as he activated his quirk and ligaments of muscle emerged and wrap around him, increasing his size, speed, and strength. Izuku lights up with energy as he takes the man’s attack head-on, getting pushed back an inch or so, but was able to withstand and deflect the blow away from him and Kota.

“I see now, you’re Muscular, then? The one who killed the Water Hose duo hero team?” Izuku grunted as he shook out his arms, a faint tingle raced up and down his bones from the shockwave of strength. “Oh, you know some of my work?” Muscular grinned as he stared down Izuku. “I’m aware,” Izuku growled as he again lit up brightly and charged at Muscular. The villain grinned as he also prepared to take Izuku’s attack, however, his grin quickly dropped when Izuku’s blow connected and broke his defenses, sending him much farther back.

Taking that chance Izuku turned to Kota, “I need you to get around Muscular and down into the forest while I fight him. I want to make sure you are safe and I can’t fight him at the same time. If I know you are out of harm's way, then I can focus on making sure he stays down.” “Why can you just run now?!” Kota cried, grabbing and pulling at Izuku to make him leave too. 

“He will just follow us, Kota-kun.” Izuku said softly, a hand gently resting on his head. An enraged scream came from Muscular and Izuku snatched Kota up before leaping over Muscular’s attack. Upon landing, Izuku placed Kota down and gave a light shove towards the path, sending him stumbling forward as Izuku turned back to Muscular to block the blow. The two were in a stand still, struggling against each other until Izuku used black whip like a kangaroo tail to kick without losing any balance.

The blow caught Muscular off guard and he cringed from the pain as he released Izuku to instinctively grip his side as he put space between the two of them. Izuku glances back to see if Kota had left or not but he was frozen on the ground, eyes wide in fear. He frowned at the sight, realizing that even if he kept Muscular there, Kota wouldn’t be able to run. So, the only thing he could do was attack until he didn’t get up again.

“I see how this is gonna go. Suppose it’s time to get serious then.” Muscular grinned as he inflated a lot more, charging at Izuku with a ridiculously strong punch. Lightning arched off of Izuku as he returned the gesture in kind. The two traded blows, pushing both back. Muscular off the cliff and Izuku into the stone with a sharp bang. Izuku’s eyes blurred from the impact as he struggled to get his breath back under control while he stumbled over to where Muscular fell off the cliff.

Danger sense warned him over the incoming blow, giving him a chance to jump back and away from the blow that decimated the ground he had just been standing on. “I’m going to kill you and that little shit.” Muscular growled as he attempted to tower over Izuku, puffed up with his quirk. “No,” Izuku responded like a pertinacious child, throwing Muscular off from such a response. Izuku finally shook off the effects he was under and launched at Muscular, lightning lighting up the area as he released a torrent of blows, forcing Muscular back again.

At some point, he had started screaming, frustration boiling over as he was unrelenting in his attack, the mountain crumbled under his forceful attacks once Muscular was pinned to the wall. Izuku didn’t stop until he ran out of breath, his fists stinging from the prolonged impact. He stepped back, breathing hard as he looked over Muscular’s fallen form. Bloody, broken, and not getting up again soon to cause more havoc. Izuku released a scream of victory before dropping to his knees so he could finally catch his breath.

The sound of little feet running reached his ears just in time for him to turn to catch the small body hurtling towards him. Kota cried into his chest, fists balled up in his torn up shirt. Izuku held Kota softly, like how Virginia held him during all the homesick episodes he had over the years. He sat there until Kota calmed down, gently rubbing his back to help him. Once Kota finally pulled away, Izuku smiled lightly at him.

“There we go. Let’s get you back to the camp. Hopefully it’s safe from the villains there and I can quickly get word to Mandalay that you are safe. You okay if I carry you?” Izuku said as he got up, dusting off his pants before removing his torn shirt to make make-shift wrappings for his torn up knuckles.

Kota nodded and Izuku scooped him up before jumping off the cliff and into the forest. Light danced off his skin as he rushed through the forest, giving extra energy and strength to his legs. He made a beeline for the main building while avoiding the gas and the fire the best he could. Along the way, he and Shouta crossed paths. “Izuku!” Shouta shouted the moment he spotted the two causing Izuku to stop sharply before he could possibly plow Shouta over.

“Oh, hey! Is the main building safe? There is a lot you need to know but I need to get Kota to safety and find Bakugou and tell Mandalay Kota is safe and to warn everyone what the villains are after. Can you take Kota back? I can do the messages a lot faster than you.” Izuku spoke quickly, the flickers of lightning matching the tempo of his heart as the adrenalin was finally kicking in, causing him to ignore the pain in his hands and other injuries.

Shouta stared at Izuku blankly before taking Kota from him with a nod. “Fine but give Mandalay a message for me too. And for the love of everything Izuku, don’t get killed or Virginia will kill us both.” Shouta snapped, causing Izuku to grin at him. “How illogical, she can’t kill me if I’m already dead.” Izuku laughed lightly before listening to Shouta’s message. “Tell Mandalay this... Everyone in class A and class B! In the name of the pro hero, Eraserhead, you are granted permission to engage in combat!” Once he had it, he sped off towards the clearing where he left Tiger and Mandalay.

Breaking through the treeline, Izuku spotted a very off amalgamation of blades held together by leather belts about to strike Mandalay while she was mid-jump. He dashed forward and with a kick like a comet strike, he shattered the weapon and slammed the lizard man’s head into the ground. 

“Send a message out Mandalay! Everyone of class A and B. In the name of the pro hero Eraserhead, you are granted permission to engage in combat. Also, the villains are after Bakugou Kasuki, he needs to get his ass to safety before someone kidnaps his angry pomeranian self. If he doesn’t I’ll personally drag him back.” Izuku called out, his sudden appearance stalled big sis Mag long enough for Tiger to land a solid blow to the face. “Kota is with Eraser on his way to the building.” Izuku said softly before dashing off to where he hoped to find Bakugou.

He followed the trail, hoping and praying that Bakugou and Todoroki had stayed on the path this entire time. His heart was beating in his chest, adrenalin pushing him forward as his only focus was getting to Bakugou in time. Danger sense went off just as Shoji appeared to pull him out of the way of a monstrous, shadowy hand. Instead of Shoji grabbing him, Izuku grabbed Shoji instead and hid them in the tree branches.

“What’s happening?” Izuku whispered as the two crouched on a couple of branches. Izuku winced, as pulling Shoji with him did tug at his broken ribs. “Tokoyami and I had been walking along when we received the message to not engage with the villains. When we heard that, we went on alert right away. It’s a good thing too, as we were attacked by a villain with blade teeth.” Shoji started to explain.

The two shifted as they watched Dark Shadow rage and tear up the ground around them, attacking anything that made a noise. “I pushed Tokoyami out of the way from one attack and it cut off one of my hands. Luckily it was one of my quirked hands so those do grow back, but seeing that was just too much and Tokoyami’s control slipped.” Shouji continued to explain as the two quietly watched the destruction.

“I see. It would make sense, sudden stressors and the total darkness would definitely increase the strength of dark shadow. If I assume correctly, then light exposure should help Tokoyami regain control of the situation.” Izuku mused as he gently gripped his chin in thought. “I was planning on leading them to fire or camp and hope someone can help tame Dark Shadow.” Shoji explained right before both tensed and quickly jumped from the tree as a torn tree was thrown at where they were.

Several feet away, now crouched in a bush, the two continued to plan. “I’m sure you want to go after Bakugou but I could really use your help here.” Shoji asked, meeting Izuku’s eyes, pleading for him to stay. Izuku met his gaze as he ran through several thoughts. 

“How about we do both. Bakugou was paired with Todoroki, both can produce light and will be closer than camp or us personally trying to start a fire. I might be able to use my quirk more freely but I don’t have the necessary combat skills to solo an unknown number of villains after Bakugou. So, if we lead Dark shadow to them, we can raise the amount of protection Bakugou has and help Tokoyami regain control.” Izuku proposed.

Shoji contemplated for a moment before nodding and the two quickly decided how they were going to get Dark Shadow to follow. “Tokoyami! Don’t fight against it. We’re going to help you, just trust us. I won’t let anyone else get hurt.” Izuku called as Shoji started to run out in the open, the actions of both got Dark Shadow’s attention and they all started to run.

The two would alternate who was moving faster so, neither had the sole attention of Dark Shadow. They followed the set trail, hoping that the two with light producing quirks didn’t go off the trail. Trees and debris crashed all around them as Dark Shadow tore up the earth trying to grab the duo. The duo had to jump over a tree that had landed in their path, but on the other side they saw the blond they were searching for along with a huge wall of ice.

The two swerve in opposite directions just as the Villain, moonfish, breached the wall to attack. His attack was quickly stopped by the large shadowy hand of the rampaging quirk. The 4 males froze as they watched as Dark Shadow completely shattered Moonfish’s blade teeth and defeated him. Once the villain was knocked out, Bakugou and Todoroki jumped into action, hands ablaze as they quickly forced Dark Shadow into submission.

Once Tokoyami was able to stand on his own two feet again, he bowed and apologized to everyone for losing control. Shoji told him it was okay before Izuku brought up and started to make plans on how to get Bakugou to safety. Izuku stated that going forward would only lead back to the clearing where Mandelay and Tiger were fighting. Going backwards would take them farther from the camp overall. So, the best path would be going straight for the camp, off the trail and into the woods.

A few nods happened, agreeing to the point but Tokoyami pointed out that they don’t know how many villains there were so they were likely to come across more villains if they did. Izuku conceded to the statement but did also point out that in the group they had a very strong defense for practically any attack now. If he was feeling comfortable and in control, they had Dark Shadow for long range defense, Shoji’s hearing as a pre-warning, Todoroki’s ice to capture with, and his overall strength, speed, and stamina.

The three nodded, agreeing to the plan as Bakugou finally snapped out of his stupor and yelled that he didn’t need protecting. Izuku ignored his yells and directed everyone into position. “Tokoyami, you take point, with Shoji behind you. Bakugou, get in the middle, with Todoroki in front of you, and I’ll cover from behind. With this, Bakugou should be sheltered from the front and back, completely hidden by our bodies. Hopefully, that would deter any villains and if we are lucky we won't come across anyone.” Izuku instructed. 

The teens all did as suggested, Bakugou snapping and yelling but did as told instead of trying to go rogue. Tokoyami then led the way into the trees, the branches blocking out more of the light of the moon. The woods were far too quiet even with the faint crackling of fire in the distance. The group moved as silently as they could, but the longer they walked the more they relaxed. They were still on guard but with no further attacks they had high hopes that they would be able to get Bakugou back to the camp quickly.

Ahead of them, Shoji informs them that he hears Uraraka and Asui with someone else. The group speeds up and breaks through the trees to see Uraraka pinning a blond girl to the ground while Asui is stuck to a tree. Their appearance chased off the blond villain as she realized that she was very outnumbered and didn’t want to die.

Tokoyami asked if the girls were okay and asked if they wanted to join them as they escorted Bakugou back to the camp for extra protection. They could probably hang back with Izuku. The girls blinked in sync as they looked behind those present then at each other. “Um, then where are Bakugou and Midor...Mori-san?” Asui asked. The three males jolted as they quickly turned around to look back in shock.

“Well then, I do believe that is my que to go.” A voice called out from the side in the trees. “This is Compress, I have the target. Fall back and regroup.” Compress pressed a finger against where his ear would be to call everyone back before he addressed the students again. He showed them a blue marble in his hand, taunting them, “The boy you tried to protect? I took him with my magic skills.” 

The students could just hear the patronizing smile as he gently tossed the marble in his hands, “This talent shouldn’t be squandered on the side of heroes. Instead, we shall bring him to the side where he can flourish. The green one however, now that was just an improvisation on my part. He fought Muscular and won, I simply wished to remove one large threat from the mix.” Compress boasted as he revealed the two marbles. 

“Give them back!” Uraraka shouted as Todoroki asked Asui to take the 1-B student he had on his back. He launched a large iceberg at Compress in an attempt to capture him but Compress simply jumped out of the way, momentarily being blocked from view while he shoved the marbles into his coat pocket. He landed on a different tree and shook his finger at the students, “Now, now, the path Bakugou is now with its fanactical values isn’t the only option to him. Farewell children.” He said before jumping away.

“Come back!” Todoroki shouted as they all started to run after Compress, Uraraka using her quirk on the 1-B student so he didn’t slow them down. Compress was quickly gaining distance from the group when Todoroki suggested that Asui throw them after compress. Uraraka could use her quirk on them and then just use her best judgment on when to let go. The group was worried but still agreed, determination bright in their eyes as they got ready. 

With Uraraka’s quirk and a strong throw by Asui, the boys were sent flying. Shoji used his arms as wings to further help steer as they rocketed after Compress. Swiftly they caught up and Uraraka released them, causing the 3 to crash down on top of Compress, using him like a landing pad. Unfortunately, so focused on Compress they barely got out of the way of the brilliant blue fire coming their way.

The three dodged as Compress vanished into one of his marbles. The three were about to return the attack when Kirogiri appeared, opening several portals. A fully masked man with matching jumpsuit and the blond villain from earlier stepped into their own portals while one formed behind the fire villain. With there being distance between the hero students and where they crash landed, Compress reappeared and ran to Dabi’s side, hand going for the pocket with the marbles.

Shoji turned to the others and said that they could run now, he managed to get their friends from Compress. However, the masked magician just laughed. He snapped his fingers which released chunks of ice from the marbles in his hand. “Now, did you really believe that you had your friends? I am a magician, misdirection is key.” He lifted his mask enough to expose his mouth where he proceeded to stick out his tongue to show the 2 blue marbles.

The inky portal began to envelop the two remaining villains when a beam of light struck Compress in the face. Breaking his mask and sending the two marbles flying. The students scrambled to catch the marbles, Shoji caught one and Todoroki was so, so close to the other but the scarred fire villain nabbed it before Todoroki could. “Too bad heroes. Compress, reveal them. Let’s see if you got the right one.” The fire man said, his voice very gravelly like a long-time smoker. 

The marbles popped, and Izuku landed on his ass as he blinked in shock. Bakugou landed on his feet and before he could move, the fire man grabbed his neck. Izuku quickly focused in on Bakugou, erupting in lightning as his face contorted into rage, lunging forward, speed enhanced by his quirk. The remaining villains quickly escaped into the portal, yanking Bakugou with them, once they saw the immediate danger that was Izuku. The portal snapped shut and vanished before Izuku could even cover half the distance.

He came to a sudden stop. Everyone stared at where the portal had just been. Izuku tried to take deep calming breaths as he felt the rage continue to build. Uraraka and Asui arrived to see everyone standing still. “Wh-where’s B...” Asui began to ask but quickly stopped when Izuku released a guttural scream before slamming his fist into the ground below him. He had to get out some of the toxic rage in him before he hurts someone.

Hot angry tears fell from his eyes as he continued to attack the ground, a large crater forming under him as huge arches of lighting jump from him, giving the 6 conscious students a show of power and instilling a sense of fear in them. He eventually stilled, breathing heavily as he slowly climbed out of his hole. Anger was still very clear on his face as he stalked towards the forest, heading back to the camp. The students all silently exchanged looks before following after. 

Aoyama meekly spoke up before anyone got far, “I- I have Jiro and Hagakure with me as well.” Izuku looked over to where he was standing before letting out a few tendrils of black whip to collect the two girls. Aoyama squeaked as the tendrils came at him, but held still as he watched the quirk gently pick up the two.

He carried the two back to camp while everyone silently trailed after him, no one dared to utter a word, afraid that anything could set him off. Aizawa, Tiger, and Mandalay were talking and making plans on searching for the unaccounted-for students when the group broke through the trees. Aizawa was instantly heading for Izuku once he saw him, Izuku released the two unconscious girls into the arms of Tiger before he stalked past Aizawa.

The man didn’t even bother questioning him as he went, it was clear in his body language that he wasn’t going to be answering anything any time soon. Aizawa sighed before turning back to the other students that had trailed after Izuku. “How many of you have injuries?” He had to make sure they receieved even basic first aid while they waited for emergency services to arrive.

“It’s mostly just surface injuries.” Shoji spoke up first, nods of agreement circulated from the others. Uraraka, chewed her lip in worry for a moment before speaking up, ‘Is Mori-kun going to be okay? H-he, after Bakugou was taken away, he looked so angry and just kept punching the ground.” Aizawa looked at her silently for a long moment before sighing. “Did you see him arking with green light at any point?” He asked instead.

Confusing crossed everyone’s face but Uraraka nodded. “Then he is going to be fine. If he is giving off enough of that lightning, then Virginia-san will know. If she knows them Yamada and Nedzu will know. Yamada is probably already on his way with her and with her present, Mori will calm down and can get medical attention. For now, don’t try talking to him as he might lash out from his anger. Head back to the main building, regroup with your classmates.” Aizawa dismissed and waited for the teens to head back to the building before he went off to check on Izuku.

“Are you injured?” Shouta asked the moment Izuku came into view. He just received a glare in warning before Izuku looked down at his right arm. Shouta saw the small wince on his face as he shifted that arm slightly. “At least let me stabilize that arm. I’m sure Virginia is already on her way with Hizashi.” He offered, slowly pulling a roll of bandages out from a pocket. Izuku narrowed his eyes at him before nodding in permission.

By the time Shouta had finished wrapping Izuku’s arm, they could hear the sierens of approaching emergency vehicles. Both left their current spot to move closer to everyone else. Shouta left Izuku in the shadows of the trees while he went to speak with the emergency teams that arrived, along with Vlad.

Paremedics set up a triage spot to check on all the students and load up the unconscious students. It was organized chaos no matter where you looked. Anger still rolled off Izuku in suffocating waves, to the point that Aizawa had to advise no one approach the threatening presence as it would be sorted out soon enough and if they tried anything, the situation would most likey get worse.

It was 7 minutes after Bakugou was successfully captured, the emergence crews arrived. Vlad had been surprised as that was sooner than he expected. It soon became clear as to what happened when a shrill yell came from overy by the police cars and Izuku emerged from the shadows in a very intimidating fashion. The rookie officer quickly moved out of the way as a blur collided with Izuku and both fell back into the tree line.

-----------

They were still 30 minutes away at the current speed Hizashi was going. Who knows what will happen in that time span. They can only hope everyone is okay. That this was just Izuku going all out for training only, but deep inside the two knew that this wasn’t that. Deep in their souls they could just feel the dark anger radiating from Izuku. 15 minutes away, the arcs stopped and Virginia closed her eyes in fear, hoping and praying that they stopped because the danger was over and not because Izuku died.

She reached an unsteady hand over to Hizashi, his knuckles bone white as he gripped the steering wheel. “Breath please. Get us there safely, Zashi.” She whispered and she saw the car’s speed drop a bit. He was taking slower breaths trying to do as asked. Trees still whipped around them. They came around a bend and could see black smoke blocking out the stars ahead of them.

A plane flew overhead a dropped many gallons of water over the wall of blue flames, smothering them as the two drove closer. As the light of the fire died down, the flashing lights of the emergency vehicles became more pronounced. “Please, let there be no deaths,” Virginia muttered as she clasped her hands together in prayer. Hizashi glanced at her as he took a turn that would show the camp.

There were so many vehicles and people running around as the two came to a skidding stop. Virginia practically flew out of the car before Hizashi could fully stop the car and put it in park. She raced for the trees but a cop blocked her progress forward. The panic was clear in her eyes as her face morphed into a look of annoyance and aggravation. “Ma’am, you can’t be here! This is a crime scene, not a place for any civilians to be. You have to leave!”

Virginia just glared at him before trying to get past him again. The cop grabbed her arm, pulling her back, she whipped around to glare at him as if she had the ability to kill someone with just a glance. “Fuck you,” She hissed before inhaling sharply and letting off a shrill call of “IZUKU!!!”

The ground seemed to practically rumble as he stalked out of the woods, poisonous green eyes burning holes into the officer, who quickly released his hold of Virginia and quickly backed up at the growl that resonated deep in Izuku’s chest. Virginia ran forward and jumped at Izuky. He grabbed her, not caring about the pain that flows through him, he was just focused on absorbing the comfort she provided. 

Izuku laid down on the ground as he leaned most of his body on Virginia, finally allowing himself to lightly dissociate after all of that stress. Virginia gently ran her fingers through his hair, untangling the nots that formed. Eventually, Shouta found them along with a paramedic that did a quick assessment on Izuku. He determined that Izuku did need to go to the hospital. Hizashi came not long after and he with Shouta helped load Izuku into an ambulance before they drove away. 

Once the majority of people had cleared out, Virginia wrapped her arms around Shouta, head pressed to his heart as if just feeling him in her arms wasn’t enough to make sure he was alive. He let her, just gently rubbing a hand up and down her back as he also relaxed from the stress of the night. Vlad got a ride with an officer while Virginia and Hizashi dragged Shouta off to the car so they could all head for the hospital where the students were going.

Once they arrived, Virginia was able to get an update on Izuku before she was unfortunately turned away as the visiting hours had ended and emergencies like this don’t give leeway. The three adults loaded back into the car to head back to UA. Shouta wanted to take a quick shower before meeting with Vlad to give their official statements. Hizashi and Virginia stayed curled up together as they thought back to the words the doctor had told them. 

Mori-san’s condition isn’t ideal but given the situation, it’s better than expected. His right snapped and had hairline fractures, and his left shoulder was dislocated. Broken ribs, a concussion, a black eye, and torn knuckles. Overall, he is in good condition but we are going to keep him overnight for observation.” Virginia had just nodded before they left. A buzz came from Hizashi’s pocket, “Nedzu says get some rest, there is a meeting tomorrow and you are requested to be there too.” Hizashi reads off and Virginia just nods as she turned her face into his neck as they tried to get comfortable to sleep. Worry is still prevalent in their guts.

Chapter Text

Fitful sleep eventually overcame the duo only to be startled awake by Hizashi’s phone going off. It would seem that Nedzu had remotely set an alarm for the two in order for them not to miss the meeting. Sluggishly, they went to get dressed for the day, Hizashi went right to shower first as he had to spend more time getting his hair ready. Virginia went to collect her clothes for the day before she went in for her own shower.

Given she had less to do, she attempted to make a simple and light breakfast for them both, knowing if she didn’t eat now, she would forget until dinner or later. Hizashi came out, carrying his leather jacket on his arm before he dropped it on the back of his chair before sitting down. He dropped his face into his hands with a heavy sigh. Virginia’s gentle touch drew him from his thoughts as she placed down a plate of eggs and rice.

The two gave each other weak smiles before half-heartedly eating the meal. Hizashi’s left knee kept bouncing as he ate and Virginia just kept her head down. Neither breathed a word to each other, even as they left the staff dorms to head for the meeting room. They shared a look when the sounds of the press horde reached them. 

Inside the school, Hizashi led the way as the meeting room wasn’t a place Virginia had explored before. They were the last to arrive, All Might, Snipe, Midnight, and Nedzu sat around a table with two chairs side by side a little away from Snipe, was left. All Might perked up once he saw Virginia enter the room. “Why are you here? This is strictly for staff members.” He asked, a little harsh, a little confused, but mostly crushed due to his lack of response during the crisis. “I called her in.” Nedzu dismissed All Might’s concern. Virginia just silently sat down next to Hizashi, tucking her ankles under her knees as she sat at the very end of the table.

 “Now then, to matters at hand. This is far from an ideal situation. We should be embarrassed at the irony of the event. Attacking during a training camp that was meant to prepare students to fight against villains. It was never meant to be an unplanned simulation. We feared the revitalization of villains, but our understanding of it was naive. They had already started their war- their war to destroy hero society.” Nedzu said grimly.

“Even if we had understood it, would we have been able to defend against it? With all these persistent developments unfolding one after another. Ever since All Might, most organized crimes had been weeded out.” Midnight spoke up, looking to Nedzu and ignoring All Might at her side. Virginia lifted her head to passively stare at All Might, and a small chill went down his arms.

“We, as heroes and as a society, got too complacent during peaceful times without realizing it. We thought there was more time to prepare.” Mic muttered as he leaned back in his chair, arms crossed as he glared at the table in front of them. Virginia dropped her head to rest against his arm. 

All Might let out a deep, troubled sigh. “I am angry from the bottom of my heart at my own cowardice. While the students were desperately fighting for their lives, I was relaxing in the tub.” Virginia blinked open her eyes, not realizing she had even closed them and stared at All Might. She swallowed before speaking up, “It’s not like you knew and just chose to ignore them.” Her voice was soft but rough to everyone’s ears. All Might meet her gaze before looking away, still feeling shame.

“Having the sports festival right after the attack we can't keep taking unyielding positions like that, like we have up until now. To have a student kidnapped is U.A.’s greatest failure. They have stolen the trust people had in us heroes, along with Bakugou.” Snipe added to the conversation, and head nods of agreement followed.

Nedzu continued the conversation, he lifted up a news article and the screen of a laptop to show off a different article there. Virginia had tuned out all the words up until she felt Hizashi starting to speak. His body shifted forward, talking with his arms but still being careful of Virginia, not to hit her. 

“Since we’re on the topic of trust, there’s something I’d like to say. We can now conclusively say there’s a traitor among us, isn't there? Only the teachers and the Pussycats knew where the training camp would be held! That’s not all that’s suspicious!” He stood up, hands firmly pressed against the table before gesturing more. “They could be using their cellphone location information, even the students!” 

“Mic stop it!” Snipe snapped at the blond, Virginia watched him blankly before releasing a shuttered breath. “How can I?  Let’s clean this place up thoroughly!” Hizashi was practically shouting at this point without his quirk. Virginia looked away from him and to Nedzu instead. “After all this time... how are people just as cruel as those from my time?” Her voice still rough, floated through the space, cutting off everyone’s train of thought.

Hizashi sat back down as he gently rested a hand on her shoulder, concern pulling at his features. She continued on, not acknowledging his presence as she stared at Nedzu. “The government, local government, and school districts would only ever slap a bandage on a bigger issue or make plans on how to respond once a threat to students was active. Never, before it could happen. Only during or after. They didn’t really care to protect the students and that caused a lot of protests and loss of trust in families. Something so very similar to what is happening now. Death and destruction because the governing bodies cared more about not restricting gun access and forcing pregnancies than protecting children who have bodily autonomy.

This might not be the same exact thing, but from my viewpoint, due to how successful All Might had been over his entire career, many heroes have become more like celebrities than protectors. What I see are celebrities getting paid to be a Superhero; an actor. A superhero from my time is someone that uses their powers to help make the world a better place or to protect the public and fight crime from petty crimes to major career criminals. Someone that would be willing to lay down their own life if it meant protecting civilians. I doubt that even a third of the active heroes would do that.” Virginia’s words hung heavy in the air as she continued her views.

“For the generations following me, they would have at least 4 active shooter drills a year to prepare them, ‘just in case ’, they had to experience a real one. I luckily graduated before I gained the generational trauma of hearing a possible gunshot. The year I graduated high school there had been about 40 instances of guns in schools that would lead to a lockdown. The highest number I can recall was 6 years after Izuku arrived in my time, nearly 400 instances. 13 years after I graduated.

In those 13 years, the use of fireworks grew less and less in areas that were more liberal because of the fear response children would have because the governing bodies wouldn’t put stronger safety measures in place because it is unconstitutional . It was utter bullshit.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to see that same fear response show in the eyes of these children, too scared to attend school in fear of being killed. You have to take a more aggressive approach to protect these kids, Nedzu. If you don’t, there will be swarms of angry civilians and parents banging on the gates blaming you for the attacks. All trust will fall whether it is for the school or for heroes in general. Exactly as this league wants to see. 

If there is a leak somewhere in the school body, either student or staff, you need to find it fast. Fuck anyone’s privacy at this point. I would think you have already done so for the staff so dig up the students. Find out the background of the villains that attacked the camp. I'm pretty certain this is all connected to All for One, the bastard that won’t die.” Virginia said sharply, her voice growing in firmness. In a tone that left no gap to deny her stance, the heaviness behind her words left no room for arguments.

All Might’s phone went off, shattering the foreboding air, a sharp glare came from Virginia as All Might quickly shuffled out to take the call, apologizing as he went. “You have a very good point, Virginia-san. That is why I will be implementing the plan I mentioned to you before. Whether or not the school board approves. It will be a matter of getting the approval of the parents for the students to actually stay.” Nedzu agreed grimly. The two shared a look, ending with Virginia nodding, agreeing to the unspoken position. Hizashi took a moment to recall what he was referencing before he also nodded, agreeing with the plan.

“Now hold on. I get what you say but if we suspect each other or the students, we’ll destroy ourselves from the inside. Looking for a traitor isn’t something we should do in a hurry.” Snipe tried to protest but quickly shut up when Virginia suddenly shoved Hizashi backward in his rolling chair so she had a clear view of him. “Oh, then when is a good time? Once a student has been kidnapped? Wait, that already happened. What about once they have 24-7 access to the school? Or do we wait until someone is permanently disabled or even killed?” She snapped at him.

If he hadn’t been wearing his mask, everyone would have seen his face pale drastically at her sharp tone. “If there is indeed a traitor, then they need to be found fast and quietly. Don’t give them time to make a counter plan or even know we are looking. They have to be working for someone so there can’t be any time for that person to realize we know. If it's a student, then it's likely they had no choice in the matter, especially if All for One is connected as I suspect and he is even remotely as bad as Izuku believes him to be.” Her breath was labored as Hizashi pulled her into a hug as he could see a faint tremor in her body. Fear and exhaustion were a terrible combination.

Silence fell over the room, as Nedzu decided to give Virginia a few minutes to compose herself and for All Might to return to the room. It took about 5 more minutes before All Might entered the room with a dark grin on his face. “What is it All Might?” Nedzu asked as the blond stopped behind his vacated chair. “The call was from Detective Tsukauchi. He just finished getting the statements from Aizawa and Vlad. Their insight added to some earlier dismissed information from an informant has given a starting location to find Young Bakugou.” He said quickly.

Everyone perked up at this information, “How soon could you guys move to that location?” Virginia asked, her voice still heavy with emotion but definitely lighter than before. “It would take at least a day before anyone can act. The Detective is working on gathering a lot of heroes to help in the endeavor. I know it isn’t the most ideal, having to wait, but to get the forces needed and to make a solid plan, this is the fastest we can move.” All Might meet her gaze.

“Good, then just a final note to you all before we go our separate ways. What I was referencing with Virginia-san is implementing student dorms. Virginia-san will be a permanent fixture in class 1-A’s dorm. Given that those particular students have experienced the most, it is best for an adult to constantly be present. There will be dorms for each homeroom with a room for each homeroom teacher to stay in if you choose instead of the staff dorms. With that said, you are all dismissed. Plans to make.” Nedzu said before jumping from his chair and scampering away quickly.

Everyone else slowly exited the room, Virginia being the first to clear out. Hizashi received a text from Shouta as he followed after her:

Shou!!!!

Can you do something for me?

08:53 am

....

Thanks for the update on how you are doing, Shou.

What do you need?

8:55 am

Sorry. I wasn’t injured. Just frustrated that this even happened.

Are you and Virginia doing alright?

08:58 am

We’re both tired and irritable.

She snapped at Snipe and gave us all a really chilling 

comparison to her time and now.

9:02am

I assume Nedzu has a recording of it, 

I’ll ask him later on to know what she compared it to.

Can you head to the hospital and check on the kids?

I have to stay and help plan the rescue. Nedzu already messaged saying 

Kan and I have to be present for a press conference that will be cover

For the rescue mission.

09:10 am

Damn, he just dismissed us from a meeting saying he had to make plans.

We’ll definitely head on over. I think both of us just need to see Izuku.

And knowing him, he would want to know how everyone else is doing

So we would have to visit them regardless of your request.

Just let me know when you are coming back to UA

9:15am

When Hizashi finally looked up, Virginia was far out of sight so he picked up his speed and went for the dorm. He found her curled up on the couch staring blankly at the tv. “Hey, do you want to head to the hospital? Bring Izuku a change of clothes and check on the students. Shou texted asking if we could both go.” He asked once he sat down next to her. She blinked rapidly before looking at him, “What about the press outside? I doubt we could get through unscathed and I’d rather not be seen by them.”

“No problem at all. There are some hidden entrances for vehicles to enter from, where we can go out. Opposite side of the press.” Hizashi assured and a weak smile lit up Virginia’s face as she got up and rushed up to Izuku’s room to grab a change of clothes. In his room, she grabbed a travel bag and threw some clothes inside before staring hard at the contents for a long moment. She pulled a few more things from a container and his hairbrush along with a dental kit before tucking it all in between the clothes. 

With a pull at the zipper, the bag shut with a finality of what is to come. A foreboding feeling overcame her for just a moment before she brushed it off and exited Izuku’s room, bag in tow.

Downstairs, Hizashi was waiting for her at the door. He smiled at her as he held the door open and they left for the parking lot to get one of the cars there. They used a basic black car with dark-tinted windows to hide them from view. Virginia placed the bag at her feet as Hizashi turned on the radio before driving off. The music was fairly subdued but both hummed or tapped along to the rhythm of the songs. The drive was overall monotonous, but arriving at the hospital was a little more interesting with how many people were entering and exiting.

 Finding a parking spot where the press wasn’t likely to see this also posed a small issue but Hizashi being dressed in his Hero costume did give them entrance through a different door for heroes and family. “Most hospitals have private wings for those in heroics, just so there is more peace but also to not scare civilians if anyone is very injured,” Hizashi spoke softly as he led the way to the desk to check in as visitors.

“That makes sense.” She responded back before falling silent as they reached the desk and Hizashi showed his Hero’s license so he could get a badge while also filling out paperwork that would allow Virginia into the hero’s wing without a hero present at any hospital in Japan in the future. Once everything was filled and done, the two were given special visitor passes to access the hero wing.

“I have the room numbers for everyone that had to stay here overnight. Izuku would appreciate knowing how everyone else is doing, right?” Hizashi asked as the two walked away from the desk towards the hero wing. They had to show their special visitor badges to the security guard at the doors before they could actually access the wing. Virginia nodded, “He would actually ask us to check on them first if we went directly to him. As I was calming him down, he started to babble, the worry was clear and I could kinda make out that it was about the students.” She confirmed as they came to their first stop.

The first few rooms were of students that were knocked out by the gas cloud, there were only 3 or 4 students that had yet to wake up and there didn’t appear to be any lasting effects on them so Hizashi was able to relax a bit more. Then they went to check on the students that had actually been harmed with any bruises or drawn blood.

Coming around a corner, the two stopped short as they watched Todoroki and Kirishima spying in another room. Hizashi spotted the room number and pulled out the sheet with the rooms of the UA students. His finger came to a stop on Yaoyorozu’s name, the two shared a look before Virginia quietly crept closer as she wasn’t wearing loud boots or leather. “The tracker can be read by this device. Please use it in your investigation.” Yaouorozu’s voice reached Virginia’s ears once she was close enough to hear without being too close to the two teens. She tucked herself behind a plant so if the two would glance her way, she wasn’t seen.

“Thank you Young Yaoyorozu. Your quick thinking has been very helpful. With this, we will be able to retrieve Young Bakugou and capture the villains. You have improved greatly since you have entered UA. Well done!” All Might's voice boomed out. Virginia cringed as she quickly retreated back to Hizashi’s side. “You know, I get that this is the hero wing but leaving a patient door open during a private conversation isn’t the smartest,” Virginia muttered once she stopped. Hizashi snorted as he nodded in agreement as he leaned against the wall beside them.

“Yaoyorozu had managed to get a tracking device on a Nomu that had been present. It kinda sounds like they have two different locations to check out.” She told him as she leaned against his side. The two stayed put as they waited for the two teens to move on. They looked over their list of rooms to see who they had left before reaching Izuku. Once Todoroki and Kirshima had turned a corner, the two adults finally pushed off the wall to finally check on Yaoyorozu.

Hizashi knocked on the doorframe, as the door was still open. Detective Tsukauchi and All Might turned to look at the two. “Oh, All Might, Detective Tsukauchi, I’m sorry, are we interrupting anything?” Virginia spoke up as she peeked around Hizashi. “We’re here to check in on the listeners, are you doing the same?” Hizashi asked as they stepped inside the room, closing the door behind them. 

“We received a call from Young Yaoyorozu stating that she had some important information that she needed to get to us as soon as possible so here we are!” All Might informed the duo. “I know I don’t have much room to speak on this matter, however, I do understand that this is a hero wing of the hospital but you really shouldn’t leave the door open for private conversations. Never know who might overhear.” Virginia muttered as she walked past to check on the girl in the bed. 

All Might and Detective Tsukauchi stared wide-eyed as Virginia strolled past them. “How are you feeling now, honey?” She asked softly, her presence leading to the two men to step farther away from Yaoyorozu. She smiled lightly at Virginia as she politely folded her hands in her lap. “I still have a bit of a headache but overall, I should be able to be released tomorrow night.” 

“That’s wonderful news. And how are you feeling, mentally, emotionally, after all of that? Do you think it might be beneficial to talk with someone about everything?” Virginia asked as she placed a hand gently on top of her folded hands. She watched as Yaoyorozu’s body slightly relaxed under her touch and she took a small shuttered breath. Yaoyorozu nodded, “It probably would be best to speak with a professional.” She agreed.

“There is a counselor at UA that I could set up an appointment for you to see if you want Yaoyorozu-kun,” Hizashi said as he walked closer to the bed. Yaoyorozu stared at her lap for a moment before she looked up to meet her teacher’s eyes. “I think I would like that Yamada-sensei. Is- is there anything else I can help with All Might-sensei?” She asked once she turned her attention to the much bulkier blond in the room.

All Might faltered slightly once Virginia turned her gaze upon him, a test reflected in her eyes, and Izuku’s words from weeks before echoed in his ears. “That is all Young Yaoyorozu. I am very grateful for the help you have already provided, you just rest now. Leave the rest up to the pro-heroes and police force. I will see you soon, I hope in class.” All Might smiled gently before he and the detective exited the room, closing the door after them.

“Did you call for them as soon as you woke up?” Hizashi asked after he pulled a chair closer to the bed so Yaoyorozu didn’t have to look up, allowing her head to be in a more relaxed position. “I- I called for a nurse first and during their exam, I asked if they could call UA for me as I have important information for them. I talked with my parents before All Might and Detective Tsukauchi arrived.” She said softly as she looked back at her hands.

“Do you want to talk or do you want us to leave so you can rest more?” Hizashi asked after a few minutes of silence. “Can- can I be alone? I would like to sort through my thoughts some more.” Yaoyorozu asked hesitantly. “Of course you can sweetie. If you feel like that is what you need right now, we will respect that. There are also a few more students to check in on before we visit Izuku.” Virginia said quickly, resting her hand on top of Yaoyorozu’s hands again.

“How is everyone? Was anyone else hurt?” She asked worried but relaxing as Virginia’s quirk worked on her. “Pretty much everyone that was knocked out by the gas has woken up, there were a few injuries mostly Izuku but nothing was light threatening.” Hizashi comforted, earning a nod from the young lady. “We’ll stop by again if you would like before we leave?” Virginia suggested as she slid off the bed. “I would appreciate that, thank you.” 

Virginia and Hizashi smiled before they left the room to check the final few students before arriving to see Izuku. Virginia knocked on the door hiding Izuku, his voice sounded rough as he gave permission to enter. She slammed the door open and rushed over to him, throwing her arms around his neck as he caught her. A worried string of words rattled off in his ear as he met Hizashi’s eyes while the blond closed the door.

Izuku comforted Virginia while he tried to convey how thankful he was to Hizashi for keeping Virginia company during this whole ordeal. “I’m okay Gin. The doctors say I can leave tomorrow. They just want to keep me under observation for a bit longer.” Izuku said as he gently rubbed her back as she was shaking, her nerves finally shot as she was able to see him and hear his heartbeat steady and strong. Her body sagged against him as Hizashi gave him an update on all the other students.

He smiled warmly as his own body released the tension it was holding as he listened to Hizashi’s voice, the warmth of Virginia soaking into him, and the confirmation that everyone was safe par Bakugou. Virginia seemed to fall asleep so Hizashi quietly left the room to finally give Shouta an update on how everyone was. 

Once the door closed behind Hizashi, Virginia lifted her head up from Izuku’s neck as she removed herself completely from his hold in order to grab his duffle bag with the change of clothes. Izuku was puzzled as to why she pretended to fall asleep, the redness in her eyes was genuine but there seemed to be another motive. “Gin?” Izuku asked curiously as she dropped the bag on his lap.

Her stare prompted him to look through the bag, his hands fumbled inside only to jerk away when his hand came into contact with something cold and metallic. He reached back inside and found his face guard and gloved from his hero suit hidden in the changes of clothes. He looked at her confused and concerned as to why she would bring those. “The police and heroes have two potential locations to where Bakugou is.” Her voice was blunt and cool.

Izuku’s eyes widened as he felt like she just knocked all the air from his lungs. It quickly became clear to him why she brought those. “From what I know, tomorrow night is the earliest they can make a move.” Izuku’s hands clenched into fists, one clutching onto the bag on his lap. 

“Izuku... I know I can’t stop you but please, don’t make a move until the heroes do. I’ll try finding out as much as I can but please rest until then. Your phone is in there too so I can call you tomorrow with more information, okay?” She asked, eyes watering with worry as she adjusted her glasses and tucked a strand of hair back.

He nodded slightly as he shifted the bag around so the gloves and face guard were once again hidden and the bag was on the floor. Once he was done, Virginia sat down next to him and leaned against his side. Both of their eyes fell shut as Izuku leaned back against his pillows so they both could relax.

Sometime later, Hizashi returned to find the two fast asleep. He smiled softly as he settled into a nearby chair and finally allowed the silent tears to fall. The past few hours had gone from 0 to 100 way too fast and it involved the safety of his family. If it hadn’t been for Virginia, he probably would have gone feral, and probably still would if he was sure his family wouldn’t get hurt any further. He allowed his eyes to fall shut as he leaned his head against his hand that was propped up on the chair’s armrest. A peaceful silence fell over the three, a warm comfort enveloped them as they all finally allowed themselves to relax.

A nurse coming to check in on Izuku and bring him lunch found the three asleep. She froze in the doorway as she looked on for just a moment before she fully entered and gently woke Izuku up, which woke Virginia up. Seeing the nurse, Virginia got off the bed and wandered over to Hizashi to wake him up as well. Once she had his eyes open she gently pulled him out of his spot. “I think we should head back now. Remember what I said Izuku.” Virginia announced before dragging Hizashi after her. The two silently walked down the hall back to Yaoyorozu only to see her talking with her parents so they politely waved from the door before heading out of the hospital back to UA.

The next several hours passed without much happening, at least for Virginia. She floated around the dorm, not willing to venture outside or even to her usual gym for her silks. Hizashi had left at some point, she faintly remembered him stating he was going to get dinner for the two of them.

Nearly 40 minutes later, Virginia found herself staring at the tv while a nature documentary played. She watched without understanding anything when the front door opened. Assuming it was Hizashi with food, she blinked as she turned to face him only to be greeted with the sight of Shouta. The two stared at each other as Hizashi walked past to place the bags of food down at a table.

Virginia quickly got up and rushed to Shouta, wrapping around him in a hug, arms, and legs locked behind him as he wrapped his own arms around her, one under her butt and the other on her back to keep her from falling. Shouta just stood there silently after he adjusted her weight a little bit. He rested his chin against her head as she buried her face in his capture weapon. 

“We’re going to get him back tomorrow night.” He whispered to her, firm and confident in his words, causing her to lift her head to meet his eyes. She seemed to search his gaze for an answer, that she found if the small smile he received meant anything. “Let’s eat. I haven’t had much today.” “Mood,” Virginia muttered as she unwrapped her legs and he placed her down.

The three settled in at the table and took their shares of the meal Hizashi picked up. No one found the energy to talk even about mundane things. Occasionally they each find themselves looking at the empty chair as a constant reminder that things weren’t the norm right now. Maybe, just maybe if Izuku had been there, they could forget for just a moment of the utter bullshit that was happening right now. But he isn’t and the normalcy is shattered for who knows how long now.

Chapter Text

Morning arrived with the two heroes being pulled into a new meeting early in the day leaving Virginia alone to her thoughts. She ate breakfast and did some cleaning before she settled in to watch tv. She flipped between several channels before settling in on a random anime currently playing. The flashes of color and the voices coming from the tv only served to lull her to sleep rather than keeping her mind active.

Virginia was unaware of how long she had her eyes closed but suddenly waking to hear a news reporter harping on UA certainly startled her. Angrily she turned off the tv and stormed up to her room to get changed into presentable clothes. Once she was done with her backpack purse on her back, as she rode down the elevator, she sent a text to Hizashi and Shouta asking if they were still in the meeting and that she was going to visit Izuku.

She reached the gates of the school when she received a reply from both, telling her that they were and to stay safe. A message from Nedzu also popped up, just a map of the wall. It indicated a better route for her to leave by and not be seen by the press that still hovered outside. She had hoped that with it almost being lunchtime, she could go out the front, but with the text and the noise she figured that it wasn’t a good idea.

With a huff, she quickly turned away from the main gate and jogged over to the hidden door. A follow up text arrived from Nedzu with how to get the door open. She shook her head amused before following the steps and went straight for the train, she had yet to get a driver's license and had figured that the train is more reliable than possible traffic or delays by villains.

It took a few moments for her to find the right line to take but soon enough she was sitting comfortably on her way to visit Izuku. He hadn’t sent her any texts or called since she left him so she could only hope he was doing as she asked. Upon arriving at the hospital, she used the main entrance and walked up to the reception desk to get a visitors' badge. 

She offered a polite smile as she offered her id to the receptionist, “Good afternoon. I’m here to visit my brother, last name is Mori.” She said softly as she waited for the receptionist to ask for more information. “Welcome in Mori-san, have you visited recently?” They asked as they pulled something up on their computer screen, fingers typing away. “Yes, I was here yesterday. My brother was brought in along with several other students the day before.” She responded back, causing the receptionist to pause for a moment. 

They looked up at her for a moment before changing screens to one just meant for those in the hero wing. “Same family name?” They asked as they put her own information in the computer to see visitor logs from yesterday matching her name. A single new entry popped up saying she had permission to enter the hero wing as an unaccompanied civilian. “Yes, his given name is Izuku.” Virginia confirmed as she was handed back her id which she quickly tucked away.

The information pinged and matched, the receptionist smiled at her as they handed her a visitor's pass and sent her on her way. She made a quick stop at the cafe to grab a muffin before heading up to visit Izuku. She peeked into the rooms she visited yesterday to see how many were still there. It was nice to see most had been emptied as she continued on her way. 

Coming around the final corner before Izuku’s room, she could hear raised voices coming from beyond the door he was hidden behind. “-nother receiver?” One voice scolded; anger was clear in his voice as Virginia came to a stop outside the door. Another voice responded but much softer so she couldn’t hear what was said.

“It’s as All Might said! We must leave this to the pros! This isn’t something for us to act upon, you idiots!” The first voice shouted out. “We know that! But I couldn't do anything! After I heard that my friend was being targeted! I couldn’t do anything! I didn’t do anything. If I don't do anything now, I won't be a hero or a man anymore!” A new voice shouted out, his words rang in Virginia’s ears as her hand hovered above the door handle.

“Is Kirishima the one that talks about being a man?” Virginia whispered to herself, she heard someone else speak before pulling the door open quickly. The students all whipped around to stare at her like deer in headlights, stunned as they looked at her. “Um, hello?” She offered a small wave, “What’s going on in here?” She acted as if she hadn’t heard anything from moments before.

“Nothing!” Denki shouted as he waved his hands frantically before him. Virginia just nodded as she skirted around the students to sit next to Izuku. “I’m glad to see all of you up and moving around. Those of you that got hurt, are you healed up now or do you still have some recovery to do?” She asked as she looked over the gathered students. Uraraka and Tsui nodded to her, “We got all patched up yesterday. All of us were released yesterday.” Uraraka said as the students all began to relax.

Virginia smiled warmly at them, “I’m glad to hear that. Are the rest of you doing alright? I can only imagine the amount of stress you had to deal with during the attack. Have any of you considered speaking with a therapist about it, even just for one session? UA has a counselor that is more willing to lend an ear for however frequent.” She said, continuing to allow them to drop their defenses before acting.

A few murmurs rose from the group, glances were passed around before a few people questioned how they could. “You can talk with any of your teachers about scheduling with him. Yamada-san will be doing so at Yaoyorozu’s request after we talked with her while All Might was visiting her.” She kept a smile on her face while she saw several tenses, wondering when exactly she visited.

“I do hope you all use this time to relax and recover from the stress and injuries, but I do suppose you all deserve a bit more information.” Virginia said softly as she shifted around to pull out her phone from her purse, Izuku spotted a bundle of green fabric inside and was confused but he didn’t bother asking about it. 

“If you weren’t aware, I have been living at UA in the staff dorms since I arrived in this time. As such, I am privy to more insider information, more so after I discovered that I am the platonic soulmate for Yamada-san, please don’t share that with anyone. Because of this, I know that the heroes have two potential locations, one where one of the villains from the attack had been seen entering and the other was revealed yesterday by Yaoyorozu after she planted a tracker on a nomu that had apparently been present.

There are many heroes gathering to attack the two locations simultaneously. Vlad King, Nedzu, and Aizawa-san will be holding a press conference to apologize for the hell that happened and to explain the continuation of searching for Bakugou. The conference will be held tonight and will hopefully help to settle the civilians.” Virginia informed them, skipping over some information because of the discussion from yesterday, just in case.

The students continued to watch her, phone in hand as she had looked at it as she spoke, reading off some of the information shared. She tucked her phone away before addressing them again. “Don’t be stupid and reckless or you will get caught. Eavesdropping on conversations even when the door is open, isn’t very heroic. Aizawa-san would be so disappointed in your physical awareness, I had been standing right behind you two yesterday.” She said, disappointment heavy in her voice. 

Todoroki and Kirishima both tensed, sharing wide eyed looks, “Now, I am not a teacher, I do not have any authority over you, and I do not have the ability to physically stop you. The individuals I could possibly inform that could stop you, are in meetings and will be in a conference that they cannot miss. If you are to act, just be prepared to deal with the consequences, whatever they may be. Do not tell me anything, do not hint at anything that could lead me to being an accomplice. And for the love of all, don’t fucking yell in a hospital. The walls and doors aren’t soundproof.” Virginia huffed as she gave Izuku the muffin she had bought and left. A text message notification pinged on his phone moments later, the only sound in the room after her departure.

Several of the students looked pale and quickly said goodbye to Izuku before leaving the room, intending to either hang out elsewhere or go home. Iida followed the students out, being the last one out the door besides Kirishima. Izuku was very aware of what Iida was doing but ignored it for Kirishima. “Look, I understand that going after Bakugou is a bad idea, that I can get in a lot of trouble but, I also know we can save him. I know you want too, too! Just, please think about it Mido- Mori. We’ll wait outside the hospital tonight if you want to join.” Iida left at that point while Izuku held Kirishima’s gaze.

“Kiri... you do realize that if we get caught, you guys could possibly get banned from being heroes, right? For me? I would get jailed as a vigilante. I get how angry you are about this, trust me when I say my anger is deadlier. I was right there, if I wasn’t trying to hide all of my skills so I am underestimated, then I could have grabbed Bakugou. You didn’t see my anger. It took a calming quirk to bring me back. If I go with you tonight, Kirishima, someone will die because I am barely holding it together right now.” Izuku bared his soul to the redhead, who looked on in shock.

He could see a toxic blue glow emanate from Izuku’s eyes as he spoke, a foreboding feeling of dark promises of death. “Do you think you really have the ability to kill?” Kirishima asked in a hoarse whisper. Izuku’s face took on a blank expression as he chose only silence to fill the room as an answer. Kirishima took a step back, a jolt of fear through his bones. 

“Kirishima, listen to my words carefully. Just because you are a hero in training does not mean you won’t ever reach the point where you wish death upon someone and feel that if you ever encounter that one specific person you would find it in you to kill them. Some people will never reach that point, but as heroes we have to deal with a lot more than the average person. So, we all will reach that point in our lifetimes.” While still blank besides the fury in his eyes, Izuku suddenly looked far older than he physically was, like a generational heaviness weighed down on him. 

Kirishima swallowed hard before nodding. “I’ll see you later Mori. I’ll think about your words. Later, man.” The redhead quickly left the room, allowing Izuku the chance to finally look at his phone. The message that came through was the missing information that Virginia decided not to say, written in their language for only their eyes. The press conference is a ruse for the heroes to launch the attack tonight. She had the information of where the heroes were going to meet before splitting apart to cover the two locations. She noted that if he was indeed going, to keep on All Might. 

The current theory is that the second location given by Yaoyorozu will just have the nomu, they expect the nomu to be housed separately than where they are keeping Bakugou. The attacks are coordinated to happen at 10:15 pm, so he should rest and get some food in him so if he were to go, he has plenty of energy.

Izuku sighed as he put down his phone and leaned against the pillows on the bed. He zoned out as he watched the ceiling, doing calming breathing exercises as he could feel the energy of his anger mixing with his quirk just under the surface of his skin. For him to go out tonight, he needed to have control, he cannot have his lightning arching off his body at all. At some point a doctor came in and had a little chat with him regarding his injuries and to tell him he was going to be released tonight around 6.

Outside the hospital, Virginia tucked herself against a wall so she could ensure Izuku had all the necessary information before he did anything. Once that was done, she decided that she needed to walk around, nervous energy bouncing around. Window shopping and eventually lunch helped her burn away the energy before boarding a train to head back in the direction of UA, getting off one stop before.

She continued her stroll around the town, now closer to home and possibly the conference location if all the news vehicles she was seeing indicated. Weaving between the crowd of people, she listened to the chatter and feelings involving UA. The failures the school seem to be suffering. Several times, Virginia found herself needing to bite her tongue to keep from lashing out at the civilians around her.

With a shake of her head, she left the shopping district to locate a park to sit and relax at. Izuku had sent her a few messages by then as did Hizashi and Shouta. The two soul brothers were just checking in on her, making sure she was okay. She sent them both a selfie with only trees in the background so they couldn’t easily track her down if they felt it was necessary. Izuku just stated he would stay safe and would see her soon since he was getting released that night.

By the time hunger made itself known, the clock showed 7pm and Virginia knew the heroes should be gathering. She called Hizashi, who picked up pretty quickly, “Hey! I wasn’t expecting you to call, something up?” Hizashi’s voice rang out happily. “Are you occupied? I’m getting hungry but I don’t really want to eat alone. Are you free to join me?” Virginia asked softly, even though the park has long since emptied. 

“Yeah, I can definitely join you, do you want to go out and eat or eat at the dorms? If you want to go out, I can pick you up! We just need to be done around 8:30, I’m going to be on the sidelines for the conference. I’m sure Shouta wouldn’t mind you being there too if Izuku won’t be released yet so you aren’t alone.” Hizashi rattled off. “I would really like that. I’ll send you a pin of where I am and you can pick where we eat, I don’t have a particular taste for anything.” Virginia agreed as she sent off the pin to him.

“I got the location. I’ll arrive in like 10 minutes, okay?” “Yup, see you soon.” Virginia smiled as she ended the call, very aware she didn’t clarify if Izuku was getting out yet. Hizashi had to know that Izuku wouldn’t be held any longer but if Virginia were to acknowledge it, then how could she explain where he went if not at the hospital or at UA. She leaned back, tilting her face to the sky as she waited for Hizashi to arrive.

Her bag felt heavy on her lap.

True to his word, Hizashi arrived 10 minutes later just as Virginia stopped at the park’s entry. He waved to her from inside the car as she quickly ran around it to get in the passenger side. “Alright! Let’s get some good shit! No fish this time.” Hizashi cheered as he drove off, causing Virginia to giggle.

With full stomachs, the two made their way to the meeting space Nedzu is using to host the press conference. Virginia shooed Hizashi off, stating she needed to use the restroom before catching up with him. Once she made sure the room was empty, she located a sign that indicated it was temporarily closed before posting it and locking herself inside.

Izuku was finally released along with Yaoyorozu, they wandered out of the hospital together only to be greeted by Todoroki and Kirishima. The redhead smiled at them both, clearly expecting their help. Once he made eye contact with Izuku, his smile dropped as Izuku gently shook his head. He focused on Yaoyorozu as she hadn’t given them the tracker yet, if Izuku wouldn’t join then maybe she would still give it to them.

Yaoyorozu took a breath, holding her hand in front of her chest, the device in hand, and went to speak when Iida came around the corner. Her confidence deflated as Iida stalked closer to the 4. “Why-” Iida’s voice was quiet but rough as he stopped next to them. “Why did it have to be you guys of all people! You stopped me when I was acting recklessly for selfish reasons, we received an acquittal together, so why are you about to make the same mistake I did! This isn’t right!” Iida clenched his fists as he kept his head down.

Izuku sighed as he approached Iida, “Iida- look I know this situation is s-” Iida cut Izuku off with trying to punch him in his anger, but Izuku’s reflexes were faster, and he caught his wrist. Darkness flashed in his eyes as he glared at Iida, “Don’t fucking hit me. If you’d let me speak, you would have known I wasn’t planning on going on this endeavor because if we were caught, I wouldn't get forgiven this time. I would be treated as an adult and get slapped with vigilante charges and arrested.” Izuku’s voice was quiet but filled the air with a heavy energy.

His anger slipped from his control for a heartbeat before he regained control and released Iida’s wrist. The teen took a step back from Izuku as he gently held his wrist. “The risk for me isn’t worth it and given my size, I wouldn’t blend in as well as the rest of you. I just have to trust in the heroes for this. Instead, I am finally going to go home and comfort my sister as she has been incredibly stressed from all of this.” Izuku huffed as he adjusted the strap of the bag he had before stalking away. He needed to get out of sight to get to the gathering spot by 7. 

Murmurs followed after him as he left to find the nearest hidden alleyway. Once he was sure he was fully hidden in the shadows, he put on his gloves and mask before taking off into the air. Using a mix of strength and float, he soared high above the buildings, orienting himself towards the train station in order for him not to get completely lost on his way to the location Virginia gave him. 

Energy hummed under his skin as the cooler air whipped across his skin. Each bound he took allowed him to cover a 2-hour train ride in 30 minutes, barely touching down before launching off again. He eventually found the correct building and landed on top of it, now he just had to wait for All Might to show up, so he knew exactly where to go while waiting. He ditched his bag somewhere he could return to that would be safe.

Izuku crouched on the roof of the building he waited on, observing the people wandering around. He wished he could hear the meeting that was going on below him but with all of the quirks he had, none gave him super hearing. Time ticked by before there was any movement from the ally to the side of him. Izuku carefully peered over the ledge as he watched armed policemen file out and down the alley to the connecting street before surrounding a dark gray building. 

A dark grin flashed across Izuku’s face as he jogged across the roof and the adjoining building’s roof to keep a good eye on things. Now he just needs to be patient, the heroes will get Bakugou, he can go home, take a shower and relax so the only thing for him to stress about is asking Hizashi out finally. He knelt next to the wall, so he was even more hidden as he watched over the attack by the heroes. He couldn’t see much because it seemed that everyone was waiting on a final signal. Whatever it was, it was given as All Might jumped up and punched the wall, exploding it inwards. Kaumi Woods quickly followed after, using his chain imprisonment to capture everyone inside.

Once the dust settled, he was able to spot Bakugou, unharmed, standing next to All Might. Izuku released a sigh of relief but was feeling a little apprehensive with how easily that was and for not being able to hear what was being said inside. He wondered why they hadn't removed Bakugou while arresting the villains. From what he could see, All Might was questioning Shigaraki, but he was keeping Bakugou at his side instead of ushering him out the building, or someone else if All Might was too focused on whatever he was asking.

Hell, Bakugou could just jump out of the hole and use his blasts to soften his landing. Izuku was sure he wouldn’t get in trouble if he did jump out but All Might is keeping a hold of him so he can’t. Izuku worried his lip under his mask. He knew how upset Gin would be if he jumped in, exposing himself, but he couldn’t help it. The longer it took for Bakugou to exit the building, the more antsy he grew. He shifted his body to try working out some of the anxious energy bubbling up.

His gut turned as he could hear shouting coming from inside. Strange gray blobs formed at random around the police and Endeavor outside the building prompting Izuku to stand quickly. Nomu began exiting these blobs, the police started to shoot, and Endeavor burned them away. All Might’s scream of rage reached his ears and when All Might appeared at the edge of the damaged wall, no smile on his face, Izuku’s blood went cold. His control was quickly slipping through his fingers as All Might jumped away once Endeavor shooed him away.

The Nomu were starting to overwhelm the cops and Izuku reached his breaking point. Inky black tendrils darted off of him, piercing and tearing apart the nomu with vicious ease. The sky darkened as Izuku took off into the air, following the direction All Might went. The clouds swirled angrily as they quickly began to block the moon. Citizens below quickly evacuated the streets, expecting heavy rain when none had been forecasted. Cracks of lighting danced in the clouds lightly, hiding the arching green coming from Izuku as he approached the battle grounds.

Virginia leaned against the restroom door for a few breaths before she pushed off and set her purse on the counter. After staring at her reflection in the mirror she removed the green bundle that took up all the space in her bag, then pulled out her phone in order to watch the broadcast live as it was recorded to be played in an hour as she changed clothes. She knew that the recording being played would trigger the next events in a single swift move, hopefully catching the villains off guard.

Shouta’s voice playing over the speaker of her phone caused Virginia to pause as she watched the three UA representatives talk to the press. “We deeply apologize for the incident that allowed harm to come to 27 first years of the hero course because of our unpreparedness. We apologize for causing unease in society due to our negligence in properly defending ourselves as a place of learning. We are truly sorry.” The three bowed as a heaviness settled in Virginia’s chest. She caught sight of herself in the mirror, her shirt removed exposing the misty panther that represented Shouta. Her gaze hardened as she turned back to removing her outer clothes before folding them and putting them in her purse.

“Since the start of the year UA students have had 4 encounters with villains. This time, there were even students injured. How did you explain to their families, and what are some specific countermeasures you are taking? ” One reporter asked. Nedzu’s higher pitched voice responded next, “ We will increase policing in the surrounding area and review the security within the school, ensuring the students safety with a strong position. That is what we told them.” His words are placating.

Virginia grabbed her phone and tucked it into her purse so she could still listen as she made her way to the conference room, placing a green lace veil over her eyes that brushed against the tip of her nose. Her footsteps were rushed as she went for a side door instead of the main doors at the back of the room. Shouta’s voice came from her bag in answer to a reporter’s question directed at him.

“You spoke of the student's safety eraser head. During the incident, it appears you urged them to fight. What was your intention behind this? ” “ I concluded that because we were unable to fully grasp the situation, it had to be done in order to avoid the worst possible outcome.” Shouta said flatly but politely. Virginia could hear the man scoff at him just as she came to a stop at the needed doors.

She stopped her phone and placed her bag down before opening the door to make her entrance. “What do you mean by the worst possible outcome? You don’t call 26 victims and one abduction the worst possible outcome?” The same reporter asked. Anger stirred in Virginia’s stomach as she marched into the room, the green cloak billowed around her as she walked.

Her voice rang out firm, confident, very much the opposite of how she was really feeling at that point, “The worst possible outcome is that every person present during that camp died. The 40 students and the 6 proheroes, dead, without anyone being the wiser. A fire quirk was present that was burning hot enough to incinerate a body. Every trace of those attending the camp could have been erased and no one would have known till 4 more days passed and families were expecting their children to come home.

That is the worst possible outcome. These teens are all in the hero course, this is an experience that they could face in the field, it sucks that it has happened so soon and it is far from what was planned but it is something they have to understand is a kind of encounter that will happen. Their families need to understand this as well, my words aren’t meant to dismiss their concerns, but their teens chose a dangerous career that you reporters tend to only show the positive of. You are the ones that tend to hide the harshness the career path faces.

The way the media portrays the hero industry leads to an influx of individuals that either become mediocre heroes or die because of their egos that have them ill prepared for situations like this attack.” Virginia came to a stop, chin held high as she stared at the single standing reporter. If it wasn’t for her voice being recognized by the three heroes, they would have no idea who she was.

“She is quite correct in what the worst scenario is. The gas attack accounts for most of the victims. We have determined that it was a sleeping gas from one of the enemies’ quirks. Thanks to the quick response of Ms. Kendo and Mr. Tetsutetsu there were no serious injuries from that attack. In addition, we are providing mental care to the students, but at the moment, we do not see any signs of serious psychological trauma. We believe that the worse outcome would have infringed on the future.” Nedzu spoke up, drawing attention back to the table.

The reporter’s mind seemed to stall for a moment as he kept eyeing the unidentified woman before him, giving him a stink eye despite her eyes being covered. “W-well... Can you say the same for the kidnapped Bakugou?” His voice wavered for a moment before finding his groove and attempted to steamroll them with his next questions.

“He enrolled at UA high with excellent marks and won the sports festival. In addition, during the incident with the sludge villain in middle school, he resisted the powerful villain alone, so he has a history of showing how tough and heroic he can be. On the other hand, the violence he showed in the finals and his attitude at the award ceremony show that he is not always very stable mentally. What if the villains kidnapped him because they had an eye on that? Kidnapping him with deceitful words, and dyeing him with the path of evil? What evidence do you have for saying that he has a future?” The man said firmly, arrogance dripping off him.

Virginia rolled her eyes as she shifted her weight to her left him while crossing her arms, “And you wonder why your soulmate, your wife is getting a divorce from you.” She quipped as Shouta stood up behind her. Murmurs rippled through the room as the reporter paled at her knowledge. His eyes wide as he gaped at her like a fish. “Bakugou, does clearly have a temper, but one that is focused on being a hero. His spirit won’t be easily swayed like your morals.” Virginia intoned again before Shouta could speak.

“As an educator, I take full responsibility for Bakugou Katsuki's violent behavior. However, his actions at the sports festival originate in what he considers ideal strength. He is trying harder than anyone in his pursuit of becoming the top hero. If the villains saw that and thought they had an opening, then I believe they are being short-sighted.” Aizawa said before bowing to the assembly, Virginia tilted her head down slightly.

She rocked her body lightly before stalking across the room away from the reporter to the door that she knew Hizashi was waiting behind. She knew she was definitely getting scolded once the conference was over. Nedzu spoke as she left, “I want to make sure you understand that we aren’t being idle. We are currently investigating along with the police. We will definitely get our student back.” Nedzu spoke firmly, confident in his words even if he gave no indication of when.

Virginia reached the doors and slipped through as a few more reporters asked questions. Hizashi was staring at her hard with his jaw dropped in shock, her cheeks flushed as she tugged at the cloak to cover more of her front. “What the hell was that?” He hissed once he managed to control his face again. The live recording was playing in the background as she shuffled over to sit next to him. “I’ll explain but can you get my bag? I left it at the doors I entered from, behind a thing.” She asked softly, her vocal tone back to her usual. Hizashi nodded dumbfounded before walking away to locate her bag as asked, too baffled to protest at all.

Hizashi had either struggled to find her bag, or he decided to take a breather to collect himself or he waited for the conference to end before returning as he arrived nearly 20 minutes later moments before the other 3 UA staff members did. Virginia stood as she fiddled with an edge of her cloak, not looking to see Shouta’s expression. The tired man silently sighed as he walked over and wrapped her in a short hug, catching her by surprise. 

Virginia made a little chirp/squeak from being startled; her eyes wide as she tilted her head to look at his face. He stepped back and crossed his arms as he took in her appearance. Ignoring the surprised expression, she managed to portray with the majority of her face covered and how she stood with her arms up, hands in relaxed fists by her chest, he really looked at the very interesting outfit she wore. 

Despite knowing what she looked like in a bikini, he felt that she was even more exposed, a small amount of possessiveness stirred, he was fine at the beach, but this outfit made him want to hide her so only he could see. He mentally shook himself from that train of thought as Nedzu came to a stop before her. “Wonderful timing.” Nedzu praised, throwing everyone but Virginia off. 

“I was worried I would miss my entrance or enter too soon.” Virginia muttered as she dropped one hand while the other rubbed over the back of her neck. “Wait, you were in on this, Nedzu?” Hizashi asked as he stepped closer. “Yes, I indeed did. Virginia-san is very capable, however do you really believe that she would have the information about that specific reporter if she was not instructed by me to do so?” Nedzu grinned at them as finally reached up to remove the veil over her eyes.

She blinked rapidly for a few moments before her eyes adjusted to the brightness the room actually was. “Where did you get the outfit from? Shouta asked, still staring at her. She met his gaze for a split second before looking away, not able to look at his expression. “Um, well a week or so after arriving, um, I wandered the school and found myself in the costume department. One of the students was dealing with some major burn out and just needed something to make that wasn’t a hero costume, something easier, I guess. I had actually found them sulking in the hall since she was out there to clear her head. I suggested making something for me, just a fun thing without any specialized materials.

Her quirk lets them make a hologram image that they can then just slap with paper to transfer it over. I described what I wanted, the image appeared in the air, and we talked about tweaks. Once the plan was made, she took my measurement and excitedly returned to class to work. I got the finished project a few days after we got back from I-Island and it was just sitting in my closet till today.” Virginia told them all, occasionally gesturing with her hands as she did.

“Why this kind of design?” Shouta asked, the others in the room picking up the very slight sound of distress in his voice. “Because no one would expect me to wear it so if by chance I’m ever seen by the public, no one would know it's actually me?” Virginia finished in a questioning tone as if she was failing at bullshitting an answer for him. Vlad scoffed and left the room, planning on heading home as his task was done now. “I have some things to finalize, I will see you all later.” Nedzu said before scampering away.

“Okay, now what’s the real reason?” Hizashi asked once the other two left, looking at Virginia over his glasses with a playful smirk. Virginia tucked her lips in as she blushed more as she crossed her arms over her body. “W-well, I’ve always been self-conscious of my stomach but always loved my curves and this leaves very little to the imagination but covers my stomach and all my soul marks.” Virginia muttered, face turning very red at the admission. 

“Wow, and you teased me about leather pants.” Hizashi grumbled in a teasing tone. Virginia pouted in a bratty manner as she faced him, “No, I teased you about dressing my brother in leather pants. I dressed myself, thank you very much.” She quipped. The playful mood quickly shifted at Shouta’s next question.

“Why do any of this?” He asked and Virginia dropped her smile, eyes downcast as she looked at the floor. “So, there is proof that I wasn’t anywhere close. You know I don’t have the ability to stop him.” She said, her arms hanging limply at her sides. “What?” Hizashi asked as Shouta looked at her worried as he moved to stand right next to her. “You can’t really think Izuku wouldn’t follow the teams to make sure Bakugou is returned safely.” She said in a whisper, wrapping her arms around herself for comfort.

The two men looked at each other, torn between bringing awareness to the police and heroes or just leaving it be as Izuku is there just to watch. Shouta pulled Virginia into his arms, so her head rested over his heart, before he and Hizashi had a quick sign language discussion on what to do. They concluded that they would head back to the dorms to wait it out.

Hizashi volunteered to go collect his car before bringing it around the corner, so Virginia wasn’t seen again by anyone. Virginia stood facing the door, lost in thought as she crossed her arms in front of her. “You know, you seem more exposed now than when we were at the beach.” Shouta admitted as he stood next to her, an arm wrapping around her, so his hand rested against the bare skin of her exposed hips. She startled at his touch before looking at him, finally meeting his eyes and holding.

“I feel like it. But it’s surprisingly warm.” She smiled, fingers barely brushing against the hand on her. After a moment of silence, she dropped the smile and her gaze, “Are you mad at me for this?” Her voice was soft and hesitant. Shota shook his head, “No. If there was anyone, I would be mad at, it would be that rat. Let’s just get back to the dorm and we can talk more then,” Shouta said moments before Hizashi opened the door to usher them out.

The drive back to UA was silent as was the walk to the dorm, which surprisingly had the lights on. “I don’t remember leaving those on.” Virginia murmured as they continued inside, several people were inside watching the tv. Nemuri was the first to look over and spot Virginia, a loud cat call whistle came from her, “Oooh what are you all dressed up for?” Nemuri practically purred as she walked over to the three.

“Don’t ask.” Virginia muttered as she removed her shoes and wandered over to the kitchen to get some water. The others in the room shook off the surprise and turned back to the tv that was now playing the recording of the conference. Shouta finally loosened his tie as he dropped to the couch. Hizashi wandered over as well and chose a chair. There was no chatter as the news anchors spoke and played clips from the conference. Virginia was ignoring it as she drank her water, lost in thought.

A glass shattered.

The room froze as everyone turned to look at Virginia, broken glass was at her feet, but she was unaware as she was staring at her arm, green lightning arched from her, growing in speed and strength. She looked away from her arm to everyone, a look of fear overtook her expression, the news suddenly cut as Shouta got up and went to Virginia.

A huge explosion has been noted in Camino Ward, heroes rushed to the scene to help with damage, the epicenter was focused at a location police were investigating. All Might is on the scene. A news helicopter reached the scene and showed live footage of the destruction. Shouta had picked Virginia up and placed her on the couch as this all happened, her expression morphed from fear to horror. A heavy silence echoed through the room as they all sat, focused on the tv.

What was moments before an abandoned warehouse is now blocks of destruction. A man, a monster, stood in a suit as he batted away All Might, the symbol of peace, as if he was a rag doll. Destruction spread more and more as All Might did his best against the man in the suit. Both were far too focused on what was happening on the ground, ignoring the brilliant flashes of toxic green lighting dancing across the black storm clouds.

All Might couldn’t fight to his fullest because of the blond male standing off against most of the League of Villains. He couldn’t allow himself to ignore the teen, couldn’t stand to see the teen hurt when he is so close. No thunder rumbling accompanied the lightning as two gods amongst men stood in a standstill, neither truly gaining the upper hand as one did not care to put much more effort in, while the other's morals kept him from acting more.

A sudden spire of ice formed, further distracting the group as two teens flew through the air. A call came from one, the redhead, to Bakugou. The blond on the ground froze before launching himself up at the perfect trajectory to catch up to the two rocketing in the air. The three cleared the battlefield, their stomachs dropping like boulders in a lake as a bolt of lightning illuminated a figure in the clouds as the two gods below began fighting in earnest. Inky black tendrils waved in irritation all around this figure as green lightning danced across their body and the sky. 

Toxic glowing eyes seemed to follow them as they began descending to the ground. The heavy feeling vanished as they landed and ran. Izuku floated above the carnage below, the league now vanished, leaving the two mortal enemies battling it out. Neither man has yet to notice him there. Slowly he descended as he waited for the ideal moment to strike. The legacy of All for One will end this night, for the safety of his friends, for the public, for Hizashi and Shouta, and for Virginia. 

The two below broke apart once again, words without meaning reached Izuku’s ears but from All Might’s body language, it hit him just as hard as the physical blows. Lightning struck the ground repeatedly as he launched forward, still above their heads and managed to land a powerful blow by catching Afo by surprise. The man in the suit rocketed backwards into the destroyed warehouse as Izuku gently landed in front of All Might.

“Mori-kun?” All Might whispered out of shock and lack of steady breath. Izuku slightly turned his head to look at his mentor and gently shook his head, making a light shushing noise. The blond nodded, finally able to take a breath, guilt pulled at his heart as he just accepted taking a step back from this battle. He wouldn’t step down, but he would help Izuku now, not the other way around.

Afo emerged from the rubble, brushing debris off his jacket as he did so. Smoke erupted from Izuku as more frequent flashes of lighting struck the ground in a more organized structure. It became clear to the onlookers that this was marking the danger zone, even the news helicopter stayed outside of this space, broadcasting the event live to all of Japan.

From the smoke, Izuku launched forward and exchanged blows with Afo, a brilliantly terrifying display of power from both led to yet another explosion, separating them again. Afo’s suit now looked torn up, both sleeves missing much like the state All Might is in. Izuku spoke no words, even with Afo’s attempts to taunt him. All Might finally recovered and stood to his full height next to Izuku. Toxic green blended with a brilliant blue as the two one for All users powered up. A bloody red emanates from Afo in response. The monster continued to try poking the beast, but Izuku held strong as he and All Might worked in synchronization to attack Afo. 

At first the man appeared to be holding his own fairly well as the two facing off against him were relentless in their attacks but the longer it went the more the first two seemed to slow down. All Might had to back up more frequently as Izuku continued to be relentless. Afo flew backwards once again and Izuku didn’t give chase. He turned back to All Might to check on him, steam rising from him as he kept pushing the embers of Ofa he had left. 

The blond gave Izuku a nod before shoving him out of the way, a flash from Danger sense registered in Izuku’s mind as he landed on the ground, in shock seeing Afo holding All Might by his throat while the free hand charged up an attack. All Might could no longer hold his form and deflated, struggling to get out of his hold. Afo turned mockingly to Izuku and said something that left Izuku seeing red. All Might dropped to the ground, exhausted and stunned as he watched Izuku become something else.

A deep crater formed with every devastating impact made by the furious green-ette. Inky black tendrils pierced and stuck out ruthlessly like he was intent to tear the man apart. Afo struggled to get the upper hand, made worse when Izuku ripped off his hands. Izuku was lost to his anger, the lightning was constantly striking now, a wall of electricity blocking and blinding all physically there to witness it. A guttural roar erupted from Izuku, his voice distorted and echoing over the booms from the lighting.

Shouta covered Virginia’s eyes moments before Izuku’s scream reached them. A chill raced up and down everyone sitting in the room, a few were looking green as they were unable to look away from the carnage. Virginia wasn’t sure when she stood up but she stiffly turned in Shouta’s arms, so she faced away from the tv. Someone muted the tv shortly after the scream was heard. So, so very vulnerable, Virginia’s voice ghosted over everyone as she pulled Shouta’s hand from her face.

“He killed him, didn’t he?” She asked and no one could respond. That was answer enough for her as she nodded. “Okay. I’ll be in my dorm. Good night.” She spoke before slipping away from Shouta, keeping the tv to her back, not daring to look. Silence continued over the group as no one knew what to do at that point. Shouta and Hizashi left the room, Hizashi dragging his soul brother with him as he can’t stand being alone right now after witnessing that but can’t be in such a crowded space.

With the remaining teachers in the lounge, they continued to watch the tv, unmuted as All Might said his final words, passing on the torch to the next generation as Izuku took to the sky, darting high into the air above the clouds. They weren’t sure where he was going or if he was going to return to UA. Some of them hoped he would come back because they are worried for him and a couple hoped he wouldn’t, terrified of how much power and anger he has.”

Virginia sat curled up on her bed, clutching Satan the black cat plush Izuku got her years ago. Silent tears fell from her cheeks as she prayed for Izuku to come back to her. She played calming music to fill the silent air of her dorm, her heart torn between isolation and seeking comfort from her loved ones only a few floors away from her.

In Hizashi’s dorm, Shouta comforted the blond the best he could, helping him down from the near panic attack he was facing. He only stepped away once Hizashi’s breathing calmed down in order to grab some pajamas for them both. He then directed Hizashi out of the dorm and downstairs to the showers. The blond always regrets not washing out his hair before he sleeps so Shouta wasn’t going to let him go without since he wasn’t in a state to take care of himself right now.

Once both were showered and dressed in the clothes Shouta brought, the two rode the elevator up to Virginia’s floor and stopped at her door. Shouta knocked and knocked and knocked until she finally opened the door. While he doesn’t want to disrespect her personal space, the tears streaming down her face made his next actions justifiable. He gently pushed her backwards while dragging Hizashi inside and directing both to the couch. Both were confused but curled up together, holding each other closer. 

Shouta, happy they did so without issue, went about his next task, pushing the coffee table out of the way and doing his best to replicate the blanket fort they had made previously when Virginia had been upset. The two on the couch watched in amazement as the grump of the group fiddled with soft blankets and brightly colored plushies. Once he was done, he turned back to the two and gestured to the fort. Virginia managed a warm watery smile as she pulled away from Hizashi and walked over to Shouta.

“Thank you.” She whispered as she tugged on his shirt while standing on the tips of her toes in order to plant a kiss on his cheek. She pulled away with a small smirk, “I think I prefer the stubble.” She said before settling down in the fort, waiting. Hizashi groaned for a moment before getting up to join in, shoving Shouta in first. Virginia grinned as she pulled Shouta down with Hizashi pushing. The three got settled with Shouta in the middle. Virginia curled up right against him, a leg and arm thrown over him. Hizashi lying shoulder to shoulder with Shouta. 

Music still flowed from Virginia’s bedroom as their breathing slowly synchronized and sleep overcame them from the emotional rollercoaster ride, they went through. Shouta was the last awake, mind playing over what transpired, his hand lightly playing with Virginia’s hair as she did have that arm trapped under her head. The door to the room creaked open enough for a pair of green remorseful eyes and a mop of green curls to pop through. The two stared at each other for a long minute, neither breaking contact before Izuku gave a little nod or maybe a bow of thanks before vanishing with the door closing shut.

Shouta let out a sigh, releasing the tension he had been holding, worried about where Izuku went after all of that. Content to know he was just back in the doors and was of sound mind to check in on Virginia before hiding away in his dorm. He finally allowed himself to fall asleep having been fighting against Virginia’s calming quirk since she curled up against him.

____________

Virginia's outfit

What Kirishima, Iida, and Bakugou saw:

Chapter Text

Morning rolled in slowly for most. Japan as a whole was left reeling from the events of the previous night; from the millions of dollars in damages, the hundreds of people injured or killed, the reveal of All Might’s true form and his retirement. Hizashi was the first to awaken, he just found himself staring up at the ceiling thinking over everything. What he saw last night will probably haunt him for months but he couldn’t help but think that the viciousness he saw was in response to a threat to him, Shouta, or even Virginia. 

Especially Virginia.

If that monstrous person threatened her , he could see any one of them show that level of violence. She is always to be protected. Hizashi didn’t feel afraid of Izuku, even less now that he has it set in his mind the finale of last night was out of protectiveness. He wondered if Izuku had returned yet. He then debated if he should even check or if doing so would harm the budding relationship they have. Virginia shifted in her spot, a small noise of movement to snuggle closer to Shouta who is pretty much her body pillow at the moment.

That small amount of movement broke Hizashi from his trance causing him to look over to her. He watched the two breathe in unison for a good solid minute before he finally got up. The morning light filtered through the curtains, leaving the room to feel very peaceful, like a world away from reality. As Hizashi crawled out from the fort, a light kick tapped his foot. He paused once he was clear of the sheets before he turned to look. Shouta was watching him, while the expression wasn’t that different from his usual default, it was clear to Hizashi he was making sure he was okay.

He reached out and patted Shouta’s foot before standing up and silently leaving the dorm to head to his to freshen up before getting some food for the three of them. Once outside Virginia’s dorm, he stared at the door right across. Hand raised unconsciously out to the door handle but not touching. He wanted so badly to go inside but he was hesitant. “Maybe it would be best to wait for Virginia to talk with him first.” He muttered under his breath as he dropped his hand and left for the elevator.

A couple of hours later, Virginia and Shouta finally emerged from the elevator, greeted by the smell of food and the sound of a few people chatting. Virginia trailed after Shouta, holding on to the back of his shirt, pinching a small amount of the fabric between her fingers; her eyes were downcasted as she was lost in thought, led by Shouta so she didn't run into anything. There was a momentary lull in the conversation when Virginia was no longer hidden by Shouta but a quick glare from Hizashi and Shouta, the noise returned. 

Shouta sat down on one side of Virginia and Hizashi took the other side after he placed down breakfast for them. Silently they ate as the others in the common space slowly trickled out. “Have you seen Izzy yet?” Virginia asked once they were alone. Hizashi froze as his eyes darted to Shouta before looking at her. He shook his head, “No. I almost knocked on his door to check but I figured he wouldn’t be ready to talk yet.” “If he is even in there,” Shouta added, getting a kick to the shin from Hizashi.

A small burst of giggles came from Virginia at their interaction before all of their phones chimed with a new text message. Virginia’s was the only one that didn’t make a default sound so she was the only one aware the message was from Nedzu before even looking. “Staff meeting. Nedzu wants to speak to me beforehand.” Shouta read the message to the other two. “Is it now?” Virginia asked as she started to move to clean up.

“It’s in 30 minutes. I should start heading for his office now.” Shouta clarified while standing, helping Virginia in cleaning up, smirking when she slapped Hizashi’s hand when he tried to do the same. A silent glare had him sitting back down and Virginia walked off with a proud bounce in her step as she carried the dishes to the kitchen. Shouta followed after her, carrying the rest. He managed to place them down before she began shooing him away. “I’ll take care of this, you go to your meeting.” She said as she got the sink set up so she could wash the used dishes.

“Fine. I’ll see you two later.” Shouta sighed as he walked away from the kitchen to get his shoes on at the door before heading for Nedzu’s office. Once he was out of sight, Hizashi got up and went over to Virginia. “Can I help?” “Nope, you cooked so I clean up after. It’s only fair.” Virginia quipped as she looked over her shoulder to him, a smile on her face. Not as bright as her usual smile, but warm nonetheless. The two fell silent, only the sound of the dishes being cleaned was heard.

“Zashi?” Virginia spoke up, her hands stilling as she watched the bubbles slowly pop. “Yeah?” He parroted the tone she spoke in. The detachedness of her voice continued as she dried off her hands and turned to join him at the table, “Do you really think someone is a traitor? Doesn’t Nedzu screen everyone before gaining any level of admittance to the school?” She asked as she settled in.

Hizashi chewed on his lip for a few moments as he tried to figure out a response. “He does but given that that monster Izuku fought is really old and that powerful, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone under his influence would slip through his screening. The staff are definitely screened much harsher than students, those of us that attended UA are probably screened less harshly than those who didn’t or had a larger year gap between attending and working here.” He explained, gesturing lightly as he did. Virginia’s face contorted in confusion at the end, the two having a stare-off as Hizashi tried to figure out her confusion.

“What do you mean by larger year gap?” She finally said once it registered that he couldn’t figure it out. “Oh! Well, Shou and I have only been teaching for 5 years now. We both took a few years to establish ourselves as heroes. I got a bachelor's degree in English so that’s 4 years and we did have to get a teaching license so that added more time. So, for Shou and I, it was about 7 years after we graduated here that we returned as teachers. Some started at least 15 years between graduating and teaching here.” Hizashi explained.

“I’m guessing in other departments then. Everyone I’ve seen looks young besides Recovery Girl.” Virginia noted, glancing over to the clock for the time. “Yeah, they mostly are in the marketing course. I think we should start heading over.” Hizashi agreed and stood up, pushing his chair in once he could. Virginia followed suit, and after their shoes were on, they were off to the large meeting room for all UA staff, not just the first years. 

The room was massive, filled with chairs and many unfamiliar faces. Virginia clung to the back of Hizashi’s shirt as they entered the room, hiding fully behind him as close as she could without impeding on either of their abilities to walk. Hizashi led the way up a few rows to where Nemuri was sitting with empty chairs beside her. Hizashi took the seat right next to Nemuri, leaving an empty seat next to Virginia for Shouta to take once he arrived with the principal.

8 minutes later, all of the staff had arrived bar Nedzu, Vlad King, All Might, and Shouta. Another minute later, the missing 4 entered. Nedzu jumped down from Shouta’s shoulder as he walked past the podium. Shouta was carrying a packet with him that he set down in front of Virginia once he reached her side. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye as she flipped the packet around and partially pulled out the forms inside, “They are for you to review and sign. Paperwork for employment.” Shouta whispered in her ear as Nedzu brought the meeting to attention.

4 hours later, everyone filed out. Some like zombies, some like bats out of hell, and some in between. Virginia was leading the way as Shouta and Hizashi talked as they all walked. She kept looking down at the package in her hand before looking up again. A flash of color caught her eye, head down, slowly moving along the windows was All Might, suit jacket hanging limply over his shoulders, one arm in a sling, an air around him of sadness. 

A frown pulled at Virginia’s lips as she sped up, slipping between the crowd to catch up to All Might. “Yagi-san?” Virginia spoke softly as she approached All Might’s side. The blond lifted his head quickly, blue eyes snapping to meet her own. “Virginia-san, um, hello. How are you today?” All Might asked awkwardly, unsure of how to react to her approach given their previous encounters. “I’m going to hug you.” She stated, placing her package of papers against the window.

He blinked in surprise, “What?” He stopped walking as he fully turned his body to face her. A few onlookers stopped to watch as she slipped past his guard and wrapped her arms around him gently but firmly. Flashes of several emotions danced through his eyes as the warmth and peace of her quirk sunk into his weary bones. Without intending to, tears slipped from his eyes, going from a couple of beads to streaming rivers down his cheeks. All Might practically fold in on her, knees giving out as he did his best to muffle his cries as his face pressed against her shoulder.

Gently she rubbed his back, swaying side to side as the stress of the past few days released. The hall quickly emptied, many uncomfortable seeing the former number-one hero show such vulnerability. “Things will be okay, Yagi-san. Things will be okay.” She whispered as they sank to the floor. Yagi gave up trying to be quiet as he cried over everything. Over the hardships of the students, over the stress of his career, the fear from facing Afo again, the heartbreak for all of the lives lost, and the grief of seeing his student take a life.

All of this had been bubbling under Yagi’s skin, a mental dam holding it all back for years. Adding the gentleness of Virginia’s quirk and her own soul to the mix left the floodgates open and everything came pouring out. She stayed steady and strong as she waited through the crying. Shouta and Hizashi standing a couple of meters away, backs to the two to give privacy without leaving Virginia alone.

Around 10 minutes after Virginia hugged Yagi, his tears subsided and he pulled away from Virginia’s hold. She watched his face as he wiped away the tears, he looked younger now. Even if it was just for a little bit. “I know you can’t have that much to eat, but try getting something warm in you. I’ll see you later, Yagi-san.” Virginia stated while she carefully got up as the pins and needles made themselves known to her in her legs. Once she was sure she wasn’t going to fall, she picked up her paperwork and turned away, meeting up with Shouta and Hizashi. The grump wrapped an arm around her as she was still a little wobbly as she walked and he didn’t want her to fall on her face.

The walk back to the dorm was slow, as Virginia was still working on walking off the pins and needles in her legs while not falling. By the time they got back, all three were quite hungry. The elevator doors dinged open as they removed their shoes, Virginia was ignoring it until she spotted a mop of green hair entering the elevator. “Izuku!”

Heads snapped up, Izuku looking panicked and wide-eyed as he pressed on the buttons in the elevator, urging it to close faster. Virginia nearly broke out into a sprint as she tried to get to him before the doors could close. Hizashi and Shouta stopped at their usual table, not wanting to crowd the doors. Virginia had to stop short or she would have run into closed doors, before they sealed shut, Izuku met her gaze with guilt and sadness echoing in his eyes.

Virginia stepped forward to place a hand against the doors with her head bowed before pushing away and walking over to her usual table where Hizashi and Shouta were already waiting. The packet of papers resting on the table in front of her usual chair with a pen. “Oh... when did I drop that?” She muttered as she came around to sit down. Her voice was light, almost dazed, more lost in thought than anything. Shouta and Hizashi didn’t respond as she pulled out the papers to finally look over. After a few minutes, Shouta got up to grab a laptop to do some prep work for classes, Hizashi pulled out his phone to work on sets for his next radio show.

There was a hesitant quietness around the three, undisturbed by the other staff members floating through the lobby, as they each did their own thing involving reading. Shouta had moved on to answering emails when Virginia began to aggressively flip through the pages to one that was less text heavy with a chart. “ Fucking rat! ” She growled as she glared at the paper and then back to the initial page that triggered her sudden flip in mood.

“What?” Shouta asked as he shifted the laptop away, removing the reading glasses he had on, only to sigh as he put them back on when Virginia shoved the offending papers at him. Virginia slid back in her chair, arms crossed and cheeks puffed in agitation as Shouta snorted at the note, then again as he looked at the chart paper. “Wow.” was all he offered in solidarity with her agitation. “What?” Hizashi asked, now intrigued, so Shouta passed him the papers.

Hizashi, he didn’t snort like Shouta once the words clicked in his head, instead he laughed hard. “Is- isn’t that twice as much as he originally said?” Hizashi asked once he could form more sounds than just laughing. Virginia slapped the table as she sat up, “Pretty much! 1 million yen per month, nearly double! Definitely twice the amount of the average in my home state. He says I can make any type of changes I want except decrease the pay! Not fair at all! I’ll barely be doing any work. Literally, the description is to watch over the students in the dorm to ensure their mental and emotional health. Like, I can just sit in the common room doing my own thing or stay in the staff dorm room until someone makes enough noise for me to get concerned enough to see what is up. Anything related to physical health is optional and doesn’t affect my pay.” She threw her arms out to the side, drawing some passing attention from others.

“I’m so sorry for you. That sounds sooo hard.” Shouta said, over dramatically snarkily. “Such an awe-inspiring sacrifice. Praise the goddess for her help in the burden upon us all!” Hizashi joined in the sarcasm, even adding a very dramatic groveling bow from his chair. Virginia, flushed with embarrassment, started to giggle relentlessly at their antics. “Oh, fuck you!” She said between her giggles as she snatched the papers up and signed at the bottom of the last page. She was fine with all the terms besides the pay, of which she can’t change. “I’m going to bring these to Nedzu’s office. I’ll see you later.” Virginia said as she tucked all the papers away and stood up. “Alright. We’ll see you later.” Hizashi stated as she walked off. 

The two remaining at the table looked at each other. “Goddess? Really?” Shouta said flatly as he pulled the laptop back in front of him again. “Are you saying she is not? She is essentially ancient, she is blessed with a power that can tame gods because you can’t claim that that fight we saw was anything but gods clashing and she can calm an enraged Izuku, she is beautiful, she is kind but very sassy, she can essentially fly and is very graceful when doing so. Does that not fit the idea of a goddess?” Hizashi defended.

“If Izuku is equivalent to a god in power, is she on the same level?” Shouta asked, humoring Hizashi in his analogy. The blond pulled a face as he thought, “No, she is the mother goddess that raised an eldritch-esk god that will also now be watching a bunch of teen gods, if you look at it from her perspective. Humans didn’t have powers. Let alone powers like what these students have. Explosions, creation, flora and fauna, darkness and light, sound, speed, gravity, mimicry, invisibility, strength, so on and so forth. You get what I mean right?” Hizashi had started to ramble as if he was uncovering a conspiracy.

Shouta stared at him blankly before nodding, “I see. I wonder if she realizes that she is going to be watching over at least 20 powered-up teens?” Shouta mused to himself, he leaned back in his chair, arms crossing over his chest as he did so. “She must. Right? You would think that after nearly after, what like, almost 2 months, she would remember that.” Hizashi asked as he leaned against the table. “Maybe, but she also has barely interacted with any of those hellions so it’s still likely she isn’t considering it.” Shouta countered. The two fell silent after that, returning their focus to their own work.

The walk to Nedzu’s office was a quiet one. Virginia was low on any form of energy but she wanted to give the papers back before she forgot and with the low energy she is far more likely to forget. She moved sluggishly, her footsteps echoing quietly down the hall as she focused on reaching the elevator. The ride up was quick but the walk to Nedzu’s office was slow going. Eventually, she did make it, coming to a stop to knock before entering.

The door clicked and she pushed it open just enough to stumble through. Nedzu was standing at a scanner, carefully scanning damaged papers that were piled next to him. “I signed the papers. Not a fan of the higher than expected pay.” Virginia said as she walked into the office and placed the packet on top of his desk. Nedzu’s ears twitched as she approached him, “What’cha working on?” She asked as she was close enough to see the damaged pages. 

“You do recall how after a couple of days following the practical exams, you brought attention to Izuku’s missing journals? I had looked into getting those back for you; however, Midoriya-san did not give them up without a struggle.” Nedzu began to explain. Virginia looked at him in shock, “But that was a month ago?” She said softly, looking over the loose papers and seeing how damaged they were.

“Yes. I would have returned them right away as I did get my paws on them the day of Izuku’s birthday, however, I felt that returning them to him in such a state would have been harmful. I will also admit that I was curious to see what his child mind was thinking of in order to curate such a large collection of journals filled with analysts of quirks and heroes.” Nedzu explained as he continued to scan the pages in. 

“Instead of giving these back in this state, I am scanning them into a digital database for him to use to add and organize his notes. Something more secure than those notebooks and easier to make adjustments to. Once I finish scanning them in, I will run another program to try to repair the damages as best as possible. However, Izuku will still lose some information as the program doesn’t know what it looked like previously. With how busy it has been lately, I have not been able to scan many pages in, thus why I haven’t informed either of you.” Nedzu stopped his scanning, seemingly coming to the end of one journal.

“I’m positive Izuku will be really thankful for this. I know he hasn’t really been thinking about any of his journals because he is reminded of his mother and her rejection hurts. If he was to see those pages, I think he would be even harder to reach then how he is now after taking someone’s life. Even a monster like Afo.” Virginia said softly, gazing at the pile of scanned pages vs the unscanned, which was barely even a 6th of the size. She looked at how much more work there was to be done and a thought came to mind. 

“You know, I wouldn’t mind scanning these in for you since there is so much to go through and you are still very busy with setting up the dorms and dealing with the effects of the attacks. One of my first jobs came down to scanning old archived documents that were pretty much my size, so I know I can at least scan the pages to wherever it is you are storing them.” She offered as she turned her gaze to Nedzu.

“Hum, I suppose that is acceptable. I can review the pages from my computer as the software program works to repair the damages. Yes, that is a wonderful idea. While I oversee the dorms and other things, you can come here to work on that. There is also the matter of the home visits.” Nedzu agreed as he jumped down from the scanner and went over to his desk, pulling out the papers to ensure her signature is present where it was meant to be.

Virginia followed, settling in on one of the chairs in front of his desk. “The home visits?” She asked, perplexed as she hadn’t heard anything about it. “Yes, we do need permission from the student’s parents for them to stay in the dorms. All homeroom teachers are doing home visits and as you will be primarily overseeing class 1-A, it is only right for you to also participate in this. All Might will also be joining the visits to the homes of 1-A as it was his presence that led to all the danger they faced.”

She nodded along, he did play a large part in the hardships that those kids all faced even if it wasn’t intentionally done. “Will he also be present for 1-B visits because of the camp or is it primarily 1-A because of everything?” She asked, her hands fiddling with the hem of the skirt she decided to wear that day. “Just with the visits for 1-A. They are receiving personal visits while 1-B is receiving handwritten apologies from All Might as they only dealt with the one incident.” Nedzu confirmed as he finished reviewing the papers.

“Now then, all of this paperwork is in proper order. In a couple of days, we will begin the construction of the dorms, so those will be ready before any home visits occur. I will also be mailing out information packets to all UA families before the home visits so no one is caught off guard. As you will be primarily focused on the current 1-A class, once the dorms are completed, I will be looking to you on room assignments and anything specialized to further improve the new home life for the students. Generalized suggestions for other dorms as I am also asking for this from the other homeroom teachers. Aizawa-kun will also be including his input, however, I do believe you would have more suggestions about the comfort rather than the functionality. Do you have any questions?” Nedzu folded his paws together the best he could as he gave the overview of what was happening that week. 

Virginia shook her head no, “Then I shall see you later on.” Nedzu dismissed her, she offered him a pleasant smile as she got up and left the room. Her walk back to the staff dorm was more energized. She realized that after everything that just happened, she didn’t have anything to focus on that would efficiently keep her mind off of the disasters. Offering to help with Nedzu’s project is the perfect distraction, especially with Izuku ignoring her.

She took a deep breath and slowly released it as the staff dorms came into view. The building towered over her as her eyes sought out Izuku’s window for any sign of life. A shadow passed over the curtains, Virginia’s shoulders dropped some tension seeing that he was still home. She looked back to the front door and made her way inside.

Shouta and Hizashi were still at the usual table, Cementos and Nemuri sat together going over some papers on one of the couches. “Hey, I’m bak-” Her words were cut off by a loud belch, the type that comes deep from the soul. Virginia’s cheeks went brilliant red as 4 sets of disbelieving eyes landed on her. “I am, so, so, so sorry! That was beyond unintentional!” She exclaimed as she hid her face in her hands, her cheeks hot from embarrassment. 

“I apparently need lunch,” Virginia muttered as she quickly shuffled over to the kitchen to find something to munch on as she cooks so she doesn’t burp again like that. Someone snorted, leading to Nemuri and Hizashi doubled over in laughter, Cementos was lightly chuckling and when Virginia looked over to him, Shouta was smirking at her. She promptly ignored them all as she worked on getting herself and only herself some food before retreating upstairs so no one could try getting some.

Chapter Text

Two days later, Virginia still has yet to see Izuku again since the day she hugged All Might. The days followed the same pattern, wake up, breakfast, maybe see Shouta or Hizashi as they both have begun staying on campus full time with the dorms getting implemented, heading to Nedzu’s office to scan pages until lunch, eat lunch, exercise in gym delta, watch tv, dinner, watch tv, relaxing shower, sleep and repeat.

Three days after Camino ward, Virginia was just about to knock on Nedzu’s door when it opened to the rat exiting. “Just in time. I would like it if you were to accompany me down to where the student dorms will be. Powerloader, Cementos, and the construction crew I hired are waiting.” Nedzu greeted her, once she stepped back from the doorway.

“Oh, sure. I don’t mind.” Virginia agreed as she stepped back for Nezdu to exit his office. He nodded as he pulled the door closed behind him and together they set off for the construction zone. While in the elevator, Nedzu did ask for Virginia to carry him as they were running just a bit late. “Are the student dorms going to be similar to the staff dorms?” Virginia asked as she stepped outside, heading in the direction that Nedzu pointed. 

“Yes, they will be similar. However, there will be a staff apartment on the main floor for the homeroom teachers. Fully set as an apartment, kitchen, toilet, shower, living room, 2 bedrooms, laundry, and dining room. I’m sure most that have a homeroom will use the second bedroom as their own office, however, I do have a separate office implemented for 1-A. I assumed for appearance's sake, you and Aizawa-kun would wish to have separate bedrooms while sharing the apartment in 1-A.” Nedzu explained as they came into view of the building sight.

A dozen or so workers with vastly diverse appearances stood waiting grouped up and away from the two heroes waiting. “Good afternoon everyone.” Nedzu greeted them, his appearance and the way Virginia was carrying him, made him look like a talking oversized plushie. The construction crew looked as little baffled as Virginia came to a stop next to the foreman and the other two heroes, placing Nedzu down on the table set up with the building blueprints.

Nedzu began to talk with the foreman, Cementos, and Power Loader while Virginia read through the floor plans. She gently flipped through the large papers to look over everything without scattering anything. “Um, Miss? What are you doing? You really shouldn’t be touching those since you can’t read them?” The foreman addressed Virginia, causing her to pause, a bubbling feeling of insult forming in her chest.

She looked up from the pages to him with a soft frown, masking her true expression of annoyance since how could he have known whether or not she is capable of reading it? “Bold assumption sir. I’ll have you know that my college degree was classified under Architecture, engineering, and construction. I spent years going over designing and making blueprints to the point I could still see the damn lines and codes and symbols with my eyes closed. Don’t make assumptions because it makes an ass out of you and me. ” She snarked before going back to looking over the documents. 

PowerLoader was off to the side struggling to hold back his laughter as her snark had caught him very off guard. The foreman coughed in an attempt to ignore his embarrassment while Nedzu just continued to pleasantly smile at him, “Shall we get started? I do see that the locations for each building have already been marked out. Mori-san and I will be observing for a little while before returning to our other duties.” Nedzu spoke, getting things moving without more embarrassment to the foreman.

Powerloader and a few of the construction crew stepped up to begin digging up the earth where the basement foundations would go, large quantities of dirt and stone were removed efficiently. Virginia stood back in amazement, just thinking of how efficient buildings in the past would have been if they were able to do shit like this. She amused herself with what she imagined to be the expressions of people in the past reacting to this sight. It didn’t take long for the hole to be excavated and the crew flowing in to put in all the rebar support before climbing out for Cementos to fill in the space as needed. 

Virginia was genuinely captivated with how quickly the base foundation was created, how with Cementos’ help, they didn’t need to use any forms or have to wait on curing time. While all of that was happening, PowerLoader was already half finished with clearing the next space. “At this rate of things, it will take 5 days to finish everything up. Just in time for the home visits.” Nedzu commented as he approached Virginia. She looked down at him. “It’s one building per class right?” She asked, starting to do some mental math in her head, something she hates doing but couldn’t help herself. “That is correct,” Nedzu confirmed. 

“Right, so if I remember correctly, there are 11 classes and three years so that is 33 buildings within 5 days or 40 hours if I assume a standard work day. So, that would 6 buildings finished in 8 hours if these guys are strictly in the building of the dorms and not the painting and furnishings. Though I suppose that would still work if you stagger the interior by a day, so the building will be finished before the home visits and while the visits are happening, the final touches will be done inside, for the students to hopefully move into the next day.” Virginia broke down her thoughts. 

“Very close. You are correct with the idea that the furniture will be added starting tomorrow, however, with the help of PowerLoader and Cementos along with the specialized quirks of the construction workers, there will be 7 buildings constructed in the 8 hours, with the crews for the interior finishings will be completing 5 buildings today, giving them a two-hour delay so there is less chance of the two crews overlapping. Very good job at figuring out the timeline for the construction.” Nedzu clarified and praised her, a light blush decorated her face from the funny feeling of an animal praising her. 

What a weird twilight zone feeling that is. “Now then, shall we head back inside to continue our individual work as before?” Nedzu asked after a moment of watching her subtly squirm. She gave a nod and they turned away from the business to go back inside. Lunch approached quickly after that with Virginia leaving Nedzu’s office to head back to the dorms to eat. The building was silent as she cooked and ate her food, the silence was heavy as she hoped to hear even the smallest amount of movement from Izuku somewhere above her.

Around three, she received a few messages from Hizashi and one from Shouta both pretty much saying that they won’t be seeing her that night or even possibly tomorrow either. With everything that happened in Camino, agencies and the commission are working overtime to mitigate the fallout from it and help Japan recover from the devastation. Virginia groaned as she flopped back on the couch in her dorm, she wasn’t sure what to do now. Repeating the same pattern daily reminds her of her past when she was dealing with her depression, so she tries her best to not have the days go by the exact same every day. 

The construction sight was a good way to have broken the pattern, but now she realizes that without Izuku to chat with, all she has is the tv to watch. Another ding came from her phone. She sighed as she pulled it out to review the message from Nedzu. 

Deal wit’a Devil 🐀

Good afternoon, Mori-san.

There appears to be a delivery at the gate for you.

It was noted that they would have delivered sooner but with what happened in Camino

There were some delays. Some new technology it seems. 

15:33 pm

The delivery paperwork has you as the main signer with 

Yamada as a secondary if you aren’t available.

15:35 9m

Oh, I honestly forgot about that!

Do I need to meet them at the gate?

It was a gaming setup and several accessories for art, so

Probably heavy and bulky. I’m sure I could move it myself if needed.

15:36 pm

No need for that. PowerLoader had finished for the day, 

So I sent him to show the way to the staff dorms. 

He will help you with moving the items to your dorm,

as I also assume Izuku still hasn’t come out of his self-isolation.

15:38 pm

Okay.

15:39 pm

Virginia dropped her phone back to the couch cushion as she got up and opened her door, propping it in place so it wouldn’t be in the way as everything was brought in. She decided then to only take out the drawing tablet as once the 1-A dorms are finished, she would be moving in there and could actually set up her systems there. She then cleared up an area for the boxes to be placed down. Once she was done with all of that, she heard the elevator doors opening.

With a few quick steps, she was poking her head out the door to see PowerLoader pushing a cart with several boxes towards her. “Afternoon!” She greeted him as he came closer. “Surprised you bought so much with only just starting to work here.” He teased as he maneuvered the cart inside her dorm. “I had an emotional conversation with Hizashi and agreed to some retail therapy without complaining or vetoing anything. After some sass once in the mall, I ended up with all of this at his insistence.” Virginia bemoaned as she helped remove the boxes from the cart.

After they parted ways, Virginia unpacked the drawing tablet and laptop, getting those two things set up as her entertainment for the evening. At some point, she turned on a movie marathon for some background noise as she worked on transcribing her notes from her sketchbook into better flushed-out and colored plans instead of the mess that is the actual pages. Plus, it is much easier to protect and keep that version hidden behind a password, instead of on the pages of a book.

It was going on 3 am when Virginia finally realized the time. With a shocked expression on her face, she quickly shut down the devices and set them aside. In her haste to stand to go to bed, she completely forgot she had been sitting in one spot for hours not moving her lower body. Her knees and gravity humbled her with a very loud crash. 

Rolling onto her side, she groaned as she rubbed her head and knees, “ God damn it. Fuck! That hurt.” She grumbled as she, slowly this time, got up and stumbled to her restroom to get ready for bed. She stripped out of her clothes, dropping them on the ground as she made a beeline for her bed, dropping down and squirming under the covers, sleeping surprisingly fast.

Banging woke her. She shot up quickly and went stumbling out of the room to the door, glasses and other things forgotten in her haste to stop whoever was banding. Virginia could hear Hizashi and Shouta on the other side, arguing with each other as one of them continued their insistent banging. With an agitated growl, she yanked the door open, a yell on her lips as she looked at their unfocused faces but stopped short.

Both men were suddenly flush, Hizashi looked very flustered as he snapped his gaze away, hands snapping up to cover his face. Shouta was openly staring, eyes transfixed everywhere but her face, causing her to look down to see what he could possibly be staring at. 

It took far too long for her to realize that she never put on pajamas before bed, just stripped out of everything that would be uncomfortable to sleep in. It took even longer for her to finally react, face aflame as she shrieked, jumping backward, arm covering her exposed breasts as she slammed closed her door and ran to her room, half slipping from wearing a single sock.

She quickly got dressed in shorts and an oversized sweater and made sure she actually wore a bra and both socks before putting her glasses on and hesitantly opening the door to her dorm. Hizashi was gone now and Shouta was just leaning against the wall next to her door. “Um, I thought I wasn’t going to see either of you today.” She meekly spoke as she backed out of the doorway so Shouta could come inside.

“That was how things were looking, however when Nedzu called both Hizashi and me to check if you were with either of us, plans do change,” Shouta said as he sat down on her couch. She hovered by the couch for a few minutes before sitting down as he spoke. Her face, slowly losing the flushed look, twisted into confusion, “What are you talking about?” She asked.

“You’re usually in his office by 8 these past few days, leaving a little after noon. It’s already 2 pm, so we were concerned. Wasn’t expecting such a sight to greet me when I came to check on you.” Shouta grinned, showing his teeth as he did. That just made her flushed face worsen as her cheeks darkened in embarrassment. “I can’t believe I did that!” She cried, covering her face in her hands, curling up into a ball. “How did that even happen?” Shouta asked, sounding genuinely concerned now that he teased her. 

“The day the camp was attacked, I had talked with Hizashi about him and Izuku. Things got heavy and emotional and I hated how gloomy we both got so I suggested some retail therapy. He was happy, I sassed him at the mall after agreeing that I won’t complain about whatever store he wanted to go to and that he could carry me as long as it wasn’t into the men’s restroom or a sex shop. He didn’t like the sassy comment so we went to an electronics store and per my agreement, I couldn’t stop him from buying me things.

Those things were dropped off yesterday afternoon. I was working on a project to transfer my drawing and notes onto my laptop so I didn’t go to bed till after 3 am and had fallen on the floor.” She explained before shifting her bangs to reveal the red welt on her forehead then showed off her knees with already dark bruises. “I was hurt, physically tired, and mentally. So, I kinda just stripped off everything annoying before sleeping. I don’t know about the sock though.” She said, not meeting his eyes.

“So, Hizashi banging on your door woke you up then? I’m guessing you were planning on going back to sleep after yelling at whoever was there?” Shouta questioned as he shifted around to get more comfortable in a half sitting up almost laying down slouch. “That was the plan but now I’m far too awake.” She grumbled as she rested her cheek against her knees, head turned away from Shouta. “I was also sleeping before Nedzu messaged. Patrol went late.” “ ‘m sorry.”

Shouta studied her face for a long breath before reaching out and pulling her onto his lap before turning his whole body to lay across all the cushions of the couch. “Then I guess we both just need to try to fall back to sleep now.” Virginia blinked up at him as she was shocked to suddenly find herself laying on top of Shouta, his eyes still studying her face as he propped his head up. “That’s easy for you to say when I’m laying on you.” She finally said. “Maybe, but you said you like to cuddle when you sleep. Usually using a plushie. Fairly certain I’m an upgrade to that.” Shouta teased as he shut his eyes.

Virginia pouted dramatically at him before shifting around to get comfortable, curling up more and resting her head over his heart. An arm wrapped around her back, keeping her in place as they both drifted off to sleep. Shouta fell asleep faster than Virginia simply because of her quirk sinking into him.

Chapter Text

Shouta laid awake for a good hour before Virginia began to stir, he listened as her breathing picked up, as her face squinched as she subconsciously fought against opening her eyes. She probably would have won if her stomach didn’t growl loudly. A soft high pitched whine escaped her closed lips as she gave up and opened her eyes. Still watching her, Shouta could see that she had no idea where she was, then see her recognize the space as her living space. He could tell the moment once she realized she wasn’t really on her couch as her eyes widened and she finally lifted her head to look at his face.

They stared at each other, eyes dancing around the other’s face, not speaking a word, or moving or making any sound. Shouta wondered what was going through her mind as they rested there. It looked like for just a moment that Virginia was going to say something, but before she could utter a word, her stomach growled again, leaving her to groan as she dropped her head against his chest. 

She was pouting as she lifted her head up and brought her arms up to push up from Shouta. Her hand remained planted against his chest as she sat up, his arms fell from her back to rest on her hips as she continued to straddle him. She looked away from his face to the clock on the wall. “That would explain it.” She muttered. The two ended up sleeping for an additional 3 hours, so now it was officially 24 hours since she last ate. She looked back to Shouta’s face with a pout as she torn between staying put and getting some food. 

Shouta huffed as he sat up, causing her to slide down from his stomach to his lap as he shifted to place his feet on the floor. Seeing as Shouta sat up, Virginia figured the decision was made for her and went to climb off his lap when he grabbed her thighs so she didn’t fall as he stood up. She yelped in shock as she grabbed onto his shoulders and locked her ankles together behind his back. “ What are you doing? ” She squeaked as she stared wide-eyed at him.

“Knowing you, you’re going to end up with more bruises trying to get downstairs to the kitchen for some food. It’s been at least 10 hours since you ate last.” Shouta calmly said as he passed her her glasses and left the dorm room. “I’m not that bad! I could walk just fine.” She cried indignantly, causing Shouta to huff a laugh. “Sure. I completely believe that when you told me that just hours ago you fell and ended up with bruised knees and forehead.” Virginia pouted harder as she pressed her forehead against his collarbone, not saying another word as the elevator doors closed and they descended to the main level.

When the elevators opened, the sound of chatter reached their ears and Virginia lifted her head to look over her shoulder to see many staff members milling around the common area. Kayama and Hizashi were the first to the two, snickering at the pouty look on Virginia’s face as Shouta strolled through. Chatter lulled in some areas while other areas changed topics seeing Shouta carry Virginia in such a manner. He sat her down on top of the counters, pointing a finger at her in a way that conveyed the command for her to stay.

She huffed and crossed her arms as she looked away from him in mock defiance all while he turned to the refrigerator and began to pull out ingredients to make a quick meal for her. Virginia looked back to him with a pout still present but a now curious look on her face. Hizashi and Kayama both made their way over to the kitchen to chat with the two and as they came in range of hearing, they had to hold back their laughter.

“You know how to cook?” “Yes.” “Then why does Hizashi say you are always eating those jelly pouches?” “Because it’s faster and uses less energy.” “So, why can’t I have one of those?” “You need food.” “Are they not food?” “Actual food.” “Are they fake food?” “You need a meal.” “I’m fine.” “You woke up because you’re hungry.” “I mean, you aren’t wrong but I don’t need a meal.” “You haven’t eaten for hours now.” “Actually, it's been 24 hours.” “24 hours?” “Lunch yesterday.” “No wonder you slept so long.” “It wasn... actually that was a long time for me. 10 hours when you and Hizashi woke me, then the three more after that.”

“Wow.” Kayama stated, finally bringing attention to her and Hizashi. The blond was still avoiding looking at Virginia directly but honestly she doesn’t blame him, making things a little less awkward for her. “Heavy sleeper?” Kayama continued to tease. The two responded at the same time, “No.” The difference in tone cause all three to look at Shouta surprised while he was at the stove. “She’s pretty light.” “She meant deep sleeper, Shouta.” “I know.” He glanced over his shoulder at her, a smirk in his eyes before he turned back to the food. 

“ Ass, ” Virginia grumbled while Kayama wiggled her eyebrows at her. “Oh, what does he mean by that now?” She prodded much to Virginia’s embarrassment. Shouta turned and thrusted a bowl and chopsticks into Virginia’s hands before anything else could be said, turning again to grab his own bowl. The three owlishly blinked at him as he again turned, leaning against the counter opposite of Virginia while he ate. “I haven’t eaten either. The jelly couldn’t be satisfying enough.” He informed them as he could clearly see their confusion on their faces.

“Thank you, Shouta.” Virginia smiled as she began to eat. The moment she started to chew, she finally realized just how hungry she was and practically inhaled her food, slow enough not to choke. After eating and some light chatting with the small group, Virginia returned to her room to clean up the mess of strewn clothes and to find her phone. From the sounds of it, there are going to be a lot of unread messages and missed calls to clear out. She wondered if she should listen to any of the voicemails or just delete them.

When she approached her door, she did stop to stare at Izuku’s door. Worrying her lip, she hesitated before knocking firmly on the door. She’s been texting him since the morning after Camino but she hasn’t tried directly talking to him. Virginia wanted to give him space and time, so he could be comfortable coming to her when he was ready. But 4 days later, she had only seen him once and he looked scared of her. She knocked firmly on the door, “Izuku! You there? Can we talk please?” She called into the door, but no sound came in reply.

She tried the door knob but it was locked. Even knowing that, she still tried to jiggle it open, rattling the door, frustration clear in the sound. “Izuku, please! I’m so worried about you. Can I at least see you? See that you aren’t injured in there?” She tried again to get a response but still nothing. Virginia dropped her head against the door as she released the door knob. “Please, Izuku. Just let me know you are in there.” She whispered as she shut her eyes, feeling tears begin to well up.

Virginia took a moment longer to collect herself before she stood up properly and entered her room to begin her clean up. Her space was actually messier than she realized. In her haste to set up the drawing tablet and laptop, packaging laid around with her clothes, her phone not in clear sight.

She released another sigh as she got to work on cleaning up. She first grabbed the few dishes in the room and brought them over to the kitchenette sink before she went to collect her clothes. Virginia dropped them into her laundry hamper and checked her room for her phone at the same time. When she didn’t find it there, she returned to the living room to clean up the packaging and check the couch cushions for her phone.

It took around 15 minutes for her to clean everything up and locate her phone, which had indeed fallen between the couch cushions. She plopped down on the couch, turning the tv on to play a kind of interesting show while she went through her phone. There were 15 total unread text messages and 6 voice mails, most of them were sent from Hizashi. Virginia chuckled as she opened up her voicemail mailbox and she did listen through them before deleting them. After that was cleared up she switched over to the text messages and cleared those as well.

She hesitated when she went to exit the app, she stared at the text chain she had with Izuku. He still hadn’t responded. She guessed that someone would have tried to contact Izuku to see if he knew where she was, but when she opened the chain, all she saw were her messages. A sigh again escaped her as she pulled up the keyboard to send another message, hoping that he eventually responds.

Brother 3 

August 13 - 09:06 am

I’m here if you need me Izzy.

August 13 - 15:00 pm

Have you had anything to eat yet?

I just signed the paperwork, I’m now employed here.

I made All Might cry

August 13 - 22:16 pm

Good night Izzy.

I love you

August 14 - 08:13 am

Good Morning

Did you eat dinner last night?

August 14 - 12:32 pm

Can we talk? I’m really worried.

Have you at least had lunch?

August 14 - 22:06 pm

I’m going to bed.

I hope you’ve been getting sleep and eating  

August 15 - 07:33 am

Good morning.

How are you doing after all of that?

August 16 - 09:06 am

Construction has started on the dorms.

Quirks make it so much easier to do that work

Practically 7 buildings a day!

August 16 - 13:45 pm

Please, talk to me.

I’m not afraid of you

August 17 - 18:30 pm

I just slept for 13 hours.

Did you hear me fall last night?

My knees are all bruised.

August 17 - 18:33 pm

Did you hear me scream earlier?

I was so tired and overslept, Hizashi and Shouta came to check in on me.

You remember how, if I’m tired enough, I’ll just strip before going to bed.

I forgot I did that when I opened the door.

August 17 - 18:40 pm

Why?

Why are you ignoring me Izuku?

Do you think I hate you? I didn’t see what happened at the end,

But I have a good guess.

August 17 - 18:42 pm

You did what was necessary, does that make it easier or right? No.

But the world would be more dangerous if you didn’t.

Your anger was out of protectiveness.

August 17 - 18:45 pm

I don’t hate you, Izuku.

You are forever stuck with me, with Hizashi.

If you are afraid to see me, talk with him. Please.

August 17 - 18:46 pm

Please come back to us.

Virginia’s sight blurred as she sent message after message to Izuku. Clutching her phone as she prayed for him to respond to her in some way. She knew he was getting her messages, she knew they were being read, but she still needed that small bit of confirmation that he was actually there. For all she knew, his phone is open to their messages but he isn’t there reading them, so he doesn’t keep having to hear her chime.

Disheartened, she got up and plugged her phone in to charge before going back to working on converting her journal into the digital format, this time setting an alarm so she went to bed at midnight. The tv continued to play in the background as she slowly worked on her project. She wasn’t really in the mood for the contents of the project, as she was still feeling rejected. The hours ticked on and when the alarm went off, she went to bed, sending yet another message to Izuku.

Virginia woke up to her phone going off from a text message from Nedzu:

Deal wit’a Devil 🐀

Good morning, Mori-san.

The dorm for 1-A is finished if you would like to move there today.

The rest of staff will be fully moving in today,
while the homeroom teachers wait for their assigned building to finish.

7:00 am

With a grown, Virginia rolled out of bed and crawled over to her closet to grab her clothes for the day, opting for an easy to move outfit. Once she was dressed and had freshened up, she set off for the common space kitchen for breakfast. She did stop abruptly the moment she exited her door as a note appeared on Izuku’s door, a simple ‘I’m sorry’ written in their language. She stared sadly at the page for just a moment before she continued her journey downstairs. Maybe she will find one of his snacks to hand off the door as some form of reply.

The common space was empty when she arrived, heading straight for the kitchen to cook a quick breakfast, opting for pancakes. Virginia synced her phone up to the speakers, so the space wasn’t so quiet as she worked. Her phone chimed again as she ate, a message from Hizashi mostly asking if she was awake yet. The reply came as a selfie of her eating with the caption of ‘Yup still asleep. See?’

The first few people to arrive with suitcases and boxes wasn’t anyone she recognized. She had finished eating, cleaned the used dishes and was watching tv while she waited for someone she did recognize to come in, preferably Shouta, Hizashi, or Kayama. She would have been packing to fully move into the teacher’s apartment in 1-A’s dorm but she didn’t have any moving boxes nor knew where to get some.

A few more hours later, Hizashi strolled in with a box in his arms, Shouta following after him. Both acknowledged Virginia as they passed by for the elevator. She gave them a wave as they went, turning back to the tv to continue waiting. A few more minutes later, the two dropped down on either side of her. “Moving day! I struggled on what to pack since these rooms can’t fit my entire apartment.” Hizashi cheerfully claimed as he pulled Virginia into a hug, causing her to giggle.

“And yet, you have 4 more boxes to bring in.” Shouta dryly exclaimed as he sat up properly from slouching when he sat down. “Nedzu said that the dorm for 1-A is ready to move into. So, I figured I should do that now but I don’t have any boxes nor do I know where I could get some.” Virginia informed as she readjusted after Hizashi’s hug.

“Nedzu told me too. I brought boxes that you could use too. I’m going to clear out my dorm here. No need to have 3 separate spaces with my stuff.” “ooH, moving in together? Gonna get all cuddly?” Hizashi teases, wiggling his eyebrows at the two. Shouta scowled at him, “There are actually 2 bedrooms in the apartment for 1-A. The other teacher apartments in the student dorms only have 1. But either way, I will get cuddles. Even if that just means leaning against you while you work.” Virginia addressed Hizashi before turning to playfully glare at Shouta. 

“That’s expected. Let’s get this over with.” Shouta stood up, pulling Virginia with him as he did so. Together they walked outside to collect the empty boxes before heading to their separate dorms to pack up. When Virginia returned to her room, she went for her kitchenette to pack that first and to find one of Izuku’s snacks before she forgot. Once she had it secured to his door and obnoxiously banged on the door, she returned to packing. As she packed up the mostly snacks, she realized it would be smarter to drag everything already packed up, like the delivery from the other day and the boxed plushies, to the center of the room so something is ready to move right away.

Music flowed from Virginia’s phone as she worked away at packing up her bedroom, the decorations, clothes and bedding. When Shouta came up to check in on her, he was greeted by the pile of things ready to move so he just grabbed what he could and left for the other location. Hizashi came up with him the next time to help with the boxes, this time they both saw her for a moment as she was packing up her toiletries. It took two more trips by the duo before Virginia was done with packing and could help carry things over.

The pile of boxes inside the apartment was decently large, mostly due to the 3 large containers of just plushies. As Shouta placed down the last box from either of their previous rooms, Virginia wandered through the space to locate the bedrooms and bathroom in order to make a game plan on unpacking. When she returned to the living room, Hizashi was scrolling on his phone looking to order some food to pick up. “Nedzu has a few cleaners coming in to clean the two rooms we left so we can just work on unpacking while Hizashi orders food.” Shouta greeted from the kitchen that he was currently organizing.

“Oh, cool! I was honestly dreading walking back to clean the rooms. Figured that every dorm would be needed with every staff member staying on campus.” Virginia said as she walked over to the pile of boxes. “Do you want first dibs on what bedroom or should I just pick.” “I’ll take the smaller room. I don’t have much anyways so I don’t need the space.” “Aww, you really aren’t going to share?” Hizashi butted in, Virginia scowled at him. “Are you?” She quipped and Hizashi sputtered. “A- well, maybe!”

“Well, good luck with that. He still hasn’t come out of his dorm.” Virginia said softly as she carried one of her suitcases to the larger bedroom. Hizashi and Shouta both watched her walk away before looking at each other. “You’ve been texting him, right? Have you gotten any responses?” Shouta asked as he went back to finishing the kitchen. “I have, it’s been radio silence from him. I guess he’s not responding to her either.”

Virginia came back out with her phone in hand, seemingly hesitant to send a message. “Hey, would it be mean to say ‘I could have really appreciated your help with moving to the student dorm. Shouta and Hizashi helped instead so we managed to get everything over.’ Does that come across as rude or spiteful? Like I want him to know that I’m no longer across the hall from him just so he isn’t worried but also want him to know that I’m disappointed with him hiding still. I’ve texted him every day hoping for a response but nothing. The only sign of life I’ve seen from him was the sign he put on the door this morning.” She ranted as she continued over to the boxes.

“Just send it. Let this be a consequence of his actions. Literally no one outside of us and the teachers involved with 1-A could recognize him in that state. No one is going to turn him in for that stunt so the isolation is strictly his doing.” Shouta joined Virginia at the boxes to grab what was going into his room. “I suppose, but has anyone told him that?” Virginia agreed but brought up a good point before she sent the message, tossing her phone on the couch and grabbing another box for her room. With the box and suitcase, she was able to set her bed up and some of her closed put away, setting up a few of the decorations before heading back to the living room for more.

When she came out, she found Hizashi gone and the unopened boxes of the new tech she received were missing. There was some shuffling coming from down the hall behind her, so she grabbed another box for her room to drop it off before investigating. Two doors down was the office, it was decently sized so there was enough space for the two to have their own desks and that was exactly what she found.

The two desks were opposite of each other, one had a computer and monitor on it with a filing cabinet to the side. The other desk was Shouta, setting up everything for Virginia. She stood in the doorway, stunned as she watched him work, she noticed on the bookshelves to the side of her desk was her laptop and drawing tablet along with a laptop she figured was Shouta’s. Quietly, she backed out and went back to unpacking the things.

The large boxes of plushies got stacked into the corner of the living room, while color and life filled the room. And while there was a good number of things from Virginia’s previous space, it was in a much smaller area to cover. Shouta had helped her spread everything around after he had unpacked his stuff and finished in the office. The two had just been standing side by side looking over everything when Hizashi arrived with lunch.

“You need to go shopping.” Was the first thing he said when he entered, setting the bags of food down on the dining table. “Thanks.” Virginia said flatly while Shouta just rolled his eyes. “I’m not wrong, you both live in this space so it should reflect that! And I know you did just move in; it looks like a first apartment after moving from your parent’s house. Only Virginia’s stuff is here and look how sparse it looks!” Hizashi continued to defend. “We get it. It will just have to be for later.” Shouta said as he went to collect some plates for them to use before they dished out anything. 

The three quietly ate, nothing of interest really to discuss. As they wrapped up, Hizashi informed them that he had texted Izuku pretty much what Shouta had said but he still hadn’t gotten a response. “Damn. I really don’t understand why he is hiding from us. Does he not trust us or is he scared that we hate him?” Virginia wondered out loud, and neither Shouta nor Hizashi could answer. “Anyway, do you have anything you need to do today?” Virginia directed her question to Shouta. 

“Why? Are you wanting to go shopping?” “Oh, no not at all. Nedzu wanted me to come up with room assignments and ideas that would make the dorms more homie for the students, so it isn’t as drastic of a change for them. I figured that we could work on the room assignments, assuming all the students can stay, as long as you don’t have anything you need to work on.” Virginia exclaimed. 

“Awh, I guess then I’ll head back to the other building and unpack. I’ll also check to see if Izuku will actually talk or keep hiding.” Hizashi stated, slumping against the table. “You can tell if his snack is gone from the door that he is actually around.” “Snack?” “Yes, he left a note on his door last night after I went to bed. I put a packet of his favorite snack on the door as a reply. With how active the staff dorm is with people getting settled in, I doubt it is gone unless someone else took it.” Virginia clarified as Shouta went to collect his laptop for them to plan.

Hizashi said his goodbyes and Virginia cleared the table so they would plan. Shouta dropped off his laptop so he could grab some papers and pens. Once he returned to the dining table, Virginia had finished cleaning up from eating as was waiting for him to join her. They spent the remainder of the day, setting up the assignments and making a preliminary set of rules for the kids to follow.

When they finished, they went out of the common space to see what was already there and what was needed, also to see if there was any food to make dinner with. Knowing that rat, the kitchen was fully stocked with all the needed tools and supplies along with the rest of the building. The two made a simple dinner that was filling for both and while Virginia went about cleaning, Shouta had to get ready for his patrol.

“My usual patrols run from 23:00 pm to 5:00 am, I don’t usually make any noise when I come back but just let me know if I wake you up.” Shouta informed as he pulled on his boots. “That’s fine, it’s usually just loud noises or voices that wake me up so just general moving around shouldn’t cause any issues. Don’t be stupid and don’t come back bleeding.” Virginia grinned before giving him a quick kiss on the cheek before he stood up to leave. “Don’t get another bruise.” “Hey!” Her shout came just as the door closed. She shook her head as she went to finally investigate the office and start downloading games and software for her entertainment, setting an alarm to remind her to go to bed at midnight so she is in bed and asleep by 1 am.

“Virginia! Virginia!” Her eyes snapped open, a little disoriented from how abruptly she went from asleep to wide awake. “Hizashi? What’s going on?” The blond was hovering over her from waking her up, haphazardly dressed, with his hair tied back. “Throw something on, Shouta called asking for your help.” “My help?” “Yup, from what he could tell me, a kid lost control of their quirk, abusive home, could use your help in calming the kid.” Hizashi said before leaving the room.

Not being able to process what was happening fully, Virginia simply grabbed her glasses and a blue robe dress to throw on. She pulled it over her pajamas as she rushed out the door, the belt as she went to shove her feet into her shoes while Hizashi was already exiting the building. Virginia ran to catch up, having to hold the skirt as she chased after the blond. “I assume you know where he is?” She called as they two ran for the car.

Hizashi didn’t answer until they were peeling out of the lot and down the street. “Yeah. I know where it is. Just you need to be careful, Shouta did sound rushed and I could hear sirens in the background. If he is there, I can only assume that he needs to use his quirk to stop it but with a panicking child with a rampaging quirk, if that suddenly cuts off, it could cause more harm than good.” His answer made the situation feel so much more dire and she wondered if she was really the right person to offer help.

The drive there felt far too short before the flashing lights of police cars were seen. Hizashi pulled to a stop by the cars, leading the way to the officers, flashing his hero license so they could pass. Virginia clung to the back of Hizashi’s jacket as she looked at all of the damage along the street from a child’s quirk going wild. The sound of distorted screaming came from farther ahead where black masses were lashing out. The two ducked behind a barrier as they got closer, they soon spotted Shouta who was crouched down next to a cop.

“You’re here.” Shouta said once he spotted them, it was very faint in his voice but there was relief. “What’s going on?” “A child has experienced a forced manifestation. It isn’t confirmed exactly as the building the child came from was heavily damaged, so people are working on clearing it and checking for anyone inside. The issue now is, at the center of that mass is the child. I can’t get close enough to cancel their quirk while also being able to catch them.” “Why can’t one of the officers help catch? Why bring me in?” The officer with them answered, “From what information we do have, for this to happen, most likely was because of abuse from a male relative. All the officers present are male.” “That, and with your quirk, you would be the best option to catch the kid without causing more trauma.” Shouta reached out and held her hand.

“Do you think you can do it?” He held her eyes, searching that whatever she said next, was true. She met his gaze, heart hammering in her chest, mind racing through different ways things could go wrong but even with all of that, she said yes. Shouta pointed out the path she should take and then they parted ways. Several officers and Shouta moved out into the open to draw any and all attention away from where Virginia was heading. Once she got there, she signaled to Shouta to activate his quirk.

The effect was instantaneous, the quirk dissipated, and the child was left floating in the air for just a moment before gravity took hold. Virginia dashed forward and caught the child, who fell asleep quickly in her hold. She gently rocked her body and ran her hand through the child’s bright pink hair as they fell asleep. Utterly exhausted from what had happened.

Virginia smiled softly, humming lightly as she started to walk back to the police cars and Shouta. The night seemed to calm all around them as she carefully walked through the damage. A shout came from the side and Virginia dropped to the ground as several projectiles passed overhead. More shouting filled the air as Virginia lifted her head to see a bulky man charging at her, she stood up hesitant on which direction to move. She took a couple of steps back and the next thing she is aware of, she is sitting in the back of an ambulance, the child still curled up in her arms.

“The father has been secured and removed. The paramedics can take care of the kid now. Let’s get you home.” Shouta appeared at the open doors and waited for Virginia to act. Slowly, she did stand up twisting to place the child on the gurney before she exited the ambulance, Shouta helping her down. While officially there was still 2 hours left to his patrol, he was able to leave early due to the situation. Shouta led Virginia over to a police car that would bring them to the station so he could do a preliminary report before actually taking her home.

As the two entered their apartment, Virginia finally spoke up, “That- that was eventful.” She sounded a bit dazed and tired. “You have no idea,” Shouta muttered as his back was turned, removing his capture weapon and shoes. “What was that?” Shouta looked up to see Virginia giving him a confused look. He quipped a small smile for a moment before ushering her farther into the apartment, hands on her shoulders as he gently pushed her to her room. “I said get some sleep. You were a big help.” He ignored his previous words as she accepted his new words and climbed back into bed after removing the robe dress. “Night.” She whispered as she curled up under the sheets.

Shouta moved on to the office to finish up his report for the event before taking a quick shower before bed. The night had been quiet up until that point so there wasn’t much he had to fill out but there was a new form for him to fill out from having called for Virginia to come out to help. The form had been a bit tricky to find as it had been years since it was used last but it still existed. 

It was nearly an hour and a half after returning to the apartment that Shouta was finally able to get to bed. When he woke for the day, it was just past 7:30 am. He had received a follow up text that the kid they saved was stable and safe, they had already been assigned a caseworker for their care as there was no suitable family member to take them in. He debated on getting dressed in his uniform or just casual as he didn’t have any work to do today. Shouta wandered out of his room, poking his head into Virginia’s room to see her still fast asleep before heading for the kitchen to get some coffee.

Several hours later, Virginia finally woke up but didn’t get out of bed. She defaulted to scrolling on her phone for a few more hours, until she couldn’t ignore the hunger anymore. Begrudgingly, she threw her blankets off her legs and stumbled to the bathroom after colliding with the door frame. She exited the bathroom, still scrolling on her phone, just listening to random videos. 

Nothing in particular called out to her as she looked through the cabinets in the apartment, noting that she needed to go shopping for actual food instead of snacks. A new video started to play as she grabbed a granola bar to munch. She jolted unexpectedly, the video playing sounded extremely familiar. Grabbing her phone, she went to the article attached to the video, it was posted from a small news outlet and her jaw dropped. 

The granola bar, forgotten as she ran out of the building having jammed her feet into her shoes before she left the apartment. She raced for the staff dorms to see if Shouta or HIzashi were in there or even Kayama, someone she was relatively close to that she could easily reach. Truely, she wanted to freak out on Izuku but she doubted he would open the door. The doors swung wide from her force, accidentally making quite a racket as she stumbled inside, eyes scanning the common space for her targets.

A frown pulled at her lips as she panted from sprinting, not finding any face she recognized. “Are you looking for Yamada-san?” Someone to the right of her asked, a good portion of the staff inside recognized her and knew she usually hung out around him. Plus, during a full staff meeting some weeks ago, they do recall Hizashi all giddy for discovering his platonic soul bond. Boasting that he has such a sweetheart as a bonded. Virginia blinked as she turned her attention to him, “Uh, yes.” She said between breaths. 

“I saw him head towards the main building. I believe that most of the teachers that interact with the first-year hero course have gone there.” He informed her, she nodded her head lightly mentally absorbing his words. Virginia blinked at him, “Oh, thank you.” She backed up and this time carefully opened the door before leaving, not waiting to make more noise.  The steps were taken 2 at a time as she went full sprint, yet again for the main building hoping to find at least one of her targets or maybe she could just lament and complain to Nedzu about it.

In the elevator, she finally caught her breath, doing what she could to regulate her breathing, so she wasn’t an absolute mess and further concerned her targets when she finally found them. Her journey to the staff lounge was more controlled but still fast as she was on the border of freaking out. The force she used to slide the door open was excessive, but she didn’t really care once she spotted her targets, “SHOUTA!” She couldn’t help but shout as she charged at him. Confusion mixed with concern shown in his eyes with scrunched eyebrows as he turned to face her. “What’s wr-” She tripped in her hurry.

She ended up falling to the ground, but luckily was close enough to him for her upper body to fall on his lap. “Shouta~” She whined as she pressed her forehead to the side of his thigh. “Are you alright?” Shout asked, placing a hand on her back as Hizashi and Kayama leaned over to check on her as well, all eyes were focused on her. “My knees hurt again and there’s this.” She whined as she sat back and pulled her phone out, unlocking it to show him the article.

“The Matron appears?” Shouta read the article title out loud. Several glances shifted around the room, wondering just why she was in such a state from that. “Watch the video on the article.” She explained as she dropped her head back down against his leg. Shouta passed the phone over to Hizashi and he plugged it up to the projector in the room so everyone could understand. 

The video wasn’t the best quality, but it showed the scene from hours previous with the rampaging quirk. The video showed the police doing their best to contain the issue but not getting very far. It sped up to the point a new car entered the scene and a blond man followed by a woman practically swallowed up in blue fabric rushed over to the police, vanishing behind a barrier. The video picked up again for a few seconds till the police started to move again. It took a moment to realize what they were doing but then they were able to see the woman moving unnoticed behind the raging quirk, when that happened the staff realized that the police were acting as a distraction.

The heroes in the room finally realized that the woman in blue was Virginia just as she seemed to give a signal and the rampaging quirk cut off and a child started to fall out of the air. She raced forward and caught the kid, quickly soothing them as she started to make her way to the police. A man appeared from the left and started to lop rubble at her. She dropped, twisting her body to shield the child while the rubble passed her harmlessly.

Police officers started to run at the man as she stood up, his focus locked on her and the child as he stomped his way over to her. She took a few steps back, hesitation clear for just a moment, before she seemed to make a decision and returned some of the debris with a strong kick. The object hit the man in the chest, forcing him back several steps before he fell to his butt however, Virginia also dropped again for a moment before she stood and began limping quickly to the police barriers.

The man recovered and ran at Virginia as her back was to him, seemingly focused on getting the child to safety. The officers present tried to cut him off but he had been able to reach her and grabbed her hair, yanking her back. Luckily, she avoided dropping the child and rammed her elbow into his chest, the view made it impossible to tell where though. The shock of the blow made him release her hair and as she turned to kick between his legs, Eraser head's signature cloth finally wrapped around him as the blow connected. 

There hadn't been much audio previously but the pained scream from the man as he went down hard could be faintly made out. Two officers finally made it to Virginia’s side and helped her over to the ambulance. The video speeds up again till she is seen climbing out of the back of the ambulance with help from Shouta. Despite knowing she was actually quite dazed during that part, she looked very put together and serene as she was escorted to one of the cars and the two got in, an officer driving them away and the video ended there.

“I don’t remember half of that.” Virginia stated after silence filled the room for a good few minutes. She was now sitting in the vacant seat next to Shouta with an ice pack on each knee. “That’s because of the side effect of one of the paramedic’s quirk. It heals but the last 8 minutes of your memory is forgotten. You fractured your foot.” Shouta explained to her having expected to need to explain at some point, just wasn’t expecting it to have been needed because of a video. “Good to know. Now to the main point, why’d they call me that?” She pointed to the projection screen as the video closed to show the article title again. 

“I don know buuut,” Hizashi piped up, a grin spreading on his face, “It does seem fitting. Matrons are usually associated with children, are pretty dignified and usually old. You were there protecting a child, looked dignified and you’re pretty old.” “HEy!” Virginia shouted indignantly, standing up to snatch her phone back from Hizashi but the blond just held it out of her reach.

“The Matron of UA. It does have a ring to it.” Kayama added her two cents. “No ring, no matron.” Virginia huffed as she plopped back down in the chair she was using, having given up on trying to reclaim her phone at the moment. “Do you want a ring?” Shouta asked, having turned back to the computer work he had been doing when she came in. Hizashi, Kayama, and Virginia all looked at him in disbelief. “I’m sorry, what was that?” Virginia asked, stunned. He looked over from his work to see her wide-eyed stare at him, mouth agape in her shock. 

The others in the room also looked at him with disbelief. “Why are you offering her a ring?” Vlad questioned as he turned his body towards the conversation. “I asked if a ring was something she wanted given her own words. Matrons are also a term for older married women. Why do you care?” He gruffed back to his teaching counterpart. “Ask, offer, it’s pretty much the same.” Vlad defended, “Can I have my phone back now.”

“I’ve known her for almost 2 months. Why would I be offering a ring?” Hizashi passed back her phone while Vlad tried to come up with an answer. “I don’t know. I never really thought you to be a homewrecker.” Vlad stated, Shouta’s anger rising as he glared, and Virginia was quickly typing away on her phone, scurrying out the door as the mood shifted more. A ping from a text sent by her popped up on Shouta’s phone, ignored in favor of arguing with Vlad.

___________

Virginia and child

Chapter Text

Virginia was left wondering what she should do now, still in shock from someone writing a news article about her and actually giving her a name instead of just talking about her using descriptors. She decided she would try to get Izuku to talk with her yet again, she doubted he knew about the article. Plus she still felt bad about the text message she sent previously. 

The common space was mostly empty when she returned to the staff dorms, quietly heading for the elevator to take her up to Izuku’s room. Her heart rate picked up out of nervousness as the spark of hope danced in her chest. Maybe today, with such interesting information, will bring Izuku out. The hall looked unchanged once the elevator doors opened to let Virginia out. The walk to the door, however, showed just enough change to cause her breath to catch.

The paper Izuku had written ‘I’m sorry’ on in their language was half torn like he gave up once it didn’t go in one move. She hoped that it was an accident from someone moving in but her heart said otherwise and the spark of hope dimmed in her chest. Ignoring the signs, she still had to try. Izuku thinking that she had abandoned him or hates him is the last thing she wants him to feel. 

Raising her hand to knock on the door felt so very daunting but she preserved and her knocks echoed hollowly throughout the hall. “Izuku? We need to have a conversation. I know my text last night was hurtful, it came from a place of hurt, but that's why we need to talk. You know I would never turn you in to the police. Neither Shouta, Nedzu, or even Hizashi would do that to you. The other staff members that could recognize you, also wouldn’t do that to you. They knew who that man was, we explained it to them, remember?” Virginia sunk to her knees palms up as her hands rested limply on her lap, bowed forward till her head rested against the door.

“This isolation is of your own doing Izuku. I don’t want you to be isolated but you won't let me in and breaking in won’t help anything. And don’t think I didn’t notice that you took the spare key from me when I was asleep. 

I want to give you your space but I also need to know you aren’t hurting yourself out of guilt. I need to know you aren’t hurt physically. I need you to know that you are loved no matter what. Hell, Izuku you could go world domination Overlord on me and I would still stand by you and love you.” Her voice fell silent after that as she listened for any and all movement from the other side of the door for any noise.

As she waited for any sign, she found herself humming to herself, to fill the emptiness as her eyes grew glassy from unshed tears. Turning around so her back pressed against the door while her knees were to her chest. Having spent the last 10 years pretty much constantly at each other’s side, Izuku’s self-isolation was only hurting them both. Virginia missed seeing him smile, hearing his muttering tangents, the random topics they would chat about for hours with. It might have only been nearly a week without seeing him, but it feels like months have passed to Virginia with how much has changed in that time.

Something shifted from behind the door, causing Virginia to whip her head around to stare at the door’s surface as if she could see through it miraculously. Her voice was caught in her throat as she wanted to call out but was afraid the noise would stop if she acknowledged it. Virginia’s heart hammered in her chest as the sound stopped, finally releasing her voice.

“Last night was really interesting, it was like 2 in the morning, I only had like an hour of sleep before Hizashi was waking me up. Shouta needed my help and now that I am employed by UA, I can legally help if a hero asks, so that’s cool I suppose. Wasn’t expecting to use said perk but I was able to save a kid. There is a video online that shows the whole thing. The article attached to it says “ The Matron appears ” which I don’t know how to feel about it. I want to talk with you about it, if this happened any other time, I’m sure you would have woken me up out of sheer excitement. 

But now? 

You’re so quiet. It’s haunting to hear you so quiet.”

Time blurred as Virginia kept jumping around topics, her mind running wild, wanting to find comfort in what’s familiar but she had no idea if she was heard or if Izuku was drowning out her words. Her eyes fell shut as she rested her head against her knees, becoming a living statue outside Izuku’s door. Her breathing deepened and evened out as she fell asleep. The door cracked open behind her, her sleep too deep for the motion to cause her to stir. When the door closed again, she ended up falling to her side with a soft thud and finally Izuku broke his silence for a moment to send a single text.

Hizashi’s phone pinged, catching his attention even while jamming to some music in his dorm. A picture with a caption was sent from Izuku. His heart jumped as he snatched his phone up, finally Izuku responded to him, but he froze once he realized what he was seeing. The photo was of Virginia, curled up outside a door. The picture was taken through a crack from what he could tell. The words included just read, ‘ Help her.’

He quickly left the room and went up a couple of floors, spotting Virginia curled on her side, back to Izuku’s door. Sadness hung off Hizashi as he walked over and knocked on Izuku’s door, “We all miss you, Izuku. Please, believe me when I say we want you around.” Hizashi called into the door, softly as to not wake Virginia up before lifting her up in his arms to carry her back to her apartment.

When he did finally reach the apartment, there was no sign of Shouta so Hizashi made himself comfortable on the couch, letting Virginia use his leg as a pillow. He texted Izuku back, notifying him that he was going to stay with her, hoping he would get a response back but his message was left on read.

An hour later, Shouta arrived with bags of groceries. He looked a little surprised to see Hizashi in the living room, not seeing Virginia from his current angle. The two just shared head nods as Shouta went to the kitchen to unpack everything. There was only the sound from his actions, so Shouta figured Virginia was still gone. He wasn’t too familiar with her day to day patterns but he did know she usually went to Gym Delta. He went to join Hizashi, wanting his opinion on the text he received from Virginia when he was arguing with Vlad, but he stopped in his tracks when he rounded the corner.

Hizashi watched him while he gently played with Virginia’s hair, she was still fast asleep but shimmering tear tracks lined her cheeks. “Izuku finally texted. But it was just to ask for me to help her. I found her just as the photo showed. She was already crying in her sleep when I picked her up. I’m guessing she went to try getting Izuku to talk after she left the lounge.” Hizashi informed Shouta. The man left out a deep sigh as he dropped down to the chair next to him. He rubbed his face as he leaned back into the cushions. 

“Damn it. Why is he ignoring all of the attempts made? I understand completely the guilt that comes with taking a life but he is just making it harder on himself by not relying on anyone for support.” “Speaking from experience?” Hizashi quipped, much to Shouta’s displeasure. “Have you tried talking with him, Shou? You did have a similar behavior when we graduated. Neither of us were making particularly healthy choices but we did get help eventually to become the heroes we are now. Maybe he just needs a harsh reality check instead of warm comfort.” Hizashi asked after a few minutes of silence for both to reflect.

Virginia shifted, finally waking up after who knows how long. Squinting as she slowly registered her surroundings and the people with her. She touched her face, feeling the tracks from the tears on her cheeks and rubbed the tears from her eyes. “ ‘m be right back.” She said softly as she stumbled away to the bathroom to freshen up, shoulder checking the wall as she went. “She looks so exhausted.” Hizashi observes as they watch her vanish down the hall. Shouta only nodded in response, sighing out his nose before he got up to cook dinner. Hizashi stayed in the living room but turned so he was facing the kitchen, wanting to know what was on Shouta’s mind before he spotted Virginia.

“Did you want to talk about something before?” “When Vlad was trying to start a fight, Virginia sent me a text. I know what it says but I’m not sure I understand it correctly.” This only intrigued the blond more, a grin spreading on his face. “Ooh, and what does this message say?” “Just that, ‘diamonds are basic,’ and that ‘there are many lovely different options.’” Hizashi stared at him with wide eyes, jaw dropped as he remembered the discussion happening that led to the argument between Shouta and Vlad.

“What do you think she means with that? What’s your understanding?” He prompted, wanting to see if Shouta was already thinking what he was thinking by that message. “It does seem random but I think it is correlated with what I said about Matrons. Being a term for married women. She isn’t one because she isn’t married, marriage usually symbolized by a ring. It might be a jump, but I better not give her a diamond wedding ring or else.”

Neither man noticed Virginia had returned and was just standing in the hallway listening. “Definitely a jump but I don’t think it’s ultimately far off. I don’t think she is expecting any form of proposal any time soon. If I remember correctly, the average time between dating and getting married was like 3 years before any soulmates were recorded. We’ve only known her for almost 2 months now. Pretty sure it would be a red flag for her to want to get married so soon, even if the average time is now 8 months.” Hizashi said casually as he got up to join Shouta in the kitchen.

He was grilling some chicken while a pot simmered with soup base. The two worked together to produce some homemade ramen all while Virginia tried to tame her blushing. The discussion of marriage and rings was not something she had expected to return too. The two men were still completely unaware of her standing behind them as they continued their conversation. The blushing grew more tame as Shouta switched the conversation from a future wedding for him and Virginia to Hizashi and Izuku. 

Hearing the change, Virginia quickly and silently ran to her notebook that she had been working in and a pen before returning to listen. She was still upset with how things were going with Izuku but this was a fun distraction. Silently snickering to herself, she quickly made notes as Hizashi answered every question while also trying to change the topic, thoroughly embarrassed with the line of questioning he was facing. By the time the ramen was ready, Virginia had several pages of notes and she decided to take pity on the blond by entering the room, cutting the conversation short.

“What’cha making?” She asked as she placed down her journal on the console table in the hallway, leaving it there for now. “Ramen. Several additives to choose from.” Shouta answered as he and Hizashi moved the food over to the table. Virginia helped by grabbing the dishes and drinks before they all set in for the meal. “The student dorms should all be done tomorrow, if I recall what today is. And the home visits. Is there a game plan for that?” Virginia started the conversation after they all were more than half done.

“Yeah, I have a plan set.” “Are you going to explain?” She asked after a few minutes of him not giving more information. He just looked at her puzzled. “Did Nedzu not tell you I was going to be with you for them?” She asked, equally baffled at his confusion. Realization showed in his eyes as he rubbed his face. 

“Of course. It would be illogical to assume you wouldn’t be involved when you are playing a big part in the care of the class. I don’t have a good reason as to why I thought otherwise. The plan is to have video calls for the families outside a certain range, which is about an hour for travel time. The calls will start around 7:45 am. After that, the actual home visits. I have a list of families already set in the best order for the visits to be time efficient.” 

“Gross, I guess that means I should go to bed before midnight, maybe like 10:30.” Virginia squinched her face in displeasure. Hizashi stared at her with a raised eyebrow. “What do you mean? You normally sleep after midnight?” “Yehs? I was only asleep for like an hour last night when you came to get me. I’ve pretty much done that since high school but I’ve never pulled an all nighter intentionally. And the one time I did, was more of a bout of insomnia from sleeping in an empty house for the first time, with fitful naps as failed attempts at sleep.” 

“So you can operate on only 5 or 6 hours of sleep?” “Yup, but that is only if I need to wake up before my body naturally does. Otherwise, if I go to sleep around 1 am then I usually wake around 9. First to rise, last to sleep. I shouldn’t have an issue being awake to keep an eye on the students.” “Are you at least going to take naps when they are all in class?” Hizashi asked as he leaned against the table, confusion written on his forehead.

“I’m actually not very successful at taking naps, at most I will lay down with my eyes closed to relax but I won’t actually sleep. My body and mind don't really let me unless I’m feeling sick.” She admitted before finishing up her meal and cleaned up her space. “Hate to essentially dine and dash, but I haven’t everything yet and I quite literally don’t remember if I have anything presentable for meetings.” She grinned before vanishing back into the hall, grabbing her journal as she went to her room to finish unpacking.

Hizashi chuckled while he and Shouta finished eating their own meals, washing the used dishes afterwards. “I should probably head back now.” Hizashi said as he dried his hands from washing the dishes while Shouta put everything away. “I’m going to come with. I haven’t tried to talk with Izuku and as you said, I could probably reach him. You and Virginia are stressed from his isolation and I doubt he is doing any better.” Shouta placed away the final dish. Hizashi only nodded as Shouta went to inform Virginia that he was stepping out. 

When he poked his head in, he found her half covered by a mound of clothes. The two just stared at each other for a solid 10 seconds before Shouta passed on his message and she acknowledged him. Shouta could only shake his head as he left, following Hizashi out to get their shoes on. The walk to the staff dorms was filled with one sided chatter from Hizashi with the occasional sound of acknowledgement from Shouta who had his face tucked into his scarf.

The two parted ways in the elevator with Izuku’s dorm being a few floors below Hizashi. Shouta stood outside the door for longer than he will ever admit, trying to figure out just how bluntly he should approach the conversation. He agreed that he would be a vast change in comparison to Virginia and Hizashsi but he didn’t want to be too harsh and make the situation worse. With a final breath, he knocked firmly, “Izuku. Open the door. We are going to talk.” Shouta called in, his voice wasn’t loud, but held a firmness that left no room to argue.

A minute later, the door unlocked and opened, giving Shouta space to slip through before it closed behind him for several hours. When he finally emerged, it was going on 8pm and he was exhausted. Shouta made his way back to the apartment, he needed to get his mind off of the conversation and reviewing tomorrow’s plan isn’t helping to sidetrack his thoughts. His feet carried him to and through the building, only pausing to remove his shoes before continuing. 

His mind continued to try to shake the conversation while his feet took him to Virginia’s open door. Slowly the thoughts faded as he watched her dance of putting everything in its place. A couple of options to wear were laid out on her bed as she fluttered around the room, a calm chaos as she organized her closet and drawers, hung photos on the wall, and placed decorations on the surfaces. 

She came to a stop at the vanity in the room, her hips swaying side to side as she hummed a tune only heard by her as she fine tuned the items scattered into the ideal layout for her mind. She glanced up, spotting Shouta in the mirror’s reflection. A soft smile directed at him, her body still swaying, still completing her task, still humming, and yet she still managed to chase away the gloom left hanging off of him.

Virginia must have seen a shift in his eyes, as her body stopped swaying while she straightened up and turned to him. She eyed him for a moment before walking over and hooking a couple of fingers through his own. Their joined hands hung between them as she met his eyes, a small head tilt, before she spoke. “You know, hugs can convey a lot when words fail.” Her words drifted between them, eyes wide with trust. 

Shouta tugged on their joining hands, the rest of her followed and he held her firm in a hug. His body released more stress as he leaned against the doorframe so she wasn’t the one holding his weight up. His hold was tight as she ran her hand up and down his spine, face tucked into his neck. She sunk into him the longer he held her, only ever leaning into the hold, waiting for him to release her since he started it. 

Hugs are a comfort for her as well, they have always been able to convey so much more than when her words or her emotions. Hugs have always been a stress relief for her so she really needed this hug just as much as Shouta. Slowly, Shouta finally pulled away and straightened up. She silently watched him for a moment.

“Do you mind sleeping in here tonight? I’ve been finding it easier to fall asleep when you’re near and tomorrow is gonna be a long day.” She finally asked after several minutes of debating, rolling her bottom lip as she did. Shouta just blinked at her, clearing his throat before answering. “I suppose I can. We do have to be up early so fighting to get sleep will only make tomorrow rougher. Are you going to try sleeping now?” “No, I was going to watch a movie to wind down with once I finished in here.” She gestured to the room behind her, Shouta looked around. 

Some areas seemed to be missing something but not enough to be blatantly obvious. The closet filled but if he were to just push things a little closer together, there would be space for another person. The more he looked around, the more he noticed how she laid out the room in a way that he could easily add his own to the space without throwing anything out of place. A sly look reflected in her eyes when he looked back at her. “Do you want to watch with me or do you have things to work on?” He knew she knew he realized what she did but she chose to ignore it.

“I do have some work to do. Once the class gets settled in, we are going to continue work on getting them ready for the provincial license test.” She nodded her head as she stepped away. “Okay, will a movie playing disrupt you?” “It shouldn’t, I’ll probably just work at the dining table and move into the office if it does.” “Good to know, now get out. If I’m watching movies, I’m going to be comfortable in my pajamas. Shoo.” Virginia grinned as she made a shooing motion at him. 

“So, I get kicked out but you didn’t care that Hizashi was in the room when you changed previously?” Shouta grinned as he did step backward from the room. “Yes, but that was the equivalent of a bathing suit. Pajamas are a different story.” “ With or without a single sock.” He teased and was answered with a door slamming in his face. Turning he went to gather his things to get set up. He just got settled at the dining table when Virginia came in, having changed into a tank top and shorts, dragging a hooded blanket with her.

A dusting of blush decorated her cheeks as she got settled on the couch, turning the tv on before scrolling through the channels to find a movie to fill the remaining time. The movie ended up being an action drama, Virginia kept the volume to a lower level so Shouta could focus on his work. Around an hour and a half later, he finished his work, cleaned up and changed into his own pajamas before joining Virginia on the couch to watch the remainder of the show.

The movie ended up ending a little after 10 pm, Virginia figured by the time she finished up in the bathroom, it would be the goal time for going to bed. When she stood up, she stretched as tall as she could reach, back popping in several spots as she did so. Shota just watched her as she wandered off down the hall, he heard the sink turn on from the bathroom. With a silent groan, Shouta got up and shook out his own stiff limbs before trudging down the hall to his own room to do a final check of his phone. 

As he proceeded back down to the bathroom, Virginia was already slipping into her room to get her night music started and settled into bed. Shouta found her half covered by the blankets, staring out the window to her left even though she couldn’t see details out there. She turned to look at him, a human-shaped black blur, “You don’t mind the music do you? It's been a habit of mine since I was a little kid, but I can do without it if it is a bother.” She asked as she leaned forward, sitting in a loose cross-leg position compared to moments before.

“It’s fine. Are you positive you want me in here tonight?” Shouta wanted to confirm before he settled in next to her, approaching the foot of the bed as he did. “I am terrible at asking for things, if I believe it could be denied or an inconvenience to someone, so, yes, I am absolutely positive I want to sleep tonight with you in this room, on this bed, right next to me so I can cuddle. Is that clear enough?” She sassed before making grabby hands at him. He snorted in amusement, relenting to her unspoken demand by climbing into bed next to her.

She waited for him to get comfortable before she wrapped her arm around his stomach and placed her knee over his legs, head tucked against his chest. Her hair tickled the underside of his jaw as she settled in. A deep sigh was released as her body relaxed into his. Shouta felt her quirk slowly seeping into him as she relaxed, their body heat mixing together as he lightly ran his hand up and down her side, the soft music filling the space along with their breathing.

“Thank you, Shou.” Virginia whispered as she shifted the blankets around a little more before stilling. It was 10:43 pm, a far too early time for either to naturally fall asleep, but relaxed in each other’s arms, sleep found them quickly. 

Hours later, after a very relaxing sleep, Shouta woke up 5 minutes before Virginia’s alarm went off to start the day. He stayed still, debating if he should just get up now or wait for her to wake up since she is currently hugging his arm. He decided to just roll over to his side until her alarm triggered. Shouta fell into a trance, lost in his own thoughts as the sound of birds slowly filled the air. Virginia shifted, rolling her shoulders as if she was hunkering down more before opening her eyes. She half rose, resting on an elbow as she reached for her phone to shut off the alarm.

The birds were silenced and Virginia flopped back down to the mattress, unintentionally pinning Shota’s hand under her stomach. The unexpected mass under her, caused her to bolt up, sitting back on her legs as she looked at the hand, then the arm attached, then to the torso and the face connecting by a neck. She stared at Shouta, who only gave her a flat amused look, as she tried to figure out why he was there. “Hi?” Her voice was sleepy and a bit rough from just waking up.

Shouta snorted in amusement softly as he shifted to be sitting up more against the headboard. He watched as she stretched her arms over her head, clasping her hands, pressing them against her skull as she worked her muscles. “Good morning. Slept well?” Shouta asked, amusement echoing in his voice, prompting her to freeze in her stretch.

Her shift had risen slightly from the stretch, twisted and taut around her body, arms still frozen behind her head as she took in his teasing look on his face. She inhaled sharply as she dropped her arms and hunched her body as she went about fixing her shirt. “I gotta get ready.” She huffed as she swung her legs off the bed and sped over to her clothes before exiting the room for the shower. After she left, Shouta stretched out and left for his room to get dressed, shaking out his arm that Virginia was holding as it had developed pins and needles.

He bothered with brushing his hair and half-tied it back before he changed from his pajamas into the suit he had set out for the day. As he adjusted his tie after dressing, he heard Virginia finally exit the bathroom. He grabbed his bag and left the room, needing to do a couple of things in the bathroom now that she left. Her back was to him when he entered the hall, his eyes scanned over her body, taking in the flowing cream skirt that stopped mid-calf. A sleeveless blouse was tucked into the top of the skirt, and only a small amount of her back soul mark peaked out from a gap at the base of her neck in the shirt.

She turned then to look at him, eyeing him critically before stepping closer to adjust his tie and collar, a feeling of practiced behavior echoed in his chest as her hands worked deftly at fixing things. Her hands rested against his chest as she looked over everything before she stepped back and realized what she just did. 

A dusting of pink appeared on her cheeks as she apologized for getting in his space without warning. He waved off her apology, “It’s really not a problem. I was going to adjust it more in the bathroom so you simply saved me a step. You seem pretty well practiced for that.” He observed, leaving the unasked question hanging between them.

“I’m really not. I’ve only done it for my brother’s on their wedding days. Mostly, it's just from watching my parents interact. My mom was never a fan of inside-out hoods or collars being popped or shirt tags showing. Whenever we would get dressed in formal attire, once my dad was dressed he would find my mom and stop in front of her so she could fix the tie and collar.” She explained, looking down while a nostalgic sad smile moved her cheeks.

He reached out and lifted her chin with the side of his finger when her smile when from nostalgic to just pure sadness, slipping into a soft frown, he was sure some level of home-sickness was surfacing at that moment. “We should finish up, the first call is soon.” He said once she met his eyes. Virginia stared at him for a long minute before a smile formed again, clearly she was recomposing herself by pulling up a smile, but her eyes shone with appreciation.

“I’m done, so I’ll just wait in the common area for you.” She finally said as she pulled away from Shouta, her smile feeling more natural as she turned and went for the door of the apartment, picking up her shoes as she went past her room. Shouta watched her for a moment before entering the bathroom himself. 6 minutes later, Shouta didn’t spot Virginia in the common area as she said she would be. With a sigh, he went to get his shoes on, if she was late then so be it but he didn't have time to track her down.

Virginia turned to look at him as he stopped in the open doorway, “Sorry. I know I said I would be in the lobby but I was impatient to get my shoes on and there isn’t a bench inside where I could sit and wait.”  She quickly explained as she went to stand up, Shouta catching her by her arm as her skirt got caught on her heels causing her to fall. “Are you alright?” He asked as he stabilized her and didn’t let go until he was sure she wasn’t going to end up on the ground.

“Yeah. Sorry, I swear any long skirt tried to make me fall at some point.” She muttered as the two proceeded down the stairs and began their walk for the main building to get on the video calls. Shouta led the way to the office space that was being used for the video calls where All Might was already waiting for them, bandages still wrapped around his arm and head. “Oh! Mori-san, I wasn’t expecting you to join us.” The old hero stated, voice clear with surprise. “Well, I will be the caretaker of 1-a so, its only fitting for their parents to meet me before trusting their children in our care full time.” She said calmly as she sat down in the chair across from All Might, leaving one between the two for Shouta to take.

“How many calls will we make before traveling?” She asked as they waited for the call to connect.” “The majority actually. Only 5 students live within range for actual home visits. Even by train, it takes several hours to reach anyone else. Which would be the least productive method for these discussions.” Shouta explained as the call connected and the first set of parents popped into view. A pad of paper was placed before Virginia by Shouta as he began to discuss the dorms. She was confused for a moment before an idea clicked in her mind as she took notes and eventually asked a couple of questions along with introducing herself.

The next calls went in a very similar pattern, sometimes the student is present for the call, sometimes only one of the parents is present. Some parents had more questions for Virginia, some had more questions primarily about the student’s safety for Shouta to answer. Some families took longer to convince, others were thrilled with the idea of the dorms. The overall consensus was that UA was still trusted by the parents, and that they were pleased that there was a dedicated person constantly present for the children.

Virginia asked a few common questions if the students were present to better prepare for their arrival, if they weren’t present the questions would be about the kid’s favorite things. The average call lasted 15 minutes with a 5 minute break between, so after 15 different calls, they finished around 1:00 pm. All Might was the first to leave the room to go and get some lunch. Virginia dropped her head down on the table as Shouta straightened his papers to put them away in his bag.

“I’m going to tell Izuku we’ll be away for a few hours. Doubt he will respond to me but still. Also, I left my phone in the apartment so I can’t just text him.” Virginia muttered into the wood of the table. Shouta raised an eyebrow at her as he finished with the papers. “Why didn’t you?” “No pockets. What the hell happened with fashion. I only found 1 skirt or dress that had any, back in my time....” She trailed off, lifting her head, a shocked look on her face as she rapidly blinked.

“Well damn, never thought I would end up saying that. Anyway, it was becoming more and more popular for dresses and skirts to have pockets.” She finished her statement before scooting the chair back so she could get up. “Do you mind getting me some lunch while I do that?” “I don’t mind. Just meet in the lounge when you come back.” Shouta also stood and together they walked down the hall, splitting off when their paths separated.

Virginia was fidgety as she walked to the staff dorm, taping her fingers against her thumbs in a wave as she made her way. In the elevator up, she rocked side to side as she waited for the doors to open to Izuku’s floor. 

A soft ding filled the air as the doors slid open to let Virginia out, she hadn’t even moved forward when she froze. Halfway down the hall was Izuku, heading for the elevators. The greenette also froze as he took in who had just arrived. His relaxed expression morphed to shock and fear, while a joyful smile bloomed on Virginia’s face. She hadn’t yet registered his expression, just as he hadn’t her’s, when she moved to go hug him in her excitement. He turned and ran back to his dorm, abandoning whatever he had been planning on doing.

Virginia ran after him as the door slammed shut. Anger flared in Virginia’s veins as it became clear in that instant that Izuku was deliberately avoiding her. “ Izuku! Are you fucking serious?! Open the door!” She yelled as she slapped her open palm against the wood, the vibration from the single strike sent unpleasant tingles down her arm. “ You’re seriously fucking hiding from me?!” She tried the door handle, firmly locked but that didn’t dissuade her from shaking it as her anger continued to course through her.

“Fine,” She growled as she kicked the bottom of the door, as a final strike before stalking off. A few people were milling around the common space as she quickly passed through, agitation clear in her sharp movements as she pulled her shoes back on and left for the main building again. Her stomach turned as she rode the elevator in the school up to the level where the lounge was. Her face was twisted into a scowl when she stormed into the room, no hesitation in her actions as swiftly approached Hizashi who was dressed in casual clothes.

The room had fallen completely silent as she grabbed the back of his rolling chair, with him still sitting on it, and dragged it out of the room, the sliding door slamming shut after her. All eyes then fell on Shouta who had been sitting on the couch, eating his lunch as he waited for Virginia. The usually stoic man was clearly shocked at the display but when he noticed the eyes on him, he just stared blankly back until they all looked away.

Hizashi was silent as Virginia pushed him halfway down the hall before coming to a stop, spinning him around to face her. Her head was bowed as she leaned over Hizashi, panting from exertion and anger, arms holding her up as she held the armrests in a death grip.

It took a few tries for Virginia to get her voice to work between her breaths. Her hand and foot still stung from the attacks to the door she made. “I-- I, please ‘Zashi.” She lifted her head slightly, enough for the thin silvery trail from a tear to be seen on her cheek. “I went t-to tell Izuku I was gonna be off campus for a bit. Saw him on his way to the elevator from his room. He ran away, back to the room without a word to me. He’s hiding from me.” She looked at him now, sorrow replaced the dying anger.

“He contacted you.” Her voice wavered as her arms buckled. Hizashi easily caught her and pulled her onto his lap, her body practically melting. “He could have contacted anyone to help after I fell asleep at his door, but he chose you. The first person to have any contact with him since he hid away was you.” She continued on. “You can get him out. Please Zashi. Save Izuku from himself.” Hizashi listened to her request, gently rubbing her back as she took a few minutes to pull herself together again.

Once she was ready, he helped her to her feet before standing up himself. “I’ll do everything I can. I promise.” He spoke sincerely as he bowed enough to be eye level to her, hands gently holding her shoulders as he confirmed her request. “Thank you.” She hugged him tightly, clearly she reached her breaking point with Izuku. “You just focus on the rest of the visits and I’ll go to Izuku.” He squeezed her back before they both released. “Thank you.” She weakly smiled and grabbed his chair, intending to return it to its proper spot before trying to eat something. Her stomach still turned, uncomfortably as she walked off.

Hizashi watched her return to the lounge before turning, taking a deep breath before speed walking for the staff dorms. He tried to formulate some type of plan as he made his way to Izuku’s door but everything kept coming up blank. He continued to try figuring out something to say or do even as he stood outside the correct door. Frozen, he took several minutes to actually knock on the door. A big breath, then, “Izuku. Can I come in? There is a lot we need to talk about and it can’t be put off any longer.” The words flowed from his mouth.

No sound followed for several heartbeats until the telltale sound of a bolt unlocking reached his ears and the door cracked open. A green eye glinted as it scanned the area around Hizashi before the door opened enough for the blond to enter. The door was closed softly behind him.

When Virginia returned to the lounge, she silently and calmly placed Hizashi’s chair back in its spot before settling down next to Shouta. She halfheartedly ate some of the rice, ignoring the majority of the food present for her, taking small sips of her water. Gradually her stomach settled down and she managed to eat a bit more of the food options before they had to leave. All Might sat in the front with their driver while Shouta and Virginia sat in the back. The two teachers discussed a few things as they waited to arrive at the first house.

Virginia was able to pull herself together in time for the three to climb out of the car and approach the first house. Shouta and All Might stood side by side while Virginia was behind in order to give her a few more seconds to get ready. The door opened and Jiro greeted them, she ushered the adults into her home and led the way to where her parents were waiting. The dynamic of the parents was familiar to Virginia as she sat and observed Jiro’s father grilling Shouta and All Might.

Eventually, the father’s gig was up and her parents consented to Jiro moving into the dorms. The three UA staff left after Virginia asked her couple of standard questions. The next house was the Bakugou’s. Virginia was uncertain on how the meeting would go, she knew she had to do her best to stay neutral to her pre-formed opinions about the Bakugou household while she was there. When Izuku was telling her about how Katsuki was growing up, she couldn’t help but pass judgment on his parents for allowing him to behave like that.

The Bakugou’s house was large and pretty nice. Virginia’s eyes scanned over everything with a critical gaze, trying to see if there was anything in the environment that would lead to Katsuki’s behavior. He wasn't currently present as his mom led the three to the living room. She was chatting pleasantly as they got settled on the couches. Virginia started to relax, as she wasn't seeing anything that stood out to her that would lead to his behavior. So, she thought that maybe it was more of an influence from his past schools that led to his temperament.

That idea was quickly shattered when Kasuki’s mom suddenly screamed for him to get his ass downstairs and serve their guests' tea. Once everyone was sat down, Katsuki next to his mother, Aizawa, and All Might explained the program and Virginia’s role. “Are you okay with UA taking more of a guardianship over your son?” Aizawa wanted clarification as Mrs. Bakugou seemed pretty at ease with everything.

Virginia watched in masked shock as Mrs. Bakugou slapped Katsuki on the back of the head and responded back casually as if she hadn’t just struck him. “Oh, sure! I’m actually counting on you!” She said cheerfully. Katsuki yelled at her for smacking him and she just did it again, the pleasant look on her face dissipating as she looked at him. “Shut up! It’s your fault to begin with for being so weak! You got caught, and now you’re causing trouble for everyone!” Mr. Bakugou timidly tried to stop the fighting but was vastly ignored. Shouta and All Might watched on in bafflement.

“Bakugou-san, I know for a fact that Nedzu-san has been working on getting these dorms approved for a few years now for the students that have to rent apartments or have long commutes for school. This change is not Bakugou-kun’s fault.” Virginia spoke up quickly, panic echoing in her heart from the interaction and words between the two blonds. The three looked at her, a variety of expressions on their faces as they focused on her.

“Really? Nedzu-san has been making plans for a while now?” Mrs. Bakugou asked as she relaxed her body again. Katsuki still looked agitated. “Yes, that is correct. I have been aware of the plans for several weeks now. For several reasons, I had been already living at UA, and would often chat with him. He had offered me a specialized position if he could get the dorms approved. These would have been done probably as soon as he became the principal if it wasn’t for the school board denying his plans.” Virginia explained, watching the body language of the Bakugou’s as she did so.

The room filled with silence for a minute or so before Shouta spoke up. “Is it really all right?” He clarified again, trying to bring the conversation back on track. “Oh! Right, the dorms. We’d actually be grateful.” Mrs. Bakugou said cheerfully as she patted Katsuki’s head roughly then kept her hand there, forcing Katsuki to keep his head down in a very uncomfortable bow. Her hand moved away after she spoke, her face twisting to be more concerned. “He can be reckless but he has always been good at everything and was blessed with a good quirk. But because of that, he has always had others fawning over him all the time, which is why he ended up like this.” Mrs. Bakugou explained, glancing at her son for a moment as she continued.

“It was always shallow stuff. That’s why I was actually very happy to hear what you said during the press conference. It made me think that this school was actually watching over him. I had been worried for a while now and wasn’t sure how it would turn out, but he’s back safe and sound now,” She turned and rubbed his hair gently, an angry pout on his face as he side-glared at her.

“So, you all might face some criticism for a while but I do trust you, and will leave him to you.” She forced him down in a bow to the UA staff members as she addressed her husband with a soft smile, the two agreed and bowed in a far less severe manner while Mrs. Bakugou finished talking. “He can be a hopeless guy. But please, train him hard and make him into a good hero.” 

With their heads down, Virginia allowed her face to contort into the disgusted shock she was feeling. All Might nudged Shouta for his attention, whispering to the man about buying him a drink. The two men looked over Virginia’s head to do so. The expressions were schooled as the three Bakugou’s raised their heads. The group chatted a bit more before they left for the next house. 

Outside, Virginia led the way into the car, her skin prickled with an unsettled feeling, only noticing that her companions had stopped before reaching the car. She looked on, confused as Katsuki approached All Might and asked him a question, his voice too soft for her to hear. Shouta turned away from watching Katsuki and climbed into the car, forcing Virginia to scoot over to her side of the bench seat before closing the door. It was only a few seconds later that Katsuki turned away to head back inside. Mitsuki’s voice was heard but muffled from within the house.

Once the car pulled away, Virginia sagged heavily against Shouta and the seat bench. “I’m not a drinker but I need a strong drink after that.” She grumbled, turning her face against Shouta’s arm as she breathed out a sigh. Shouta’s hand carted through her hair as she breathed in his scent. When she pulled away, her phone chimed with a photo from Hizashi. He seemed to be at a museum from what the background showed but the main focus of the image was Izuku’s back. He was facing forward down the exhibit hall but his face was turned to look at the displays to his left. 

Prominent eye bags were the first thing she spotted, his eyes looked exhausted but happy as he seemed to be enjoying himself. A smile wasn’t present. Virginia smiled sadly at the photo before showing Shouta the evidence that Izuku had left his dorm. Shouta, upon seeing the photo, reached over and lightly squeezed Virginia’s leg, the warm weight was a comfort to her. She typed up a quick response.

Brother 4 (soon)

[Image]

14:40 pm

Thank you Zashi. 

2nd mission for the day: get him to smile.

14:43 pm

13 minutes later, they pulled up to the next house. Virginia balked at the size of the house. She had been surprised by Bakugou’s house, but this one was much larger. She looked to Shouta for some sort of reassurance, “This is the Todoroki household. Endeavor may or may not be present for the meeting. After, we have to visit Tokoyami, then we can return to the apartment.” He answered the question clearly in her expression.

All Might waited along with Shouta for Virginia to shake off whatever it was that was bothering her before they filed out of the car and approached the door. A young woman with mostly white hair answered. She was very calm as she welcomed them into the house and led them to the living room where Shouto was waiting with his brother. The two Todoroki men greeted their visitors. Fuyumi poured tea for everyone before they began the discussions.

While All Might and Shouta discussed things with Fuyumi along with occasional input from her brothers, Virginia toned out the conversation and looked around the room. She hadn’t experienced any traditional Japanese designs before so she found her eyes wandering around the room. She didn’t care if it was obvious or subtle, her curiosity and boredom from having the same discussion 19 times overpowered her attention.

The main thing she noticed was how impersonal the space was. It looked more like what she would expect from a museum or a magazine catalog. Like an Ikea catalog, just traditional Japanese interiors instead of Scandinavian design. She giggled under her breath as she turned her attention to the tea loosely guarded by her hands, very faint vibrations caused small tremors in the surface of the liquid. She watched the small bubbles along the wall of the cup, expecting at least one to pop while she watched. 

From under the table, Shouta nudged her leg, causing her to tune back into the conversation. Easily picking up with her standard question, throwing in an unscripted one, “Is there anything that you don’t currently own that you would like to have at the dorms? Could be food, a trinket, a blanket, a photo. Really, it could be anything, except for an animal.” She smiled, her small notepad and pen poised and ready to write.

Shouto looked at her hands blankly, a glimmer of confusion in his eyes before he seemed to come to a decision. “A corkboard.” The other 5 occupying the room looked at him blankly as if they weren’t sure they had heard him correctly. “A- a corkboard? I- I can definitely get that for you but, why that exactly?” She asked as she scribbled down the words along with his name. Using a shorthand she always ends up forgetting what the words say and struggles to read what she herself wrote.

“I do not know how you did it, but I know Izuku can do the same thing. Your notebook materialized much like his own books. I just need to figure it out.” Virginia’s face scrunched up in confusion, the most expressive of all as she tried to make heads or tails of his words. “Do you want the cord board for like one of those investigation collages with the red lines everywhere? I- I think Izuku mentioned at some point you liked conspiracies.” She trailed off, tucking her notebook away into a front pocket of Shouta’s bag, which was hidden by the table.

When her hands returned to the top of the table, Shouto’s expression was more openly confused, pulling a grin on Virginia’s face as they all began to shift around to leave for the last house. Shouto and Fuyumi walked the three back to the front door to see them off. Virginia turned to face Shouto as All Might stood at the door, ready to open it. 

She reached out and took Shouto’s hand. “I promise to get you a few different-sized boards for you to use and I’m always up to listening to your theories.” She smiled warmly up at him as All Might opened the door. The blond tried to play off the surprised yelp that came from opening the door to see Endeavor there. “Oh, Father. We weren’t expecting you home. Is everything okay?” Fuyumi asked as Virginia released Shouto’s hand as she stepped back to be closer to Shouta as Endeavor towered over her.

She hid behind Shouta, pressing against him as closely as she physically could manage while remaining appropriate, his right arm slowly twisting behind his body to gently grip her arm. Her eyes darted back to Shouto and his unreadable expression that seemed harder now, than to the impersonal feeling of what little she saw of the house. She was shivering despite the heat coming off the Fire hero. 

“Why did you even bother to show up here? Of course, Shouto would be moving into the dorms. He can not be the best if he isn’t there.” Endeavor boldly stated, gowling down at Shouta, All Might kept looking between the two men, completely unaware of the state Virginia had fallen into as things fell into place for her. “It’s just procedure. We were just leaving now that it has been established that there isn’t any worry on Todoroki-kun’s part.” Shouta curtly responded, stepping forward, pushing All Might and Endeavor out of the way without touching them, in order to leave. 

Switching hands that held onto Virginia as he walked out. Tugging her around his body, keeping himself between her and Endeavor given how uncomfortable she instantly became around him. The two quickly entered the car, All Might following after a friendly but confused goodbye to the Todoroki’s. Once everyone was buckled, the driver quickly sped away, silence hung in the air as Virginia curled into herself. A deep scowl etched on her face as she ran her hands up and down her arms, seeking some form of warmth.

She stayed in the car for the final home visit, Shouta asked her questions instead and they quickly finished up the day. Heading back to campus nearly 3 hours later. All Might left for the staff dorm while Shouta and Virginia silently walked into 1-A’s dorm. Both kicked off their shoes and entered their apartment before collapsing on the couch, Shouta yanking the blanket from the back to wrap Virginia up.

“I...” She started mouth opening and shutting repeatedly as she tried to formulate her words. “I don’t trust Endeavor. Shouto coming to live in the dorms is probably the best possible thing for him if we ignore the threat of the league. The house felt empty and cold. Endeavor felt empty and cold. I don’t like it.” She finally said after nearly 10 minutes of trying to come up with the words to explain her emotions.

Shouta nodded along, in complete agreement. He might not be very expressive or materialistic, but even he has a few framed personal photos and a few important trinkets. “What about Bakugou?” “He needs anger management and is getting out of a toxic loop. I doubt he has ever physically struck his mom but with how openly and casually she hit him and forced him into submission, I’m honestly surprised he isn’t worse. Like, it seems so normal to the two of them, they probably don’t realize how toxic it is. And!” She shouted, twisting to be on her knees, a burning flame flickering in her eyes as she stared at Shouta. 

“You heard what she said right? She was fucking blaming him for what happened! Said he was weak! Like what the hell?! I might not know the actual procedures for dealing with kidnapping victims but that shit is clearly victim blaming! Her own son! That is absolutely not a healthy relationship. His dad wasn’t even trying to help the situation. Why didn’t he have Katsuki sit on his other side? It seemed like a common behavior between the two so why did he allow it even to happen? It’s ridicule-” She was practically shouting in her frustration, ultimately boiling over from her feeling about Izuku’s behavior unintentionally mixing in.

Shouta pulled on her body, throwing off her words and train of thought as she fell into his chest. His arms locked around her so she couldn’t escape, holding her to calm her down. Her chest heaved as she fell silent, trying to relax from the emotional rollercoaster she was on today. “We will make plans over the next few months to figure out the best way to help them all. For now, let’s just focus on the students arriving tomorrow to get settled in.” Shouta said after several minutes of holding her prisoner.

He reached out to snag the tv remote, turning it on to a random show that he was almost positive would hold her attention and take her thoughts off the two students and their households. Before they went to sleep, tucked into their separate beds, Virginia got a single photo from Hizashi. Izuku cupped his cheek, eyes wide and glimmering, shock written everywhere on his face, and a small but noticeable upturn of the corner of his lip was seen. A follow-up text came in, leaving her feeling just a bit lighter:

Brother 4 (soon)

[Image]

14:40 pm

Thank you Zashi. 

2nd mission for the day: get him to smile.

14:43 pm

August 20 - 23:50 pm

[Image]

Mission Accomplished

Virginia grinned to herself as she went to respond, glad that the half-assed plan worked, when a new message popped in from a different chain. Her grin slowly dropped as she realized who finally texted her:

Brother 3 

August 17 - 18:46 pm

Please come back to us..

August 19 - 14:23 pm

I could have really appreciated your help with moving to the student dorm. 

Shouta and Hizashi helped instead so we managed to get everything over

August 20 - 23:56 pm

I’m so sorry.

Can we talk tomorrow?

Please?

I really messed up.

I’m sorry Gin.

I’m going to kick your ass

Ass

You better be over here for 8

Your helping move your clasmas bozs

Hid from me again like that with no fucking words

Im goinna go all Shinning on you.

Here’s Ginna Buch

00:06 am

Are you wearing your glasses?

00:07 am

No!

I am mentally, physicallyl, and emotionally drained

Todayw was shit

00:09 am

Oh. I’m sorry.

00:09 am

Don’t shut us out ever again.

Please Izuku.

00:12 am

I promise.

I’ll see you in the moring.

00:13 am

I better.

Good night Izzy. 

I love you dork. Can’t et rid of me.

00:14 am

Good Night.

00:14 am

Chapter Text

Morning rolled in, creeping through the curtains, brightening the bedroom with diffused light. Tired green eyes opened to see the alarm clock blinking with red numbers. Izuku groaned as he sat up in bed, a hand running down his face as he slowly woke up. Looking back at the clock, he finally registered the current time and crawled out of bed, stubbing his toe on the bed frame as he went.

He held his foot, hopping around from the sudden pain, while trying to continue getting ready. Leaning against the closet door, he pulled out a pair of jean shorts and a black t-shirt that was a little snug along with socks and his underwear. Once he had everything in hand, he hobbled over to the small bathroom to freshen up and to get dressed. Once he felt he was presentable he left his dorm, ignoring the food he had as his stomach churned with anxiety, finally facing Virginia after his actions facing All for One.

His fingers tapped a rhythm against his thighs as he rode the elevator down to the main floor. Hizashi was waiting for him, leaning on the back of one of the couches, lifting his head and greeting him with a warm smile as Izuku came closer. “You texted her, right?” Hizashi stood up fully as Izuku came to a stop at his side. Izuku nodded as he twisted his fingers, Hizashi reached out and held his hands in his. “Just relax, she has been worried for you. She is gonna be thrilled to see you.” Hizashi said softly, pulling Izuku closer into a hug.

“She’s gonna try killing me.” “With love!” “She’s gonna smother me.” “She is just gonna hug you.” “Death by bludgeoning.” “Oh, stop. She isn’t tall enough for that.” Izuku went to retort before Hizashi’s words caught up to him, “Hizashi! What the hell? Don’t let her hear you say that, or she is gonna prove you wrong.” Izuku whined as he hugged the blond back. “Did you eat anything?” Hizashi asked after he finished laughing at Izuku. “No, I’m too nervous. I’ll try eating something after meeting with Ginna.” Izuku dropped his head to rest against Hizashi’s neck. They stood like that for a few minutes before pulling away.

Together they made their way out of the staff dorm and down the path to the Height Alliance buildings, where Virginia and Shouta are waiting in the dorm building specifically for class 1-A. Hizashi kept a hold of Izuku’s hand as they walked, Izuku’s free hand had his fingers drumming against his palm, nervous energy getting expelled somewhat.

The dorm loomed overhead with several boxes already waiting to be moved inside. Hizashi and Izuku walked past this and into the building, changing into some slippers before stopping outside the door to Shouta and Virginia’s apartment. Izuku knocked and was greeted by Shouta, his hair was pulled back into a bun and he was dressed in his hero uniform, just with the top half tied at his waist. He took a few steps back to allow Izuku and Hizashi entry into the apartment.

“Are you ready?” Shouta asked once he closed the door. Izuku stood awkwardly in the middle between Shouta and Hizashi, lined up so he is in clear view from the hallway, even though he has yet to realize it. He nervously pressed his fingers together as he shifted his stance a bit before answering. “No, but I need to do this... Does she hate me?” He questioned, glancing up to Shouta for the answer. 

“Never. She’s just been worried sick about you. You, choosing to hide from her, hit her pretty hard.” Izuku winced as he could only imagine how she was doing. The texts he got over the week and especially last night echoed in his mind. 

“I can o-” “IZUKU!” Shouta and Hizashi could only watch in slow motion as the smaller form of Virginia barreled into Izuku. The suddenness of her appearance caught Izuku off guard and caused him to trip over his feet as he tried to brace for impact. All of this conceded into Izuku toppling over butt first, head smacking into the floor with Virginia landing on top of him. Her momentum would have had her continuing forward into the side of a table if it wasn’t for Izuku’s reflexes causing his arms to trap her against his chest.

Tears began to soak into Izuku’s shirt as he waited for the pain to stop radiating down his back and skull. “Izuku! Don’t you dare psisu iy asugip uyhioyet hsi soiutsghets a-” Her words became a jumbled mess, switching from Japanese to their unnamed language as she cried. Izuku’s eyes focused on Virginia, tears of his own starting to pool as he listened to her cries. 

Carefully he sat up, still hugging his sister as he did, Hizashi helped him as he seemed to struggle for a moment. “I really am sorry Ginna. I don’t have a good answer for my actions beyond I was scared. Scared of how you will view me after I killed someone. After I took a human life. I was scared you would be afraid of me or hate me or want absolutely nothing to do with me.” Izuku confessed as the tears finally fell, Virginia becoming unfocused as he did.

She pulled back from him, his panicked mind interpreting the movement as her trying to leave so he clung to her tighter. “Hey, Izuku, hey.” She cooed softly, voice rough from her own crying, as she managed to free her arms so she could cup his cheeks, wiping his tears with her thumbs.

“Listen to me, Izuku. You may have taken a life, but that individual stopped being human years ago. What you did that day was putting an end to a monster that has been haunting the world for the past 200 years, give or take. I could never be mad or afraid of you for protecting thousands of people, even if that wasn’t your intent at the moment. I’ve raised you for the past 10 years and we share a soul bond. You’re stuck with me, regardless of what you do in life. I’ll be hard on you or annoyed on occasion, but I will never hate you or disown you.” Virginia said firmly, her voice growing steadier as she relaxed, having Izuku back, cry-baby self and all.

Izuku’s arms relaxed as he absorbed her words, her hands warm on his face as he focused on breathing. “Okay, okay.” He said after a moment, gathering himself as he calmed down. “I’ll try to remember that if I ever think I’ve done something for you to hate me.” “Good. Now, if your head is okay after that fall, get up. We have work to do, and you are helping move boxes this time.” Virginia ordered as she wiggled from Izuku’s hold to stand up. She offered a hand, out to Izuku to help him up even if it was very unnecessary, a gleam in her eye as she looked at him.

Izuku chuckled nervously as he took her hand after he stood up. Her gin turned wicked as she pulled him towards the door, Hizashi getting to it before she did to open it for them. She essentially dragged Izuku back to the front door to the sea of boxes. “It’s 8:30 now. The class will start arriving at noon. We have until then to get these moved to their assigned rooms. Since Hizashi came with you, he has volunteered to also help.” 

“When did I agree to that?” “By coming here during move in day. Anyway, it will get done faster with three working.” Virginia said as she stopped to lock the doors open so they wouldn’t be in the way while the men worked.

“Wait, are you not gonna help with moving the boxes?” Izuku asked as he finished putting his shoes on since he is going to be outside. Virginia just stared him down blankly before gesturing to the bruises on her shins from when she tripped in the staff room. “You really want me carrying any of those boxes. When we moved into this building, I only moved things that either had wheels or were small. Shouta and Hizashi moved the rest.” 

Shouta was already walking back into the building with a couple of boxes by the time Virginia explained her reasoning. Izuku shrugged and went with Hizashi to gather boxes as well, being smart and grabbing the boxes labeled for one student at a time. Virginia would direct them to what floor and room to bring the boxes, so it wasn’t like she wasn’t helping. Before Izuku had even arrived, she had been doing some online shopping for same day delivery for some general items to decorate the common area with. Some large items for specific students were going to be delivered tomorrow while they were in class.

Virginia worked on mopping up the floor after they brought in the last box. She worked her way from the highest floor till she reached the main level, where Izuku took the mop from her to finish cleaning the floor. She was confused for a hot minute before Shouta and Hizashi caught her eye as they brought inside the items she had ordered earlier. Most of it was for the common space so decorated while Shouta brough the other things to the student rooms Virginia instructed them for. 

Hizashi left when it was almost 11, wanting to run before any of the students arrived. Virginia had added several blankets and throw pillows on the couches along with adding some knick-knacks to the room. Shouta disappeared into their office for a bit while Izuku worked on setting up the game system Virginia also ordered. By the time Virginia was pleased with everything, students began to arrive and Izuku went to notify Shouta.

The three stood in the entryway, watching as more students gathered before Shouta adjusted his clothes so his top half was actually covered by his uniform, adjusting his capture weapon before he stepped outside to greet the students. He stopped at the top of the stairs as he did a head count, Virginia slinking out to hide behind one of the columns that lined the porch.

The students milled about once they realized that Shouta wasn’t saying anything yet, a few realizing it was because not everyone had arrived. Izuku’s previous friend group gathered, questioning where he was but also figured that he was already moved in since he had been living at UA since he returned to their time. 

Once the last student arrived, Shouta began his slow stalk down to the sidewalk as everyone’s attention was tracked on him. Virginia peeked her head out to watch him and a scowl instantly twisted on her face. She stepped out, hands as fists on her hips as she snapped out, “Mineta, if you don’t back away from Mina right now, you are gonna be severely punished. Get your eyes out from under her skirt!” Her voice echoed through the air. Mina jumped, twisting as she did, hands going to press her skirt down. 

Shouta growled as he threateningly grabbed his capture weapon while Mineta quickly backed away, hands up in a panic. “You do recall our previous discussion, don’t you?” Shouta said, eyes narrowing as he came to a stop several feet from the bottom of the stairs. Mineta nodded and bowed in apology repeatedly before Shouta relaxed his stance to his lazier, aloof manner. 

“Now then. Welcome to the Height Alliance, 1-A Building. Your home away from home. With that said, we haven’t forgotten about the provincial licenses you were meant to get during the training camp. So, for the rest of the summer, we will be working on earning those.” Shouta started off passively, hands tucked into his pockets. 

Even without physically moving, his presence seemed to become more daunting. “Kirishima, Yaoyorozu, Todoroki, and Iida.” Shouta called out, glaring at the four called out, “If you believe you managed to go after Bakugou without us knowing, then you are sorely mistaken. Judging by your reactions the rest of you were at least aware of their plans and did nothing to stop their actions.” The class shifted in discomfort, anxiety tight in their postures while several looked down guiltily.

“If it wasn’t for All Might’s retirement from the hero scene, I would have expelled all of you except for Hagakure and Jiro along with Bakugou.” Shock echoed through the students as Virginia came to stand fully at the top of the stairs, hands gently clasped in front of her. Many kept looking back and forth between each other. Bakugou growled before calling out, “What about the nerd? He was fucking there that night, and from what the news showed, he did far worse than try helping to rescue me.”

“Izuku has already been dealt with and is currently grounded.” Virginia spoke calmly from her spot, a little tightness present in her shoulders. “What? You can’t ground me!” Izuku’s voice came from the doors. Virginia turned to look behind her with a glare. “You are grounded.” “But-” “GRounDed” She interrupted, half turning her body as she exaggerated the word. She could see him half sticking out of the door, hands held up in surrender. “Okay. I’m grounded. Sorry.” He backed away, door closing as he went to sit on a couch. Virginia turned back to see some amusement on the faces of the students below.

“With that all said, you all broke my trust and the school’s trust. In order for you to regain that lost trust, you will need to obey every rule to the letter and live as model students. Rarely will you be unattended in this building until we know for certain that you have earned back some trust.” Shouta’s words echoed heavily through the air; students paled as he turned to head inside. “That is all.” 

Virginia watched in amusement as Bakugou dragged Kaminari away before a large plume of electricity came from behind the hedge, causing laughter from the rest of the class. Shouta reached Virginia’s side and guided her back inside once he realized everyone was focused on what Bakugou was doing, so no one would notice his hand on her back as he did.

While Shouta and Virginia had been outside, Izuku had set up the board with the room assignments on it. The two stood on either side of the board while Izuku chilled on the couch as the rest of the class trailed inside after taking off the shoes and switching them to their house slippers. 

Virginia smiled as everyone gathered around, “Now then. Welcome to the Height alliance dorms for class 1-A. Each building is specifically for an individual class, each tower of the dorm holds either girls or boys. Girls will all be on the right, boys on the left. The main level here is the common shared space, in which you will find the living room, kitchen, laundry, and the baths. You will be responsible for keeping everything clean. Go ahead and take a look around, then we will head upstairs to one of the unassigned rooms, so you have an idea of what to expect.” Virginia explained before shooing the students away.

The class had a good 5 minutes to explore, Virginia hadn’t been paying attention, but she did notice Shouta suddenly pissed off aura. She glanced at him only to see a terrified Mineta with his back to Shouta’s own. Shouta just shook his head softly as he started to walk towards the elevator. “Class! We will be showing a room on the 3rd floor left tower, please either take the stairs or the elevator to meet there.” Virginia called as she slipped into the elevator as the doors began to close. 

A few tried to reach the elevator before the doors could close but failed, Virginia’s laughter taunting them as the elevator moved up. Shouta gave her an amused look as she leaned against him for the short ride up. “All Might has invited us out for a drink tonight.” “Oh? After you just told your class that they will rarely be unattended?”

“Key word being, rarely. I doubt they can manage to cause that much trouble by setting up their individual rooms. It’s not like the rest of the staff will be joining.” “I don’t really drink. Do you suppose I would be able to get a rum and coke? That’s my default drink.” The elevator doors opened and the two strolled out, coming to a stop next to one of the empty rooms.

Shouta unlocked it before the two walked inside. Virginia went and pulled the curtains open and tugged the sliding door so the students could take a look at the balcony. “They should have that. Do you drink beer?” “Not at all. Can’t stand the taste of hops and since it's in pretty much all beer.” Virginia trailed off with a shrug of her shoulders. The first of the students started to arrive outside the door so the two went out to meet them.

“Good, you all listened. Each of you will have your own room.” Shouta gestured inside and Virginia stepped out of the doorway to let them in. “Each room has a closet and toilet standard along with an air conditioning unit, so you should all be comfortable in your spaces. I’ll tell you all more about your next classes and how things will run tomorrow. For now, get to work.” 

“Yaoyorozu, I need to have a brief word with you. Please.” Virginia called as she stood next to one of the windows overlooking the courtyard. “Oh, yes ma’am. What is it?” Yaoyorozu quickly approached Virginia, who smiled gently at her in an apologetic manner.

“When personal belongings were getting dropped off, the movers asked what they should do about the large pieces of furniture that they had. I did tell them to return them to your home as they wouldn’t be able to fit inside your room. You are more than welcome to use your quirk to produce similar pieces just scaled to your new room. Just use the side of the pieces already present to do so. I understand wanting to have the same environment as home but, these rooms are much smaller than what you have anticipated.” Virginia explained calmly to the girl before her.

Yaoyorozu looked pensive for a moment as she thought it all over. “I see. I do appreciate the information. I suppose I was just so excited, I lost focus on the practicality of what I was bringing.” “More than understandable. I believe you also underestimate things as you just aren’t used to the average dorm sizes, given your upbringing as very wealthy.” Virginia suggested gently, a playful smile gracing her face. 

Yaoyorozu blushed, feeling a little embarrassed, but Virginia didn’t let her dwell on it as she shooed her away towards her assigned room. Back in the common space, Virginia found Shouta waiting for her along with Iida. “Good afternoon, Mori-san! I understand that you will be watching over us along with Aizawa sensei. I wanted to propose a suggestion to have a class chat that includes you both, so if there is ever a need for one of us to contact you and you aren’t readily available, we can get your assistance. Or if there is any class-wide news you need to share with us.” Iida spoke promptly once Virginia came to a stop.

“Oh, I see. That is a very smart idea. Aizawa-san would probably have the chat muted since I will be available but regardless. I will give you my contact information and you can set everything up. There is something tonight that will take me away from the dorms for a few hours, but I do trust that you all will behave during that time.” She agreed as she pulled out her phone as she had yet to memorize her new number. Iida also pulled out his phone and the two quickly exchanged numbers. Iida bowed and thanked her for entrusting the set-up of the chat to him before he left to unpack his dorm room.

Once Iida was gone, the common room was void of all but Shouta and Virginia. “So, when is All Might wanting to meet?” Virginia spoke up as they started to walk to their apartment. “In about an hour. We are going to a bar that I like to visit.” “Is it safe to assume it's pretty casual?” Shouta simply nodded as he held the door open for Virginia to enter first. “Alright. I’m going to take a quick shower. Do you need in there first?” She asked in default. The old habit from growing up in a house with only one standard American bathroom.

“No. If I really need the toilet or want a shower, I can just use the dorm’s facilities.” Shouta grinned lightly as he passed Virginia as she entered her room. 45 minutes later, both were ready to go and were walking towards the main gate as Virginia sent a heads-up message to the class chat that Iida had finished setting up not even 5 minutes after he had proposed the idea. She also sent a text to Hizashi and Izuku to inform them that she and Shouta were going to be gone for a few hours without stating where they would be.

The two ended up walking to the bar, finding All Might already at a table waiting for them. Right as they sat down, a waiter came by to get their drink orders. All Might quietly sipped his tea as they all waited for the rest of the drinks to come out. Virginia sat awkwardly as a weird energy surrounded the table. Shouta and All Might were in a stare off.

Virginia sipped her rum and coke at the same speed as All Might with his tea, Shouta however was already half done with his second beer. All Might finally broke the silence as Shouta started his third beer and Virginia had ordered something to eat. “I’m surprised you are drinking so much.” His voice reflected concern as he looked at the male across from him. Virginia also eyed her partner as she lazily swirled her nearly empty cup.

“I’ll be fine. I don’t ever remember getting drunk prior to this.” Shouta answered, stilted. “That, really isn’t a flex, Shouta.” Virginia spoke up, pausing slightly to formulate her words. “It actually seems quite concerning that you have no memory of getting drunk and you can drink 3 beers consecutively like that.” Shouta stared at her for a solid minute before he sifted, pulling his hand away from his beer glass.

The awkwardness continued and Virginia zoned out, getting lost in thought as All Might attempted to have a conversation with Shouta. After nearly 15 minutes of awkward conversation, Virginia got up to use the restroom. She snapped back to hearing the two talking about teaching. Shouta claims there really aren’t any easy solutions or answers to All Might’s questions. He himself has only been teaching for less than 8 years, so there is still much for him to learn.

When Virginia exited the restroom, the atmosphere in the bar was livelier. The source of the shift was a familiar blond, sitting in her seat with a green... Virginia’s eyes narrowed as she stalked forward coming up to Shouta’s other side and slapped the table as she leaned in. Izuku stared back like a deer in headlights, Hizashi’s jaw also snapped shut as he matched Izuku’s look.

Slowly, she aggressively pointed at Izuku, Shouta watched amused while All Might was concerned. “You are grounded mister.” Izuku shrunk back as she scolded him, he tried to formulate something to say but kept falling short. Hizashi snapped out of his shock and started to beg, giving kicked puppy with his hands clasped. “Please let him stay!” His bottom lip wobbled as he stared at her. Her finger shifted to point at him, “You wanna be grounded too?” Her face started to feel warm, the alcohol finally making a presence to her. 

Hizashi pouted harder as he seemingly backed down. “You know, you did say that Izuku had to stay in your sight as punishment for hiding.” Shouta drawled as he sipped at his beer, frowning when Virginia’s hand came down to block it from his face. Her own face contorted into a thinking expression and hope twinkled in their eyes. “I have no recollection of ever saying that, but I suppose I can accept it. Fine. He can stay but!” She paused dramatically as she wagged her finger at Izuku’s face once again, “You, mister, are doing whatever hell type training Shou can think of, in exchange for enjoying yourself tonight.”

Hizashi looked like he was about to argue on Izuku’s behalf, but before he could, Izuku quickly covered his mouth with one hand. “Got it. Completely agree. Thank you.” Izuku blurted out, tension slipping from him. All Might still looked completely confused as this all happened.

Virginia dropped her hand to the table, leaning on both hands now as she pouted at Hizashi. The blond looked back confused at the change, “What?” “I was sitting there.” She whined as she glared at him. He finally noticed the empty glass and cooling plate of food in front of him. “Oops?” He said, it was clear in his voice that he wasn’t going to get up. “ You’re an ass.” She hissed as she sat on Shouta’s other side as there was an empty seat there. Shouta shifted her plate, so it was in front of her again and called over a staff member for the next round of drinks now that there were more people.

Virginia watched as Shouta loosened up as Hizashi’s energy worked to lighten the mood of the space. He looked annoyed when Hizashi started to call him names in a teasing fashion. Izuku at one point was caught off guard at one of the names and started to choke on his drink, some of which came out his nose. Shouta smirked, All Might worried, and Virginia started to giggle relentlessly. Eventually Hizashi ended up in a headlock with Izuku finding the far wall very fascinating, still as a statue all while Hizashi was trying to get him to help.

This was the chaos that 13 and Kayama arrived to see. Virginia was on her third drink as more and more of the UA staff showed up to join them at the table. Spirits were lifted and laughter filled the air. Virginia smiled softly as she watched the chaos, the buzz from her drinks slowly fading as she watched All Might struggling with escaping, Ectoplasm started to sing, Hound dog had tried to keep order, and Izuku looked relaxed, happy, and carefree. 

The group as a whole started to sing with Ectoplasm, dancing and swaying all around, even Shouta. Hizashi was practically hanging off Izuku at this point. Virginia quietly snorted as she watched, turning away to catch All Might’s eye. “ You good?” She asked, mentally unable to formulate any Japanese words. “ Yes. This is a very different atmosphere than I anticipated.” “Agreed. I’ve never been one to drink, especially in social settings, so this is very... very.” Virginia said with a head nod. Despite not really saying anything at the end there, All Might couldn’t help but agree.

He managed to get away to use the restroom, his return was greeted with many excited cheers as the group thought he had left them. Virginia looked to be fast asleep, head down on the table while Shouta and Vlad were arguing once again. Izuku ended up sitting on the floor with Kayama sitting on his shoulders and Hizashi was trying to pull her off without success. A few more hours later, Virginia finally got up and managed to usher her soul bonds out of the bar and back to UA.

Hizashi was draped across Izuku’s back as a guiding hand from Virginia led him down the sidewalk. Her other hand was captured by Shouta as he was aware enough to not use Virginia as a walking stick, given the size difference and the fact that she was the only one actually coherent. The walk back to campus was annoyingly long, but she managed to get Izuku and Hizashi to the staff dorm. She then managed to get Shouta inside 1-A dorm. However, there was a snag when she tried to put him to bed.

He had been very compliant as she got him ready for bed, including when she forced him to drink a glass of water. The snag came when she helped him lay down. Despite how drunk he was, she was still strong and had quick reflexes. She squeaked in shock when she suddenly was knocked off her feet and was held trapped in Shouta’s arms. The man was completely knocked out, snuggling into her hair, unconsciously squeezing her gently. She grumbled softly, but didn’t try to escape, just relented and removed her glasses before she fell asleep.

Back with Izuku and Hizashi, after they managed to get their shoes off, they leaned on each other as they walked for the elevator, swaying as they stumbled along. The elevator was summoned from the top floor, as the two waited, Izuku leaned against the wall with Hizashi leaning back on his chest. It was quiet between the two, even as Izuku’s drunken hands slowly rubbed circles on Hizashi’s stomach or kneaded his hips.

A content drunken air emanated between them as the elevator dinged and they begrudgingly entered. Izuku pressed the buttons for the two to head for their own floors. That plan quickly changed as a wave of vertigo hit them both as the elevator rose to Izuku’s level. Both quickly stumbled out, making a bee line for Izuku’s dorm as he scrambled for his key to unlock the door before their stomachs emptied in unfortunate places.

After losing it in either the toilet or a solid trash can, both made their way to the kitchenette to get some water to wash it down and to further help in recovering. Izuku groaned as he leaned over the sink, Hizashi gently rubbing his back as he was ultimately the more sober one and had more experience with being drunk. The blond snorted softly in amusement at the sorry state Izuku was in. Izuku just glared at him before he stood up slowly, so he didn’t throw off his stomach again.

“M’not ever drinkin again.” He grumbled as he tugged Hizashi with him to lay down on his bed, a sudden desire to sleep following being sick. “You just don’t know how to handle it yet.” “Yous sound like an al-co-holic.” Izuku grumbled as he tugged off his shirt, nearly falling as he did. Dropping heavily on his mattress with a wince.

“Rude.” Hizashi pouted, crossing his arms as he stood just past the door, not looking at Izuku. “You can build a tolerance, just slowl...” Hizashi’s train of thought got derailed as he suddenly was staring at the bare muscular back of Izuku. His mind went blank as Izuku turned around to sit on his bed. He started to shuffle out of the room when Izuku noticed him and started to whine, “Hey! Where you goin?” He stared at Hizashi with watery green eyes, a pout on his lips as he spoke.

Hizashi once again froze as Izuku started making grabby hands towards him, “I...I was gonna go back to my room?” “Oh,” Izuku sounded so sad at this, “Okay... I wanna cuddle but if ya really wanna go...” He didn’t even realize what he was doing, unintentionally manipulating Hizashi. The two entered a stare-off, Izuku looking sadder and sadder as Hizashi’s own will started to break. With a sign, Hizashi dropped his head into his hands to rub his face before stepping closer. A gasp prompted him to look up, a sleepy drunk beaming brilliant smile lit up Izuku’s face as he happily made grabby hands again towards Hizashi.

Hizashi was once again dazed as he came within reach of Izuku, who quickly latched onto his wrist and pulled into his embrace, slowly so he wouldn’t accidentally hurt either of them. Izuku hugged him to his chest, whispering a thank you into Hizashi’s hair, sending chills down his spine. “D-do you sleep in a shirt?” Hizashi asked, trying to get his mind to focus on anything but drunk thoughts.

“Nope. just soft pants. Probably should change. Want some? Jeans so uncomfy, always leaves a mark.” Izuku shifted Hizashi off his lap, onto the bed as he got up, swaying for a moment as he got his bearings back. “Um... sur-” He was cut off as Izuku turned around quickly, suddenly leaning over him, his eyes clear and dark as his sudden movement, caused Hizashi to fall back on his elbows. “Or do you not even use pajamas when you sleep Hi-za-shi?” Izuku whispered, his voice dipping low as he smirked.