Work Text:
Nezu is, for all his intelligence, a creature of habit. On Friday evenings, he goes to a small, quiet restaurant and sits alone at a table. He drinks two glasses of wine with his meal (glazed salmon), and reads a book. The name of the book is the only thing that changes. Then, he has a cup of jasmine tea and a selection of macaroons, before wrapping the evening up.
He does not notice that Izuku has repositioned one of the restaurant’s security cameras to be aimed squarely at his table.
Izuku knows that, in truth, he and Nezu do not have much in common. And yet, Izuku is certain this emotion he feels is…kinship. He knows everything about Nezu’s history and he respects the mammal for what he has made out of himself after what he went through. Maybe Izuku hopes to emulate him, in some way. Do some good, despite the bad he came from.
Izuku types rapidly on his keyboard.
A few seconds later, Nezu looks away from his book to check his phone.
[sysadmin]: b1 to c3
Izuku watches Nezu frown at his phone for a moment; for him, it comes through as a text message with a blank phone number. One is bound to be confused, Izuku concedes. The animal glances around the restaurant. Izuku keeps count.
It takes fourteen seconds for Nezu to notice the camera’s new positioning.
[Nezu]: Good evening! Am I to assume you are the one who has moved this establishment’s camera?
Valid question.
[sysadmin]: smile
At that, the rat chuckles softly. He looks up and waves at the camera.
[Nezu]: And can I assume you won’t be introducing yourself?
[sysadmin]: correct
[sysadmin]: b1 to c3
[sysadmin]: your move
[Nezu]: If we’re going to play, why not place bets? All great games are made better when there is something valuable at stake, yes?
Izuku considers. He watches the game, in all its possible permutations, play out in his head.
Izuku wins.
Very well.
[sysadmin]: if you win, i answer all your questions about who i am
[sysadmin]: if i win, you give me 1% of your net worth
On his second screen, Izuku watches Nezu let out what is probably a rather diabolical cackle. Unfortunately, the restaurant’s security system does not have microphones.
[Nezu]: Splendid! I accept! My move, then. F7 to F6.
It is an interesting game.
Izuku has Nezu in checkmate in fifty-eight moves.
Nezu sips his fourth glass of wine.
[Nezu]: Fantastic game, if I might say! Highly stimulating. And quite refreshing, too. I haven’t lost a game in some time.
[sysadmin]: your strategy was predictable
[Nezu]: Oh?
[sysadmin]: you are a strategist but when you realized i was taking more pieces than i was losing, you turned into an extreme aggressor
[sysadmin]: you took unnecessary risks hoping to catch me off guard
[sysadmin]: you failed
Izuku watches Nezu’s hackles raise. He takes a shaking sip of his wine.
[Nezu]: Interesting analysis.
[sysadmin]: you could have beat me twenty moves in
[Nezu]: Oh? Go on.
[sysadmin]: my queen was wide open to your rook with a straight line to my king
[sysadmin]: you did not make the move
[sysadmin]: why
[Nezu]: Call it a gamble. Obviously, not one that paid off. Truthfully, I got the distinct feeling that I would be walking into a trap. I simply chose to not walk into it.
[Nezu]: But to the matter of our bet, yes? Provide an account number and I will set up the transfer of funds.
[sysadmin]: donate it to the kinder teachers fund
In the restaurant, Nezu cackles again.
[Nezu]: Truly?
[sysadmin]: truly
[Nezu]: As an educator, I am more than pleased to support future teachers. A noble choice. May I ask why?
[sysadmin]: the fund is running low
[sysadmin]: your money is needed
[Nezu]: Another question, if I may. How do you know the fund’s situation?
[sysadmin]: i set it up
[sysadmin]: after the crisis I caused, teachers were needed
[sysadmin]: i provided incentive
[Nezu]: Crisis? Are you referring to the Aldera situation some months back?
[sysadmin]: yes
[sysadmin]: better teachers were needed
[sysadmin]: i provided incentive
[Nezu]: Fascinating. I simply must ask. Were you also the one who blew the whistle on the foster system and its prevalent abuse of the children it was intended to nurture?
[sysadmin]: yes
[sysadmin]: it was the logical next step
[sysadmin]: no child should fear going to school
[sysadmin]: no child should fear going home
[sysadmin]: if they provided adequate care, they would not have been punished
[sysadmin]: all harm brought to them was brought by themselves
[Nezu]: Bravo! Well said, my friend, well said indeed. Very good! I’m afraid you’ve gained a rather staunch supporter in me, my friend.
[sysadmin]: i suspected i would
Izuku pauses.
Does he want to say the words that come to mind? Does he dare to be…vulnerable?
Yes.
He must dare.
[sysadmin]: you are the only person i currently think of as a peer
[sysadmin]: our life experiences are not identical but they are similar enough that finding peers is a rare thing for both of us
[sysadmin]: i do not think i am capable of feeling fear but i believe if i did, i would fear being alone
[sysadmin]: being human is fearing solitude
[sysadmin]: the logical conclusion is to reach out to the few peers i can find
[sysadmin]: you are the first
Izuku watches Nezu stare at his phone for many long moments.
Did Izuku offend by bringing up Nezu’s painful history? Did he choose the wrong words? Should he not have said anything at all?
[Nezu]: I understand. I’m very glad you consider me a peer. I hope with time, you come to trust me enough that perhaps we can meet in person. Or even just, that you feel ready to share your name. If nothing else, I would love to play many more games of chess with you, whatever your name or history may be. You’ve presented me with a challenge, and if you know anything about me, you know that I do love a challenge. May I take a turn on white?
Izuku’s fists unclench. He types a rapid response.
[sysadmin]: yes
[sysadmin]: your move
[Nezu]: Wonderful! G2 to G3.
Izuku considers.
It will be…fun. To play chess. With a. A friend. Friend. Yes. Friend. That is good. Friend.
Izuku has made a friend.