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Deku escaped through his fingers yet again. The calm, cool, collected Ingenium's composure was fracturing. It's been years since he first started his search to take down the infamous villain Deku. Iida recalled Bakugo mentioning that the villain had gone to his middle school, that the villain was quirkless, and that he was thirsty to prove that he could be just as powerful as any hero without a quirk. Iida and Bakugo developed a bond after Bakugo disclosed how he had treated Deku (Midoriya Izuku he was later told) growing up. It all came out when Iida went to hunt down Stain for putting his brother in the hospital. With the help of Bakugo and Todoroki, Stain was taken down and put away, but that didn't stop Deku from continuing his dastardly plans to take down all of Japan.
He was good at his work.
And it infuriated Iida to no end.
Bakugo and Iida would work together, Bakugo as a sense of competition with the villain (and what Iida assumed as a need for redemption for how he treated the once young quirkless boy), while Iida still had a taste for revenge (although he would never admit that out loud).
Then one day two years after graduating from UA, Iida and Bakugo had Deku cornered. Up on a rooftop with rain pouring down like a waterfall of vengeance, it felt like they finally would get the justice their community deserved, when a girl dressed in all black with a sharp bob haircut floated into view. Scooping Deku up, pressing the tips of her fingers together, the couple seemed to fly away with Deku taunting the heroes before they could catch up to him and this new accomplice.
Iida would later find out the name this young woman goes by is Uravity. After more probing, Uravity's real identity became known as Uraraka Ochako.
Deku would manage to escape more often with Uravity by his side. She would taunt Iida, praising Deku's "superior" intelligence and strength regardless of his quirkless status.
But today, she was not there.
Bakugo stormed off, "pissed" at losing yet another fight against Deku.
"I'm fucking pissed! Stupid Deku! I'M GONNA BEAT HIM!" Bakugo roared, kicking trash cans over hard enough to send its contents flying.
Iida tried to keep his breathing under control as he placed a hand on Bakugo's shoulder. "We'll find another strategy, Bakugo..." He knew his words would not mean much, they didn't mean much to himself either. This cat and mouse chase with Deku and Uravity was getting old.
With sighs and cursing, Bakugo and Iida departed. Bakugo saying he was going to workout and spar with his fiancé and best friend, Kirishima. "I'd ask you to join, but I'm not promising I'll fucking hold back right now, Iida."
"It's alright, thank you though," Iida took his helmet off and pointed in the direction of a bar down the street. "I think I'll treat myself to a drink before heading back home...I'll see you at the agency on Monday."
"Yeah, yeah, okay," Bakugo waved him off before blasting away, leaving Iida to walk to the bar on his own.
To his surprise, it was mostly empty. Perhaps it was because it was still relatively early for the bar. Iida rarely drank, but after a long hard day, it was something he decided wasn't too bad. It helped calm his muscles, although he hated the way the alcohol burned on the way down.
He was about to claim his usual spot when he noticed a young woman slouched in a corner booth. She was resting her round cheek against her perched hand while her other swirled what looked like cheap whiskey in a semi-clean glass.
Upon closer look, the woman was none other than Uravity.
Iida was tired and frustrated, his blood starting to boil as he saw the villain just sitting there, staring at the liquid in her hand.
He stormed over to her only to find that she looked like she had been through hell and back. She had a large bruise on the cheek that wasn't hidden by her hand, the side of her lip had a deep cut with what looked like fresh blood, and there seemed to be markings of fingers around her neck.
...Oh.
Iida's storming turned into more of a gentle walk. Something inside him sizzled down the anger he had just experienced as he stood in front of the woman.
Her attention was still on her glass when he cleared his throat.
She looked up at him with a defeated gaze, black bags under her eyes. "Well lookie here," Uravity tipped the glass in her hand in his direction. "We've got a hero in the house." With little care, she brought the glass to her lips and threw back the drink. She brought up her hand and waved at the bartender. "Another." A hiccup escaped her.
Iida could smell the alcohol seeping off of her. "We didn't see you with him today."
"Ha," she smirked and licked the side of her bloodied lip. "You probably won't for a while."
The bartender came by and placed the drink on the table. "Thanks..." she started to down the drink before Iida reached over and took the glass away from her. "Hey! Give that back!" She lunged over the table, but Iida leaned back so she couldn't reach it.
"I don't think you need anymore." Iida kept the drink to his chest.
"My body, my choice, Ingenium," Uravity stood up on wobbly legs. "Don't need some other man telling me what to do with my body."
Iida arched a curious eyebrow. "Does that statement imply a lover's quarrel with your precious Deku?"
"He's not my precious anything!" she snarled, continuing to snag the air in front of her as if that would bring the glass back to her hands. "Just gimme my drink back!"
Iida shook his head. "How about this," he looked at the drink with disdain, but swallowed its contents in one gulp.
"The hell?!" Uravity growled as she stumbled from the other side of the table. "You owe me a drink, hero!"
Iida sighed and turned to the bartender. "I'll be paying for her drinks." He tossed money to the man before turning back to the woman in front of him. "I think I owe you an ear to talk to, Uravity."
She looked at him with cautious eyes. "Why's that?" she hiccupped again. "Not gonna try anything, are you?"
For some reason, a sad smirk took form on his lips. Something inside him felt sorry for her. Based on the injuries on her body accompanied by her comment regarding her body, he could only assume what Deku must have done to her...
"You have my word as a hero, I won’t try anything at all.” He placed a hand over his heart before gesturing to the exit of the bar. “Some fresh air might do you some good.”
“Some fresh air might do you some good.” The sidekick villain mimicked mockingly. “Only ‘cause you bought my drink…” She eyed him carefully.
“Of course,” Iida nodded in attempt to get her to walk on her own accord.
Once they got outside, a burst of wind blew into them. The rain had died down, leaving little puddles scattered across the sidewalk.
“So,” Uravity cocked her head to the side and folded her arms. “Wanna tell me what we’re doing out here instead of being in the comfort of a warm drinking establishment?”
“Heh,” Iida tried to hold back his smile. “A walk. You choose the direction and I’ll follow.”
“Oh yeah?” She cocked her head in the other direction as another burst of wind sent her short hair flaring around her face. “Tell me, Ingenium,” his name left her lips with a taste of disdain, not that he could really blame her. “Why aren’t you just turning me in, hm?” She threw her hands up above her head. “I mean really! Obviously I’m not exactly in a position to fight back.” Her body spung around before she caught herself against the wall of the bar. “So tell me, why are you being so…nice?”
That was a good question. Iida wasn’t sure himself. He just…had a feeling.
“The honest truth?” Iida tapped his chin. “Let’s just say I think you deserve a break.”
“HA!” Uravity choked on the laugh. “A break. Great. So I’m getting your pity, is that it?” She gestured to her face. “Lemme guess, since you have a pretty good idea on how I got these, you’re feeling bad for me, hm?” Uravity pushed herself off the wall and started walking down the street. “Why don’t you just walk me home then. Might as well put you to use that way.” She tossed a look over her shoulder. “You can be my personal bodyguard until we reach my townhouse.” Then her eyes were back in front of her.
Iida sighed but complied. There were a few times her wobbling body swayed too much, and Iida would have to lunge over to catch her from falling, much to her dislike.
“I can catch myself!” Uravity hissed after the third time almost falling over.
“Oh? Then by all means,” Iida gestured to the space ahead of them. “Next time is all yours.”
Uravity rolled her eyes only to completely fall over mere moments later.
“Fine, fine!” She groaned, stumbling to her feet with burp. “Just..gimme your arm. It’ll save us time.”
Iida smirked as he held out his arm for her to take.
They didn’t really talk much on their way to her townhouse. It honestly didn’t take them too long. It went by relatively quickly with the bits and pieces Uravity would let slip.
How she felt indebted to Deku for helping bring her parents out of financial ruin.
How she dedicated her services to him after he promised her enough money and security of safety that she wouldn’t have to worry about her family ever going hungry again.
How she missed running barefoot in the grass in her small backyard when she was a little girl.
How she never had the greatest relationship with men, aside from her father.
And then finally, how she couldn’t believe she actually let a hero learn where she lived.
“I still can’t believe I did this.” Uravity yawned, punching in a five-digit code into the padlock on her front door.
Iida arched a curious eyebrow. “No key?”
“Tch,” Uravity snorted. “Supposedly this would be safer than someone stealing a key to replicate.” She pushed the door open only to fling herself backwards in a dramatic standing pose. Her hands ruffled her hair so it looked frantic, and she cleared her throat, dropping her tone an octave. A sadistic grin spread across her plump cheeks. “This will keep you safe, my precious pet. You are far too valuable to me. A key just will not suffice. What is mine deserves the best. And you are mine.” The grin dropped from her face immediately and she gave the lowest bow she could manage before collapsing on her knees. It was silent for a moment. “Courtesy of Deku…” Uravity kept her face towards the ground, the sound of three teardrops hit the wooden floorboards. “Cocky piece of—ugh!" She raised her hands in clutched fists and began to plummet them down to the ground.
But Iida was quick. He dropped to his shins and grabbed her wrists. With the force she was using, she would have hurt herself. “No need to harm yourself for the sake for a villain.”
Uravity snorted and brought her gaze to his. “What does it matter? I’m no use to him now…He’ll discard me like he has so many others…” Suddenly, fear took control of her body, sobering her up quicker than anything Iida had ever seen. “If he’s done with me, he’ll come back for me…Or he’ll go to my parents!” She tore her wrists back and scrambled to her feet. “No no no no!” Her fingers tore through her hair. “I-I have to call him back! I can’t let him hurt them! Not after everything that I’ve—!”
Again, he didn’t know what it was, but Iida felt this urge to wrap his arms around her, help her feel safe.
So he did. It was not professional, and most certainly not what he would ever see himself doing considering all of the trouble this minx had caused.
And yet, here he was. Letting her breakdown against his hero’s uniform, clinging onto him as if he were a life raft.
Perhaps he was.
“How far do you parents live from here?” Iida whispered as she calmed down.
Uravity kept her face tucked in the curve of his uniform. “About two hours south…why?”
Iida sighed, reaching up and stroking her hair. “I can make a phone call to have someone keep watch out front of their house if you give me their address.”
Uravity pushed him away. “They don’t know what I’ve done to make sure that they are—!”
“And they don’t have to…at least not yet.” Iida held up his hands as a truce. “If you provide me their address, I’ll send Dynamight and Red Riot to watch over them. Dynamight won’t necessarily be too pleased, but at this moment I do outrank him due to my more pleasant behavior in the office.”
Uravity huffed at that.
“And then in the meantime, I could keep watch here.” He straightened his back. “If you believe Deku will come after you, then I might as well try to keep you safe. Maybe I’ll even get the chance to take him in myself.”
“Tch, so me and my family are just bait for your stupid vendetta against him?” Uravity spat. “You’ll be getting yourself in way over your head if you attach yourself to me, Ingenium.”
Iida released a heavy sigh through his nose. “How about you think about it before completely rejecting the notion, hm?”
Neither of them said another for a long while, and then Uravity broke the silence. “…I don’t trust Blasty Boy.” She hissed. “So, if anyone is going to watch over my parents, it will be you.”
Oh? Iida was not excepting that. “It will?”
“Yes.” Uravity pulled him into her house and started slowly ascending the stairs. “And you’ll be taking me to them.”
“I am?”
“Yep.” She kept tugging him along. “For whatever reason, I apparently trust you. Never had much faith in you heroes since you couldn’t save crap for me and my family growing up, but who knows. Maybe you’ll be the one that proves my life experiences wrong.” She kicked open the door to her room. It was a complete mess. “Now hurry up and grab me everything I tell you to. Once I’m done packing, I’ll tell you where my parents live. Then we’ll take it from there.”
Iida was in pure shock. A mere five minutes ago this woman was still drunk, couldn’t keep herself up right, and was sobbing in his chest.
Now she was storming around her room on a mission, ordering him around as if she were his boss.
Iida couldn’t deny it.
He was impressed.
He complied in his slightly dazed state, both from the ferocity of this woman, as well as his own surprise that he offered such an option.
As they packed, they talked. Iida opened up about why he was so invested in catching Deku after what happened to his brother.
“Deku wouldn’t have had as much to do with that as you think he did.” Uravity grunted, shoving in more clothes into her large suitcase. “He considered Stain to be a lose cannon. Didn’t listen to what Deku would order him to. Tch.” There was a click, indicating her bag was packed. “Alright, I’m ready.” She brushed her bangs out of her face. “Let’s go.”
Iida gave a curt nod and followed her out the door.
………..
Several hours later, phone calls had been made to alert his agency of his plan. His boss was surprisingly supportive, considering Iida had never done anything so impulsive before. It was true, Uravity and her parents would serve as means to lure Deku out of hiding.
But days turned to weeks and weeks turned to three months with no sign of the quirkless mastermind.
“He has eyes everywhere, Iida.” Uraraka (because yes, at this point, they were past using their villain/hero names) yawned, rubbing the sleep out of her eye as she plopped herself down on the kitchen table of her parents’ house. “Probably waiting for you to leave.”
Iida poured her a glass of orange juice. “That is possible…My boss did tell me she was allowing me one more week to be located here before heading back.”
“Oh…” Uraraka brushed her thumb against the condensation of the cold glass. “When did this conversation happen?”
“Just now.” Iida patted his hip where he kept his work phone. “I had just gotten off the call when I heard you walking down.”
“Mmhm…” Something in Uraraka’s tone turned sad. There was usually sarcastic banter that bordered on being playful at this point. But not now.
“Are you alright?” Iida asked.
Uraraka kept her gaze down.
“Uraraka?” Iida tapped the table, getting her attention.
“Hm?” She seemed to be yanked from her thoughts. “Oh, sorry. Yeah, I’m fine…” She brought the juice up to her lips, taking a quick sip before placing the glass back down. “So, I’ve…got an idea.”
“Oh?” Iida took a sip from his glass. “Do tell.”
“Well, I think it’s highly unlikely that Deku would just cut me off completely without there being consequences…And he doesn’t like other people playing with his things.”
Iida arched an eyebrow at that, his upper lip twitching. “Go on.”
She sighed. “He probably thinks you and I are…um…” a blush peppered her cheeks. “A-Anyway, the point is, he is probably pissed that I’m here with you. But he’s smart enough to know that you have people around here as well. He’s not going to start a freaking war over me, that’s just not his style. Although he would view me being here with you, a hero, as a massive dig in his pride.”
“Okay…So what does all of this mean for your idea?”
Uraraka nodded. “Take me back to your agency. I’ll talk to the police and other officials or whatever…I’ll…turn myself in.”
Honest surprise took over half of Iida’s face. “You will?”
She sighed again. “I mean, let’s be honest here, we both know you can’t let me off without consequences, right? Besides, if I’m taken in or whatever, Deku will get more annoyed than just me being with you. He’ll…He’ll probably try to do something to my parents…You cannot allow anything to happen to them, got it?” She stood up and clenched her fists. “I can’t do anything right now except sit like I have the last several weeks. And I don’t want to lose you either…”
Iida blushed at that. “Lose…me?”
Uraraka smashed the heels of her hands into her eyes. “For as smart as you are, you are so incredibly dense.” She groaned. “Long story short, take me in, I’ll give a statement, maybe I’ll get lucky and your hero friends will give me a lesser sentence for helping out, and you’ll keep watch of my family. Catch Deku here. He’d only come to see me personally after hurting what I care about most…He notices the little things…So he’ll know all of the people I hold dear will be here in this house.”
The blush on Iida’s face seeped down to his chest. He would be lying if he denied it which is why he never brushed on the topic. He had become fond of Uraraka. He has gotten to know her and her parents, her parents who treated him with overwhelming kindness since his arrival.
He felt comfortable around her. He wanted to be around her too…If she was contained in his city, he could visit her in prison…It could happen, it was possible.
Iida let out a soft chuckle, which prompted a sour face from Uraraka.
“Sorry, sorry, I apologize.” Iida stood up and walked over to Uraraka’s side of the table. “I care about you too…I did not realize you felt the same.” He placed his large hand on her shoulder. He didn’t notice how she had been shaking from where he was sitting. This must be hard on her. “I’ll make that phone call…I’ll make the arrangements and we’ll take it from there.”
The two hugged, and soon the plan was in motion.
……………………..
“So it worked, huh?” Uraraka smirked, picking at some dirt that was tucked under her thumb nail.
Iida scratched the back of his head. “Yes, yes, it did…Your plan worked swimmingly.”
Uraraka looked up and the smirk immediately dropped at the look of Iida’s state. “Oh Iida!” She ran up to the bars of her cell. “What the hell did he—?!”
Iida gave her a soft laugh and reached for her hands, brushing his thumb over her skin. “I’m alright, I’m alright.” He winced when the laugh got too loud. “I have some mending up to do, but no worse for wear.”
“Don’t give me that crap,” Uraraka snatched a handful of his casual shirt and tugged him to the bars. “Where is he?!”
“He’s in Tardis.” Iida promised, surprised by how strong she kept herself after all this time. “Bakugo and Todoroki were able to take him into custody. You were right, Deku did not appreciate my presence there. Although it did take him a little while to come see me himself.”
Uraraka seemed to accept this response and released his shirt. “Fine…I’ll have to thank that overgrown Pomeranian when I see him next.”
That got a genuine laugh from Iida, causing him to cough and wince. “Oh my, don’t make me laugh. It hurts.” He pressed a hand to his side.
“I suppose I should be grateful all you have are some broken ribs…He did a pretty good job doing a number on your face.” Uraraka sighed and reached up for Iida’s cheek. “Hm, that one on your forehead is going to leave a nasty scar…Did he use his dagger?”
“Mmhm.” Iida winced again as she poked it.
“I thought you’d be faster than that. You let him get too close.” She muttered angrily. “But you kept my parents safe…so…thank you.”
“Of course,” Iida let his face nuzzle briefly into the palm of her hand until he heard footsteps coming down the hall. He immediately pulled back and smoothed out the wrinkles of his shirt. He looked over to see that it was Bakugo, allowing himself to relax.
“It’s your day off, Iida,” Bakugo snorted before turning to Uraraka’s cell. “But I guess you wanted to tell her yourself, right?”
“Hey, Dynamight.” Uraraka reached out of her cell again and flicked Bakugo in his elbow.
“Oi!” He swatted her away. “How the fuck is she allowed to do that?” He growled.
“Because I’m a valuable asset.” Uraraka stuck her tongue out at the blonde.
Bakugo merely mumbled curses at her before turning his attention back to Iida. “Did you tell her or what?”
“Tell me what, blasty boy?”
“Shut up, Round Face!”
“Shut up, Round Face!” Uraraka mimicked, smirking at the effect she had on Iida’s friend.
“Oh, ah, yes, um, I did not tell her yet.” Iida sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck.
“Well, fuck, go on and do it. I’ve got the keys right here.” Bakugo grumbled as he pulled out keys to her cell.
“What?!” Uraraka’s smirking shifted to shock. “I-I’m being let go?”
“Yes, you are.” Iida smiled as the door creaked open. “You were right, a deal has been made…I was supposed to tell you that you can continue to—mmph!”
Uraraka launched herself into Iida’s arms, pressing her lips onto his before roaming her hands up to his neck and yanking him down to her level. “Great!” she panted after a very long three seconds of kissing.
Iida was blushing from head to toe.
“Gross.” Bakugo muttered before cocking his head down the hall. “Come on, Cheeks, I’ll update you on Shitty Deku and—”
“I don’t wanna hear about him anymore.” Uraraka snapped. “Right now, I just want to spend time with Iida, got it?”
More mumbles from Bakugo.
Iida was surprised Bakugo let her speak to him this way.
But he didn’t mind, because Iida, too, wanted to just spend time with her.
The meeting was quick, papers were signed. Uraraka agreed to become an Underground Hero, getting information on Deku’s lackeys and keeping the city safe.
As time went on, Uraraka moved in with Iida. And not long after that, they were engaged.
Iida was playing with the ends of her hair after tucking it out of her face. It was longer now. “I love you, Ochako.”
“Mmm,” Ochako smiled before wrapping her arms around him, burying face in his chest. “I love you too, Tenya.”
If you had told Iida that he would be marrying the woman who helped his greatest rival all those years ago, he would have called you a liar.
And he would have never been happier to be wrong in his life.