Archive of Our Own

Izuku was having dreams. Very weird and vague dreams. He woke up with a heavy feeling in his chest every night. Each time harder to process.

"Don't!"

"Pl'se don't..."

"Izuk'..."

"D'nt ag'ee..."

"Don't."

Izuku woke up again with the sweat running down from his forehead. It slowly dripped down onto his pajama shirt. His breath shuddered out, his eyes panicked and frustrated. The air felt stuffy.

What was that? What does it mean? Why does this keep happening? Izuku's tired of it. He doesn't understand it and to be honest he doesn't even need to. He just wants for it to stop happening.

He keeps having these dreams, nightmares? Whatever it is for a few months now. It's getting harder and harder to stay awake these days.

He always wakes up way too early in the morning. Always sweaty with this bad feeling in his chest. It hurts. His breathing is unsteady and his head is painfully spinning every time this happens.

He doesn't know what those dreams are. Mostly it's all dark with words whispering into his ear. Sometimes Izuku can't hear the words properly. Sometimes he can, but it's only some bits of it. Never a proper sentence.

Was he hit by a quirk?

Is he cursed?

Again?

He is already quirkless. Are you're telling him he has another curse? He's not going to sleep at all now?

Izuku sighed as he looked to his right, where his clock was placed on his nightstand. It's way too early. He can't keep this up for much longer. It's tiring, having only a couple of hours of sleep each night. Izuku ran his hands through his face and hair.

"Time to wake up." He mumbled sadly.

He gets up from his bed. His head still throbbing and his chest hurting, but it's nothing he can't handle.

Midoriya walks into the bathroom and switches the lights on. He tries to be as quiet as he can. He doesn't know if his mom is still asleep, but if she is, he doesn't want to wake her up. She should enjoy all the sleep she can get.

Unlike someone.

He stares at his reflection in the mirror, and he must admit, he doesn’t look very good. He isn’t really into fashion nor does he really care for looks that much, but this is bad even for his tastes. His wild green hair is everywhere, some is glued to his face. On the right side of his mouth is a little droll from his salvia and on the same side of his face he has some prints from his pillow as well. His beautiful green, round eyes are hidden in two big, dark eye bags. His cheekbones are poking out and his freckles lost the natural color. His hands are bruised and his shoulder pounds with pain. Still not healed from two days ago, when some of his bullies used their quirks on him.

He picks up his toothbrush and brushes his teeth. He washes his face, uses some cream on his bruises and leaves for the kitchen.

"Don't."

"Ah!" Izuku yelps.

What? What's this? Did he just hear...? No. No. Please. It's enough torture in his sleep now it's going to bother him during the day too? Why? What's the voice trying to say?

"Pleas'..."

"Don't."

"Ah, it hurts." Izuku whispered. "Can you stop, please? It hurts." Izuku begged with a small voice. He didn’t know what to do. Begging seems like the only option to him nowadays.

"Don't!"

"Don't do it!"

"Please."

"It hurts!" Izuku says louder. The voice continues, regardless to Izuku's pleads.

"No." Izuku sobs.

The words were mixing together, not making any sense. It wasn't pleasant at all and Izuku just wished for it to stop. He fell to his knees and put his hands on his head.

"No!" Izuku yelled. It hurt. It hurt. It hurt so bad.

"List'n..."

"It's h’rd."

"I'm s'ry."

"Pl'ase."

Somebody's crying? Izuku questioned.

The words were coming all at once in his head so he wasn't really sure about it. But he thinks the voice is crying. Or is he hearing himself? He isn't sure anymore. Maybe both of them are.

There's only one thing he's sure about, though. It hurts and it hurts badly.

"Stop, please." Izuku pleaded as he cried on the cold kitchen floor. "Please, it hurts, it hurts so much. Stop it. I'm 'orry. Please." Izuku, sobbed, he couldn't bear this any longer, his head felt like exploding, this needs to stop. If not, he really thinks he will die this time.

"STOP I-t!" He yelled, voice cracking at the end.

The voice stopped.

"I'm sorry," was heard before it disappeared completely. The words were clear, unlike the other times.

What is this? Is it a living thing? Or is it really some type of a quirk? Maybe a real curse? Is that a thing? You could convince him. Or is it a demon? Oh god, no. Was that possible??? Izuku’s thoughts spiraled.

"No. No, calm down, Izuku." The young boy tells himself. He needs to stop thinking so negatively. Maybe it left for good. Maybe it will never come back. Maybe everything will be alright. Izuku tried to calm himself down.

But that was a wrong choice of words. It was a long time since something was really alright, after all.

It's kinda funny, the boy thinks and tries to gather himself up form the floor. He holds himself up, with his shaking hands, on the kitchen counter and tries to get up. His mom didn't wake up while he was crying so he assumes she is not home yet.

Is she covering another shift for her friend? She takes those too many, lately. Izuku thinks as he tries to stand up for the second time.

When he finally gets up, he sits behind the kitchen counter and breathes in and out. Izuku decides for a quick shower after a while. After that, he does some research on heroes to distract himself. He analyses them a bit and runs to the school because the few minutes of analyzing became couple of hours and now he is late.

Again.

The teachers won't be happy.

Again.

This will be a long day.

Again.

As Izuku expected, his teacher wasn't happy at all. He was slapped to his face when he ran to the class without knocking. The teacher gave him a punishment by cleaning the school toilets during the lunch period. Not so bad of a punishment. The young teen had way worse. Maybe they were in a good mood. He is lucky.

Just don't piss them off and maybe they won't hit you for the rest of the day. The green haired boy learned that the hard way. He just needs to listen, put his head down, apologize and maybe he will come out of it unscathed. Maybe.

After he cleaned everything on the floor, he went to the rooftop. It always helped to feel the breeze and sun on his pale skin.

He didn’t have a bento with him, nor any money so he stayed hungry for the rest of the day. His mom has too much work, so she can't cook for him. And he alone can't make a thing. He can burn water. He tried to cook, but somehow, it just never works out for him.

The boy shuddered at the coldness of the air that touched his freckled skin. It's colder these days. Soon the world will be covered in white. All imperfections will be covered under the heavy blanket. Izuku can only with to be covered by it too.

The teen just looks at the endless sky and then at the city underneath him. He returned to the class, just a few seconds after the bell rang, that way nobody has a chance to give him any bullshit.

After school, the young teen returned to his home with his head held low. He undressed himself from the stuffy school uniform and wore some dark gray sweatpants. He cleaned the wounds from a few days ago by the same cream he used in the morning and only then he put on a white t-shirt with a “pajama shirt” written on it.

Then he finally decided to search for some food.

He ate some soup and rice with a fish from yesterday's lunch his mother cooked. He did his homework, which his other teacher gave him for coming in late. Which is ridiculous, because he wasn't late for the other classes. But he knew better than to argue. He was just glad he got the brains.

After that he spent the rest of his free time by watching videos on the hero blog and analyses some of the fighting stances, quirks and the whole fights. This part of the day was his favorite.

When Izuku next looked at the clock, it showed him it was already ten o'clock. He took a shower and dragged himself to the bed.

He was afraid to close hie eyes yet again, but he couldn’t lie, he needed the sleep for real.

(The dark eye bags under his big emerald eyes couldn't agree more.)

--

"D'nt agre'..."

"Please."

"Izu..."

"Liste'..."

"D'nt..."

Again.

The dream. Izuku wakes up with a jolt. His breathing unsteady once again.

Izuku locks his eyes on the digital clock on the nightstand next to his bed. With bright red light, it shines brightly 03:47 am.

Izuku's sweaty again. It's like the dreams became more and more fierce. It's like it rushes. It wants Izuku to understand. But how can he? He knows, or at least he thinks, he shouldn't do something. But what? What's the thing he can't do? What's it trying to say to him? Warn him about?

When Izuku calms down a little, he looks up and startles. His big eyes became larger than normal and he falls from the small bed.

"Au." Izuku hisses.

"Ah, sorry I didn't mean to startle you. Are you alright" A boy? A BOY who looks like him, just an older version maybe, asks.

Izuku knows he isn't supposed to curse, but what the fuck?

Izuku doesn't want to look up again. He's scared. Maybe it was just a hallucination. Maybe he is just so tired that he is hallucinating some very weird things. It's impossible for anybody to be there. Nobody's there.

Izuku looks up only after a few seconds of staring at the wooden floor. Don't blame him, his curiosity is worse than any fear he could ever feel.

When he does, the older version of Izuku stands on the same spot with a soft smile and a little worried eyes, scanning him.

What the fuck?

"Hey little me." The older man says.

"Oh my gosh, I went crazy." The little teenage Izuku whispers to himself horrified.

The older man hums, seeming amused, "you didn't, I am actually here." And then he waves at him.

"This can't be real. No. Just no. What is this, some time-travel thing or something? Because when it-"

"I am sorry that I'm cutting you short, but I don't exactly know how much time I have so I’m going to tell you something and I need you to listen carefully." The older Midoriya waits for a nod of acknowledgment from the younger Izuku.

"This is crazy." Izuku whispers after a few seconds.

The older man just stares at the younger teen. So the younger one unsurely nods and the older Midoriya continues, "it's not a time travel and Izuku listen.” At the mention of his given name, the young teen flinches, it has been a while someone has used it. “Don't agree on the offer. You hear me? Don't agree. Don't say yes to All Might. Please." The older version of Midoriya says with teary eyes and holds his shoulders. Wait. Holds? Is he really touching him right now? Izuku doesn’t know what to ask first. His head is so full of questions.

"W-What? What are y-you talking about? All Might? This is not a time-travel, then how are you here? How are you touching me? What's happening? What?" Izuku's eyes were wide, with a little fear in them. He had so many questions, but before he could ask all of them the older Midoriya started to disappear.

"I'm sorry. Please! Listen to what I said. Please, at least consider it! Plea-!" With those words the older Midoriya disappeared.

And the little, fourteen years old, Izuku was left on the floor, wondering if this is a dream or not. What's happening? What does this mean?

He's scared. His hands are shaking. His breathing is uneven and short. His eyes are snapping to any little sound he can hear. His body feels heavy. His heart beats loudly and his lip wobbles. Was it finally over? He won’t be having the weird dreams anymore? Can he sleep?

Izuku stayed on the cold wooden floor of his bedroom for a long while. When some of the sun started to peak from the horizon, only then did he he gather himself up to his wobbly feet.

Don't think. Not now.

He does his routine, brushes his teeth, washes his face, cleans his bruises and leaves for school.

Don't think, not yet.

Izuku gets beaten up even though he comes early this time. He gets more homework than his classmates even though he had all of his answers in the extra assignment from yesterday correct. He endures some nasty shoves and harsh words from the students he doesn’t even know. Gets home and cleans his bedroom. Eats food that is two days old, changes his clothes and sits on his bed.

A day that last a couple of hours felt like a fever dream and to him passed in minutes.

He is allowed to think now. 

Deep breaths and start thinking Izuku.

What happened in the morning?

Was the voice the older version of himself? Was he warning him? But from what? Future? All Might? Izuku's idol? Just what should he do? All Might was the Symbol of Piece! He isn’t dangerous, not to him, or any civilian at least. Maybe to some villains. Was the “man” even real? Was the whole interaction actually something he lived, or was it yet another dream?

He doesn’t know.

He is scared.

He doesn’t have his mom to talk to.

No friends either.

He is stuck with his mind and the unending questions he has. He is all alone and he doesn’t know what to think nor do.

Izuku couldn't hold his tears anymore.

So he cried.

He cried, ugly sobs escaped his mouth. He tried to wipe the tears away, to calm his breathing and sobbing, but he couldn't. He couldn't stop. He was so scared. When he wiped the tears another came out. When he tried to calm down, his sobbing only worsened.

So he let it be.

He just cried.

Alone.

Without any friends to vent to. Without his mother. Without any support. Just a little Izuku, alone in his bedroom. Crying lonely tears.

Izuku doesn't remember how much time had passed while he cried. The only thing he remembers is that at some point his eyes closed and he felt the softness of his pillow on his face.

After a very long time in the past few months his dreams were blank. No dreams. No nightmares. Just darkness.

--

Izuku woke up on a Saturday morning sweaty. But this time it wasn't the cold sweat he got so used to. This time it was the good old one he hadn't felt for the past months. The one from a long, deep, good sleep he just had.

He started to think more rationally than the day before. He thought about the possibilities of yesterday's...accident? Whatever it was and decided on a simple answer.

He doesn't know.

It doesn't make any sense. That person could touch him, but at the same time it wasn't really a touch. It didn't feel...right. It was, just weird.

(Gentle.)

Izuku's head hurt from thinking so much.

"He told me that it wasn't a time-travel. Then what was it?" Izuku whispered to himself.

"Hmm, I alone don't really know that to be honest." The older Midoriya answered from a side where he stood.

"Aaah!" Izuku yelled in a surprise. He looked up wide eyed and saw the older Midoriya leaning on the door frame of his bedroom.

"Y-you are here." Izuku comments.

"Yup!" Midoriya says with a comforting smile. "As I was saying. I'm not sure what I'm doing here." He continues and murmurs to himself, "maybe it's a part of my quirk?"

"What? I-I didn't hear the last-" Izuku tries to question.

"It's nothing, don't worry about it. Also, I'm sorry that I had startled you. I didn't mean to. I didn't also mean to uh- disturb? Your dreams. I wasn't aware of it honestly. It was weird, I just wanted you to know that you shouldn't think you need a quirk to be a hero and I think you shouldn't agree to a proposal All Might will give you because it will go down the river real quick and it's kind of hard to explain actually, it's-" Midoriya started to ramble.

At least this part of him didn't change. Izuku took a a better look at his older self (he thinks it's his older self at least). He looks...good. He is taller and has a lot more muscle, but not too much. His eyes are more bright. His curls still a mess but, somehow looks better. His voice was lower a little than his own. His cheekbones are sharp, just like his jawline. The freckles hod the right color and pop on his face beautifully. His hands are covered in a lot more scars than Izuku has now, though.

"-ey, hey! Izuku?" The older Midoriya waves his hand in front of the younger Izuku's eyes.

"Huh?" The boy looks up to his older self.

"You got lost in your thoughts." The older man smiles.

"Oh, I'm sorry-" The young Izuku starts to apologize.

"It's alright. I do that a lot too." The older Izuku reassures the younger teen. His smile was like the sun, "too blinding", if you ask Izuku. Is he going to be like that one day?

Beautiful? Just like the man in front of him?

"Hahaha, thank you." The older man chuckles.

"Huh? Did I say that out loud?" The young Izuku questions.

"Yup!" Again that smile. Damn it. So damn pretty. If this is his older self, is he a narcissist for saying that? Izuku questioned himself.

Wait, that’s not important right now, Izuku!

"Wait- What are you doing here?" The teenage boy asks, before he gets distracted again.

"Hmmm, I just wanted to warn you." He was still smiling, but his eyes were serious this time. "Please. Don't take that offer. At least consider my words. Try to think about it-"

The younger boy interrupted the older. "I know. You told me this all already. BUT what offer? What are you talking about? What did you do, that is so bad, that you came here and beg me not to do?"

"I don't think you will believe me so just wait until it happens, okay? And then could you tell him to wait for your response at least, please?" The older Midoriya kneeled in front of the younger Izuku, who was sitting on his bed. He slowly put his hands over the younger boy’s and asked, "can you promise me that, please?"

The younger Izuku was so confused, but this is his older self. That means he doesn't mean any harm, right? It doesn't seem like it at least. Was the teen too trusting?

Izuku shook his head in the defeat, "okay, I promise I will consider any offer All Might gives me. I won't agree to anything on the spot. Good or bad. That's what you want, right?"

"Thank you." Midoriya smiles with a gentle, kind smile and Izuku can't seem to believe it's directed at him.

And that was it. One blink was all it took for the older Midoriya to disappear.

Izuku just sighed.

Some days passed and Izuku still wasn't met with an interaction with the number one hero. Why would he? Maybe it was all a dream after all- No. No, no, no don't think like that. You aren't crazy Izuku! You see the older Midoriya regularly now, so it's not a dream!

"I should have asked when that time comes..." Izuku sighed and looked in front of himself.

"-rd. Nerd!"

"Huh?" Izuku yelped.

"Haaa, are you ignoring me?" Katsuki asked frustrated.

"What? N-no, Kacchan. I wasn't ingnor-ring you-u." Izuku stuttered. Damn. Why does he always do that? Can't he talk properly?

"Stupid Izuku." The boy scolds himself quietly.

Katsuki stood in front of him with one eyebrow raised in a wonder. "Heh, of course you weren't, you were just lost in your dumb fucking head like always."

"Mmh, y-yeah. S-sorry Kacchan." Izuku apologized sheepishly with a light smile.

Katsuki's eyes widened. Huh? Was the nerd talking back to him? "Haaah?"

"Sorry Kacchan, b-but I have to go. I have m-many things to do." Izuku spoke quickly.

"Haaah? What could a nerd like you have planned that is so important?" Katsuki wondered angrily.

"It's j-just some stuff, umm, so I'm g-going..." Izuku pointed with his thumb in a direction his apartment is. Before he left he said a simple, "b-bye, Kacchan." And just like that the green haired teen was gone.

Katsuki didn't even stop him. He just stared on the spot the nerd was standing. Something was different. The nerd was different.

Katsuki's thoughts were messy. It wasn't like Izuku was fighting back, or cursed or something like that. But Katsuki knew something happened and he knew Izuku was different. It scared him a little-not that he would admit that-but the thought of Izuku being different and more confident in the future scared Katsuki.

(And maybe he was proud a little, again, not that he was going to admit that.)

When Izuku arrived back home, after practically running there, somebody welcomed him with a warm, "welcome home."

"Huh?"

"Welcome home, Izu."

"Oh, umm, I-I'm home." The younger boy answered shyly. It was weird, he wasn't used to greetings. He likes it, but his mom works almost all the time and when she's not, she's sleeping. Izuku doesn't mind! He really doesn't, it's just...he's sorry that his mom must work all the time because of him.

They can't afford to pay the hospital bills and everything after he gets hurt, that's one of the reasons he stopped telling his mom about his injuries and tries to treat them alone at home. It would be so much better if he would be "normal", but he isn't. So they pay a lot, even with only regular check ups. Izuku is a "special case" after all, that's what they say, so his mom must pay extra for the "attentive care".

Izuku hates it.

"How was school?" The older Midoriya asked and helped Izuku with his school bag. Izuku widened his eyes at the question. He got lost in his thoughts again.

"Ummm, I-It was good. I didn't get b-beaten up...today!" He smiled proudly. He learned from the older Midoriya that it's better to look at their faces when they're trying to do something to him. Izuku was afraid of them, but then he learned that they are more afraid than he is. Not because of his strength, it's because, they think he will be better at something, doesn't matter what, they are just scared that somebody "weaker" will overcome them.

Some quirkless loser is better at something? That can't be right. Who would have guessed it's so simple.

They're scared that they will be treated like Izuku if they become less good at something than this green haired boy.

It's so ridiculous.

Izuku's life is hell just because some stupid kids are scared of being not perfect. It's not like anybody can be perfect.

But anyway, it works, mostly. Sometimes people still get ideas and start beating him up. Words of hatred never disappeared from his daily routine too. But it's less than it was, so a big success, if you ask Izuku.

The green haired boy huffs and moves away from the door hall and walks to the kitchen.

The older Midoriya follows him.

"I met K-Kacchan today. I mean we are in the s-same class, but I m-met him outside when I was walking home." Izuku pours water into a cup.

"How did it go?" The ghost like boy asks.

"Hmmm, not bad actually. I was a little distracted, still thinkin' 'bout you. I need to know what exactly are you. You can touch me, but you can also cross walls like a ghost? You don't need to eat and it isn't necessary for you to drink but you can? You are like ghost, but I can touch you..."

Izuku sips from his water as he looks into nothingness, mumbling under his nose. "So you can't be a ghost. You can't be from future too, 'cause you can walk through walls. Nobody can hear or see you, but I can."

Izuku looks at the older Izuku. "Maybe I have gone crazy, it's weird, I looked it up on the internet, but it doesn't feel like I am crazy, but I must be hallucinating because this is ridiculous. I can't think of anything. What are you, and more importantly what are you donin' here?" Izuku whispers in one breath.

If Midoriya wasn't so used to his own mumbling he wouldn't know what this young child just said. So the older Midoriya smiles and says the same thing as always, "I don't know."

"Why don't you tell me more? What do you remember last? Which year are you from? You are older. The question is, is it just my mind imagining how I will look or are you someone completely different, from a different universe? Are you somebody with different memories or just from a different dimension? But that doesn't make sense, you should be gone by now then." Izuku shakes his head and sips a little more from his water again.

"I'm sorry. I am a little scared to tell you anything. You aren't wrong I think, this could be a different universe or something. I remember this happening to me, this life, this sadness, this weird tight feeling in my chest, this soreness. I can remember it all. I don't want to be here. I want to go home to my-" Midoriya shakes his head and sighs.

"I want to be in my world. I want to be back home. But I believe this chance that was given to me is for the better good. This sounds stupid, but I believe our-, no your future will be better like this." The older man explains.

"I still don't know what you’re talking about. Is this about the offer again?" The younger boy asks

"Yes. I'm sorry, but it will make sense in the end. Please just wait a little bit more." The older man pleads.

"Ughhh, fine, it's not like I have a choice. And I already agreed to consider whatever offer All Might has for me." Izuku rolled his eyes. It's annoying that he doesn't know anything.

Uff, the older boy's attitude is rubbing off on him.

The older Midoriya, real or not, is badass. He is so cool. Izuku kinda still hopes it's something like his future self or so. He really wants to be like that person. He looks confident, he looks kind and his eyes don't have the big eye bags under his eyes like he does. His eyes look more bright. And he looks hot.

But at the same time. Izuku doesn't want it. Midoriya looks good. But the scars on this hands-body-are scary. His eyes shine and he smiles a lot. But it looks forced sometimes, like really forced. And his eyes are more bright, but at the same time it looks so dead. Like he's alive on the outside but dying inside. It's scary.

"By the way, you didn't answer my question before." The older Midoriya asked.

"Which one?" The teen wondered.

"How was it with Kacchan?" The older Midoriya smiled.

"As I said it went well." Izuku pursued his lips.

"How well?" Midoriya narrowed his eyes at his younger self.

"He just stared at me. I was talking to him and then he just stared. Then I left." Izuku shrugged his shoulders and moved around the kitchen counter then walked into his bedroom.

The older green haired boy smiled and followed the younger one. He was glad that Izuku was acting a little more confident. The younger wasn’t even aware of it. But the older one is sure that the reason why Kacchan stared at him was, because Izuku was always quiet when he talked to him. He-they-learned to be quiet in every situation.

Head down, looking on the floor, shoulders to their chins.

Always like this.

Izuku talking back must have been a shock to the young blonde.

Looking straight to his bullies eyes must have shocked them all. They had been definitely looking at him, opening and closing their stupid mouths like fishes.

Midoriya chuckles at the image in his head.

He wanted to see that.

The younger boy looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

The older boy shook his head, saying, "it's nothing" and walked closer to the younger one.

Their days passed like this. Izuku accidentally learning from the older Midoriya how to act more confident.

The younger Izuku wasn't aware that was the older Midoriya's goal-not the main one, but goal nonetheless-he wasn't even aware something was changing. He didn't know he acted more confident or that he gained some muscles.

The older boy also showed him how to fight. The younger Izuku was a quick learner. He didn't have a quirk so he, instead on power, focused on the quickness and his brain. He was calculating in his mind the steps, swings, each turn, the distance. And in each one of their sparring he got better and better, each fight more intense, more hard.

The older Midoriya doesn't remember being such a quick learner.

Was it because the fourteen year old Izuku didn't have a quirk?

That must be it, right?

He wasn't thinking of possibility of using something different than his brain.

He was just thinking about how to win, with what he had at the moment.

When Midoriya got his quirk he always tried to improve it. He tried to be better and always thought about the usage of the quirk. How could he forget about his strength as a quirkless person? How could he?

It's what he was all his life.

And he forgot.

He forgot about the pain.

No, worse, he erased it.

He didn't want to remember. He didn't want to remember all his pain.

He didn't want to be a quirkless loser.

He didn’t want to feel powerless again.

But that's wrong.

That's what he is-not a loser-a quirkless child.

Just because somebody gave him a power didn't mean he wasn't quirkless in the past. It didn't erase all his childhood. It didn't erase the fact that he was quirkless once.

He hated this.

Was he like that asshole?

No.

No.

He isn't like that.

He can't be like that.

He can't.

"Let's wrap it up for today." The older Midoriya says to Izuku and opens a bottle of water for him.

"Okay." The younger boy grins and wipes his sweat with a clean towel.

"You did well. You are better and better each day. I'm proud of you."

The younger Izuku stopped in his tracks, he slowly looked back at his older self and teared up.

"Huh?" The older Midoriya walked closer to the younger boy, confused. "What happened? Are you alright? Does something hurt?"

As Midoriya fussed around younger Izuku, the younger boy sniffled even more.

When was the last time that somebody was worried about him? When was the last time somebody told him they are proud of him? How many years until he was hugged again? What was his last memory of someone eating with him just like Midoriya did? Who was the last person outside of his mom that held a proper conversation with him? For how long was Izuku alone?

He wasn't aware that he likes pets on his head and warm, big hugs. He forgot what it felt like to talk to somebody. He was so used to be quiet. He was so happy when somebody listened to his mumbling.

And that's just so sad.

Izuku can't help it, but cry.

So he did. He did cry.

And the older Midoriya?

He just hugged him after confirming Izuku wasn't physically hurt. He held the smaller boy close to his chest.

They will be alright.

The older Midoriya will make sure of that.

--

More days pass like this. Izuku became used to older boy's presence. At night he disappears but throughout the days he is back.

When he comes home he always expects Midoriya to welcome him home. He expects Midoriya to give him hugs just because. He eats with him, they talk about school, and new battle moves. They play games together and even go for quiet walks.

For older boy it's the same. He got used to this. In the future, he has all these things at home, but it feels kind of different from a younger version of himself. It's like he tries to do this for Izuku because nobody did this to him in the past. He has it in the future but he can't forget about his past. So at least one of them will have good memories of "their" childhood.

One time when Izuku was going out of school, he accidentally got lost in his thoughts. He took a wrong turn and ended up under some bridge.

He was so lost in his mind, that he didn't look in front of himself and some slimy villain attacked him.

Izuku couldn't breathe. What's that? What's happening?! It hurts. Help! Somebody help! Izuku wanted to scream, but, oh, actually, he is a quirkless kid. Who would want to save him? Also, he knows better than to open his mouth, when someone slimy like this person, is all around his body and face. It will probably go inside of him and that's the last thing Izuku wants.

"Deku!"

Huh? Izuku's eyes shoot in the direction of the voice so similar to Katsuki's.

And indeed, it's Katsuki's voice. What's he doing there? The green haired boy thinks.

Katsuki jumped in and tried to blast the sludge villain. Blonde boy used his quirk and explosions went on. It wasn't anything strong, he was just testing out if it will do some damage to the villain.

Izuku watched for any detail. For any move from the villain. For any sign of fear. For some hint!

And as he waits. The sludge villain does close his eyes every time Kacchan uses an explosion. It's just a guess, but...is Izuku seeing, perhaps, a weakness?

This is exciting!

The green eyed boy makes eye contact with Katsuki, he moves his eyes up and down to signal Katsuki at least somehow that they have a chance to win. He needs to breathe. Katsuki's palms sparks with little explosions. Strong enough to get the sludge villain squirms his eyes and release some hold on Izuku.

And Izuku grins. That's exactly what he needed. He takes from his pocket a pen and stabs it right into the villains left eye.

The villain screams and releases his full hold on Izuku. The boy falls onto the ground. He takes a second to take a breath and quickly starts running closer to Katsuki. They need somethin-

Before Izuku could think of any possibilities of capturing the villain, All Might appeared.

"Do not fear any longer! Why? Because I am here!" All Might says and smashes the slimy villain. Izuku looks to Katsuki to see if the blonde boy is hurt. When he sees none visible injuries he comes closer to him and asks for a verbal answer so he can be sure.

"Kacchan are you alright? Does anything hurt?" Izuku asks concerned.

"Haah? Of course, I'm alright. I'm not like you weakling." Despite his words he carefully scans Izuku's body for any vital wounds. When he sees none, he releases a quiet relieved sigh from his nose.

"That was amazing show boys! You did a good job! I'm sure in the future you will be great heroes! Anyway, I gotta go. See ya." All Might says hurriedly.

"Ah, wait All Might, sir! You mean it?"

All Might turns back to Izuku.

"You think I could be a hero even when I am quirkless?" Izuku had a hope in his eyes. Is it true? Can he become a hero?

"Oh, boy, I am so sorry."

"Huh? What?" Izuku's smile dropped.

All Might gave him reasons why he mustn't be a hero. Why it's so dangerous and he should choose some different path, safer one. That he would be just a burden and he can't be a hero without a quirk.

Izuku listened it all just with one ear in and one ear out. Katsuki was silent this whole time. Even when All Might choose to leave, they were both quiet.

Katsuki sure was shocked. Shouldn't All Might support everybody's dreams? Shouldn't he smile and say "everything's gonna be alright, no worries you can do it if you really want?".

Shouldn't he?

When Izuku finally moved he picked all his things he dropped. He placed them back into his school bag and moved away from his spot under the bridge.

Katsuki silently followed. Everybody was always saying Izuku can't be a hero. But honestly, who was really believing it? Everybody knew this green haired boy could be a hero, even without a quirk.

He had something that even this so called heroes don't have. He has a heart of a hero.

It was really dangerous job, but it's Izuku he would figure something out.

"Why are you quiet?" Izuku asked quietly, looking down on his shoes as they move slowly on the road.

"Huh?"

"Why aren't you laughing? Why aren't you saying that I should give up already? Why aren't you saying believing my dreams was always ridiculous and I should just became a frickin' policeman or something?"

"Huh?" As Katsuki stopped walking, Izuku did too.

"Come on! Say it to me! Say that I should have given up a long time ago! Say it!" Izuku looks into Katsuki's eyes and screams with tears rolling down his cheeks.

"When did I say that?"

"What?" Izuku sniffles.

"When the fuck did I say you should give up? When the fuck did I say you can't be a hero? When the fuck did I say you being quirkless is the reason you can't be a hero?"

"Wha-? What are you-? You always- You say- You..." Izuku frowns. Huh? When did Kacchan told him he can't be hero? Izuku was searching through all of his memories, but he couldn't find any memory on this matter. Huh? Wait, what?

"Kacchan...?"

"Tsk! I never said that. I just hated how you never fought back. Like you smile even when you are clearly not okay. I hate the way you smile and it's so forced. I hate when you say "it's alright"." Katsuki was mimicking Izuku's voice. "I hate it so much. I hate when you help others even when they hurt you all the time. I hate that you say to me every fucking morning "good morning" even when I hurt you just two days ago. I hate it so much that you let yourself get hurt all the time, just because you are a suicidal bastard!"

"I'm not suicidal!" Izuku pouts.

"Haa? You are not? Then why do you jump to every fight without any plan? You just jump in and think everything will be alright when they let out their steam on you. I'm sure you think, "it's better if it's me than them.""

"I don-"

"Yes you do. You always do." Katsuki squeezes his eyes shut. He isn't going to cry.

"Wait, Kacchan! Does that mean you think I can be a hero?!" Izuku smiles brighter than a sun and hops on his legs.

Like a bunny. Katsuki thinks.

The blonde boy sighs and raises an eyebrow, as in saying "what do you think?". No point in hiding it. The idiot would lock himself up if Katsuki would say no.

Katsuki thought it was impossible to smile more, but somehow it was possible, and Izuku is the living proof of that. His smile is wide. And Katsuki swears he can see star dust in those big emerald eyes.

Izuku jumps around like a green, cute bunny.

He mumbles under his breath some words like "Whoah!", "Kacchan thinks..." and "I don't believe..."

"Imma going home." Katsuki says and moves.

"Wha- Wait Kacchan!"

"What?"

"Are we friends?"

Huh? What's with this question out of nowhere?

"What do you mean?"

Izuku shrugs.

"Are you dumb? I hurt you."

"You didn't. You never used strong explosions."

"I did use some, that counts."

"I'm not saying it's alright. I am saying I don't have any burn scars. I have many other. But not even one that is a burn scar. Your mini sparks never reached to my skin. It was always just my uniform." Izuku smiled, like he is just the smartest boy on the planet.

"And? What's wrong with not wanting to kill you?"

"If you would use some stronger explosions you would hurt me, but not kill. You could always do that. Don't even try to say you were afraid you wouldn't be able to control your explosions. Because everybody knows how good you are at that." Izuku raised an eyebrow and crosses his hands on his chest. Maybe to appear intimidating. Which is hard to imagine while his eyes are still puffy from crying, his lips dark red and his cheeks still have the marks from tears.

"I didn't feel like doing that." Katsuki shrugs his shoulders.

Izuku's eyebrow didn't move. He was staring right into Katsuki's scarlet eyes.

"Ugh! Fine! I didn't want to hurt you. Satisfied?" Katsuki throws his hands.

"So..are we friends?"

"What? That's not enough reason for you to think we are friends. You should be angry. You should want to punch me. You should-"

"But I forgive Kacchan."

"Wha-? But you aren't supposed to forgive me just like that! It's not how it works."

"But Kacchan I can't punch you."

"What? Why not? I'm not gonna fight it if that's what are you afraid of!"

"What? No, silly." Izuku chuckles.

It's Katsuki's turn to rise his eyebrow.

"Kacchn's face is too pretty for being hurt."

"Wha-?" Katsuki's ears go little red.

"So Kacchan, can we be friends again?" Izuku continues as if he hadn't said anything embarrassing.

"I, what did you, Wha-?" Katsuki sighs. Izuku's a dumbass. He probably doesn't know what he is saying.

"I take that as a yes! See you at school tomorrow!" Izuku says and runs off before Katsuki could gave him a proper answer.

"Damn nerd, he hadn't even given me any chance to say sorry. Fucking asshole." Katsuki sighs and moves. It's better to stop thinking about it and just go home to sleep.

Izuku was almost in front of his apartment when some skeleton-like person came to him.

"Hello, young boy."

"Ummm, hello?" Izuku says unsure what to do. He doesn't know this man.

Before Izuku could ask who is the person in front of him, the man, shifts into an All Might. What is this?

"I am All Might." The skeleton-All Might-says.

"A scammer?" Izuku's voice is a little pinched.

"No, no, my boy I am All Might- ugh." All Might start coughing and shifts back into his skeleton form. He shows him his injury from five years ago and explains what had happened in the past. He just blurs everything out. Without any care in the world. Something like this shouldn't be spoken about in an alleyway.

"'Kay...I think I get it. But why are you telling me this?" Izuku asks casually. When did he start thinking about All Might as a normal person? Before he worshipped him like a God. Now he doesn't feel anything when he looks at him.

"I saw the fight. You were really brave, and I think you have a heart of a true hero."

"But you said- So I can be a hero without a quirk?"

"Umm, no."

"But you just said-"

"I know what I said. That's why I have something to offer you. I think you would make a great hero with my quirk." All Might smiles.

And suddenly it made sense. Older Midoriya warnings. Oh boy, how could Izuku ever think that All Might's cool? Pathetic, that's what he is. Liar, scammer, dishonest, he is everything Izuku wants to avoid to be in the future.

"What?" Izuku asks unbelieving.

And just like that Izuku is one of the people who know about the most dangerous secret of all time without knowing.

--

"I'm home." Izuku says quietly and changes his shoes. Of course, the older boy senses the mood around the freckled much younger boy and immediately crunches down to him.

"What's up, buddy?"

Izuku slumps his shoulders and looks into Midoriya's eyes. He bites his lip and his eyes fill with tears he was holding this entire time. He sobs.

"What's up? What happened?" Midoriya asks.

"I-I'm, I don't, I-I..." The boy sobs so much, that he can't make any words, so the older boy hugs him, close to his chest. He circles on his back with one hand and the other one holds his head. Green curls softly fall between scarred fingers.

After a few minutes, Midoriya scoops the younger boy into his arms and goes to Izuku's room. He holds him when he sits on the bed, he holds him even after Izuku stops crying, just sitting in his lap, he holds him until Izuku speaks.

And after a few hours, Izuku did speak. He told him everything All Might had told him before. He asked if that's what Midoriya warned him about. Also, why did he warn him? Why was Izuku supposed to wait for the answer? And why it felt so wrong to even think of the possibility to say yes? Why is everything so wrong?

"So you said you want to think about it?"

"Un. I told him-" Sniff. "That I need a little bit of time. Y'know he told me I can't be a hero. He told me that I can, but only with his quirk. I-I really t-trained. I tried so hard to be better and gain muscles. And-and now, I feel like it was all for nothing."

"It wasn't for nothing Izu."

Izuku frowns and looks to older greenete. "Why can't I accept?" His breath still shaky, but his voice curious and firm.

Older boy sighs. "I suppose I can tell you now..."

"Why couldn't you before?"

"Would you believe me if I said All Might looks like a skeleton and coughs blood all the time?"

"Ummm, maybe-"

"Izuku."

"Fine! I wouldn't." Izuku rolls his eyes and smiles. "So what's going on?"

"You really want to know."

"Of course I want to know! It's All Might. He offers me a power and he just-it's-he's All Might. The symbol of piece." Izuku says.

"Yeah, he sure is." Older Midoriya's face falls a little with small, sad smile.

"Not for long, though. Izuku. All Might's dying."

"W-what?"

"Symbol of peace that everybody worships so much is dying."

"Bu-t he-he is..."

"Weak." Midoriya's eyes became more hard and serious.

"No!"

"I know it's probably hard to accept now. But please listen to what I have to say. Please."

"I-I don't know what I feel right now." Izuku looked down on his hands, they were shaking. Oh, it wasn't just his hands, he was shaking whole.

Older boy grabbed Izuku's shoulders softly. "That's okay. I am right here. It's gonna be okay. You are going to be okay." He whispered gently with smoothing low voice. His hero voice, Izuku realized.

Izuku nodded his head. His shaking got under control.

"So let me tell you a story." Older boy said with a sad smile on his face. "When I was your age I desperately wanted to be a hero. I got bullied just like you, I was you. I lived exactly like you and when All Might saw me saving Kacchan," Deep breath.

"Wait. Saving Kacchan?"

"Huh. Oh yeah you said Kacchan was with you when the sludge villain attacked. In my time? Uhh- My past? I don't know. The sludge villain attacked me and then I desperately wanted to know if I can be a hero so I grabbed All Might's leg and we flew in the air. All Might wanted to shake me, but after I told him I would die if I let him go he landed on one of the rooftops of a building. At the time he lost the villain and he attacked Kacchan later. I asked All Might if I can be a hero without a quirk he told me no. His form lost it's shape because it took him too long talking to me. He told me everything he told you." Izuku nods he understands and Midoriya continues talking.

"Then he left me there, on the roof of the building. I actually thought about jumping I think. After hearing the familiar explosions going off that I for sure knew were Kacchan's. Any previous thoughts got lost and I started running towards them. When I got there the sludge villain was attacking Kacchan. I thought it was my fault. After the realisation I couldn't not go and save him so I did. I ran to him and saved him, it's short version of everything but I guess I changed a bit of your childhood. Kacchan wasn't attacked, that's nice. I am glad. I am sad it attacked you but at least our Kacchan is safe, right? Midoriya winked.

Izuku chuckles and nods. "Right." Izuku was surprised about everything and angry but it was obvious Midoriya doesn't want to talk about it. Izuku won't push. They can talk about the trauma and everything later.

"After the Kacchan accident All Might found me and told me I can become a hero. He said he will give me his quirk and I will be a great hero. Next symbol of piece. I was so happy. I immediately accepted and started training with him. He gave me everything I ever wanted, he gave me a quirk, and I adored him. Everything was going well. I was accepted into UA, I crashed my bones all the time, because my quirk was too strong for my body, but I didn't care one bit. I was finally happy, I had friends, quirk and Kacchan wasn't so mean anymore." The older boy pinches his brows together in a sad frown.

"Then why can't I accept? I can have friends and..." Izuku questions.

"Because that's not for you. You won't want that. Or you will, but I can't let you. Do you know how many bones I broke? How many scars do I have? How All Might destroyed everything? I thought I was happy. But was I? Was I really? I started feeling happy after All Might gave me his quirk. But I wasn't happy for me. I was happy with the quirk. What about me? What about my dreams? Why couldn't I love myself when I was quirkless. When I was on my lowest. Quirkless aren't any less than others. I know it. Quirks don't define you. The sad part is, I tell this to everybody but myself. I couldn't accept myself. I believed I was worthless Deku that can't do anything."

Izuku was crying again at this point.

"Everybody believed I will become a perfect hero after I had a quirk. I told everybody I am a late bloomer and they trusted me, trusted my words, just because of some stupid quirk. Why were they so mean, so untrustworthy when I didn't have one? Why was I a worthless peace of shit when I didn't have a quirk? Why is it so important to have a quirk? I forgot who I was before I got the power from All Might. I forgot that I wasn't worthless. I was thinking, maybe I was the mistake, it was always me, I was wrong, delusional. When somebody tells you over and over again something, you start to believe it, even when you don't want to. You will believe in everything if they tell you the lie for long enough. I did believe them. And that was my downfall. I forgot who I wanted to be. I happened to be who they wanted me to be. But what about my dreams? Our dreams? Izuku what's your dream?"

"I..." Izuku sniffled and looked at his older self with painful eyes. "I just want to be a hero who will save everybody who needs it. I want to..." Izuku bit his lip. "I want to be a hero who saves kids who thought that they don't need to be saved. I want to save people like me. I want to give them hope and tell them they are worth saving, because..." Sob. "Because nobody saved me. I want to give hope to people who think they can't be saved. I just want people to know they are worth saving, I just want to save people."

"Good answer Izu." Older Midoriya smiled painfully with tears on the edge of his eyes and ruffled Izuku's wild green hair. "Do it like that. Save people Izuku. You and only you. You as in you now. You don't need powers. You are smart, hardworking, nice kid. You can do it. You can. I believe in you." A tear made it's way down older boy's cheek. "Izuku be a hero, okay?" The smile was painfully too kind and believing. But it was nice change. It was nice to hear somebody that they believe in him. It was so nice. So Izuku continued to cry without noticing the body underneath him was slowly disappearing, he cried and the last thing he remembers is a gentle hand ruffling his curls. Then he falls asleep.

When he wakes up there's nobody to welcome him, there's just him and an unknown notebook on his desk. Midoriya never showed up again. It was just small Izuku and the pieces of advice from his older self.

Izuku isolated himself for a few days. He studied everything Midoriya had left for him. Every advice he wrote in the notebook which he left for Izuku, Izuku remembered, he fixated it in his brain. Every word to word Midoriya wrote. Izuku remembered. He wasn't sure if he will see Midoriya someday again, but he wanted to believe what older boy said to him. He wanted to believe in his words. He wanted to be a hero.

And he doesn't need All Might's powers for it.

He doesn't.

He doesn't.

He will be a hero. A quirkless hero. He will save people from the shadows.

Izuku is sure what he wants now.

First step UA entrance exams.

--

"Okay, I need to learn how to fight. My brain won't help me in combat towards whatever is awaiting me in the entrance exam. But first I need to make some research, I don't even know if I am allowed to participate in the exam. I never heard about quirkless person attending a hero course. I think I heard about a quirkless person to attend UA, but only support items departement or some different courses. Never a hero one. Hmmm, I will definitely do that, what will I do if I am not allowed though? And what if I am? I will need to use support items, but will I be allowed to use them? What if I will be allowed to try out for the hero course but won't be allowed to use support items? What will I do then, oh no, wait, first I need to see if I am even allowed to attend then I will think about anything else..." Izuku continued to mumble under his nose while opening his notebook and searching for information about UA school.

Izuku spent another few hours studying everything about UA entrance exams, sports festival, quirks discrimination at school, teachers, years back students, about all sorts of support items for participants of the entrance exam, what's allowed and whatnot.

In the end he found practically everything he wanted to know. Quirkless person is allowed to attend a UA high school, nothing about any exceptions for a hero course, maybe because they never had anybody to try it, or nobody succeeded so far, but there weren't any exceptions so Izuku assumes it's an okay for him.

The next thing is discrimination at the school grounds, they are strict about any kind of discrimination there weren't any mentions of quirkless ones though, but Izuku hopes for the best.

Support items are allowed if you let them know beforehand. It can't be a vital one. Also, more than four items is a big no. If you send them your application form with the items you asked for and it's approved you can't change your decision. For example if you ask for a pipe, it's your final decision, you can't change it for a baseball bat.

The research took more time Izuku expected, the next thing he needs to do is training. He needs to train his muscles. He is less scrawny than he was, thanks to older Midoriya and his training with three delicious meals a day he made for them both. He wonders if he will learn to cook as well as the older boy.

Izuku is used to train with somebody though.

Well he will figure something out.

While Izuku slept like a piece of a wood. His childhood (ex)friend couldn't stop his anxiety from rising day by day. Izuku never ever missed a school day. He must be dying if he didn't come to school. Even when everybody was mean to him, beat him up, the greenette boy always shown up the very next day on school grounds with pained smile.

So imagine Katsuki's surprise when he sits down and there's no "good morning Kacchan". There's no mumbling behind him through out a lecture from the teachers.

And next day? It's the same, for a whole ass week. So nobody should be surprised when blonde haired boy makes on a nice, sunny Friday his way towards a certain green haired boy's home.

"Deku! Open your fucking door or I am gonna fucking rip them out of their pants and then fucking rip apart every part of your scrawny ass body, you little asshole!" His screaming is accompanied with loud banging on the door.

Loud unlocking sound made Katsuki stop from yelling and banging on the door. With big scowl he waits impatiently for the door to open.

When they open up there's a messy, green curly hair with a cute sleepy face in the sight. One of the hands is holding the doorknob and the other is on the boy's left side of the freckled face, rubbing his eye to wake up.

"Kacchan? Wha' happen'?" Izuku's sleepy voice asks, barely keeping his eyes open. It wasn't even four hours before Izuku fell asleep.

"What ya mean what happened? You happened nerd! It's been a whole ass week and you didn't show up. You fucking dipshit. I thought you fucking died you moron!" Katsuki says with fierce look on his face. Scanning Izuku's appearance. He isn't looking like he is sick. So why did the nerd stay at home?

"Huh? I did? I didn't even notice it had been a week. Oh. Well I guess it doesn't really matter. I am sorry Kacchan that I worried you though. Didn't mean to."

"Haaah? I ain't worrying, you nerd!"

"Uhuh, sure you are not." Izuku smiles a little.

"I am not!"

"Okay Kacchan, how about you come inside while you are here? I am sure my neighbours don't need to hear our drama." Izuku left the door open for Katsuki to follow him, while he is making his way towards the kitchen.

Katsuki was little shocked and stayed still for a few seconds but followed in immediately after.

Izuku was making a tea while Katsuki sat on the couch in the living room. After Izuku made the tea he came with two cups in hands, he sat next to Katsuki and smiled at him.

"So Kacchan. Would you be that nice and give me notes on what we did at school this week?"

Katsuki narrowed his eyes. "Why were you staying at home?"

"Hmm, didn't feel like coming to the school."

"You didn't feel like it?"

"Yeah."

Katsuki rised and unamused brow at the boy. "What about your mother, you asshat?"

"Dunno. Probably working. Didn't see her in a while."

"You didn't see...? What the fuck nerd? You fucking live in the same apartment!" Katsuki said angrily.

"Yeah that we do. But she works a lot you know? So we don't really have a lot of time for our family bonding." Izuku smiled little sad.

Katsuki's frown stays on his face with a little bit of worry. What about food? Nerd can't cook for shit.

"Tsch. I will send you the notes after I arrive home."

Izuku's eyes winden a lot. "Thank you Kacchan!"

If anyone tries to tell Katsuki that the sun is too bright they didn't see Midoriya fucking Izuku smile. It's so bright. It hurts Katsuki's eyes.

"Oh Kacchan by the way how about you train with me for the entrance exam? Hmmm? I am sure doing always the same bores you. It would be more fun when you have a living punching bag? What do you think?" Izuku says, edgar just from thinking about it, and sips from his tea cup.

"What?"

"Train with me Kacchan!"

After a few seconds of deep silence.

"Please?"

"What the fuck nerd? Perhaps you are really ill, or just really fucking dumb. What are you even thinking you moron? Are you even thinking straight?"

"I know it might sound like no challenge but I swear I am not that bad at fighting!"

"This is not about you not being good enough! I can fucking hurt you. I hurt you all the time! What made you think it's a good idea to ask me to train with you? You stupid nerd! How are you even thinking it's alright for us to spar together? Don't you have any self respect? Are you actually suicidal?" Katsuki yells at him.

"What no! I already told you I am not suicidal. And I told you I know you didn't mean to hurt me. So it's alright!"

"It's not! Nothing is alright! You aren't thinking straight!"

Izuku frowns. "I forgave you. But I think you're the one who didn't forgive yourself."

Katsuki went still. "What are you on about nerd?"

"You want me to forgive you, which I already did. But I think you didn't forgive yourself. You never do anything half-hearted, you always give into everything your best, you didn't do anything special for me to forgive you. That's why you are angry. Well at least that's what I think." Izuku shrugs.

"An apology isn't enough." Katsuki whispers.

"Kacchan. It's my decision who I want to forgive and who not. It's not yours to tell. From the beginning it's mine. So don't you dare say anything and just fucking apologise you coward."

Katsuki stared at Izuku with wide eyes. This nerd. He lost his mind. How can he think it's enough to just apologise. It's not. Not at all. What's wrong with him?

"Kacchan I am waiting."

"I-I am going home." Katsuki stands up from the couch and leaves, but before he leaves he hears from Izuku.

"Kacchan tomorrow at three in the afternoon. Let's spar yeah? Let's meet at the Park where we were playing as kids. I will be waiting."

And with that Katsuki was gone.

"Maybe I was too hard on him? He was always too slow in figuring feelings out." Izuku bites his lip.

The next day Izuku was standing next to the playground the boys played as young. It was three and one minute. Maybe it was too much on Katsuki afterall? But before Izuku could have any bad thoughts voice behind him called.

"Deku!"

Izuku smiled and turn around. "Kacchan, you came!"

"Tsch, of course, I did you, moron. I ain't a coward!"

"Yeah, Kacchan's amazing."

"Let's spar now."

"What? Right now I thou-, ah! Kacchan!"

Katsuki swung his hand. "Fight!"

And it begun. Both boys fell into their stances and fought. No words said. They didn't need anything. They communicated through their movements. Katsuki was always better in his actions than words after all.

Katsuki swung his leg up, Izuku didn't expect him to be that flexible. Bakugo's leg was around his neck and made him fall. He didn't give a chance to Izuku to recover and immediately pinned his hands and body down to the ground with his own body. He sat on Izuku with one of the legs on izuku things and hands on the other boy's hands.

Both were breathing heavily. They don't know how long it took for them to finish their fight but it was long enough for both boys to feel extremely exhausted. "Your movements are too fucking simple. You need to find your style. And you can't hesitate. I fucking saw it, you didn't want to punch any part of my face even when you had the chance. I don't get it but anyway never do that again. Take every chance you have. Or you will lose. Also I am sorry. I was treating you like shit all these years. I was an asshole. I am really sorry Izuku. You fucking moron fight if you can. Don't just stand around. Your kindness won't bring you anything. You need to fucking fight sometimes."

"Kacchan." Izuku smiles wobbly, tears running down his cheeks. "Thank you."

"Don't fucking thank me!" Katsuki said with little pained voice and roughly swiped Izuku's tears off of his freckled face.

When Izuku calmed down a bit, both boys sat in the grass and talked. They talked about when they were younger and played in this playground, about school, feelings, UA, heroes. They just voiced out all the years they missed without each other. They talked about their moms and how the old hag was asking for Izuku to come over and have dinner since she discovered Katsuki was meeting with him today.

"Why are you? What are-? Uhh-Why are you being nice to me?" Katsuki asked.

"What do you mean Kacchan?"

"I mean why do you even talk to me? Why are you being nice? I was an asshole for a really long time to you. But you always smiled at me. You never ever missed a day without telling me "good morning Kacchan". You just- You were always there. I- Why did- Why were you being nice?" Katsuki didn't look at Izuku, he just laid down on the grass and stared up to the sky.

"You were my first friend."

"I was mean, bad, ugly, whatever to you! Not a friend! Friends don't act like that!" This time Katsuki looks over to Izuku.

"Yeah they don't. But to me you were the only friend I ever had. My first and only friend. While everybody bullied me, called me mean names, they were scared of me being better than them. They honestly thought I can't do anything, I am weak piece of shit. But Kacchan, you? You always were just angry. Angry that I couldn't keep our promise of becoming the best heroes together. You were angry I fought even when I didn't have any proper muscles. You were angry because you thought I am going to hurt myself. You thought it's going to destroy me in the end. My reckless behaviour." Izuku was looking into scarlet eyes with so much honesty it hurt Katsuki's insides.

"It doesn't matter. It doesn't make it any less painful Izuku!"

"I am not saying what you did was alright. Nor am I defending your actions. I am not. What you did was horrible. You made me question myself so many times. You made me think bad things. You made me feel bad about myself. But one look on your face and I knew. I knew Kacchan that you are all bark but no bite. You never thought I was weak. Never. Kacchan you are my symbol of victory. Great Katsuki who will win no matter what. I admire you. Your strength. Kacchan you never said I can't be a hero. I didn't even notice it until you pointed it out the last time. Kacchan you were angry at me, but you never stopped believing in me. I am sorry it took me so long to notice." Izuku smiled sadly.

"You fucking stupid nerd, how can you smile so freaking brightly after all that shit that happened to you?" Katsuki's voice was painted and low.

"As I said Kacchan. I am not saying it is alright what you did. But I forgive you for it. So let's be friends Kacchan. Please. Can you trust me and be my friend?"

"You fucking moron. Something is definitely wrong with that head of yours."

"I take that as "Yes Izuku I would be very grateful for the opportunity to be your amazing friend!" Oh, Kacchan I humbly forgive you and think we will be amazing best friends." Izuku's grin reached his beautiful green eyes. Katsuki doesn't know what to do. He doesn't deserve the green haired boy, but how can he say no to that? Fuck. He feels sick.

"Let's go, it's getting dark." Katsuki shakes his head and stands up. He reaches out for Izuku to stand up as well.

"Kacchan let's be heroes together yeah?" Izuku takes Katsuki's hand and stands up.

"Yeah, let's do that Izuku." It felt foreign on his tongue to say, but not uncomfortable. He can get used to it he thinks.

Days went on. Katsuki was better at expressing his emotions. He wasn't perfect and it wasn't easy. But being it Izuku for who he was expressing his feelings to, it was much easier. It was as if Izuku knew exactly what to say or knew what was the blonde boy thinking. As if Katsuki didn't need to tell him anything and Izuku knew what he wanted. And Katsuki is sure it is exactly that.

The harder thing was Izuku wanted to hear it in a verbal response. He wanted Katsuki to verbally tell him what was wrong, what he was thinking, what he wanted to eat, what he wanted to do, and what he wanted to watch.

He wanted to hear everything from Katsuki. Even when he knew everything about Katsuki and was aware of what Katsuki likes and what not. His eyes always sparkled with emotions when Bakugo answered. Or even more when he alone started a conversation.

These few months passed in a blink of an eye. Both boys got to know each other once again. They both trained together. Ate together. Studied together. Learned about Katsuki's anger issues. Both learned a lot through these past few months.

Izuku even told him about the hallucination that wasn't actually a hallucination and about All Might. He also told him how he eagerly refused number one hero's offer and how he intends on being a quirkless hero. Izuku was afraid Katsuki wouldn't believe him, but somehow he did. He said something like "you can't lie for a shit Deku, so I believe you" or something. It was nice to hear.

Katsuki was his friend and he believed in him, trusted him, and took advice from him. Izuku wanted to cry when he thought about the memory. Life was amazing. Izuku wishes it never ends. He knows he can't think that though, the entrance exam for UA high school was getting close and greene needed to focus on this not on Kacchan's deep beautiful ruby eyes.

"Kacchan! I can't anymore! I am really tired." Izuku's lungs felt like ripping apart. His breathing was unconditional.

"Idiot. You can run a mile without getting tired, but some push-ups end you in few minutes? How does that work, you moron?"

Izuku with a whiny voice says, "Kacchan. I don't know, okay? It just does. And I am dying here. Help me?" Izuku reaches his hand out for Katsuki to grab onto.

"Dumbass." Katsuki murmurs but helps the nerd up. "The entrance exams are getting close."

"Yeah. I think we are gonna do great!" Izuku's voice is so positive.

"Mhm. What if-"

"It doesn't matter. I will do my best Kacchan." Greene cuts Katsuki short. "We are gonna make it. You will be an amazing top hero and I will just hide in your shadow and beat up villains cuz they won't expect it." His words are followed with evil laugh. Well as evil as Izuku manages anyway.

Bakugo shakes his head and hides his smile. Cute bastard, he thinks and leads Izuku to his house for dinner while Izuku is mumbling under his nose. They got used to eating at Bakugo's home. At first it was just once a week, then twice, then every few days and on the end, it became a routine for both of them to eat at Katsuki's house every day. Even when they don't train together one day, always, at seven o'clock there's a quiet knock on the door and opening the door with eager "it's me auntie, uncle, Kacchan!" and makes his way towards the kitchen. Katsuki can't help but think it feels familiar. As if Izuku was a part of the family for years.

"We are home!" Bakugo yells when they enter the Bakugo's residence.

"Boys, hi. The dinner is on the stove. We are heading out for tonight. Have fun yeah? If something happens, call." Mitsuki says while her husband helps her with her coat.

"Where ya goin'?" Katsuki asks even thought he has an idea.

"Don't you see me brat? We are going out for a dinner. We weren't on a date in a long time."

"Weren't you out for breakfast two weeks ago?" Izuku tilts his head.

"Ah, that's two whole weeks. That's a long time." Mitsuki says as she squeezes Izuku's cheeks.

"Is that so? Okay. Have fun auntie, uncle."

"We will. Try to not make a mess while we are gone." Masaru smiles and opens the door for Mitsuki.

"And it's just us now." Katsuki sighs and goes to the kitchen. "I will warm up our dinner, go watch TV or something."

"Okay Kacchan." Izuku says even though he makes his way towards kitchen stool behind the counter, sits down and watches Katsuki as he works.

It really felt familiar. Katsuki doesn't know if he can go back to his days when Izuku and him were apart. It just doesn't feel right. How can Deku be the only one to make him feel at peace. Doesn't matter what situation. Deku makes everything better. And Katsuki doesn't know how to feel about that.

--

The years passed and the dreams that were making Izuku shiver at night with fear felt like a distant memory and the thought of his older self was hidden in the back of his head.

"So boys. It's just two days until UA exam. Are you excited? You will be hero course students in a bit." Mitsuki said with a proud grin while they ate dinner.

"Yeah I am. I hope I get to meet EraserHead! I heard he is a teacher there. I am so so excited, I have lots of questions. He is fighting quirkless, that's so amazing! He has a quirk called erasure, it's an amazing power where he can erase a quirk of person he is looking at, but it doesn't work on mutant type quirks. So those ones he is fighting actually quirkless, that's why while he was studying in UA high school he crafted his support item, with the help of the support departement. I am not sure how he moves it as he pleases, but I have theory he is moving it with his DNA. Not sure about it though. Oh also why are his hair floating while he is using his quirk? Do you think-?"

"Izuku sweety while I am really good at figuring out what you are saying while you are mumbling. I am getting a little lost. Could you slow down for a bit?" Mitsuki asks with a smile. She won't say it out loud but she missed this boy. She was babysitting him often, played with him and her son every afternoon when they were younger. She knew kids grow up and they part away. But it didn't make it easier to not see this little green bean.

When she heard Katsuki say she should make one more portion one night. It was surprising. Katsuki never brought friends over. She asked for who it was or maybe if he wanted some for the next day? When Katsuki said he will, maybe, bring Izuku over she almost jumped from joy. He point-poined the maybe part but she insisted to bring him over for sure. "Even if he protests just bring him here," she had said.

And so he did. And from that day it was like that. Now Izuku is having dinner with them every day. She once asked about Inko, but Izuku just brushed it with "she is working" with little pained smile. That was the time she noticed how skinny Izuku actually was. Of course Izuku was always little smaller than regular teenagers but this skinny wasn't healthy. Under that mass of muscles she wouldn't even notice. If you won't look closely you won't know.

Mitsuki knows she shouldn't ask. So she didn't. But it didn't make her stop to ask Katsuki. Katsuki told her Izuku doesn't want her to know, but he told her that she shouldn't worry too much. He said he is taking care of him. Making him lunch to eat at school, bringing snacks every time they train and dragging him to have dinner with them.

He also started to ask Izuku to sleep over often, just to make sure he is eating. And sure enough, Izuku gained weight. Slowly he looked more like a teenager than a kid. Mutsuki and Massru, of course too, were happy. It didn't make it less suprising though. It was weird for Katsuki to take care of somebody so much. Even when it was for Izuku. It seemed like Katsuki was treating him more than a friend. Best friend? No, no it wasn't that. Family? Definitlly not. And then it hit Mitsuki. A boyfriend. A husband even. He was taking care of him as if he was going to spend the rest of his life with him.

Mitsuki stared at her son with admiration. He was mimicking actions his dad did for her. Her little boy had a crush on Izuku. How thrilling. She couldn't pass up the opportunity to mess with them a little so one uneventful dinner she spoke up: "By the way when are you planning on starting dating?"

"Huh?" Izuku stuttered.

"Old hag!" Katsuki yelled, panicked.

Masaru laughed, mostly he wasn't supporting his wife in being so blunt about these things. But to be honest he started to be little worried about his son's feelings. So he just stayed quiet while Mitsuki was rising her eyebrow in a silent question.

"It's about time you start dating, you already act like old married couple." Bakugo's mom shook her head.

"A-Auntie I don't think you got it right. We are just friends." Izuku looked down on this shaking hands in his lap. Was he too obvious about the whole thing? He realised his feelings towards his friend a while ago, but he thought he was subtle about it.

While Izuku's mind was racing with so many possibilities what will happen, Mitsuki was showing Katsuki with her eyes to make a move finally.

Katsuki sighed and took one of Izuku's hand to his and led him to his bedroom. "Come on nerd. Stop thinking too much or your head will explode." He chuckled and closed the bedroom door behind them.

Izuku didn't even realise they left. So lost in his own head to be aware of his surroundings. He looked up into Katsuki's eyes. "Kacchan I-"

"You know, I like your eyes."

"What?" Izuku asked, taken aback with Katsuki's words.

"I like your smile too. Your eyes and how they are so big but get smaller when you smile with your big pretty smile. I like your small nose, it's cute. Your laugh makes me want to smile too. Your hands are smaller than mine but rougher. I like it. You are never disgusted how my hands are always sweaty because of my quirk. And your hair is so messy and green, I love playing with them. It makes me calm. Your voice is really nice too. So light and happy but can get low when you get pouty a bit." Katsuki wasn't looking at Izuku. He was scared. But Izuku took his head in his hands and blinked at him.

"Why-? No. I- Kacchan I love your laugh. You don't do it often, but when you do laugh it is so honest and pretty. Your eyes shine in light so brightly, sometimes I think you got stardust in them. I love your hands, how could I be disgusted? They are so nice on touch. Always so smooth, Your hair is nice and your body. Kacchan did you see yourself? Kacchan you're so handsome." Izuku smiles.

"Jesus, you sappy little shit. I fucking like you you idiot."

Izuku was expecting these words but actually hearing them made him smile and wanting to never stop. Oh my god. Katsuki likes me. Izuku was freaking out. He teared a bit.

"I like you too Kacchan. I like you so much." His words were followed with small sniffles.

"Why're you crying you idiot."

"I just like you so much. I am happy right now Kacchan." Izuku smiled with tears running down his cheeks. Katsuki wiped them and leaned close. Slowly to give Izuku a chance to push him away. But Izuku didn't. He leaned too and met Katsuki in the middle. The kiss was sloppy, their first kiss, neither knew exactly what to do. They parted away and Katsuki leaned again now more fierce, sure of his action. He kissed him, moving his lips. Izuku coping his movements. Katsuki moved his tongue towards Izukus lips. Izuku slowly opening his mouth, unsure what to do. When Katsuki felt Izuku opening his mouth he pushed his tongue inside the other boy's mouth. Slowly exploring.

"Kacchan." Izuku moaned a bit when they parted for a bit to take a breath.

"Yeah?" Bakugo breathed.

"I like you."

"Fuck, me too. I like you too. But what does this mean for us?" Katsuki asked.

"Hmm?"

"Izuku are we-? Are we dating?"

"Oh well- umm yeah? I mean you wanna? Because I want, but if you don-"

"Dumbass of course I wanna. We are dating yeah?"

"Yeah. Kacchan we are dating."

"Yeah, you are my boyfriend."

"And you are mine."

"Fuck that sounds nice."

When Mitsuki went to check in on them, she found both boys sleeping in one bed, tangled together. She just smiled at them and quietly left the room to sleep as well.

--

"Kacchan." Izuku absurdly stopped before entering building of UA high school.

"Yeah?"

"I am nervous."

"Don't be. You are gonna do great. I am sure of it."

"You think so?"

"I know so." Katsuki takes his hand and moves forward.

Izuku smiles and takes a deep breath. "Yeah. Okay we are going to be heroes." He murmurs and moves forward with Katsuki.

"I gotta go to this classroom. You are on the right side of school. So see ya later nerd? I will wait for you in front of the school gates."

"Okay Kacchan." Izuku quickly kissed his boyfriend on the cheek and runs off.

Katsuki stands still for a bit longer, looking after his nerd. After few seconds he moves away, going to do his written exam in a different classroom.

The written part of an exam was too easy if you ask Izuku. After an hour Izuku didn't know what to do he double checked his answers but he still had two hours left. He looked around the classroom. Everybody was still writing something. Was Izuku forgetting something? Maybe he didn't write enough? Maybe he was writing too quickly and skipped few questions? Is it possible though? Izuku didn't know. He was scared to rise his hand to ask what to do with finished test. He just sat there and looked nervous. The teacher in front looked at him and rised and eyebrow. Izuku grew more anxious. O-ou was he in a trouble? Izuku smiled nervously and waved. WAVED. Oh my god Izuku what're you doing? Greene was questioning himself.

"If you're done you can leave."

"Huh?"

Izuku looked at their assigned teacher.

"You done? You can leave if you want."

"Oh..." Izuku slowly stand up and took his test to his teacher, gave it to him and left the classroom.

The teacher checked the test. His first impression was the boy didn't know the answers so he panicked and looked around the room. At least that's how it looked what the boy was doing. But when he took a good look at the test, it was full. Each question answered with ease. Who was this boy?

"That was so weird. I hope I did good. What if I didn't? Would be Kacchan disappointed? I hope not. Oh no what if I won't make it into the hero course and Kacchan will break up with me? What if he won't but will find somebody prettier and smarter than me. I can stick to Kacchan and be mean to anybody who makes a move on him. But if I won't be in the same school... Who will be in Kacchan's way to find somebody else? Oh no and what if-"

"-rd."

"Fucking nerd!"

"Huh? Kacchan?"

"Jesus what are you mumbling so hard for, you dumbass?" Katsuki shook his head.

"Oh- umm- Nothin' really." Izuku looks down on his red shoes.

"Yeah whatever. Let's go."

"Where?"

"Outside you need fresh air, you are shaking a bit." Katsuki took Izuku's hand and began walking towards the entrance door.

"Kacchan? Did you already finish your test?"

"What would I be doing here if I didn't? It was too damn easy." Kacchan scoffed.

"Oh yeah."

"What?" Katsuki raised a brow at him. "You don't think so?"

"Well, I don't know. At first, I did, but then I saw everybody still writing on their papers, some were flowing and shaking, and they looked in deep thought. I got worried that maybe missed some questions. Sometimes I do that. But I double-checked everything and it didn't seem like I did. So I got worried." Izuku pouts. "Stupid people made me worry for nothing."

"Pfft. Nerd. I think you spend too much time with me. My bad mouth is rubbing off on you."

"Ah, Kacchan. No! Don't tell auntie."

"Pffft."

"Don't laugh at me! Kacchan!"

Katsuki smiles. "Suits you better."

"Huh? What does?" Izuku tilts his head in slight confusion, like a puppy.

"A smile. It suits you better than your ugly worrying face."

"Oh." Izuku smiled and kissed Katsuki's cheek.

"Thank you Kacchan. You make everything better in a few seconds. You are amazing."

"Hell yeah, I am," Katsuki says over confidently and kisses Izuku on the lips. "You deserve the best of the best after all."

"Kacchan!" Izuku laughs.

Izuku nerves calmed a bit after that. He was still nervous. But at least he stopped shaking. When it was time for the second, practical, part of their exam boys parted ways once again and went to their assigned part of the fake town.

"Okay, little listeners!" Present Mic's voice sounded loudly in the air. "The gates will open up in a bit! When you hear a loud sound you go and take your points! You're allowed to use your quirk as you wish! You can't hurt other examines purposely though! You can push them and take their points until you won't hurt them too badly. I am talking about life-threatening wounds! So be aware! When the sound goes off it's show time! Good luck listeners!"

The loud sound sounded and Izuku moved on impulse. He can't lose any second. First: The functions of the robots. Izuku is sure he can find their main source of the energy, but it would cost him a time. He can't have that. He needs to make it quick. What can he do?

Somewhere behind him, he can hear Mic's voice "What are you waiting for?!" and some other sounds but Izuku ignores all of it. He needs to focus. This is the time he will let people know that quirkless isn't useless.

"Midoriya Izuku. What an interesting piece of human." Nedzu is looking at a quirkless boy running around with fake knives. He has some attached to his hands with iron strings. Moving like a pro with his equipment. How long did it take him to learn to fight with these? Nedzu tilts his head and his eyes shine with an entertainment.

"Okay weak points. Right knee and the shoulder's left part of the metal is weaker as well." Izuku isn't sure why, but it is. His knives work like screws trucker. Climbing the robots is easier than you would think. They have good catching metal pieces on them. Izuku is sure it's for the examines with not so flashy quirks.

He climbs his way up quickly. The metal robots almost never see him climbing up. He is too small and the robots are too big to notice someone so tiny climbing on top of them. He takes his knife and quickly works his way behind the right knee, takes a few screws out. He rips part of the weaker metal down and bum! Robots can't hold themselves up. Izuku can't be sure why and to be honest he can't be too bothered either. But his mind works even though he really shouldn't care why the robots fall.

It's like the weight they have is too focused on holding themselves up when it has some part gone it's just a metal that goes down with ease.

Izuku stops thinking about useless stuff, his theories can wait. He must go forward. He needs the points. He can't lose. Not now. He just can't.

"Okay only two minutes remain, little listeners! Make it worth it!" Present Mic announces and there's loud sound right in front of Izuku. He looks up and sees it. Zero pointer. Everybody around him starts to run away. Greenette makes his move as well. He doesn't know how much points he got, but it won't harm to go get more.

"Help! Somebody help!" There's a weak voice. Izuku looks around and finds a girl under a huge piece of rock? Probably part of the building that collapsed when the Zero pointer showed up.

"Please! I can't get out!"

"What can I do? I doubt the Zero pointers are the same as the other robots." Emerald eyed boy whispers and bits his lower lip. There was a small thought about leaving her. It's an exam there's no way they will let anybody die. But the Zero pointer is getting closer and closer and nobody is stopping it.

"Shit." Izuku moves towards the brunette under the collapsed piece of the building.

"Okay, okay." Izuku whispers to himself and tries to find something long. "Come on. Come on. There must be something. Some- Pipe!" Izuku runs to it and rips it away from something it was attached to. He runs straight to his death.

"Hey how are you?" Izuku ask casually like they're meeting to go grab a coffee not in front of a giant Zero pointer that is going to kill them.

"What?" Brunette girl asks confused.

"My name is Midoriya Izuku." Greenette continues casually and works his way with the pipe. He places the iron pipe under the piece that is holding the girl glued to the ground. "It's weird I know. My name is Midoriya and my hair and eyes are naturally green. Sometimes people think I make fun of them. You know Midori equals green and I am green haha." Izuku doesn't even know what he is saying. He just needs the girl to be focused on him. He wants her to be distracted, not thinking about how she is going to die now. No wait. No. She isn't going to die. He doesn't either. They are going to survive this. Yeah.

"When I say green you get up got it?" Grenette doesn't wait for an answer and puts all of his weight to his legs. "Green." And he lifts the rock, the girl didn't waste any time and moved away. When she did Izuku let the piece fall back to the ground and picks up the girl. Running away.

"Sorry. I know it's bad to touch somebody without their consent and you can punch me later for it, but I don't have any clue how bad your injury is and we don't have much time so, yeah." Izuku smiles awkwardly while still running somewhere more safe.

When the annoying sound goes off again emerald eyed boy stops in his tracks. He puts the girl down onto the cold ground. "You good?" He asks the brunette girl.

"Y-Yeah, just shocked I guess. Umm thank you Mi-Midoriya-kun." She smiles at him. Recovery girl comes few seconds after that and takes the girl away. Izuku makes his move to the front gates where Kacchan is waiting for him.

"Nerd. How would it go?" Katsuki asks.

"Hmmm, dunno?"

Bakugo's right brow went up in a silent question.

"Umm- You know- It was- There was an accident? Ummm it was- I was doing good. But-" Izuku was playing with his fingers. "One girl- She got stuck and you know- I know it's an exam and they wouldn't let anybody die, of course- It's- It's obvious but when I saw her, lying on the ground- She couldn't move and I couldn't just leave her. So I helped? A little. I guess I wasn't really thinking. I just- just- I couldn't leave her there, she was calling for help and just- I couldn't not help. You know. But it was in the last two minutes. I- I think it should be alright? Maybe- Maybe I will pass?" Midoriya looked to Katsuki's amused eyes nervously. When he saw the ruby eyes looking at him with amusement his nervous look turned into a shocked one.

"Why- Why do you- Don't laugh! Kacchan!"

"Pfft. Sorry nerd, but you are too cute right now. Don't be so nervous. I am sure you have enough points. And I am also sure they saw you help that stupid girl so they will see your endless potential to be a hero." Katsuki says and ruffles Izuku's messy hair. "Let's grab something to eat, yeah? You must be tired."

Izuku pouts for a bit but smiles immediately when they enter a food stall to get a ramen. Yeah food is the best right now. He can worry later.

--

"Boys! It's here!" Masaru calls from downstairs.

"Haah?"

"Letter from UA!" Masaru yells again.

"Kacchan." Izuku looks up to Katsuki.

"Stay here, I go grab it and we will open them together." Bakugo says and moves to open the door and leaves.

When he comes back to his bedroom he asks, "Which do you want to open first?"

"Can we do yours Kacchan?"

"Hmkay." He opens his envelope, small projector is the only thing inside.

"I am here as a projection!" Comes All Might's voice out of it.

"All Might?" Katsuki asks, shocked.

"Oh so it's true. I heard he is going to teach at UA hight school. I wasn't sure if it's true. But I guess it is." Izuku says, worried a bit.

"So I need to wrap this up quickly so let's get straight into it. Young Bakugo, you passed on your written exam with 92 percent. In the practical part you got 73 villain points and 4 rescue points. That's 77 together. Which puts you on the first place in the ranking! Congratulations young Bakugo! Welcome to your hero academia!" And with that the projection turns off.

"Kacchan! Kacchan! You passed! You did! You are a hero student now!" Izuku hops around happily and hugs Katsuki close to his chest. "Kacchan, you are going to be an amazing hero."

"Tsch. What did you expect, I am the best of the best. Of course I passed." Despite his words he hugged Izuku as tight as the green haired boy. "Let's go and open yours."

"Un. Okay Kacchan." Midoriya tore his letter as well and the same projection came out of it.

The beginning started the same as Katsuki's. "Young Midoriya, you passed on your written exam with an excellent score of hundred percent! Congratulations! In your practical exam you got 12 villain points and whole 60 rescue points. Your bravery shocked almost every teacher! Your score together is 72 points. This amazing score of yours puts you in the fourth place! Congratulations! Welcome to your hero academia!"

"Kacch-"

"Fucking nerd! You got in! Fuck you got in nerd. I fucking told you you gotta nothing to worry about. Shit Izuku you did it! We are going to be heroes!"

"Kacchan! Kacchan! Kacchan!" Izuku was crying into Katsuki's chest. Bakugo hugged him close to reassure him this is not a dream. They are actually going to be heroes!

Behind the door two proud parents of the loud blonde were looking at each other with wide grins. "They did it."

"Yeah. They did. Kids grow up so fast." Mitsuki hugged her husband. "I am so proud of them."

"Me too. They deserve it."

"Yeah. Yeah they fucking do." Mitsuki chuckled her eyes little wet.

"Let's make a katsudon and spicy curry for them."

The parents go make a dinner. Later that night they had fun evening with an amazing food. Praise from both parents for the boys. Izuku felt like part of the family already. It was wholesome to hear somebody to say "I am proud of you", It was a good feeling when Katsuki was holding his hand. It was nice to laugh with somebody. It was nice to hug somebody. It was nice to be happy.

Happiness is a fragile thing though and never lasts forever.

It was Izuku's time to go home. He spent a whole week at Bakugo's.

"Hey mom. I am home." Izuku said when he entered his house and saw familiar pair of shoes.

"Izuku." Inko looks into her son's eyes. "Where have you been?"

"Umm I was with Kacchan." Greene plays with his hands nervously and bites his lip. "I was- We- I have-" Izuku takes a breath and exhales. " I was just studying."

"You have school break Izuku. Why would you study? Or are the high school exams soon. I am not sure." She tilts her head.

"I-" Izuku blinks. "Mom. The entrance exams for high school passed already. I- I got into UA." Izuku's eyes stings. He bits his lip too hard.

"Oh? I didn't know you- Huh." Inko chuckles. "You didn't give up." It wasn't a question, but Izuku answers anyway.

"I didn't. And I won't."

The woman in front of him rises and eyebrow. "Determined. Don't come to me crying later Izuku."

"I won't mom."

She sighs. "Okay. Congratulation. It's your dream school, don't mess it up."

"Mom I got- I got into- Mom I made it into the hero course. I don't know what you think, but I want you to know I made- I made it-"

"A hero course? I thought that maybe a support department, but a hero one? Well one more reason to not be surprised if-"

"I am going to be a hero. Mom I will. I will make it. Please just believe in me. Please."

"Izuku. I am sorry, but- Izuku you are quirkless."

"Yes mom. I am. I am quirkless not useless."

"Oh baby I never said that-"

"But you implied it. You always do. Mom just, please stop." Izuku interrupted his mother. "Mom I can't listen to this. It hurts. You always say sorry. You aren't even home because you pity me. It's okay mom. It really is. I promise. Mom I promise it's alright. So stop. I can't listen your words, it wounds me when you say it like I am made of glass. I am capable of being hero. It will be hard. I am not saying it won't. I know it will. But I am prepared for it. I am strong. I can do it."

"I- I can't Izuku. I can't see you crying. I can't support you in destroying yourself. You will realize this path is not for you."

"It was you!" Izuku raised his voice. It was the first time his mother heard him to speak louder. "You- Mom you were the one who was always crying. You always apologised. You were the one who was worried about me getting hurt. I was crying because you were. You were my mom, the only thing I wanted from you was to support me. But instead of it I got you apologising to me. I never needed that. I needed my mom saying she is proud. I wanted to eat meals together. Going for a walk together. And what did I get? Oh, yeah, I got mom that says sorry all the time, I got a person who gave me 4000 yen at the counter every Monday so I could eat something. I got a mom that didn't support me. I got a person who avoided me. Like all the people around me. I know you didn't want to see me get hurt and crying. But it hurt. It still hurts."

Inko was a sobbing mess quietly saying, "I am sorry," again and again.

Izuku kneeled in front of her, held her hands and lookd into her eyes. "Watch me. Please watch me mom. I can do it. I promise I will try my best. Don't say sorry anymore. It's alright." He smiled softly.

"I- I will- I will try my best. I am so sorry I am such a horrible mom."

"Oh, oh no. You aren't. It's alright. You just didn't know how to handle the situation. You were all alone on everything, paying bills, seeing your son getting bullied. You heard all those stupid people judging us. You saw how all the neighbours pity us, just because of your son's "disease"." Izuku made a movement with his two fingers a movement for a sarcasm and chuckled a bit.

"It wasn't easy on you and I get it. I get that you were the one hearing it all. I was a child. I didn't understand and I wasn't paying attention to it that much. But you? You heard it all. Mom I am not angry I am sad. And the only thing I want from you is your support. I am sorry I don't have a quirk. I am sorry I am worthless. I am sorry I was born like this. I am sorry you needed to take care of me and thank you for that the same. Mom thank you, you didn't throw me away. Thank you for being my mom."

"Izuku. I- I- Izuku. Please. No. Please. Please. No. No." Inko was viciously shaking her head. "No. Oh my god. No. You never- You never were worthless. You weren't. You aren't. Please I know I was a horrible mom. I am sorry. But please, please don't ever say that. Don't thank me. I- I will try my best to support you. Please. Just don't-" She was sobbing, making it hard for Izuku to figure out what she was saying.

"Hey mom. It's alright." He tried to calm her down.

"No. Izuku. It's not. You are too forgiving. Please. I am begging you. Don't say that ever again. I am your mom and I should have done my job right. I should have taken care of you. I am sorry I didn't. I love you. I know you aren't stupid. You know I was a bad mom. I will do better. I promise. Don't apologise for being born. It was the best thing that happened to me. Izuku you are my whole world. It doesn't excuse me that I was hurt by other people's words. It doesn't. Do you understand? I was doing bad job at being mom. You grew older and understood the words that they were saying. As young child maybe not. But as you got older you did. And you- Izuku, you heard it and you were alone. You were hurting and I wasn't there to support you."

"Mom-" Izuku was sobbing as well kneeling in front of his mom and holding her hands.

Both were crying for a long time that day. They talked about the years of neglectment. Both trying their best to express the feelings they were feeling. At night both passed in few seconds, exhausted.

--

Like that things got a little bit better. And with time it was already first day at UA high school.

"Kacchan! Kacchan! Come on wake up! Kacchan! Wake up! We will be late!" Izuku jumped on his knees on Katsuki's bed. Izuku woke up too early. It was their first day at UA high school. And Izuku was excited. He shakes Katsuki's shoulder.

"Izuku." Katsuki whispers, his voice low from sleep. He opens one eye open and looks to his digital clock next to his bed. "It's fucking five o'clock in the morning you moron. We have a lots of time." He says, closes his open eye and turns aways from his hyperactive boyfriend.

"But Kacchan! I am so excited I can't sleep." Izuku pouts.

"But I can. Let me sleep."

It was quiet for a moment and Katsuki was slowly slipping away into dreamland, welcoming the darkness once again until, "Kacchan." small whisper wakes him up again.

Katsuki grunts.

"Kacchan."

Katsuki hums this time, little annoyed.

Izuku pouting says again, "Kacchan."

Katsuki turns around. "What." His eyes still closed.

"I am hungry." As a proof Izuku's stomach growls.

Bakugo sighs, opens his eyes and looks up to Izuku. "Fine." He says clearly annoyed.

Midoriya smiles and says, "I love you Kacchan."

Katsuki huffs again, murmurs quiet "I love you too" back and gets up from the bed.

"What ya wanna eat nerd?"

Izuku smiles cutely. "Omelette!"

Katsuki moves his tired body and starts to prepare their breakfast at fucking five in the morning. Fuck. Katsuki thinks.

Still tired Bakugo moves slowly but smoothly. When he is done he puts the plate right in front of Izuku who was the whole time sitting behind the kitchen counter, watching him.

"Thank you Kacchan," Izuku whispers and digs in. Katsuki sits next to him and starts to eat as well.

"Is it good?" Blonde boy asks.

"Un. It's amazing Kacchan. Kacchan's cooking's the best!"

"Of course it is!"

They finish their breakfast. Put the dishes away. Brush their teeth. Lay in bed again and cuddle a bit. Later they get up, dress up into their new uniform. Katsuki must help Izuku with his tie, it looks horrible when the nerd tries to do it alone. When Izuku asks where's his, the blondie just shrugs and shows his tie from the pocket saying, "I ain't wearing it." After that boys leave the house.

"Kacchan can you believe? We are in the hero school."

"Yeah I can nerd. Come on, let's go inside."

They enter the big door of class 1-A. They look around the classroom and see one person with glasses already inside. "Hello, my fellow classmates. My name is Iida Tenya. I am-"

Katsuki ignores him and goes to sit at the front line next to the windows. Izuku slowly follows his lead and sits right behind his boyfriend. He awkwardly waves to Iida and mumbles "Midoriya Izuku." He bows his head a bit and points his finger at Katsuki. "Bakugo Katsuki."

Iida acknowledges it and starts talking way too loudly, not caring Katsuki is certainly not interested and Izuku awkwardly looking at him not exactly sure what to do, people tend to avoid him not talk to him. Somebody else enters the classroom, pink girl, literally a pink girl (Izuku stop fanboy-ing), walks in, Iida makes his way towards her. She answers his questions with ease. More people enter the room and it gets loud real quick.

Both Izuku and Katsuki not talking to anybody. Katsuki because he doesn't want to and Izuku is too scared so both boys just sit there and wait for their teacher.

"Good morning. My name is Aizawa Shota. I am your homeroom teacher. Now get up and put your gym clothes. Meet me outside." The man says.

Izuku knows this man. Of course, he knows him. It's EraserHead. His favorite hero!

"What are you waiting for? Hurry." That's the last words their grumpy teacher says and leaves the classroom.

The students of class 1-A hurry and take their gym clothes. They change into it and go after their tired teacher.

The exercises Aizawa gave them went as every year. Eight fitness tests for him to know how capable and creative his students are. The student with the best score on practical exam is going as first. Then the others follow as next. They use their quirks to get the best score they can.

Shota scares them with an expulsion so everybody tries their best in getting the highest score. On the end nobody is expelled.

First placed was Yaoyorozu, second Todoroki, third Bakugo, fourth Iida, fifth Tokoyami, sixth Shoji, seventh to Izuku's surprise was Midoriya, eight was Ojiro, ninth Kirishima, tenth was Ashido, eleventh placed Uraraka, twelfth Koda, thirteenth Sato, fourteenth Asui, fifteenth Aoyama, sixteenth Sero, seventeenth was Kaminari, eighteenth Jiro, nineteenth placed Hagakure and on the last place twentieth was Mineta.

When the results showed some got scared because of the threat their teacher gave them on the beginning of said tests. He reassured them to not worry it was just so they had some more motivation and didn't treat a hero school like a game.

Later they returned to the classroom and Aizawa told them to introduce themselves, he went to sleep in the corner of the classroom and left them to it.

"Okay that's manly!" Kirishima bumped with his fists and went ahead to introduce himself. "My name is Kirishima Ejiro. You can call me Kiri if you want. My quirk allows me to harden myself. I am like a rock! I like making new friends and playing video games, I hope we will be great friends!" He grinned on the end of the sentence and went to sit down others started to introduce themselves as well.

"Way to go Kiri! I am Ashido Mina. Y'all can call me Mina! My quirk is called acid. I can melt almost anything! I really like dancing and listening to music! I hope we can be friends." Mina said and sat back down behind her desk.

They introduced themselves and now Katsuki and Izuku were the only one's left. Some looked at them because it was their turn. Bakugo clicked his tongue but got up anyway. "Name's Bakugo Katsuki. Quirk's called explosion. I can create explosions so don't mess with me 'cause I will blast you fucking up." He said and sat back down.

"Wow Kacchan, that was only one cuss word. Almost thought you will do it without any."

"Shut up nerd. You are next."

"Yes, yes." Izuku said with a smile and shook his head.

"Umm, hello." Izuku mumbled shyly and awkwardly. His confidence left behind his desk. He waved his hand and Katsuki chuckled. He quickly stopped and continued speaking. "My name is Midoriya Izuku. Umm, its nice to meet you all." He bowed and quickly went back to his seat.

"Hey! You didn't say anything other than your name. Unfair!" Somebody called.

"Hah! Say that again! He just didn't want to tell his personal information, what's wrong with that. You didn't need to tell yours if you didn't want to as well! So shut the fuck up before I rip you apart you assholes!" Bakugo shouted angrily. Nobody yelled anything anymore nor moved.

"Okay if you are done you are free to go." Suddenly Aizawa says, standing behind the main desk in front of the class.

Katsuki and Izuku moved first. They-Izuku-said goodbye and left.

"Soo? Kacchan what do you think?"

" 'bout what?"

"UA! Kacchan, UA! What do you think? It's nice right?"

"Ya. Not bad, the extras are though."

"Kacchan they aren't extras, they are our classmates!"

"As I said, extras."

Izuku sighs. "Auntie, uncle we are here!" He opens the door into Bakugou's household.

"Welcome home boys." Masaru meets them in the hallway. "How was your day? Did you make new friends?"

"I don't need nobody but Izuku." Katsuki said casually and walks towards his bedroom. He stops, looks over his shoulder and says "You goin' or what?"

"Huh? Oh-uhh yeah, yeah I-I am going." Izuku stutters and moves as well. This was the first time Katsuki said something like that. It shocked the green haired boy. But he didn't say anything. He knew if he did Kacchan wouldn't say anything like that ever again. Greene just accept it, smiled and locked his hand with Bakugo's.

Katsuki raises an eyebrow, but doesn't say anything. Izuku grins and swings with their locked hands.

--

"Hey." A voice echoes in the darkness.

"Hey." Izuku´s smiles at the familiar feeling in his chest. "Long time no see."

"Yeah."

"You aren't yelling in my head anymore."

"Yeah I am not." Soft words are uttered and a chuckle follows.

Izuku turns around and looks into deep green eyes. An older version of himself is standing in the darkness.

"I am proud of you."

"Yeah, Yeah I am too. I am happy. Thank you. I understand now."

"You do?"

"Yeah. I got the brains."

"Indeed you do." Older Midoriya smiles and comes closer. He hugs young Izuku. "Are you going to be alright?"

"Yeah. Can I ask a question though?"

"Go on, ask away." They unwrap themselves and both look into similar green eyes.

"Are you- Is Kacchan and I- I mean-" Izuku gets interrupted by laugh coming from older Midoriya.

"Are you asking if I date Katsuki?"

"Oh- Uh. Well yeah?"

Midoriya chuckles, "Yes, we started dating in our third year at UA. Katsuki needed to sort his feelings out. I for sure knew I am in love, but Katsuki was in denial for a long time." While speaking, Midoriya had a soft smile glued to his face. It was nice look on him.

Izuku was blushing slightly wearing the same soft smile as older Midoriya. "I have one more question. How is it possible that you were in my dimension? In my time? I am still not sure what you are? Kind of. I am still confused."

"Hmmm. Me too." Midoriya smiled.

"What?" Izuku looked on him, confused.

"I am not sure what happened as well. I know I was visible to you, you could touch me, but others couldn't do either of it. In my time I didn't lose any minute, or maybe I did, but it wasn't the same time as I spent at yours. I went to sleep and I was dreaming about how I would live without so much burden if I was quirkless, I was wishing to live little differently, I didn't want so many problems, I wanted to be a kid, teenager, simple as that. But I couldn't. That's how it started I think." Midoriya sat on the floor.

"I kept dreaming for months and one of these days I dreamed about different life as a kid I woke up at your place. I saw you and I thought it was just a dream, I talked to you. You looked scared and I didn't know why it felt so real. I wanted to go back and I went. I woke up. After few days after that, it happened again and this time something was telling me to trust in my gut feeling and talk to you properly. We did and I spent a lot of time at yours, but when I woke up it was afternoon. Katsuki was waking me up for dinner. I wasn't sleeping for hours, just minutes. I don't know how is that possible. I told Katsuki that I might be going crazy. I told him I was having these dreams, but somehow I knew it wasn't dreams, but I didn't know how to call them. I cried because you were doing great and I wanted that for you, for me, for us. I wanted a childhood where I was thinking it's okay to be myself. Being quirkless isn't a bad thing. I wanted somebody to tell me, but nobody did. I knew for sure I am not changing my childhood. My memories were all the same every time I awoke from this." Midoriya made a gesture with his hands.

"But I had hope that it's real. Katsuki believed it was some power from All For One that was still in me, or maybe some quirk accident that let me jump into a different dimension and until I won't solve my things out in that dimension I will go jumping back and fort in my dreams. Not even once did he tell me I am crazy or it's just dreams. He believed in me immediately. It was nice. I- At that time I immediately knew I am extremely lucky to have him. I was grateful. I still wanted to change your childhood. But this time only for you. I just wanted you to be happy. Even if this change won't have any impact in my dimension, yours would be a big one. I believe I did well. You have grown Izuku. Thank you for staying yourself."

"Thank you too. I am really grateful for what you taught me. I will show to everybody that quirkless doesn't mean useless! I promise!" Izuku had tears in his eyes but he didn't allow them to fall. As quickly as it happened it also disappeared. One second he was listening to Midoriya's side of the story and the next one he was waking up to the new day.

Everything that Midoriya told him might be all just speculation. Nobody is sure what happened. But that's fine. Whatever it was Izuku is glad it happened.

His life won't be easier. His life won't be normal. His life will be full of people who will underestimate him. It will be a lot of people telling him to give up. But Izuku is determined to show the world that quirkless means normal. Weaker quirks, quirks labelled as villainous, or no quirks at all, everybody deserves respect and recognition for their hard work. Just you wait and see. He will show them all!

The end.