Chapter Text
Fluffy snow covered the ground as Izuku stepped out to take out the trash. His breath clouded up, and snowflakes tickled at his nose. This was the third time this week that it had snowed, and after taking in his new brother, Tomura, he was glad to be experiencing Christmas together. Taking a confident step forward, he slipped and slammed into the floor.
Maniacal laughter rang through the air before a hand extended before him.
"You're such a loser, Izuku. C'mon, get up."
Izuku took Bakugo's hand, pulling himself back up. He could have technically picked himself up, but seeing his best friend offer him a hand was still so magical to him, so he had to take what he was given before the hand was yanked away.
"Thanks. What are you doing around here, though? I thought you weren't going to take a break during the holidays."
"I wasn't, but the old hag insisted. You know how my mom is— she wanted me to stay home," Bakugo said, shrugging and glancing up at the apartment building.
"How are things going with Handsy up there?"
"Don't call him that… but it's going well. He's settling in so far, but it's gonna take a while for him to stop flinching so much."
They shared a moment of silence, and Izuku's mind wandered to the war. It was complete chaos, and many people had been left without homes. But his mom was lucky enough to have been one of the few whose apartment wasn't destroyed. This holiday season was the first after the war, and he would be staying for a few weeks leading up to Christmas.
"So? Is he cooperating?"
"Oh…" Izuku sighed, "Yeah, he's… trying. But it's a little difficult."
"He's a grinch."
"I wouldn't say 'grinch' just… not that excited about Christmas."
And that was true. Tomura didn't outwardly say he hated Christmas (to Izuku's face), but he didn't like the idea of decorating, or making cookies, or presents. Ok, he hates Christmas. But so what? Izuku and his mother were determined to help him enjoy the holidays. Maybe he and the villains just never celebrated.
"Oh, right! How's Toga?"
"She's settling in." Bakugo itched his ear and flicked the residue off. Gross. "She and Pink Cheeks have been going out on dates around this time. Speaking of dates… would you be open to going to a good ramen shop with me?"
…
"IT'S HAPPENING! I mean… yes. I would love to. How about we go on Friday?"
"That's great. See ya, nerd." Bakugo waved before leaving, almost slipping on the ice and cursing as he stomped the rest of the way.
Izuku stood there, watching his breath cloud up and feeling his heart pound uncontrollably. He scored a date with Kaachan…. He has a date! He ran back home, barely catching himself on the railing of the stairs before slipping again.
Tomura had always hated Christmas. He never received presents, he never ate gingerbread cookies, and he never got to believe in the magic of the season. So he hid away in his room. It was still bare, just a mattress and a desk. Not that he needed anything else at the moment.
"Tomura, could you help me set the table?" Inko called out.
He scoffed, getting up from the mattress.
"I'm going! Just give me a minute."
Tomura pulled a hoodie over his head and walked out, turning the corner and into the kitchen. "Yes, Mrs Midoriya?"
"I just need help setting the table, and remember, you can call me Inko."
He nodded, picking up the dishes and cutlery. Christmas music was playing from the Alexa that Izuku had insisted on buying for his mother. Once the table was set to Inko's liking, Tomura turned to go back to the room. But just as he had his back to the front door, it opened.
"Oh, Izuku, I'm glad you're back— What happened to you?! You're covered in snow…" Inko rushed up to him, brushing the snow off his coat.
"I'm fine, Mom. I just slipped."
"You're not hurt, are you?"
Tomura grimaced at the sight and stormed back to his room, even more annoyed than before.
It's not that he hated them. Of course, Izuku used to be his enemy. But he also saved him from All for One. His feelings were just complicated. Too complicated to stay in this apartment and have to sit for dinner, so he looked through his few contacts and settled for Twice.
Twice was waiting on a park bench when Tomura approached him.
"Shigaraki. It's good to see you, but I guess I should call you Midoriya now, huh? Bad to see you. You're Shigaraki."
"Hey, Twice. It's good to see you, too."
He sat beside him, sighing as he looked to the older man.
"Yeah, and it's just Jin, now."
"Yeah… Jin. And I guess I am a Midoriya now… but I'm not used to it, so call me whatever you want. We're… sort of friends."
"Alright then, Tomura it is. How's life? I don't wanna know."
"Life is… ok. I don't think I like being normal now. It's boring."
"It's better than being a villain. Trust me, I regret where my life led me," Bubaigawara said.
Tomura's eyebrows raised. He had always assumed that Bubaigawara loved being a villain, so he was the least likely person he expected to hear that from.
"Really? How come?"
"Well… my life was hard before. It still is. It's easy. But I'm grateful we were given a second chance instead of being arrested."
Those words stuck with Tomura. Bubaigawara was right, of course. They were given a second chance. Currently, Tomura could be in a maximum-security prison. However, he was given the chance to reintegrate with society.
"Yeah, I guess you have a point…"
"… Ok, I see what this is. Go back home and eat with the Midoriyas."
A startled gasp escaped Tomura. "How did you know?"
"I had a hunch. You're easy to read."
Watching as Bubaigawara stood and walked off, Tomura decided to go back home.
"Oh, Tomura, you're home. You're here just in time for dinner." Inko was beaming at the table, already setting up the food as she watched the front door open.
"Yeah… let me— uh… help. With that. Let me help with that." He picked up the pot for her and finished setting up the table.
"Oh, well… thank you."
Now seated together at the table, Inko and Izuku looked at each other in shock before smiling softly at Tomura sitting in his seat.
"Thank you for the food."