Chapter Text
Shouto has blood in his eyes and in his mouth and he has a concussion or ten. This is it. This is the fight. The world on the line, good versus evil, and Todoroki is down.
“C’mon.” He says to himself. “C’mon. C’mon.” He’s trying to stand, but he doesn’t know which way is up , he doesn’t even know who’s still alive.
He hears Bakugou. Hears him scream.
Shouto screams too, screams at himself, punches his useless legs as he tries to make them work, tries to fight, god fucking dammit, just let him fight!
A body lands next to him. He doesn’t know if it's a civilian or a villain or one of his friends; he just knows it's dead from the sound it makes when it hits the ground beside him.
“Shouto.” The voice is close, and it's one he loves. “Shouto, Shouto, can you hear me?”
“Izuku.” He turns towards the voice, but he can’t see his face. But that voice. He sounds… he sounds like a lot of things. Determined, mostly; but Izuku is always determined, especially in dire straits like this. His willpower alone could be his quirk. He also sounds… complicated. Sad-happy, or happy-sad. The way Shouto’s mother sounds when she says she’s proud of him. He sounds brave and beautiful and scared and strong and all the things that he is, because he’s Izuku. “Izuku, are you okay?”
“Shh, I’m okay. You need to lie down. You’re hurt. You’re really hurt, Shouto.” Izuku is worried, worried about him, about the fight.
Shouto shakes his head. “I can fight.” He isn’t leaving. Not when everyone he’s ever fought beside is out there, giving it everything they had. Not when his classmates, his friends, his family ; was fighting. He would rather die alongside them than live knowing he could have done something.
“You need to lie down.” Izuku says again. Shouto can feel one warm hand on his back and one on his chin. “I need you to get out of this one, okay? I have something important I need from you.”
There’s a blast, and rubble rains down on them, smoke rising in the air. He can hear one of the girls - Jiro? No, Hagakure. He hears her cry out. “What’s happening? Is everyone okay?”
“Everything’s gonna be okay, Shouto.” Izuku is crying. Shouto can tell by the tremor of his voice. Izuku’s thumb caresses Shouto’s chin, catching on his bottom lip. “I-I-” His voice shutters, a sob caught in his throat. Shouto reaches out blindly, holding Izuku’s shaking shoulders.
“Izuku.” He says, and he’s scared.
He feels the brush of hair as Izuku shakes his head. “I can win this, Shouto. I can save everyone. I know how to fix this.” His voice is a whisper. “But I need to give you something, first.”
“Izuku, what-whatever it is, you can give it to me later.” Shouto tells him, because Izuku sounds like he’s saying his dying wish. “Just, just wait. Okay? Give it to me after we win.”
“I’m sorry.” Izuku says, and then there’s a warm brush of skin against Shouto’s lips. A soft pressing touch, and then something more when Izuku’s tongue slides past his teeth and into his mouth. Shouto holds tightly to the front of Izuku’s uniform, unyielding as Izuku licks into his mouth.
It lasts an eternity and it's over far too soon. Izuku breaks the kiss, and it makes Shouto feel cold. Izuku’s forehead rests against his for a moment, and they breathe into each other’s mouths.
“One for All.” Izuku whispers. “Ask All Might about One for All.” With that, he kisses the corner of Shoto’s mouth, and then he’s gone.
Number One Hero, Deku, Dies At Age 25.
World Mourns “Fledgeling Symbol of Peace”
“He died saving the world.” Deku’s Final Moments
None of them mentioned how he died alone.
Shouto woke up. He was crying. He didn’t know how his body knew, but the calendar stated it clear as day. Three years to the day that he got this power. Three years to the day he became the number one hero. Three years to the day that he kissed Izuku for the very first and very last time.
He rolled over and picked up his phone. He texted Momo. “Find me something big to fight.”