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Tonight, unlike all the other draining nights, Izuku is finally met with a quiet night of patrol. After a long day of fighting crime and saving people, he’s allowed to sleep. Endeavor, Hawks, Best Jeanist, and even All Might, agreed to take patrol for the night.
Before leaving, All Might ordered him to rest, worry painted over the retired hero’s sunken face. As his aura began to leave the room, Izuku could’ve sworn he saw his mentor’s smile fade into a frown. He tried not to think about it too much.
So now he was left, alone, lying on a futon that seemed a bit uncomfortable for him at the moment. Which was strange, since All Might bought him the best he could find. This is the first time Izuku has used it. He rarely stopped to rest, too worried about the world around him to even let himself blink for a minute. So he thought it would be much easier to sleep with how heavy his eyes were. Yet, all he could do was toss and turn as his heavy lids screamed at him, along with his aching body.
A grunt escaped his lips as a hum while he sat up, rubbing the back of his neck. His shoulders began rolling backwards, trying to ease the tension buried between his shoulder blades. The pain only got worse with every roll, earning a strained noise from its victim.
Maybe a walk would help ease his mind...
Complying, he allowed his bare feet to touch the cold white tiles of the ground. For someone who lives alone, All Might’s guest room sure is taken well care of. Almost like he was waiting for company.
After a few relieving stretches, he moved to the closet across the room, his hands moving numbly to slide the brown wooden door open.
His now clean suit caught his attention the instant the door opened. The closet was pretty big for someone of Izuku’s caliber, it stretched about as much the length of 2 All Mights. His room back home, not to mention the one at the dorm, couldn’t compare. Not even both combined could hold much space.
Izuku blinked a couple of times, taking in the closet and it’s wonders. Standing there, his feet practically planted themselves in place, calling said spot as their new pot to grow in. Finally, his dark emerald eyes landed back onto his hero suit. Green staring back into his soul. If he had laser eyes, his suit would have holes bore into it by now, he hummed at the thought.
The suit seemed so...lonely. No other clothes to accompany it.
He shook his head, cursing at himself as he forced his scarred arm to grasp onto his costume.
He shouldn’t be thinking about...them . They were doing good without him. Besides, he left for their safety, didn’t he?
Yeah...
His fingers brushed over the fabric of his costume, a grimace forming on his lips. Was he the right choice for this job? To be the last holder? To save the entire world from a mad man like AFO?
“Can I do this?..” His thoughts echoed into the room, no one there to hear it’s cry for comfort. To hear his cries.
He let a sigh grace past his slips, his eyes closing for a split second before he pushed back on his heels, and turned to head to the bathroom that accompanied the room. Even the room had some company , he bitterly chuckled at the notion.
Now Deku , he crouched on a random roof of a building. He didn’t know which building he punctured his landing with, and he honestly didn’t care. Deku pulled his mask off, causing it to flap behind him.
His eyes painted over the crumbled up city beneath him. It felt like it was only yesterday that the many civilians were filling up it’s dusty void with their many cheerful chatter. Children complaining to their parents about something they wanted so badly. Adults of all kinds rushing to work. Some people on their cellphones, with a serious expression on their faces, a face that was ready for anything. Anything, but their potential demise.
His dull eyes began to spark with an idea, way before his brain could catch on. As soon as his eyes glanced in the direction he knew all too well, his brain caught up, quick to shut down the idea and light in his eyes.
He shouldn’t. It’s not a good idea. Then again, if he did, it would probably help reassure him. It would make it just a tad easier for him to rest, and he really needed that rest, too.
On the other hand, he feared that if he saw them, he wouldn’t be able to pry his eyes away, pry himself away . Not again. It would be much harder than last time, that’s for sure.
His heart longed for that reassurance, and a selfish part of him did too. His mind, on the other hand, retorted and screamed at him otherwise.
He groaned at the annoying inner battle he was having. His hands brushed through his messy hair. Hair that he didn’t care to brush before setting off, not like it made much of a difference.
No matter how much he tried to ignore that tugging feeling of his heart, no matter how many buildings he hopped to keep his mind occupied- he just couldn’t shake that feeling . At this point, it was as loud as the very classmates he so desperately wanted to see again.
After landing a bit too sloppily for his liking, he carefully positioned himself on the edge of a building, his legs carefully dangling over the edge. He allowed his hands to steady him, gripping a bit too tightly to the ledge, but he didn’t pay it any mind.
“ You know we aren’t stopping ya, right kid?”
He took in a shaky breath. Before any of this happened, he’d normally be startled by the 5th’s presence, but it wasn’t much of a surprise anymore, no, more of a warm welcome.
Freeing the breath he held hostage, he answered the gruff voice, his eyes closed, imaging what he’d look like right now. Deku imagined Banjo’s left leg bending on the ledge, an arm lazily hung over said leg, as he leaned forward, his eyes peering over the city. He also imagined the man with a small frown apparent on his lips. It seemed fitting from the sound of his oddly gentle, gruff voice.
“I know. I’m just-“
“-Scared.”
His eyes popped open, looking around for the oh so comforting voice.
“Fear, it’s definitely one that tends to rule over the best of us.”
The smooth voice spoke again, almost feeling like a warm hug to his ears. Almost .
Coming to his senses, his eyes fluttered shut again, imagining the new, but not unfamiliar, company that joined them.
The woman stood there, her hands on her hips, and her chest puffed out. Her soft eyes would glance over to him as she continued her beautiful melody. Her smile never leaves her lips, not even a hint of a falter. Her black cape whooshed miraculously behind her in the wind, as hair melted into the cape, tricking the eyes' ability to tell each apart. Besides the white and black colors clashing, of course. The cape was only the cherry on top to her stance, confidence, and beauty. She was definitely breathtaking. Reminded him so much of her .
From the gentle eyes, down to the confident stance, and all the way back up to the bright smile. Both were blinding to look at, yet so warm and welcoming, causing anyone to want to be closer. Just their presence alone could send a wave of comfort and relief in an instant. That alone , always caused Izuku to smile uncontrollably.
Even their quirks were similar, he smiled sadly at the thought, his heart aching.
Izuku jumped out of his thoughts, the gentle woman had laid a hand on his shoulder, earning his attention. She was looking at him so earnestly, as if she was telling him, “Go to them. Go to her .”
"T here will never be a better chance than now. All For One isn’t one to wait, once he sees his chance, he’ll take it and run. This is your chance, so go.”
Izuku’s face formed a question, which she replied without a second thought, shooting down his worries.
“Toshinori will understand. Besides, we’re right here with you.”
Izuku’s eyes fluttered open, looking down at his fist opening and closing. A frown formed upon his lips, but slowly quirked up just a bit as he felt a comforting squeeze on his shoulders.
Without a sound, he nodded, a determined smile spreading across his battered and worn down face.
Right. He was going to see them. Just a quick glance is all he’ll need. That’ll be just enough to boost him, then he can swiftly head back without being spotted.
Iron soles skidded across gritty concrete that molded a balcony. His balcony.
The hero tried his best to land as gently as he could, only causing the tiniest of screeches against the pavement under his soles. He’ll take that as a success!
Regaining his posture, his eyes glanced around, his hands grasping the edge of the balcony. It didn’t seem like anyone was awake, to his surprise. Not like he’d want them to be, it was 2 in the morning, after all. Besides, he’d rather not catch anyone’s attention. Though, something inside him knotted, one of his hands moving to crumble the fabric of his beaten up hero costume, as if to steady himself.
He shook his head, his bangs brushing against his forehead. Callused hands pushed him away from the ledge, his body twisting around to face his room for the first time in a while. He took the sliding glass door in, it’s handle taunting him.
As his hand started to raise subconsciously, falling victim to the door’s taunts, it halted right above the handle. His eyes blinked a few times, wondering if what he really saw before him, wasn't just a fragment of his imagination.
Before him was a figure, a figure that never left his thoughts. A figure who he last wanted to see, yet, yearned to see the most. A figure who always told him to “Do your best!”
The hand that hovered above the handle, fisted, hesitated, as if the handle was a trap. A trap, leading to something that’s never left him, even when he left it. Left her .
The bells of her laughter danced throughout his head. Her bright smile, blinding him for the millionth time. He wanted to touch that brightness. The light she projected with every smile, lighting up a room in an instant. He wanted to touch it so bad. To catch it. Yet, every time he tried, he hesitated, scared he’d damage the light. Scare it away.
She was right in front of him, just through this glass. This thin sheet of glass! All he had to do was open it. His eyes flickered to her, he studied her form. The girl was hunched over his desk, leaving him to assume she fell asleep without noticing. A soft smile graced his lips for a split second, allowing him to believe that this was just another normal day. They just finished up a study session, and he went to get some air, excusing himself before doing so. He’d hear her yawn out an acknowledgement. And just as he’s about to walk back in, he spots her dozing off over her notebooks. The same soft smile gracing his lips, thoughts of waking her, giving her a blanket, or carrying her to her room, would go over in his mind. Mutters upon mutters, along with his face flustering with every thought, and every glance back at her gentle, fragile, figure.
His smile faded just as fast as reality came crashing back down on him. Internally grumbling to himself, his eyes shut for a split second, his hand taking that step he was always so afraid to take.
Locked. Locked out. Of course.
A frustrated sigh escaped his lips, as if it was waiting on standby. Not even the universe thought he was worthy of stepping near that light. Not that he blamed it. He didn’t even deserve that light to begin with.
He was so focused on her sleeping form, that he didn’t even realize what was newly painted upon her face. As his gaze fell upon her resting face, his heart dropped. Her soft eyes were dusted with bags under them, a match to his. He could spot tear stains as well when the moonlight hit just right. A bitter taste formed within his mouth, cursing at himself. His left hand gripped the wrist of his scarred arm.
How could he hurt something so soft and caring as her. He knew she was strong, and could face anything. Even so, he knew even she had her limits. He just wasn't aware that him leaving, was one of them. At the thought, his face scrunched up. He really didn’t deserve her.
His eyes never left her, flitting between her breathing, and her pained face. Sometime in the midst of watching her, his scarred hand placed itself against the glass, leveling itself as if her soft cheek were in his palm.
A buzz spiked in his head, causing him to wince slightly. His head snapped away from her reluctantly, looking off into the night. Villains never sleep, do they? He grumbled to himself. His head turned back to the girl giving life to his room, a knowing frown falling on his lips.
Another buzz . This one hurt just a bit more than the first, but this time his body didn’t react to it out of pain, but out of annoyance.
He jumped on the ledge of his balcony, glancing back one last time. He’s accepted it by now, he’ll never be able to catch that light no matter how fast he’d get. No matter how much he’d master Black Whip, it’ll always slip between his grasp. If he were being honest, he was okay with that. If it meant someone else got to hold that light, even if it hurt him, caused him to feel selfish, he really didn’t mind. He just hopes they’d know they are lucky to have someone as bright as her. He knew he was. He always did.
A third buzz yanked him back under. His hand tugged at the front of his cape, pulling it over his mouth, taking in the air around him for a few minutes to regain his focus. Afterwards, his hand dropped the front of the cape, letting it slowly slide down to rest just a bit above his chest. Eventually his hands clasped onto his withering hood, pulling it over his head, along with his mouth guard.
“Right.” He muttered to himself, leaping off the balcony with a bit too much force then he should’ve used, leaving a dent similar to a fossil.
Being there with her helped a lot. Unfortunately, he couldn’t help but feel that numbness creep back up on him and take the reins of his whole entire being once again. This time, it wasn’t planning on letting go, and he wasn't sure if he had the strength in him to fight back.
He didn't want to fight back.