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It was always there, constantly in front of him, but never bright enough to acknowledge it. A fire, blazing and calling for Izuku's attention, but not loud enough to notice it. A fire nobody could ever really put out -and they've been trying, mamy, many times. It pulled him in, wanting to touch him, give him comfort in the warmth.
(But fire burns, it burns and comsumes, leaving nothing. He knows it better than anyone else, it scares him, he hates (loves) the fire, oh so hot. )
Then, he didn't realise it was a different kind of hot. It didn't burn like explosions, quick and gone is a flash. No, this fire was slowly getting bigger and bigger, until one day it reached its most potential, and consumed.
(Consume, it did. Turned his world up at the axis. And he hated how he loved the feeling, of something new and burning and destructive. Izuku revelled in the fullness, finally feeling like he was whole.)
It happened in a moment, in a moment, faster than anyone could blink. Above a burning forest, standing on a cliffside, facing down a monster -because someone who would rip apart a child and enjoy it would never be human- when he reached out.
(Like an instinct, he let the warm in, and bathed in it. Felt it spreading through him, burning bright and making him hot. Hot and full of adrenaline. Complete.)
Muscular roared as the power slipped out of his fingers, making him cold. Like a piece of his soul had just gone missing, like death had washed him over. For the first time since his childhood, he was scared. Powerlessness does tent to do that, as they say, 'The higher you rise, the harder you fall'.
On the other side, in front of him, the green haired boy -because he way young, too young to live through this many near-death situation, too young to face off against the evil- felt it. It being his muscles growing, ripping through his sclothes exposing his scarred tanned skin.
(He activated the quirk on instinct he didn't know he had. He hated where the power came from, and refused to use it once again. That's what he told his friends and teachers anyways. But in his own room, out of prying eyes, he let it consume him. Like an addiction, he wanted more and more and more.)
Feeling invincible he took a leap and smashed his fist with the villain's jaw from under, sending him up in the sky. A few teeth fell out. Muscular didn't do anything, he couldn't do anything. He believed in 'survival of the fittest', and now he was the weakest link, the prey. And against a hunter -no, a predator- he couldn't do anything. He felt weak, cold, and defeated.
Izuku used his leg to propel a kick to Muscular's side while still in the air. The villain got busted into the cave, which was really more like a hole. The impact got the whole cliff moving, and debris started falling down. The villain probably had a concussion, broken ribs and fractured skill and jaw, he supposed.
Izuku on one side wanted more, wanted to hurt him like he did, wanted to bring justice over him, make him shiver and crawl- but on the other side, in the rational side of his mind, he knew he had to protect Kouta. So he made a decision, with an echanched right arm, One for All and Pump Up working together, he created a strong enough punch in the air that the force would bring the whole mountain down. Right on top of Muscular.
Izuku made a dash for Kouta, who was watching the whole thing in awe and fear. He grabbed the child by the waist and threw himself off there, before the rocks buried him too. Kouta now on his back, he heard him cry. It made him aware of a lot of things.
First, he probably killed someone. Yes, a villain, yes, he had to protect someone, but the thought counts. The action still counts. It happened. He feels sick, but not because he has blood on his hands, but because he can't get himself to regret it.
(Later, he would think everything through in detail, throw up in his trash can and cry. His mother would look at him in pity and make his favourite food. She would place it in his doorstep, knock and walk away. But Izuku couldn't eat, so the pork cutlet bowl would stay there, and slowly go cold from being untouched.)
Secondly, Izuku had to find his classmates. He vaguely remembers Muscular mentioning they were in the forest for Katsuki and him. He had to pass on the message, hoping it wouldn't be too late. If the other villain would be as strong as Muscular, his classmates too would have to go through Hell. And how many villains are in the forest? That's for future Izuku, when he reaches someone- preferably an ally.
Thirdly, he has to comfort Kouta. He just watched him kill a man. He's not stupid enough to think he can chalk it up with a 'it wasn't what it looked like', he knew better. Kouta was intelligent for his age. But, it was the same villain who murdered his parents, so maybe it wouldn't be too bad.
When he saw Aizawa, he felt relieved, but eyed the man with suuspicion. He didn't know what kind of quirks the villain had, so it was only logical. His teacher seemed to do the same.
Shota had no idea how it went so wrong in so little time. He was teaching the remedial students, and let the Pussycats host the test of courage. He thought finally the kids would be kids again, having fun, not having to think about villains and danger, but of course, they didn't have the luck. He made sure to keep the location hidden, only disclosed with his collagues, boss and the Pussycats of course.
He instructed Vlad King to protect the student in there, while he was heading outside, only to face first with a villain. A face held together by staples, prominent purple scars etched below his eyes and jaw. Turquoise piercing eyes met his own just as blue fire started from his hands -it quickly died down.
He used his capture to bound the villain, throwing him on the ground. "Well, I guess you are a Pro, after all,", he said with a wicked grin. The Erasure Hero stomped on him and demanded information, when the villain turned into black sludge under him.
Shota cursed under his breath, and ordered some students to go into the facility. He decides to head into the forest. He sees and feels the burning wood turning to ash as he runs. An ugly feelings takes him over, making him regret the whole sumemr training camp, especially with the League on the rise. If they managed to attack them in a private facility on U.A. property, why couldn't they do it again? The idea of someone giving out information passes his mind, but he quickly ignores it in favor of focusing on heavy footsteps heading his way.
He readies his capture weapon, taking it in his hands when he sees Midoriya. Midoriya, covered in blood with a shaking Kouta on his back. He feels relieved, at least two of the kids are safe.
"Are you injured?" he asks. If he's injured, he can't continue alone, if he's not, he can pass on a message he wanted delivered to Mandalay. Her telepathy quirk would do wonders now, if only he could reach her.
Midoriya shakes his head in a dismissal way, then says: "None of this blood is mine, Mr. Aizawa." he says in a way that makes him think there's more to the story, but he doesn't pry. Not now, anyway. He has more urgent matters, and if a villain is a bloody plump right now? Well, at least his student and Kouta are safe.
Shota makes a move to get the child from Izuku. Izuku quickly complies, and now Kouta is secured on his back. "I'll get him back to the facility. Delay a message for Mandalay: 'On the name of Pro Hero Eraserhead, all students are authoroized for combat and quirk usage.' Don't get yourself killed, problem child." Midoriya nods, and heads off. He can only hope the problem child can fend for himself.
(And he hates how it felt like sending a child to war -but that's exactly what is was, wasn't it? But he ignores the feeling and makes a move. He doesn't have time for feelings, he has to get Kouta back to safety.)
Izuku gets to the clearing and sees someone with a heteromorph quirk overpowering Mandalay. He quickly activates his quirk -One for All- and lunges at the blade... made of blades? He doesn't think it's that practical, but everyone has their preferences. The blades get loose and scatter on the ground. After getting in a kick to the schocked man's side, he quickly reassures her that her nephew is safe and relays his teacher's message. He also includes the info that he got from Muscular; they are after Kacchan.
The woman probably used her quirk then, he doesn't know. When he quickly analyses the situation, he made sure they would be alright before running back to the forest to get Kacchan to safety. Kacchan was his priority, he had to focus. Activating both quirks, he runs much faster than he originally could with only One for All.
...
Seeing Kacchan in the villain's grasp, his own throat feeling like its closing up, shutting out his access to air as his lungs burn. Izuku's instinct are pounding against his brain, trying to yell at him. His eyes full of hatred, a deep rabid feeling he wants to let out is making its way up to the surface. He doesn't hear anything, doesn't see anything else only his childhood best friend with his throat around a burned man's hand. The blonde's eyes are tainted with fear, something he doesn't let anyone see, ever. Izuku only focused on Kacchan. He reached out with his arm, even if there were meters between them, he reached out. He felt his light, bright and loud, screaming to him. Izuku only focused on Kacchan. The light bloomed and a fire started, hot fire dancing waltz, the music being the boy's heartbeat.
And dance it did, switching partners in the middle of the song.
And while the villains kidnapped Kacchan, Izuku smiled at tandem with a certain Symbol of Evil.
The class worried. Worried for their classmate who is now with the villains, who are doing who knows what. Worried for Todoroki, who got silent again, just like at the start of the year, he closed off. And lastly, worried for Midoriya, due to him laughing while returning back to the forest empty-handed. It was the schock of seeing his friend kidnapped and not being able to do anything, they chalked it up as that. The small still standing group of 1-B students shied away from him, some scrunched up their nose, whilst 1-A looked at him in pity. Izuku didn't want their pity. He wanted to throw up, lock himself in, hate himself for being giddy and feeling almost high.
After all, he had two new quirks now. When alone, he lit up Explosion and watched fascinated the pop-pop-pop in his palms.