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Part 2 of Tales of The Fortuitous Five
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Fanfiction 𝑰 Deem Worthy Of The Name, Justice for Momo: Canon Let Her Down But These Works Do Not, Deku's Multiverse of Madness
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2023-04-06
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2024-04-08
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5/?
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Fall of An Empire

Summary:

Four years ago, Izuku Midoriya's biggest challenge was finding his self-worth. Now he and his friends have taken on their biggest goal yet: taking on the Hero Public Safety Commission and reshaping society for the better.

Notes:

What's this? Another story from me? Hi everyone it's been a while. I've been workshopping this chapter for a few months now. I knew I wanted to write this ever since I finished Unique Perspective, I just didn't know how to start. This story probably won't be as much as a priority as UP was, so don't expect fast updates.

Chapter 1: Chapter 1

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Dekiru, Uravity, Ingenium, Frost Fire, and Creati; heroes known and revered all across Japan. Vanquishers of the Demon Lord All For One, the Shie Hassaikai, and the Meta Liberation Army, the top five UA graduates of their year, young founders of the newly opened agency Elysium...

And current bane of the Hero Public Safety Commission's existence.

"What is this?" hissed President Samui, tempted to rip the document in her hands in half. Never in her life had she met a more irritating group of freshly graduated heroes. The only one to come close was All Might with his annoyingly righteous ideals, but he had also been caught up in the death of his mentor and vengeance for All For One. He had been easy enough to manipulate.

Unfortunately, the self-proclaimed Fortuitous Five had no such distractions. And because of a few... 'incidents' while they were in school, they seemed to have a vendetta against the Commission. Just a few weeks ago, they had appealed Lady Nagant's sentence. It had been denied by them, of course, but they were likely to attempt to bring it in front of a judge.

(Samui would prefer to avoid that if possible. While she was confident they would win, Dekiru's mother happened to be renowned lawyer Inko Midoriya. The woman was known for digging up every shed of evidence she could get her hands on and there were some things she would prefer to keep from public knowledge.)

And now this? What could they possibly want now?

Her timid assistant adjusted his glasses. "A lawsuit," he informed her, ducking behind his clipboard.

Samui's jaw clenched. "For?" she demanded. Those foolish children had no idea who they were messing with.

"T-The Elysium Agency is suing Enji Todoroki for child abuse, child neglect, and domestic abuse," he informed her, shrinking in his seat.

"Hm." Samui relaxed marginally, leaning back into her chair. It was a pity, but Enji had dug his own grave. She had warned him that the lengths he went for his petty rivalry with All Might would come back to bite him one day, but he had refused to listen. Now that there were new, promising young heroes cropping up she didn't have much use for him. His short run as the number one was coming to an end. She didn't think they needed to waste the resources defending him.

"So, Endeavor sent us this to ask for help?" she questioned.

But her assistant gulped. "No, ma'am," he answered. "They're suing us for aiding and abetting."

OoOoOo

"I don't know, Izuku," said Momo Yaoyorozu as the two of them walked down the hallway of their agency. Her heels clicked rapidly, a testament to her anxious thoughts. "Maybe we should have waited. We still need to work on Nagant and Shoto isn't all that eager either..."

Izuku Midoriya regarded his friend with a warm smile. "I think it's a great strategy," he answered cheerfully. "They can't focus on both cases."

It wasn't common knowledge, but they had discovered that the Hero Public Safety Commission was losing money. Benefactors were pulling back their funding because of the incident with the Meta Liberation Army. The incredulity of mere teenagers defeating an enemy that the pro heroes could not left a sour taste in many donors' mouths. Momo's own family- one of their biggest contributors- had completely cut them off.

Momo sighed. "While that may be true," she conceded. "I worry about your mother. She's taking on a huge job facing the HPSC."

Izuku chuckled. "Between you and me, I'm pretty sure she likes the challenge," he replied.

At nineteen, Izuku hadn't changed too much. He was taller and more muscular, of course, and he had been heckled by Ochako into getting an undercut. Other than that, his hair was still a mess of green curls atop his head and his smile was still bright. His costume was mostly the same, but he had traded his mask for a pair of red goggles. The classic red and green were also a bit darker and he had added a black cape.

Momo at eighteen was still a few centimeters taller than her friend and had traded her ponytail in for a short bob that nearly reached her shoulders. Her costume now consisted of a one piece that came down to her thighs and an open back. She had gotten rid of the bookshelf, covered her chest, and acquired knee pads after urging from both Tenya and Izuku for safety reasons.

The two made it to the office they shared with the other three members of their team. Ochako was on the couch surveying a stack of papers while she ate. Tenya was talking loudly on the phone, unable to refrain from the chopping motions his arms tended to make. Shoto wasn't there, presumably on a mission.

Ochako's eyes narrowed in irritation and she threw her pen at Tenya. "Quiet down, would you?" she snapped. "I can't concentrate."

Tenya covered the mouthpiece of his phone. "If you had finished that work weeks ago like I told you to, Ochako, you wouldn't be saddled with doing all of it now," he shot back with a glare.

Izuku snorted, raising his arms in a placating motion. "Friendly fire," he quipped, amused at the squabble. Tenya and Ochako were incredibly close, but they also butt heads more than anyone else. At first it had worried him, but it was soon clear that it was all in good fun. Nothing like his 'friendship' with Bakugou.

Ochako had grown into a beautiful young woman with long brown hair that Izuku adored. She was still the shortest of the group and her hero costume hadn't undergone any significant changes. It was accented with darker pink and was a lot more sleek than it had been in her younger years.

Likewise, Tenya was still the tallest and most muscular. He had actually grown his hair out a bit, slicking it back out of his face. His costume was largely unchanged, with only a few modifications resembling his brother Tensei's design. He wore contact lenses on missions, but still kept his glasses for when he was in civilian clothing.

Ochako's face immediately brightened at the sight of them. "Izuku, Momo," she greeted. "You sent the lawsuit already? Great!" She grinned. "Man, I'd give anything to see the Commission's faces right now! Five bucks says they shit themselves."

"I have to admit," said Tenya, nudging his glasses up his nose. "When the two of you said you had a plan to take out the HPSC, I had my doubts. But, as usual, your strategy is foolproof."

Izuku smiled. "I wouldn't say that," he replied modestly. "There's a good chance we won't be able to get the Commission with Endeavor's case." His green eyes glinted as his smile became a little more sinister. "But, they'll still have to spend money they don't have on their lawyers even if they're found not guilty. And when we bring Nagant's case in front of a judge..."

Ochako nodded. "They'll either have to spend even more money or let her out," she finished, smirking. Her friends could be truly diabolical when they wanted to be. She would hate to be the Commission right now.

He winked, but somehow missed the light flush to her cheeks at the action. "Exactly," he confirmed. Of course, this was only the beginning; he and Momo had around twelve more steps. "Where's Sho?"

Tenya's lips pressed into a firm line. "Tatarus," he answered.

Izuku nodded, immediately understanding. A big part of their plan relied on Dabi's cooperation. He had mellowed somewhat over the years after the revelation that he was Touya Todoroki, but he was still volatile; especially with Shoto. Izuku was taking the risk that Dabi hated Endeavor more than he resented Shoto. And it was a pretty big risk, but a necessary one.

Fuyumi refused to testify. Natsuo had agreed, but the Commission's defense was likely to wave off the neglect he suffered as minimal since he was still fed and healthy. No one knew whether or not Rei Todoroki would testify, but the truth was that she couldn't. Her years in the psychiatric ward would undoubtedly make her an 'unreliable narrator.' It was infuriating, but there was nothing they could do about it right now.

They needed Dabi's testimony.

Momo sighed. "I wish he would have waited for us," she said wistfully. Personally, she hated the fact that Shoto's older brother had so much contempt for him. She understood that being raised by Endeavor had messed him up, but none of that was Shoto's fault; he had been a baby! It seemed cruel to let him face Dabi alone.

Izuku gave her a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. "I think this is something he feels like he has to do himself," he told her. He felt similarly to Momo at times, but he also knew that Shoto was... different than they were. Nothing Dabi did or said really phased him. Izuku suspected that he understood Dabi in a way no one else could.

But Izuku knew more than anyone how dangerous that could be. He had promised himself to pull Shoto back if he went in too deep.

"We can head over there now," he suggested. "I've been meaning to visit Tomura anyway."

Izuku had never stopped visiting the League of Villains after their incarceration. They had been angry and hurt at first, but as the years went on they had truly begun to reform. Spinner, Magne, and Toga had even recently been let out on parole. Twice had been transferred to mental rehab and was doing well. The doctors said he was making great progress.

No one knew where Mr. Compress was. Since the day Izuku was rescued, he had been unaccounted for. He hadn't gotten to talk to the man all those years ago, but he hoped he was doing alright and staying out of trouble.

Tomura had taken a while to come around, almost as long as Dabi. But after All For One had broken out of Tartarus and left him behind, he had finally begun to see the villain's manipulation for what it was. Izuku suspected that the Demon Lord had secretly given Tomura Decay; the way that it affected his body wasn't natural.

And it was just a little too coincidental that All For One just happened to come across the last surviving member of Nana Shimura's family.

Momo grimaced, checking her watch. "I have a meeting with Nezu in an hour," she said regrettably. It amused Izuku to this day that their former principal had roped her into becoming a consultant for the school. "You'll have to go without me, I'll probably be there for a while."

Ochako stuck out her tongue. "Sucks to suck." She narrowly dodged the plastic ball Momo chucked at her before she left the room.

OoOoOo

It was true that Izuku was going to visit Tomura. But first, he had another stop to make. He waited patiently as the guards eyed him warily. It wasn't the first time he had been under scrutiny and it certainly wouldn't be the last. Hell, he was surprised he had even been let in at all, he half expected the guards to have orders to shoot him on sight.

Finally, the person he had been looking for made an appearance.

Izuku knew of Lady Nagant. She had been a hero when he was a kid, a sniper with an aim that made Snipe himself jealous. Offiicially, she had been arrested for killing other heroes. But it hadn't been until a few years ago that Momo had uncovered the truth.

Lady Nagant had murdered the former HPSC president. Why? He had a few guesses.

As it turned out, the HPSC had coerced her into doing their dirty work behind the scenes. Assassinating anyone who didn't fit the world they were trying to mold. Instead of correcting the problem, they erased it. Covered it up.

Izuku could only imagine how Nagant had cracked under the pressure. If Hawks was anything to go by, heroes enlisted as children by the commission came out worse for wear.

Rare anger flashed hot under his skin; they were just as bad as All For One.

"Dekiru."

Izuku's ears burned as her voice met them. She sounded cold, hardened. This was more than someone who had spent years in prison; this was someone who had lost faith in everything, including herself. He looked up at her cool violet eyes. "Lady Nagant," he greeted with a smile.

Nagant sat across from him, staring straight into his eyes as she sat across from him. "An up-and-coming hero hopeful gracing me with his presence," she drawled. "What do you want, kid?"

Izuku beamed, undeterred by her sarcasm. "I want to make a deal," he answered cheerfully.

Notes:

I have an unhinged love for Lady Nagant. I have beef with Grammarly, so this story will probably go unedited for a while. Also like the tags said Bakugou won't be in this story much if at all and I for one am glad to get away from him. Just DekuSquad wholesomeness and badassery.

Anyway, I hope you liked it and please review!

Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Notes:

Please enjoy!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Though she complained about it, Momo really did enjoy being Nezu's consultant. The principal was as sadistic as ever, but he was still as brilliant as he had always been. She liked picking his brain. And the new school policy was one she was particularly impressed by. It seemed like everything that Izuku went through was being taken into serious consideration and it spelled a great future for hero hopefuls.

It also didn't hurt that Nezu was supplying her with intel in exchange.

Momo's eyes scanned the document in her hand. "I like the modifications to the entrance exam," she noted. It relied much more on strategic prowess than brute strength like the previous exam. She especially liked the change that a candidate had to earn at least ten rescue points to be accepted.

Nezu looked pleased. "I had a feeling you would," he replied cheerfully. "I kept both you and Midoriya in mind when I created it. I don't think I've ever had brighter students."

She raised an eyebrow. "As much as I appreciate the compliment," she said. "I get the sense that there's something you're not telling me."

Her old principal hummed, taking a sip of his tea. "I can't say anything nice about my former students?" he asked innocently. At her blank look, he chuckled. "It's nothing bad, per se. Just that the five of you are playing a dangerous game. Heroes who oppose the Commission have been known to go missing. Be careful."

Momo knew that, of course. It had been what made her and Izuku hesitant in the first place. They didn't mind the risks to themselves, but they didn't want to put their friends in danger. Tearing down the Commission was the only way to make things better for everyone, yet neither of them thought it was worth losing their friends, their essential family.

Fortunately, they had a failsafe. The HPSC could make Izuku and Ochako disappear without a trace, maybe even Shouto. But her and Tenya's families had too much power and influence for them to be able to try anything. Their families would raise hell if anything happened to them and that was a fight the Commission didn't want.

She smiled. "We will," she promised. She was quiet for a moment, then, "Principal Nezu?"

"Yes?"

Momo tilted her head to the side. "How likely is Izuku to be able to convince Lady Nagant to join our agency?" She tried not to be insulted when her principal began to chuckle maniacally.

OoOoOo

When she finally got to Tartarus, Shouto was walking out. The expression of his face was extremely grim, even if he tried to hide it behind his usual stoic expression. "Hey," said Momo gently, putting a hand on his shoulder. He was much taller than her now and with slightly longer hair. His hero suit was now armored and lit up by his two different sides. She was glad Mei had talked him into upgrading it. "How'd it go?"

Shouto looked at her and his bi-colored eyes softened. "I know that he wants to bring down Endeavor," he said carefully. "But I think he hates me just as much. I really can't tell if he'll want to help us or not."

Momo frowned and squeezed his shoulder. She knew Shouto wanted to help his older brother. But she also knew it was nearly impossible to save people who didn't want to be saved. The last thing she wanted was for him to get burned.

She pressed her lips together firmly; maybe they were approaching Dabi with too much compassion. Maybe they needed to fight fire with fire, just like all those years ago.

Before she could voice this, Izuku walked out looking sheepish. "Well?" asked Shouto. "Did she say yes?"

Izuku grinned. "More or less."

Momo raised an eyebrow. "She told you to fuck off, didn't she?"

"Language," tutted Izuku, chuckling. "But yeah, this might take a while. Not that I expected her to be on board right away." He took examined Shouto's face. "I'm guessing you had less luck, Sho?"

A single nod was his answer.

Momo frowned; she hated when her friends were upset. She pressed her forehead to Shouto's shoulder. "You don't have to do it anymore," she assured him. "Izuku and I will talk to him. You shouldn't have to deal with him."

Izuku nodded, holding his arm. "Take a step back if you need to," he agreed. "We can handle it."

Shouto was silent as he looked at the two of them. "Why does he hate me?" he finally asked, voice low. There was something so vulnerable in his eyes that she had never seen before. "I... I was in pain for years because of the old man. He had Fuyumi and Natsuo, I was alone."

Momo's heart throbbed and she wrapped her arms around him. Shouto wasn't going to cry- he never did- but she knew there was a part of him that wanted to; the hurt kid who had never fully recovered from his father's abuse. She felt his heartbreak almost as though it were her own, but there was something else there too.

Anger, not a feeling she was used to. She had felt worthless before, she had been humiliated before; many times, in fact. But she was slow to anger, preferring to hide everything with a smile. Her mother had always taught her that emotional women were hysterical, pleasant women were listened to. If she wanted to be respected, she had to hide her emotions. So she did her best to keep her temper under control, never once throwing a tantrum or an outburst.

But still, Momo was only human and rage was bound to rear its ugly head every once in a while. The last time she had been angry was when she had learned what Overhaul had put Eri through.

Kai Chisaki had been lucky Izuku got to him before she had.

Now as she held her friend, a similar anger coursed through her. She wasn't sure if she was angrier at Endeavor for putting his kids through this or Dabi for hurting Shouto even now. And, as she caught Izuku wince, there was a third target to that anger.

The HPSC was a big part of the problem, but defeating them wouldn't fix everything. It was cruel, but every monster who embraced their ideals would have to be dealt with. That started with the corrupted heroes like Endeavor.

"It's not you," Momo told him gently, tamping down her emotions. She discreetly squeezed Izuku's arms, but kept her attention on Shouto. "You didn't do anything wrong. Dabi is twisted, Shouto. He's blaming you because you're a scapegoat; if he admits that Endeavor was completely at fault then he has to admit that his life before you wasn't as perfect as he likes to believe."

Izuku nodded. "You did nothing wrong," he added. It was no surprise that he looked like he wanted to cry. "I... I'm sorry we had you do this. We should have known better."

Before Momo could even begin to feel guilty, Shouto shook his head. "I wanted to," he reminded them. "I wanted to get through to him, not really for me but for Natsuo and Fuyumi. They love him and I know they miss him."

"That's not your job," replied Momo. She took his hand, interlocking their fingers. "Let us handle it from now on, okay?"

Shouto hesitated, but nodded. "Okay," he relented.

The three of them sat in silence for a while until a familiar pink blur ran towards them, accompanied by an equally familiar taller figure. "Guys!" called Ochako, two bags in her hands. "Me and Tenya got the soba- oh." She took in their faces and frowned. "Aw, we missed the emotional heart to heart. This always happens!"

Tenya sighed as he came to a stop next to her. "I told you we should have skipped the mochi," he scolded her. He looked just as disappointed at missing the heart to heart.

The brunette gasped in outrage. "How dare you suggest I forsake the mochi," she huffed, holding one of the bags in the air. "I would die for this mochi!"

Everyone stared at her, but the silence was broken from the rare laugh that escaped Shouto's mouth. It was loud and boisterous and even a little relieved. His laugh was so infectious that Momo and Izuku joined it, followed by Ochako and Tenya. Momo wondered how it must have looked to see the Fortuitous Five laughing at nothing like deranged morons in front of the most fortified prison in the world.

Shouto hugged her and Izuku tight. "I love you guys," he mumbled into her hair. He wasn't as affectionate as the rest of them, but he certainly had his moments.

"We love you too," the four of them chorused back.

OoOoOo

When they got back to the agency, Momo cornered Izuku before he could escape her. "What exactly did Nagant say?" she asked, crossing her arms. They were in one of the building's many private rooms. They were soundproof and perfect for brainstorming and were mostly used by the two of them especially when making plans such as these.

Izuku rubbed the back of his neck. "Called me an idealistic fool," he admitted. "And said we're foolish to challenge the HPSC."

"What else?" pressed Momo.

Izuku laughed nervously. "That she would rather join All For One's army than our agency."

Ouch. Momo sighed, massaging her temples. "Okay, new plan," she decided. "You take over convincing Dabi, I'll talk to Nagant. I think he'll be more receptive to you than me anyway since he seemed to like you back then."

He cringed. "I wouldn't say 'like,'" he pointed out. "I'd say he wanted to turn me against hero society for his own personal gain."

She rolled her eyes. "Better you than me," she pointed out. "I don't think he forgot how I tried to burn him to a crisp."

Izuku grinned. "I wish I could have seen that," he said, something admiring in his eyes. "You're a genius, Momo."

Momo rolled her eyes. "Flattery will get you nowhere," she replied. "Besides, keep that up and Ochako will be jealous." She smirked when a red blush bloomed across his face. "I'd make a move soon, Izuku. Tenya and I are very close to locking the two of you in a closet together."

He bashfully looked away. "I... now's not the right time," he said lamely. So he had thought about it. Interesting. "We just opened the agency and we're taking on the HPSC. Maybe when we're more stable..."

Her smirked didn't leave her face. "Whatever you say."

Izuku pouted. "Why are we always talking about my love life?" he complained. "What about you and Sho?"

But Momo, confused, tilted her head. "What about Shouto and I?" she asked. She had never seen Shouto in a romantic light, she had never seen anyone in a romantic light really. At least, she didn't think so. She had always been too preoccupied to think about romance, way more focused on her schoolwork and now making sure the Elysium Agency ran smoothly. Not to mention being a consultant for UA.

How would she even find the time to date.

Izuku was studying her now, curious. "Huh," he muttered thoughtfully. "I could have sworn you two were crazy about each other."

Her cheeks warmed in embarrassment. "I... doubt Shouto feels that way about me," she insisted. She shook her head. "Let's get back on track."

Izuku pouted. "You started it," he said childishly.

Momo stuck her tongue out and suddenly realized that she was being just as immature. "Well now I'm finishing it." She cleared her throat and produced pen and paper and began to write her thoughts out. "The HPSC has records of every potential hero, and children of pro heroes are automatically included. If we can find Dabi's file..."

"We'll find his medical records," finished Izuku. "As well as acknowledgement from them, proving they knew about his irresponsible quirk usage and did nothing to stop it."

She smiled. "Exactly. But we'll have to get a court-ordered warrant."

Izuku beamed proudly. "I'll call my mom tonight."

Notes:

HPSC: I fear no man but that thing...
Mama Midoriya:
HPSC: It scares me.

No confirmed TodoMomo for this story, but if you guys want to see them romantic that's fine. If you want to see them as platonic, that's fine too. I don't really care either way, the only confirmed ship is IzuOcha. I kind of headcanon Momo and Todoroki as asexual anyway. But the thought of Iida being a 5th wheel is really fucking funny. I also love writing Momo and Midoriya's sibling relationship. Also, let Momo say fuck.

Anyway I hope you liked it and please review!

Chapter 3: Chapter 3

Notes:

Please enjoy!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Izuku and Momo agreed that they would give Dabi and Nagant time to cool off. Trying again so soon might elicit even more agitated responses. They had weeks until the trial, so it wasn't like they were in a rush. They had time. So until then, they decided to put their efforts into different projects.

Currently, they were working on networking and expanding. Since they were so well-known during their time at UA, the transition from hero student to pro hero had been smooth. Their group was already in the top two hundred and individually, they were scattered across the top one hundred.

However, Izuku knew they would need to work hard. An agency was valued by the number of sidekicks (fellow heroes, Izuku preferred) it acquired. No current hero would want to work beneath newly graduated heroes, so they had to focus their efforts towards the hero students still in school who would be looking for internships.

They would have to attend the UA Sports Festival. Most of the top placers would immediately be picked up by the bigger agencies, but that was fine. Izuku and Momo had already decided they weren't looking for anyone with a flashy quirk; they were looking for kids with potential, kids who just needed a push in the right direction and who would be willing to put in the work.

The Sports Festival was a sore spot for Momo, even though she had taken third place second year and second place third year. Izuku knew her fight against Tokoyami had done significant damage to her self-esteem their first year of school. She had worked relentlessly to bounce back from that, to make sure no one ever got the upper hand on her again.

Momo had fought back against and risen above a world determined to keep her down; Izuku admired her greatly for that.

A red blur suddenly flew past his nose, stopping right before the window. As Izuku glanced over, the number two hero Hawks hovered outside. Izuku opened the window, allowing him to flitter in with a sigh. "Hawks, why can't you use the front door like a normal person?" he complained.

The winged man grinned. "Faster this way," he answered. "I don't have to take the time to land." He looked around, taking in the space around them and whistled lowly. "I see the new agency's coming together. How's it feel to be the youngest hero to start their own agency, Dekiru?"

Izuku rolled his eyes. "I'm not," he responded, crossing his arms. "Uravity is." Technically speaking, the Fortuitous Five were- collectively- the second youngest heroes to start their own agency as he, Tenya, Momo, and Shouto were older than Hawks had been by months. However, Ochako had been just on the verge of eighteen when they had officially opened which meant the singular title belonged to her.

Not that he had planned it that way, of course...

Hawks chuckled, before his face turned serious. "I'm sure I don't need to tell you that the Commission won't take this laying down," he remarked idly.

Something about the older man had always unsettled Izuku. Usually, he could read people particularly well which had been particularly helpful when he had been captured by the League all those years ago. Even Nagant he could understand even if he was unable to get through to her. But Hawks was an enigma, it was nearly impossible for him to tell what he was thinking.

And it didn't help that Hawks always seemed to be expecting him to pick up on some secret message.

"We don't expect them to," Izuku answered resolutely. The one thing that put him at ease around the other hero was that Danger Sense didn't perceive him as a threat. "But being a hero means doing the right thing, even if it's dangerous." Especially when it was dangerous was more like it. Though, he'd gotten chewed out by Tenya for recklessly rushing headfirst into danger a few times.

(See, if Izuku was an asshole, he would have brought up Hosu. But Izuku wasn't an asshole)

Hawks looked over him analytically. "I heard you visit with Nagant didn't go so well," he said, abruptly changing the subject. "If you want my advice, her problems don't start or end with the Commission."

Izuku considered his words. He knew Hawks was right, of course, but he didn't think that was completely the reason Nagant had turned him down. A lot of people assumed that his optimistic nature meant he was naive and ignorant. Many appreciated Momo's down to business attitude and Shouto's 'cynical' (really, Shouto was just oblivious) nature. But for him, Ochako, and Tenya they were often overlooked by older heroes as foolish and unable to understand hardship.

Of course, no one knew that he had been harassed, mocked, and abused for years because of something he couldn't control. No one knew that Tenya had been close to murder as a first-year student. No one knew that Ochako had starved herself during her childhood just because she had felt so helpless to aid her struggling parents.

And that suited the three of them just fine. No one needed to know the details of their private lives.

But maybe it was time to change that. If they were going to change society, they had to be honest about the ugly truths, especially in his case. If baring his soul to Nagant would get her on their side, he would do it.

Izuku nodded. "Yeah, I figured," he responded. "Creati's going to try next."

Hawks almost looked pleased at this. "Good choice," he complimented. "Kid."

The young hero looked at him. "Yeah?"

The older man had moved back towards the window. "From what I've been able to pick up, the boss lady's planning on airing your dirty laundry," he informed him. "And not just you, your friends too. Anything they can get their hands on to turn the public against you. Be careful."

Izuku smiled. "Thanks for the heads up," he said cheerfully. This was going to get interesting.

OoOoOo

Izuku was in the middle of dealing with a small bank robbery when he received a call in his earpiece. "Dekiru here," he grunted, using Blackwhip to subtly knock out two of the robbers. They were low level crooks, but dammit there were a lot of them. He should have taken Tenya's offer for backup. Oh well, nothing to do about it now.

'Izuku.'

He smiled to himself. "Hi, Mom," he greeted as he carefully dodged the array of bullets shooting out at him. He activated Smokescreen, effectively blinding his opponents as they shot at nothing. Using Blackwhip again, he took each of them out one by one, tying them to a lamppost. "How are you doing?"

There had been- predictably- many tears when he had moved out shortly after graduation. But Izuku made sure to talk to his mother as often as he could. Truthfully, he worried about her living all on her own. Inko was sharp and resourceful, but villain attacks were still dangerous.

And he was worried the HPSC would target her. He was sure the only thing stopping them was the fact that they feared what he- and the rest of the Fortuitous Five- would do in retaliation. They were the ones to take down All For One and other S-tier villains while just in high school. Inko also had a lot of connections; not even Izuku knew just how many.

He could practically hear her mother's smile. 'I'm great, honey,' she replied. 'Ochako visited me the other day and oh she is just the sweetest. You're planning to ask her out soon, right?'

Izuku was mortified even as he flipped another robber onto his back. "Moooom," he whined, sure he was blushing fiercely. He should have followed Tenya's lead and gotten a helmet or mask that covered his whole face. Who ever heard of a blushing hero? "Why was she there anyway? Mom, please don't tell me you showed her the album again." His friends had taken to his mother which he usually didn't mind until they started poking around for baby pictures.

'No, sweetheart, of course not.'

He groaned, knowing that meant she definitely did. "Is there a reason you called, Mom?"

'Oh, yes,' said Inko. 'I submitted the request to investigate the Commission for Touya and Shouto's medical records to a judge. But I found something else out from another contact of mine.'

Izuku's interest was piqued even as he rounded up the rest of the criminals with Blackwhips. "Oh yeah? What is it?"

'Their doctor was one hired and enlisted by the HPSC.'

Izuku's grin was shit-eating.

Notes:

Midoriya: My mom
The FF: Our mom

I like to think that like Midoriya, Inko makes friends with a lot of people because she's so sweet and caring (until she isn't lol). Anyway a bit of a shorter chapter. Yes I am a Hawks stan no I won't apologize for it. The only thing that bugs me is his Endeavor fanboying even after finding out he was an abusive POS like his dad. It would have been perfect for him to realize that the version of Enji he idolized in his head because of his dad's arrest never existed and reconciled with those emotions. But no, it's brushed aside just like always (unless I'm wrong I haven't read the manga as most of you all know).

Speaking of things that are brushed aside, LET'S TALK ABOUT BAKUGOU'S APOLOGY THAT I FINALLY GOT TO SEE :D It was as disappointing as I knew it was going to be. Not only does it not dare to go into detail in front of 1A (once again sparing him from consequences/retribution) but it's literally all about him. Why he did what he did, how the environment impacted him, all of his excuses. It's all about Bakugou and his remorse and not once do we get an insight into what Midoriya is feeling. I feel like it almost dehumanized Midoriya in a way by just using his trauma as a tool to develop Bakugou yet again.

Anyway, I hope you liked it and please review!

Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Notes:

Please enjoy!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Toshinori was somewhere between proud and horrified.

"You're suing Endeavor and the Commission?" he exclaimed, so caught off guard that he began choking on blood. He gratefully accepted the handkerchief Inko handed him, wiping away the red liquid. His boy grinned at him while the woman herself didn't quite smirk, but might as well have been. "Don't you know how incredibly dangerous that is?"

"Well, Toshi, unfortunately for both of us my son is prone to doing what's right no matter how foolish or risky," said Inko calmly, taking a sip of her tea. Her green eyes stared him down over her mug. "I wonder where he got that from?"

Toshinori guiltily tugged at his collar. "I-I never taught him to take on one of the most powerful government departments in the world," he defended, suddenly feeling warm. He was aware that his self-sacrificing lessons had been the wrong thing to teach his protege in their early days together. He would give anything to take it back and make sure his boy put his health and wellbeing first.

Izuku frowned. "All Might, you don't believe in me?" he asked, green eyes turning big and sad.

His heart throbbed in his chest at the sight. "It's not that!" he sputtered quickly. He couldn't have his protege thinking he doubted him! "I-I, it's just-!" He was unable to find the right words and in turn began his coughing fit again, though this time without the blood.

Inko flicked her son's ear. "Izuku, stop before he starts groveling again," she scolded lightly.

His boy began laughing, patting his back reassuringly. "Sorry," he said, still chuckling. "I couldn't help it."

Toshinori glared up at him, but sighed in relief knowing his boy wasn't upset with him. "I do believe in you," he reaffirmed just to be sure. "But I also know how dangerous the HPSC is. I've met good heroes who were deemed MIA under mysterious circumstances."

Of course, he hadn't figured out the HPSC's involvement until much later in life. As an up-and-coming hero, Toshinori had been so focused on revenge and taking down All For One that he had been blind to the Commission's underhanded tactics. If he had been sharper, better maybe he could have saved Nagant and even Hawks, not to mention all the others who suffered. His ignorance to the issue allowed it to fester right under his nose.

This shouldn't have fallen to his protege and his friends. If the Commission dared to do anything to them, Toshinori swore he wouldn't stop until he burned them to the ground.

He'd wanted to after they attempted to mark his boy a suspect all those years ago.

Izuku nodded. "We know," he assured him. "But we also know that they won't do anything to Tenya or Momo."

"They won't do anything to any of you," corrected Inko firmly, something fierce in her eyes. He had learned a long time ago not to mess with her when it came to her baby. "Do you really think Nezu or I would let them get away with touching a hair on your heads?"

The boy chortled. "No, Mom, of course not," he replied, amused before turning back to his mentor. "You don't have to worry about us, Toshinori. We'll be careful."

It was rare that Izuku used his real name. Toshinori found himself smiling. "You'd better be," he said, ruffling the green curls in front of him. "Anything happens to you and I'll end the Commission myself."

Izuku laughed again, like Toshinori wasn't dead serious.

OoOoOo

Ochako grimaced as the news story came up on her phone. 'Elysium Agency: Noble Heroes or Delinquents?'

Izuku had passed along Hawks' warning about the HPSC leaking whatever info they could find on them and he hadn't exaggerated. They had made the cover story, five pictures of them taken in the heat of battle that definitely didn't scream heroic. She scowled at her photo, which displayed her delivering a harsh kick to someone's side; they couldn't have found a picture where her hair looked better?

Tenya shared her expression and she couldn't blame him. A detailed description painting him as a murderous, vigilante delinquent would do that to anyone. Of course, the article conveniently left out the part about how the Commission had failed to do anything about Stain.

Shoto looked like a kicked puppy; screw the HPSC for comparing him to Dabi. As if Touya Todoroki wasn't messed up because of their agenda in the first place! And even if he wasn't, that had squat to do with Shoto.

Izuku looked oddly calm for someone whose biggest secret had just been exposed. One For All wasn't much of a secret anymore, but it hadn't been common knowledge. What happened when Japan was suddenly invaded with heroes targeting him for his power? Have the HPSC lost their goddamn minds?

And that wasn't even touching the fact that he had just been outed as quirkless.

Momo was perhaps the most furious out of all of them. "'Momo Yaoyorozu may be a poor, dumb victim in all of this being taken advantage of by her ruffian friends for her wealth and connections,'" she read from her tablet, seething. Oh, the irony. Ochako could practically see the steam coming from her ears and not so subtly hid behind Shoto.

Izuku had no such qualms, tapping his chin. "Underestimating you again," he noted. "Their funeral." This actually did seem to calm Momo down. She still scowled at the article, probably planning to get them arrested for tax evasion or something.

"Yeah, and we don't take advantage of your money," added Ochako. "We take advantage of Tenya's, right Izuku?"

"That's right," he agreed, grinning innocently as Tenya gave them both a dull look. "What?"

"I'm broke," Shoto supplied helpfully. And that was true. Endeavor had cut him off after graduation. Ochako gave his shoulder an empathetic pat; she knew the feeling.

Tenya sighed, exasperated with all of them. "You're oddly calm," he observed, changing the subject. Years of being friends with the two of them taught him well. "Aren't you concerned with One For All being exposed?"

Ochako looked at her freckled friend curiously.

Izuku shrugged. "All For One's dead," he reminded them. As if they could forget; they had been the ones to finish the job after all. "His quirk died with him as far as we know. And even if someone had a quirk like his, the Vestiges wouldn't let them take it." He gave them a smile, a smile that had inspired her more than once. "Besides, there's nothing we can't handle. Right?"

Ochako grinned. "Right!" Though, it almost felt wrong to be optimistic. Aside from references to her poor upbringing, the article hadn't said anything too bad about her. Her friends had gotten dragged through the mud, but not much was said about her.

That was almost upsetting. It was like they didn't consider her enough of a threat! But Ochako knew that was precisely it; she wasn't a threat to them. Momo and Izuku had it the worst because they were the commanders at the forefront of this cold war and the HPSC was trying to scare them off. Tenya and Shoto- while exceptional- weren't as focused on because the Commission simply saw them as supporting players.

And that just left her, the weakest link.

Ochako was under no illusions. She wasn't intelligent like Momo and Tenya or strong like Izuku and Shoto. The only thing she excelled at was hand-to-hand combat and with so many quirks specializing in long range that didn't do her much good. Not to mention her quirk wasn't the best in a fight. It was why she preferred rescue work.

She fell behind her friends and everyone knew it. It stung, knowing that she would never catch up to them.

Izuku frowned. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern flashing in his green eyes.

Ochako tried to smile. "Of course I am," she lied. She had no right to complain, she knew that. "Nothing too bad about me here. Why wouldn't I be?"

Izuku very clearly didn't believe her. "Shoto," he said. "You should show Momo and Tenya the new soba machine in the cafeteria."

Shoto was instantly excited. "Follow me," he declared. Ochako liked to think he was glad for the distraction. Momo nodded and followed him immediately, Tenya looked back on them with concern in his eyes before reluctantly trailing behind them.

Once they were gone, Izuku moved to sit next to her. "Tell the truth," he asserted, poking her cheek. It was a habit he had started a while ago. "What's bothering you?"

Ochako huffed. "It's dumb," she told him.

"It's not," he insisted.

She almost smiled at that. "Well, you know they're not really underestimating Momo, right?" she began, not quite knowing how to explain. At his curious look, she continued, "They're calling her out because they're scared of her. I mean, where would we be without Momo? Realistically?"

Izuku cringed. "Not anywhere great," he answered honestly. He didn't say it, but she knew what he was thinking. Momo was truly invaluable to them not simply because of her money and networking like the article implied. Not only was her quirk perhaps the most useful in any situation, but her strategic brilliance was something they heavily relied on.

The HPSC were stupid, but they knew that at least. That was why they went to all the trouble of disparaging her character.

"She's a real threat," Ochako said quietly, but didn't elaborate. She felt like a fool for having to say all this in the first place. It shouldn't have mattered, she should have been grateful.

But comprehension flittered in Izuku's green eyes. The two of them didn't always need words. "Momo is a very real threat," he agreed. "They would be foolish if they didn't try to dissuade her. But if they're trying to make Momo doubt herself, wouldn't it make sense to do the same to you?"

She blinked, tilting her head. "What do you mean?" she asked.

Izuku smiled at her. "Don't get me wrong," he replied. "The HPSC could be overlooking you, which in this case would be stupid considering you are one of the best hand to hand combatants in the current hero world, without even mentioning how creative you can be with your quirk." She flushed, but didn't interrupt him. "But if they're as smart as they like to believe, they did this on purpose to get under your skin and make you unsure about your place here."

He took her hand, still giving her that sweet smile. "Either way, you know they're wrong and we know they're wrong. Isn't that what matters?"

When he put it like that, Ochako felt silly. Who cared what desperate attempt to HPSC made to tear them down? They knew the truth and that was all that mattered. "Thanks, Izu," she said.

Izuku beamed. "Any time," he promised. He seemed to notice how close they were and blushed, scooting back a little to give her room. He still kept his hand on hers, though.

Ochako chuckled. She didn't mind the close proximity, but whatever he was comfortable with. She didn't mind their current place. "You should go find Momo," she suggested. "I have a feeling she'll want to hit them back soon."

He laughed. "I'll get on that," he decided, standing up. "I'll see you later?"

She smiled. "You bet."

Notes:

The FF: I can't believe they're calling us delinquents...
Momo: How dare they not call me a delinquent

Iida is the only sane one among them. Anyway, I hope you liked it and please review!

Chapter 5: NOT AN UPDATE!

Notes:

Don't worry, I'm not abandoning the story! I'm just on a hiatus right now. Partly because of a lack of inspiration and partly because the manga is a dumpster fire right now and I legitimately have no idea what to take away from it. I'll probably wait until it's all done to get back on the grind for this story. I should have made that announcement sooner, so I'm sorry if I left some of you hanging!

So what is this chapter for? The hero suits! I think I said somewhere that I would show you what they look like. These are all fanarts I found (THEY'RE NOT MINE, FULL CREDIT TO THE ARTISTS). I thought it would be fun for you guys to see my vision, especially because I now know how to upload images to AO3. Enjoy!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

(Design by eyes_of_color on Reddit, it wasn't on the art, but I found it through Google)

First is Momo! Obviously, her suit has always been a widely debated topic. But instead of arguing revealing vs appropriate, I wanted to focus on the purpose (or what SHOULD be the purpose) of it all: functionality! My main issue with Momo's suit has always been that it's revealing under the guise of being functional when it's really a thinly veiled excuse at fanservice. Her having no chest (or really any) protection is a problem, especially for someone who is supposed to be one of the most intelligent people in the series.

I like this design a lot since it seems to center mainly around functionality. The watch is a great replacement for her bookcase so she's not in danger of hurting herself if she falls. I've always said the open back would have made 10x more sense than the open chest since she needs to open her chest flaps anyway AND she always rips her suit making things from her back. Also, the kneepads 100% feel like something Momo would add.

In my story, I would add a zipper on her front in the case where she does need to use her chest. As you know, she has a bob in my story (though it's tied into a short ponytail when she's fighting). I also like the cape from her winter design because it makes her seem fancy like a commander, it also has the added purpose of hiding what she's making from her enemies. She wouldn't wear it all the time, probably just when she feels like it.

(Design by Adam and Comfort, it got cut off when I cropped it)

Shoto is a simple guy, but I feel like this does him justice. It shows off and accentuates his powers, which- like Momo's functionality- is what he relies on as a statement of being a hero. There isn't much to say about it other than the fact that it really stuck out to me when I was searching for hero suits for him. I love that it lights up with his powers.

One thing I will say, I do imagine his hair a little longer now. Maybe in a short ponytail? Him and Momo can twin.

(Looking, I'm not sure if I ever even talked about Shoto's costume in this story. Weird. I think it's because he wasn't in chapter 1. Well, now you know)

(Credit is in the bottom right!)

Like Shoto, I don't have much to say about Tenya. It's basically the same as his old costume with some minor adjustments. It's really just him leaning fully into the Ingenium role.

(This is from masterdipster right here on AO3. masterdipster, if you see this and you're uncomfortable with me using this, please let me know and I'll take it down. That goes for all the artists!)

Izuku's also has some minor adjustments even though the concept is still the same. I really like this design because it takes on some darker/more mature tones. I love the gloves and the boots and I fell in love with the goggles. I feel like they're just so Izuku (anything to get him out of the damn mask, the Dark Hero arc made me really hate it). And the utility belt is a great touch too! This design is so Batman/Gotham Knights and I love it. I also like keeping his mouthguard as neck protection.

Like Momo's, I love the functionality of this design. As you all know, I'm leaning more towards Izuku's brains than his brawn (which Horikoshi refuses to acknowledge) so his suit imitating a hero like Batman's sits a lot better with me.

The only difference is, as you know, I gave him an undercut. Because I can.

(Credit to onughost on Reddit!)

Finally Ochako! I won't lie, this one might be my favorite! It reminds of the spacesuits from Voltron and I think that really fits her so well! Her old suit wasn't bad, but I feel like this really takes it to the next level. I love the detail of her fingertips lighting up. And the artist is to based for getting rid of those clunky ass boots.

This design is also the only one that's a direct 1:1 for how I envision her for this story. And she looks gorgeous!

Notes:

And that's really it! Again, if any of the artists see this and want me to take them down I absolutely will. I have no intention to steal or go against their wishes. These are only here to give you an idea of what they look like going forward.

Series this work belongs to: