Chapter Text
I just need to know
How to heal the hollow
To keep the optimist alive in me– 10 Years
One Day Before the End
A scar-crossed hand gripped the cold steel balcony railing of the abandoned high-rise apartment as piercing green eyes surveyed the nighttime cityscape of Musutafu. It was dark, very dark due to the war damage, scarce electricity, and sparse population in the once vibrant city. The smell of smoke permeated the air. Flashes of fires here and there allowed him to make out the crumbling remnants of the elementary school he had attended, the grocery store where they had shopped, and the apartment building where he grew up. It made his stomach churn and his eyes burn.
It had been a year and a half since the war began and he had seen many cities in similar or worse conditions. Some even wiped off the face of the earth. It was upsetting to see anywhere.
But.
Izuku Midoriya was born and raised in this city. Seeing Musutafu now was heartbreaking. His life might not have been perfect in this place, but this city was his. His past, his childhood, his family, his friends, his heart.
This was not the first time he had been in Musutafu since the war began, but his chest still tightened and hands clenched every time he came here. Mr. Tanaka should be chasing rowdy kids out of the conbini. Old Mrs. Honda should be watering her flowers and waiting for someone to stop long enough for her to tell them about her amazing grandson. The streets should be bustling with people rushing to work, with nothing more to worry about than how full the trains will be or where to go for dinner.
His emotions shifted from angry, sad, defeated, and to angry again. He was angry that this even happened and sad that he knew that the city would never be the same. Even if they rebuilt and everyone returned, the devastation created scars that would always be there, in the landscape and in people’s hearts. He felt defeated that he couldn’t stop it from happening, and angry again because he knew that those who created the damage did not care and even celebrated the destruction and lost lives. He cycled through these emotions every time he saw any city devastated by the war, but it hit much harder when it’s Musutafu. His town, his life.
He had spoken to enough survivors of disasters to know that his feelings were normal, but in most of those cases, it was Mother Nature at fault and not a megalomaniacal man-child bent on personally destroying every little thing that makes Izuku who he is.
He gazed in the direction where his apartment building once stood. He should have been able to see the upper floors from here if it had still been standing. To anyone else, the apartment wasn’t anything special. But to Izuku, the apartment was home. His first home, his only home. It was where his mom had created a warm and inviting refuge from the harsh realities of the world. A place where he knew he was loved.
Izuku missed his mom. He could really use one of her warm, enveloping hugs right now. With his eyes closed, he could almost smell her perfume, hear her calling him to dinner, and feel her tears on his shoulder. With a watery sigh and a shake of his head, he pulled himself together because he knew that can never be again. Shigaraki made sure of that. Izuku would never forgive him for taking away the only person who loved him unreservedly and selflessly.
After repeatedly failing to kill All Might, Shigaraki shifted his focus to the next holder of [One for All], Izuku. But pursuing Izuku brought no greater success to Shigaraki. The temper tantrum following his fruitless search for his target culminated in Izuku’s greatest loss.
No one knew how he found out where the Midoriyas lived, and by the time anyone realized that Inko Midoriya was the target it was too late.
Izuku was shattered by the attack and his failure to protect his mother. In his grief, he refused to return to Musutafu or UA, fearing his presence would make them Shigaraki’s next targets. He refused to listen to his friends or his teachers. Izuku couldn’t endanger anyone else, so he struck out alone and kept far away from his friends and hometown. Even if it was too late for his mom, it was the least he could do for everyone else that he was attached to. And while he had been back to Musutafu a few times over the last year and half, he never stayed long. Not with Shigaraki finding new ways to track him and staying on his tail.
Since the war began Izuku had traveled all over Japan, to keep ahead of Shigaraki and disrupting whatever plans he could uncover. It was exhausting. He was tired of having to relocate every single day because that asshole always tracked him down if he stayed too long.
He had no sense of normalcy. It made it difficult to maintain relationships with the few people he allowed himself to become close to. He was tired of trying to find a new place to sleep every night. Where to get food. How to get supplies. He was tired of… He was just tired. The days turned into weeks and then months. The nomadic life grinding him down.
He wanted this to be over. He wanted to rest. He wanted to spend time with his friends and reconnect with those he lost track of along the way. He wanted… He wasn’t sure what he wanted, but he knew that the endless cycle needed to stop.
But now there was a plan and an end in sight. He just had to hold on one more day. The plan was a good one. They had worked at it for months. Putting in the groundwork. Laying the foundation to lure Shigaraki where they wanted. This was their best chance to end this.
He just hoped. Really, really hoped that they wouldn’t lose anyone. He didn’t want anyone to die, and he didn’t want to kill anyone. As much as he hated Shigaraki, he didn’t want to be responsible for his death. The thought of it made him queasy. He wondered where his line in the sand was that would force him to go against his morals and take a life. This battle might force him to find out, and it weighed on his mind.
Izuku gazed once more at the city and, in an almost clinical manner, noted the number and location of the fires. There were a few, which was a good sign according to their plan. He inwardly cringed at the thought of more destruction being a good thing, but the end result would be worth it. He hoped the citizens would forgive them their tactics and not condemn them for allowing the city to fall further into ruin in order to finally defeat Shigaraki.
Izuku allowed himself to grieve one last time for his city, for all the cities destroyed, for all the lives lost, and for his lost friends, teachers, and family. As his tears dried and his heart calmed, he looked up to the stars shining brightly now due to the lack of light pollution and made a promise to himself.
A promise to stop the madness, stop the destruction, and stop the despair. End Shigaraki’s reign of terror. Whatever the cost. This would be his last stand.
“Those are some deep thoughts there, Zuku,” said the gravelly voice coming from behind him. Izuku briefly tensed before recognizing the voice. He had been so deep in his head that he hadn’t noticed anyone approaching. He could picture the disappointed frown on Aizawa’s face at his lack of situational awareness.
He turned to face the shadowy figure leaning against the balcony door frame and relaxed as he spied the dark coat and gloves of his partner. At least he wouldn’t be making this last stand alone.
“I was just taking one last look at the city before we meet with the resistance.” Izuku ignored the concerned look on the other’s face as he turned back to the cityscape.
He heard a sigh behind him. He knew he could exasperating at times, but he also knew that the other man had put up with his shit for a long time. One last evening wallowing in his past wasn’t going to drive him away. This man would follow him through hell and back. His friends would too. Izuku took comfort in that.
He heard shuffling behind him before arms wrapped around him, and a chin perched on his shoulder. Izuku smiled. He knew the other man wouldn’t stay away.
“We’ll get him this time. This will be over by tomorrow,” the voice on his shoulder said softly with quiet confidence. Izuku let the reassurance wash over him. It was strange that he felt such comfort from a man that had been on the opposite side of the war from him not long ago. It was funny how life twisted and turned.
Mentally shaking himself out of his introspection, Izuku twisted and aimed a bright smile at the man behind him. “Yeah, we can do this. No, we WILL do this.” His words became firmer and more resolute.
“Of course, we will. How can we lose with the Symbol of Hope on our side?” the gruff voice said teasingly. Izuku rolled his eyes at the laughter he could hear in his partner’s voice.
“Ok, let’s go before you make me cry.” Izuku turned so they were face to face. He pulled the other man close before leaping off the building in a show of green lightning. Black tendrils reached out to the adjacent buildings and swung them both out into the night.
“Absolutely not! No crying. You are not allowed,” could be heard alongside giggling as the pair disappeared into the dark city.