• hide.

All mites hide.

At the end of the school day, Izuku Midoriya had a mission. Try in every way to avoid Bakugou Katsuki. Not because of their earlier spat in the classroom — God knows that was routine by now — but because he had just realised something horrifying.

If I walk home with Kacchan, does everything fall apart?; It wasn't just idle worry. He knew that if Katsuki were with him, everything could have changed. Would have the slime villain attacked the both of them? If that happened, it could have gone horribly wrong. No heroic gesture from Izuku. No dramatic rescue. And, most importantly, no All Might encounter before it all went down.

That meeting was crucial. Izuku remembered it from the anime so vividly — the defining moment when his path as the future number one hero began. Except now, it wasn't entertainment. It was real life. His life. And if he messed this up, he might never get the chance to ask All Might the fateful question: Can someone Quirkless become a hero?; that was the starting point. 

The thought sent an anxious chill down his spine. For once, he desperately needed to stay away from Katsuki Bakugou, at least for now. The timeline had to align perfectly.

In his defence, Izuku had never been one for long-term planning. A previous life scraping by on the streets had taught him to live moment to moment, carving out a place for himself in the world's filthy corners with grit and determination. Survival wasn't about strategy; it was about instinct. So when walking home with Katsuki Bakugou became routine, it wasn't some grand, thought-out arrangement — it just happened.

Their houses were in the same general direction, after all, and while Katsuki would never admit they were walking home together, Izuku often found himself trailing behind the explosive blond and his small entourage. Tesaki and Hashiga were typically involved in some heated debate over nothing important, gesturing wildly like they were plotting world domination.

Katsuki walked slightly ahead, silent except for the occasional gruff interjection that shut them up.

Bakugou always moved like he was in an ongoing battle with the ground beneath him. His hands buried deep in the pockets of his crisp black uniform pants, his pelvis pushed slightly forward, his knees apart, and his back hunched in a deliberate, almost lazy curve. Each step had purpose, but his gait was wide, aggressive, and full of defiance.

Izuku had to admit, there was something oddly magnetic about the way Katsuki walked—like he dared the world to cross him. But to Izuku, it was also a little funny. He often found himself smothering a laugh as he skirted around the trio, careful not to draw attention to himself. Katsuki's volatile moods weren't worth poking sometimes.

It wasn't like Izuku had planned for this strange dynamic to form, but one day, Katsuki had finally noticed him trailing behind. Izuku hadn't even been trying to hide it—he just kept his usual pace, a little amused by Katsuki's loud banter with his friends up ahead. But when Katsuki turned, sharp-eyed and already irritated, everything spiraled.

"What the hell, stalker? Why are you creeping back there?" Katsuki had barked, eyes sparking like flint against stone.

Izuku had shrugged, trying not to smirk. "It's a public sidewalk, Kacchan."

That was all it took for the argument to start. By the time they realized it, they'd walked the entire way home together, Katsuki ranting about extras and nuisances, and Izuku answering in quiet, muffled replies, half-paying attention and half-enjoying the absurdity of it all. Punches were involved.

From then on, it became a bizarre routine.

Almost every day, no matter how much Katsuki pretended not to care, they ended up walking home together. What was funny — downright hilarious and confusing to Izuku — was how Katsuki would bolt out of the classroom the moment the bell rang, as if running from something terrible.

He didn't say goodbye to his friends, didn't wait for anyone, just stormed out like he was on a mission. Yet somehow, every single time, Izuku would find him ahead on the sidewalk, either slowing down as Izuku caught up or pretending to not notice him entirely until Izuku made some quiet comment or nonexistent sound that set Katsuki off.

Even Izuku's track and field practice on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays wasn't an obstacle. He'd leave school later on those days, sweaty and sore from drills, only to find Katsuki somewhere nearby — kicking rocks on the path, scowling at his phone, or just happening to cross the same street at the exact same time of the day.

Izuku had tried, once, to ask him what he was doing there. The question hadn't even been hostile—he was genuinely curious if Katsuki was waiting for someone or if he had some other reason for showing up.

"What are you doing here, Kacchan?" Izuku had asked, adjusting the strap of his gym bag.

The response was immediate and fiery: "Shut your mouth and die," followed by a string of insults that had nothing to do with the question and some explosions in the face.

Izuku had learned to stop asking after that. But the routine continued, strange and oddly comforting in its own chaotic way. Katsuki would yell, Izuku would respond with vague, deadpan remarks, and somehow they always ended up walking side by side. It wasn't normal by any means, but maybe that's what made it work. That was their normality.

Izuku shook his head, snapping back to reality as the classroom blurred around him. No, he thought with a resigned exhale. Not today. He hadn't the time to subtly tell Katsuki to go fuck himself or rearrange his brain cells.

There would have been plenty of time in the future to quietly mess with Katsuki, to poke at the edges of his temper and watch him smoulder like a fuse waiting to ignite. Izuku couldn't deny how satisfying it was, seeing Katsuki unravel under his subtle provocations, like a mine buried in the dirt just waiting to go off. But not today.

Today, there were bigger concerns—bigger than Bakugou Katsuki's endless rage and sharper edges.

He lingered in the classroom a moment longer, his fingers almost trembling as he gathered his things. The exploded pen, its dark blue ink smeared across his hand, felt heavier than it should. He dropped it, along with the stained notebook, into the wire wastebasket by the door. For a moment, he stared at the mess, ink pooling at the bottom of the trash can like blood from a wound. He rubbed his hand against his pants to wipe off the streaks, but the color refused to fade entirely. He snorted, amused.

Stepping into the hallway, Izuku made a conscious effort to keep his head down and his pace steady, even as the noise of the school day clattered around him. He passed the busiest corridor, where first-years clustered near vending machines, their phones clicking and their laughter shrill. A group of girls tapped their nails on the glass, giggling as they glanced at him over their shoulders with fluttering eyes.

Not today, he reminded himself again, his resolve solidifying as he turned the corner, ignoring the familiar pull of routine. He kept walking, his focus narrowing on the path ahead. He had other plans, and this time, Katsuki wasn't part of them.

He moved like a shadow, his footsteps barely making a sound as he slid down the stairs, each step calculated, the walls guiding him as if they were allies. He didn't rush, but every movement was quick, purposeful. Reaching the top floor, he slipped through three classrooms, his body already familiar with the layout, no hesitation in his steps.

The creaky emergency stairs of the chemistry room groaned under his weight, but he ignored it, already halfway down before the noise had a chance to travel.

He made for the back exit, the cold, musty air of the athletics club's tool shed greeting him as he slipped outside. The schoolyard was empty, save for the bushes that lined the courtyard, and he used them like a second skin, moving between them with practiced ease. He got to the second entrance.

The gate was just ahead. He could already feel the freedom of the open air, and with a final glance back — quick and sure — he was out, crossing the threshold and into the quiet streets. For a brief moment, he stopped, his breath steady and controlled, the pale sky above him offering no distractions. Nothing had changed. Not yet, at least.

"Okay, okay-" he muttered under his breath, gripping the straps of his backpack. His heart pounded, not from exertion, but from the weight of orchestrating events as they were supposed to unfold. "This is it. Stay on script, Shawn. Canon starts now."

The world around him seemed sharper than usual, as though the universe itself was holding its breath. All he needed to do was get to the underpass alone. He didn't know if his actions would disrupt the narrative — or worse, endanger someone — but he couldn't take the risk of deviating too far.

The weight of both his current life and his past knowledge pressed heavily on his shoulders. For the first time in either of his lives, Izuku felt the monumental weight of fate. It was fundamental in this life.

"Are you talking to your imaginary friend, you fucking nerd?"; The words sliced through the air, dripping with Bakugou Katsuki's usual venom. The sharp, acrid smell of burnt sugar filled the space as micro-explosions sparked in his palm, his anger boiling over.

His eyes, bright red and seething with fury, locked onto Izuku, burning with enough intensity to singe the air between them.

Holy, motherfucking, shit.

What was he, a stalker?

Izuku's posture remained unflinching, though—he knew Bakugou too well, even if his heart was collapsing. With his back against the corner of the open gate, Bakugou's stance was predatory as always. Izuku didn't back down; instead, he stood firm, his grey eyes meeting Bakugou's with a steady resolve, despite the tension crackling in the air.

Bakugou pushed off the metal, his foot grinding against it as he closed the distance between them. Every step was slow, deliberate, as though he was savouring the moment, "Yeah, sometimes a man needs his self-esteem talk, you know?".

"No, I don't" Bakugou's voice was low, dripping with challenge as he practically interrupted him, but there was something more there now. It was different from the usual confrontation. Izuku didn't flinch, but a part of him couldn't ignore the way his pulse quickened in response. He wasn't about to run. Not from Bakugou. "Were you going somewhere, Deku?; didn't I tell you we needed to talk, back in class?".

Izuku snorted, waving his hand dismissively in the air. "I don't know, Kacchan, I'm not sure I remember. Maybe you imagined it." He stomped on the ground to move past him, his hand on the backpack string, feet steady on the uneven road. "Inko needs ginger. I've got to go buy some, if you don't mind."

Katsuki's mouth twisted into a scowl, and in a flash, he grabbed Izuku by the back of his uniform collar, his fingertips tugging the cloth, jerking him backward. Izuku's knees buckled awkwardly as he tried to keep his balance, but Bakugou forced him to bend in a strange way to avoid falling.

"Bloody-, Kacchan-," Izuku grunted, and wriggled in his grab. He broke himself free kind of easily to lock eyes with Katsuki. His bored, grey eyes, which usually had a hint of exhaustion, were now sharp, reflecting his frustration. What was that?

"I'll give you the fucking ginger," Katsuki muttered. His breath hitched when Bakugou's hot irises pressed into his face very sternly, the heat making him freeze for a moment. The proximity was unnerving, even though he was used to it. "Kilos of fucking ginger."

"But what the fuck is wrong with you, huh?" Bakugou growled, his teeth tightening. "All of a sudden you want to join UA, and now you're running away instead of coming at me like a pain in the ass? Are you delirious?"

"Kacchan, wha—" Izuku started, but he was cut off as Bakugou practically pressed a hot hand to his forehead, the sudden warmth almost making his eyes water.

Izuku could feel the heat from Bakugou's palm, the proximity too close for comfort, but it wasn't just the physical closeness that made his chest tighten. It was the words, the underlying question in Bakugou's tone — he wasn't justangry; there was something else.

Without missing a beat, Katsuki slapped the palm of his hand against Izuku's forehead, then followed it with the back of his hand, as if the repeated motion would somehow help him feel the temperature better.

For a moment, Bakugou kept the warm contact there, his hand lingering, but just as quickly, he pulled it away, withdrawing before Izuku's mind could even register what had just happened. The brief warmth on his skin left a lingering tension in the air between them, something that neither of them knew how to address. "No fever," he snorted.

Barely getting his brain cells moving again, his now messy bangs falling across his pale forehead, Izuku curled his tongue back onto the roof of his mouth, twisting his mouth into an indignant grimace. "Obviously I don't have a fever," he said, warmth barely laced in his flat voice. "What's wrong with you?".

Bakugou's mouth opened and closed two times. He took a whole minute to answer. When he did, he said a very predictable thing. "Die, shitty nerd. If you don't have a fever I can kick your pale ass to the ground." 

With that said, Katsuki shoved his hands into his pockets and walked forward, his movements as scrappy and careless as always, like his hunched back exactly as in the old routine of walking home together.

Izuku's mouth hung slightly open, caught in the aftershock of something that he could barely comprehend. His grey irises flicked from side to side, watching the quiet side street they'd ended up on. What the hell was he supposed to do now?; Run away?

As if he could read his mind, Bakugou tossed a middle finger over his shoulder without even glancing back. "Move your fucking ass, Deku!" he yelled, his voice sharp and commanding. Izuku didn't even bother to argue. He was pretty sure it was impossible to refuse that damn walk home.

Izuku quickened his pace to catch up with Bakugou, his head feeling strangely heavy as he tried to shake off the lingering confusion. They were almost halfway home now, passing behind the game room, where the walls were smeared with graffiti and signs clung to the surfaces in disarray. It was only then that Izuku decided to speak.

"You're a bit obsessed with my ass, aren't you?" he murmured, his voice low but teasing, tilting his head slightly to get a better look at Katsuki's furrowed expression.His words hung in the air for a moment before he added, "And then, how do you know it's pa—".

Before Izuku could finish, smoke began to pour from Bakugou's pockets, the tips of his ears turning an angry shade of red as he shot a glare at Izuku. The intensity in his eyes was all too familiar. He stared at Izuku for exactly two seconds, long enough to register that the boy was back to his usual self—calm, unbothered, and oddly daring.

"DIE!" Bakugou yelled, his voice practically burning through the air as an explosion rippled from his palm.

Bakugou ripped his hands from his pockets, and the force of the explosion sent a wave of smoke into Izuku's face, the shockwave so strong that it pushed his hair back. Izuku couldn't help it — he laughed. The sound was loud, almost mocking, and it only seemed to make Katsuki even more furious.

"Shit, Deku, laugh, laugh, laugh—you'll never get into UA; you useless Quirkless," Bakugou snarled, his voice full of venom as he charged forward like a bull, all fury and fire.

Izuku found himself pressed against the cracked wall, his back pinned to the rough surface, and his grey eyes locked onto the deep crease between Katsuki's furrowed eyebrows, tracing the soft curve of his nose as if trying to find some understanding.

The air around them was still thick with the remnants of the explosion, and the wall beside Izuku's head had a jagged crack running through it, the echo of the blast still vibrating in his chest. Izuku's voice was soft, but firm. "You don't know for sure."

Katsuki's face was a canvas of all colours now, flushed with anger, frustration, and something darker and deeper simmering beneath the surface. He was serious.

"You will die," Bakugou spat, his words like daggers, blunt and cold. Without warning, he slammed his palm against the wall, the crackling force of the explosion reverberating through the air, shaking the ground beneath them. The blast even hit the shoulder of the wall, shattering it further.

"A damned Quirkless can't be a hero," Bakugou snarled, his voice low and cutting. "Do you think a Villain could ever be defeated by someone like you, in this world?".

Katsuki's face twisted with frustration, his nostrils flaring as he glared down at Izuku. "You will die," he repeated in his face, the words coming out like venom, his voice low and dangerous. "you are Quirkless."

"Wait," Izuku snorted. He stared up at Katsuki, his grey eyes unwavering. "So, are you worried?," he muttered slowly, squinting under the bright heat of the smoke.

Without warning, Bakugou lunged, moving faster than Izuku expected. He barely managed to dodge, but the wind from Bakugou's fist grazed his cheek, and he could hear the crackling sound of Bakugou's Quirk charging in the air. "I'll show you what happens when you think you can say shit!".

Izuku wasn't afraid of Bakugou — he never was. "I'll try to get in the UA, accept it." His voice was steady, but there was a fire in his chest that wasn't going to be put out.

"Shut up!" Bakugou snapped, his fists lighting up with explosive energy as he closed the distance between them. The air around them seemed to hum with the tension of their fight. Izuku dodged again, but this time, he had a better plan. He sidestepped and lunged, using his momentum to push Bakugou off-balance.

Bakugou growled, swinging his fist around in a wild arc, but Izuku was already moving, ducking low and using his shoulder to push against Bakugou's chest.

The force sent them both tumbling, rolling across the pavement in a tangled mess of arms and legs.

They both scrambled to their feet, breathing heavily, but there was no sign of slowing down in either of them. Izuku wiped the sweat from his brow and narrowed his eyes. "I won't stop, Kacchan," he said, his voice firm but not without a trace of exhaustion.

Bakugou's eyes burned with anger, but there was something else there too—a flicker of respect, or maybe just the spark of someone who refused to lose. "I'm not finished with you yet, Deku," he growled, planting his feet in the ground and charging again.

Izuku met him head-on, not with explosive force, but with the quiet intensity of someone who knew he couldn't give up, not ever.

Bakugou's explosive energy seemed to crackle in the air as they tumbled onto the pavement. Izuku's hands shot out instinctively, grabbing a fistful of Bakugou's spiky blond hair before he could land another hit. The sharp tug made Bakugou hiss in pain, his face contorting. "Let go, you freak!". 

Izuku's grip tightened, pulling Bakugou's head back just enough to keep him off-balance. But it wasn't enough to stop Bakugou from trying to drive his elbow into Izuku's side. The sharp impact knocked the wind out of him, and Izuku gasped, feeling the sting of pain shoot through his ribs. Little shit. 

Izuku gritted his teeth, his vision blurring for a split second. He couldn't let go now. He yanked harder on Bakugou's hair, using the distraction to roll to the side, but Bakugou was relentless. He spun, aiming a brutal punch straight to Izuku's jaw.

The punch landed, sending Izuku's head snapping to the side, but he didn't falter. He'd taken worse. His fist shot forward, landing a hit on Bakugou's stomach, knocking the wind out of him in return. The shock registered in Bakugou's face for just a moment before he retaliated, his knee coming up to slam into Izuku's chest. He was not playing. 

The force knocked Izuku back onto the pavement, his back hitting the ground with a thud, but he barely had a moment to recover before Bakugou was on top of him. The explosion of anger in Bakugou's eyes mirrored the fury in his punches as they rained down on Izuku's chest. "Stop acting like you can take me down, Deku!" Bakugou growled, sweat dripping from his brow as he straddled Izuku's waist, his fists flying.

But Izuku wasn't done. He swung his legs up, using the momentum to buck Bakugou off balance. In the same motion, he twisted his body, catching Bakugou by the wrist and flipping them over so that he was now on top, pinning Bakugou's arms down.

"What if I don't stop?" Izuku spat, his voice thick with determination as he hovered above Bakugou, not allowing the other boy to move. But Bakugou, never one to give up, bucked his hips and tried to kick Izuku off, his legs thrashing wildly. Izuku grunted, holding on tight, his knees pressing into Bakugou's sides as they wrestled in the dirt, their bodies slick with sweat and grime.

Each time one of them landed a hit, the world seemed to slow, just long enough to register the raw power behind it before it continued spinning, the ground beneath them cracking with every twist and turn. Izuku's breath came in ragged gasps as he shoved his fist into Bakugou's ribs, finally managing to get the upper hand as Bakugou's body jerked from the impact. He was breathing heavily.

Izuku's face was inches away from Bakugou's, both of them panting, staring at each other with raw emotion. "I'll neverstop," Izuku muttered under his breath, his voice calm but firm. His hand was still holding Bakugou's wrist, their bodies locked in a wild dance of survival. Bakugou's lip curled into a smirk, despite the exhaustion in his eyes.

"You're an idiot, Deku," he said between breaths. "I am gonna kill you." Without warning, Bakugou's legs shot up, knocking Izuku off balance again, and they rolled together once more, the pavement beneath them rough and unforgiving, but neither willing to give up just yet.

But then—

A sickening squelch echoed through the alley, followed by a low, guttural growl that sent shivers crawling up their spines. The world slammed back into focus as both boys froze, their panting breaths the only sound for a fraction of a second. Then the stench hit them-pungent, acrid, and unmistakably vile.

Slowly, as if pulled by an invisible string, they both turned their heads toward the source. There it was. The slime monster.

Fuck.

Its amorphous, quivering body oozed into the alley, blocking the light as it crept closer, its eyes gleaming with malicious intent. A wet, gurgling laugh echoed through the narrow space, sending a shudder through Izuku's spine. Talk about failure.

"Well, what do we have here?" it rasped, its voice thick and grotesque. "Two tasty little morsels just waiting for me-".

Izuku scrambled to his feet, pulling Katsuki up with him despite the blonde's protests as he tried to slap his hands away. They barely had a moment to exchange a glance-one filled with equal parts panic and reluctant understanding-before the monster lunged.

Izuku barely managed to yank Katsuki out of the way, the two boys stumbling back against the narrow alley wall. The creature's tendrils splattered onto the asphalt with a wet smack, leaving a viscous trail as it retracted.

"Stay out of my way, Deku!" Katsuki snarled, his palm crackling to life with an ominous hiss. He thrust his hand forward, a fiery explosion ripping through the air and slamming into the slime monster. The force sent pieces of its gooey form splattering against the walls, but the pieces wriggled and reformed, the monster laughing as if mocking Katsuki's efforts, even if they landed.

Izuku's heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing. It's regenerating too quickly. He glanced around, searching for something, anything that could help.

Meanwhile, Katsuki kept hurling explosions, his hands scorching with heat, his teeth clenched in raw frustration.

He was getting angrier.

"Damn it!" Katsuki barked as he blasted another tendril. "Why won't this piece of crap die?". Katsuki's face twisted in anger, but before he could retort, the monster struck again, sending a wave of slime crashing toward them. Izuku yanked Katsuki backward again, the two of them tumbling to the ground as the tendrils slammed into the spot where they'd just been standing.

Both boys scrambled to their feet, their breaths coming in sharp gasps. Katsuki looked at Izuku, his face flushed with frustration. "You're slowing me down!"

"Well, sorry if I don't want you to get us killed!" Izuku shot back, his voice slightly rising from his chest. "Or worse, absorbed!".

Katsuki froze for half a second, his glare faltering as the word sank in.

But the moment was short-lived.

He snarled, shoving past Izuku and throwing another explosion at the monster.

Izuku cursed under his breath, his mind racing as he tried to think of a way to turn this around. Every instinct in him screamed to run, but he knew Katsuki would have never left - never could have left, not when he was that much determined to win.

The monster let out a deep, rumbling laugh as it absorbed the impact of Katsuki's blast, growing larger with each attack. It was feeding off the energy, thriving on their desperation. Izuku stared at it for a moment, his mind piecing together the situation like a puzzle. And then it hit him — a wild, ridiculous idea that might just work.

"Kacchan," he said, his voice low and steady. They were in a fucking anime, after all.

"What?" Katsuki snapped, his tone raw and impatient. Izuku didn't answer right away. Instead, he reached for his backpack.

Izuku's breath came in ragged gasps as he yanked his backpack from his shoulder, frantically rummaging through it, his hands trembling slightly as he fumbled with the zipper. Katsuki's eyes narrowed, his lips pulling into a sneer as he shot him a glare. "What the hell are you doing? You just said we're gonna die, and you're digging for your stupid notebook?!".

"No, no, no, no—" Izuku muttered, ignoring Katsuki as his hand finally closed around the cylindrical object he'd been searching for. His deodorant. It was a random, desperate idea, but it might work. "Not my notebook."

"Kacchan!" Izuku shouted again, yanking the cap off the deodorant with his teeth. Katsuki was already lunging toward the monster again, but Izuku tried to grab his arm and thrust the spray can into his hand, failing.

"Again, what, fucking Deku?" Katsuki frowned and snapped, his tone raw and impatient, but his eyes didn't leave the green slimy monster to look at Izuku, too concentrated.

Izuku flinched as some of the slime landed near his shoes, his heart pounding. "Kacchan, listen to me! You need to stop-".

"I don't need your damn advice, nerd!" Katsuki yelled, cutting him off. "I'm not some weakling like you, stay back!".

Izuku bit back a retort, his grey eyes hardening as he watched Katsuki charge forward again, his explosions growing more erratic and desperate. The monster was harsher with him now, its tendrils darting out and retreating, lashing at him.

Another tendril lashed out, wrapping around Katsuki's arm with brutal force. Katsuki struggled against it, his free hand sparking wildly as he tried to blast it off.

"Kacchan!" Izuku lunged forward, grabbing Katsuki's other arm and yanking him back with all his strength. "Stop, idiot."

"Let go, Deku!" Katsuki snarled, his voice shaking with fury. "I've got this!"

"Yes, you do!" Izuku snapped back, his voice stern. "If you quit being a hot head escalating as always, now if you just-!". The two of them stumbled, their movements frantic and uneven as they tried to stay out of the monster's grasp. Izuku's fingers dug into Katsuki's wrist, his mind whirling.

Izuku didn't even blink. His gray eyes were calm and steady, though his heart was pounding in his chest. "Hold still."

"What—" Katsuki didn't get a chance to finish. Izuku sprayed the deodorant directly onto Katsuki's trembling and contracting palm, coating it in a thick, flammable layer. 

"Deku, you bastard!" Katsuki roared, yanking his hand back, but it was too late. Izuku shoved him forward, toward the monster, his voice sharp and commanding. Katsuki blinked, his mouth opening slightly before snapping shut. "What the hell is that supposed to do?" he screamed back at him. "Freshen it up before we die?".

"Blast it!" Izuku shouted, amused despite himself. "Now!" Katsuki blinked, the chaos around them momentarily drowned out by his confusion. Then, his eyes darkened with realisation, a wild grin splitting his face.

"You're fucking insane, Deku," he muttered, his voice laced with something dangerously close to approval. "You shitty-".

"Just do it!" Izuku snapped, his voice sharper than Katsuki had ever heard it. Katsuki didn't hesitate. He turned back to the slime monster, which was now surging toward them again, its grotesque mouth gaping wide. Katsuki pressed down on the nozzle, spraying a cloud of deodorant into the air as the creature loomed closer. It was disgusting.

His eyes blazed with fury, but his instincts took over. He raised his hand, his palm sparking with a massive explosion that ignited the minty smelling deodorant.

"Eat this!" Katsuki roared, slamming his palm into the aerosol mist. The resulting explosion was massive, the alley filling with a deafening boom and a blinding flash of light. The force knocked Izuku off his feet, and the slime monster let out an ear-splitting shriek as its body was blasted apart, chunks of goo raining down like molten hail. It was done.

For a moment, silence hung in the air, broken only by the sound of their laboured breathing. Izuku pushed himself up on shaky arms, his head spinning. Katsuki was already on his feet, his chest heaving, his hand still sparking faintly as he surveyed the destruction.

But the monster wasn't completely gone. Amid the splattered remains on the ground, a small piece of slime twitched, its single eye glaring at them balefully.

"Not so tough now, huh?" Katsuki sneered, his voice hoarse. The deodorant bottle forgotten on the ground. Air was heavy and smelled like peppermint.

Izuku groaned as he pushed himself up, his arms and legs aching. He crawled over to the puddle, pulling an empty water bottle from his bag and scooping up the remains.

Katsuki staggered to his feet, his hands blackened and his face streaked with soot and fury. He turned to Izuku, his lips curling into a furious snarl. "You sprayed me with deodorant?!" he yelled, his voice cracking.

"And it worked," Izuku replied coolly, capping the bottle and standing up. His gray eyes met Katsuki's with an unflinching gaze. "You're welcome, my deodorant is yours."

Katsuki's lip twitched, his fists clenching at his sides. For a moment, it looked like he was about to launch another explosion—at Izuku.

But then he snorted, shoving his hands into his pockets as he turned away. "You're still a damn Quirkless," he muttered.

"And you're still alive," Izuku shot back, his voice calm but laced with a faint edge of amusement. "we won, but at what cost?".

Neither of them said anything else as the smoke finally cleared and the monster was no more, their eyes adjusted to the new light and they realised they were being watched. The crowd erupted into cheers. Applause rippled through the gathered onlookers, their voices rising with awe and excitement.

"Did you see that? They actually beat it!";

"That kid's explosion was incredible!";

"Wait, isn't that Bakugou Katsuki? He's always been talented!".

"And the other one? The one with the crazy hair? He's so calm—it's like he's a pro already!".

"Do you think he has a Quirk that makes him super smart? Or maybe it's strategic—he was giving orders like a hero!".

Izuku froze, his hand still gripping his backpack tightly where the water bottle with the remains of the slime monster was tucked away. The warmth of their praise was foreign and unsettling. His grey eyes darted around, scanning the faces in the crowd as his heart thudded heavily. Well, that was new.

Beside him, Katsuki's lips twitched upward into the faintest, smug grin. "Damn right I'm incredible," he muttered under his breath, but the slight tremble in his voice betrayed his exhaustion. He really had put a fight.

Izuku, on the other hand, felt a knot of tension forming in his chest. It wasn't supposed to go like this. Where the fuck was canon?; surely he hadn't had the time to think about it while he risked fucking dying, but now it was major problem. Then again, that wasn't exactly something he could have planned for.

Suddenly, the cheers quieted as a strong gust of wind swept through the area, silencing the murmurs like a tide retreating. Izuku's eyes widened, and his head snapped up. He already knew who it was before he saw him.

"All Might," someone whispered in awe.

And there he was, stepping through the crowd like a force of nature. All Might's towering frame exuded confidence and authority, his white shirt rippling slightly in the aftermath of his leap. His brilliant smile glowed like the sun, but his sharp blue eyes were scanning the scene with precision, noting every detail — the scorched street, the puddle of melted slime, the two disheveled teens standing at the center of it all barking at each other.

Izuku's chest tightened. He wasn't sure if it was fear, excitement, or something in between. Maybe it was emptiness.

"HO HO!" All Might boomed, his voice carrying over the crowd. "Quite the commotion we've had here, eh?"

Katsuki straightened up, his chest puffing out. "Damn right it was a commotion. That thing attacked me, so I blew it to bits!". There were a few chuckles in the crowd, but Izuku could see All Might's sharp gaze flicker toward him, lingering for a split second longer than on Katsuki. "Where were you?".

"And you," All Might said, ignoring him, his tone shifting to something softer as his piercing blue eyes focused on Izuku. "You seemed to keep your cool under pressure."

Izuku swallowed hard. He could feel the weight of All Might's words pressing down on him. It wasn't just a passing observation. It felt like something more, something intentional. That was it.

"Well, we were about to die. I used deodorant because it's inflammable," Izuku bluntly said, scratching the back of his neck. "It wasn't anything special like Kacchan's explosion."

He still felt the ground beneath him precarious, as if the burst was still growing under the street. That was raw; he was amazing. Kacchan was amazing.

"Not special?" someone from the crowd called out. "You were leading that fight like a pro; you did good kid!"

"Seriously! That spray trick was genius!".

"Yeah! He's gotta have a Quirk for this kind of thing—there's no way he's just a normal kid!".

Katsuki scowled, his eyes darting to Izuku. "He's not—"; Izuku smiled innocently as he stepped on Katsuki's foot, cutting him off with a tight-lipped smile. "I'm an hygiene freak, I guess," he said, his voice steady but humble.

All Might chuckled, his smile broadening slightly, but there was a glimmer of something in his eyes—interest, maybe even curiosity. "Luck, intelligence, or strategy, you did well. Both of you," he said, his tone turning commanding. "But this kind of heroism comes with risks. You're both lucky to have walked away from this in one piece."

Katsuki huffed, crossing his arms. "I didn't need luck." All Might didn't respond immediately, his gaze returning to Izuku. For a brief moment, the world seemed to narrow, and Izuku felt like All Might was looking straight through him. It wasn't just admiration or approval—it was deeper, sharper.

"You've got a good head on your shoulders, young man," All Might said, his voice quieter, almost private. "Don't lose that."

Izuku blinked, his breath hitching. Before he could reply, Katsuki grabbed a string of his backpack, tugging on it. "We were fucking going home, anyway. I'm hungry."

All Might straightened up, addressing the crowd again. "Now, citizens, everything is under control! Please clear the area and let the authorities handle the aftermath!" The crowd began to disperse with police's help, some still murmuring about the fight and the boys at the center of it.

All Might turned back to Izuku and Katsuki one last time. "You two take care. And remember: heroism isn't just about power—it's about heart." With that, he leapt into the air, disappearing into the horizon with a gust of wind that blew their hair.

Izuku stared after him, his mind racing. That moment— those words — they felt like the start of something much bigger than himself. He couldn't appreciate the quiet much because Katsuki punched his side. Not too hard, but he was bruised already.

As the crowd dispersed, Katsuki's scowl deepened, his crimson eyes darting to where All Might had disappeared into the sky. The cheers and praise from the bystanders still echoed faintly in the background, and Katsuki's jaw tightened with every word. "What's with that stupid face, all lovely looking at the sky, you damn shit?"; 

"'Good head on your shoulders,'" he muttered under his breath, mocking All Might's tone. "Tch. Like that idiot needs someone blowing smoke up his Quirkless ass."

Izuku glanced at him, his grey eyes calm but sharp, catching the tension in Katsuki's clenched fists and the crackle of suppressed heat in his palms. He blinked. "You jealous, Kacchan?" he asked, his voice casual but edged with a cheeky lilt.

Katsuki's glare shot to him like a lightning bolt. "Shut up, Deku. Why the hell would I be jealous of a guy who thinks you're something special?"; his teeth practically bit the words.

Izuku chuckled softly, shifting his bag higher on his shoulder as they began walking. "Because he's All Might," he said, his tone teasing but measured. "And you're not used to anyone praising me for anything, huh?".

Katsuki didn't reply, but his scowl deepened, and he shoved his hands into his pockets with more force than necessary. Izuku, amused, let the silence stretch as they fell into their usual rhythm. Katsuki stomped ahead, shoulders stiff, and Izuku followed behind, his steps lighter but just as steady.

The sky was a soft orange, the sun dipping low on the horizon as they walked through the quiet streets. Katsuki's house came into view, its familiar front gate just a few meters ahead. Normally, this would be where he turned off, muttering some variation of "go die, nerd" before slamming the gate behind him.

But tonight, Katsuki kept walking. Izuku slowed for a moment, glancing at the gate as they passed it. "Uh, Kacchan? Your house is right there. Did you miss it?".

"I know that, dumbass," Katsuki snapped without looking back, his hands deepening in his pockets, his back getting more and more hunched by the second. "That slime freak didn't blind me, you fucking idiot."

Izuku blinked, his pace quickening to catch up. "So, you're walking me home now?". The fuck was Katsuki even doing?; like, for real.

Katsuki's glare was sharp enough to cut steel. "Shut up. Don't make it weird." Izuku smirked, though he wisely kept his mouth shut for a moment. The truth was, this wasn't entirely new — Katsuki had walked him home a few times before, always with some flimsy excuse about needing to blow off steam or being bored. But today felt different.

"You're not worried about me, are you?" Izuku asked, his voice light but probing. What he really wanted to ask was why are you sticking to me like glue today?, you screwed up every possibility I have to meet All Might in private.

Katsuki scoffed, his hands still jammed into his pockets. "Worried? About you? As if. I just don't trust your dumbass not to trip over your own feet and get me into trouble again."

Izuku's smirk grew, but he suppressed the urge to push further. Instead, they walked in silence, the air between them humming with unspoken tension. By the time they reached Izuku's neighbourhood, the streetlights were flickering on, casting long shadows on the pavement. Katsuki stopped at the edge of the gate leading to the Midoriya household, crossing his arms and leaning against the post like he owned the place.

"Well? Get inside already," he grumbled, his tone sharp but lacking real bite. Izuku turned to face him, Katsuki was really being a pain in the ass, but he could feel his grey eyes softening slightly as he shrugged.

"Thanks, Kacchan," he said simply, his voice quieter than usual. He was really grateful, but he needed to be alone, right now.

Katsuki's lips twitched, caught somewhere between a sneer and a scowl. "Don't thank me, you idiot. Just don't make me do it again."

Izuku chuckled softly, opening the gate and stepping inside. "Goodnight, Kacchan." Katsuki didn't reply, but he lingered at the gate for a moment longer, watching as Izuku disappeared into the house. He really just couldn't let him be, huh?

Then, with a sharp turn, he stuffed his hands back into his pockets and started the walk back to his own home, the tension in his shoulders easing ever so slightly.

Without Katsuki knowing, there was not much to be relaxed about. The fucking nerd went out again under the guise of leaving the trash at the gate for the garbage truck the next morning as soon as the explosive kid was out of sight. He needed to check.

The moment stretched, the sun sinking lower behind the buildings, its orange glow soaking the street in warmth. Izuku lingered by the gate, the garbage bag forgotten at his feet, as All Might's towering figure faced him.

"Don't worry," All Might began, his grin wide and brilliant. "Because I am—".

But before he could finish, a violent cough escaped him. His broad chest convulsed, and steam hissed from his body as it began to shrink, deflating like a balloon. Izuku froze, his sharp grey eyes widening slightly as he watched the number one hero transform before his very eyes.

When the steam cleared, there stood a thin, gaunt man in All Might's place. His once-proud posture had given way to a slight hunch, and his eyes, though tired, still carried the unmistakable spark of the legend. The world seemed smaller somehow, quieter, but the warm hues of the sunset softened the starkness of his frailty.

Seeing it in person was crazy. There was such a change in his demeanour, as his shoulders, now tiny and tired, fell lower. Just his eyes kept that inhuman energy. "All Might," Izuku breathed, his voice low but steady, "what-".

"Not what you expected, huh?" All Might interrupted with a weak chuckle, scratching the back of his head, as if he was embarrassed. Izuku could understand it. He had a lot of pressure about being strong; the world was on his tiny shoulders. "This is my true form. The one I've been hiding from the world for years now."

Izuku didn't respond immediately. His grey eyes scanned the hero, lingering on the sunken features and the weary lines etched into his face. "What happened to you?" he finally asked, his tone careful, almost clinical.

All Might sighed, his gaze turning briefly to the horizon. "A battle injury," he said, lifting his shirt slightly to reveal the gnarled scar that stretched across his torso. The sight was jarring, even for someone like Izuku, who wasn't easily shaken. "It left me in this state. I can only maintain my muscular form for a few hours a day now."

Izuku's lips parted slightly, his usual calm demeanour giving way to something softer, almost reverent. He was looking at the man, not the myth. "I see, I had my doubts but-" he murmured, his tone measured, thoughtful. "You really are cool. The coolest".

Something strange happened to All Might's skinny and pointy face as he gave him a small smile - yet, his lips looked tight, as he was tumbling down his emotions, his blue eyes darting, his gaunt face lighting up. "And that's exactly why I'm here, young man." He stepped forward, his frail frame casting a long shadow in the golden light. "I came to find you after what I witnessed today. You and that fiery friend of yours that fought with you."

Izuku blinked, his gaze sharpening. "Me and Kacchan?"; his words were slow. He was trying to keep his mind in the present.

His fingers curled up the uniform's sleeve.

All Might nodded. "I saw how you fought — how you thought, how you acted towards him, when others would have surrendered to his stubbornness. That moment with the deodorant, your quick reflexes, your calm under pressure. It was impressive. So impressive, in fact, that I did a little digging." Izuku's stomach twisted, though his expression remained steady.

Digging?; in his past experiences, digging about him wasn't good at all. Yet, in this life he had nothing to hide. More or less. "And imagine my poorly educated shock," All Might continued, his voice soft but carrying an edge of gravity, "when I found out someone like you is Quirkless."

The word hung in the air, heavy and unspoken for too long. Izuku's shoulders stiffened slightly, his grey eyes narrowing, though there was no malice in his gaze.

"I know," All Might said quickly, sensing the shift. "You've probably heard it a thousand times before. But I'm not here to pity you." His voice grew stronger, more resolute, as he stepped closer. "I'm here to tell you something else." Holy fuck.

Izuku tilted his head slightly, his mouth opening just a fraction. "Young man!" All Might's voice rang out, powerful despite his thin form. "I have deemed you worthy of inheriting the glorious power of All Might; I'm gonna give you One for All!".

For a moment, the world seemed to stop. The orange light of the setting sun bathed them both, painting the moment in gold. Izuku stared, his mouth slowly opening further, but no words came out. His grey eyes, usually so steady and unshaken, glimmered faintly, catching the warmth of the light.

"What-?" he finally managed, his voice barely above a whisper. It wasn't really because of confusion about his wording, though. It was about why. What had he done that was so special?; using deodorant was rare now?

"I want you to become my successor," All Might said, his grin returning. "You've got the heart of a hero, young man. The kind of heart that this world desperately needs."

Izuku's chest felt tight, his pulse thundering in his ears. The warmth of the sun was nothing compared to the heat crawling under his skin now, spreading from his core outward. For the first time in two lifetimes, he felt something unnameable—a mixture of awe, hope, and disbelief, all wrapped into one.

"I-" His voice faltered, and he swallowed hard, his fingers clenching slightly at his sides, he decided to go for the truth, because anything else was struck in his throat. "I don't know what I should answer to this statement."

"Say yes," All Might said simply, his grin widening. Izuku looked down, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. When he lifted his gaze again, the setting sun reflected in his grey eyes, making them seem almost alight; almost green.

"Yes," he said softly, the word carrying more weight than any declaration he'd ever made before. Yeah, that was the right word.