Chapter Text
Toshinori is a goddamn idiot.
Less than a day ago he’d left to fight his arch nemesis. All for One had laughed – laughed – before laying waste to Toshinori, and Mirai had been stuck on the sidelines. His quirk is useless without skin contact first, and Toshinori had made it perfectly clear just where he belonged in this fight. He’d watched from the sidelines as All for One nearly murdered his partner. The win was confirmed, but no body recovered.
Mirai saw the future, saw his lover facing an impossible battle, and blinked. All Might could easily end his career safely, and nobody would be the wiser. Toshinori refused, ten minutes ago. Refused his request to fight for the future together.
Which is why Mirai is here, and not by his lovers bedside.
“You should talk to him,” is the first thing Mirai hears when he steps out of the hospital. Midoriya is beside him, though how he got there is anyone’s guess. The teenager watches traffic go by, hands folded neatly in a sweatshirt that simply reads the word ‘sweatshirt.’
“I did,” Mirai says hoarsely. He doesn’t know why he’s confiding in Midoriya of all people. He hardly knows the kid, just knows their most valuable tip-off came from a teenager with green hair and patience stretching out to infinity. Midoriya had refused to meet All Might, so Mirai had interviewed the kid instead. Midoriya had left a… lasting impression. Something about the quirkless boy is old, older than the hospital’s foundations, and Mirai knows instinctively that Midoriya has kept bigger secrets than one man’s shattered love life.
“You think he’ll die,” Midoriya says, as if he were commenting on the weather. Mirai’s breath catches.
“I can’t say what I saw, Midoriya.”
“I know. But history repeats itself, which is its own type of foresight. He’s going to keep being a hero, Mr. Nighteye,” Midoriya continues gently. “All of them do. Even if they can’t fight, can’t move, they’ll still be heroes. Isn’t it better to treasure them all the more?”
Before they’re dead, Mirai’s mind supplies. He knows what Midoriya is saying – he just doesn’t want to hear it.
“Toshinori always defies expectations,” Mirai can’t help but mutter.
“Good.” Midoriya says, still watching the traffic. “Tell him not to emulate them. His predecessors.”
Blood freezes in Mirai’s veins. Midoriya is a civilian, he shouldn’t know, shouldn’t have heard of One for All, shouldn’t be able to imagine the amount of blood on All for One’s hands-
But Midoriya had known All for One’s location, provided that last crucial piece that ensured success in this last battle. Still, even if the villain is connected to this child, it’s not information Mirai can give freely.
“I’m not sure I know what you mean,” Mirai tries, but he’s already brittle and broken from the day. It falls just short of convincing. Midoriya pulls up his hood against the wind and bows.
“He’s already survived once, you know. Hardest part is over.” Midoriya straightens, expression calm as always. “Good day, Sir. Please watch out for him.”
Midoriya disappears into the crowd, and Mirai is left alone.
He would have been silent, would have spent years not talking to Toshinori if not for the hurried call informing him that somewhere out there is a green haired boy who knows entirely too much. All Might and Sir Nighteye stay partners.
It’s a close thing, for a while. But they manage.