Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

They met almost two years ago. Both fairly new to the inside worlds of heroes and villains. The hero, Deku, was sent out to patrol an area where a new uprising villain was spotted the most. His job was to keep the people in the area safe and if he spots the villain, apprehend them, alive or dead.   

Two hours had passed and he was starting to get antsy because nothing had happened yet. Nothing out of the ordinary; photographs, autographs, saving a kitten from a tree. Those were normal. No burglary or thefts or break-ins. The little voice in his head told him maybe he should be happy that no villains were out causing trouble. But the hero in him told him that no villains most likely meant something deeper was happening, someone was planning something and he had enough villain encounters in his life to get some trustworthy intuition and paranoia. He was just about to call in with an update before the flutter of something out of the corner of his eye caught his attention- he turned his head to find himself face-to-face with the person he's been sent out here for. He doesn't know what he was expecting but the smug smirk on their face certainly wasn’t supposed to affect him the way it did. Or the ruby-red eyes peeking out from behind a mask that was looking at him like some meal. Or that voice.   

“Hello hero, you’re new around here, aren’t you? You here for little old’ me?”   

“Yeah, Ground Zero, so are we going to do this the easy way or the hard way?”  

The tip of their finger was brought up to their chin. “Hm... hero, let us try the hard way.” And they were off, running back into the alleyway and up the building.   

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HERO NEWS WEEKLY  

DEKU AND GROUND ZERO NEW RIVALS?!  

October XX, 2XXX  

Two days ago hero Deku and villain Ground Zero running across rooftops with Deku chasing after Ground Zero. Insight from Deku’s agencysay, Deku was sent out into the area where Ground Zero has been spotted recently. With Deku as the next symbol of pro hero's after late All Mights retirement, and Ground Zero quickly climbing the ranks in the underworld, it’s predicted by some that these two will become rivals like All for One and All Might almost a decade ago...  

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“Good afternoon Deku. How are you this fine day?” The blonde-haired villain dropped down in front of Deku. Stopping him in his trek through a dark alleyway. It brings him DeJa'Vu from when they first met. That was a couple of months ago now. They’ve created a sort of ritual at this point. Some banter. Then a chase that ended up as more of a race recently to Ground Zero’s place. Where they shed their personas and hang out as...friends you could say.   

“Oh, you know, just spending my day saying the citizens. Now I’ve sent out to find and try to apprehend my new rival, have you seen him?  

“The villain Ground Zero? Around here? You better get on that?”  

“Yeah, I will,” Deku smirked and started his full cowling. Lighting up the alleyway in green. And the race began. They ended at the apartment with Ground Zero winning just like he always has. Entering the house in the woods where no one can spot them they took off the masks and found each other to smile at freely.   

“So Katsuki they say were going to end up as rivals like All for One and All Might.”  

“Those old men? Comparing us to them? They don’t see you and me at the end of the day where you end up in my bed. Wonder what they would say if they saw their golden boy cuddling up a villain.”  

Izuku turned from where he was stripping out of his hero costume and threw his clothes at Katsuki, “Idiot.” The smirk he got in return did nothing to him. Nope, no butterflies or flush to his cheeks. “I’m going to go raid your closet, you making dinner?”  

Katsuki walked into the kitchen as Izuku walked into his room. “Yeah Izuku, you can’t cook for shit.” The offended squeak he got in return did nothing to deter the smile on his face.  

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HERO NEWS WEEKLY  

AFTERMATH OF LATEST DEKU AND GROUND ZERO FIGHT  

January XX, 2XXX  

Early this morning Deku and Ground Zero had another encounter. This time they seemed to be fighting instead of their usual chasings. We congratulate Deku in his close win. Ground Zero was seen heavily injured after distracting Deku and blasting off to most likely deal with his injuries. Below are pictures from the fight, shown is Deku...  

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Deku knew he messed up. He was pissed off by the hero commission bitching about how he hasn’t caught Ground Zero yet. He wasn’t paying attention when someone sneaked up behind him, he attacked. By then Ground Zero attacked back to keep from getting injured. It ended up in them dueling it out and destroying blocks. After he escaped the paramedics and the paparazzi, he snuck out to go apologize and explain. Entering the house he noticed the blood drips leading to the bathroom and Ground Zero’s clothes strewn about. The blood scared him. At least the amount did. He was expecting some but not a lot. He didn’t think he injured him that bad, did he?  

“...Kacchan?”  

“In here nerd.” The bathroom, he was right.   

He walked and softly knocked and then opened the door to find Kacchan sitting on the bathtub cleaning a wound in his side. He winced. He didn’t remember doing that.   

“I’m sorry.”  

“Don’t be. It's fine.” The gruff reply was weird.   

“No Kacchan, I took out my anger on you and you got hurt." Izuku got on his knees in from of him and grabbed the rag out of his hands and began dabbing at the wound.   

“Zuku...” Izuku ignored him and kept his eyes on the wound in front of him. The bleeding had stopped so he reached to the side to grab bandages. Before he could start gentle hands grabbed his face and pulled it up. His eyes met those same ruby red ones he first looked into all those months ago. “It’s fine. Really. I’ll be okay.” A thumb caressed under his eye. Caressed a scratch a piece of flyaway rubble caused in the same fight. “We’re both okay.”   

A forehead dropped to rest on his. Their eyes still locked on each other. Looking at each other with softness no ‘moral rivals’ should be looking at each other with. But here they weren’t Deku and Ground Zero. They were Zuku and Kacchan. Their eyes conveyed what they wanted without looking down. Katsuki dipped down and they met in a soft kiss.   

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HERO NEWS WEEKLY  

WHEN IS IT GOING TO END?  

August XX, 2XXX  

It’s been almost two years since Deku and Ground Zero started their rivalry. People are starting to ask when these two rivals are going to have their final battle. With Ground Zero being one the most wanted villains out there today. Deku has recently reached number one in the charts. That brings us the question, when is it going to end?...  

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“People are starting to ask questions Kacchan.” Izuku was laying on Katsuki’s chest. Wrapped in a blanket to protect the cold reaching their bare skin. He was tracing old scars. Watching his fingers move with the ridges. Feeling the heartbeat, that lay beneath the skin.  

“Let them Zuku.” Katsuki watched this strong hero lay unguarded against him. Showing him absolute trust. His green curls are a tousled mess. But still so easy to run his hands through. Those green eyes looking at him with so much love, he knew they were, even if they currently weren’t looking at his own.  

“The hero commission is getting suspicious. They’re wondering what’s taking so long. They’ll start searching for other ways for you to stop being a thorn in their side.” Izuku looked up when Katsuki huffed and stop running his hands through his hair. The hands now come to wrap around his waist.  

“I’ll always be a thorn in their side. I hate them. That’s why I do what I do.”   

“I know.” Izuku smiled up at him. “I’m just worried.”   

Kacchan smiled down at him and kissed his nose. “You’re allowed too. Nothing's going to happen. Now let's go to sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow during our daily chase love.”   

Right, he did have to leave early in the morning. A meeting and all that with some other heroes. But right now, he relaxed in his lovers' arms and staved off the worry to get some sleep.   

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For two whole years. They bantered and slowly became some sort of friends. Then more. All against their projected morals but it happened. They shared moments no one could ever find out about while working up in their opposite ways of life. They became big. Their names became known. Their rivalry and battles were broadcasted on the news every day. They should’ve known it would have to end someday. But they ignored it, precious moments were the priority. So, the day it came to a head, just the next day after they talked about it, they had the right to be dismayed.  

He wished he would’ve pushed the other to understand his worry more. He was right to be worried. The hero commission wanted it to end. So, they manipulated things around them to force the final battle. It was hard. Heroes and Villains surrounded them fighting. They had to fight each other. They couldn’t escape. Deku had to serve his people.   

“Go on,” Ground Zero rasped.   

Blood spilled around him and painted his lips. He stared up at those shaking hands, ones that used to hold him with such certainty, but now held the object that would finish him off, if blood loss didn’t do it first. He chuckled at the thought, causing more blood to spill past his lips. The gun he stared down was aimed at his heart. Such a shot would surely kill him at point-blank range. Deku wouldn’t kill him with his bare hands. He loved him too much to do that.   

 “Finish it.”   

The hero’s hands wavered hearing those words. Surely this had to be a joke. The man he stood above would surely make this another part of his elaborate schemes. His head was spinning. Adrenaline coursing nauseously throughout his body. The scene reminded him of meetings before. Less blood. Fewer tears. This was all a part of the chase. Maybe, maybe it was time to put that to an end.    

“Zuku,” There was no more mask to obstruct his view from those eyes he used to lose himself in, they stared up at him with love and determination. “You need to finish it.”   

A choked sob, the world turned into a blur as well as the sounds, the taste, the smell, the people surrounding them.   

He reached up and repositioned their hands where they were once loose, pressing the gun into his own chest. “You’ll be a hero they remember. Everyone will love you and thank you for this day. This world will be yours. You’ve grown so much since we met. You’ve fought so hard. I know you can do it. It’s alright. I trust you. I love you.”   

“Do you want to die? You promised me forever, Kacchan!”   

“I know what I promised. A lie for a temporary truth. Look at what it cost us.”   

A gentle caress of the cheek, one last true smile before-   

“It’s not bad, getting caught that is, as long as it’s you who does the job.”   

-his forever pulled the trigger and forever became no more.  

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HERO NEWS WEEKLY  

DEKU WINS  

October XX, 2XXX  

It’s been two years since the rivalry started between Ground Zero and Deku. And it’s over! In a battle between multiple villains and heroes Deku and Ground Zero meet for their final battle. Deku finishes the rivalry with his win.  In this interview with Duality...  

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Two days later when Izuku’s out of the hospital he rushes to Katsuki’s house. He had to be there right now. He rushed in and into the bedroom finding it just like he left it that morning but with a sleeping Katsuki gone out of the bed. He collapses on the bed in tears and screams into the blankets.  

“You were right Kacchan. They speak of me as the true hero that day. But right now, I would much rather be a villain if it means I get back to having forever with you.”   

Chapter Text

Izuku didn’t know how to live his life anymore. He didn’t have his person anymore. Now all he had is being a pro hero day in and day out. So that’s what he did. He submerged his whole being into working for the people. But it was different. It was still different than before. Katsuki was in every part of his life. And now he’s gone. All he had left is the house in the woods. Every day he would go to work. He would have meetings, modeling shoots, interviews, and appearances. He was getting tired. But when he would sit in that room and on that bed all the memories would come back and he would cry. He couldn’t cry all the time. He had to live somehow. But the hero commission workers would just keep coming with more things to do other than out in the streets saving the civilians. That’s what being a hero was about. He was starting to see why Kacchan hated the professional hero world. No one cared for the real reason behind heroism anymore. And he was going to fix it. Starting with this interview he had today.  

Walking in he was dressed business casual. With a red button-up shirt, one that was the closest to his lovers' eyes, and some black slacks. He walked onto the stage waving to the cameras and people that were here in person when he was introduced.  

Interviewer: ...Welcome hero DEKU!! He greeted the interviewer and shook his hand and sat down in his designated chair. Everyone was clapping.  

“Thank you for such the warm welcome I’m happy to be here.” 

“No thank you Deku, we’re happy you’re here. You’re busy these days.” 

Deku leaned back in his chair. Nodding his head and flashed his signature smile. “A hero’s job is never done.”  

“I understand. Let’s start,” The interviewer pulled out a stack of cards. “We collected some questions; would you be okay with answering them”  

“Yes, of course, I would be glad to give you some answers.”  

And the routine of answering the same basic question started. How hero life was treating him. What he did in his free time. Of course, he lied. How his hero friends were. And then they started asking questions about his two-year rivalry that ended just two weeks ago.  

“Now we all know Ground Zero, but we don’t know what you know about him. Anything you’d be willing to share about the villain?”  

If anyone was bothering to pay attention to his body language, they could see Deku was starting to get uncomfortable. If his old teacher and friends were watching he knew they would notice. They didn’t spend three years in the same vicinity to not pick up on his tells. “Ah, Ground Zero. Let's start off with some basic information. First his name was Bakugo Katsuki.”  

“A name? So, the Ground Zero’s name is now revealed, anything else.” 

Deku watched as everyone tried to hold in their excitement. They knew he had information and he would be sharing it. On live tv none the less. The Commission is going to be after his ass after this. But it’s what he has to do. For Kacchan. For them. He leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees. Holding his hands together. He wiped his façade off his face.  

“Now Katsuki,” He could see the interviewer's surprise. First name usage? That was weird. But not for their level of relationship, but no one knew that. “He is no villain,” He raised his hand to stop the oncoming outcry. “Maybe in the Commission point of view. They wanted you to think he is. They painted him as this horrible person that hated heroes. That wanted to get rid of them and kill them all. They wanted you to think of him as some sort of All for One. And me All Might. But let me tell you. Neither of us are who we are painted as. He is an activist. He wants the world to see the corruption that we have in the world. That the Commission has. It’s dark. And it’s a lot.”  

“Deku, would you say you agree with Gro- uh Bakugo” 

Deku nodded, “Oh a hundred percent.” 

“How do you know all of this? If you just had interactions on the field.”  

“That’s why I know. Because we didn’t just have interactions on the field. We talked. All of the time. Some arguments about our morals. They are more similar than anyone would think for us being on opposite sides of society. It was hard for us to believe too. We want the same things. For people to see that their vies are messed up. Heroism is about the people. About justice. But nowadays it’s about money. About popularity.” 

“Interesting, do tell us more.”  

“Oh, I plan on it. Now we were friends. More than friends.” 

“Deku the connotations in that sentence can be taken that you guys were best friends...lovers?” 

He nodded with a smile on his face. “That's why I said it.” 

“Lovers? You guys were lovers?” 

“Within four months of our first meeting and appearance as ‘rivals’” 

“So, you put on this show.... why?” 

“Now isn’t that a great question, I want everyone to listen to this, the commission is a manipulative bastard of a corporation. It wants control over everything it thinks it owns. And they think they own me. As their number one hero. Now don’t get me wrong I love being a hero and doing what I do. But they want me to be their golden boy successor of All Might. And I am not that. I am a hero that wants to help people and got to where I am today by working my fucking ass off. All for One and All Might be damned. I have One for All now. It has no purpose other than being my quirk. Kacchan wanted the world to see it and after his death, I will use my privilege of being the number one hero to make people see he was right.” 

“You mentioned something called, what was it, One for All? This seems similar to All for One.” 

“In a way yes, it came from All for One. He gave it to his quirkless brother, which didn’t end up being quirkless, he had the ability to pass down quirks, and his brother passed it down generation from generation to stop his brother. All Might had it. He passed it down to me. And now All for One is gone and his true successor. It has no other use than being a quirk.”  

“Back to Bakugo, you said your morals are very similar? What are you planning?” 

“To do the same he did but on this side of society. But first, a friend of mine caught his final moments on video. I would like to show you how he really is under his persona. I want to warn the younger viewers to turn away. It’s graphic.  

“Yes of course. Let's hook it up.”  

On the screen behind them previewing a picture of Ground Zero and Deku changed to a shaky video of two weeks ago. In the final battle, it shows Deku standing over Ground Zero with a gun loosely held towards Ground Zero. Ground Zero is on the ground covered in blood looking up at Deku. 

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“Go on,” Ground Zero rasped.    

Blood spilled around him and painted his lips. He stared up at Deku with love in his eyes. It was obvious for anyone watching that this man on the ground loved the man standing above him. He was losing a lot of blood and surely would barely make it out alive if he went to the hospital right now. But that wouldn’t be the case. He weakly chuckled at something then coughed up more blood. The gun pointed at him if the shot would surely kill him.   

“Finish it.” Now known as Katsuki continued to say.   

The hero’s hands wavered after he spoke.   

“Zuku,” The one obstructed view of Ground Zeros face held no more mask. They could see it all as he kept his eyes holding Deku’s. “You need to finish it.”    

A choked sob sounded from Deku. It was hard for everyone watching, they could feel the pain of both parties.   

Katsuki's hands reached up and repositioned the hands of the hero where they were once loose, pressing the gun into his own chest. “You’ll be a hero they remember. Everyone will love you and thank you for this day. This world will be yours. You’ve grown so much since we met. You’ve fought so hard. I know you can do it. It’s alright. I trust you. I love you.”    

“Do you want to die? You promised me forever, Kacchan!”  Their hero finally spoke.   

“I know what I promised. A lie for a temporary truth. Look at what it cost us.”    

Katsuki gently caressed Deku’s cheek and smiled without any malice, just love.   

“It’s not bad, getting caught that is, as long as it’s you who does the job.”    

The video ended with the ring of a gunshot.  

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It was hard rewatching the moment he lost his love. He turned away from the screen and could see tears in everyone's eyes if they weren’t full-on crying already. He made eye contact with the interviewer and nodded then turned back to the camera. Anyone watching would feel as if they were making eye contact with the hero.  

“The hero commission got tired of this cat and mouse chase. They manipulated that day so we would have to fight. Only one of us would come out alive off that field. Katsuki wanted it to be me. He made that choice after his hand was forced by your so-called saviors. Do with that what you will.”  

Deku stood up and bowed and walked off the stage. He powered up his quirk and went back to His lover’s house.  

In his absence, people slowly started to clap. The interviewer dismissed the show and they all went home to question what they now knew about society.  

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HERO NEWS WEEKLY   

INSIGHT FROM DEKU  

September XX, 2XXX   

It’s been two weeks since the final battle of Deku and Ground Zero. In this interview, many things are revealed about the relationship of these two. Click here to find out more...  

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Sho:  

I saw your interview 

Are you okay? 

Izuku:  

Yeah Sho...thank you for taking the video 

It was needed for people to see the truth 

Sho:  

Yeah, anything for you 

What do you think is going to happen 

Izuku:  

The commission is going to be on my ass 

The people are too 

Do you think I did the right thing? 

Sho:  

Izuku is that even a question? 

The commission sucks 

They let my old man get away with everything 

The people are going to be on your side 

I am too 

Izuku:  

Thank you 

...for everything 

Sho:  

Thank you too 

With you and Katsuki doing this they’re finally getting karma 

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HerosSpin @HerosWeekly 

Transcript of the latest interview with Deku 

20.7M retweets 40.8M likes  

Cowboy_Ranch @Yeehaw  

@HerosWeekly  how has the commission gotten away with this stuff for so long 

10M retweets 15M likes  

Duality @OfficialDuality  

@HerosWeekly  Thank you for not taking anything out. People need to see the real truth.  

20M retweets 23M likes  

Deku @OfficialDeku  

@HerosWeekly  Thank you for this chance. Katsuki would’ve thanked you too.  

20.8M retweets 30M likes  

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It was hard but people got the news out there. People were listening. And they were acting out. Protests were led outside the main commission building. Letters and people were asking him questions. They wanted to know more. And they got more. With the help of Shoto, they exposed the commission even more. They exposed Endeavor and people got even angrier. He wanted to help even more so he brought them to court. He sued the commission for the people and everyone that was wronged by them. They won. The commission was overthrown and they were building a hero organization from the ground.  

Sitting in Katsuki’s bed in on his hoodies he stared at pictures of them together on his phone. Scrolling through them. He landed on one of them laying on the roof under the stars. They were looking at each other with so much love. A tear fell onto his phone. He shut it off and laid back.  

“We did it Kacchan. We fulfilled your goal.” He was met with silence. He doesn’t know why he was expecting anything different. The person he was talking to is dead.  

“That you did Zuku.” What the fuck? Kacchan?  

“Kacchan?” 

“Yeah, Izuku.” 

He lifted his head and found Katsuki leaning against the door frame. “Huh, I’m finally going crazy.” 

“Well, I wouldn’t doubt it babe but I am here. Alive.” He paused, “Maybe you are crazy because I shouldn’t be alive.”  

“No, you shouldn’t, but come here right the fuck now and give me a kiss.”  

Katsuki chuckled and slowly walked over, favoring his left side, he met Izuku at the end of the bed and stood between his legs. Leaning down he met Izuku for a kiss. It was hesitant at first, Izuku still unsure if this was real, but when Kacchan didn’t disappear he pulled him on top of him.  

In between kisses, Izuku asked questions. “How the fuck are you here right now?”  

“I don’t know but if I had to guess someone who understands we need to be together.” 

“You’re right, I don’t care, you’re here now show me how much you love me.” 

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Class Gay:   

Izuku:  

Picture of Katsuki snuggled up behind Izuku with his arms wrapped around his waist. He’s sleeping.  

Shoto:  

...what the fuck?  

He's back?? 

How is he back?  

Eijiro:  

Shoto is right 

We watched you shoot him 

Denki:  

yeah, what the fuck Izuku 

Tenya:  

Has he been alive this whole time? 

Momo:  

Izuku?  

I think he might be too busy at the moment. 

Izuku:  

Nope 

Sorry I was letting it sink in 

We don’t know  

He just showed up and we kind of left it at that 

Tenya:  

What are you going to do?  

The citizens are going to ask questions 

Izuku:  

I’m going to talk to him about doing an appearance 

Like an interview 

Momo:  

Do you think he’ll be okay with that? 

Izuku:  

After everything that's been revealed most likely 

Eijiro:  

I think that’s a good idea then 

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He woke up to his face stuffed into a chest. Looking up he found a sleeping Katsuki still wrapped around him. It wasn’t a dream then. He was alive. He smiled and stuffed his face back into his chest. Relaxing he just lived in the moment he pressed his face in deeper. Until a chuckle brought him out of his thoughts. Looking up he found those ruby-red eyes looking at him. The sleep was still evident.   

“What are you laughing at?” 

“You babe, what else?” 

“....i don’t know.” He sighed and stuffed his face back into Kacchan’s chest. “I love you...so much”  

The arms around him squeezed and a kiss was pressed into his curls. “I love you too.” 

“Forever?” 

“Forevermore Izuku. I’ve always meant it.” 

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He walked into the same stage with a different outfit this time. A black button-up shirt with some red slacks. He waved to the same cameras and shook the same interviewers' hands. And sat in the same chair. 

“You’re back.” 

“I am.” 

“You called for this interview; may we ask why?” 

“Well, some things have changed since the last time I sat up here and one thing was greatly unexpected but has been greatly appreciated.” 

“What is that?” 

“Well, he can tell you himself.” Izuku turned back to where he walked in from and held out his hand. A man everyone recognized walked out and joined hands with Izuku and sat on the same coach. Turning to the Interviewer and everyone else in the room they were all stunned.  

“That is certainly unexpected. How is this happening?” 

Katsuki answered, “At first we didn’t know, we just accepted that I was back but Deku here was sent a letter that was addressed to both of us. Explaining that they saw the pain Deku was experiencing and used their quirk. Their quirk brought me back. It’s weird but I’m happy to be back. Especially to everything that Deku worked hard to do while I was gone. “ 

“That is amazing. I didn’t know quirks like that existed.” 

Izuku squeezed Katsuki's hand, “We didn’t either but you can bet that we thanked them immediately with all of our hearts.” 

“We can all understand that. Now let's get started...” 

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HERO NEWS WEEKLY   

KATSUKI BAKUGO  

December XX, 2XXX   

It’s been months since the tearing down of the Hero Commission. In this interview we get a surprise from Deku and a special guest. Click here to find out more...  

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Deku @OfficialDeku  

He’s back and ready to become the hero we all needed.  

37M retweets 50M likes  

Ground Zero @OfficialGroundZero  

@OfficialDeku  I am babe. I’m ready.  

40M retweets 51M likes