Chapter Text
Izuku was running, he ran as fast as he could, then he heard the familiar sound of multiple rapid crackling explosions and the accursed voice of his once first and only best friend, Katsuki Bakugo as he screamed, "DEKU!!!"
He refused to stop and heed his unspoken snarl of a demand to stop and be his quirk practice dummy/stress relief, despite Katsuki's quirk and abilities, Izuku knew him like the back of his hand, he knew how he moved from years of being worked over as his punching dummy made him memorize every punch, kick, stomp, and the abilities of his quirk from pure experience. The pain was etched into his body, mind, and soul, he knew better than to cry, no one would help him or save him. Even those who he helped, were the ones that were jeering or spitting on him the next day.
He knew the footsteps that were following after him were gaining and he would soon be cornered as he turned around a spare corner and continued to run, 'If there's an open store, please be a haven!'
As if the heavens heard his unspoken plea, he soon found it when he saw a bookstore. Gripping the door handle, he nearly sobbed when it gave way to him. He quickly shut the door behind him and crouched, covering his mouth.
He was thankful it didn't have the signature bell of the usual store, the windows were tinted so people outside couldn't see inside. Katsuki soon arrived at his location, his quirk going off as he searched for any sign of Izuku only for no sign of the green-haired boy before he screamed in frustration with another series of rapid explosions only for the sky to respond with the sound of thunder which signaled the end of their chase. The group left the area with his cohorts, spitting out curses and how that damned nerd was going to get it when he got his hands on him tomorrow.
Izuku waited silently for ten minutes, tense and curled up as he stared at the window as if Katsuki would smash through the window and kick the shit out of him with a vengeance for daring to hide and run.
An older woman noticed the hasty open and shut the door and watched the scene as she heard the foul stream of curses from her office, she slowly made her way forward and saw Izuku crouched down behind the front door.
'A young man?' She thought
He was hiding, she could smell blood and sweat wafting off of him along with noting the bandages he had shifted back under the collar of his shirt, he was curled up in such an uncomfortable position just praying and waiting that no one else came through the door. No movement, barely breathing, just staring and waiting.
A scene all too familiar to the older woman as she recalled her own bitter youth hiding from an aggressive monster that didn't even resemble a human as he hollered and roared for her to come out and that her mother was no longer there to protect her. Those scars that remained even though 50 years had passed still burned. When she came to his funeral to make sure the bastard was well and truly dead, those horrible memories and wounds were still fresh from the moment he seared them into her mind, she stayed the longest well past the evening into the dusk just staring at the newly buried grave of the man who terrorized both her and her mother and said two words, "Fuck you."
She then spat on his grave and never returned, moving to a new country for a fresh start to find some semblance of peace and now here she was, staring at the poor boy who like he was about to sob in the middle of her bookstore.
She knew better than to touch someone when they were like this and knocked on one of the shelves, making him jump nearly five feet in the air before collapsing like a puppet without strings.
Tears ran down his face as he hastily brushed them off and stuttered before the woman raised her hand and said, "Calm yourself, young one. Deep breaths, I'm not going to hurt you."
He slowly straightened himself to look at her, she was an older woman with darker skin tone, and dark purple eyes with flicks of silver in them, and she had a soft smile on her face that was barely signified her twilight years. Her curly silver hair was cut short and stood at 5'9", she wore a navy blouse with a skirt littered with multiple designs and comfort boot slippers. Her ears were pierced with studs, three on the top, two on the bottom.
She introduced herself, "My name is Belle Dupont, may I ask what is your name?"
He collected himself and said, "Izuku Midoriya, Mrs. Dupont."
She waved him off, "Please call me Bell, Mrs. Dupont solely belongs to my mama, may she rest in peace. Come in, come in. You look like you got shoved into a dryer."
He followed after her and was shocked at the scene before him.
*Ignore the Dog manning the front like he's a Starbucks employee, by the way, his name is Olive*
"Woah..."
She smiled, "I'm glad you like it. Books were always a safe haven for me growing up, if I was ever in a bad place, books always inspired me to keep going, the adventures of those written before the time of quirks were always fun to read."
He couldn't help the grin that fell on his face, "You read the books from the quirkless age as well!? I love them too!"
She smiled, "Now that's a smile. To think just a minute ago, you looked like you barely escaped a death sentence, now follow me. The storm is going to roll through for the next couple of hours so make yourself comfortable in the meantime."
Belle gestured him forward and he found a slew of comfortable chairs, beanbags, couches, and regular leather-covered loveseats in a collection of different dark colors.
He sat down in one of the emerald-green leather-bound chairs and felt the stress melt away, he missed seats like these, the peace and the quiet, the smell of old books. He would never forget the smell of old books even if he was in a coma for the next twenty years.
It brought him comfort and peace, something he violently lacked, soon enough he heard barely audible footsteps and he opened his eyes to see Belle smiling at him with a blanket and a mug of tea.
"It gets cold in here and I don't want you to be sick, little Midoriya. I brought a blanket and a mug of tea if you want it."
He greedily accepted it as he wrapped the blanket around him and noticed the tea.
"It's caramel tea, I felt something sweet will help soothe a bitter experience."
He nodded and said, "Thank you."
"Make yourself at home. Once you've warmed up enough, feel free to explore and pick out a book. I'll let you know when the storm stops and don't worry about getting lost."
She snapped her fingers a glow surrounded the area, "This place was designed by me and I know every nook and cranny, I'll lead you back."
"Thank you, Mrs- I mean, Belle."
She nodded and made to do some last-minute work, leaving Izuku to the comfortable, warm silence once again.
He savored the warm tea and the blanket, as he rested in his chair, taking in the beautiful scenery before he finished it and placed it back on the arm of the chair only for it to disappear altogether.
'Her quirk must be an emitter-type with control over a variety of objects, could it be like magic? That's so cool.'
After he warmed up, he took the blanket and made to explore, brushing his hands against the spines of books probably even older than himself. As he continued to walk and walk, he was so comfortable that it made him tired, but he could barely remember the last time he was in a library and wanted to engrain it all in his mind.
As he continued to walk, he came to the spiral staircase and walked up only to feel something well up in the center of his chest. It was as if something wrapped around his sternum and was tugging him in a certain direction.
He made to follow the sensation as the tugging slowly grew stronger with each step before he felt himself stop and look up to see a large leather-bound book.
'Woah...'
Izuku was speechless as he stared at the spine of the massive book as he reached up to pull it out, nearly buckling under its weight, the experience from dealing with his usual type of damage prevented him from dropping the book on the ground. He made to carry it back before he saw bright purple arrows leading him back to his starting point.
'Thank you, Belle.'
As he came back to his chair, unknown to him, something deep inside of him lazily unlocked itself as he clutched the book to his chest, sort of like unbuckling your belt after a long day at work.
Belle quipped, "I see you have good taste in books."
"Oh, I took it without permission. Is it something important?"
She laughed and shook her head, "No, dear, besides I think that book is more important to you rather than me. After all, didn't you feel a certain pull in its direction?"
He recalled the feeling as the book pulsed in his grip, unknowingly.
Belle just smiled, "Don't worry about it. It's getting late and I don't want you to get in trouble with your family. Make sure to come back any time if you want another book."
"Yes, I will, but this book doesn't have a name."
"You'll see it soon enough, little Midoriya. Even the name is a part of the story and I hope soon enough, you'll tell your own story."
A pessimistic sigh escaped him, "If life is willing."
He folded the blanket and placed it on a nearby couch as she patted him on the head before leading him out and handing him a small box of chocolate chip cookies, as she smiled at him, "Hopefully, in time, Izuku you will find things you will cherish in life that will make preserving through it more sweet than bitter. Take care and I'll always be here."
He smiled back and nodded, taking the cookies and the book before leaving out the door.
She watched him as he left for his home, she clasped her hands together and said, "Though your journey through life will be hard and filled with many trials, I hope from the bottom of my heart that you will experience peace and grant that peace to those who are so frequently denied it."
Then her eyes turned from purple to rainbow-colored as she looked at the area where Izuku was and saw not the back of a young man but an older one in a dark leather overcoat in a suit, he stopped, turned, and smiled at her before the image disappeared entirely. Leaving nothing but the current Izuku who faded into the night back home.
She smiled as she turned in and made her way to her bedroom after locking the door behind her, her eyes turning back to their usual purple, 'It seemed these cursed eyes are actually good for something. Mama, if you are up there, please watch over him.'
"Whoever fucks with that kid, I hope you get exactly what you deserve."
Elsewhere, in the Bakugo household, a certain explosive pomeranian let out a violent sneeze.
I made this on a whim after reading Boundless Necromancer and I fell in love with the concept and design of the characters, specifically the character that had a mage hat and makes use of his abilities as a front-line fighter with weapons instead of a supporter. I haven't touched upon a magical Izuku Midoriya to my liking so, I decided if you can't find a story you like, you make one yourself. Regardless, this is just a whim of mine that I intend to ride to its completion no matter how long it takes.
Take care and be safe, people.
~Kourtney_Uzu_Yato21!