Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Izuku blinks at Hound Dog and Ryukyu at the front of the classroom, wondering if he heard her right. Several murmurs sound out around him as he feels his hands start to shake.

‘“This exercise is going to cover a full month,” He says. Several people’s eyes widen, but everyone keeps listening. Izuku cocks his head to the side, wondering if this would be covering extended missions.

“It’s… Going to be a little difficult, even for all of you. The point of it is going to be facing your worst fears.”’

“I want to be very clear that we are not going to subject you to any kind of harm,” Ryukyu adds, gently yet clearly. “It’s not going to be a trial by fire that… All of you, unfortunately, have been subject to.” Hound Dog nods beside her, his nodding causing the chair beneath him to creak below his giant frame.

“Whatever they may be, whether you think they are foolish, is about discovering healthy ways to confront them… I am not asking you to get over them, but rather learn why you fear them and understand how to healthily deal with them,”

Mostly everyone seems placated with that answer, though some are still understandably nervous. Izuku breathes in and out deeply, eyes drifting down to his desk in front of him. He hears Bakugo scoff in front of him, but says nothing.

‘“Izuku bites his tongue, stifling a scream as his fingers run over the burn mark spreading across his shoulder. His own touch feels like pure agony over every inch of his skin he checks himself for other injuries. The only form of reprieve he gets is touching the burn itself, where the pain receptors are fried, and there’s only a dull ache in the center next to the exposed nerves.

When Izuku finally bursts through the door after crowds of people looking at him bewildered, his mother tries hugging him. He dodges her and runs to the bathroom.

“Sorry!” Izuku shouts from behind the locked door. “I just skinned myself! I-I can patch it up.”

“Izuku! I’m a nurse, I can-”

“It’s fine! Please, just-” Izuku breathes out, heaving before hurriedly stripping his clothes off as the itching gets too much.

“...Okay… Just… Let me know if you need help, kiddo…” His mother says dejectedly from the other side of the door. Izuku hears her walk away, and breathes out a sigh of relief as he slams the shower nob to cold.

The only thing Iuzku can hear over the rush of water and his own breathing is Kac-... Kacchan’s laughter and the sizzling of his smoking palm that was set on his shoulder.

–

‘Izuku touches the scars running up and down his right arm. Thankfully, the surgery to repair the nerves and tendons in his arm and hands worked, and he had good mobility in both his arms now, but even with the compression sleeve, any sort of skin-to-skin contact hurt too much to bear for him.

“Izu?” Ochako aks gently. She reaches out to hold his arm comfortingly, only for Izuku to flinch away like she bit him.

“S-Sorry, just… Please don’t touch me…” Izuku grinds out as kindly as he can. Ochako has such a heartbroken look in her eyes, before she nods. They both walk down the hall to the lobby of the hospital together in silence.’

Izuku shakes his head, snapping himself back to the present as a paper is slid onto his desk.

“You can write either all of your fears or just your biggest ones, but please at least write something down, and why it affects you,” Hound Dog explains. Several people begin writing as Izuku stares at the paper like a corpocratic contract. He swallows, and puts pen to paper.

‘Burning alive?’

‘The sting of Kacchan’s burns and explosions on his skin he’s gotten used to, but the absolute agony of even brushing someone made Izuku want to scream his lungs dry-’

‘No… Drowning?’

‘Izuku remembers the first time he almost drowned. The panic that set in initially, but was replaced by such calm that he thought he was floating, before Kacchan yanked him above the water and pulled him onto the concrete edge of the pool, scratching his skin-’

‘...Being buried alive?’

‘The schoolroom closet was such a familiar location to Izuku that the dark crampedness where he could barely move at all was actually a safespace to him. Even when it was locked, Izuku learned to control his breathing and just wait- Wait for hours on end, even if help never arrived in the form of his condescending, mean old teacher, or Kacchan finally getting bored and blowing the lock off-’

‘...Torture-’

‘Interrogation training was the one part of Izuku’s training he very much didn’t like. He passed, thankfully, as did Kirishima, Tetsutetsu, Monoma, Shinso, Kendo, and Ochako. Izuku expected to walk away witht he fear of what could be done to him elevated to the nine’s, but… There was solace in knowing what could be thrown at him. Obviously, it wasn’t the absolute depravity that it could have been, but… It was a lot less scary, in some strange way-’

‘-Goddammit…’ Izuku sighs. He stares at the now gray, dirty, and ruined part of the paper where Izuku has been writing down his ideas and erasing them. The ringing in his ears gets too much to ignore, and he tries controlling his heartbeat. He can feel someone’s eyes on him, but he just swallows and grips his pen.

‘I have to face it eventually…’ Izuku thinks to himself. It fills him with just a little bit of hope, but it’s been something he’s been grappling with for so long, Izuku hasn’t known anything but the fear of touch. There was a time when he was younger when he would openly accept hugs from his mom and Aunt Mitsuki, the arm wrestling with Uncle Masaru, or the playfulness of Kacchan before…

Izuku shakes his head again. He writes his thoughts down, before turning it upside down, and Hound Dog comes to collect it. The eyes on him makes his skin start to itch again, before the sound of the papers being straightened by Hound Dog snaps everyone’s attention to the front. He keeps his eyes locked on the entire time so he doesn’t look at anyone else, so they won’t see the burning shame poorly concealed in his eyes.

“Alright everyone, I very appreciate you participating in this,” Hound Dog says sincerely. Izuku always found it… Endearing, in a way, how someone with as much presence as him could be so gentle all the time. Trust him, Hound Dog is terrifying when he wants to be, but… He was someone Izuku can trust- Someone they all can trust.

The bell rings and Izuku bolts up and makes for the door. Thankfully, Izuku wasn’t the only one- Kaminari, Sero, and Ashido were already at the door, running out so they could go back to the dorms and finish their homework so they could get back to Mario Kart.

‘Of course,’ Izuku sweat drops, eyes closed but a fond smile on his face. The entire time though, he feels two sets of eyes on him, and out of the corner of his own eyes, sees what looks like Jiro and Ochako’s heads following him as he leaves.

‘Shit,’ Izuku swears, his heartbeat accelerating. ‘She probably heard my heart rate go crazy!’ Izuku kicks himself for letting that happen. He shakes his head. ‘Nevermind, it won’t happen again. I’ll just-’

*Crash*

Izuku goes tumbling head over heels as he lands on the floor. He scrambles to get on his back to check who it was, only to see dark green hair and jade eyes glaring playfully up at him.

“Hey!” Setsuna pouts, her body split in two. Izuku just blinks, before realizing she was dangerously close to his legs. “Watch where you’re going!” She huffs, before standing up. Setsuna extends a hand to Izuku, who shakily grabs it and steadies himself.

“S-Sorry,” Izuku looks away. “Just distracted…” Surprisingly, nobody is looking at them.

“Aww, you’re adorable!” Setsuna chuckles, razor-sharp teeth flashing. Izuku has a small blush bleed onto his face. “No biggie! Just catch me with those big hands of yours next time, broccoli boy!” She reaches out to touch his arm playfully.

Izuku recoils on instinct. He grimaces, and looks up at Setsuna, who has a shocked look on her face, before one of complete hurt replaces it slowly.

“S-Sorry!” Izuku interjects. “I-I have to go! Meeting with a trainer!” Izuku rushes off, leaving Setsuna’s hand outstretched after him.

–

Ryo sorts through all of the papers on his desk. It… Wasn’t exactly easy, seeing all of the things these kids feared, and all of the reasons why. It never will be, really. He creates tabs in his workspace for all of the students, next to Class 1-B, and puts them in order, getting them arranged before actually starting on the planning for the individual ones.

As he came to the last one, though, Ryo freezes. His already heavy heart drops as alarm bells begin sounding out in his head.

Ryo looks down at the word ‘Touch,’ scrawled shakily on top of several other erased words behind it, with no further explanation.

His instincts are screaming at him that something is wrong. This was different than the other’s he had to go through, mainly because he can barely make out the words ‘Burning Alive’ and ‘Torture’ having been written and erased underneath the word before, and the fact there was no explanation.

Ryo looks up at Izuku’s name written at the top. He swallows thickly, before exhaling, and puts it in Izuku’s personal folder, before putting a red sticker on it. He looks at the digital clock on his desktop computer, and realizes it’s still early morning. Ryo immediately starts with Bakugo’s paper as he was the first to turn his paper in.

‘Nothing fuckin scares me.’

Ryo just sighs.

–

Normally Ochako would sit with Iida, Todoroki, Kendo, and Hatsume.

‘“Sorry guys,” Ochako starts. All their eyes snap to her worriedly. “I gotta talk to Jiro real quick-”

“But Uraraka-san! You cannot miss lunch this time! It’s important that!-”

“Iida, I’ll get my lunch,” Ochako just chuckles, trying to play off her worry. “Just… I gotta talk to her about something private.”

“Alright, well, I wish you luck! Will you be sitting with us tomorrow?”

“Of course! It’s just for today-”

“Are you planning an assassination?” Todoroki asks. All of their eyes snap to the heterochromatic girl, who just stares at Ochako blankly.

“And you didn’t invite me?!” Hatsume perks up. Ochako sweat drops.

“No,” She replies flatly. “...I don’t want to… Talk about it- Right now, at least” Ochako looks away. Kendo gives her a worried look.

“Alright, well… If you do want to come to us, we’re always here.” She states. The other four nod in agreement.

“Thank you guys,” Ochako smiles at them, before running off to the lunch line.’

She picks at her food as Kyoka twirls her only remaining earjack. The giant scar on the side of her head is hidden under her hair. The tension between them is thick, but not from confrontation or disagreement.

“So…” Ochako starts, before biting her lip. “...This feels so wrong asking…”

“I’m worried about him, too,” Kyoka replies. “It sounded like he was about to have a panic attack as he was writing. Wasn’t muttering as well,” Ochako frowns again, biting her lip harder. She kicks her feet gently.

“...I feel like we should bring it up with Hound Dog,” Ochako asks. Kyoka glances at her.

“Midoriya will come to us if something is really wrong. He trusts both of us, doesn’t he?” Kyoka says, concerned. Ochako just sighs.

“You know how he is,” She replies, scratching her head. Kyoka’s face drops as realization hits her. “I’m not- Or, if you wanna come- We’re not gonna ask Hound Dog what Izuku wrote, but… I dunno, probably just tell him we were worried about him and if we could ask for his guidance for what to do next.”

“...Alright,” Kyoka replies, turning away and fiddling with her earjack again. “Sounds like a plan,”

They finish their lunches quickly, Dumping their trash before quickly walking out of the lunch hall and down to the guidance office not too far away.

“We’re here to speak to Hound Dog,” Ochako says. The receptionist nods kindly and lets them pass. They walk to the back hallway briskly, and find his door. There’s a lot of posters and pillows everywhere for therapy sessions with him.

“Ah, Uraraka, Jiro,” Hound Dog greets kindly, setting a folder to the side in a rack. “What brings you here today?” Ochako and Kyoka share a look.

“It was about earlier today, when we were writing down our fears,” Ochako looks away, and Kyoka bounces on her heels trying to work out the tension.

“I… Heard Midoriya’s heart rate going crazy, like he might’ve passed out or something. He left pretty quickly, and just… Seems really out of it,” Kyoka adds.

“We were wondering if we could do anything to help him. It… Seemed to hurt him a lot to write it down, and I know it’s invasive, but we can’t just sit there and watch him freak out like that,” Ochako adds. Hound Dog looks at the two sympathetically.

“Girls…” He starts. “He will very much appreciate this. Thank you for looking out for your friend,” Ochako gives a bashful smile as Kyoka looks away, embarrassed. “...This does actually make things a little bit easier, because there is something both of you can do for him,”

Both of their eyes widen. Hound Dog smiles a little before retrieving Izuku’s folder.

“Now, normally, I am not allowed to disclose any of the information in here under any circumstances, but I have had a conversation just recently with both Headmaster Nezu and a few of my colleagues in Tokyo, and they have allowed me to select a few people for this.” Ochako and Kyoka urge him silently to continue. “Izuku… Has some very deep problems, it seems, with physical touch.”

Realization hits Ochako like a truck as a hand flies up over her mouth and tears start to break through. Kyoka’s gut sinks to the bottom of her soul, biting her lip as she starts to connect the dots.

“It would be best to start out with, if I’m correct in saying this, his closest friends?” Hound Dog gestures. Both the girls nod immediately.

“He normally doesn’t have any problems in rescue training when he’s carrying civilians,” Kyoka starts. “Admittedly, I kind of did notice over these past few months, but… I figured he might just still be in his shell. He seems fine with Iida, like handshakes, high fives, pats on the back, so…”

“It’s more intimate contact,” Hound Dog muses, looking away. He sighs. “Alright, I’ll talk to him this afternoon. It’s too early to start making assumptions before I can get the full picture, but this really didn’t sit right with me,” Both the girls nod. He looks between them cautiously. “For now, I wanted to start out light, all things considered. I don’t want to force either of you two to do something you don’t feel comfortable with-”

“We’ll do whatever it takes,” They boh reply, startling each other. Hound Dog just chuckles, making both of them embarrassed a little.

“I think small things like just a simple, quick hug might work. From what I’ve read on this before, usually holding someone’s hand is very effective at helping someone conquer their touch-aversion. After I talk to him today, I’ll let you both know for sure. I assume you’re both very busy?” He raises an eyebrow.

“...-Crap!” Ochako panics, grabbing Kyoka, before turning tail. “We have an exam!”

“Shit!” Kyoka mutters before stepping out the door.

“Thank you!” Ochako calls back to Hound Dog.

“You’re more than welcome!” He waves off after the two as they sprint out of the office right as the bell rings.

–

“You wanted to see me, sir?” Izuku begins, bowing to Hound Dog in the doorway. He just nods calmly, and Izuku enters stiffly.

“You’re okay, Midoriya,” Ryo says softly. The baritone of his voice soothes Izuku’s nerves a little bit, but he can’t help but look away with his back still stiff. “This is about your fear assessment from this morning, and I want to preface this and say that I completely understand,”

Izuku blinks.

“What?”

“I’m not too fond of other people’s touch and just affection in general. I have worked through it over the years, even though it still persists to a degree,” Ryo clears his throat. Izuku’s shoulders sag just a little as the tension leaves them. “I did have a conversation with two of your friends right around lunch, and they were more than happy to help you face this,”

Izuku swallows, breathing out. Ryo has a sympathetic look in his eyes as he leans forward.

“W-Who were they?” Izuku tries filling the silence.

“Uraraka and Jiro,” Ryo responds. “They had to take off for an exam,” He chuckles, “But, we did have a little bit of time to brainstorm ideas. They said something along the lines of you being comfortable with some forms of touch?”

“Well, yeah,” Izuku says, looking away. Ryo waits for him to continue. “The problem doesn’t really come up during civilian rescues. If I have to carry or support someone, I have no issue with it. With Iida, if it's formal like handshakes, or just things like fistbumps or pats on the back, it doesn’t affect me too much,” Izuku scratches the back of his head. “It’s just more… Intimate forms of affection…”

“...Would you say it’s linked more to vulnerability?”

“I suppose,” Izuku muses. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be that. Sometimes it just hurts and burns so bad I can’t think whenever someone else touches me without warning. It’s… It really is strange, because it only pertains to when I recognize the touch as unnecessary or just platonic…”

“This is a known condition,” Ryo comforts quickly. “It’s not just in your head. A lot of Pro Heroes have gone through the same thing.” Izuku looks unsurprised, and just looks away, biting his lip as he fiddles with his pant leg. “Tell you what,” Ryo starts after a brief silence, causing Izuku to look back.

“Let’s… For now, let’s just start out with small things, like brief hugs or hand holding. It can be more if you want, but I feel like that is a good baseline, if you are comfortable with that?” Izuku nods slowly. “Okay. I’ve asked both Uraraka and Jiro to report back to me tomorrow to update me on your progress, and I would like you too as well. Doesn’t have to be at the same time, just whenever you are comfortable or have availability to do. I might have other people before you around lunch or the afternoon, so morning would be preferable, but if you’re more comfortable with the afternoon then that’s okay,”

“...Alright,” Izuku sighs, looking away. “Thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He stands up as Ryo smiles warmly.

“You’re more than welcome, Izuku,” He says kindly, waving goodbye to him. Izuku waves back and steps out into the back part of the guidance office. He sighs, looking at the ground as he walks out.

‘I’m… I’m not exactly sure how to… Feel…’ Izuku muses to himself as he walks out the main building onto campus back to the dorms. ‘Grateful? Embarrassed? Hopeful?’ He shakes his head quickly, grimacing to himself as he quickens his pace. ‘Whatever it is, I gotta get through this. One way or another…’

–

Izuku breathes out heavily as he drinks his ice water, the sounds of sparring matches around him still going on. ‘Ochako can still beat me into a pulp,’ He says flatly to himself, the bruises on his stomach and shoulders still pulsating angrily from where the shorter girl had nearly gotten the upper hand on him.

Even without One For All and with the permanent injuries to his body, Izuku was still more than capable of holding his own, though. It's just… It hurt a lot more, though…

Izuku startles as someone plops down next to him. He blinks and finds Ochako smiling at him brightly. A small smile comes onto his own face.

“Hey,” He starts quietly.

“Hey,” Ochako chuckles, briefly turning to watch Jiro K.O. Kaminari. She grimaces a little, but still has a smile on her face. “About that talk with Hound Dog,” Izuku tenses a little. “I wanna try the hand holding thing- If you don’t want to, that’s fine!” Ochako quickly says, holding her hands up. “But we could get it started early, and… Well, hugging while sweaty and gross wouldn’t be, y’know-” Ochako giggles. Izuku just chuckles quietly, before pausing as he thinks.

“...Sure,” He says quietly. Ochako’s eyes light up as she gently gestures with her left hand. Izuku watches himself slowly bring his right hand, the scars on it barely poking out from the compression sleeve, before his palm makes gentle contact with hers.

‘“Oh My God! You actually thought I’d let a freak like you hug me?!” The girl gapes, pulling her hand away as she cackles, before slapping Izuku across the face.

Izuku pulls himself off the ground, keeping his head down as he hears everyone around him break out into laughter and jeers. He’s not gonna cry, not this time, he should be used to it, really-’

It feels nice.

They stay like that for a while until the session is over, and they get up to go to the shower and change stations. Izuku is the first one to let go, and it hurts just the tiniest bit- More than Izuku was expecting.

He tries not to look at the scars on his own body. They were symbols of survivals as much as they were reminders that no one would look at him normally, treat him normally, like he doesn't hear the hushed whisper and the gallery of different looks he gets whenever he shows his face or his arms. It really shouldn’t bother him.

‘But, But…’

Izuku shakes his head as he steps out in his casual clothes. Ryukyu recommended he don’t work himself into exhaustion by running and training as much as he had before since it was clear his body couldn’t take it anymore, and he passed all of his exams with flying colors, so… Izuku didn’t have a lot to actually do-

“Oi, mop,”

Izuku startles as he looks over at Kyoka. She has a frown on her face, but is gesturing with her left hand to come hold it. Izuku looks around quickly, before stepping over and gently taking her hand.

‘“You damn waste of space,” Bakugo growls. Izuku looks up at him, teeth gritted and lips parted as blood pours out of his nose. Bakugo has him against the wall, his right hand pinned against Bakugo’s left. “This’ll keep you from writing in those goddamn notebooks of yours!”

The scream that rips from Izuku’s throat burns just as bad as Izuku’s hand as it goes up in flames.

Several bones were definitely broken, and the only thing Izuku can focus on over Bakugo’s laughing and his lackeys cheering him on is the distinct lack of control or movement in his entire hand despite the overwhelming pain.’

Her hand is really soft.

…

‘...Is that weird?’

Izuku keeps thinking to himself as he stares at Kyoka’s hand. He looks up to see a small yet genuine smile on her face, with a small amount of pink dusting across her face. Izuku blinks before looking away. Kyoka lets out an uncharacteristic giggle as they keep walking.

A huff breaks Izuku out of his thoughts as he sees Ochako pouting, cheeks puffed up as she storms over. She holds her hand out, silently asking for Izuku’s permission to hold his left hand. When he raises his, she snatches Izuku’s hand and holds it protectively.

‘...Am I…. Am I dreaming???’ Izuku thinks to himself idly, letting himself be guided gently by the two shorter girls. The pain in his hands subsides as they walk. A couple of people on the pathway glance at them, and whisper, but say nothing, like from both Ochako and Kyoka glaring daggers at them all as Izuku remains lost in thought, before he shakes his head. ‘God, I probably look really stupid-’

“Damn, Izuku, you got an escort service- AKLNSBf” Kaminari is cut off as he is viciously attacked by Kyoka’s earjack. Ochako giggles madly next to him as they watch Kaminari spin like a beyblade as the earjack end is driven into the base of his neck.

Izuku just sweat drops.

Soon enough, they make it to the dorms. He expects both the girls to let go, but both Ochako and Kyoka keep their grips firmly on his hands. Izuku doesn't say anything as they go up to his floor, and walk to his door.

Once there, they finally let go. Izuku rubs the palms of his hands gently as the heat lingers.

“Was that okay?” Ochako asks worriedly, head tilted to the side. Izuku looks up and nods.

“Dude, if something’s wrong, we’re okay with being told if we fucked up,” Kyoka says genuinly. Izuku just shakes his head.

“It’s nothing you guys did,” He says quickly. “Just… Thank you…”

Kyoka looks at him with such an upset look it makes Izuku think he did something wrong, before he suddenly gets hugged.

“You’re thanking us for holding your fucking hand?” She asks shakily, the anger overshadowed by the hurt. Izuku’s breathing grinds to a halt as Ochako joins them slowly. His arms slowly fall to his side as he awkwardly wraps his arms around the other two girls.

“I’m gonna kill someone for you,” Ochako declares, trying not to cry.

‘...Is this all I do to the people I care about?’ Izuku thinks to himself. The other two must have telepathy, because Kyoka’s earjack pokes his side lightly as Ochako glares up at him playfully, tears brimming in her eyes.

Izuku just stands there awkwardly, letting the two girls hold him silently.

‘Did you know that holding someone else’s hand can put your heart at ease?’

Chapter Text

'The streets are lined with body bags. Izuku let's his jaw hang, Blackwhip tendrils sparking across the ground as he stumbles forward along the line. The UN workers and soldiers work about constantly, laying out more and more dead bodies, some people unconscious, others writhing in pain, others too tired to carry on. Some of the workers begin dropping themselves.

All Izuku can do is stare at the line of bodies, thinking about every life leading up to this point. He blinks, and sees visions of his friends, his classmates, people who looked up to him, his mentors, peeking out of the zips near the heads of the body bags.

It'll haunt him for the rest of his life, surely.

The only good that came out of it was the steel it galvanized into his resolve, but it wasn't enough under the weight of what he had seen, what he had experienced-' 

Izuku blinks awake confusedly. He swallows thickly as he rises up, rubbing his eye hard. His mouth feels disgusting- ‘Wait, how did I even get back here?’

Suddenly, it hits him how he got back here in the first place.

‘“You’re thanking us for holding your fucking hand?”’

Izuku cringes internally as he attempts to stand up, only for his arms to scream out in pain. He clenches his teeth as he forces them to move shakily, staggering up slowly onto both of his feet, which are also now hurting intensely.

He stumbles to the bathroom and wraps his hand around his toothbrush. Cleaning his mouth out helps his mood a lot as he switches to washing his face. Izuku gasps sharply as he pulls on the scar tissue on the right side of his face. He stares at it for a moment, breathing heavily. Thankfully it wasn’t bleeding.

Izuku breathes out gratefully before walking back to his bedroom and grabbing his phone. 5:07 A.M ‘Huh,’ Izuku muses to himself. ‘I… I slept pretty well last night, all things considered,’ He frowns as he remembers that it’s still only Tuesday. Well, he only has two classes to get through in the morning…

‘Kind of wish Ochako and Kyoka were still here,’ Izukut thinks longingly. He’ll be alone for a few hours before either of them come back. And then the talk with Hound Dog…

Izuku exhales as he slips a shirt over both of his compression sleeves. He looks out the window. It’s pitch black as snow particles drift down from the sky lazily over the gentle glow in the sky from the city and the deck lights. ‘I really forgot to turn them off, huh?’

He lumbers tiredly out into the hallway, still rubbing his eyes. Izuku swallows as he looks down the hallway. ‘I gotta go fill up on water,’ Izuku thinks to himself, but stops himself before he even starts moving.

‘Their eyes follow him everywhere. Izuku can feel them on the back of his neck, even their worried stares and concerned glances lingering when he stares at them. The constant “Are you okay?”’s that drown Izuku’s head and gentle attempts at touch that make his skin writhe.

It’s… It’s too much.

As much as Izuku knows it comes from a place of goodness, he just can’t .

He locks himself in his room with only his thoughts, the only thing to put him at peace. Sometimes, he listens to music, or plays video games if he can control his hands to do so. People keep knocking on his door at all hours, asking to hang out, asking if he’s alright, if he needs something, never leaving him alone-

‘No,’ Izuku thinks to himself as he lays sprawled on his own bed. He tries to block out the hurt looks on Yaoyorozu and Kirishima’s hurt faces when he declined them yet again. His heart still hurt pushing them away, but there just wasn’t enough... Enough of Izuku left to let himself feel comfortable and at peace around anyone anymore.

He stops going to the common room, stops opening his door when people knock, resorting to just talking to them on the other side with short answers.

Everyone keeps their distance. Mostly. Bakugo doesn’t seem to care all that much, thank God. Yaoyorozu and Kirishima are stronger than him, mentally and physically, with how often they always try to put their best foot forward with him, no matter how many times Izuku respectfully declines, and how much it hurts him to see how hurt they are by it. Ashido and Kaminari can seemingly never shut up about him, even if it is just positive praise about him, even if for the briefest moment it makes him feel like he's worthy of some kind of emotional reprieve.

Sometimes Izuku wishes he could disappear. The common room was simply too populated to avoid people realistically.

Izuku tries to be normal. 'It’s just never enough, is it?’'

Izuku bites his lip and turns away, going over to the window and sitting down on the small bench. He watches the snow fall outside under the dim moonlight and the city glow, the sky a deep, rich indigo as the moon dips below the horizon and the sun is threatening to rise into the sky, still beyond the horizon. It’s still fascinating to him how people in Europe were just now experiencing midnight, and people in the America’s were right around noon. Little Izuku was always enthralled with things like that alongside heroes-

“Midoriya?”

Izuku startles violently, gaining his footing as he stares at the source of the voice. Two heterochromatic eyes, one gray and one turquoise, glow in the dark. Brilliant red hair and bright white are barely illuminated in the light.

“O-Oh,” Izuku sighs shakily, shoulders dropping. “Shoko, hey…” He looks out the window as Shoko’s eyes study him. “Sorry if I woke you,”

“You didn’t,” She says quietly, looking out the window as well. Both of them lapse into silence as they observe the snowfall.

Izuku glances over at Shoko. She’s almost a full head taller than him still. Izuku is still overdue for a growth spurt, probably not helped by the irreparable damage done to his bones. Her long, slender fingers are draped over the windowsill.

He looks away back out at the snow. Shoko probably wouldn’t be bothered all too much by the fact it was below zero degrees celsius. The cold will initially make Izuku’s bones scream in pain before lapsing into a comfortable, tingling numbness.

The low humming of the dormitory’s electrical heating provides a comfortable white noise for the both of them.

“...My worst fear is losing the rest of the people I love,” Shoko says quietly. Izuku’s head snaps over, shocked that she was the one that broke the silence, lips parting before he closes them. He swallows.

‘“I promised I wouldn’t cry over that bastard again,” Shoko grinds out, trying to prevent herself from sobbing. Izuku’s own bleeding heart hurts even more for her.

Shoko going straight back into her shell was a lot more obvious than when Izuku did.

If people were concerned for Izuku, they were practically always crying for Shoko. Izuku feels sick for even thinking that. It’s a good thing that they were worried, but… Did it ever get exhausting for her the same way it did for him?

The last thing she probably wants to be is alone, but emotionally and mentally suffocating them is just as awful. That’s one of the most impactful things Izuku’s learned from Hound Dog. The others seem to know that, too, but are still coming to terms dealing with someone so emotionally unavailable.

Izuku wants to try to talk to Shoko again, to keep being friends even though they never stopped, because it’s just been so long and hard, but he can’t imagine a world where that would actually happen.’

Izuku doesn't say anything for fear of saying something wrong. The last thing he wants to do is hurt her again, but he has to say something- to let her know she’s being heard, right?

He looks at her for a couple of seconds, head tilted to the side, before nodding, and looking away. Izuku chooses to shift his position a little bit closer to Shoko’s side. ‘She… She looks sad,’ Izuku frowns. He hopes this is good enough for her, because he’s lost as to where to go from here.

A weight lands gently on Izuku’s head. He’s made abundantly aware of long red and white strands now blocking his vision. His stomach is doing gymnastics, but Izuku remains steadfast. He tries building up as much courage as possible, before gently tilting his head to lay on Shoko’s left shoulder. The natural coolness of her Quirk gently overtakes the right side of his face, numbing the facial scars in the process.

“...My biggest fear was-... Is touch,” Izuku says quietly. Shoko stills on top of him and gently tries to move away. “No, you’re fine!” Izuku urges. Shoko stops, and Izuku can feel her glancing at him. “Hound Dog… Hound Dog instructed me on ways I can overcome it… That’s what Ochako and Kyoka were helping me with yesterday…”

“...Does it still scare you?” Shoko whispers. Izuku shakes his head a little.

“Not really… Like, it’s still painful and makes me uncomfortable, but… It’s not as bad as I thought…”

“...Painful?” Shoko’s voice sounds painful itself. Izuku grimaces and glances back out the window.

“A little,” Izuku replies. If it’s gentle, and I know it’s coming, and I... somehow reciprocate it, it’s weird but manageable… It’s just things like forced hugs or attempts at touch I don’t know are coming that freak me out…” Izuku adds. Shoko stays still for a few moments before nodding slowly. She nuzzles her left cheek into the top of Izuku’s head gently. Izuku can feel his face heat up but just laughs internally at how much younger he would be freaking out right now.

They lapse back into quietness. Izuku finds himself slowly melting into Shoko’s touch ever so more. Suddenly, both of their phone screens light up.

‘Classes are cancelled for the rest of the week! Extremely heavy snow storms are expected, so expect to be on reserve duty in case of emergency, but no mandatory class or training unless you are on an internship. Have fun!’

“What?” Izuku blurts out quietly. He looks up at Shoko, who looks just as confused as he is. “But we only just came back from Christmas Break. What?... What’s the point?”

“I overheard a lot of talk yesterday in the teacher’s lounge about how we’re still kids and we deserve a longer break now that crime is below Pre-War levels,” Shoko replies. “It’ll be good for us. We’re still expected to train and study, but nothing compulsory,”

“I suppose,” Izuku muses, frowning as he watches the multitude of comments pop up under the alert.

Bakugo Katsuki : YOU PIECES OF SHIT I’M TRYING TO SLEEP

Kaibara Sen: you go to bed at 7 every night shut yo bitch ass up

Shoko snorts, and Izuku’s eyes bolt up to see the smirk plastered on her face. The sight makes a wobbly smile appear on Izuku’s own face. His chest feels comfortably warm now as she watches Shoko scroll through her phone, catching herself up on the morning news.

Izuku looks back to his phone and decides to look at the news himself.

“Well, since we're free for the rest of the day, want to hang out in my room?” Izuku’s eyes flash up to Shoko, who’s smile is nothing but genuine. Izuku’s heart sinks, his eyes flicking over Shoko’s elegant form, before he swallows and nods hesitantly. Shoko just chuckles as she takes in Izuku’s eyes, before gently taking his hand. She holds it close to her chest, and Izuku becomes so frazzled by the display he stops breathing. His heart rate only accelerates once he enters Shoko’s room properly.

It’s still akin to its traditional tatami mat room from last year, but it’s a lot more… ‘Cozy?’ Izuku thinks. There’s a bookshelf with a bonsai tree on top of it. Artificial cherry blossom vine garland is strung up on both sides of the room. An inordinate amount of plushies and squishmallows were on the corner of her bed against the wall.

Izuku snaps back to reality once he feels himself make contact with her western style bed. His chest is incredibly tight, every single breath is barely able to give Izuku enough oxygen as he tries to calm his nerves down. Shoko is staring down softly at Izuku, a small, barely visible smile on her face as Izuku becomes acutely aware of her right thumb rubbing circles on his back.

‘“Does it hurt when I do this?” The doctor asks softly as he presses his thumb gently onto the bottom of his cervical spine. The only thing Izuku can do is scream.’

The silence seems not to perturb Shoko too much, but Izuku still feels like he can’t breathe, the teen becoming more uncomfortable in his own skin the longer it persists.

“Can I hug you?”

‘The question itself was harmless: an affectionate formality. Yet, Izuku couldn’t help the bile that rose up into the back of his mouth, the way he shrink back, grimacing as he looks away.

Izuku can’t ignore Aunt Mitsuki’s hurt look, and it hurts himself even more to be willingly avoiding pain he knows he deserves more than anything.’

“-Izuku?-”

‘He remembers, when he was younger, more naive and hopeful, how he would draw scars on himself with markers from his make believe Hero battles, and his mother would only laugh and kiss them away before making him wash them off.

Izuku stares at the scar tissue covering most of his right arm. He’d long since stopped letting his mother be physically affectionate towards him. It was surprisingly not out of the hormonal nature of being ‘too cool,’ for it, Izuku thinks bitterly.

He wishes his mother was still here.’

“-Izuku!-”

“I’M- Sorry!” Izuku flinches, recoling back. Shoko’s eyes are alight with alarm, searching Izuku frantically while trying to hide the hurt she was feeling. Izuku grimaces before staggering up. “S-Sorry, I-I-I…” Izuku swallows, biting his lip hard as he looks at the opposite wall, anywhere but Shoko. “C-C-Can I leave?” He tries. Out of the corner of his eye, he can see Shoko nearly on the verge of tears, but she nods anyways, and Izuku all but sprints out of the door.

The next time he blinks, he’s hunched over his own toilet, feeling the pull of his chest and abdominal muscles as he tries to control the bile building in his throat. Izuku dry heaves for minutes on end, before his breathing finally gets under control. Izuku gasps, lowering his head, and sits on the bathroom floor, shaking.

Several minutes pass, and the only thing that changes is the overwhelming guilt building up in his chest. Izuku grits his teeth, before pinching his lips together. He swiftly tears his shirt off, followed by his compression sleeves. Shaky legs stand to support him as he strips, and he slams the walk-in shower’s water to as cold as it goes while still maintaining high pressure.

Izuku’s breath hitches as the freezing water washes over him. There’s a brief flare of staunch pain before it fades into a dull throb throughout his body. He exhales deeply, his breathing slow and labored as his lightheadedness fades into nothing.

“I have to apologize,” Izuku whispers to himself. He wets his hair, doing little to tame its naturally wild, wind-swept nature as he tries not to move too quickly. Feeling nauseous is the last thing he wants and needs right now.

Eventually, he turns the water to warm, and the relief is almost instant. Izuku closes his eyes, and lets himself wince, hissing as he feels most of his muscles loosen up under the hot water.

“Good lord,” Izuku groans to himself, sinking to the floor. The coldness of the tiles on his back and the heat of the hot water on his chest, abdomen, and legs was what he needed. This small moment of bliss made every little bit of exhaustion worth it. ‘Dopamine hits, baby!’

Eventually, when he feels his fingers start to wrinkle, Izuku shuts the water off, and dries off quickly, letting his skin rehydrate. He walks back to his room in a towel, and quickly finds an assortment of clothes. Black sweatpants, Christmas socks, a compression shirt, and an All Might hoodie, one of the only ones he didn’t mind getting dirty.

Izuku steps out into the hall once again, still relishing in the warmth. ‘Is it too soon to apologize? Maybe I should give it a couple of hours. She might not be in the best state of mind right now, and I… I feel a little better, but,’ Izuku breathes out before the nausea could come back to bite him, and he walks down to the common room.

He hears Kyoka fall out of her bed, and cuss at the top of her lungs. Izuku snorts, and quickened his pace, knowing full well she heard him, and quite frankly values his life. The common room, dining area, and kitchen are empty, save for Kaminari, who’s slumped over, half-dead at the dining table, and Tokoyami, who’s sleeping upright with his arms crossed on the couch, perfectly still.

A bright flash of light appears through the blinds. Izuku stiffens, getting ready to brace, before he blinks and shakes his head, sighing. His head hurts a little from the action, but goes away soon as Izuku walks over carefully to the window, and peers through the blinds.

The sky is a little lighter now from its previous indigo to periwinkle now, but it’s still very much dark out. The gentle orange glow of the lamps illuminate the rolling mounds of snow covering almost every part of the ground. The light from before, though not as intense, is still prevalent, the light reflecting brightly off of the snow.

Shoko’s tall, elegant figure stands in the middle of the pathway, her left hand outstretched as bright yellow flames trail from her bare palm. The snow disappears almost immediately as it melts, the ice below taking far longer but eventually succumbing to the heat. The water left from the snow melt evaporates into steam, likely intentional by Shoko to prevent it from turning back into ice and becoming a hazard.

Izuku suddenly remembers an episode from a Pre-Quirk Era TV show: A motoring show about three british blokes, and one episode where they bought a combine harvester, retrofitted it with a snowplow, and then stuck a flamethrower to it to see if they were more efficient than city services at clearing the roads of snow.

He snorts, a small smile forming as he watches Shoko slowly walk along, taking her time. ‘This might be the only time I get to talk to her alone,’ Izuku thinks to himself. He looks at his phone’s clock. 7:13 A.M. ‘How long was my shower?!’ Izuku blinks to himself, eyes widening. Izuku swallows, and pockets his phone again before stepping to the door.

The wintery dawn air is near silent, save for the loud humming to the building's electronics and systems on the rooftop. Izuku is grateful he doesn’t have to watch his step, but is still careful nonetheless.

“Shoko?”

Her head whips around, surprise evident on her face as her flames lower significantly in intensity. The glow of the fire in Shoko’s eyes makes Izuku’s heart skip a beat, but now that he’s close enough, he can make out what she’s wearing. The special edition, tailored winter jacket Shoko got gifted for doing a shoot with an international brand fits her so well, but the way her olive scarf covers her mouth and squishes her cheeks, and the way her little hat sits on her head… Izuku’s one again grateful, this time for the fact the cold was naturally making his face red so it masked how hot it suddenly became.

“Hey,” She greets quietly, waving to him. Izuku waves back awkwardly, looking away.

“Sorry about earlier,” Izuku starts again. Shoko’s head tilts to the side cutely. Izuku blushes hard again, exhaling before continuing again. “I-... I’m still working on… Everything. I know I shouldn’t have made it your problem, I was stupid-”

“Izuku” Izuku flinches as he looks up at Shoko, who is now significantly closer. She’s frowning at him, not condescendingly, but more… Playfully? Izuku can’t tell. Shoko puffs her cheeks up, leaning forward. “I get it. It’s not your fault. I’m gonna tickle you if you don’t stop.”

“I- Wait what?” Izuku is taken aback by what she had slipped in at the end. Shoko just giggles to herself, and Izuku's breath is once again taken away right from him. He bites his lip, blushing harder again, looking away as a rare scowl forms on his face. “So… Do you need help?”

“No, I got it. Thank you, though. I’ve already got 1-B’s dorms cleared.” Shoko says softly, her voice carrying on the gentle wind. Izuku blinks.

“Really?”

“Yeah, it was fairly easy,” She chuckles to herself. Izuku just huffs, looking off behind her. The sky is a little bit lighter now, but the walkway lights are still on. The dead trees extend off into the darkness all around, but it doesn’t scare either of them.

“Can we hang out again? Like earlier? I-If it’s okay with you,” Izuku asks hesitantly. Shoko looks over, surprised, before it melts away to an overwhelming warmth in her eyes, and she smiles as she nods gently.

“Can I hug you now?” She asks softly. The gentleness in it lets Izuku know he can reject it if he so pleases, but Izuku looks away, before nodding himself. Shoko slowly closes the distance between them, boots quietly tapping against the concrete.

She opens her arms, and slowly envelopes Izuku in her taller frame. Shoko rests her head on top of Izuku’s, holding him around the chest tightly. Izuku’s arms instinctively reach to Shoko’s sides to push her away, but Izuku stops himself as the comfort of her hold hits him. He blinks, realizing his body is trying to fight, fly, or freeze.

Izuku’s arms gently wrap around Shoko’s back, and he briefly wonders if he’s doing things right, before he hears Shoko giggle, and she nuzzles into Izuku's hair. The scar on the upper right of his head throbs numbly for a second from the action, before falling silent.

He loses track of time as Shoko holds him. The sky continues to become lighter and lighter, with small indications of pink and orange peeking over the horizon. Shoko’s hands are rubbing circles into his back softly, and Izuku starts having trouble standing upright as his back muscles yearn for more of it.

Eventually, Shoko gently lifts her head, bringing her arms to rest on top of Izuku’s shoulders, and stepping back. She looks down at Izuku, and the small smile on her face grows just a tiny bit brighter.

Source: https://cara.app/post/de3c2a80-68cf-44b2-aa1f-3663fe472e3b

“Don’t look away, look into my eyes.” She says gently, her voice barely above a whisper. Izuku brings a shaky hand up to touch her right arm. He closes his parted lips, and swallows as he maintains eye contact as ordered. “There you go.” Shoko coos. Izuku feels himself frown against his will, like he felt this was a dream and his own mind was just playing with him again.

‘Even if it is a dream…’

Izuku is no stranger to wild, lucid nightmares. The first time he was in a coma after the first war, and the many, many surgeries following the final war had told him more than he felt comfortable with about what his imagination could conjure up.

‘I don’t want to wake up,’

…

“It’s not your fault…” Shoko whispers. Izuku’s body tenses as he feels an emotional wall come tumbling down like it was hit by a tsunami. Shoko’s left hand comes up to the side of his neck under his jaw. Her thumb gently presses against the giant scar on his right cheekbone. Izuku hisses, right eye closing slightly at the contact. It feels… Odd, but not… Uncomfortable.

Izuku feels the cold nipping at his face, his nose and ears stinging. He keeps looking into Shoko’s eyes, much more relaxed as he contemplates.

“Do you wanna go back inside?” Izuku asks. Shoko tilts her head again, before she nods, her small smile glowing. Her hands leave Izuku’s shoulders as she takes his hands gently, maintaining eye contact to ask silently if it was okay. Izuku swallows again, but lets her do it anyway. Shoko’s smile grows just a little bit as she ducks her chin into her scarf cutely.

The door doesn’t creak open, the ice having been melted off its hinges. A lot of people are up now, evident by the lights being turned to dim, and the distant sound of footsteps upstairs and elsewhere on the ground floor. Yaoyorozu was making herself tea in the kitchen. Ashido was eating a protein bar at the kitchen counter facing towards the common room. Izuku shrinks in on himself and looks away.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Ashido’s eyes light up, only to freeze, as the very physical manifestation of Shoko’s death stare became present. Ashido looked like she might wither up and die, and shrank back shamefully as Shoko huffs. She leads him into the elevator, and presses her floor.

Shoko’s room looks a lot less… ‘Scary?’ Maybe it was just the fear from earlier was no longer present, and all that was left was the awkwardness. The soft morning light, albeit little as it was, softly illuminated everything. Clearly, Shoko didn’t have any problems with awkwardness, because she guided him to her bed, sat down, and then wrapped him in a hug again.

Izuku felt like he was about to explode. Like, genuinely just burst into flames like Romain Grosjean, only this time he won’t climb out. He’d rather lay there and die, honestly. Izuku reciprocates it awkwardly, and Shoko just giggles as she nuzzles Izuku’s shoulder again.

Shoko quickly peels her jacket off, revealing a snug-fitting sweater underneath, before she envelopes him again. ‘This… Feels a lot more sensual than a hug,’ Izuku thinks. Before he can think any further, Shoko leans back, and takes Izuku with her as she bounces upon impacting the mattress. Izuku goes stock still, face paling before turning bright red. Shoko just giggles to herself and nuzzles Izuku again.

Izuku couldn’t move his arms discreetly, as they were pinned under Shoko on the bed. Shoko was still holding him tighter than he ever has been on top of her. Her long, elegant legs intertwine with Izuku’s toned, slim ones, squeezing gently with a feeling of security. Shoko’s always ran hotter than normal, but her Quirk made her sweater feel like it came straight out of the dryer with how comfortably warm it is.

“So… This is… what cuddling feels like?” Izuku asks quietly.

“Mh hmm,” Shoko mumbles sadly, snuggling Izuku tighter. Izuku frowns and looks away at the rest of her room. There was a lot Izuku missed the first time around: A couple of posters were now on her walls, and there were at least a dozen more plant Izuku was just now noticing. ‘She’s starting to feel more comfortable here…’ Izuku thinks to himself quietly. Shoko’s breathing is deep and slow, every breath measured as Izuku can’t help but melt into her touch.

Suddenly, Izuku’s phone buzzes. He maneuvers his right arm from under Shoko to grab it as Shoko tilts her head. His eyes focus on the lock screen.

“Oh, just a WorldTube notification,” Izuku sighs. Shoko just hums.

“Can we watch it?” She asks quietly. Izuku looks up at her, surprised, before he just shrugs, clicks on the notification, and unlocks his phone. ‘Modded GTA 7 Is a Psychological Horror-Induced Nightmare.’ The video was… Frankly absurdist in nature, but that was Izuku’s sense of humor anyway. Izuku was worried Shoko might not find it funny either, but a small chuckle in the intro calmed Izuku’s nerves.

Shoko rolls over onto her left side, holding Izuku like a plushie as Izuku props his phone up on the actual plushies. A few were scattered on the right side farthest from the wall. As they were watching, Shoko’s own phone went off. She strains to get it without removing her arms from Izuku, before she awkwardly slips it up to her face behind Izuku’s head.

You have been added to ‘Izuku Protection Squad’

Ochako: do you know where izuku is?

Kyoka: if he gets himself hurt again istfg im killing someone

Shoko: he’s with me

Ochako: oh :|

Kyoka: bruh

Shoko: something wrong?

Ochako: no!

Kyoka: he’s got a big fat down bad crush on you

Shoko: i thought he liked all of us?

Ochako: what

Kyoka: I mean that’s what we think idfk. We can share

Ochako: what

Shoko: we should get other girls in on this since he’s still clearly touch starved

Kyoka: what

Ochako: WHAT

Shoko: I though you said we could share?

Kyoka: just cuz I said we could doesn’t mean I want to. But I don’t mind snuggling a tall dommy mommy like you with Izuku in between us. All the other girls are attractive too, so it helps.

Shoko: shallow, but okay.

Ochako: ghajnlhjhlskflvvgfhittttttttttttt

Kyoka: I think Ochako’s dead. We killed her

Shoko: don’t change the subject.

Kyoka: 🙄

Shoko just huffs, pouting as she pockets her phone, and squeezes Izuku as tightly as possible. Izuku exhales sharply as Shoko curls inward, burying her nose into his neck as she squeezes her arms and legs around his own. Her body heat spikes, smothering Izuku in the overwhelming comfort.

“Hmmph,” Shoko pouts, her mouth like a caret as she glares at nothing, holding Izuku possessively. Izuku looks up at her, expression drawn in confusion, before he closes his eyes and smiles, chuckling quietly to himself as he lets himself be held.

Eventually, Izuku yawns as the video nears it’s end. His joints hurt as he tries stretching without disturbing Shoko too much. Eventually, Shoko lets out a yawn, whining as she snuggles Izuku deeper. Izuku’s eyelids suddenly get heavier as he realizes Shoko’s breathing has evened out, long, deep breaths behind him rising and falling with her chest on the back on his.

‘Might as well,’

Chapter Text

Izuku drifts awake, and grimaces as he stretches awake. He sighs heavily as he relishes in the comfort and warmth surrounding him. There’s soft breathing right behind him, the gentle touch of Shoko’s inhales and exhales tickling his skin.

He smiles groggily as he brushes Shoko’s hair with his fingers. She stirs gently and snuggles him tighter, curling her legs up around Izuku’s. Izuku’s heart flutters as he takes in his surroundings.

The room was pitch black, with the open window out to the rest of the world being just as dark. Considering it was the middle of January, it was probably morning by now. Izuku’s eyes adjust to the time on his phone: 5:03 A.M.

Izuku breathes out as he looks away, down at the bed covers below him. Shoko hums in her sleep as she slowly adjusts her position, squeezing Izuku tighter. Izuku’s heart rate quickens again as he swallows thickly, his mouth drawn thinly.

‘She’s so cute…’

A year ago now, Izuku would’ve exploded red and hid behind his arms. Now? The thought felt… It felt sorrowful. Like something Izuku couldn’t ever have. Whatever Izuku was experiencing felt a lot stronger than just a crush or desire.

Maybe it was just kinship? Or maybe Izuku just has never been this intimate with anyone. His heart somehow hurt yet felt so full when he thought about Shoko. ‘Now that I think about it…’

‘Ochako’s blinding smile. Her unbounded strength. The way she lifts people in the darkest of moments-’

‘Jiro’s musical skill and angelic voice.  Her protection of people she loves-’

‘Shoko’s amazing power and bravery. The small moments where her walls do come down, it makes Izuku need more of it-’

The pit in Izuku’s stomach grows all encompassing. He didn’t know what this feeling was, and the fear crept up his spine like Shoko’s frost. Izuku breathes in deep and settles his nerves, shifting his position slightly.

‘I can do this. I’m not… I’m not fucking stupid anymore,’ Izuku chides himself silently, breathing out as he stares hard into the darkness. ‘I’ll ask hound Dog about it when I get the chance. He’ll know more than anyone… God forbid Mina finds out-’

Shoko whines behind him as she stretches her arms and legs, snapping Izuku out of his thoughts. She groans as she retracts her arms back around Izuku, and squeezes him tightly. Shoko nuzzles her face into the back of Izuku’s head as she rolls over top of him.

Izuku’s face lights up bright red again as he tries to remain still. Shoko suddenly stops stirring, and tilts her head.

“...Izuku?” She whispers groggily. Izuku just breathes out quietly.

“Yeah?” He whispers back. Shoko remains quiet as she suddenly holds him down to the bed, flipping him on his back, and straddling his waist. Izuku’s face pales before exploding bright red. Shoko’s eyes shine with genuine concern as she places the back of her hand to Izuku’s forehead, and her eyes widen.

“Izuku you have a fever!” She says louder, still unaware that her long, elegant legs are currently using Izuku like a saddle. Izuku gulps as he darts his eyes back to the ceiling. Shoko dismounts him and hurriedly rushes to the bathroom. She pops out a few moments later with an infrared thermometer and a regular mouth thermometer.

Shoko runs the infrared thermometer over his forehead and pulls the trigger. She grimaces at the reading that displays before sticking the other forcefully into Izuku’s mouth.

“Sorry,” She winces as Izuku chokes. Her left hand is placed firmly on Izuku’s chest, and Izuku sinks into the warmth from her idle Quirk coming off of it. After a few seconds, the beeping alerts Shoko to pull it out, and she frowns at the reading. “Was it too hot when we were snuggling?”

“I- Wh-” Izuku stammers. He’s dropped that habit for well over a year now, but he’s genuinely at a loss for words. He can’t just explain that Shoko just straddled his waist on accident and didn’t even realize, nor the fact he was hopelessly devoted to her on accident.

“Just relax for now,” Shoko breathes out softly. “It’s still early, I’ll see how you’re doing in a little while. You can prop your phone up.” Izuku just blinks before nodding, grabbing his phone and begins catching himself up on the world news he missed while he was asleep.

Shoko’s eyes run over him worriedly. After the end of the Final War, and Izuku lost One For All, he lost much of what made his figure. He was still strong, but he was so… Thin. Lithe and toned. Izuku’s body was still absolutely athletic, but a far cry from how he had originally been.

She’s been worried about Izuku’s health ever since, and bluntly confronted him several times, even going so far as to ask Bubble Girl about it as she was the new U.A nurse. Every time, Shoko was told Izuku was going to be okay and that while many of his injuries were permanent, Izuku wasn’t going to be bed-ridden for the rest of his life.

Looking at him now, though… Shoko always ran hotter than everyone else, literally, and colder, too. ‘Maybe I translated too much of that heat? Or… Or is he just really embarrassed-’

Shoko snaps out of her thoughts by her phone going off. She blinks before clicking on the girls’ group chat notification.

Shiozaki Ibara has been added

Ibara: I have heard of Izuku’s troubles and wish to help.

Kyoka: oh my god she even texts like a christian

Kyoka: fuck i meant gosh. Sorry

Ochako: is 5 in morning

Ochako: go bed

Kyoka: she’s out of it

Ibara: I… See…

Shoko: He’s with me right now

Ibara: Oh! Wonderful!

Kyoka: why

Shoko: I can just send him over if you want.

Ibara: That’ll be fine!

Shoko: k

“Izuku?” Shoko says quietly. Izuku blinks and looks up at her. “Shiozaki says she heard about your assignment and wants to help.” Izuku stares contemplatively, before hesitantly nodding. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to,”

“No, it’s fine… I should probably be trying with more people anyways.” Izuku looks away, sighing. Shoko just nods.

Shoko: He’s coming

Izuku staggers up, only to be enveloped in a hug by Shoko. She presses him into her chest tightly, nuzzling his wild hair with her nose. Izuku just closes his eyes and smiles shakily, hugging Shoko back weakly.

Shoko pouts as she lets him go. He waves bye to her, and she waves back, still pouting as the door closes.

Shoko: Chako I’m coming over

Ochako: k

Shoko walks out at the same time she hears the dormitory front door open and close gently. She struts over to Ochako’s door and knocks softly. It opens a few moments later, to reveal a half-asleep Ochako, with serious bedhead, and mittens on her hands. Despite being able to control her Quirk activation, she still wears them in her sleep in case of nightmares, especially recently.

Not a word is spoken as Shoko stalks in and lets Ochako hug her. Shoko hugs her back and picks her up, bringing her over to the bed before wrapping herself and Ochako in a comforter cocoon.

Ochako nuzzles Shoko happily, shifting her position as Shoko rubs their legs together. She smooches Ochako’s forehead lightly, making her giggle, before decorating her forehead in butterfly kisses.

Ochako stops laughing eventually before her breathing evens out, and she falls asleep cuddling the taller girl. Shoko eventually closes her eyes and snuggles Ochako tighter, and kisses her one last time, silently wishing Izuku and Kyoka were here with them.

–

Izuku stumbles across the ice past the dormitory doors. He pulls his scarf down, breathing out heavily as he kicks his shoes off in the anteroom before stepping in. It’s still dark out, with only the hallway lights on.

The dim light reflects on what Izuku recognizes as Monoma’s hero jacket. Izuku blinks, only to realize that it’s Shinso, laying sprawled out on the couch. Izuku’s eyes go half-lidded as he walks past the couch and down the hallway.

He’s only been in the 1-B dorms once before to help Monoma on the first research project when they returned to classes-

‘“Alright, you broccoli bastard, I’ll swallow my pride once , as I… require your assistance considering my vision has gone down the shitter for the foreseeable, or… Unforeseeable, future-”’

Izuku snorts at the memory as he knocks on Ibara’s door. He swallows thickly as he works out the tension in his wrists. ‘It’s fine. She… She wants you to be here… Ibara’s kind, she’s not gonna-’

He startles as the door flies open. A half-awake Ibara stares down at him as Izuku blinks up, mildly concerned. He notes just how bright her malachite eyes are, even when it’s this dark. ‘It’s… kinda trippy,’ Izuku muses.

Suddenly, Ibara stumbles forward and leans off of Izuku, the tension leaving her shoulders. Izuku startles, holding her upright and thinking that she just passed out. However, the cue of a long, drawn out exhale and her shifting comfortably in his arms makes Izuku aware that she was… Using him like a pillow.

Izuku’s eyes go half-lidded as he sweat drops. He holds Ibara firm as he gently closes the door behind him. He startles as he hears a giggle behind him. Izuku whips around, only to see Kinoko and Pony curled up on the bed together. Izuku just blinks.

“She was barely awake when she texted you,” Kinoko smirks. Izuku grimaces as he gently holds Ibara, guiding her over to the bed. She hums as she snuggles into Izuku’s shoulder, her vines compressing into Izuku’s sides. He gently blows a hydrangea out of his eyes. Both the other girls scooch over to let Izuku sit down, which he does gingerly.

He feels uncomfortably hot as he settles down. Ibara stretches in his arms and hugs him tighter, breathing out slowly. Izuku’s face goes redder as he strokes her back gently.

“So, we heard that the ‘fear,’ thing we’re doing in class, for you, is… Touch?” Pony asks apprehensively. She was clearly afraid of overstepping, Izuku recognizes.

“Yeah…” Izuku frowns, looking at the floor. “It’s… More platonic stuff. Like hugs and forced attempts at touch… I think. I know in- hero work, like carrying civilians or treating people’s wounds, I’m fine with that, but I think that’s because it’s with my hands…” Izuku pauses. “Other touches like hugs or people touching my hair makes me freak out.”

“...What about Ibara?” KInoko asks quietly. Izuku looks up at the taller girl using him like a body pillow. His face flashes red again at how gorgeous Ibara looks, how peaceful she is, and the vibrancy of the flowers attached to her vines.

“It caught me off guard at first… I think the assignments I’ve been doing to help with it have been working… Not exactly comfortable with it yet,” Izuku finishes, left eye scrunching up as Ibara nuzzles his head. Pony giggles again as she moves closer to Izuku’s side, Kinoko following suit.

“We can help with that,” Kinoko says softly, looking up at Izuku. She smirks at the way Izuku’s face grows even redder as he looks away.

“I suppose,” He mumbles. Kinoko and Pony both giggle as they suddenly latch onto his sides, snuggling him tightly. Izuku's heart is near to tumbling out of his mouth, but he lays back and lets it happen. Ibara hums again and melts into the warmth of the other three. Izuku controls his breathing as Pony huffs, throwing a blanket over all of them, and then nuzzling Izuku’s shoulder. Kinoko brings her legs up around Izuku’s hips from the side.

“I’ve never seen Ibara be little spoon before,” Kinoko coos. Pony giggles in response as Izuku just blinks at her. Kinoko’s eyes light in realization, her face becoming pink. “Oh, we cuddle a lot like this. Started after… Y’know. Helps with nightmares and bad days… Pretty much every night for months afterwards. Even though things are a lot better now… We do this pretty much every night, still,” Kinoko says softly, staring up at Izuku.

“Ah,” Izuku responds, turning back up at the ceiling. “...Makes sense that it would work like that…” Izuku remembers the countless times he saw Shoko leaving Momo’s dorm room. She still does every now and again, but not nearly as often as when Second Year started.

They lapse into silence for several minutes afterwards, Izuku feeling Ibara’s slow heartbeat against his own chest. She strokes Ibara’s vines gently, feeling the delicate flower petals bristle under his touch. Pony carefully rests her head next to Izuku’s to prevent her horns from poking the other three’s eyes out. Kinoko has winter gloves on to prevent herself from accidentally using her quirk and spreading mushrooms everywhere, with similar reasoning as Ochako.

“I’m bored,” Kinoko pouts. Izuku just tilts his head as Pony snorts, before quickly grabbing her phone and pulling up RedStream. A vary large TV that Izuku somehow missed on the other side of the screen flicks to life as Kinoko snuggles closer. Pony drapes her arms across Ibara’s back, nuzzling closer to Izuku as she scrolls through rows upon rows of shows and sports.

“Formula 1: 2098 Season Highlights”

“Scream 218”

“You Suckers Will Buy Anything”

“Thomas The Tank Engine: Reincarnated”

“Stop Consuming Media Content and Get Your Life Together”

“Man, some of these are kinda weird,” Izuku frowns. Pony just glowers in agreement, nuzzling into Izuku’s neck as she scrolls faster and faster. Kinoko just yawns as she huffs, shuffling her position. Izuku’s face pales before burning pink as she presses her chest against his shoulder. Ibara snuggles Izuku tighter from the warmth he is giving off.

Eventually, Pony jumps back up to the top, and selects ‘Formula 1: 2198 Season Highlights’. The intro plays as the announcer starts with the pre-season testing all the way in February of that year. Izuku breathes out as he strokes Ibara’s back and vines. Pony sets her phone down as she wraps her arms back around Izuku’s left arm.

The first thing Izuku realizes is how freakishly strong Pony is despite only being 5’1’’. She gently takes Izuku’s left hand and clasps it with her right hand, her left brushing Izuku’s arm. Her fingers dance across the numerous scars across Izuku’s arm, making him flinch uncomfortably, but doesn’t stop her.

The next is Kinoko’s cheek squished against Izuku’s neck. Her slow breaths makes the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. She whines as she stretches, closing her eyes as she sticks her arms and legs out. Izuku swallows as she snuggles Izuku closer again, her eyes slowly closing.

“If it helps make you feel more comfortable,” Pony yawns, breathing in on his neck. “My real name is actually Penelope.” Izuku blinks. She pauses before continuing. “When I first moved here from Japan, I didn’ speak a lick of Japanese, and Penelope is a bit of a mouthful here, so… Some kids started mocking me for my Quirk ‘n heritage, ‘n it jus’… Stuck…” Izuku’s eyes soften as he squeezes her hand gently.

Pon- ‘Penelope,’ Izuku reminds himself, smiles a little as she squeezes back.

“After the… War, I guess I finally realized how demeanin' it was. All the other girls accepted it right away, thankfully… Can’t imagine having your entire identity defined by a demeanin’ moniker like you, though,” Penelope- ‘Peni? Maybe,’ looks up at him, her brow drawing in concern. Izuku frowns and rubs her hand gently as he breathes out.

“A lot of those kids didn’t know better. Just… They don't know any better…” Izuku turns to Penelope, who looks like she’s about to cry, before her face suddenly switches to one of fury.

“I’m still going to beat Bakugo ‘til his ass is inside out,” She spits. Izuku blinks as Kinoko pouts next to him on the other side.

“He’s nastier than fungicide,” Kinoko growls, squeezing Izuku’s arm. Izuku sweat drops as he closes his eyes.

“He’s not worth it,” He attempts to placate. “We’ve… We’ve settled our differences… If it makes you feel any better, Shoko caved his face in the first semester we were back.”

“That’s why he was gone for so long?” Kinoko asks curiously. Izuku has a squiggly smile coming on to his face from how cute she looks.

“He looked like Freddy Kreuger for weeks after,” Izuku breathes out. Kinoko giggles as Penelope just snorts. Ibara snores lightly as she shuffles her position, burning her face into Izuku’s chest. Her long, elegant legs intertwine with Izuku’s toned ones. His face gains a pink tinge as he continues to stroke her back.

As he does, he takes notes of the various bumps and ridges underneath them that makes his heart sink. There’s so many long, thin scar trailing from the edges of her collarbone all the way down to the small of her back. A small minority of them are completely smooth, but every other one is jagged and sprawling. He takes note of a few burns around her waist and chest as well.

“Itsuka helped her a lot with her touch-aversion,” Penelope starts softly. Izuku glances over at her. She’s dreamily nuzzled into her little spot on the cushions, blankets, and Izuku’s shoulder. “She used to be a big spoon, but now that she’s comfortable with it now, she’s just a giant squishy pillow.” She coos. Kinoko giggles again as Ibara breathes out slowly. She wiggles in Izuku’s hold, whining, and continuing to melt into his hold.

‘...I’m still so blessed,’ Izuku whispers internally, cherishing every moment he was like this.

“If it makes you feel any better, I was never really held as a child…” Kinoko says gently. “Neither of my moms had time to because they were always at work… Now I pretty much need cuddles and snuggles to fungition.” Izuku’s eyes go half-lidded at the pun shamelessly slipped in there.

“There’s a lot of boys in Knoxville who need to be taught a thing or two about treating ladies right,” Penelope huffs. “Boys here aren’t exactly too kind, either, especially to heteromorphs. After the dust settled, we went back to the dorms… I found Setsuna crying one night. We shared a bed that night, and now I rarely can sleep alone unless I have to…”

“Speaking of her, she’s been stressed out since when we were first assigned this project,” Kinoko chimes in, making Izuku grow concerned. “It’s like she’s gone back to the way she was earlier last year.” She frowns.

‘I definitely had something to do with that,’ Izuku swallows guiltily.

“If it’s okay with me asking… What did you guys- uh… gals?” Both the girls snort as Izuku blushes. “...-Put down as your fears? If it’s okay with me asking-” A beat passes.

“Burning to death,” Penelope murmurs.

“...Assault… Like…” Kinoko trails off, shuffling uncomfortably. Izuku just nods in silence, and looks down at Ibara. 

She still looks serene with the way she was resting on his chest, nuzzled comfortably into him like a pillow. Kinoko and Penelope are melted into Izuku’s sides, snuggled as close as possible and wrapped up in comforters and pillows.

Izuku breathes out as the show in the background keeps playing. It becomes harder and harder to keep his head up and his eyes open. He lays back and lets the overwhelming comfort take him. Sleeping was really the only way to stave off the pain for any significant amount of time.

Ibara’s vines gently wrap around Izuku’s chest, waist, and arms, as well as around Penelope and Kinoko, softly giggling in her sleep as she relishes in the warmth.

Chapter Text

*CRASH* *BANG*

Izuku’s eyes fly open as a short scream echoes around in his ears. He sits upright immediately, scanning the room around him, getting ready to jump up, only to stop.

A bright flash of light, a beautiful arc dancing across the dark clouds in the distance, catches his eyes for the briefest moment. He blinks, once, twice, three times, before letting his shoulders slump.

He sighs heavily before looking down, and sees Kinoko looking up, equally worried. Izuku freezes before grimacing.

“Sorry,” He mutters, scratching his head. “Just lightning,” Kinoko just pouts before snuggling back into his side, exhaling heavily as she sinks back into the sheets. Izuku surveys his surroundings again, heart still hammering in his chest.

10:02 A.M stares back at him on his sleeping phone screen. ‘I… I overslept… A lot…’ Izuku realizes numbly. The realization washes over him gently.

‘I didn’t… I didn’t have any nightmares last night…’

The feeling of even thinking about nightmares made him feel childish: ‘I’ve been through worse, I shouldn’t be like this-’ But for once to have a reprieve from it like this… It… Izuku doesn’t know how to feel.

Relieved? Joyous? Disgusted?

‘It’s bound to happen again at some point… At least they make me stronger…’ He feels guilty thinking about it, but he doesn’t know how else to process it. He looks to his right and sees Po- ‘Penelope-’ clinging on to his right arm, snoring and drooling with her hair a wild mess. Ibara is still wrapped around his torso, firmly planted on his front and resting her head on his chest as she stretches in her slumber.

Izuku lets a shaky smile come onto his face as he strokes the vines on her head. She lets out a noise of contentment as the orchids attached to the vines bristle at the touch. Penelope’s tail wags gently under the blankets as she huffs, nuzzling a long, jagged scar on his bicep.

Eventually, her eyes crack open, a bright baby blue staring back at Izuku lazily. She yawns, shaking, before stretching cutely. Izuku feels his heart rate pick up again watching her before looking away back out the window.

Izuku is momentarily blinded by another lightning strike, the thunder taking far less time to reach them than before. Ibara whines, curling up around Izuku as her vines constrict. Izuku rolls over onto his side as Penelope wraps her arms around Ibara’s back, Kinoko clambering on top of the much taller girl to squish her.

Another strike happens, and while the tension doesn’t leave Ibara’s beautiful face in her sleep, she doesn’t stir, and lets herself be snuggled by the other two girls while Izuku holds her. Izuku smiles and looks up at Kinoko, but it drops once he sees the concern on her face.

“What’s wrong?” Izuku asks softly. Kinoko glances at him before shrinking away, looking out the window at the approaching storm rolling over the horizon, lightning illuminating the clouds deeper within the cell.

“Yui’s terrified of thunderstorms…” She says quietly. “I heard her scream earlier, but I know Reiko is with her helping her with her leg… Still breaks my heart,” Kinoko nuzzles Ibara further underneath her sadly like a fox burrowing.

“Her… Leg-” Izuku freezes as he remembers.

‘The first time they return to class- Regular, high school class with no training, where they just… Sat, and talk to each other, about things going on in the world, just pissing about like teenagers- Izuku notices something off.

One of the seats in 1-B was empty.

Obviously, it could just be an absence, maybe someone who wasn’t ready to return just yet… Or… ‘Not all of us made it-’ Izuku shakes his head and swallows. The empty seat sits in the back of his mind the entire day, obfuscating what should have been one of the happiest days in recent memory.

He would get his answer a few hours later.

Izuku only has one class for the day, Engineering Principles, because of his academic record and the staff lessening the load on the students. After that was the mandatory therapy sessions and him being an office helper.

Present Mic asked him to drop something off at the nurse’s office, already occupied with the projector that was part of the recent aid packages as it had managed to catch fire.

He snorts to himself as he walks the hallways at the thought of Present Mic of all people struggling with technology, even disregarding the less than fortunate circumstances, until he comes to the actual nurses’ office.

It was Kodai that was missing, Izuku realized.

Bubble Girl was kneeling, holding let leg, and helping her stretch it. Her right leg…

Izuku blinks before the realization hits him like a bullet. He clears his throat, before knocking. Bubble Girl perls up before walking over, smiling.

“Thank you so much!” She smiles kindly. Izuku smiles back and goes to step away, but briefly catches the look of utter… Utter shame on Kodai’s face.

When class was over, the administration office was incredibly slow, so he asked to go back to the nurse’s and see if Bubble Girl needed any help.

“It’s nice seeing you back! Is something wrong?” She tilts her head. Izuku shakes his head.

“No! It’s not me, but… I dunno if you can answer this, but… I saw Kodai down here earlier, is- is she okay?” Izuku asks worriedly. Bubble Girl’s face softens.

“She’s in a bad place right now. She’ll be okay, but… Things are gonna be a lot different for her,” She says softly. Izuku sweat drops and nods. “She would really appreciate you asking, I know,”

“Alright… Is- Is there anything, like, I can do, or…?” Izuku trails off. Bubble Girl ponders it for a moment.

“I’ll ask her, but thank you so much, kiddo,” Bubble Girl opens her arm for a hug. Izuku quickly wraps an arm around her before letting go. He looks up to avoid the contact, looking at the recently repaired ceiling, the evidence of scratches and scorch marks left on the outside of the room in the hall.

Izuku peels away eventually, bidding goodbye, before leaving back to the dorms. A small storm system wanders its way over campus, and Izuku can’t stop thinking. He would believe that Kodai would reach out if she needed help, only to be reminded of himself and how stubborn he himself could be.

It was the last of it he would hear for months.

A follow-up with Bubble Girl said she was still considering, and then nothing after.’

There’s a knock at the door before it clicks open. Izuku hides himself behind Ibara and Kinoko as the short girl perks up. He can faintly see a bright purple outline as Reiko floats into the doorway.

“I must apologize for disturbing the peace around here, but may me and Yui rest here for the day and night?” Reiko asks gently. Kinoko just shrugs as Penelope nods enthusiastically. A small smile graces her face as she moves her head slightly to get the hair out of her left eye before floating in.

A very distraught Kodai curled up around a fleece-blanket follows her in. Reiko floats over Kinoko and lets herself down right on top of Izuku, pushing him over. Izuku freezes, face pale as Reiko stretches, yawning before rolling over and nuzzling into the warmth where he just was.

Yui floats down, shaking, right leg dangling limply before falling gently into Reiko’s arms. Reiko  shimmies her back against Ibara’s side, draping her arm over herself, before squeezing Yui in her arms gently.

Reiko blinks at Izuku with a dead look in her eyes, Izuku blinking back, before her expression softens, her ghastly blue eyes glowing in what little light there was.

“Hello,” She greets softly. Izuku just grimaces.

“Hey,” He says awkwardly. “Sorry, I-... I can leave-”

“No no no, you are more than fine,” Reiko says softly, snuggling Yui and resting her head on top of hers, exhaling. “I was informed of your presence and of your current predicament, and decided to kill two birds with one stone, if you will let me?” She asks.

Yui rolls over to face him, eyes blank, Izuku almost immediately gets lost in how vibrant and richly colorful they are, having to blink himself out of his stupor. Both the girls just tilt their heads to the side cutely.

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/jkloop-1226.bsky.social/post/3looqyx33s22l

Izuku sweat drops, his mouth turning into a frazzled line.

“Uh, sure. Why not,” Izuku shrugs. Reiko’s naturally pale face grows concerned a little bit.

“I want to make it clear, we are not pressuring you into complying,” She says gently.

“I know, it’s-” Izuku looks away, scratching his head. “I’m trying to get better with it anyways,”

“Very well, then,” Reiko smiles quietly, extending her arms around Izuku’s back. He doesn’t get the chance to brace himself as Yui immediately nuzzles her nose against his collarbone, throwing her arms and left leg around Izuku’s torso and hips.

She lets out a small noise of contentment as Reiko laughs wispily, snuggling Yui tightly from  behind and stroking her right thigh, fingers running over the various scars through her leggings. A small purr erupts from Yui’s throat as she melts into Izuku’s touch.

Izuku’s face goes from its previous pale to pink to bright scarlet as he keeps stroking Yui’s back. His hand unconsciously moves up to stroke her hair. She let’s out a ‘mrrp,’ as he does so, ears twitching contently and she keeps snuggling him tighter.

The glowing scar on Reiko’s right shoulder begins dimming in brightness, as does the silhouette of her right eye behind her hair as she closes her eyes slowly, massaging Yui’s right thigh. Yui shakes in both of their arms, letting out a trill as she points her chin up. Izuku scratches her chin, making her stare wide-eyed at him.

Izuku smirks and goes back to headpats and backrubs. Eventually, Yui goes back to purring, and-

*BANG*

Yui shrieks, claws digging in to Izuku skin as the fleece blanket she was stimming with jumps in size. Izuku grits his teeth, letting go of her as she shakes. Reiko let’s go momentarily to let Yui ground herself as she rolls over, hands over her ears.

“It’s okay,” She says softly. Reiko’s quirk comes to life, evident by the faint blue and pink glow around her eyes, as a pair of noise-cancelling earbuds floats over. Yui shakily puts them in before tearing her sweater off, and rolling herself up in the fleece blanket, whimpering.

Izuku can see her bottom-lip quiver in what little light there is, and gently extends his arms. Yui lets herself be held from both sides again. Thunder crashes again, and she jolts, but the earbuds do their job, and she begins sinking back into comfort again. Ibara whines across from her, but doesn’t move any further.

Yui is rubbing circles with the palms of her hands onto the fleece blanket, kicking down on both Izuku and Reiko’s legs with her left leg gently. Izuku recognizes this immediately, and looks up at Reiko with concern.

“She prefers fleece more because it doesn’t get as hot and it’s more manageable for her.” She says softly, stroking the top of Yui’s head. A small trill comes from her as she closes her eyes, nuzzling into the bed. Izuku’s heart throbs in his chest as he holds her tighter, and Yui squeaks in response.

‘I’m so in over my fucking head,’ Izuku grovels to himself, trying to calm himself. ‘Is this what friends do? Does it matter what gender? It feels… Awful yet comforting at the same time… This feels like a sin but-’

Izuku’s mind crashes as Yui licks his neck.

His face explodes red and pink. Reiko chuckles to herself cutely as Yui purrs again, nestling into Izuku’s rising body warmth as he stares at the ceiling.

He wasn’t exactly… Freaked out… It was just… Unexpected…

By the time he comes back to reality, the room is significantly darker, almost pitch black. Yui is curled up in both his and Reiko’s arms, purring gently as Reiko strokes her back. Izuku looks at his phone. 12:09.

The TV is playing quietly in the background, barely audible and brightness dimmed. The other three are nested on the other side of the bed from them.

Reiko looks up at Izuku, her eye glowing in the dark.

“She’s always been terrified of thunderstorms, or any cacophonous noise,” Reiko whispers. “Yui likes to be held during them because heartbeats help ground herself…” She looks up at Izuku, and smiles. Izuku feels a pang in his heart as he shuffles his position. His limbs aren’t screaming in agony like usual, only… Only a dull thrum going through them.

“Kodai has sensory issues, yeah?” Izuku asks gently. Reiko nods as she nuzzles Yui’s head. She lets out a trill, ears flicking before going back to purring. Izuku swallows as he feels his face heat up again.

“I’m usually the one who aids her the most, alongside Itsuka,” She lays her head back down, breathing out as she stretches before squeezing Yui. Yui squeaks in response again, kicking her leg down on Izuku’s leg gently. “She’s clearly taken a liking to you, though. Rarely have I seen her get attached and trusting of one so quickly.”

Izuku’s mouth turns into a squiggly line as he looks away. Reiko giggles softly as she hugs Yui. Izuku adjusts his hold, making it just a tiny bit looser. Yui snuggles him closer instead, and Izuku relents, holding a little closer.

Reiko reaches a hand up to touch Izuku’s hair slowly.

“If I may?” She asks gently. Izuku blinks before he relents after a few seconds, watching her hand.

 Her fingers, pale and elegant, brush his hair to the side, revealing the long, thin scar that had been grown over by his hair. The area had been reclaimed fairly quick, but the damage to the scalp meant that it would forever be there.

She frowns as she runs her fingertip along it. Izuku’s eye twitches, not out of anger, but at the sensation. Reiko waits to see if he objects, but continues slowly. Izuku finds himself unconsciously leaning into the touch, wanting to stop himself, kicking himself internally, but…

But…

He can’t.

He just… Can’t.

It freaks him out more than anything that he couldn’t will himself to pull himself away, but Izuku remembers what he needs to do, what he’s trying to accomplish, to finally be able to take other’s touch and not scratch his skin raw, so…

He lets Reiko stroke his hair gently. Faintly, it reminds Izuku a little of his own mother. When he was sick, or tired, she would stroke his head until he fell asleep whenever she was home from work.

It’s silent forever, until Reiko finally breaks it.

“...If it makes you feel any better,” She swallows thickly, looking away as she pulls her hand back slowly, and touches her own hair. Izuku blinks as she lifts it, and-

‘Oh…’

…

Izuku stares in what little light there was at the hollow where Reiko’s left eye used to be. Lichtenberg figures run around her skin, pale pink at the edge before turning dark red near the epicenter, similar to the scar on her right shoulder.

‘She… She looks embarrassed…’ Izuku realizes, seeing the pinch of her eyebrow, the look in her eye as she stares at anything but him.

“Can… Can I?” Izuku asks quietly. Reiko doesn’t look back, only nods shakily. He reaches up slowly, and graces Reiko’s silver hair. It’s light and thin like clouds to the touch. Izuku caresses her scalp and watches the way she shivers from the contact.

After a few minutes of gently patting her head, he goes to pull away, but Reiko grabs his hand gently, pushing it closer to her head, and holding it.

“Please… Just a little bit longer,” She pleads quietly, looking up at him. Izuku frowns and obliges, continuing to stroke her hair. Her breathing becomes uneven as she buries her face in Yui’s hair, but Izuku continues regardless, waiting to see if she’ll want him to stop.

Eventually, her breathing evens out, and lets out a small hum as she sinks into the bed next to Yui, wrapped around the girl. Izuku exhales after what feels like forever, clear concern written on his face.

He doesn’t know what happened to Reiko, or how it happened… All he knows is that she needs help. Just someone to be right next to her, tell her it’s going to be different but it’s going to be okay, to tell her that her scars don’t need to be hidden…

‘Hypocrite…’ Izuku snarls at himself internally. He just huffs as he ruffles Reiko’s hair gently and nuzzles Yui again, arm’s wrapping around Reiko’s back. The phantom feeling of scar under her hoodie, all along her sides and backs, startles him briefly, but he decides to give her back rubs instead.

Reiko purrs like Yui and Izuku’s heart almost explodes.

Eventually, he settles down enough to finally be sleepy. Izuku rests his eyes, relishing in the comfort and warmth, knowing that comfort and… And love like this is never guaranteed.

‘I’m still so, so blessed…’

Chapter Text

Izuku’s skin tingles gently, and makes him involuntarily smile as he turns his head away. A gentle purring graces his ears as he feels the soft mass in his arms close to his chest.

‘I’m surprised I’m not sweating… Probably has something to do with how cold the room is,’ Izuku muses as he feels the numbness on his face.

He goes to stretch, expecting to be in massive amounts of pain, but the only thing that comes is a soft soreness in his joints. Izuku blinks, eyes flashing open as he settles back down. The relief is so great it makes his eyes sting, but he quickly blinks as he looks to his right.

Yui is nestled in a blanket cocoon up to mouth, only her nose and eyes poking out the top, with her hair a beautiful mess. Reiko is in a similar state, the giant scar on the left side of her face fully visible behind the curls her hair has seemed to gain overnight.

Bright cerulean eyes stare up at Izuku, adorably expectant as she wiggles her hips, before stretching to nuzzle his face. Izuku smiles wobbly as Yui trills, purring as Reiko whines, curling around Yui tighter.

Izuku reaches a hand up to stroke Yui’s hair. She lets out an extremely loud purr as she looks up at him dreamily. His other hand rubs circles gently on Reiko’s back, and feels the way she almost instantly melts into his touch like butter.

It’s a lot easier to love on both of them when both of his arms aren’t in horrible pain and/or spasming. ‘Now that I think about it… I’m perfectly fine laying here the rest of the day… I should probably brush my teeth and get breakfast, though…’ Izuku thinks to himself.

Eventually, he hears Komori groan loudly as she stretches, yawning as Penelope stirs gently. Ibara whines quietly as she nuzzles the two smaller girls, rubbing her back into Reiko.

“Hello, baby,” Komori coos, patting Penelope’s head. “You’re so cute,” Penelope closes her eyes as Komori aggressively snuggles her, pinching and stretching her cheeks. Izuku just blinks before shaking his head. ‘That was… Oddly intimate… Well, actually, this all kinda is,’ Izuku thinks blankly. Yui begins shaking in his hold as she rolls over to start nuzzling Reiko. Reiko giggles softly as she reciprocates.

Komori and Penelope eventually giggle before sighing, laying on their backs as they keep Ibara warm. The vine-haired girl pouts in her sleep, puffing her cheeks up as she nuzzles into the sources of heat being provided by the two smaller girls.

“Do you think breakfast would make her feel better?” Komori asks. Penelope nods vigorously as she squeezes Ibara tightly, making her yawn. Komroi sits up and stretches again cutely, before staggering off the bed. Penelope huffs as she hoists Ibara up. Penelope was only 5’3, with Ibara being well over 6’5, but she carries the taller girl bridal style anyways.

Izuku only blinks as Komori turns to the other three as she puts on a face cream mask.

“You guys wanna come?” She asks quietly. Yui perks up at her before she growls, glowing as she rolls over and nuzzles her face into Izuku’s chest. Reiko groans before she gets up, yawning and stretching adorably. Izuku’s heart hammers itself out of his chest at the sight, before gulping and stroking Yui’s back.

“I’ll make you tomato soup,” Komori chirps. Yui finally huffs before rolling over, and inching over to Reiko. Reiko just huffs in amusement before using her Quirk to make the catgirl levitate. She gently takes hold of Izuku’s hand, looking up at him as a silent offering to make sure he’s okay. Izuku just blinks, his mind crashing. Reiko just smiles fondly before gently guiding him out of the room, Yui floating next to her.

By the time he becomes aware of his surroundings again, he’s laying down on the couch looking up at the ceiling. Izuku looks over and sees Reiko on her back on the loveseat, with Yui curled up on top of her, purring gently. There’s a small, beautiful smile on her face as she strokes Yui’s hair and back with both of her hands.

Komori and Penelope are busy working in the kitchen as the morning sunlight creeps in gently. Ibara is bundled up in her comforter, surrounded by heated blankets, lying directly in the sunlight. Izuku gulps as he takes in how… Ethereal, she looks, with how the sunrise colors paint her skin.

He sighs and looks back up at the ceiling. ‘I kind of want to go over and cuddle with her, but… I should probably just wait ‘til she wakes up,’ Izuku thinks. He doesn’t want to violate her space, but a small part of him just can’t bring himself to make the move by himself.

When he comes back from his blurry paracosm, he finds himself looking into distressed, jade eyes.

Izuku blinks as Setsuna whimpers, disembodied head floats above him from behind the back of the couch. Izuku raises an eyebrow, a concerned look in his eyes as he remembers their encounter earlier that week.

He swallows thickly, tilting his head, before reaching his left hand up slowly, a silent offering. Setsuna blinks in surprise before dipping her head and meeting him halfway. She whimpers again at the contact as she closes her eyes, letting Izuku pat her head. She chirps happily as a coquette smile forms on her face, nuzzling into Izuku’s hand.

The hammering inside of his chest is so strong Izuku can feel it in the back of his throat. Eventually, another figure comes into his periphery, and Izuku looks up to see itsuka glancing down at him tiredly. He just blinks before the rest of Setsuna’s body worms itself out of Itsuka’s hold and falls lightly on top of Izuku.

Setsuna’s head snaps back onto the rest of her body as she begins aggressively hugging and nuzzling him, chirping and clicking loudly. Izuku tries to suppress a smile as he hugs Setsuna back shakily. He hears Itsuka briefly chuckle to herself as she sits down near Izuku’s head.

“Is touch okay right now?” She asks groggily, sleepy teal eyes meeting blank viridian irises. Izuku just blinks before he nods. Itsuka closes her eyes tiredly, before scooching over, and placing Izuku’s head in her lap.

Izuku’s heart stutters to a stop, paling briefly before exploding bright red. Setsuna giggles like a mad woman, her shit-eating grin all sharp teeth before she lets out a deep trill, rubbing her head on Itsuka’s lap as Izuku goes catatonic.

A large, scarred hand strokes his hair gently, and Izuku feels himself grounded again. He looks back up at Itsuka, who’s slumped over, eyes closed, and a small smile on her face as she rubs both his and Setsuna’s heads. ‘I dunno if my heart can take this any longer,’ Izuku thinks panickedly.

Eventually, a plate with scrambled eggs, glowing pink, floats into view. Itsuka opens one eye, mouthing a quiet thank you to Reiko, before taking it and placing it to the side as she begins to eat. Setsuna clicks one last time, before her head clicks off and floats away. Izuku is left staring at the area where her head came off, a discolored patch of skin left over the base of her neck.

‘How does her body sustain the blood flow to the detached parts? How strong is the telekinesis required to do as such? Does she have migraines and/or seizures because of it? How does her regeneration work? How painful is it when one of her parts gets destroyed-?’

Izuku’s stream of consciousness is interrupted when her head flies back into view, dark green curls blocking his vision as she shoves a handful of beef jerky into her mouth. Izuku swallows as he realizes how cute she looks when she eats: Her cheeks puffed up and a small fang hanging out of her mouth, the look of happiness and contentment in her eyes.

Setsuna blinks at him, before she smiles, swallowing, and offers him some. Izuku just shakes his head. She puffs her cheeks up in faux anger.

“Fine. More for me, then,” She glowers, shoving more of it into her mouth. Izuku exhales, smiling to himself, and stretches his back a little from his position on Itsuka’s lap. Setsuna has her legs locked around his waist, and wraps her arms back around his chest when she’s done and discards the empty bag. Itsuka eventually finishes, and sets her plate aside, before it glows pink and floats away again.

Itsuka sits there with her arms sprawled out, idly stroking Izuku and Setsuna’s hair with one hand, eyes closed and a small smile on her face.

“We should probably move before someone gets on us for PDA…” She yawns, ruffling Izuku’s curls. Setsuna chirps in agreement, smiling coquettishly at Itsuka. They both look to Izuku, who just shrugs.

Itsuka gently puts her arms under both of them and lifts without even trying. Izuku’s first instinct is to brace himself from being caught off guard, but once reality hits him, he goes slack like a ragdoll.

Setsuna let's out a deep chirp as she giggles, bumping her head softly against Izuku’s. Itsuka chuckles heartily as she carries the two upstairs.

Izuku blinks as he's being gently laid down on Itsuka’s bed, black, white, and ocean guest meeting his vision as Itsuka wraps her scarred, strong arms around him.

Setsuna pushes herself off before grabbing several blankets and pillows. Izuku blinks as she makes several clicking and chirping sounds, rearranging and nuzzling several pillows and blankets into a barri, before grabbing a deep blue hoodie with Itsuka’s name embroidered on it, hugging it tightly. She falls onto her side, and then crawls back into Izuku’s arms.

They lay there for a moment in comfortable silence, with the only sound being the gentle wind outside carrying a flurry of snow, and Setsuna’s adorable clicking and chirping as she nuzzles her body into Izuku’s.

“So, if it’s okay with you,” Itsuka starts gently. “Could you explain why you're so uncomfortable with touch?” Izuku blinks, before looking up at the ceiling.

“It’s… Weird… Touch I can control with my hands, or that I know is necessary, like carrying or holding on to somebody, I’m fine with, but… Platonic touch, it just… Drives me up a wall, or at least it did before… The past couple days haven’t been so bad, I just hate it mostly when people do it without any warning like touching my arm or back… It’s so fucking gross and uncomfortable… Right now, it’s okay though, because both of you at least asked, and both of you are able to control yourselves…” He sighs. Itsuka just nods as Setsuna lets out a small click.

“So it’s people laying their hands on you without consent, and platonic touch that you feel is too intimate?” Itsuka questions further, leaving enough room for Izuku to decline answering. Izuku sighs, looking at the other wall. There’s bright ocean colors splattered against the walls in patterns.

“Kinda… Most likely from bullies in my younger years… Y’know, beating me, throwing things, burning and stabbing... My mom would always touch me on the arm and back, and never listened to me when I told her to stop… She said I was her child and was allowed to do that, and she loved me, like that was an excuse… Now that she’s gone, I… I regret thinking that…” Izuku finishes quietly. Setsuna lets out a sad chirp, looking up at him with a distressed look in her eyes as Itsuka hugs him tighter, wrapping her legs around Izuku’s.

There’s a lot of scars coating her arms, like Izuku’s. Some of them were surgical, others like deep cuts or someone tried to take chunks out of her limbs. Itsuka is ridiculously strong, though, Izuku realizes, as he feels his back crack involuntarily. There’s small locks of bright orange from her bedhead in Izuku’s view, and makes his heart flutter. Setsuna whimpers again and rubs her head against his chest.

“I still have nightmares and bad dreams every night, about… Everything, even though I’m seeing a psychologist. But lately, I haven’t had any whenever I’ve- ‘No, not slept with someone’ Shared a bed with someone… I’m still terrified of being touched, I can’t and probably won’t initiate it, but this is nice…”

“It’s okay,” Itsuka whispers gently. “You’re allowed to feel these things. I know both me and Setsuna were confused and lost just like you were after the War,” She wraps herself tighter around Izuku’s back as Setsuna falls silent.

“I… Thank you..,” Izuku mutters, unsure of what else to say. A small part of him feels relieved he wasn’t alone. He’s heard the same from other classmates and the adults in his life he actually trusts, but… It feels different coming from Itsuka, and he doesn’t know why.

“I didn’t think I slept for days when it was officially over,” Setsuna starts quietly. “I passed out in what I thought was a spare room… Woke up and found myself gay as hell wrapped around Itsuka,” She giggles. Izuku just blinks as Itsuka flushes bright red, glaring. Setsuna snickers as she kicks lightly with her feet.

“That was also the first time I found myself actually able to rest, knowing I wasn’t alone and with someone I trusted with my life…

“Since then, it’s been a lot better. I share a bed with either her or one of the other girls almost every night. Mostly ‘Suka. Never with a boy, though, most of them suck, but you’re an exception,” She purrs, a smirk of pure mischief on her face. Izuku sweat drops.

“You’re gonna kill him,” Itsuka splutters. Izuku just sighs as Setsuna giggles, readjusting her position in his arms as she chirps again, content with her spot as a pillow. They lapse into silence again.

“They just passed the legislation making U.A’s hero program a University only,” Itsuka starts, breathing out as she stretches. Izuku blinks, before tilting his head, Setsuna perks her head up, fang hanging out of the corner of her mouth. “The rest of our time here is just going to be mostly regular high school, but we’ll train and have exercises still, as extracurriculars. Internships are up to us.”

“That’s good,” Izuku nods, looking out the windows. “I’ll probably continue here after we graduate,”

“Same,” Itsuka affirms. Setsuna gives a small chirp as her own affirmation. The silence in what is left unsaid hangs heavy in the air, though.

The adults responsible for them, the ‘heroes,’ were willing to sacrifice young lives for their cause, and the villains had no qualms with taking those lives. Izuku already had this introspective months ago, but it still makes him sick to his stomach, and he holds Setsuna just a little bit tighter.

It completely flew over Izuku’s head when he was younger that the HPSC was raising literal child soldiers, and the only hero Izuku saw who seemed to care was Rock Lock.

‘Speaking of which…’

“I… Dunno if this is appropriate, but… The HPSC is confirmed to wrap up in April,” Izuku says. Itsuka’s eyebrows raise in surprise, as Setsuna growls. Izuku grimaces, expecting to get kicked out, but nothing happens. Setsuna’s very clearly upset at the mention, but Itsuka rubs her arms on his sides gently.

“The UN’s still going to have a large presence for now. Momo and I got to see a couple of their representatives last month. I actually felt safe with them, surprisingly,” Itsuka jokes darkly. Izuku huffs, unsure of how to respond. ‘It’s probably just her way of coping,’ Izuku thinks to himself. ‘The UN was shit before the Quirk Wars… After reformation in the 2050’s, it actually became competent and trustworthy, surprisingly, The-’

Izuku’s train of thought is halted by a red signal that is Setsuna placing a hand over his mouth. He just blinks at him.

“You’re muttering again,” She pouts. Izuku blinks before wincing. Setsuna growls. “I like it, keep talking,” Izuku blinks.

“Don’t put him on the spot like that,” Itsuka chastises lightly. Setsuna just puffs her cheeks up and rolls over, facing away from Izuku as she pouts. Izuku goes to hold her lightly, only to hear another growl from Setsuna.

“Hold me aggressively.” She demands. Izuku does as instructed without a second thought, squeezing her. She squeaks before purring, a half-lidded glare on her face but much more content as she is snuggled.

Then she bites his neck.

Izuku’s not sure if his brain can take anymore of… Whatever this was.

Setsuna’s teeth sinks into his clavicle, before leaving, and she laps up whatever blood comes out.

“Sorry, it’s just love-biting,” She purrs. Izuku blinks, growing hotter by the second as Setsuna purrs at the heat coming off of him. “I do it to people I trust a lot. I’ve done it to all the other girls, but you're the first boy.” The devious look in her gaze makes Izuku roll his eyes. Setsuna giggles to herself as she wiggles her hips, adjusting her position in Izuku’s arms.

The snow is still coming down gently outside in a slow dance. Izuku still feels the pain in his chest, and curls in on himself, face pained as he tries to make out what it is. It doesn’t… It doesn’t feel like an organ or his ribs… It just… Hurts…

Setsuna makes a small whimper below him, looking up at him.

“What's wrong?” She asks quietly. Izuku is taken aback a little by how soft and gentle Setsuna was behaving, before shaking his head.

“It’s…” He doesn’t know how to put it into words without sounding crazy. The last thing he wants is to drive these two away. “Everything fucking hurts still. I have everything I could ever want, and it just… I feel like I don’t deserve it, I can’t- I just can’t be normal anymore after what’s happened. I know I can’t go back out there because Eri needs me, and my body can’t old up any longer, but that need just doesn’t fucking leave,” He finishes exasperatedly.

Setsuna looks up at him angrily, tears in her eyes, before reaching up to rub his face with hers aggressively. Itsuka squeezes the both of them as tightly as possible as she nuzzles the back of his neck.

“You deserve the world.” Setsuna declares, voice shaking with emotion. “Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. You hear me???” izuku swallows before nodding, guilt gnawing at him now for making both of them sad like this.

“We were all children of war. We didn’t deserve any of this…” Itsuka states, voicy cracking, but still remaining strong. She cradles Izuku and Setsuna’s head against her chest. “We have each other. It’s going be different, a lot different, but it’s going to be okay.”

“I…” Izuku chokes on his words, unsure of what to say. The need to cry, to be vulnerable is there, but… It doesn’t come. Izuku can’t force himself to cry, he just can’t cry anymore period. “Thank you…” He says quietly. The only sound left is Setsuna’s sniffling and Itsuka’s uneven breathing. “Sorry for bringing it up-”

Izuku’s stopped by both his cheeks being pinched lightly, and the two girls glaring at him so murderously the words crawl back down his throat and die.

“Shut. Up.”

“...Understood.”

Itsuka suppresses a smile under her glare before crushing Izuku in another hug. Setsuna let’s out a flurry of clicks and chirps again as she holds Izuku tightly, rubbing her nose into her neck. Izuku lets out a strangled chuckle at the contact, letting himself be held finally. He feels his eyelids droop and a yawn build up in his throat. ‘Isn’t it, like 10 A.M??? Maybe Tokage just makes me tired,’ Izuku muses internally.

“You wanna big spoon?” Itsuka asks after a few minutes. Izuku blinks, and is about to decline, but the shin in her eyes and her smile…

“Sure, if you’re comfortable with it,” Izuku reluctantly agrees. Itsuka beams before letting go of Setsuna and him. Izuku let’s go of Setsuna himself, who huffs indignantly, before being scooped up by Itsuka as she stretches over Izuku’s body. She lays down in front of Izuku, and guides her hand gently around her waist and chest, before snuggling her back into his front.

“Thank you,” Izuku mutters shyly, bright red. Itsuka just giggles, as does Setsuna, who starts clicking and chirping contently in Itsuka’s hold. Her back is so broad and toned it makes Izuku small. The small edges of even more scar poking out from under her shirt around her back and necks gives Izuku a concerned look, but he opts to hold Itsuka tighter.

He rubs her back gently with his hands from where they were wrapped around her, and Itsuka crumples a little, humming at the contact. ‘She’s melting into my touch just like Reiko,’ Izuku realizes. They stay like that for a while, with Izuku getting lost in the comfort and warmth.

Eventually, Itsuka rolls over, bringing Setsuna with her, who maps before falling into the space between her and Izuku. Itsuka wraps her arms and legs back around Izuku, caging Setsuna. Izuku looks, down, avoiding eye contact as he glows bright pink, only for Itsuka’s hand to gently guide his eyes back up.

“Look into my eyes,” She says gently. “It’s affection training. I want you to get comfortable with it,” Izuku blinks before doing as told. It felt… Different, again, being told to do this. He wanted to, most of all. He’s not sure what made it different, maybe because he knew Itsuka was emotionally socially intelligent and knew how to be gentle and give people space, but…

The more Izuku looks into her teal eyes the more he loses himself. There’s freckles like constellations on her cheeks and over her nose, and her smile is so soft yet so gentle… He can’t look away.

Setsuna is gently chirping between them, nestling into the blanket and hoodie she’s clutching as she retains her warmth. Itsuka giggles as she adjusts her hold gently.

Eventually, Setsuna let’s out a soft purr, snoring gently between Izuku and Itsuka. Itsuka smiles fondly, eyes shining, before she looks up at Izuku again. Her eyes slowly drift close as Izuku frowns. His chest hurts, but… In a good way. ‘That doesn’t make any sense,’ Izuku sighs exasperatedly.

‘Whatever,’ He thinks as he closes his eyes, nuzzling just a little bit closer to the other two. ‘Itsuka will know everything about it,'

BONUS:

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/jkloop-1226.bsky.social/post/3loosylv6z22v

Chapter Text

There’s gentle purring in Izuku’s ears as he drifts awake.

He doesn’t open his eyes, breathing out as he nuzzles Setsuna in his arms. His face turns a little pink as the memories of what happened yesterday come to him suddenly. Setsuna clicks quietly in contentment, resting in between the other two, on top of Izuku’s left arm and Itsuka’s right, her own arms wrapped around the other two.

Izuku lays there, absorbing the gentleness and safety of the moment, before he opens his eyes, and sees the coquettish smile resting on Setsuna’s peaceful face. Her body is like putty in their hold, her chest rising and falling slowly as she absorbs both of their warmth. Itsuka is holding Setsuna like a body pillow, left cheek squished against Setsuna’s head as she snores quietly. Their hair is messy, bright orange and seaweed green draped against each other gently. Izuku blushes brightly at how cute they look, only making Setsuna purr again at the warmth coming off of him. Itsuka whines and nuzzles Setsuna tightly, puffing her cheeks up and kicking down on both of their legs before falling still again.

Izuku scrunches his left eye closed as Setsuna nuzzles his cheek aggressively with hers, chirping happily in her sleep. He slowly moves his right arm from where it was holding Itsuka’s back to grab his phone from his pocket, only for Itsuka to huff and grab his arm back and drape it around her again, before nuzzling deeper into Setsuna’s hair. Izuku just blinks, facing turning bright red at Itsuka’s sleepy pout, before turning his phone on silently.

6:07 A.M

Kyoka: uuuuggggggggggghhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Ibara: Yes?

Shoko: Ochako’s so cute. I wanna marry her.

Kinoko: 0_0

Penelope: nothin wrong with being gay! You go girl!

Yui: I wanna do the same to Reiko.

Reiko: I-

Yui: We talked about this last night. We’d confess to Izuku and move out to the country in the mountains with the other girls as well.

Ibara: ANYWAYS

Ibara: Good morning everyone! I hope everyone slept well! Would any of you like to help me garden this morning?

Komori: Sure!

Kyoka: not trying to be an asshole but why the exclamation points

Yui: not trying to be an asshole

Yui: *proceeds to be an asshole*

Kyoka: bitch i will kiss the fuck out of you

Yui: GO AHEAD THEN

Izuku: morning

Ochako: OMG IT HIM

Kinoko: YYEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHH

Izuku can’t help the shaky smile that forces itself onto his face as he adjusts his position. Something akin to gratefulness and embarrassment melts in his chest, uncomfortably at first, but gradually bubbles into… ‘Happiness? Pride? ’ Setsuna breathes out heavily as she shimmies in place to get comfortable again, Itsuka clutching her tighter like she might disappear if she lets go.

Ochako: THOSE TWO BETTER BE FUCKING TREATING YOU RIGHT

Kyoka: word

Izuku: it’s fine!!

Izuku: they’re both asleep right now.

Ibara: I’m sure you’ve already figured it out by now, but Setsuna’s cold-blooded, and while she can be perfectly fine in her patrol outfit and regular clothes, she much prefers cuddling with any of the girl’s. Itsuka also doesn’t like the cold because it makes her arms stiff as they’re not fully healed just yet so they often seek each other out.

Penelope: SETSUNA”S PURRING IS EVERYTHING.

Ochako: SHE PURRS?????

Kinoko: YES

Kyoka: AAAAAAAAAAAAGGHG

Izuku blinks at the stream of reactions, stealing a glance at the other two, only to see Itsuka blinking awake slowly. Dark teal eyes focus on Izuku’s face tiredly, staring for a few seconds as Izuku’s ears turn red, before Itsuka closes her eyes and stretches, squeezing Setsuna and Izuku with her arms and legs. Izuku huffs as he feels his breathing be constricted from Itsuka’s sheer strength, while Setsuna just purrs again at the compression.

“G’morning,” Itsuka whispers tiredly, nuzzling Setsuna and Izuku as she strokes his back gently. Izuku smiles crookedly again as he gently rubs circles into her back, making Itsuka hum as Setsuna chirps and clicks again in between them, flipping over and letting out a high-pitched yawn, before going back to purring. Itsuka’s face becomes dusted with pink, a small yet fond smile overcoming her face as she looks at Setsuna with nothing but pure love.

“...Can I ask the others to come over?” Izuku asks pensively. The anxiety had almost been too much, but it forces itself out before he has a chance to take it back. Itsuka blinks up at him, and for a moment, Izuku wants to take it back, before she suddenly smiles softly and nods, closing her eyes and sinking further into his hold. The way she held Setsuna between them, letting him rub her back gently, the smile and her eyes, what she told him yesterday… She felt… Safe with him. Like maybe he was still the hero he once was to keep her from harm. Izuku lets a fragile smile form on his face as Itsuka and Setsuna go back to nestling with each other, Izuku holding both of them close and keeping them warm. He props his phone up gently on Itsuka’s side.

Izuku: hey

Izuku: I asked Itsuka if it was okay but can you guys come over

Izuku: if it’s okay with you all

He sets his phone down across the bed, breathing out heavily as he stares up at the ceiling above him. Setsuna and Itsuka’s slow breaths help ground him a little as the anxiety and dread starts to get the better of him, gnawing away at him constantly.

‘“You’re allowed to feel these things.”’

Izuku swallows, and, noting the lack of responses, closes his eyes, and chooses to enjoy the piece and warmth with Itsuka and Setsuna next to him.

Eventually, there’s soft knocking at the door that startles him. Setsuna twists suddenly in her sleep as a pout grows on her face, growling as her hand pops off and flies across the room to grab the handle. It swings open to reveal Kinoko standing on her toes, grinning as she pushes the door wider gently. Izuku just blinks before he feels someone fall on top of him.

Izuku blinks, and the next thing he sees is Kyoka glare, an extremely dark, heavy blush on her face as she lays on top of Izuku, trying not to look embarrassed as Setsuna’s hand reattaches itself. Shoko wraps her slender arms around Izuku’s back and holds him close, nuzzling his hair gently as she settles into position. Ochako snuggles her way underneath Izuku, nuzzling her cheek against his as she squeezes him tightly.

Yui wraps her arms around Itsuka’s back quietly, humming as she buries her nose into the back of her neck and bringing her legs up behind her, Reiko doing the same to Yui and smiling gently as she wraps a spare blanket around the three of them. Kinoko flops down on top of Kyoka, giggling and making the other girl blush as she cuddles the rocker girl. Ibara lays down slowly, groaning tiredly as she embraces Shoko tightly to absorb her warmth. Penelope gently pulls the blanket back and lays her horns down carefully to prevent poking Reiko as she curls up around the girl’s back.

They all settle down eventually, gentle breathing and soft snores rising soon after. Izuku feels his muscles involuntarily relax, pain spiking through his body before dissipating quickly like smoke in the wind, sinking into the overwhelming warmth and safety.

In that moment, it hits Izuku just how fortunate he was; how fortunate all of them were.

‘Maybe… I can feel at peace here. If only for a moment.’