Chapter Text
I am a nation, I am a million faces
Formed together, made for revelation.
I am a soldier, I won't surrender.
Faith is like a fire that never burns to embers
– Skillet
11 Months Before The End
“This isn’t working,” Izuku muttered as Touya applied bandages to the myriad lacerations and burns on the younger man’s arms and torso.
Touya’s hands stilled as the words settled in the air. They had been traveling and fighting together for the last month, and he thought things were going well. It wasn’t perfect. Spending 24/7 with someone you didn’t know well and, until recently, been on opposing sides was not going to be without its bumps. But. He felt settled and accepted for the first time in ages, even though he didn’t believe he deserved it. Izuku was endlessly kind, but even his kindness must have a limit.
Izuku looked up as Touya started to pull away with his face settling into a blank mask, he realized with a grimace how his words sounded, “No, I didn’t mean… I just meant that we keep getting in each other’s way when we fight together. I think half of our injuries come from each other. We need to find a way to work as a team.”
It was weird at first, traveling and fighting with someone day in and day out. They moved every 24 hours, dropping in on nomu or other crimes as they went. It was still tiring, but Izuku felt lighter with someone to share the dark, quiet nights mixed in with the sudden, sheer brutality of the nomu attacks.
He liked having someone watch his back. He didn’t want to change partners; what he wanted was synergy. Things were only going to get harder if they didn’t find a way to feed off each other’s skills and energy.
“I have an idea where we can go for help,” Izuku gave Touya a questioning look. He could see some of the tension leave Touya as he processed his words.
Sensing this wasn’t enough to cut through the wariness caused by his careless words, he challenged, “That is, if you are up for it?” There. That got his attention. The blankness was replaced with the narrowing of eyes and slight glare.
Izuku knew he had won when the tautness in Touya’s shoulder relaxed.
“I’m gonna hate this, aren’t I?”
“Probably,” Izuku teased with a cheeky grin.
Later, as they traversed the tunnels leading to the nearest resistance base, Touya slipped on his RBF. He had no idea what kind of reception he would get from the resistance members, who were apparently mostly a mix of heroes, vigilantes, and hero students with some civilians and villains thrown in for spice. Even though Izuku told him not to worry about it, he was prepared for the worst.
The leaders of the local resistance were a diverse bunch, but Izuku’s main contacts were from cell near Musutafu and included his fellow UA classmates, Shinsou Histoshi from general education, Koji Koda from class 1A, and Mei Hatsume from the support course.
At first, it was a surprise to find Shinsou, or Toshi as Izuku calls him now, was part of the resistance. Not because he was incapable, but it was more that he had seemed like such a loner.
The resistance was fortunate that he did join. He always had a determined take-no-prisoners attitude, and with his oh-so-useful quirk, he has brought peace of mind and calm to many. He is also filled to the brim with stealth, snark, and pettiness. A dangerous combination that has equally terrified and delighted Izuku.
The first time he met Toshi after the war started was not long after it began.
*
Izuku was taking a breather on a roof, surveying a city near Musutafu, looking out for anyone who needed help. He was so focused on what he was doing that he didn’t hear the slight shuffle on the roof behind him.
A whispered, “Midoriya?” almost caused him to take that swan dive off the roof that had been hinted at so long ago. As soon as he yelped in surprise, his brain fogged over, and he immediately froze, caught up in a quirk. His fuzzy mind recognized the voice as a hand on his shoulder turned him to face his attacker. His mind cleared, and he found himself faced with fluffy purple hair and eyes widened in surprise.
“What the hell?” squawked Izuku.
“Sensei would be disappointed in your situational awareness,” Shinsou drawled out, stepping further out of the shadows. “What are you doing up here? You know it’s not safe.”
Izuku took a deep breath to try to reclaim some equilibrium. “What do you think? I was a hero student. I have always wanted to help people. Right now, I am doing what I can to help whoever I can during this mess. What are you doing up here?” He could see Shinsou tense up when he said, “hero student”.
When the war broke out, Shinsou was still in general education but was gearing up to join the hero class. While they weren’t friends, they were friendly. They often ran into each other in the gyms and training fields. They sparred together a few times, but they never had a chance to really get to know one another. He knew the other longed to be a hero, and every minute not in the hero course grated his nerves.
“I am scouting for the local resistance since the heroes have abandoned us,” he grumbled. Yeah, he can’t argue with that sentiment about the heroes and lets that go, but the rest of that sentence adds fire to his soul.
“Resistance?”
“Yeah, a bunch of us banded together to push back against Shigaraki. I’m not sure how successful we are or how long we can hold out, but we are doing whatever we can to save as many as we can.”
“I had heard some people were organizing but never seemed to run into anyone involved. I would be interested in collaborating. Maybe together we can come up with a way to stop Shigaraki. I have been traveling all over Japan and have a feel for his strategy but have been moving so much to stay ahead of him that I haven’t had a chance to make a solid plan.” Izuku said.
“Oh, yeah. We have heard many stories about the sparkling green hero performing deeds of wonder and greatness,” Shinsou snarked with one eyebrow raised.
He studied Izuku for a minute until he seemed to make up his mind. “Alright, Ten Million, come on. I will take you to one of our bases, and you can meet the rest.”
Izuku nodded, and they began descending the building using the fire escape. Once they were on the ground and that the tenseness in the air had abated, something Shinsou said that was niggling at the back of his mind moved front and center.
“Ten million?” he asked.
Shinsou chuckled quietly, “Oh, wait until you see who we have in our corner.” He grinned maniacally and waved Izuku on.
Izuku followed as mad, crazy, hopeful, joyous thoughts raced through his mind. If Shinsou means what he thinks, their chances just increased exponentially.
“No, it can’t be,” he muttered, not daring to hope.
“No spoilers,” Shinsou threw over his shoulder before turning to face the other.
They stared at each other for a moment before wide grins spread across both of their faces. This is going to be good, they thought.
Shinsou led them to a partially destroyed parking garage and descended the stairs to a sublevel that connected to an adjacent building via a series of tunnels. Izuku thought it was smart not to access your hideout directly since you never knew where all of Shigaraki’s eyes and ears could be found.
The tunnels opened up into a large, brightly lit space. On the right were living quarters, a kitchen, and meeting areas. The left was filled with piles and piles of equipment and one pink-haired demon. At their entrance, her head popped up, and her eyes widened.
“Ten million!” She flew over to Izuku, knocking him to the ground in a near replica of their first meeting.
“I knew it was you out there. See, I told you it was him. You owe me a day of baby testing!” Mei Hatsume smiled up at Shinsou.
With a put-upon look, Shinsou ambled over and protested, “I only agreed to one hour!”
“That was until you showed me your manga collection. Now, I have so many new ideas, and since it is your fault, you have to help test.” An incomprehensible mutter storm followed that neither of them could follow.
“Just what was in your manga collection?” Izuku whispered worriedly. He knows how chaotic she can be, but the manga could be anything.
Shinsou appeared lost in thought, “Death Note? I don’t think so. Well, I hope not. Hmm. No, bad Toshi. JoJo? No. Wait, wait, wait!” Izuku was giggling at the existential crisis playing out in front of him.
“You did not take my Attack on Titan manga! I will hide your wrenches if even one page is creased!”
“Oops!” Mei laughed unapologetically and took off running, Shinsou close behind. After several minutes, four thrown screwdrivers, and one explosion, Mei was cornered and giggling maniacally.
*
Now, entering the resistance hideout with Touya at his side, he could sense the tension rising as soon as the members recognized who was with him. He knew this would be a tough crowd. Hopefully, they gave him a chance.
He was saved by the appearance of his best friend.
“So, you have replaced me, I see,” Toshi grumped as he emerged from behind the pair, eying Touya suspiciously. “I have been betrayed. Now I need to find a new best friend, just when I got this one broken in.”
“Oh my god, you are so dramatic. You’re still my best friend. I can have more than one, you know,” Izuku shot back.
“Nope. After all my begging and pleading to join you on patrol, and now I’ve been forsaken.”
“You went with me once and whined the whole time because I wouldn’t let you stop to pet every single stray cat we crossed paths with.”
“Untrue,” protested Toshi, his face reddening.
“We woke up in the safe house covered in cats because you keep catnip in your pockets.” Izuku accused, trying but failing to keep a stern look on his face.
“They are my babies!”
“No. You are their dealer,” Izuku said, shaking his head.
At first, Touya was wary that someone would immediately attack him, and Shinsou’s approach seemed threatening. Then, he opened his mouth. Now, Touya was trying to keep a straight face at the ridiculous show taking place.
“Boys, you’re both pretty. Come have some tea, and we can talk,” Koda Koji’s soft gentleness broke through the dramatics.
Izuku froze with his mouth open and eyes wide at the retreating figure.
“Koda, was that sass? Toshi, that was sass. Did you teach him that? Did you corrupt him?” Izuku whipped around to glare at Toshi, who flipped him off.
“He’s coming along nicely, if I do say so myself,” smugness oozed from Toshi.
Koda smiled warmly and waved Izuku and Touya over to the kitchen, where he set up three cups of tea.
Koda was the sleeper surprise during the war. Izuku remembered him at UA as a shy, quiet soul who seemed to steer away from conflict. But, when push came to shove, he defied all expectations and proved why he was a hero course student.
His affinity for rats, birds, and other urban animals provided the resistance with all the reconnaissance needed to rescue and evacuate thousands of citizens while avoiding the nomu.
In the early days of the war, he remembers Koda shaking in his shoes as he slipped through war-torn areas full of rubble to find the trapped and injured. Nowadays, with some stealth training courtesy of some underground heroes and with Shoji Mezo providing backup muscle, he boldly slinks through the city with a steely determination to save everyone. His resolve and strength have shone through and hinted at the brilliant career he could have had as a rescue hero. Maybe, hopefully, he will still get that chance someday.
“This is Touya, you probably remember him as Dabi. He escaped from the league after breaking out of some sort of mind-altering quirk and has been working against Shiggy ever since. I teamed up with him a few weeks back. Touya, this is Shinsou Hitoshi and Koda Koji, classmates from UA. Now, they are the leaders of this base,” Izuku introduced.
“You are the blue-fire guy we were hearing about recently, huh?” Toshi eyed Touya critically.
Touya nodded, “Uh, yeah.”
“That was some good work. I’m a suspicious bastard, but Izuku is a good judge of character. Usually,” Toshi said, rolling his eyes at a preening Izuku.
“Shut up. I am still mad,” pouted Toshi.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You did your wiggle thing.”
“Guys. Focus,” Koda, once again, reels them back on topic.
“Anyway, we have been traveling together for a few weeks, but we really need to spar together against someone or a group to work on our teamwork. Preferably, someone with a strong physical quirk or with good close-quarters combat skills. Anyone around that can help us out?” Izuku explained.
“We’re stretched a bit thin here right now. Most of our heavy hitters are on their rest period, and the rest are on patrol. Come back next week, and we can have something set up,” Shinsou offered, joining them with his ever-present mug of coffee.
“I think Yaomomo had some extra people at their base. You may want to try over there. Shoji may still be there. He was headed into Tokyo to visit with Fumi, but wanted to stop by their base on the way,” Koda said.
“Shoji and Momo would both be great opponents. We’ll head there next,” Izuku hoped they would be available, but he was pretty sure Momo’s base had a few other suitable possibilities, too.
“Anything new out there beyond our territory?” Koda asked.
“I haven’t noticed anything recently, but Touya has,” Izuku nodded to his partner.
When they all turned to him, Touya took a long sip of tea while checking to see if Shinsou and Koda would be receptive to him. They seemed open to him, so he began.
“Before I joined up with Izuku, I found a fully functional nomu factory in an isolated warehouse in an abandoned industrial park.” That got their attention.
“The warehouse had water and power. None of the other warehouses or buildings in the industrial park had any utilities. I thought it was suspicious, but before I could check it out, several nomu tore through the walls and escaped. They got away before I could go after them. When I checked the warehouse, I found 20 more nomu still in their tanks waiting to be born? released? Anyway, they were easy to subdue while still in the tanks.”
“Since then, I found another one in a similar area of another city,” Touya said.
“We have been checking each town as we pass through and haven’t found any online factories but did find the remnants of one a couple of cities over,” Izuku shared.
“So, we need to check those areas that appear to be abandoned in case they harbor any hidden nomu factories,” Shinsou ventured thoughtfully.
“Anything else you can tell us about them?” Koda inquired while he was taking notes on his phone so they could inform headquarters and put together a bulletin for the other resistance bases.
“It looked like they definitely needed both power and water to sustain the nomu. Also, they are vulnerable to fire,” a satisfied smirk stretched across Touya’s face.
“Oh, really? I wonder how you discovered that,” Shinsou perked up with a matching look.
“This was a mistake. You two should have never met,” Izuku said mildly disturbed at their pyromaniacal bonding.
“Still, it sounds like a lead worth following. I will send this information to HQ and the menagerie. Maybe, we’ll get lucky,” Koda stands from the table to take his leave.
“Thank you, Koda. I’ll see you next time,” Izuku says as the gentle man heads out of the base.
“The menagerie?” asked Touya.
“Koda’s quirk allows him to talk to animals. He calls the ones that gather for him the most willingly, the menagerie. They will spread the word amongst the animals about the nomu factories,” Shinsou spoke before taking a last slurp of coffee.
“Well, I gotta go make sure the baby-making demon gets fed,” Shinsou said, standing up and stretching.
“Oh, I’ll go. I wanted to talk to her real quick about something,” Izuku jumped up and quickly disappeared in the maze of machinery.
“He never slows down, does he? Where does he get all that energy?” Touya mused aloud.
“No idea. He’s like a puppy. He responds best to head pats and tummy rubs.”
“Sure,” Touya watched the other man suspiciously.
Shinsou dug through his pockets before flipping a card to him, “Anyway, take that to get essentials. We get government funding to support our field people. The cards work like credit cards, but they don’t work everywhere. I’m sure Izuku has shown you how to recognize the places where we are welcome.”
“Why?” Touya asked without elaborating.
However, Shinsou knew what he meant anyway. Why were they being nice? Why were they so accepting of his presence with his history?
“I love Izuku like a brother. He seems all friendly and outgoing, and he is. But he hides who he really is behind walls and masks. Most people only see the surface. He’s wickedly smart and stupidly kind, but he’s not a doormat, not anymore. You two have been living in each other’s pocket for more than a month, and he hasn’t shaken you loose. Like I said before, he is a good judge of character, and he must value you for some reason.”
“Besides, I am glad he has someone watching out for him. It may not have been my choice, but I’m not going to insult him by trying to take that choice away,” Shinsou finished before turning to face him.
“Though if you betray him, I will brainwash you into cutting your own balls off before leaving you on top of the tallest building in Musutafu for Shigaraki to find,” Shinsou threatened.
“Hey, quit threatening to cut people’s balls off. I am starting to think it’s a kink,” Izuku bounded up behind them.
Shinsou sputtered denials before noticing his phone vibrating for an incoming message. A sadistic grin spread across his face as he read the message.
“Sensei wants to chat. He’s waiting at Momo’s.”
“Fuck me.”
“Not sure there will be anything left after Sensei is done with you,” Toshi laughed.
Izuku rolled his eyes and grabbed Touya’s arm, dragging him out of the base. “Come on, let’s go. We should be able to get there by tomorrow afternoon.”
“What’s the hurry?”
“Believe me, it would only be worse if Sensei is kept waiting.”
“Should I be worried?”
“You? No.”
“And you?”
“Oh, absolutely”