Job Class Sel. Izuku. - Tumblr Posts
➤ ` ASTRAEOS. ( vibraea )
۵ ◜𝄞◞ ۵ ┊ Yet with his response she can all but tell that he, most definitely, minded. She doesn’t even have to look at him to know. A nice little side note of her quirk is that it can sometimes help her detect whether someone is being truthful or not. Similar to a lie detector, but most of the time she merely passes it off as ‘reading someone’s vibe’.
❝ Within reason. Yes. And what happens if we push too far? ❞ A simple enquiry. ❝ I’m not going easy on you, far from it. ❞ The way he’s carrying himself right now… he’s clearly pushed himself a bit far already and it didn’t sit right with her to watch him push himself even further. To watch him wreck himself again.
How in the world is she supposed to put this? How does she manage to get all her thoughts out there, to him, in a concise, friendly, and proper manner? If there’s one thing she’s struggled to do in her time here at UA, it’s connecting with others. It didn’t used to be so difficult and yet… she finds it difficult to talk here.
Her hands press together, as she leans forward, first bringing them to the bridge of her nose as if silently praying for a quick moment before directing said gesture back at Midoriya. ❝ How do I say this? In the nicest and least troublesome way possible… ❞ She speaks, quietly and attempting to keep a calm tone. ❝ Frankly, while I do respect that you want to get stronger. You cannot keep doing this to yourself. Maybe everyone else has been lenient about it so far, but I’m going to have to put the foot down since no one else has the balls to say something. Forgive me if I’m treading where I shouldn’t but… ❞ And she can feel her thoughts already muddling together, clarity fading as the tightness in her chest starts to form. Damn it. Gemiya takes another breath in an attempt to clear up some.
After the exhale, she continues. ❝ You’re never going to get to where you want to be if you keep tearing yourself to shreds. You know how muscles work right? Sure you do. You worked hard for your current form in order to get here. Do you know what happens to muscles when you push them to r e a s o n a b l e limits? They get torn. They tear ever so slightly and moreso, the more you push them. And given time to heal, they grow bigger and stronger. However. ❞ A pause, as she collects her thoughts for the next round of the ‘lecture’. ❝ If you just rip them apart completely, what do they have to heal? Nothing. And you’ve done nothing more than give yourself a permanent injury that there’s no healing from. No getting stronger. Nada. Instead… you just make it harder for yourself to save others. And you’ll have put a limit on yourself because you were trying so hard to push past it. ❞ She let’s out one last, shaky breath before pushing herself up off the floor.
❝ But if you really insist on destroying yourself… physically and .. emotionally… ❞ That last part is more murmured than the rest, (he isn’t exactly subtle) ❝ Then let’s continue. ❞ With shield at the ready, she takes her defensive stance and wears a rather cold expression. Part of her wants to apologize, for talking out of place. She knows they’re not friends, so what right did she have to lecture him? And yet… she doesn’t regret it, but stars above knew that it took quite a bit of courage to say something. Fighting and combat is easy. Talking…. less so.
Almost, he almost wants to object again, but another gentle self reminder that the question came from a place of concern held his tongue. Shoulders slumping somewhat, tension in it slightly eased. Uncertainty colors his wavering voice, ❝ I just... ❞
The calm tone passes on by to snag his initial attention, making it all too easy for the somewhat harsh words they belied to dig in. A flinch surges through his body, arms instinctively raising before the motion is aborted just as abruptly, leaving the boy visibly uncomfortable. Shoulders stiffen further, hunched inwards slightly as if it could soften the blow, almost shrinking back into an unseen shell. Hands tightly clench, a faint hope to the hide the trembles wracking them. Emotions roiling inside, a confused mass mashed violently together without any regard for cohesion, mixed signals abound. He doesn't know if he's sad. If he's angry. If he's upset. Or maybe all that and more. Whatever the feeling wracking his nerves, lips pulled into a wobbly, thin line. Lowered eyes strayed aside. Guess you didn't need a sound quirk to leave someone winded. But then again, he was all too aware of that.
A part of him wants to throw in the towel from that alone. A old feeling, one he so disliked / so avoided, began to well up, so he shoved it down, pushed it back into the dark corner out of sight out of mind where it belonged before it built further or worse, be misdirected.
( drinking it all in without complaint, stomaching it without a sound of protest, no matter what it was. deku had grown very good at that, hadn't he ? )
❝ I have to. ❞ A admission of sorts. To her ? To him ? Who knows. He doubted it could be understood even if he had the words for it, but he had to.
Yet he fails to fall back into a stance. There's not so much as a shift. He can barely look in her direction, much less meet her eyes. A neutral smile plastered on, one not so different from the normal one he wore, full of platitudes meant to pacify, still retaining a bit of that shakiness. ❝ But... But I-I'll stop, for now. ❞ Voice far more quiet, subdued even. Despite criticism, he did know when to pick his battles, a skill honed all too well, and this new confrontation that had suddenly sprung up drew a line in the sand he wasn't prepared to cross during training of all things. She was right in a way ( of course you couldn’t do it. you can’t do anything ). Might as well acquiesce, stop stirring the pot, and call it a day. Izuku doesn't want to speak further anyhow, to make things worse by opening his mouth yet again. He’d gotten a bit too comfortable, overstepped his assigned boundaries.
He's still that same Deku. Nothing's changed at all.
-`. @vvasilisa \\ sc.
It proved to be difficult. A scratch of the head with a fidgeting hand, the slight bounce of the knee in time to the cascade of thoughts, wobbling lips drawn into but thin line. All dangled transparent hints at the mounting frustration of being rendered unable to scale the blockade before him, this stonewall masterfully constructed. Here... may be where his road ended.
Over, and over, and over. Words turned in his head, carefully pulled apart, inspected, conclusions dismissed. Oh what ( oh what, he NEEDS to know ) could it be ? What key existed to unveil this mystery ?
Mumbles tumbled forth under the breath, unseen threads that connect and disconnect, temporarily dulling ticks of the norm ( the subtle twitch of nerves to be strummed to an alert, ever shifting tune / the overt AWE at the presence of an amazing hero that budded in the chest, a burst of warmth that excited, that compelled ) and buried self consciousness under a river of words that spun a concoction of silent theories.
So, so much pressure. Insurmountable, the weight accumulating on hunched shoulders. His defeat imminent, the unspoken challenge too great. Izuku’s brain stalled, stalled, stalled—-
❝ I...I don't know. ❞ A light sigh eased free, one not realized to have been sitting / constricted in his chest until it passed past upturned lips. She got him / what else to expect from a pro ? The first set of quizzical jokes had been deemed too easy, solved rather swiftly, growing more complicated with every successive answer, time taken stretched from moments to minutes. And now ? He's been bested. ❝ What is the answer, Ms. Joke ? ❞
-`. @madestars wanted a thing !!
The shining of her brilliance to a young mind now cast it's blinding light upon him, a pinpoint trained on his form and his skin burned. A vague memory that artillery and dual tone hair had sparked, identity formed to rest in shaking fists. It all clicked. Not fully, but just sufficient to comprehend and question. The pieces, they didn't fit then, they didn't fit now.
Izuku remembered from the other side of the screen, childish admiration welded with past confusion. Both settled inside, intertwined with the present adrenaline and screaming instincts, lungs struggling to even out the silent wheezes wracking his aching ribs, tremors still resonating throughout, blooming from the sites of impact left in her precise wake.
A title alone breathed through clenched teeth, inherent reverence stifled, but it’s enough, acknowledgment conveyed. ❝ Lady Nagant ! ❞
-`. @madestars for that one fantasy verse ( kohaku )
Brows knitted further, pace of the warrior / gentle heart sped up a notch. The longer it took the more he felt the grains of the invisible hourglass falling / gathering, those telltale prickles of self conscious awareness ( of eyes watching, waiting ) dithering along the back of his neck, demanding attention.
Who or what remained to be seen.
A flash of yellow, barely discernible to the eye caught his gaze. By the time Izuku dared to look, whatever it was had long vanished back into the undergrowth. Collar shifted as scarred fingers tugged at it, chin sinking minutely into fur lined cloak. ❝ What was that ? ❞ Mumbled into the almost still air, yet body remained frozen, hand shifting just so hovering over a blade’s pommel. The tone of color... though hard to place in the shading of the trees, it jostled a possible answer from the books of his mind. ❝ A mountain lion, maybe ? ❞
-`. @madestars smol and coming for u ( nagant )
A sight that can scarcely be believed, eyes wide as can be to soak up the awe inspiring vision after vibrant irises caught on hair of equal vibrancy. ❝ Miss Nagant !! ❞ Short limbs can’t carry Izuku fast enough, almost sent tumbling in as much haste an excited child could only muster, frantic to not miss a blink even as he skids to a wobbly halt before here, balance barely maintained. A hero ! A real hero !! ❝ You’re Miss Nagant, right ?! ❞
@madestars asked; "nerd," barely does katsuki give the call of a warning when he presses something wrapped against izuku's chest, letting his hand drop without regard of the gift falling when the other's instinct would be to catch it immediately. to anyone else, the two were only passing each other down the hall with a brief bump. "training tomorrow morning so don't overdo it." then, quieter, a mutter of contact of his hand only gently nudging a head of green hair. "happy birthday."
► ❪ happy birthday, izuku !! ❫
it's a ordinary day like any other, despite the fact the day of his birth fell on it. Sure, it's been... well, let’s use the word ‘ different ’ from what he'd expected after awakening that morning. the flood of attention, people wishing him a happy birthday, friends gifting him things. a little much compared to what he's grown used to over the years, so it takes a bit to get accustomed to his newfound fate over the course of the day. he hadn't even wanted to make a big deal of it ( planned the opposite really, to spend it quietly as per tradition ) but here they still were, celebrating it like it was and throwing him off kilter as he accepts the well wishes with a full / humbled heart. before he knows it the day is almost done, a different kind of tiredness settled into his bones, but one that brings a seemingly permanent smile lined with muted, yet thankful joy to his face.
it falters a tad, a quiet rush of air exhaled with a silent ‘ oof ’ with a mysterious object abruptly meeting his chest. as predicted, hands instinctively reach to clutch the package, fingers cautiously curling around edges, taking care not to crinkle even an inch of it despite the midst of confusion looking to seep in. it clicks. oh. oh.
blinking, izuku takes in the sight ( a gift willingly given by kacchan, it's importance eyed with a muddled mix of reverence / shock ) while half expecting it to disappear in a comedic poof of smoke, waiting for it all to be revealed as an elaborate dream. but no, his feet are still rooted to the floor in the middle of the hall. the present is still there and solid, his fingers absently running over the top of it. the weight of kacchan's hand resting among green locks. he's not... sure of the feeling shifting inside, the meaning not quite clear aside from the fact that it was important.
an ordinary day it was, but one filled with new and foreign territory, introducing him to yet another step he's struggling not to trip over in his haste.
izuku’s blown away. he's baffled. he's happy.
happy.
all that and more. it's all he can do to stave off the prickling onset gathered around the corners of his vision. he's putting in the effort, alright ? but his defenses aren't so iron cast, and he steals a moment to duck a head behind an arm, a few furious swipes at the offending interruption just enough to dispel that annoyingly familiar burn making itself known at the back of his eyes.
❝ yeah, ❞ he murmurs, the smile returning, this time with a tinge of wobbly / overwhelmed excitement. with a reminder like that, he'll be sure to see him first thing tomorrow, then ! a soft inhale escapes the next moment as a quiet laugh. ❝ thanks, kacchan... ❞
another step forward. oh, how he wishes the him of the past ( one year, two, five, ten ) could have known what the future laid in store for him. maybe then that deku would’ve looked forward with an even brighter smile than the one he wore now.
@madestars asked; "there you are, birthday boy!" an attack to the green boy's head, curly hair too fluffy and soft looking to resist the temptation of giving a quick ruffle. kohaku didn't get anything in time, but she did hear that affection is also commonly accepted. she smiles, pats his shoulders and presses a kiss to both his freckly cheeks, a quick one-two that was as casual as seeing an old friend again. "let's go get something to eat when you have the time. my treat!"
► ❪ happy birthday, izuku !! ❫
she really is too quiet, almost erratically so. by the time he heard the rustling of clothing, steps against soft earth, hands already buried themselves in unruly hair before he could fully angle towards the sound. close. muscles tense, just shy of flinching away from the unwarranted contact, before the enthusiastic lilt to a confident voice alerts him to the culprit. kohaku.
eyes then grow wide in realization, a small hint of the mystified feeling overtaking him as her words pertaining to his temporary status sinks in. a quick breath is drawn in to regain some measure of the composure he'd scattered to the floor when he realizes he’s been staring for a few too many seconds without saying anything. he lifts a hand to press against the side of his neck, fingers curling and uncurling as they rub behind his ear. ❝ ah, y-you... remembered ? ❞
it'd been mention in passing, nothing of note. it'd never had been ( not before he left home and even less since ) but he's surprised she recalled that little tidbit, a reminder pinned to a wall for this very day.
before he even opens his mouth to thank her for the simple act of thinking of him far more than he's allowed himself to grow used to, the surprise assault shifts into its second phase. he blinks and its over, frozen still in place as he's left to process it all. huh... was this... what it was like to have friends these days ?
❝ oh, u-um — ! ❞ it clicks. cheeks inflame, crimson spreading out from the point of contact, a droplet of warm color soon dying the entirety of his face. he'd be the first to deny how his voice cracks a little. gods, it probably wasn't just his imagination that the uneven pace of his heart was ignoring the silent pleas to relax, right ? hands resume their fidgeting, unsure what to do with themselves.
❝ ...you don't need to do anything, or go out of your way like that for me. ❞ embarrassment tinges the words, but it fails to detract from the soft smile no doubt hitched on his features underneath the minute awkward jitters. her sentiment is understood and he doesn't dare think of rejecting it. ❝ but... thank you, kohaku. i'm ... i'm really grateful. ❞
for @madestars cause i took your shitpost and did something with it
It doesn't feel real.
Waking up to all his friends surrounding him, some tearful, some worn out yet accepting, some relieved that he finally, finally would no longer run away from them. That he put an end to his crusade / isolation ( there's so much he wants to say, to apologize, it's all swelling inside his chest, he can barely breathe under the weight of it all ). Heading back to UA, being able to see everyone once more, to see his mom again.
All the heartfelt words his classmates aimed at his careful shield / heart as they overcame the summit of the wall he erected over the mind numbing months. For a moment the threat of All for One simply fades to the background. A dull buzz as opposed to the overwhelming static that consumed his every walking thought.
It feels like something out of a dream. Still, there one thing Izuku wants to check. Needs to.
❝ Kacchan... ❞ A name as familiar as breathing. So why then ? Why, as he stands before his friend, bearing the bruises of his struggles, green eyes searching for something in the complementary hues of striking red, was it such a struggle to speak it into existence ? ❝ I didn't mishear you right ? Earlier... when you... called me by my name. ❞
woah ho modern au boxer izuku has arrived. can consider this a complimentary piece to this post
GROWING UP
izuku was born to inko and a distant father. has a modest life thanks to the efforts of his mom, who works as a chef and an accountant on top of essentially being a single mother. he got her natural analytical skills but the same can't quite be said for any of the culinary sort.
his father has been working overseas since before izuku could remember. he rarely keeps in contact with the man outside of the occasional phone call. as he is all but non existent in his life, izuku doesn't really see any point in ever bringing the man up without prompting.
katsuki is his childhood friend. with how close their moms were ( a potent mix of knowing each other in high school and living in the same neighbourhood ), it was a given that their kids would spend a lot of time together and also grow close.
izuku's very fond of his auntie mitsuki and uncle masaru. since he was in the splash zone of katsuki being dressed up by mitsuki, he'd occasionally get caught in the crossfire but he never minded and he often liked to be a pretend model during these instances.
became a comic book nerd from a very young age when masaru made the innocent mistake of buying izuku a limited edition volume of comics for his birthday.
izuku liked to sometimes bring the pet parakeet he and his mom owned over to their house, where it would perch on things and fly around but wasn't too much trouble.
eventually katsuki started bullying izuku. he stopped at some point and started ignoring him altogether, but others were more than happy to carry the torch after it'd been lit. izuku never quite understood why katsuki no longer wanted to be around him, and did stubbornly try to hang around him after the fact, but it lessened and lessened as they grew older until they were no longer on speaking terms.
was very cheerful and energetic as a child but every passing year this diminished so that he could draw less attention to himself, with izuku growing more and more withdrawn in turn.
his interest in fighting stemmed from watching televised matches of a legendary pro boxer / mma fighter, toshinori yagi, stage name ' all might '. you could often find izuku and katsuki engrossed in all might's fights, and his admiration quickly bloomed into idolization. one too many afternoons were spent roughhousing under the pretense of ' training to be like all might '.
TEENAGE YEARS
spends a lot of his time helping his mother out with her work. he's very much a loner and still is an easy target for bullies. although, he tried out gymnastics and stuck with that for a while.
izuku frequently visits boxing gyms. often takes notes on different boxing moves and fighting techniques, breaking down the theory behind them in his spare time. is basically a walking boxing encyclopedia.
he's attacked while walking home one day and all might, who happened to be passing by, stepped in to resolve the situation. izuku passed out in front of him and then after he woke up he jumped on all might's leg when the pro had started to leave. izuku wants to become a boxer too but all might believes izuku was taking professional boxing too lightly and reprimands him, citing that it isn't enough to simply hope and that you need to have the will for it. izuku ruminates on the words but it doesn't last long as he notices a hostage situation underway involving katsuki. he didn't even notice all might nearby in the crowd alongside him, leaping straight into danger to save his childhood friend, also inspiring and spurring all might into action, who saved the day by quickly taking down the captors. turns out all might was looking for a good reason to retire, and this kid he randomly met just did something crazy, defying his expectations. he decides to become izuku's new coach.
he tries visiting and talking to katsuki post-incident after hearing about his hearing loss, but the whole affair just proved things were no better than they were before.
engage hell mode training. a stick figure won't cut it in the world of boxing so he needs to put in the work to change that. starts out as smallest guy in the boxing club he gets enrolled into by all might. pretty much always has his ass handed to him during practice matches. his life becomes consumed by getting up to where he needs to be. lots of physical conditioning and intensive dieting ensues.
inko, being inko of course, wanted him to quit out of worry and to do something else, but this is one thing that he refused to budge on.
a while after entering high school, he signs up for his first match under the alias ' deku ' and absolutely pummeled the shit out of the other guy. cue the beginning of his tumultuous, soon to be explosive boxing career. he also sometimes participates in underground boxing matches.
finally makes some new friends! bullies begone!
eventually katsuki apologizes for his treatment of izuku thus far, and the two begin to mend their broken relationship into a new healthier friendship. there's no way izuku is gonna let go of it so they remain close even after high school, and keep in touch.
likes to challenge katsuki to practice matches. wouldn't want those fighting skills of his going rusty, now do we ?
ADULTHOOD
picked up a university degree in economics. he is more than happy to spend time at the local diner katsuki also works night shifts at to bother him keep him company with his presence. he's doubly happy to see katsuki's interest in cooking, dropping both subtle and not-so-subtle hints about inko's career in the field.
he's a professional boxer / mma fighter now in the big leagues. still a modest, nerdy guy but he has grown very popular since his early days. gets taken aback by his fans whenever they make themselves known.
doesn't mind brief instances of modelling gigs should masaru ever request him to use that star power he's built up and model clothes from his line.
a lot of the money he makes goes to supporting himself and his mom, but it's not rare to see him splurge on comic book merchandise or appear at conventions.
if he eats out at a restaurant, chances are he's going to the one katsuki works at as a successful pro chef. least he knows he’s getting good quality food 100% of the time.
boxing is still his main thing and he keeps up with his gymnastics as a side hobby, but he enjoys wrestling too from time to time.
➤ ` KACCHAN. ( madestars )
𝐁𝐚𝐤𝐮𝐠𝐨 𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐮𝐤𝐢 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 for his silence, but on the way back to UA the blond was uncharacteristically quiet since their stowaway classmate has finally passed out from exhaustion — only breaking away from his thoughts when someone spoke to him first. He had an eye on Izuku as Shoji carried him, wrapped up safe and warm from the rain, his fingers twitching when the boy clad in dirty / muddy / bloody green stirred awake. It wouldn’t be long until they get to the school, though it feels more like a sanctuary now more than ever before. Katsuki hangs back as the class gathers slowly and calmly while Izuku gets back to consciousness, there was much to inform him off after all, and the sensation of the wound on his shoulder hasn’t dulled yet. Katsuki grimaces, rubbing the arm all while cursing it in one breath. Can’t fucking heal any faster, but there was no choice but to push forward regardless of any discomfort. Discomfort was the least of their worries.
He almost misses it, what with the rain messing with the singular hearing aid in his bad ear, but he manages to catch his voice even among the others. Somehow he always does. He used to be annoyed by that. Huh, lots of changes recently. He could say he even misses that guy’s persistent muttering.
Katsuki’s gaze is clear, a steady look that shouldn’t be mistaken even in the other’s state. But he’ll give him a break. It’s been pretty crazy, hasn’t it? Lips open, a raindrop drips down from a strand of hair down to his jaw as he tilts his head. “ The water clog your ears? ” Of course, he is still Bakugo, but there’s hardly a taste of his bite. There is a change here, it lingers and feels heavier than the rain, it could make them frozen in time, in one place, just for them.
“ Or is it weird that I said it? Izuku. ” He hasn’t said it in so long, it even felt foreign. Maybe it’s too familiar, maybe it’s too close, maybe he doesn’t have the right after so much time, after everything. But it… had also felt right.
❝ ... ❞ Viridian hues don't avert this time, glossing right over the snappy response. A quiet exhale takes some of the unknown weight with it, shoulders loosening, furrowed brow smoothing out a fraction. Of course. Of course that much hadn't changed. A Kacchan-like answer greeting him right out of the gate. Then again the boy would always have that coarser sort of approach to him, this he knew, one constant that would not deviate from the laid out path, one irrefutable axiom that would persevere no matter the situation. He's left to stare motionlessly at Kacchan, a slight smile threatening to crack apart the listless expression that draped an exhausted face. Izuku is tired, today ( he’s tired everyday now. )
But thinking that in the first place... What weird expectation of his childhood friend had formed in his mind ? That Kacchan would turn around and act like a completely different person because Izuku’s name got tacked on at the end of a sentence ? Then again, maybe it was expected that he'd have these expectations, these peculiar thoughts, after the first abrupt metamorphosis Kacchan hid up his sleeve until the last moment, leading with the usual baiting to force Izuku's hand, a sincere / trap card played with such slight of hand. It shocked well enough, jolting his world view just off kilter.
If he'd been still carried, unable to move under his own power, his head would be ducked into the safety of Shouji's steady hold, as if that could blot out what he hesitated to ask about in the first place and let him hide away from the world a bit longer.
Half expected, the second acknowledgement of ❛ Izuku ❜ rather than the customary ❛ Deku ❜ lands with no less impact than the first time the other uttered it. The surprise ( it blends together, the most present wave sweeping over him, the secondhand aftershocks from just before his body gave out, a flickering star collapsing under its own weight, an apology bitter on his tongue ) is enough to nearly knock him off his knees again. It hits, all at once, mind trying to connect the dots, synapses firing and failing to connect all the way. He doesn’t get it. How can something be right, yet feel wrong, yet feel right ? Toeing the line in many aspects of oddity but not quite crossing.
The words of an intimate stranger.
❝ Maybe it's a little of both. ❞ Izuku admits. It comes out easier than anticipated ( despite how hands tremble ); not breaking the moment, just seeming so unbidden and distant from this fleeting / quiet instant, where it’s just them. Softer then: ❝ I don’t... I'm not entirely sure. ❞
@madestars asked; “ should not a knight offer a lady a kiss in thanks? “ / kohaku for izuku, fantasy au gjkdkld
► ❪ THE GREEN KNIGHT // accepting ❫
Every motion stilled, the rest of his words shriveling up to die an early death in his dry throat. A passerby might've been inclined believe that the young man was carefully carved from stone and left on display, rather than holding the status that of a living functional being.
Is this it ? Is this how he meets his end ? Not from some beast, nor some dastardly fiend wreaking havoc across their fair land. Not even from a spar with Kacchan, should he come across the man again, but because his friend ( a pretty girl no less ) lays forth this innocent request ? For now, he'd ignore the imaginary Chrome that came to perch over his shoulder in the other's actual place, declaring with a scarily accurate mimic of the real Chrome of how she wasn't a lady, which, honestly was not a fair assessment because she very much was. It's just instead of attending balls and learning the etiquette of fine dining and whatever they did, Kohaku partook in acts more suited to that of a fierce warrior, but she was still just as caring and amazing, and he's glad to know her even with her too forthcoming nature that seemed determined to pry at any and all weaknesses he had. Hold on, too off topic. Where was he going with this again ?
Oh. Thank the gods none of that spilled out of his mouth and into open air. Kohaku would likely be doing more than looking at him to fluster him further. Thankfully he's been spared from an even worse fate. But she's still looking at him, after asking of such a thing, a not so subtle prompt for him to... for him to — ?!
❝ gh --- ! ❞ There it was, lungs remembering that they required fresh air. A sudden inhalation appearing in tandem with the surge of heat flooding his cheeks, the deadly combination enough to nearly send him to his knees. Izuku didn't know how he still stood upright. Rubbing the back of his neck, the smile he wore was a shaky one, eyes steered skyward. ❝ I - I - I - ahahahaHAHA RIGHT ! T - THAT'S TRUE ! K - K - Knights do... haha ahhh, they d - do that... don't they ? ❞
Wait ! Did that mean she saw him as a real knight... ? His mentor All Might, yes ! He was everything a paladin should be ! However Izuku, the student, was far away from the goal that he strived for. Really, just look at him now. His attempt to remain composed crumbled before he could even get a full sentence out.
❝ But I ! Umm, I - I'm not... really a knight so, I don't know if I... qualify ? ❞ Slowly, his other hand raised, shaking, to his cheek and attempted to hide his face in it, to shield the red stain on it betraying his frayed nerves from her view. Fuck. He's making a complete fool of himself right now, wasn't he ? ❝ Ah, I mean, I - I'm not trying to make up excuses to get out of it or anything !! Not that there's anything to get out of because it's just a kiss between friends, we're f - friends and friends probably do that kind of thing all the time no problem and I know you're just teasing me which is fine but I also didn't want to imply that I didn't think you were a lady by saying no or something strange —- ! ❞
A idea had formulated, a plan to meet her halfway. She never said how he was supposed to do it, after all, the type of kiss to be bestowed by the ' knight '. Perhaps, a peck to the back of the hand could suffice ? Too bad, his speech devolved into too much of never ending flustered mumbles to feasibly carry it out. Maybe this question should be asked another time, Kohaku.
➤ ` KACCHAN. ( madestars )
𝐈𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 it, the way Izuku stands so shock still yet there is the unmistakable way that his brain is running miles and miles — should he have the energy left, maybe he could have been muttering some of those thoughts, or he could have spoke firmly, or he could have yelled so desperately as he did when he tried to get through to Katsuki and his stubborn ways, just… something that isn’t the worn image that the holder of One For All is now, like the very last ounce of a candle’s wick. Green eyes had looked so clear back then, just before he collapsed, but they were pulling away again. Tired, he’s tired, and probably so confused now that Katsuki spilled it all for Izuku and the others to see, thick and viscous that clung heavier than rain, and instead of reducing it to ashes or shaking it from hot and calloused palms, Katsuki let it trail from his fingertips. Perhaps he has terrible timing, or just the right moment, but he had to let it all spill from his tongue before anything else could happen, he couldn’t risk not saying it when he got the chance again — he’s had so many chances. But…
There was no guarantee that Izuku would accept it, and Katsuki both understood and recognized that the other shouldn’t — doesn’t have to. Endeavor’s voice rings at the back of his head, back to the curbside of a busy street: it isn’t about forgiveness, it’s about atoning. All Might had seen through Katsuki before too, all that time and training and analyzing with Izuku to handle OFA was only the lowest bar he could reach. Shit, even Ochako saw where he was headed long before he did. Katsuki has been so hardheaded, and a fucking coward to boot. If not now, there would’ve been no way to change. And that’s all there is to it — Izuku can walk from this, and Katsuki will walk too, they can both still go forward and it doesn’t have to be on the same path. He figures that it’s only right, and there is so much yet to do. It’ll be hard, but he owes it to a childhood friend. There’s no way Katsuki can continue to be that brat from their past.
Just a little more. Izuku only has to regard him a little more, for the sake of getting through this together with everyone else, but there doesn’t have to be an after. It’s not Katsuki who’s owed anything.
He licks his lips, turns his gaze down before gripping one of his hands and forcing himself to look up again. Open, close, his gloved fingers move as he breathes. “ I don’t have to say it. ” Funny, he’s always distanced himself from Izuku, it had been so easy to. But this time is different, he needs to be close — no, he… he wants to be close. Ah, that… that sounds weird to think about. “ Not if you don’t want me to. It’s alright. ”
There maybe wasn’t a last time that he spoke this calmly over a matter so personal, so intimate, with the other. The others, as spread out as they were before, even gave them more space as the air started to change again. It wasn’t tense, nothing that could tick off their resident Class A Beast, but a respectable barrier exists between them. As Katsuki walks again, he pauses by Izuku, an arm’s length from touching and vermilion eyes that seemed to do just that anyway — a heat from wanting to reach kept to a warmth that, despite who he is, hesitated. He can’t be weak though, not when there’s someone who needs him there now.
“ …I said my piece, and I meant it. I’m gonna be right here— ” he looks down to Izuku’s shoulders which look smaller and frailer than they ever been. “ After, when you’re sure, you can decide. And I’ll… I’ll still be there. ” His hands raise, meeting up to his chest, something just for the other to see. It’s difficult to sign with his gloves on but not impossible. ( Count on me. I’ll count on you. ) Then, aloud, “ As you always say, it’s what heroes do. ” It’s what friends do.
He noticed. How strangely it bounced off him even more than Izuku verbalized, but it's something the hero's vigilante's control refuses to fully grip. He just... truly can't remember the last time Kacchan spoke his name. Theoretically he did at some point, logic dictated. Maybe he never had, and the word Deku had always been substituted as the name to identify him by.
It may be at some point he reasoned that ' Izuku ' no longer existed within Kacchan's mind, the image of a friend left shattered in pieces in the floor. Possibly only ' Deku ' existed there now among the shards, replacing Izuku as an object to scorn, the resulting mess making the path of their relationship difficult to navigate for him. For them. And... Izuku himself came to accept it in a bit of a twisted sense. At least it was still acknowledgment in some form or another, even if it dripped through a fractured lens. As long as his image of victory was still there, for him to strive towards.
Eyes follow the shift, the posture Kacchan fell into so reminiscent of then. It's all too easy to be dragged back that night, that haunting sight. This isn't the same — unbound words flying like bullets, fists and kicks meeting bruised and seared skin with a resounding crack, the ground between them leveling out to something resembling equal for the first time in ages, evidence of glistening frustration left behind in the tears tracks on cheeks — but the desire to offer his support, to help Kacchan, burns bright.
The words of his classmates float in the vacant auditorium of his mind, bouncing around the shadowed walls with quiet assurances.
...It'd be so effortless. If Izuku extended his hand now, he wouldn't reject him. They curled at his sides, tempted by the realization. Long awaited mutual acceptance was within his reach. All he had to do was grasp it. This time he could— !
( weakened and bloodied, oversized clothes ragged where they catch on the skeletal figure, arms and body mangled from the devastating conflict but standing victorious among the rubble and destruction, heroic spirit shining bright in the encroaching darkness. mighty power lost but a symbol of hope / peace until the bitter end, finger pointing towards the camera, towards the crowds watching with baited breaths, towards him. it's his turn now. ❝ you're next. ❞ // dual tone hair, a smile behind shuttered eyes, the heart of a hero clenched between worn out hands, fissures spreading like a web and light shining forth, grip loosening and loosening despite it all, screams scratching his throat raw, everything dimming to a dull roar. a hand shoving him out of the path of trajectory, shadowy tendrils piercing, drilling deeper and deeper, finishing its gruesome journey exiting out the other side, crimson flying into the air and his vision dyed red red red. a sinister grin in greeting, a solitary finger directed towards him alone, the last image burned into retinas as the world bleaches white. it's a slow acting poison, words burrowing deep into his core, gleefully mockery passed on to him, ❝ you're next ! ❞ )
Limbs freeze, body revolting at the reminders, locking any notion of such traitorous actions behind a wall as fists retract the few inches they had journeyed towards the other. Goddammit. Swallowing thickly as the final words hit particularly hard, the boy wrinkles his nose and rubs at it, head turning away. Not that it did much good, the fragile barrier shaking as his friend kept approaching, kept saying words he always wanted to hear and see.
Uncertainty unspoken in both verbal silence and the falter of his hands, the set of his shoulders. Despondent gaze slid to the droplets petering from the heavens, then back to Kacchan again with a soft sigh.
Even when he was the one attempting to cross the widening chasm between them, Kacchan made things more difficult then they needed to be. Shit, Izuku shouldn't even be here, never have given into that flicker of weakness. As soon as he awoke, he should’ve left. He knows that now.
Hands soon mirror his, raised up before the right shifts to the center of his chest and descends briefly down his suit, before he holds them out before him, palms up, the tips of his fingers meeting as though grasping something: ( i understand. )
But he can't dismiss why he left at the start, and the experiences that cemented the belief since. ❝ ...I wish I could stay with you all. ❞
Silently, to himself, ❛ I wish I had time to get used to ‘ Izuku ’ again. ❜
-`. @kibonosentoki \ starter.
It's a little easier now, to reign himself in around the dazzling light of heroes now that he truly was in the works to become one himself ( at least compared to Before, borderline mania buzzing inside when a hero entered his orbital vicinity, pen flying across a fresh page, a new galaxy of content added to his little universe ). Years of habitual rhythm don't let themselves be so easily scrubbed away. It's too soon for the stars to fade from wide eyes as they locked on to a pro hero. The student still slipped back into old patterns, more obviously at some times than others, but it couldn't be helped. Admiration just exploded forth before it could be thought twice of, leaving Izuku sputtering in awe, mindless facts recounted under his breath.
Izuku was glad he chose that exact instant to glance out the window of one of the hero merch stores he frequented. He could’ve missed that silhouette entirely !
This hero he remembered quite clearly. So young, but it didn't lessen the amount of talent needed to become a pro, much less one ranked so high.
( ❛ the ultimate savior ! ❜ — the recording catches the words quite well amongst the havoc, clear voice emitting through desktop speakers / it'd been one of the more memorable debuts to lodge into his mind as of late )
It's not quite there, the recollection of how he so quickly crossed the distance from inside the store and found himself in front of the other on the far side of the street. It's not important. Fingers primed to dip into a pouch, notebook ever at the ready, an inquiry was tossed out in a excited rush, ❝ Can I have your autograph ? ❞
@madestars asked; 🎄+ 💋 a smooch to izuku from kohaku too hehe
► ❪ MISTLETOE // not accepting ❫
Festive auras enveloped the village. Unsurprising given the time of year, midwinter, which oft called for seasonal celebrations from grandiose yule balls to the prayers of hunters and farmers alike ushering in a bountiful harvest when warm winds returned. Some he knows of, some he doesn't. Traditions nestled within the sanctuary home to warriors and dragons alike didn't always extend to the world beyond the tribes borders and vice versa. Izuku's unsure what to make of this one tossed onto his lap out of the blue.
❝ You have to what ? ❞ Head snapped up, verdant eyes widened to a near comical degree, zeroed in on the mistletoe. He's becoming well acquainted with the crack in his voice, deadpan and startled nerves warring for the center of the stage, ending up a strange amalgamation of the two.
That plant. That damn plant. Chrome, the damn traitor, had failed to breathe a word of what he was about to walk into, simply waved him off with a too mischievous grin that raised the hackles of suspicion.
Nothing seemed amiss at first, wary gaze picking up nothing lurking in the shadows or perched from on high to catch a paladin in training off guard. Slowly, stringent muscles eased from the preparation of countermeasures when a threat failed to phase into existence. Misgivings faded from the mind and he found himself immersed in the community's raised energy, village a welcoming reprieve. But now... now he's paying the price for walking unawares.
It's a little sudden as per usual, Kohaku pouncing from some unseen hiding space, taking advantage of a brief interlude when his blind spot shifted. He'd take a moment to commend the impressive display of stealth from the young woman ( doubly so considering frigid weather, sheets of white coating the land, the hardships seamlessly blending in entailed ) if not for the proclamation. Grant a kiss to the one who stands underneath winter's love lest you face it's wrath. Simple words, a magic-less spell welding the soles of his boots firmly in place. That... What ? What was she talking about out of nowhere ??
And then, and then... she pointed up. Izuku, helpless, could only follow it, leading to the current predicament. Kohaku, his friend, smiling and expectant. Him, a classic disaster. He felt like choking on air. Maybe then it'd cure his luck of consistently bumbling into situations like these.
Scarred hand shifted from the pommel of his blade, readjusting the collar of his snow flecked cloak, burning freckled cheeks sinking into the fur. It's all a tease, course he knew that, but still. Intimate gestures largely absent from his life thus far, doling out kisses were at the bottom of his itinerary. Thinking about it alone never failed to wrack nerves, heart building momentum inside of the chest and damning heat rising to his face.
Why on earth did an unassuming sprig demand this kind of task ? To think such rules existed. What the fuck. They said if you shot a mistletoe out of a tree and caught it in your left hand you were bestowed luck, but that's as far as it went for him. Notions of revering it as a sacred herb of vitality or love like some did never applied. The threat of accidentally being killed with mistletoe stuck out far more poignantly. Where did such a phrase inspiring this custom stem from ? Nothing said uplifting cheer like a parasitic, poisonous plant. Grounding the white berries made for an effective trap against birds though, an efficient and cost effective adhesive.... ❞
Mumbled chatter cut off, the stream of thoughts unknowingly converted to aloud musings stymied. The anxious energy that'd been flowing at a fixed rate inside of him was starting to take hold, forcing him to ramble like this.
Ah ha, but the ramblings of the previous encounter when she mentioned knighthood bore fruit. He's prepared with preset rationale this time ! A peck to the back of the hand, nice and easy, with the additional bonus of the likelihood of his heart imploding minimized by a significant margin. Foolproof hopefully.
❝ A-Alright. ❞ Features scrunched, the warrior patted his cheeks ( no success in warding off the heavy blush / lively tint content to remain stained upon tan skin ) and fists clenched in determination. He's got this. A new ( sinister / taunting ) light almost radiated off the mistletoe as his gaze wandered back to it. ❝ Since i-it's one of your traditions and...and...eh ? ❞
A noise of surprise tumbled out, but by then she's already leapt back to her original position with a laugh. Again, Kohaku beat him to the punch.
❝ Kohaku !! What the- I- you- ❞ Hands flailed a bit, one shakily brushing against where she kissed his cheek ( affection singes the spot / a warmth that swells / a reminder of how much has changed since deku strayed beyond the prickly walls of his tribe ) before slowly rising, smothering as much of his head as possible, face steaming as the body rotated a full 180 degrees, back towards his friend. So much for that. His strategy went up in smoke. ❝ W-Wasn't I supposed to- ?? ❞
@madestars asked; katsuki: bites deku on the cheek ( affectionately ) ò_ó
► ❪ UNPROMPTED // always accepting ❫
Words and equations scrawled across opened pages. Mutters abound underneath a hand, the freckled youth picked and prodded at the blots of ink filtering through mental processes in hopes of reaching the desired conclusion. These last two proved rather challenging though Izuku liked to imagine begrudging progress was being crafted inch by inch.
Kacchan's probably already finished his homework. Still didn't explain shit about why he's hovering like a vulture, not saying anything. Just watching. Thin hairs along the arms and neck prickled, the customary harshness lining his looks felt even when not facing vermilion eyes dead on. But even that faded into the quiet background after a stint of time. He's only half paying attention to the blonde now, peripherally aware but not fully focused, too consumed by stagnation brought on by the convoluted math problem. That's how it stayed... for a while.
And then Kacchan — his childhood friend, despite all the rage, despite all their faults at communication, despite all the bullshit — well, he just leaned over and bit his fucking cheek.
The shock's too overwhelming to stifle the lively curse fleeing gritted teeth as he bristled like a wild animal. Shoulders jolted, bewilderment fueling motion, scarred hand dropping the mechanical pencil to instinctively snap up and try to shove Kacchan's face away.
Only then, did the absurdity register, and his sudden reaction abated slightly. Gazes locking, fingers half gripping blonde tufts, posture taut and partially turned to confront the presence in his space. A half second skipped by, shoulders incrementally smoothing out tension, despite the current chagrin at a part of his face being designated as spun from marshmallows apparently with zero warning. What the hell. There's other ways to get someone's attention. Y’know, with words ? A tap on the shoulder ?
Brows furrowed, and before Izuku could think better of it, before Kacchan could rescind his teeth, the opposing hand not planted across Kacchan's face darted for his other wrist, hoisting it up with a slight yank and clamping his own bared pearly whites down as affectionately as Kacchan had chosen to do so - a light pinch.
Familiar blotches of color sat hot on freckled cheeks ( the scent of cinnamon invades his senses ) yet a narrowed stare offered no intentions of tossing in the towel first.
@madestars asked; [ TEASE ] // kohaku & deku !
► ❪ AFFECTIONATE ❫
It's hot today.
The sun beamed down upon the earth without care, rays of light streaming through leaves of treetops, glistening on water, petals and leaves of flora soaking in the warmth. The moderate weather didn't matter, he'd have kept up with training nonetheless but Izuku had to admit it was nicer / preferable / peaceful. Give him sunshine over brutal winds, freezing rain, biting frost any day. Did Kohaku share the same opinion ? Couldn't hurt to ask, seeing as she invited herself to this session blade in hand. The barbarian minded her presence as much as sun, welcomed it even. It's what led to now. A break for catching haggard breath after the intense spar, seated on upturned dirt, settled back against his broadsword. Its length proved more than enough to offer an easy place to rest against, even after the blade firmly dug a foot into the ground.
Green blinked open, curiosity sitting in his throat — parched, the air's dryer today too. A second's all he had to process the proximity, lithe hands uncomfortably close to his face and too bright eyes ( cat-like, as if targeting a hapless prey ), and it's enough for creeping dread to soundly seat itself in his stomach. Muscles strained as they jolted him back, burning from the effort and exertion just undergone. Or, that's what he'd like the result to have been. If only, if only ! His ( formerly All Might's, a legend in its own right ) sturdy sword, once a bastion of safety and reassurance, now staunched his attempt at recoiling out of her range and sealed his fate.
Gods dammit.
❝ Mmphf ?! ❞ His eyes squeezed shut, nose scrunching under the force exerted under her bruising grip, freckled cheeks smooshed as if fingers molded clay instead. Where... did she get the energy ? Didn't she know her own strength ?! ❝ C'mon... Kohaku... ❞ He'd be flustered about the pitch of his voice approaching the ceiling of a whine, but he's fairly certain it's a fruitless protest that fell on deaf ( ?? ) ears anyhow. Shoulders hiked up close to his ears, scarred hands fumbling for a hold of thin wrists before his face got rearranged beyond recognition.
Yeah, Izuku didn't want to recklessly toss her off / risk even a small chance of accidentally hurting his friend beyond the realm of sparring, but enduring this.... Embarrassment stamped its red mark all over his face.
It's been a while though — since he had a friend like this to be close to. So maybe, he didn’t mind this as much either.
@madestars asked; “ just sit there. i’m going to make you something to eat. ” ( bakugo @ deku )
► ❪ AFFECTIONATE ❫
It's something he's more than used to pushing through. The taxing proof of a body growing stronger, endurance pushing his limits with each blow thrown. Muscles straining under wear and tear from the abuse of rigorous training. Bruised knuckles burning under the aching heat. Exhaustion lined his eyes, the walk home buffeted by an onslaught of yawns. He's ready to call it a day, to get home and allow the void of the soft carpet lining living room floor to swallow him, but it seemed other plans were in store.
Steps stumbled, body staggering just so to the right from shoulders connecting and out of the way of the delineated path. Blinking owlishly, Izuku found his footing. Annnnd- there he went, seemingly on a mission right past Izuku. There’s a sigh of customary slight frustration, but aside from a unheard mutter of ❝ Geez, excuse me works perfectly well too ❞ as he slid off his shoes, no further complaint came.
Thirty seconds after crossing the threshold of the door and Kacchan's already commandeered his kitchen, clearing the counter and prepping the rarely used appliances. Perimeter established like he’s getting ready to fight instead of the actual act of cooking. Izuku trailed a minute after, pausing to shrug tote bag off the shoulder and dump it in a chair.
❝ Aren't you tired ? ❞ If denial came, he should be. The other just went through a full day of juggling work and studies. He shouldn’t push himself like this over something like dinner. He didn’t need to...worry about Izuku. Overwork wasn't exactly smiled upon within the Midoriya household ( it's not like he had a leg to stand on, but still ). Kacchan's general wellbeing was of considerable importance. ❝ I can just order something. I'll go run and pick it up. ❞
“ just sit there. i’m going to make you something to eat. ”
He's half expecting it, but the reasonable suggestion's shot down with the force of a bullet. Lips pressed into a thin line, brows knitted as he shook his head, another sigh burning his tongue.
Fine. Fine. Sleeves rolled up as Izuku stepped forward. Too bad for him then that he could output equal amounts of stubborness when he wanted to. Izuku breezed right past the indicated seat, sidling next to the blonde as if he never heard the order, already reaching for the wooden stand on the counter.
❝ I can help too Kacchan. I've gotten way better with handling a knife. ❞
➤ ` ANYA. ( madestars )
“ onions, garlic, sal- … cel-ery, b- … balls-ah-mick vinegar ! ” that’s a big word for Anya !
❝ Great job, Anya-san ! You got them all right ! ❞ A commendable effort, getting through words like that at her age. It’s as if the young girl picked up the answers the second they flitted through his head.
@vibraea asked; ❛ there have been countless times in my life when i thought i’d be better off dead. ❜ @ Izuku
► ❪ BROKEN ❫
Like so many times prior, body reacted before mind caught up, before information properly settled. It often propelled Izuku ( always moving forward / it's not repose lining your seat of rest / you know what happens when you dare to stop ), throwing him straight in the fray, body a shield to be sacrificed / pieces easily thrown aside. A true mark of a hero as some say. If harm or suffering of another can be reduced, it’s always worth it.
There’s no isolated problem he’s capable of solving head on now. No tangible threat to fling himself in front of. And so the opposite set in. Limbs frozen, wide eyes staring, dismay etched in lips parted and words caught in throat. This coldness sinking into his veins, it's not Todoroki around the corner inducing ice to creep up his legs. It's something else. It’s inside.
Faint, the croak of her name aired from wrung out lungs, face crumpling before he could stop it. ❝ Gemiya… ❞
He didn't know the whole story, the full picture, but this ? The singular glimpse right here ? It’s enough to set on edge, unease skittering down his skin with the grace afforded to spiders. Where did he start with responding ? How did someone even begin ?
Desire to fix and fix and fix led nowhere with no immediate solution, leaving him to flounder haplessly, grasp for answers that didn't exist. Disconcerting, how close it resembled the inner turmoil after hearing about Ingenium and watching Iida spiral all whilst wearing a brave face, maintaining the facade of normalcy.
How ? How do I help ?
Better off dead.
Despair threatening to swallow whole and snuff the light far beyond horizons unseen to the eye, tunnel was too generous of a word for the kind of darkness he grew up in but…
Izuku's too stubborn / too set on hopeless dreams / too full of rage to lay down and die.
❝ You can- you come talk to me okay ? Next time you feel like that I…I don’t know how much that will do but…❞ Words struggled to fit in the mouth, uneven weight perched on the tongue. They seemed more fitting for lodging in his throat than conveying his messy bundle of thoughts. Digits curled and uncurled by his sides. ❝ I... Maybe... it's better when you're not alone. When you have someone else there to work through difficult feelings with you. ❞
Scratches of pen against paper died down in stillness as something carrying an air of negativity breached personal bubble, sending a sharp shiver down the spine. Eyes darted about, shifting nervously until the source ( @madestars ) suddenly dawned upon racing mind. Seconds spent on twirling pen betwixt fingers ticked by slowly. Izuku wondered. Was stepping in required ? Should the boy speak up / draw attention to himself ? As the dark feeling edged on intensifying, the spike of anxiety it promised was swallowed down.
❝ Is...Is everything okay, Komi-san ? You seem wound up about something. ❞