@bnhahorrorweek Post apocalypse prompt/ non-quirk characters. Threw this one-shot together for this prompt. đ Bakudeku. Sorry my edits suck lol.
Itâs been two years since the world imploded and left survivors struggling to just stay alive. No one knew exactly how it began, but many suspected it was man made. When the United States declared war on China, and the world sided against the falling superpower, the country retaliated... soon stories began popping up about people becoming zombie-like and attacking with no hesitation as if all conscious reasoning was gone. The coincidence was how it started in areas being bombed by the U.S., first Asia, Europe, but as with most viruses, it spread quickly through the infected until there wasnât a country on Earth left standing.
Izuku Midoriya was in his senior year of high school at the time, but once the virus hit Japan, chaos broke out. In the dense cities like Tokyo, it was like a wave washing through that quickly jumped to surrounding cities including Shizuoka where he lived with his mother. Within a matter of weeks the entire island country was engulfed by these soulless beings. Heâd lost everyone he knew, his classmates, friends, and after a month of running, his mom when theyâd been ambushed sneaking through the subway tunnels.
Perhaps it was his smaller size that was to his benefit. Growing up Izuku was teased for being a shorter, gangly kid, but when the goal was hiding, it became an asset. He was smart and a quick learner, who figured out the best ways to stay out of sight from the roving hoards. These things werenât dead like most zombie movies tended to portray. The virus infected and destroyed the upper portions of the brain leaving just the brain stems that controlled basic life functions. It generally resembled a mutated syphilis strain, but 10 times worse with no cure, and no way to stop it once it took control. All the zombies knew to do was eat, and eat, and eat.
By the end of the first year, Izuku realized that constantly being on the move had some detriment, so when he came across an abandoned apartment building built with brick walls, he decided to create a fortress for himself. It took some time working only when the creatures werenât around, but he reinforced the second floor apartments with steel and blacked out the windows. Once the outside was secured, Izuku broke through walls to connect the apartments together.
Maybe heâll run into another survivor one day. There must be others, but since he didnât travel far from his base camp, it was wholly possible heâd simply never come across one. Even now almost two years later, he was only a stones throw away from his original home is Musutafu. It was a lonely existence and there were many days when he wondered if it was worth it to keep living like this. Working on his new âhomeâ was the only thing that helped to keep his mind from slipping into depression, and he was quite proud of his accomplishments. Breaking through the ceiling, he managed to rig a pipe to the roof that collected rain water and funneled it into a plugged bath tub. Similar venting allowed him to build a make shift hearth for fires, handy during the colder months and to cook with.
They were truly back to the stone ages now. All the skills many take for granted, simple things like how to sew or forage for edible plants, he had to learn. No more electricity, meant no more quick entertainment, so he raided a nearby bookstore for things to read. Over time, Izuku settled in for the long haul, just concerning himself with finding supplies, keeping occupied, and most of all, not losing his sanity.
Until one day, while returning to his home, Izuku heard a noise and ducks low behind a broken down vehicle. It had only been a quick trip to a close by hardware store. He watched, readying his weapon in case of an attack. Crap! Heâd left the fire going in the apartment for heating, so had the smoke attracted a zombie?
A human walks out from around some parked vehicles. At first he canât tell if itâs a zombie or not, because the personâs attire hid their features. But the longer he watched their movements, the way they walked cautiously, with a backpack slung over one shoulder, Izuku started to wonder if it could be a survivor! It was a dangerous move to break cover, but after surveying the area and not seeing anyone else, he decided to get the persons attention. If it was a zombie there was still enough space between them to get away.
Izuku popped his head over the car and whistled once for 10 seconds. The person stopped and turned in his direction, but just stood in place staring. So he whistled a second time, while standing completely upright and clearly visible. He waved, signaling he was a normie, so the man lowers the hoodie of his jacket.
âK-Kacchan?!â He breathes out. No way! Of all the people to run into, but his long lost childhood friend?! The mans hair was a dirtier blonde now, shaggier and disheveled, but those red eyes were unmistakable. Izuku steps forward, slowly moving towards the man. âKacchan, is that really you?â
âDeku? Pfft, figures youâre the first live human I find.â
Another sound, distant, but real catches Izukuâs alert attention. He grabs the man by the arm. âItâs not safe here,â his voice is low as to not attract attention. âFollow me, Iâve got a safe place.â
Possibly tired of travel, Katsuki Bakugou follows the smaller male into the secured apartment building. He watches in fascination as Izuku takes them through a stairwell with multiple metal gates that looked added on, until they reach the main entrance.
âWelcome to my home,â Izuku smiles and ushers Katsuki inside.
âTch, not bad nerd,â The blonde surveys his surroundings. âYou set this all up yourself?â
âYup. Took awhile but I reinforced the top half of the building.â He shows Katsuki each room. âAn area for cooking, this is where I gather and store rain water. So if you wanna take a towel bath you can. Hereâs where I sleep, and finally my storage area. I think I have clothes in your size if you need something fresh to wear.â
âThink Iâll take you up on the bath first.â
âS-Sure!â Izuku grabs his friend a towel and hands it to him along with a fresh set of clothing. âIâll be working on a dinner in the meantime,â he smiles.
Izuku was on cloud nine! Itâd been years, long before the apocalypse hit that heâd ever spoken with Katsuki in a civil manner. The man seemed to have mellowed out, but of course an event like this one was bound to change people. He was just thrilled to have found a survivor and even happier it was someone he knew. By the time Katsuki came out of the bath area cleaned and dressed, Izuku had whipped up a small meal for the two of them.
âHope your hungry,â Izuku smiles and presents a plate to his friend. âI got lucky and caught a wild hare in my trap yesterday.â
Katsuki takes the plate and sits down on a rug. âHow do you have fresh vegetables?â
âI grow them on the roof.â Izuku sits down across from the man with his own plate. âTomatoes, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, and onions so far, but Iâm working on soybeans too. Tell me Kacchan, where have you been all this time?â
âI was in Osaka visiting an uncle when this shit hit, then the bastards killed my parents last year as we tried to get back home.â
âIâm sorry Kacchan,â Izukuâs voice softened, âI lost my mom too a month after it hit.â
âLooks like youâre doing well though.â Katsuki looks around. âSeems a pretty safe hold out.â
âItâs better than the streets. Luckily the zombies are dumb. You know, youâre welcome to stay. Thereâs plenty of room for two people.â
âI donât wanna impose...â
âYouâre not imposing Kacchan. Itâll be nice to have someone to talk to aside from myself.â
âAlright, Iâll stick around since it beats the elements. Am I the first person youâve seen?â
âYeah, alive any way. Iâve run into people we knew but theyâre all zombies now.â
âTch, I mean to live now, then die as one of the last humans on this plant? This blows.â
âI try not to think about that and rather take any positive thing I can cling to.â
âAlways the optimist Deku.â Katsuki laughs. âEven with a disaster you never change.â
As the hours grow late, Izuku suggests they pull out an extra mattress he has in the storage room for his friend to sleep on. But Katsuki points to Izukuâs Queen sized bed. âWhy? We both fit, and besides itâs warmer this way, right?â
Izuku stammers as his face turns red. âI-I guess, as long as you donât mind.â
âI donât mind, do you?â
âNo.â He did, but it was just his nervousness over sharing a bed with a guy he once had a crush on.
âGood, cause Iâm exhausted.â Katsuki slips under the blanket and pats the bed. âItâs late, letâs get some sleep.â
âO-Okay...â Izuku put out the fire and climbed under the covers, but turns on his side away from the man.
âPfft,â Katsuki spoons up to Izuku, âsupposed to keep each other warm remember,â he wraps his arm around and pulls the man close. âNite, nerd.â
âAhhhh! What is going on?!â âGânight Kacchan.â If this was how heâll spend the rest of this apocalypse... guess it wasnât so bad anymore.