Story prompt to hopefully get the creative gears in working order:
Izuku's quirk is that he sees basically manifestations of people's quirks (which is super useful when analysing them! He always can get a sense of what they are before even seeing them in action for real, which will be handy when he's a hero for real). All Might's quirk is definitely the WEIRDEST one he's seen in a hot second though, and Izuku is pretty confused because the manifestation doesn't really match the output of the quirk in the way he's used to seeing. It's almost like... All Might is using it wrong?
Izuku had so many questions. Too many questions. That's why he wrote them down and condensed them into the main question, because he knew that All Might was busy, knew that he rarely ever stayed in one place after an incident, knew that handshake events were few and far between and crowded besides, knew that if a miracle happened and he ever got the chance to actually meet All Might, it would only be for a second.
The question was: Do you think someone with a minor, strictly analytic quirk could become a hero?
That was the perfect question. Perfect for Izuku, that was. It didn't get into all of the technical aspects of being a hero, or of training, application, preparation, education-- But Izuku was fine with that, he could figure that out on his own. He just wanted to know if it was possible. That's all he needed. Possibility.
But now, looking at All Might in person, which was the only way his quirk worked, he knew that as right as that question might be for him, it was wrong for All Might. And he didn't have time to formulate the right question for All Might, to pick the right one out of the millions Izuku hadn't even thought of until a minute ago.
And then All Might's quirk rippled. Shifted. It was subtle, very subtle, with how that particular aspect of it was spread throughout his body, but it was enough for Izuku to know that All Might was going to move and move soon. The warning was just enough for Izuku to latch on to his ankle when he jumped, but not long enough for him to realize why that might be a bad idea.
It was a bad idea.
"H-hey!" shouted All Might, barely audible over the wind. "What do you think you're doing? If you fall from up here, you'll die!"
Well, Izuku had always wanted more data on how All Might slowed his falls after high jumps, especially when carrying civilian passengers, but this was, admittedly, a little too close.
Somehow - Izuku would have to review his memories more closely when he got home, so he could make a proper record - All Might landed them on the roof of a building.
"That was close!" said All Might. "Hopefully, the people in the building will help us get down, but I've no time--!"
He kept talking but Izuku was, as always distracted by the quirk. All Might's quirk was amazing! Unique! Unlike anything he'd ever seen before! Truly suitable for the likes of All Might, Japan's - no, the world's - number one hero!
But it was... wrong. It didn't make sense.
"Why," said Izuku, fascinated, "is your quirk like that?"
All Might stiffened in surprise, and his quirk-- Trembled? Why? Where had Izuku seen a quirk act like that before? Overuse? Strain? A transformation quirk about to let go? But-- But All Might's quirk, as strange as it was, had more of the hallmarks of an emitter--
Izuku averted his gaze just in time for billowing fog? Smoke? Some kind of biological aerosol-- Was it safe to breathe? For something white and cloud-like to burst from All Might's body.
"Sorry!" said Izuku, covering his eyes with both hands, so he wouldn't peek. "I'm so sorry, All Might! I didn't know you had-- Had a-- Time limit?" That was a guess, but it lined up with All Might's limited public appearances and other idiosyncrasies. "It's just that your quirk's manifestation doesn't match your quirk output at all."
All Might coughed. "Pardon? My what?" His voice sounded subtly different from what it had been moments ago.
"Your-- I'm sorry! My quirk, it's called Quirk Observe! It's how I was able to tell you were going to jump like that. It lets me see a manifestation of a person's quirk when I look at them directly, and yours... Your output doesn't match the manifestation at all, even taking into account that it has a transformative aspect, and it has seven, no, eight different facets. Most quirks only have one. I've only seen maybe a dozen two-sided quirks. And I-- I'd almost say that it's a meta quirk, but that can't be right..." He shook his head. "There has to be something wrong with my understanding of quirk manifestations, because if I'm right, that means you've been using your quirk all wrong, and that can't be right! You're All Might!"
"What do you mean, using it wrong?" asked All Might, sounding genuinely inquisitive, not angry at all. Maybe a little stunned.
"Well, I mean," said Izuku, "there are eight aspects. I think one of them is a sort of... power stockpiler...? Or maybe that's your transformative quirk. But it looks like it's supposed to feed into all the other ones, and I've never seen you use anything except super strength! And the smoke, I guess, which I think is one of the facets? A physically based emitter quirk, anyway, something that produces a special substance from the body. My-- My classmate has one like that, so I'm pretty sure about it! Then there's a different power stockpiler, which is so weird. It definitely stockpiles something different. Then there's a few telekinesis based ones, but they look slightly different. I'd say that one can be applied to external objects and one is personal. Some kind of flight ability, I think. I'd need to look more at the other one to be sure what it did, exactly. And then there's a mental power, and some kind of emotion-charged emitter. And then there's the meta power, holding them all together! But if all of those things are part of your quirk, you'd be using them, right?" Izuku couldn't imagine why he'd hide them. "It's almost like... a bunch of different quirks, merged together into one. Like the meta quirk collected all the other ones, but meta quirks like that usually only last for a minute or--"
"A... flight ability, you say?"
Izuku nodded vigorously.
"I-- Look. I can't take you seriously when you're covering your eyes like that."
Very slowly, Izuku removed his hands and looked over at All Might. As expected, he looked different from how he usually did. Much different. He was... If this was the way he looked when his quirk was off, Izuku couldn't blame him for hiding it. He looked... sick. He looked like he was dying, honestly. Izuku bit back a million questions. He'd already asked too much.
"When you say you're seeing these... facets... Are people with multiple facets usually able to use them?"
Izuku nodded. He hadn't been able to talk to very many people about it, but he was pretty sure. "Unless they're using it wrong. Sometimes quirk counselors give people weird ideas about what they're supposed to be able to do, but there's ways to get around that."
"I..." said All Might. He seemed to struggle with something for a minute. "The details of my quirk are a state secret, but... You... May have a point." He coughed. Izuku saw red flecks on his hand.
"Are you okay?" he asked, alarmed.
"Old injury," said All Might, waving him off. "Risks of the job. But you... you can really see all that? Can you see how to activate these other abilities."
"I... can guess? I'm usually good at guessing."
All Might sat down and rubbed his face with his hands, clearly thinking deeply about something. And Izuku didn't want to interrupt, really he didn't. But he still had his original, perfect question, and he was never great at keeping his mouth shut.
"All Might," he said, hesitant, "do you-- do you think that someone with a quirk like mine, could be a hero?"
"Huh?" said All Might.
"It's just, the counselor at my school, and the teachers, and my-- my friend, they all think it's not good enough and I should just--"
"What are you talking about?" said All Might, sounding genuinely bewildered. "That's an incredibly useful quirk."
"It-- It is?"
"You just told me that you were able to predict how I was going to move based on how - excuse me if I am using the wrong terms - how the manifestation of my quirk was acting? You were even able to--"
Explosions sounded in the distance and both All Might and Izuku turned towards them. "Stay here," said All Might. "We'll finish this conversation, but--" More explosions. "Stay here."
Izuku stayed. For about five minutes. But those explosions were just so similar to Kacchans, and, well, his feet moved on their own.
Part 2 of “Why is fighting with you suddenly so awkward?”. Mina is obviously enjoying this most of all, and will definitely gossip this to the Bakusquad. And propably most of the other girls.
It is a rare phenomenon when someone can stun the average population with their innate stupidity.
Regrettably, Katsuki knows many of these people personally.
"You've been staring at Midoriya for the past ten minutes," Denki says between bites of his lunch. "You picturing him naked or something?"
Katsuki takes several long seconds to turn in his seat---intelligently ignoring Mina, Sero, and Eijirou as they choke on their own food---before finally shooting the most dead-eyed look he can at Denki beside him.
"I don't know if anyone has ever told you," Katsuki begins slowly, making sure to enunciate his words over the cafeteria noises, "but you have a special way of speaking that makes everyone appreciate the silence."
"Ah, come on," Denki waves a hand between them. His chopsticks fling pieces of rice across the table. "No need to deny it. Everyone agrees that Midoriya is one of the hottest guys in school. The girls had a list going around ranking attractiveness, and I'm pretty sure he was in the top three."
"Hey!" Mina splutters. "No one else was supposed to know about that list! Who told you?"
Katsuki wishes that he hadn't become so immune to his classmates' idiocy (he really wants to fall back on his anger from first year and explode them for the mere audacity of saying stupid shit). Now, he can only stare dumbfounded and silent, wondering how he ever came to be wrangled up in this group of misfits.
After a moment, Eijirou chuckles and leans over the table across from him. "It's okay. I'm pretty sure Midoriya-bro has been checking you out, too."
Katsuki pushes away his lunch tray and stands. "And now, I've lost my appetite. Fuck you very much."
As he moves towards the cafeteria exit (disregarding his friends' retorts and apologies behind him), his gaze aptly moves to Izuku's table on the other side of the room. He is not entirely surprised when he finds green eyes already watching him.
They've been like this since the end of the war---hyper-aware, cautious of each other. Nearly a year later, and they still haven't breached the topic of their sudden wariness, why neither of them can go more than a few hours without checking in on the other. It’s pathetic. And yet, Katsuki can't stop himself.
He gestures at Izuku with his head, nodding toward the exit. Izuku is quick to understand.
Izuku turns away, says something to Ochako and Shouto and the rest of his table, before he packs up his lunch.
Katsuki doesn't wait for him to catch up.
He is only a few seconds into a stretch when the gym doors open, and Izuku steps in with a smile. The scar on the left side of his face bunches against his eye, tissue discolored and permanently masking the freckles beneath. (Katsuki would never admit to missing them.)
"You want to spar again, Kacchan?"
Katsuki wishes that he could come up with something smart to say---an innovative joke or witty insult---but Denki's influence must have eaten the last of his braincells. He shrugs and snorts.
"Seems like you're just as eager."
It is in unwritten permission that Katsuki and Izuku are allowed to use the training gymnasium when needed, as long as it is not already occupied. Aizawa and All Might always cast away their eyes, even after the many times a security robot must have announced their late night practices. It is a small privilege after saving Japan... not that Katsuki would ever think to exploit his sudden stardom.
(Nevertheless, he is glad that he is an exception to this particular rule.)
His arm is still recovering, and Izuku’s quirks are at the last flickers of life, so they never go all-out. The sparring is more of a distraction from work and school (and nightmares) than anything else. It helps Katsuki stay calm, especially after being provoked by certain idiots who attach themselves to him like leeches.
Him, checking out Izuku?
Blasphemy. His classmates are lucky that their heads are still attached to their bodies.
"Setting a time limit?" Izuku asks, finishing a leg stretch. Katsuki's eyes drift to the strain in the pants' fabric.
"No. Only tap outs." Their next class is modern history---a subject where both he and Izuku are top in the class. Any docked points for missing a single lecture won't affect their standings.
They should really change into gym clothes, but Katsuki merely removes his blazer and rolls up his sleeves. The time it would take to get dressed would be better spent sparring before another class inevitably comes and kicks them out. Izuku seems to agree with the sentiment. He cuffs the hem of his pants and squats on the other side of the training circle.
Gym Gamma is empty aside from the eight marked areas meant for practicing hand-to-hand combat. As third years, practical training and rescue operations are most commonly practiced during their internships; Yuuei rarely sets up fake villain scenarios and faux cities on campus anymore.
Which means that Izuku and Katsuki have plenty of space to move around.
As expected, they do not stay in their designated circle. Within minutes, their fighting has branched to opposite corners of the gymnasium---running, leaping, and dodging out of the way of fists and swinging legs. Katsuki knows it is unfair to use his quirk, so he only uses an explosion when absolutely necessary (when Izuku has him cornered with no other way of escape). In turn, Izuku sparingly chases after him with Blackwhip.
"Your arm looks stronger," Izuku notes, dodging a fist that Katsuki throws at his chest.
"Not to its full potential," Katsuki grunts in response, moving backward to avoid Izuku’s roundhouse. "PT has been killing me lately, though. I think Doc' is tryin' to prepare it for quirk use. Still haven’t been able to blow up anything significant yet."
Katsuki’s next swing manages to graze Izuku’s shoulder. The green-head stumbles but catches himself before completely falling over. "Definitely stronger," he mumbles, rubbing the area.
"You need to bulk up," Katsuki smirks, squatting defensively for his next move. He ignores the fact that Izuku is nearly three times the size he was in first year.
"I eat plenty! You didn’t even finish your lunch today!"
Katsuki raises an eyebrow. "You always watching me?" The question is redundant; they both know by now how much watching either of them do on a day-to-day basis. "Besides, I'm not the one complaining about a little bruise on my shoulder."
Izuku’s upper lip twitches. This is a new anomaly that Katsuki is trying to adjust to: Izuku is much easier to irritate. He cannot describe the feeling in his guts whenever he manages to bring it out on Izuku's face.
"I wasn’t complaining," Izuku defends, growling when Katsuki tries to wrestle him to the floor. "I was just making an observation... about---ouch!"
Successful, Katsuki flings Izuku onto his hands and knees, legs wrapping around legs, hands pinning against hips. His chest is against Izuku's back which arches up in an attempt to dislodge the position, but Katsuki pushes him further into the ground by the waist. Then, he threads an arm between Izuku's thigh, pulling up to unbalance him from his knees.
Izuku's stomach hits the floor. Katsuki thrusts down.
(Started this during the Ao3 shutdown. Next part to be posted.)
MHA takes that “you can miss me with that shit” list:
“Touya wasn’t abused” “Touya was born evil” any take that blames/denys/downplays his abuse/trauma, yeah you can miss me with that!
“Izuku was the true villain in the Sludge villain incident” choke on your own saliva because what?! Yeah you can miss me with that!
“Enji is a good father” no he isn’t, the whole point of his guilt is because he was an abusive asshat, and that is why he is trying to be better/has this atonement arc he would not need so if he was a good father. You can miss me with that!
“Enji at least takes responsibility, Rei never did” I guess you cannot read? Two whole chapters of her taking responsibility but ok! You can miss me with that!
That person’s take where they basically said Natsuo and Touya were the abusers of the family, Natsuo never changed and also labelled Shouto as an abuser/hypocrite. Yeah you can miss me with that!
“Natsuo is immature, he was the least affected” “Natsuo’s a spoilt brat” “Natsuo will turn into Kotaro” Natsuo is very much in his rights and valid to not want to forgive or be in contact with his past-abuser, and yeah you can miss me with that!
“Even AFO is a better father than Enji” “AFO’s a better father than Hisashi Midoriya at least he’s there” BSFR Hisashi was just an unimportant character who’s only mentioning is he works abroad and sends money home, yes he’s absent and such but ain’t no way y’all can say that. Enji is an awful father and such but yeah just gotta say you can miss me with that!
“Hana is a snake” Hana is a child who was afraid of her father’s wrath, and unfortunately lied to protect herself maybe blame the father for instilling that atmosphere so yeah you can miss me with that!
“Touya is a misogynist” 😭 I won’t argue that what he said as a unstable CHILD was misogynistic, but context and complex y’all just resort to labelling him a woman hater without using your brains a little bit. Anyways you can miss me with that!
“We blame Enji for Touya, but why don’t we blame Shouto for Touya” 😩 maybe because Shouto isn’t at fault? And was a literal baby/child! He is not at fault or to blame for Enji’s abuse like you can miss me with that!
Any Todoroki family take that either downplays, denies, shifts blame, victim blames or plays trauma olympics such as “Touya had it worse” “Shouto had it worse” yeah you can miss me with that!
“BakuDeku is abusive, at least with Kirishima he can handle the abuse” the fuck you mean by that? Other than possibly Kirishima can handle being abused so that makes it ok like what?! Disgusting! You can miss me with that!
If I can think of more I’ll be updating the list 😭 but that’s it so far!
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