@dckv || first of all I’d like to say how dare you reference Kamino when you know we’re sensitive
A sucker punch. That’s what his words were, and Ikazu finds it difficult not to actually recoil from his twin’s words. He knows Izuku, knows how he intends things when he talks, and he can tell that he chose that phrasing in particular trying not to upset him. So he draws his lips into a flat line and doesn’t comment directly, instead crossing his arms over his chest and leaning into the wall. Trying to avoid another situation like Kamino… Izuku was absolutely thrashed in the evens at summer camp. And Ikazu…
He didn’t hurt Izuku, but he certainly didn’t help the situation at large.
Too impulsive, too reckless; they’ve both been that way their whole lives, but to very different extremes and ends. When together, they typically can offset each other- the more docile and thoughtful Izuku tending to appropriately weigh on Ikazu’s consciousness and keep him steady instead of flying off the handle, while Ikazu could call the more hesitant Izuku to action. But when the two of them swapped, or the balance was thrown…
Ikazu doesn’t want to see Izuku like that again.
And he doesn’t want to be in that situation again.
So he surveys his twin, uncharacteristically quiet and placid as he did. The mark on his neck tingles- the phantom feeling on a closed hand on his throat– taking a sharp breath, he pushes off the wall, suddenly stiff. “Fine.” His tone is taut, and he takes a moment to collect his thoughts before saying, gentler this time, ‘You say this is safer. What do I do, then?” Ikazu’s fighting style had never been what one would call passive or safe implicitly; he’s a melee fighter with the best and worst of them, and only viable when he can get in close. Izuku’s more flexible due to the nature of his quirk. If they’re gonna come out on top, they need to use that to their advantage.
Perfectly balanced, counters on a scale, striking harmony. They’ve always had that for each other- no contest, no bitterness; just support and certainty. If they can harness that in combat…
“I’m gonna make you take point. Tell me what to do. I’ll follow.” While Ikazu is hardly bad with strategy, he’s more of an off the cuff kind of guy. Izuku, contrarily, has backup plans for his backup plans in triplicate. Leave the improv to him, but the guidelines need to be Izuku.
It’s ONE thing to gently request attention. Izuku has only really begun to get the hang of it without stepping on toes, knows that people understand what thoughts he’s trying to get across with no meaning to offend. Familiarity breeds possibly mistaken brashness. Izuku almost felt his throat leap up into his throat when Ikazu asked about being doubted.
Ah yes... it DID sound like doubt. Izuku takes his care to backtrack and explain his reasoning. Being paired up to go up against Kirishima and Kaminari who’ve been paired up before... the youngest of the twins can’t help but ponder if perhaps Aizawa KNOWS how distracting Ikazu can be to Izuku even when they fight well together --- finely tuned without much thought to give a devastating first blow. He sure bets Aizawa realized that after the all - or - nothing beginning, they could very well be left straggling for finesse afterwards.
No doubt Ikazu knew this aim Aizawa is going for, no doubt. Yet to thrust the spotlight on Izuku?! Typically he doesn’t ask for this when it ISN’T life - or - death situations. He supposes practice could make it better...
There’s just the STRONG wish that Ikazu didn’t know about pushing Izuku to get in practice and they could plan together.
❛ Kirishima is a close-ranged fighter like us and there’s Kaminari who's long-range. Kirishima is going to bring the fight to us while Kaminari will go all out when one of us move away from Kirishima even a little. If we focus on taking Kaminari out, it shouldn’t be too hard. He has to point wherever he’s aiming and Kirishima is going to try to cover that, ❜ Izuku explains. He knows they can’t afford to take defense when Izuku’s Quirk alone is already so offense-driven.
❛ We have to act as each other’s distractions. We have to take turns facing Kirishima head-on while someone else makes surprise attacks on Kaminari. If I throw something at Kaminari, that’s your cue to go in with guns blazing as soon as Kirishima gives me an opening. ❜
Unfortunately he couldn’t bring anything rubber-based to this fight like his plans had called for. At this stage in life, they’re wishful thinking having been made in the beginning of the year as if materials he’d need to best fight everyone would be readily available, but they’re not.
❛ Kaminari will destroy anything I send his way if he uses all his power which means you won’t get hit by any of his electricity when he’s doing that. You’re fast, and I don’t think he can take a lot of hits from you. If Kirishima hits you then it’s game over because right now, I’m the only one who can hit him hard enough to stop his attacks. So when you’re not attacking Kaminari, attack Kirishima with quick hits so I can try to land a few of my own punches. Kaminari can’t electrocute BOTH of us because he’ll hit Kirishima too so try to keep close to Kirishima when you’re not attacking Kaminari. ❜
Sometimes, the best lead is to let someone else take lead as well.
