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Izuku drags a tire through the sand, sweat pouring down his face at the exertion. His phone buzzes in his pocket and he ignores it, at least until he finally manages to heave the tire onto Yagi-san’s truck bed.
“Nice work Young Midoriya!” Yagi-san crows, a proud smile on his face as he flashes a thumbs up Izuku’s way. “Keep up this pace and you’ll be ready for the quirk in no time!”
Izuku beams with pride, and sips from his water bottle as he takes a minute to check his phone.
Suo-chan
I’m here 4:50pm
You want me to order for you? 4:50pm
Izukun? 4:55pm
I ordered your usual but then it got all melty and gross so I ate it. 5:03pm
Just kidding I would never that flavor is nasty 5:03pm
I threw it out 5:03pm
So you owe me money now 5:04pm
That was a test to see if someone stole your phone 5:10pm
You’d know I just use my dad’s credit card 5:10pm
But no one responded so this proves nothing! 5:11pm
...seriously are you ok? 5:19pm
It’s not like you to skip our meeting 5:20pm
Do I need to track down a certain kid and beat his ass? 5:21pm
Hello? 5:30pm
Not even threats to your precious Kacchan worked??? 5:30pm
Seriously, I'm getting worried over here! 5:35pm
Ok don’t get mad 5:39pm
My actions were driven by concern and care and you know what they say, it’s the thought that counts! 5:40pm
Anyway random but remember that time you got lost and gave me your Find Miphone Password to help you? 5:41pm
On a definitely unrelated note 5:41pm
What are you doing at Dagoba? 5:42pm
“Shit.” Izuku murmurs, his eyes wide as he tries to process the multitude of messages. Then once more, with emphasis, after it all finally sinks in, “SHIT!”
“Young Midoriya?”
“I. My friend. I totally forgot it was today!” Izuku scrambles to grab his bag, and then immediately drops it again in favor of frantically brushing the sand and dirt from his shirt. “We. We met at this support group years ago but since we were the only kids there it felt kind of pointless to keep going, so we started getting together just the two of us- and I completely forgot it was today!!”
“Well, that’s quite alright my boy, I’m sure your friend will understand why you’re late.”
“It’s too late for that!” Izuku bursts out, practically full on panicking now. “He’s on his way here right now!”
Yagi-san tilts his head at him in obvious confusion. “Is that a problem? We are merely training and cleaning up the beach my boy, there’s no shame in it or need for secrecy.”
Izuku comes to a stop so suddenly he would have face planted into the hot sand had Yagi-san not managed to grab his shoulder in time. His brain struggles to string a sentence together over the thoughts currently whirring through his mind at mach speed. “W-What? Isn’t-? Aren’t we-? Secret???”
Yagi-san laughs and squeezes Izuku’s shoulder gently. “Of course not! This is a huge community service undertaking my boy and you’re pulling it off single handedly! There’s no need to keep it hush hush, on the contrary, if no one would take credit people might get suspicious about what we’re trying to hide. You've worked hard for this my boy. You deserve to revel in the accomplishment.””
“But you said-“
“Oh that part is a secret, don’t get me wrong. But this?” His arms spread wide to encompass the truck bed full of trash and the tiny bit of beach that’s been slowly becoming more visible with every passing day. “This. Is for you to share with whomever you want.”
Izuku’s eyes fill at the realization that he can bring his mom to see this, he can show it to Suo-chan, could tell it to anyone in any way he wants. Heck he could shout it from the rooftops if he wanted to! He won’t. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that he could.
Izuku rubs desperately at his eyes as Yagi-san pats gently at his head, and of course, that’s how Suo-chan finds them.
The older teen clears his throat loudly, broad, strong arms folded across the All Might sweatshirt that Izuku had gifted him for his birthday. On his head, pulled low as usual so it covers his hair and most of his forehead is the matching beanie Izuku’s mom knitted for him.
Izuku flails while beside him Yagi-san awkwardly coughs blood into a handkerchief.
“What are you doing with Izukun?” Suo asks, gray eyes narrowing in suspicion behind his ever present glasses. Said eyes narrow impossibly further when he notices Izuku’s dirty and sweaty clothes, and the tears still swimming in his eyes.
Yagi-san hastily wipes his mouth and shoves the bloody thing back in his pocket. “You must be Young Midoriya’s friend! He was just telling me that he forgot to cancel your meet up today. Would you care to join us?”
Suo-chan’s eyebrow lifts minutely but he doesn’t move an inch from his suspicious pose. “Join you in what?”
“We’re cleaning the beach!” Izuku bursts out, arms waving wildly to try and break the tension. “It’s strength training for UA!”
Suo says nothing, turning to survey the miniscule progress, and the truck half filled with garbage. “I see,” he says finally.
“So? How about it, young man? Would you too like to expend some good old fashioned elbow grease?”
Izuku and Suo-chan both blink at him in confusion.
Yagi-san coughs awkwardly into a fist though thankfully there's no blood this time. “Ah, it's an old expression. Means work hard. Specifically in effort to get something clean.”
“Well then no.” Suo-chan lifts a hand to his head as if to run his fingers through his hair and then drops it when he realizes he’s wearing his hat. “It looks like real dirty work and while I normally wouldn’t care, this is my favorite sweatshirt.”
Yagi-san’s eyes fall on the giant All Might face adorning said sweatshirt and a light flush starts in his cheeks. He’s saved from needing to say anything by Izuku beaming at his friend. “I’m really glad you like it.”
“Yup.” The teen smirks, reaching out to ruffle Izuku’s hair. “Best birthday present ever.” He pauses. “Except maybe the beanie. It's a close second.”
They might have stood there chatting all day but a ray of sunlight glints off something in the sand and reflects into Izuku’s eyes and with a gasp he realizes he’s wasting time. “I. I’m really sorry I forgot to cancel Suo-chan!” he practically shouts as he bows low in apology. “And I promise I’ll make it up to you next time but I really need to get back to training now!”
“Sure thing squirt. You go right ahead and I’ll get more acquainted with… what did you say your name was again?”
“Ah forgive me, where are my manners, I am Yagi.”
Suo-chan raises an eyebrow at the lack of a given name but he doesn’t hesitate to follow suit. “Great. I’m Himura.”
Izuku looks rapidly between them for a moment before slowly backing away. “Well okay then.”
It’s quiet for a moment, the two of them watching Izuku as he runs across the sand to grab two buckets for the smaller pieces of trash.
“So…“ Himura does not look at him, keeping his eyes glued to his little friend as he bends, and grabs, on repeats. “Why are you really helping him?”
Toshinori startles and his shocked inhale turns into a cough. “I beg your pardon?” he splutters.
“Is this some kind of ploy to get him to tire himself out so you can grab him easier? Because I’m warning you now, I’ll keep showing up here just to keep an eye on you.”
“Wha-?”
“You want money, is that it? Ransom or some shit? Cuz I’ll pay you right now, just fuck off and leave him alone!”
Toshinori wipes his mouth with a fresh hanky and slowly straightens to his full height. “Now see here young man. While I find it admirable the lengths you are going to in an attempt to protect your friend, I also find it somewhat insulting that you don’t believe him when he tells you himself what we are doing. I am helping him prepare for UA. That is all. If you require further proof then here,” he pulls out a notebook and holds it up to show off the open pages, one side titled ‘All American Dream Plan’ and the other ‘Pointedly Not All American Meal Plan’.
Himura studies both with mounting disbelief. “You’re serious.”
He's silent for another moment before finally looking up, vulnerability and confusion in his eyes. “Why?”
“Because I have never seen the spirit and heart of a hero in someone else as I do in Young Midoriya. He will be a hero, I will see to it myself.”
“But he’s- we’re- I don't understand! Don’t you know he’s quirkless?!”
Toshinori's first instinct is to get offended on Young Midoriya’s behalf. But he can't help but notice the defensive curl, the pain filled eyes, the stumbled aborted ‘we’re’ that tells him all that he needs to know.
Suo Himura is large and broad, and the little of him that Yagi can see looks tough and visibly strong. And yet, he too does not believe that he could ever be a hero. He had stood there and threatened a complete stranger to try and keep his friend safe from a possible threat and yet he too thinks that he has nothing to offer without a quirk.
And isn’t that just sad.
“Young man, I do not pretend to understand what you have gone through, either of you...” Young Himura startles at that but Toshinori keeps on going. “...but a close of friend of mine on the force is quirkless and it hasn’t stopped him from reaching Detective.” Toshinori hesitates for just a moment before adding, “and the person you see before you right now is quirkless as well.”
It feels like a lie even though it technically isn’t, but his words are rewarded with a look of awe and so he pushes down the guilt and ignores it.
“You. You really think he can do it? You aren’t just humoring him?”
Toshinori stands up as straight as he can in this form, even as it pulls on his scar tissue. “Young Himura, it is not the quirk, but the heart, that makes a hero. And anyone who goes out of their way to help someone is already a hero, whether they have saved them from an actual villain or not.”
He turns slightly away then, respectfully giving Himura some privacy as the teenager wipes at his eyes, and he can’t resist adding a quiet, “even you.”
Silence falls, save for the crashing of the waves and the grunts Young Midoriya makes as he struggles to lift a busted microwave off the ground.
Himura sighs, a mumbled “fuck this” falling from his lips, and then he is pulling his sweatshirt over his head and folding it neatly into his bag.
Toshinori notes absently that his original assumption had been correct. Young Himura’s shoulders are broad and strong, visibly powerful arms a far cry from the skinny weakling that is Young Midoriya. He hopes that the boy hadn't been pushed to it in efforts to protect himself from bullying or harrasment but judging by the immediate distrust and suspicion Toshinori had been subjected to, he cannot shake the feeling that Young Himura has already seen hell.
It is a testament then to Young Midoriya’s goodness and purity of heart that he seems to attract people like Himura and Toshinori himself and give them back their faith in humanity.
Himura stretches once, before rolling up his pants to the knee and hitting the beach at a rapid stride. “Izukun, wait up!”
Toshinori sits down on the edge of the truck bed and watches as the two quirkless kids cheer each other on, working together with a joy borne of accomplishment and friendship. Himura is definitely the stronger of the two but he clearly knows it already and Toshinori watches as he works in the opposite direction from Midoriya so that he isn’t infringing on the boy’s personal goal.
They meet at the stairs and Toshinori gets out of their way as they both dump their loads and head back down for more, kicking sand at each other and laughing and Toshinori smiles.
Young Midoriya deserves to share this with more than just him.
Time passes, days and weeks blurring by, and slowly the beach gets clean. The boys get further and further away from each other, working in opposite directions as they are, but still they always meet at the stairs to walk up together, sometimes running, sometimes slowing, just to ensure they make it at the same time. Himura helps Midoriya remove a fridge from his side of the beach and Midoriya returns the favor by helping him with a dishwasher and slowly, slowly, the entrance exam inches closer.
It is but a few weeks before in fact that Himura is running late and Young Midoriya pulls Toshinori aside.
His question both surprises Toshinori and yet somehow it also doesn’t.
At this point he can’t even say that he hasn’t already thought of it himself.
Midoriya’s smile when Toshinori agrees could rival the very sun.
***
With two people working in tandem the beach is cleared ahead of schedule, and a full week before the UA entrance exam Yagi-san takes Izuku and Suo-chan out for ice cream to celebrate.
They find a bench in a deserted area and Izuku and Yagi-san share a weighted look while an oblivious Suo-chan is enjoying his ice cream.
“So…” Yagi-san starts, pushing down his hesitation at what he’s about to do. “While congratulations are definitely in order for your massive accomplishment, I did not in fact bring the two of you here just for that…”
Suo-chan raises an eyebrow and Izuku has to keep himself back from bouncing in place in excitement.
“...you see. We haven’t been totally honest with you my boy…”
There’s a beat of silence and then Yagi-san shifts into All Might.
Suo-chan yelps and falls off the bench, his ice cream slipping from his fingers as his gray eyes widen behind his glasses.
“This training plan I crafted for young Midoriya was not solely to prepare him for the UA entrance exams... but it was to prepare his body to receive my quirk.” All Might strikes a pose with one arm while the other pulls Izuku closer into a side hug. “and Midoriya here really wants to share it with you.”
Suo-chan is still for a bit, frozen in place on the ground open mouthed, and the silence stretches long enough to make both Izuku and All Might shift in place nervously. There is an unknown emotion swirling in the depths of Suo-chan’s eyes.
Finally the boy huffs out a laugh as he gets back to his feet. “Before I… accept- or ask any follow up questions because honestly what the fuck- there’s actually something I need to tell the two of you.”
He slowly tugs his glasses off and lets them drop carelessly to the ground.
All Might blinks, frowning slightly as if trying to puzzle out something he’s just noticed but Suo-chan continues undaunted. “The truth is, I haven’t exactly been honest with you both either.” He shoves his hands in his pockets and smiles but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. He turns to Izuku then and mumbles “Everything I’ve ever complained about is true of course, I promise. I just left out one little detail.”
He doesn’t move for a minute as if steeling himself for something before finally yanking his ever present beanie off, revealing stark white hair. He runs a hand through it to smooth it out as he smiles sheepishly. “Himura is my mother's maiden name, and I use it to escape scrutiny. My real name is Todoroki Natsuo and... and my father is Endeavor. Does. Does the offer still stand?”
***
Izuku rolls up his sleeping bag and shoves the last of his clothes into his duffel bag. “...you’ll keep me posted on your progress?”
Natsuo takes the duffel from him, slinging it over his shoulder as he walks him to the door. “Will do short stuff. Let me know when you’re running low and I’ll pop over to give you a hair.”
“Yeah yeah. You could just give me the hair now if you’re so worried about it!”
“Fuck no! There’s no way you’d come back here to Torino’s Hell House just to top me off on the-“ he cuts off before he can say quirk, masking the slip with a cough. “on the fourteen.”
Izuku snorts. “Fourteen? Is that what we’re calling it now?”
“Hey it works! Without the A at the end it’s way less obvious as a butchered abbreviation!”
“Fine fine fourteen it is.”
They pause then, staring at each other in silence.
“I’m. I’m really gonna miss you Suo.”
“Right back atcha Zu. But hey it’s not forever, you go kick ass till sports fest and I’ll keep the place warm for when you can join me again.” He holds out a fist and grins. “May the best successor win?”
“May the best successor win.” Izuku beams, knocking the fist with his own.
A horn honks outside heralding Yagi-san’s arrival and Izuku turns to leave. Natsuo wraps him into a hug from behind before he can go. “You got this Zu,” he murmurs into Izuku’s hair. “Egg in the microwave. You’re gonna do great.”
Izuku sniffs, lifting a hand to clutch at Natsuo’s arm. “You too… Has your dad noticed you moved out and switched to online college yet?”
Natsuo jerks back with a bark of laughter. “Way to ruin the moment Izu! Omg!”
“I’m sorry! I was overwhelmed and it just slipped out!”
“Yeah yeah get out of here already! You’ll be late to your first day of high school.”
“Alright I’m going.”
The door shuts behind him and Natsuo finds himself running out after him. “Hey! Don’t forget to make your costume with a mask and a hood! And platform shoes! And send me a picture so Torino can order me something similar!”
Izuku pauses in the middle of pulling the car door shut, mouth wide in shock as Natsuo comes to a stop facing him.
“I’m gonna be the best damn decoy fourteen ever had! So count on me alright?”
Izuku smiles. “I already do.”
The door shuts and the car pulls away but it isn’t the end.
It is only the beginning.