I've got no Strings

Part 19~Zuzu

Sighing, Izuku slumped against the bar, sipping at his milk.

Stepping out of the backroom, Dabi raised his eyebrow at the strange scene. "What's wrong with you?"

Naoki laughed as he jumped up to Dabi, wrapping an arm around Dabi's shoulders. "Zuzu is upset because Shin doesn't have time to spend with him anymore."

Dabi blinked, scratching the back of his head. "Right. Why?"

"Because that fake hero took him away from me! I'm going to make him pay, you mark my words!" Muttering angrily, Izuku pulled out a knife, only held back by Kurogiri's tired arm.

"I missed something didn't I?" Dabi looked to Naoki for an answer as Naoki nodded.

"You need to be patient, Izuku." The bar froze, hearing the familiar voice from the computer monitor. "If Shinso can obtain the powerful Quirk known as One for All, we can become even stronger and All Might will become weaker. Now that Shinso has a use, we must allow him to fulfil it. Do not act upon your emotions alone, Izuku."

Izuku lowered his head, his heart skipping from that word. 'Use'.

"Do you understand, Izuku?"

Taking a deep breath, Izuku nodded. "Yes, father." Shiggarki glanced over his shoulder, watching Izuku. He too knew what that word meant.

~~~
Tapping his pen, Izuku gave up. He was not getting this answer. Hitting his head against the desk, Izuku waited for the test to finish. He really needed to start studying again.

~~~

Moving around the darkened room, Toga sang under her breath. She checked each piece of equipment carefully, checking each gauge and valve to ensure everything was working as it should.

"T-Toga?" Forcing open their eyes, Seiji stared at Toga, struggling to do anything as they were. "You were missing. I was starting to think I had pissed you off more than normal." Seiji coughed as Toga silently offered them a drink, watching them sip at the water.

"Did you miss me?" Toga grinned, chuckling to herself.

"Yeah. You talk to me. It's better than the silence the others give."

Shaking her head, Toga stepped away. "Naoki talks to you."

"He talks to Mineta." Seiji paused, sighing as they lowered their head. "I'm sorry Toga. For everything."

Before Toga could respond, Izuku called for her from down the corridor. Toga spun around, walking away as Seiji shook their head.

"Why do you let him boss you around? You were always better than them, Toga. Be better than them."

Toga shut the door, walking to Izuku's side. Izuku lifted his eyebrow, watching Toga carefully. "You okay? Don't let the prisoners get to you, we won't need them for much longer." Izuku grabbed his bag, slinging it on his shoulder as Toga gulped.

"Izuku, what are you going to do to them when we don't need them anymore?"

Pausing Izuku lowered his head. "What are you talking about Toga? When we're done with them, there won't be anything left to do with... just like with..." Izuku couldn't finish as he shook his head. "Now come on, we're going to be late."

~~~

Tapping his fingers against his thigh, Izuku waited for the first test to start. Kirishima and Sato vs Cementoss. This was going to be a horrible outcome. Neither boy was a match for the concrete walls that stacked up again and again.

Ectoplasm took on Tsu and Tokoyami and lost.

Leaning closer, Izuku narrowed his eyes. Bakugo growled as he glared at Todoroki, claiming that he didn’t need the extra’s help in the fight. He really did need Todoroki as All Might easily forced him into a run. Todoroki was just able to keep Bakugo safe as he dragged him across the escape line.

Nezu laughed evilly as he forced Mina and Kaminari to run about the city fearfully.

Shinso gulped as he covered his ears. He did not like the outdoors and he did not like Present mic, together, they were his worse nightmare. Jiro wasn’t in a much better state, her ears bleeding from the loud noise.

Cursing, Shinso pushed out from behind the tree. He charged forward, heading straight from Present Mic who screamed louder, pushing Shinso back.

Shinso ducked to the side, his ears ringing painfully. There was no way out of this!

Crawl.

Turning his head, Shinso smiled. Gathering up as many as he could, Shinso jumped out again, sliding out of the way of the Quirk and throwing the bugs up, hitting Present mic’s leg.

Screaming even louder, Present Mic turned around, running away from the creepy crawlies with tears in his eyes. Grabbing Jiro, they made it out before Present Mic could or would recover.

Izuku grinned, proud of Shinso. Aizawa groaned. He was going to have to deal with that now.

Uraraka and Aoyama beat Thirteen, though that appeared to be more out of instinct than planned skill. Iida and Ojiro beat Power Loader before it was finally Izuku’s turn.

Stretching out his arm, Izuku looked around the mountain range. They clearly didn’t want him to set fire to any more buildings. Pulling up his mask, Izuku and Sero made their way through the range.

The purple smoke didn’t take long to drift in. Pushing Sero back, Izuku threw fire at Midnight, the area surrounding them exploding and throwing him back. “And now I know why I’m up against her.” Stumbling to his feet, Izuku watched the new burn heal. He should have guessed that was going to happen. “Sero? Are you alright?”

Sero pushed himself up, nodding. “Think so.”

“Right so, I can’t use my fire without killing us and you can’t use your Quirk without any height. Just perfect.” Grabbing Sero, Izuku dragged him around the range, avoiding the pockets of gas.

“Suzuki! Look out!” Pushing Izuku to the side, Sero protected him from the whip that hit Sero’s shoulder, denting the shoulder pad. Midnight spun behind Sero, pulling up his helmet and knocking Sero out.

Tutting, Izuku swept his foot across, tripping Midnight up and grabbing Sero. “Time to go! This would be so much easier if I could just be normal but I guess not!” Flickering his eyes, Izuku jumped up, hopping on a rock as the whip hit below him.

Smirking, Izuku kicked down with all his might, dislodging the rock and sending it tumbling down below, successfully trapping Midnight’s whip. With her out of a weapon, now all Izuku had to do was run. Run as fast and far away from the insane lady as possible.

Dumping Sero across the escape line, Izuku collapsed. He hadn’t ran that much since he stole Shiggarki’s favourite hand.

~~~

Exhausted, Shinso narrowed his eyes. Snipe’s match echoed in the backdrop as he gulped, glancing at the hair being offered to him. "I'm meant to eat that?!"

"Yes! By eating my DNA you will gain One for All." All Might smiled as Shinso hesitantly took the hair.

"If this doesn't work I'm reporting you for grooming."

All Might blinked, unsure why Shinso would say that. Shinso swallowed the hair after a few tries, almost choking.

"You need to wash your hair." Shinso scowled as All Might laughed.

"Right, sorry! I was so busy training you, I might have forgotten this morning. Now, go home and get some rest. You can begin training with it tomorrow." All Might patted Shinso's back as he grimaced.

“You didn’t wash after your match with Bakugo and Todoroki? Disgusting.” Walking away, Shinso collapsed next to Izuku, leaning on his shoulder. “How are they doing?”

“They’re not dead.” Izuku grinned, yawning. “She’s next, that could be more interesting.”

It wasn’t long before Shoji and Hagakuri won their match, meaning it was Toga’s turn. There was no way this could end well.

Aizawa stood in the city, watching Toga walk about. The other heroes waited, partly hoping Aizawa was mistaken then again, Aizawa was rarely mistaken when a villain was involved.