Rise of the Phoenix

~ C h a p t e r 1 7 ~

Ok everyone. Sorry about the late chapter. Again. Also. Remember how we said this entire fic has a trigger warning? Yeah. That is still true. Especially for the next two chapters. DON'T DESPAIR it does get better. We just need to get out of the storm first. Also Nala will not die. That is one spoiler we will give. Thank you all for everything. Also there are short, hopefully amusing, things that will probably make you question our sanity at the end. As always, stay safe and enjoy.  

      Izuku took one more day to set up his warehouse and rest before deciding that he was healed enough to do more good than harm when helping others.

Izuku felt guilty for keeping Nala from her kittens, so he tried to take care of her as well as possible, while keeping his distance.

Izuku never spoke anymore, even during his vigliante activities. He found out that he just couldn't. No one wanted to hear him speak anyways.

He had more time since he wasn't spending any of it at the store, so he poured himself into studying. Since finding out he couldn't speak, he started focusing on Japanese Sign Language, American Sign Language, and Braille.

Not that there was a need for him to know any of them, he had no intentions on communicating with others, it only brought pain.

Still, he studied away, despite not having a reason to. He also threw himself into weapon and martial arts training, reading the books and practicing by himself, trying to apply it.

Trying being the key word. He would never gain finesse this way, his style was a mix of very crude moves, but they worked to save people, rather well if Izuku said so himself.

Nala followed him whenever he went out somewhere, doesn't matter what he was doing. If he went in the library, she sat outside until he came out. If he was training, she watched with a proud glint in her eyes.

He refused to let her follow him when he went to help people. However, Nala did so anyways, sticking to the shadows, watching from afar, ready to step in if he ever needed anything.

Izuku felt cold no matter how warm it got to be outside.

He felt different when he was fighting to save others, he felt needed, wanted, even if it was just an illusion.

It was when he was just Izuku, a boy deemed worthless by his own mother, alone except for the one being that was sure to leave him soon, that was when he doubted everything.

The days started running together in mindless repetition. Some days, his legs and back hurt, sometimes it was other injuries he had to nurse from nights before. No matter how much he got injured, he pushed on.

Izuku winced as the impact caused his leg to give out in pain.

He had just helped a person carry their things to the place they called home and decided that it was time to make sure Nala was fed at his.

Izuku quickly recovered, breathing the pain away and moving on.

A scream broke out before quickly dying out and Izuku immediately snapped to attention.

Izuku bolted into the next alley way and froze, staring at the sight before him.

<>< warning ><>

A young person was struggling in the grip of another, clothes being torn off.

Izuku needed to help, he needed to stop what was happening .