RENEGADE [Izuku Midoriya x OC]

Chapter 17 - Letter

Izuku was at a loss for words.

Not ten feet from him stood Noriko in her villain costume once again, caked in grime and blood and bruises... asking him for help as Renegade?

Was he misunderstanding?

Why didn't she just say something earlier at coffee if she needed help?

Why did she need help now?

Too lost in thought, he hadn't even noticed her slowly circling him, pulling the sai blades from her waistband. She watched him like cornered prey pretending to be the predator, looking for exits and escape routes in the most ridiculous of places. Her kohl-smeared gaze sent shivers up his spine as her golden eyes traced over his entire body.

"Rev- I mean, Renegade," he blurted, flustered and finally noticing her backing toward the edge of the overpass, "I'm not sure I understand." Heart pounding, Izuku held out a hand toward her, both for her to take and to stop her from doing anything reckless. "What can I help you with, and why now?"

A sad smirk tugged on the corner of Noriko's lips. "I thought my letter five years ago would have made that abundantly clear, Deku. Your lack of response is part of the reason we stand on opposite sides right now."

...What?!

Before he could ask any more questions, Noriko tipped backwards over the edge of the overpass, flipping straight into the flow of traffic below. Izuku's heart slammed straight up into his throat, choking off the scream that built there. He zipped to the edge of the road with a touch of One for All, clutching the cement barrier in his gloved hands as green sparks flew around him. Traffic flowed back toward Musutafu, and in the back of a pickup truck full of mattresses laid Noriko, waving to him with a weary salute and a wink.

Deku had never been so confused and aroused at the same time before.

He sank to crouch behind the barrier, still holding the top in his weakening grip. The carcass of the decoy car burned behind him, the smell of diesel and burnt leather filling his nose.

What just happened?

What letter was she talking about?

Why did nothing make sense?

...And why didn't he follow Noriko?

-

At home, Noriko dragged her exhausted body through the door, locked it, and groaned all the way to the bathroom.

She stripped as she walked, tearing off Izuku's sweatshirt, her sweatpants, and everything else, abandoning them where they fell on the caramel hardwood. Every inch of her skin pulsed like a bruise, aching and angry. She could taste blood in her mouth like pennies and salt. Her hair matted into one knot of wind and debris. Honestly, she was a little afraid of what she'd find in there once she started working at it.

And she didn't even want to know what her fucked-up face looked like.

In the bathroom, she avoided the mirror and cranked the shower to the hottest it would go, cracking her neck as steam slowly filled the room. Her dried eucalyptus bundle hanging from the shower head perfumed the air, immediately easing her tension.

Izu wouldn't be mad... He couldn't be... Could he?

Noriko stepped into the shower, hissing as the lava-hot water scalded her. But she did nothing to change the temperature. She let the liquid burn her skin, pink streaks following in the wake of the water's path. Blood and dirt flowed down her legs in rivulets, circling the drain in a murky swirl.