The Emperor's Dragon

Terms of Endearment

Izuku rubbed his hands together as he leaned against the back door. It was cold outside, which was hardly surprising given it was winter but it did make him appreciate the warmth of the bar. It was times like this that made him wish Fire Breath made him fireproof, then he could have simply warmed up his hands by breathing fire on them!

The back door of the bar opened into what passed for a kitchen. He knew some bars served food but Kurogiri preferred to serve alcohol and pre-packaged snacks. That meant the kitchen was for them and instead of coming in through the front door when the bar was closed, Izuku came in the back door after school.

He pushed off the door, moving towards the store room that served as their lounge. It was the place where he did his homework. There was a small TV set up in there with a couch facing it. A table was against the wall and Izuku put his bag down there. He heard a familiar sound and looked towards the centre of the room. Kurogiri was there, but forming a warp gate. Izuku watched as Tomura stepped out of the misty man. He blinked when he saw the older boy.

Tomura was sweaty and the hands which were usually placed on him were absent. His hair was stringy with sweat.

"Tomura?" Izuku asked. He'd never seen the other boy like that.

"Brat," the older boy greeted him. Izuku was used to it.

Kurogiri reformed. "Izuku," the older man greeted him. "I will make you both a snack," he added and disappeared towards the kitchen. Kurogiri always gave him a snack after school.

"What were you doing?" Izuku asked Tomura curiously, noting that he didn't have his gloves on.

"Grinding," Tomura responded, as he took a seat at the table.

Izuku cocked his head. "What does that mean?"

Tomura gave him a look. "Levelling up," he explained in the short way that he had.

"Oh!" Izuku understood that. He had to level up in a lot of the games Tomura let him play if he wanted to actually do anything interesting. He didn't realise people could level up as well. "Can I level up as well?" He asked.

The grey haired boy laughed. He was still laughing when Kurogiri came back into the room carrying a plate of sliced apple.

Izuku sat at one of the other chairs at the table and shifted his bag down as Kurogiri put the plate on the table. He took a piece of apple as Tomura did.

"Tomura Shigaraki, what are you laughing about?" Kurogiri asked.

The boy giggled a bit more before pointing his spare hand at Izuku. "He wants to level up!" he finally managed to get out.

Kurogiri's yellow eyes turned to Izuku and he felt as if he was being measured. "You are young, Izuku but some physical exercise would be beneficial," he decided.

"What?" Tomura demanded, all trace of laughter gone.

"Izuku could benefit from spatial awareness training," the warp gate explained. "You can help with that," he told the older boy.

"What's spatial awareness training?" Izuku asked before Tomura could say anything.

"It is being aware of what is happening around you," Kurogiri explained.

Izuku frowned. "How do I do that?"

"Who cares about that?" Tomura growled. "I'm meant to help with this?" he instead demanded.

"I said you could help," Kurogiri repeated his earlier statement. "Izuku will need lots of practice and he can start by sensing when you are near," the warp gate said.