Green Phoenix (A Deku Fic)

5: Quirk Checkup

Considering the fact that Izuku came home half an hour later than he should have, with his clothes halfway burnt to hell and yet not a single burn on his actual body, you couldn't really blame Inko for being confused, scared, worried, relieved and surprised, all at the same time.

Midoriya started nervously, " S-So, the thing is..."

" Izuku," Inko interrupted, holding her son by his shoulders and looking him over. " What happened?! Are you okay?! Do I need to report someone or something--?!"

He waved his arms about, " I'm fine! Really, just... The clothes aren't... But I have good news!"

Inko eyed him unbelievingly. " Your clothes are nearly burnt out of existence... and there's good news ? Apart from you being alright, that is."

Izuku nodded, " Can we sit down for this? It's kinda big..."

Inko hummed and let go of him, satisfied that he was not, in fact, injured, apart from a few scratches and bruises. She decided to let him explain why he had those as she led him to the sitting room.

" I'll go make some tea, be right back," she smiled warmly and left him to get to the kettle. Her smile dropped when she was out of sight and she started making the tea subconsciously.

It wasn't that she was ashamed of having a quirkless son; it was the opposite. She was worried.

She knew that a quirkless kid in a school full of his opposite was terrible. She knew that kids were mean. She knew that people might take advantage of her little Izuku. She knew there was a good percent chance of him being bullied.

And yet, when he came home everyday, his light had never dimmed. He never said anything about kids being mean - well, a few times when he was younger, but never anything serious. He never came home crying from bruises and cuts made by other kids. No, but sometimes he'd have a bruise or two that he would blame on his clumsiness, or the coincidental stray cat that had scratched him when he petted them wrong.

Now, she doubted those stories.

Yesterday, he had come home an hour late; she was a minute close to calling the police. But when he had eventually showed up, he said that he was at a study club and forgot to text. It would have been believable.

But her Izuku never 'forgot to text' her. He would always do it, whether there was a villain fight that he wanted to watch, or when he wanted to hang out with some friends after school.

And that was another thing; whenever Inko asked her son if he wanted to invite these friends over, he'd say that he'd ask them, but it wouldn't come up in conversation again.

Now, she was doubting he had these 'friends'. But the greenette couldn't believe that just yet. Where was he during those hang outs if not with friends?

The kettle whistled and she jolted out of her thoughts.

Hopefully nowhere bad.

Inko came back into the kitchen with a beaming smile and two cups of tea in her hand.

But then Izuku came in today , half an hour later from his promised time, his clothes all charred and ruined and his skin bruised and cut. It was really hard to believe his stories, as his mother.

" Thanks, mum," Izuku said, taking his cup of steaming tea. Inko sat next to him.

She cut straight to the point, " Where did you get those cuts and bruises, Izu?" She spoke softly, eyes fixed on a particularly large bruise on his cheek.