Checkmate (ShinDeku)

16

Disclaimer: I'm doing my best to realistically write Izuku's thought process. In real life, your brain would be scattered and constantly making/ going back on choices. Also, add in the factor he's very logical so he would constantly be reassessing the situation. ALSO, he's in denial and repressing a lot so his perspective is not the most reliable.

If it's hard to follow his exact thinking it's supposed to be written that way.

One more thing, I don't know Hitoshi's actual backstory. And I don't want to see spoilers by looking it up. So I take full creative liberties to give him whatever backstory I want haha. 

---

The next two days passed more easily than the first four. 

With the decision made Izuku felt strangely more at ease. It was like he'd been teetering on the edge for so long that when he finally found a handhold to latch onto, every other problem became dull in comparison. 

That's not to say he grew complacent; quite the opposite actually. Izuku knew the only way for him to remain sure of his choice was to get out. But the difference remained in the fact Izuku had regained his composure. He could feel the old spark returning. 

Yes, he'd been wrong about Hitoshi. He hadn't taken into account that his best friend could be anything more than he said he was. He'd also neglected to realize the extent of Hitoshi's feeling towards him. 

But he saw it now.

The gentle movements as Hitoshi seemed to unknowingly gravitate to him. The way Hitoshi's eyes became more open when Izuku began to speak. Even the angry vows to protect him. It was as clear a day now.

Izuku prided himself on reading people, knowing all of their secrets while keeping his own. But this had been an obstacle he hadn't accounted for.

Even so, he grew more confident now that he could do what needed to be done. His mistakes were in the past, and he could pretend to forget about them and everything else that had gone wrong in his life for as long as needed. Badda bing badda boom- problem solved. 

Izuku waited with new patience for Hitoshi to return.

---

When Hitoshi came to visit Izuku immediately knew his patience had been worth it. Hitoshi wasn't being as careful as before.

Izuku had asked for his jacket, complaining it was way too cold in the small room.

Once his plan was on track, Izuku began his next line of questioning.

"So," Izuku started. He watched Hitoshi's eyes flicker to him from where he was sitting at the edge of the bed. "I've been thinking. You really never shared your whole evil speech with me. You know, where you tell me about your tragic backstory and how you're going to fail at taking over the world."

Perhaps that was a little insensitive. Izuku did know Hitoshi didn't exactly have the best childhood. 

But kidnapping people was also a little insensitive. 

Hitoshi made a face. "Why do you want to know?"

That was a loaded question. There were many reasons Izuku wanted, no needed, to know. 

For one, his preconceived fears of knowing too much and Hitoshi not letting him go were no longer relevant. He'd grown confident enough to where he could escape without him. 

Secondly, the more Izuku found out about LOV before departing the more he could report back to the agency.

Thirdly, he wanted to know why his friend would choose this for himself. But that was the least relevant out of the three reasons.