Checkmate (ShinDeku)

Epilogue

If you've read my past stories you know I like to add my favorite quotes to the end of the book with little explanations as to why. The epilogue will be right below the quotes section!

Getting punched in the face wasn't fun on the best of days.

- This is my favorite thing ever. I feel like it really sums up who Izuku is as a character all in one line. 

Sure, he'd almost revealed his identity to a member of the most powerful villain organization in Japan. But he'd also once walked into Dark Shadow singing Disney songs.

There were worse things in life.

-I love how Tokoyami had maybe two lines in this whole story and yet somehow got made fun of every single chapter. 

 "You smell like happiness," Izuku yawned.

And later on.

"Hey Toshi?" he whispered.

"Yeah?"

"Have I ever told you that you smell like heaven?" 

-Ouch

But that's the thing about liars.

At some point, the lies catch up to you and leave you with nothing. Not even the dignity of a truth you once owned.

-You know when you just start writing without really thinking and random words are just appearing on the screen? This was one of the few times those random words somehow worked out. 

"So?" Shoji asked expectantly. His voice held an edge in it Izuku had never heard before. He couldn't remember the last time his friend had ever been genuinely angry. "Are you going to tell me what happened?"

"I collected my two-hundred dollars and passed go."

- This is why I shouldn't be allowed to write dramas.

But he never wanted to accept the truths that hurt. Because he knew what the storm was, he had felt it before. And in the midst of protecting himself, he'd created a new one.

- Someone go hug this man.

And there it was. There was the recognition Izuku had tried so hard to prevent. After everything he'd been through with Hitoshi, he never thought this is how he would find out the truth. He never thought he'd find out the truth at all. Maybe spring it on him when they were eighty and Hitoshi was too old to walk away from him.

- This part brought me joy because I knew in the ending Izuku would be the one to walk away from Hitoshi. 

He'd forgotten how much he just wanted someone to love him.

-Very ironic seeing as how Hitoshi kidnapped him out of love in the next chapter. Careful what you wish for babe. 

Ignoring Hitoshi's hushed pleas Izuku titled his head. "Right. Before your boring victory speech could the both of you take about two steps to your left?"

It had to be the highlight of his whole day when they both actually listened to him. Toga looking confused and Shigaraki looking like he had a hand on his face.

Izuku grinned tiredly. "Checkmate."

-Ahhhhhhh

"I don't ever want to lie to you again," Izuku said, voice raspy, before kissing him again.

No more hiding. He wanted Hitoshi to see all the cracks and breaks in him. Maybe if he let someone else see them it would be easier to repair.