A hero isn't hope

Like the Angel

I can never figure out if she's a Disney Princess or a Femme Fatale, maybe I don't want to find out...

It was during one of the bleakest times of their lives. All for One had won, he escaped Tartarus and had control over Shigaraki, leaving the heroes completely overwhelmed, along with Deku being one of the last pillars of hope. 

It was the first time the weight of the world was on his shoulders and he failed. 

It was one of those stormy nights where he was endlessly patrolling the hostile city streets. Izuku had noticed that he was in his own neighborhood. The sad part being how long it took him to realize. To him, all the rubble and destroyed buildings were starting to look the same, an unending battlefield. 

He walked into his destroyed apartment complex, looking around, for nothing in particular. He eventually wandered into his old room. It was ruined like any other place, his window was broken, with cracks leading up to the ceiling, letting the weather in. But it was a moment of peace from the storm, the clouds had parted, if only for a while. 

The moonlight had pierced into his room, giving it an illuminated glow, and there was a pale radiance on the lonely silhouette standing in front of the window as she tried to use the light to read one of his notebooks. Her raven hair had the gleam of the Moon and her spiral ponytail fluttered like cherry blossoms as the gentle wind breezed along before the endless night continued on.

'And to me, she was beautiful in the eye of the storm.'      

"Yao-yo-ro-zu..?"

Izuku wanted to forget that night, the night he fell in love with Momo, but he never could. Instead, he did the opposite, attempting to relive it as best he could, but it was never the same.   

He was lying on Ochaco's bed, she was straddled on top of him, with her hands over his bare chest for support as she panted heavily. Her hair was shadowing her eyes, hiding her guilt from herself, but his eyes were visible, aware of it all. Instead of the pale moonlight, it was the bustling city lights that entered her room but all it did was give her skin a lack of effort to shine.

A part of himself always thought that he was supposed to end up with Uraraka, they had chemistry, they knew each other so well and cared for each other just as much yet for some reason it was never authentic, despite how desperate they were for something real.  

For Ochaco, it was that moment just before they finished, his eyes would regain the shine they once had even if it would fleet away just as quickly. 

For Izuku, it was the moment just after they finished, she would let out that shivering sigh and stay in a tender embrace with him.  

In the morning, Midoriya and Uraraka did not walk to school together. 

He yawned as he rubbed his eye, scrolling through his phone, not really paying attention to what was in front of him, he was close to the school and had used this route before so he wasn't worried. 

"Midoriya!" 

'Ah, I should have been worried for that.' Izuku mentally cringed, able to recognize that voice as Mina. 'She's gonna be able to tell that I didn't sleep!' Izuku put on a smile as she caught up, walking alongside him, her school bag was slung over her shoulder like a purse. "G-Good morning, Ashido." He was hoping the bags under his eyes weren't that visible right now because she was giving him the suspicious, observing eyes, that were half-lidded and narrow, with her hand on her chin. 

"Hm..."

He could feel the beads of sweat growing the longer she stared at him. "U-Ugh, I was studying with Yaoyorozu last night and we kinda lost track of time." He laughed off at the end hoping she would believe him. 

Mina nodded slowly with a raised eyebrow. "That's the excuse you're going with?" 

Izuku ruffled the back of his hair, letting out an uneasy laugh trying to hide the sweatdrops. 

Mina sighed, dropping her accusation, "Tch, even if it is true, you shouldn't be helping others if it's going to be a detriment to you. It's not healthy." 

Izuku agreed with a weak smile, "Y-Yeah, I know, Ashido."

Mina sagged her shoulders as she dragged her feet. "I know you know, which is why it's so frustrating!" She huffed at the end with puffy cheeks. 

He scratched his cheek because he was a bit uncomfortable. Ever since he came back to UA, Mina had taken it upon herself to care for Izuku's well-being. At first, Izuku appreciated the thought, until he realized how seriously she took that responsibility. Although because of it, Izuku and her did become actual friends throughout their second year, instead of well-acquainted classmates. But now they were in their third year and he didn't want to feel like a pointless burden to Ashido and spoke his thoughts. "H-Hey Ashido, we're in our third year now, so maybe you don't have to worry so much..." His clear words slowly turned into a mumble as he finished his sentence.

Mina crossed her arms with a pout. "It's exactly because it's our last year that I have to worry even more!" 

"Eh? How?" 

"Because once we graduate, you'll go back to all that stuff about being alone." Her voice became disheartened at the thought.

"Oh..." Izuku was hit with a wave of guilt, remembering what Mina said to him when they were trying to convince him to come back to UA, realizing that Mina didn't want him to leave again. He cleared his throat and took a breath as he spoke up with some courage to reassure her, giving her that hero's smile. "Don't worry Ashido, even after we graduate, I'm not going anywhere, okay?" 

Her eyes widened with parted lips, being caught off guard, she didn't know why but hearing him say that specifically to her, caused something inside of her to swirl and her cheeks to heat up a bit but she didn't want him to notice so she replied with her usual attitude. "Haa, of course, you won't because I won't let you!"  

Izuku gave her a lighthearted chuckle, going along with it. "Yeah, Ashido." 

They walked in comfortable silence as they neared the school, usually, Mina would talk his ear off but she was thinking about something until she just had to ask. 

"So, why is it so hard for you to sleep anyways?" 

And as she was asking her question, Izuku's eye caught Yaoyorozu walking to school, she was with Uraraka, Todoroki, and Bakugo. It was strange to Izuku because the only difference from yesterday was that he wasn't walking with them and now he felt like the outsider looking in. The four of them seemed so natural together; Momo and Ochaco were giggling like girlfriends while Kacchan tried to be competitive with the uncaring Todoroki. 

Where did that leave him? 

And then Momo's eyes caught his. He instantly grew nervous like always, despite that, all she did was mouth 'good morning,' while twinkling her fingers at him before fixing that always loose strand of hair and giving him that beloved smile.       

Izuku answered her question with a hopelessly infatuated sigh, "Because I can't sleep..."                        

Her hands and face were cold, almost all of her body was, as if she were a porcelain doll that was too delicate for human intimacy. And yet, I could never forget the warm sensation of her flesh as she enveloped all of me.