Again

One.

From strangers......

Izuku was five. Five years old when the relentless bullying started. Five when he had at least 15 new scars a day. Five when he started hiding things from his mother. Five when he realized that all men are not created equal.

No matter how much he wished it wasn't true.

He was six when he learned how to fake a smile. "Smile more your handsome face looks great with one" his mother told him when they were in the car ride back from the store.

'I don't feel like smiling' :)

He was seven when he learned to fend for himself. Seven when he started walking to the near by corner store to grab first aid equipment. Seven when he learned how to treat burn marks. Seven when he became a regular at said store. Seven when everyday the store clerk would ask where his mom was with eyes full of pity.

He hated that look.

However..

He was also seven when he met him. It was after school, izuku was walking to the corner store the normal for him. He had gotten 4 new burn marks, some overlapping the old ones some in new areas. When he arrived at the store he got the same pity filled look from the clerk, but he noticed someone else was there this time. A boy red and white hair split down the middle, he had one eye open. He seemed to be in distress he was starting at the isle with different kinds of ointment with a look or irritation and a hint of sadness. Possibly on the verge of crying. The boy didn't notice izuku's presence until he reached for the aloe infused ointment.

The bi colored boy was quick to react almost like a flinch. Izuku noticed how the boy became stiff while apologizing profusely and covering his left eye. But izuku saw the wilting burn through the cracks of his hand. The green haired boy put two and two together and realized that he didn't know which ointment to get. "Here, get the one with aloe...it works best...for me at least" izuku mumbled the last part but todoroki still heard him. The bi colored boy opened his mouth to say something but no words came out so he just nodded. The duo made their way up to the counter to pay when the clerk said something the peaked the bi colored boys curiosity.

"No whole med kit?, that's weird" izuku mumbled something about having some supplies left and just needing the ointment. But before todoroki could question it izuku dashed out the door leaving the two slightly stunned.

On the walk back home todoroki couldn't help but reflect on their conversation, in particular the green haired boy. Why did he need burn ointment as far as the eye can see there was no burns on the burns body. He thought it could be for someone he lived with but...."works for me at least" and the clerk "no whole med kit" he wouldn't say that unless the boy had been a regular at that store. Todoroki didn't have much time to ponder as he arrived home, automatically putting his guard up once again.

Three months went by before they saw each other again, Izuku continued his routine as a regular at the convince store. Almost as if he never met the duo colored boy. However their next encounter was a bit more worrisome.

Izuku walked into the store with a black eye, clothes tattered more like ripped open, underneath the rips very obvious burns and cuts he also was limping. The clerk glanced up for a second but soon returned to his book realizing that it was the green haired boy that normally came in.

If he had taken a extra second he would realize that the boy was in worse shape that he was normally in. Izuku wobbled over to the medical isle when he got there he saw the bi colored boy sitting on the floor staring off into space, face bruised and pale almost as if he threw up more than once. Blood stained on his shirt all on his torso. "I swear to god this is deja vu" izuku muttered quite loudly breaking todoroki from his trance.

"I-I'm sorry?" Todoroki whispered not really knowing how to respond to the green haired boy. "Just stay here I'll be back" izuku mumbled again limping his way to get the supplies he needed from the isle and making his way to the register. The clerk rung izuku up this time actually looking at him but izuku never made eye contact nor tried to make conversation. Once items were purchased he limped his way to todoroki and gestured for him to stand up and follow. Todoroki got the message and followed the boy to the store bathroom. Izuku set the med kit on the sink and turned to Todoroki, "show me your wounds so I can clean em".

Todoroki stared at him silently asking if he was being serious, once he realized the boy was being dead serious he spoke up, "what about you, you look worse than me." Izuku huffed and turned back to the med kit to unload the items. "Look I noticed you don't know what stuff to get whenever you are here, I just figured you would want someone to show you how to clean your wounds properly and the right medication to use"

Todoroki silently nodded, agreeing to the boy's words, he took of his shirt revealing several bloody bruises, very distinctive due to his pale skin. Izuku walked him through the steps of properly disinfecting the wounds patching them up and how many painkillers to take. Todoroki listened closely to make sure to repeat the words to fuyumi. Once they were finished izuku put a cover over his eye until he could properly ice it at home. "What about your clothes?" The spilt boy asked noticing that izuku wasn't planning on fixing himself up more. He got a dead chuckle in response but it soon turned into words "what about your clothes, you can't go home bloody" todoroki tensed at his words tempted to say "why not this is how I left the house" but he kept his mouth shut and opted for a different choice of words.

"You're deflecting" to which izuku only replied with a simple "am I?", todoroki shrugged in response and said "I don't actually know, that's what I'm told deflecting is" izuku actually laughed this time not as dead as the other was. "If it really concerns you then I'm going to stop by a store to buy a change of clothes" izuku said just above a whisper as he finally turned to walk out, before he opened the door he said one more thing. "If you ever need anymore tips on your wounds and what helps them I come here everyday at 4" and with that he left the bathroom.

Todoroki decided to test the boy's words, he showed up the next day and the day after that and the day after that. It slowly turned into a routine, neither knowing what was happening as far as they knew they were strangers helping each other. Until one day it became more.