Dead, but never gone...

N⃣I⃣N⃣E⃣

Eijiro sat crisscrossed on the roof, under the setting sun as he watched the city lights from afar. He seemed to be lost in thought when he flinched slightly feeling pressure in his shoulder.

"I'm sorry..."

Eijiro turned to Izuku, "What are you apologizing for?"

"You said you wouldn't help me that way but I still used your body to do those things. I felt I should apologize for it at least,"

"It's ok, I felt that way at first but now..." he trailed off.

"Now?"

"I..." Eijiro turned back the other way "When you were inside me I saw some of your memories...like I was living them myself. I understand now so if that's what you need I'm ok with it," he smiled.

"...I think you should go back now,"

Eijiro quickly turned around, "What? Why?"

"I am not a nice person, not since I have died, at first I was simply going to use you for my revenge. However, it's been a long time since someone has been so unconditionally kind to me despite hardly knowing me. You remind me of her..." Izuku looked past him.

"Once this is over and I'm gone you'll be left with the aftermath, you'll be blamed for my actions. The things I am about to do are something you will not be able to handle the consequences of. This will be my final act of kindness before I leave this world,"

"I'm going to stay," Eijiro told him.

Izuku tilted his head, "Why?"

"Growing up my quirk was weak, I was a weak person but I badly wanted to help people. I'd try to stand up to bullies but fail, getting laughed at or beat up instead. Like you," Eijiro smiled a little before it turned sad.

"However, unlike you, when a villain was right in front of me about to harm someone I froze and did nothing. Katsuki hurt you, almost killed you, and you still didn't hesitate to save him when I couldn't even help people who had been kind to me. After realizing how weak I was I worked nonstop to be stronger, quirkwise and mentally.

This is my first time being of help to someone, this is my first time genuinely being at peace with who I used to be and who I am now. For the first time in my life, there's someone I know I would risk everything for. So I'm going to see this to the end, even if I fall to a place I can't come back from," He smiled sincerely.

"I don't understand, why would you go so far for me? We hardly know each other," Izuku asked confused.

"Truthfully I don't fully understand it myself, but you never asked to be this kind of person right? You didn't want this- to become this, but now you're forced to be the one thing you never wanted to be. It's lonely, isn't it? Why don't we share that loneliness together? It may not bring you the peace you want but if I can lessen the burden on your heart I want to," Eijiro told him.

Izuku moved behind him and wrapped his arms around his neck, "You're warm, I won't allow you to die so continue letting me use you,"

Eijiro smiled and leaned into his ghostly touch, "Use me to your heart's content,"

*•*•*•*

Katsuki nervously sat in the empty class, Aizawa sitting in front of him, "Don't think about lying to me, I already know about the history between you and Midoriya,"

Katsuki flinched at that, "H-how...? How do you know about him?" he was scared.

"When you sent him to the hospital, I was one of the people working on that case. I know what you did to him but what I don't know is how he died in the short while I was away," Aizawa looked at him.