Try Me Bitch (Vigilante Deku)

A glimmer of hope!

Just as Aizawa was about to say more, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He fished it out, glancing at the screen with a furrowed brow. I could see the change in his posture immediately—his entire body tensed, and the air around us seemed to get even colder.

Something's up.

Aizawa: What is it?

He wasn't talking to me, of course. He was already answering the call, his voice low and serious, like he'd just been hit with something big.

Aizawa: Yeah... What? Where?

I stood there, trying to listen in without being too obvious. My heart was pounding in my chest, an uneasy feeling settling in my gut. Something told me this wasn't just another routine call.

Aizawa: I'll be there as soon as I can. Who's on-site?

His eyes flicked to me for just a moment, then back to the ground, his expression unreadable. That only made me more nervous.

Aizawa: Endeavor, Touya, and Hawks?

Wait, Touya? 

As in Todoroki Touya? 

What the heck? 

WAIT!

ENDEAVOR TOO?!!!!!

My brain was working overtime trying to piece together what was going on. 

Why would they all be together? 

Unless...

No way. 

Could they have found something?

Aizawa ended the call, slipping his phone back into his pocket. He looked at me again, and I could see the gears turning in his head. I opened my mouth to ask what was going on, but he beat me to it.

Aizawa: Izuku, go home. Now.

Me: What? No way! If something's happening, I want to help!

Especially if it's about Eri! 

My mind was racing, my body practically vibrating with the need to do something. But Aizawa's face remained as impassive as ever.

Aizawa: This isn't the time for you to play hero. There's nothing you can do.

Me: But—

Aizawa: Enough, Izuku.

His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. He stepped closer, placing a hand on my shoulder.

Aizawa: Listen to me. There are already enough pros involved. You're still a kid—

I'm not a kid! 

I wanted to scream. But I bit my tongue. The last thing I needed was to make him mad.

Aizawa: You'd only get in the way. Go home.

I felt like someone had punched me in the gut. Everything inside me screamed to go with him, to be there, to do something—anything. But he was right. I was still just a kid, not even in the hero course. What could I do that Endeavor, Hawks, and the others couldn't?

But what if they need more help? 

What if they don't find Eri?

Me: Fine...

It felt like I was admitting defeat, but I nodded. There was nothing else I could do. Aizawa gave me a look that was equal parts relief and warning.

Aizawa: Good. Stay out of trouble.

With that, he turned and started walking away, heading toward whatever chaos awaited him. I stood there, watching his back as he disappeared into the night.

Stay out of trouble? 

Easier said than done.

As soon as he was out of sight, I took off running in the opposite direction. I might not be able to help them directly, but that didn't mean I was going home to sit around and do nothing. There were still people out there who needed saving, criminals who needed stopping.

If I can't be at the lab, I'll just have to make myself useful somewhere else.

I darted through the streets, my mind racing with a thousand different thoughts. 

Eri, the lab, the villains—none of it made sense, but I couldn't let that stop me. I had to keep moving, keep fighting, keep doing whatever I could to make a difference.

Because if I didn't... who would?

Tonight, I wasn't just some kid from the gen ed course. Tonight, I was something more. I was going to make sure that, no matter what, I'd be there for anyone who needed help. Even if it meant breaking a few rules along the way.