Try Me Bitch (Vigilante Deku)

The Aha Moment

The amusement park was everything I needed—a distraction, a chance to be with Shoto, and a break from the constant stress that had been weighing me down. But even as we laughed and tried different rides, there was this weird feeling in the back of my mind, like something was just... off. Shoto had reassured me earlier, but that uneasy sensation refused to go away completely... it was getting stronger and stronger by each passing minute.

It wasn't until we were making our way through a quieter part of the park, near the food stalls, that I saw him.

The green jacket with the violet fluff caught my eye first. It stood out in the crowd, but it wasn't until I saw the man's face that something in my brain clicked. I froze in my tracks, my heart nearly stopping.

Shoto: Izu?

Wait... no way... that can't be him...

But it was.

Shoto: Hey, what's wrong?

The guy from that day, the one I'd helped when he was injured. He was here, in the park, without the mask he'd been wearing before. I remembered that jacket, the way he'd looked at me with those intense eyes, the calm way he'd spoken even though he was hurt and the way he acted once I said I was quirkless. But now, seeing his face, everything suddenly started to make sense, and the realization hit me like a ton of bricks.

Shoto: Izu?

Oh my God. 

This is him. 

Shoto: Izuku?

This is Overhaul.

My breath caught in my throat as the pieces started falling into place. The bird mask, the jacket, the fact that he was so calm even when injured... how had I not connected the dots before? Shoto had described those bird masks, how the villains had been using them, and then my dad, All for One, had given me more info about this Overhaul guy—the guy who was behind everything that had happened to those kids, to Eri.

Shoto: Did you see something? 

And I... I'd helped him. 

I'd treated his wounds like he was just some random person in trouble.

Shoto: What's wrong honey?

How could I have been so stupid?

Anger started bubbling up inside me, mixing with the shock and disbelief. My hands clenched into fists, nails digging into my palms as I stared at him. He had to be the one responsible for everything—the suffering, the fear, the kids who had been tortured. And I'd been right there, helping him without realizing who he really was.

How could I have been so blind?

He hadn't noticed me yet.... or maybe he had....I couldn't be for sure. He was walking, his eyes scanning the crowd like he was looking for something—or someone....or perhapse it was me... was this not too coincidental? Well I didn't think about that at all. All I could see was red, my mind screaming at me to do something, to stop him, to make him pay for what he'd done.

Shoto: Come on, talk to me... or at least calm down......Hey.....

But I couldn't move. I was rooted to the spot, my heart racing, my mind spinning with the realization of how big of a mistake I'd made. The anger was still there, burning hot, but it was mixed with this sickening feeling of guilt. I'd been so focused on finding Eri, on stopping these villains, and all along, I'd helped the very man responsible for it all.

Shoto: Izuku, my sunshine..... hey can you hear me?

I'm such an idiot. 

How did I not see this sooner?

I wanted to run at him, to grab him and demand answers, to make him pay for everything he'd done. But at the same time, fear held me back. What if he recognized me? What if he knew who I was, or worse, what if he knew I was All for One's son?

But I couldn't just stand there and do nothing.

I took a deep breath, and tried to calm my nerves down. 

This was my chance. 

I couldn't let him get away again, not after everything. I had to do something, even if it meant risking everything. I had to make things right, to fix the mess I'd unwittingly helped create.

Shoto: Izuku?!

Okay, Izuku. 

Get it together. 

You've got this. 

Don't let him get away.

My feet finally started moving, one slow step at a time  and the pace started to increase. Before I knew it, I was running after him as I followed Overhaul.. My heart was pounding in my ears, but I forced myself to stay calm. I needed to think this through, to figure out what to do next. I couldn't let my emotions get the better of me—not now, not when I was so close.

Shoto: IZUKU?!!!!!!!

This ends today. 

I'll make sure of it.

And in the end..... I missed all the calls..... Shoto was screaming my name behind me over and over again. It started at the beginning when he realiyed that I was tightening my fist and yet my mind was consumed with just one thing and one thing alone..... REVENGE and JUSTICE!