an ODST among Heroes.

S2-16

The trip back to Earth felt like an eternity for Izuku. The weight of Daisy's sacrifice pressed down on him like a mountain, and it was only made worse by the revelation that Momo had even implied the idea in the first place.

The moment Momo tried to explain herself, Izuku lost it.

His voice, usually calm and measured, erupted in raw, unfiltered rage. "GET OUT!" he screamed, his voice cracking with grief and fury. "JUST... GET OUT!"

Momo stood frozen, her words faltering as Izuku's grief consumed him. Tears welled in her eyes, but she said nothing. Instead, she quietly turned and left the room, leaving Izuku alone to wrestle with his pain.

For a full standard day, Izuku remained locked in his quarters. The crew gave him space, understanding the depth of his loss. But when he finally emerged, the Izuku they knew was gone.

His face was a mask, devoid of any emotion. His green eyes, once bright and full of determination, now carried an ever-present thousand-yard stare, as though he were looking through the walls, through the people, through the very fabric of reality.

He moved mechanically, like a ghost haunting the ship. He avoided everyone, but most of all, he avoided Momo. Not a word was exchanged between them for the rest of the journey. Izuku didn't even join the others for meals or discussions. He isolated himself, sitting alone in the farthest corners of the ship, his head bowed as though carrying a weight too heavy to bear.

Momo, wracked with guilt, tried to approach him once. She hesitated as she crossed the mess hall, her footsteps faltering as she neared him. But before she could speak, Amy placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Don't," Amy said softly, shaking her head. Her voice carried an unspoken understanding. "Not now. He's not ready."

Momo stepped back, tears threatening to spill. She turned away, retreating to her own corner of the ship. As she sat, head in her hands, she asked herself the question that had haunted her since Daisy's sacrifice:

What have I done?

The silence between them was deafening, an unspoken chasm that grew wider with each passing hour. The crew felt it too-the suffocating tension, the grief that hung heavy in the air like a storm cloud.

By the time the ship neared Earth, it was clear to everyone aboard: the Izuku Halsey they had known, the relentless optimist who could find hope in the darkest of places, was now a shadow of his former self. And Momo, burdened by her role in the tragedy, feared that shadow might never lift.

----

Izuku and the rest of his squad were greeted with a hero's welcome upon their arrival on this universe's Earth. Crowds cheered, banners waved, and speeches lauded their victory against the Flood and the Covenant. Despite the celebrations, Izuku carried a subdued air, the scars of recent events lingering beneath his stoic exterior. While he had mostly recovered physically, the emotional wounds ran deeper than he cared to show.

Amidst the festivities, as fireworks painted the sky and soldiers mingled with dignitaries, Master Chief approached Izuku, his towering presence cutting through the noise. He gestured for Izuku to step aside, away from the crowds.

"Halsey," Chief began, his voice steady and low. "I understand."

Izuku looked up, his jaw tightening. "Chief... Daisy was-" He paused, struggling with the weight of his emotions. "She was everything to me."

Chief nodded solemnly. "A life well spent to win the war."

Izuku's hands curled into fists at his sides. "I- I know, Chief. But I didn't want her sacrifice. I wanted her to live. She was my world, and now she's gone."