Into the Light

Chapter 3

Izuku was slowly regaining consciousness but he thoroughly wished he wasn't. His whole body hurt. He could tell some of the major injuries had been healed but not all of them. He felt as if he'd broken every bone in his body but with the hit from Nomu, it was definitely a possibility. He still hadn't gotten around to opening his eyes but slowly the jumbled voices he heard were becoming clearer. He knew one was All Might, he recognized the voice. The next was another man he had heard on tv but he wasn't aware enough to remember who it was. Lastly, was who he assumed was Recovery Girl. He made that assumption based on how she was fretting over all of his injuries. He tried to move his fingers and groaned when the pain flared up.

"Oh, it seems young Midoriya is waking up."

"Ever the observant one I see." came Recovery Girls deadpan response.

"Will Izuku be okay?" Izuku's eyes snapped open and sat bolt upright when he heard Kaachan's voice. He'd honestly hoped he was dreaming but now he knew he wasn't. He'd betrayed the league, betrayed Kuroguiri and Dabi.

"K-kaachan." Izuku croaked out, his throat was so dry.

Katsuki let the tears fall at hearing his raspy voice. He couldn't believe he was already awake. Recovery Girl hadn't expected him to be up for a few days, not hours later. He'd been talking to All Might and Detective Tsukauchi about Izuku's disappearance and his sudden reappearance. The case had been reopened and they'd gone over all the previous details with a fine tooth comb. They'd been discussing the newer information when Recovery Girl had come to check on him. She'd then gone on to ask about what they knew of his injuries. It had been a long few hours but he was grateful for the topic change. At least he was until Recovery Girl had started explaining in detail about all of Izuku's previous injuries and scars. He'd gone through so much for being so young. The only sugar coating is he'd never been sexually abused just physically and most likely psychiatrically tortured.

"I'm here Izuku, I'm here. You're safe now."

"No, I'm not Kaachan. They'll want me back. I can't live a normal life now I don't know how."

"Young Midoriya If I may?" All Might questioned as he approached the bed.

"No, you may not. I loath Heroes and I'm not about to listen to whatever tiddly bullshit comes out your mouth." Everyone in the room seemed a bit taken back by the amount of venom in Izuku's tone. Izuku was glaring at All Might with such a deep hatred that even Katsuki was surprised, he used to idolize the hero.

"Midoriya..."

"That's not my name anymore hasn't been since the day they took me. No, I won't answer any of your stupid fucking questions. No, I don't want my mother contacted. I honestly don't even wanna fucking see your stupid looking face. Now, how much jail time am I looking at here? That's my main concern." Izuku directed the last question towards the detective who had been lurking on the sidelines until now.

"Well, Midoriya seeing as how you are still a minor as well as a missing person we have no choice but to notify your mother. As for charges, there are extenuating circumstances regarding your crimes." Izuku looked at the man his inherent quirk filling in the lines causing his eyes to go wide.

"I will not rehabilitate at Yuuei. It's out of the question, I'll take the jail time and move on with my life."

"Son, your mother has already been notified. She came to see you but we didn't want her to see you in the state you were in. We've already discussed it and she agrees it would be for the best. There will be heavy stipulations the..."

"I don't give a damn what that women told you I will not agree to it. I know my rights I've studied law and regardless of me being a minor, I have been missing for eleven years. Therefore legally she cannot right off the bat decide my life choices. Also, I was legally declared dead almost three years ago now so that brings into play a whole nother set of problems."

"Midor.."

"Reaper. I go by Reaper, quit calling me that. It's pissing me off."

For the next few hours, they went back and forth until Izuku gave up. He knew how to pick his fights and this one just wasn't worth the energy anymore. He was extra sore as Tsukauchi had denied him any pain meds so long as they were discussing the case. The man had a lie detector quirk he learned. When he finally agreed to the stipulations the detective left to get all the paperwork started. He found he was already in Yuuei infirmary, being treated by Recovery Girl. She'd tried to protest on his behalf but the Detective had refused. Katsuki, who had been forced to leave after the first denial of meds when he threatened to blow the cops face off, was allowed back into the room. He gave the detective a sneer and walked right to Izuku's bed.

Katsuki had sat right outside the door listening to a boy he honestly didn't know. The Izuku he remembered was shy, soft-spoken, and a crybaby. The boy handcuffed to that bed was crass, outspoken, and cruel. He supposed eleven years of torment did that to someone but he knew he was still in there somewhere. He wouldn't have risked his life to save him if he weren't. After hours of arguing Izuku finally relented, probably due to the growing body pain from lack of medication but he was glad none the less. He didn't want to see him suffer over stubbornness. When he finally walked back in he gave the harshest glare and sneer to the detective who'd been making his childhood friends like hell for the last few hours.

"You doing okay?" Katsuki asked as he took the seat next to the bed. Izuku looked so tired compared to hours ago. Izuku set his tired gaze on him and sighed.

"Kaachan, I'm not the same little boy I used to be. So what are you really doing here? My patience is long gone at this point."

"I know there's still some of the old you left Izuku. You wouldn't have risked your life to save mine if that weren't the case. Also, I wanted to apologize. I never thought i'd get the chance..." Katsuki's breath caught and the waterworks started. It was funny how the roles reversed. Izuku watched wide-eyed as tears fell like rain down his best friends cheeks.

"Kaachan?"

"I never thought I'd see you again Izuku. I didn't mean to hurt you and I honestly don't know what came over me. You're my best friend and I could have killed you. Then when I ran for help you were gone by the time I brought it. I'm so sorry Izuku, I'm sorry." Katsuki couldn't handle it anymore and let it all go. He leaned over and grasp Izuku, shoulders hunched and shaking with the force of his sobs. Izuku just held him as he cried, his eyes misting up at what Kaachan must have felt this whole time.

"I'm sorry it took me so long to come back Kaachan. I can't imagine the guilt you've lived with until now. We were young Kaachan, I don't hold it against you. I never did." Izuku's confession brought on another round of tears as Katsuki buried his head into Izuku's shoulder. Unknown to the pair, Katsuki's teacher and classmates had heard everything said between the pair from the hallway. They realized why Katsuki was the way he was because he was afraid someone else would disappear and he wouldn't be able to help. Aizawa decided the pair needed the time and shooed his class to the newly constructed student dorms.

Katsuki and Izuku sat and caught up. Katsuki explained everything that had happened since the day Izuku had disappeared, hoping he'd tell him about what had been done to him. Izuku knew what his friend was doing, his quirk supplied, and told his friend about his life. He explained a lot but not all of his childhood, as he didn't want the pity. When he found none on Kaachan's face he went on in a bit more detail. Aizawa, All Might, Recovery Girl, and Detective Tsukauchi were all standing in the hallway outside the door. Tsukauchi was furiously scribbling what was being said in a notebook for evidence. Izuku knew they were there, he'd heard the detective arguing with Aizawa about giving the boys privacy but he didn't mind. This was the chance he'd always dreamed about. He knew it was going to be a long tough road and that he'd have to face his demons eventualy but he honestly wasn't sure he'd be able to. He didn't think he could face Kuroguiri and Dabi with what he'd done.