Twisted Turns

First Scare

"Damn.. you..!" His breath let out an exhale, barely able to stand. His mask had been destroyed already, only one bunny ear standing tall, his green suit in shreds in many places. There was plenty of wounds visible due to this, blood dripping down the corner of his mouth. The area that surrounded him - what was left of the small town that he was fighting in, was coated in flames and few dead bodies of civilians that couldn't escape in time, even with the help of the heroes.

"You can't beat me, Deku... Why don't you just join us instead? We can rid the world of its ugly view of Heroes.." The man spoke, reaching a hand to Midoriya, the only moving hand that his body had on him, as the rest were merely pieces placed upon him as a strange get-up.

Slowly, he felt his will dropping - his gloved hand reaching for the smaller, dry hand that granted him freedom.

GASP! Midoriya had sat up fast in his bed, sweating and hyperventilating for only a moment. Sitting in just his tank and green boxers, he looked down at himself before putting his hand to his mouth, gently hugging his stomach. 

Just a nightmare, he thought to himself. You're okay, you wouldn't change sides just to save yourself...

He would jump at the sound of knocking at his room door, feeling his skin crawl. In that instant, he felt sick to his stomach, dashed from his room and straight to the bathroom. Iida was the one at his door, having stood there, his brain trying to process what had just happened. After a second, his brain clicked and he turned to yell. "Midoriya! No running in the halls!"

"Iida, don't you think something is probably wrong with him!?" Denki had shouted in response to Iida's yelling, having been down the hallway headed to the bathroom when Deku had run right past him as well. "I'll go check on him, jeez!"

Iida simply stood there before coughing. "I shall join you." He stated before making his way to the bathroom behind Denki. "I've never him run so fast like that before except for certain situations... Mayhaps something is wrong."

By the time the two of them had arrived at the bathroom, Midoriya had made his way out of the stall he just finished throwing up in. He seemed like he was in a daze, wiping his eye as he made his way to the sink weakly. Denki took up one side of Midoriya, Iida on the other side as they helped the small green-haired boy up to the sink.

"Midoriya, are you okay? You don't look so great, man." Denki asked, looking at his friend worriedly.

"Just, fine... Yeah." He would nod in response before stifling a yawn. "I just didn't sleep very well, that's all."

"Did you have a nightmare, Midoriya?" Iida asked promptly, his glasses almost seemingly to glimmer as if he was correct.

Midoriya looked up at Iida wearily before looking back down, a somber look on his face before he gave a gentle nod. "But..." He would look back up before putting his hands up. "I'll be fine, it's just a nightmare. That's all." I hope...

Later that Day...

"Midoriya! Get to moving faster!" Aizawa gave a prompted shout from his seated spot.

The students were training in the training center for the day to push their limits further for their first hero duties they'll have soon. They were all excited for their hero studies, especially now that they have their licenses. A couple of classmates were missing, yes, but for their provisional licensing extras. However, Midoriya wasn't doing his best today due to the daunting nightmare he had that caused his sleeplessness and lack of energy. Of course, one person took notice of his lack of drive today.

"Midoriya, what's wrong with you today...?" She would question to herself quietly before putting her hands over her mouth, floating upside down again.

"Yes, sir!" Midoriya shouted in response before he went back into his speeding stance and went back to swinging at the air, with the same speed as he had before; He was at his limit for today. Of course, he still kept at it with all that he could up until lunch period finally came up. 

He took his time getting down and heading his way to lunch period with quite the grumbly tummy. Uraraka wasted no time to catch up to him, reaching a hand to catch his arm with quite the worry on her face. Midoriya had stopped midstep before turning to look back at her, about to say something before he noticed her expression.

"Midoriya, something's wrong with you today. If you wanna talk about it..." She looked away, putting her hands together and fiddling her thumbs nervously. "You can always talk to me about it, that's what friends are for..."

Midoriya gave a soft smile before rubbing his head. "Sorry, I must have worried you... But I'm fine, just tired is all. I didn't sleep very well last night."

"Oh! Did you have trouble sleeping last night or something?" Uraraka piped up with surprise.

"Actually, no... I kind of had a nightmare is all. It was a bit dark, but I'm sure I'll be okay." He sighed softly before smiling at her.

"Do you wanna talk about the nightmare then?" She tilted her head up at him, smiling. "I'll sit and listen. I bet I could find a secret meaning behind the dream!"

"That's really nice of you, Ochaco." He would smile before giving her a nod. 

"Great! Let's grab lunch and sit outside and talk then." She would smile before they made their way to the cafeteria for lunch.

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"Wow, that really is quite scary! I wouldn't know what to do in that kind of situation when if it came up..." She would panic silently in worry with her hands on her cheeks - only to pause and look back at Midoriya. "I mean, of course, I'd tell him no! I'd rather die a hero than to become a villain! But, that's so..." She visibly shuddered at the thought before taking the last bite of her food, letting out a sigh of relief.

"That's what I'm trying to figure out about the nightmare... I guess I'm afraid to die after all... Isn't everyone though? But to be so afraid to die and not be able to do anything, I naturally gave in to him.. I don't know, maybe it's an omen to the future." Midoriya sat back against the bench they sat in.

They were in the back ways of the academy, sitting on a bench together, almost like a date for the two. But, it's more like a therapy session with the talk of his nightmare. That alone made it easier for her to talk to him alone, it was simply just a therapy session!

"Don't think that, Izuku! I'm sure it's nothing that'll come to pass. You'll be the number one hero one day after all!" She exclaimed, folding her fists to press further into her exclamation.

"Wow, you really think so?" He lifted his head and looked at Ochaco with a big smile.

She froze in her stance, her face turning red before she turned away. "I-I don't think so, I totally know so! You're only the best person in this class so far to become a hero.." 

"Is there something wrong with my face?"

"N-no, absolutely not! It's totally fine!"

"Then.. why won't you face me?"

"It's not you, I promise. It's just me. I'm gonna head back to class early so I can get ready for the next round of training! See you later, Izuku!" With that, she ran off without a second thought.

"Huh..." He sat there, a bit dazed and confused. "Well, I guess I better..." He turned his head and found she had left her bento box behind. "Oh, I better bring his back to her..."

That said, he picked up Ochaco's bento box and his tray, went to throw away his trash and headed his way back to class.