The Emerald Prince

Chapter 1: Out in the Cold

Considering the painful clichés I'm about the bring out in (just) the next three chapters, I would ask that those of you dithering over whether this book is for you or not, to hold out until at least Chapter 4... even better Chapter 7 which properly sets the mood of this book and how I'm writing Izuku. Fair enough if you don't like the book - but if you're debating.

———

Izuku wasn't having a particularly good day.
He'll admit it to anyone.
Though, no one would ask.

The last day of term was supposed to be the best, but ideals and reality don't always get along. A lesson that had been taught to him in more ways than he could count, or at least, be bothered to now.

The day had started out with the usual harassment and teacher negligence, the burns and degradation that had become almost background noise to him. His ability to care gradually fading with his other emotions.
In order for him to cope with the shit he was dealing with... his brain had found no other solution.

He grimaced, on his walk back to the house he was allowed to live in, as his shirt chaffed against his newest burns.

There were three main reasons Izuku never fought back against Bakugou's abuse.

The first; that in targeting him, everyone else got relative peace - even if he would never be thanked, it neatly negated Bakugou's insistence that he was useless.

The second; he understood Bakugou. The guy had many faults, but his quirk was the main cause of his short temper and violent nature, along with how, due to his mother's similar temperament, his home life wasn't easy, not bad, but not as good as it could be either.

The third reason; was that he knew, beneath the abuse, this probably started out as Bakugou, in his own way, trying to discourage Izuku from being a hero, to try to keep him safe.
Though perhaps, he thought, that really is wishful thinking.

Today Bakugou had crossed a new boundary: telling him to kill himself.
He had considered it. And often too.
But this was a first in being told to do so, so it really wasn't a great day.

No matter how little he really blamed Bakugou, being assured that you are useless and worthless both at home and at school wasn't exactly a joy for Izuku either. And this was a new low.

———

Izuku reached the house where he lived and unlocked the door, to find the place empty. Empty of pictures, empty of all furniture, empty of food and empty of single abusive parents.

There was a note on the tiled floor of the once kitchen, Inko had thoughtfully left behind.

'I will no longer take the embarrassment of being your mother. I am leaving to join my husband, and I expect never to hear from you piece of trash or the police so don't you dare commit suicide or look for me.
Rent on the house runs out in a month.'

Izuku brushed his thumb over the words. Barely an indent. She hadn't been even faintly emotional when writing this. She hadn't signed it either.

Embarrassment.

She was gone.
And this wasn't even the end of junior high. He still had another year.
Izuku glanced over the note once more then discarded it.

Breathe

He went down to look in the cellar he'd been sleeping in for the last ten years and was pleasantly surprised to find his few possessions untouched, and tattered computer still present hidden in the grate. He was genuinely relieved. He didn't face going in yet though.