The Emerald Prince

Chapter 18: Sparks fly

Izuku puzzled over what he'd say to Iida. For now he settled on distraction and evasion tactics.

Todoroki touched him softly on the shoulder on their way back into class, Izuku jumped slightly anyway, but Todoroki didn't comment on it.
"I didn't see you at lunch."
Izuku tilted his head to meet the concerned heterochromic gaze. He smiled.
"I'm fine, just had to talk to Iida about something."
He saw doubt in the look Todoroki gave him. But he knew it would have to wait.

Whilst the rest of the class settled into their seats, and before Aizawa's arrival, Izuku moved to the front of the class.
He didn't even need to cough noted Yaoyorozu, he just stood there and the others fell silent.

"I wish to resign as Class President."
Confused uproar.
"And I name Iida Tenya as my successor due to his astounding act during lunch today."
Silent consent.
Izuku glared slightly.
Gradual Applause.

Iida shone with happiness externally as he headed up to the front to address the class, though he felt conflicted. It hadn't been his idea, it was Izuku's leadership qualities that had shown in the crisis. But he'd question him when they didn't have an audience, he could do at least that for his friend. As well as trust him.
For some reason Iida could not fathom, it was clear Izuku didn't want the role, and by his judgement, he thought Iida suitable.

He recalled that earnest gaze at the roof top. All Might believed in him. Tensei believed in him.
Izuku believed in him.

Izuku settled back into his window seat with a contented sigh. A sharp crimson gaze met his own.
You're telling me fucking everything later you little shit.
He nodded slightly amused he could practically hear Bakugou's voice, and the blond reluctantly turned back around.

Noting that he was unobserved, Izuku touched his lips slightly with his index finger, unsure whether to feel embarrassment or pride. What would the class think of him, if they discovered he'd kissed a villain that day.

Well, what would they think if they knew less than six months ago, he'd been sleeping with men and women alike for money? That he was over powered as fuck? That he was the son of a villain?

He wondered with faint worry what Tomura was planning. He hoped they'd all be able to handle it. Preferably without him having to show more of his hand.

Iida was just about give his speech when Aizawa arrived, he hastily explained himself and returned to his seat, the teacher gave Izuku a bemused look.

———

Flashback:

With the end of lessons, Izuku would bade farewell to all his classmates and leave with Bakugou. Their destination was the train station, where they would  travel out of the city and made their way to some woods to train.

The first time they did this, they found a clearing and stood far apart.
"It's your quirk originally but mine seems to enable me to instinctively use it. Who should try first?"
Bakugou gritted his teeth as he fought his pride.
"You."

Izuku nodded with an appreciative smile, and raised his hand, turning the palm toward the sky and angled away from both him and Bakugou.
It felt very strange to the blond, watching the explosions that he had so often used to burn Izuku's skin, obeying the greenette's commands.

They started small, familiar to what he had always had, but gradually got larger, the largest almost bomb like from the sound it made.

"Interesting," murmured the greenette gazing at his hand. "The power and sound can be changed independently of each other with concentration and volume...you could use this for a flash grenade effect too..."
He turned to look into those red eyes. "I've said it before, Kaachan, but you really do have an amazing quirk."

To Bakugou's chagrin, he did not take to his improved quirk as quickly as Izuku. It required more delicacy and control than before but by the end of the evening, he was back to his original skill level with it, and would be able to use it in class without danger or suspicion.

They trained on his quirk together every afternoon that week, most of which was spent trying to work out how to propel themselves using explosions from their feet, which resulted in a great deal of bruises.
"You need to get injured so RG'll kiss you." Complained Bakugou once.

They learnt a great deal from each other, though Bakugou knew he was benefiting the most.
Izuku's combat style had always been aerial and acrobatic, and he used the Explosion quirk very differently; favouring using small explosions to move gracefully through the air and create bangs and flashes to disorientate an opponent, whilst Bakugou preferred using large explosions to rapidly charge an opponent, or use an overwhelming directional blast from a distance, to intimidate and overwhelm with pure power.

———

Present:

Since that first week, the pair had long since moved back from the wood to the Aizawa gym. Izuku would often train different quirks, though never more than one at a time. This was useful for Bakugou too.
Today though, Bakugou wanted answers.

"Where did you go? No one saw you apart from Iida, you weren't at the evacuation point, you had them all worried shitless." And me especially.
Izuku playfully rolled his eyes, settling on the bench press and told the full tale.

"Are you fucking mental! Why Izuku?"
Bakugou felt furious, the danger he'd been in, yet Izuku sat there like it had been nothing.

"Kaachan, I could disable his quirk, and with a quirk like that and the way he moved he had nowhere near the combat skill to match me." Explained Izuku grumpily, "He'd got the information he wanted and there was no way sounding the alarm would get him caught. I gained a lot of info and a very powerful quirk. Remember the side effect? How with your quirk we can't directly injure each other? I'm essentially immune to his quirk! I took a risk, but it paid off!"

Bakugou lay back on the floor with a reluctant nod of acceptance.
He knew his anger was irrational, Izuku was practically unbeatable but any means except quirkless, long distance or surprise attacks. And yet, the thought of it.
"Tch."

"I'm sorry Katsuki, I must have worried you."

Bakugou opened his eyes to see Izuku looking earnestly apologetic and offering his hand. He looked at the pale hand for awhile and then grasped it in his own, and pulled himself off the floor.

"As if, shitty nerd. And that's Kaachan to you."