The Emerald Prince

Chapter 26: Call the Cavalry

Seeing Todoroki and Bakugou arriving, Izuku turned away from Hatsume and strode toward them. He gave a half bow and looked up at them apologetically.
"Sorry to use my quirk like that. But it is a competition, and it would be an insult to you guys if I didn't give it my all."

The pair looked at him. They'd been furious, humiliated and completely and utterly defeated by this boy. Yet those fucking emerald eyes gazed up at them and it all drained away like it had never been.

"No worries Izuku. I was planning to freeze everyone." Todoroki nodded.
"Tch." Was all Bakugou managed, but Izuku relaxed physically, smiling up at them and the blond struggled to maintain his scowl.
"Then guys, come meet Hatsume! She came first with her amazing inventions!"

Whilst those three awkwardly chatted, or at least tried to - her enthusiasm and energy irritated Bakugou and slightly scared Todoroki; Izuku welcomed the rest of his class and Shinsou across. Apologising to and congratulating them.

Everyone in class A made it into the top 42 as did most of class B - Monoma having actively avoided Izuku since 'the event'. There was a slightly higher proportion of support class members but to the teen himself especially, it was a relief that he seemed to have not affected the outcome too greatly. He sighed and glanced toward the commentary box.

"SO, ERASERHEAD WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLAIN TO THE LISTENERS WHY YOU JUST FIST PUMPED AND WHY YOU BARELY DID YOUR JOB FOR THIS ENTIRE RACE?"

"No." Came the kurt reply.

But Izuku could feel the pride oozing from his father and he smiled happily.

———

Then the cavalry battle was announced... along with Hatsume's death sentence.
Izuku shivered at the thought, they'd eat her alive.
Pushing his way through the crowd once groups began forming, he approached her.
Everyone else was avoiding the girl like the plague.

"Milady, seemed you are in need? Could I perhaps repay the earlier favour and earn my goggles?"

Hatsume couldn't hide her relief.
"Of course! If I have you on my team, everyone will be watching even more!"

He chuckled at her shamelessness and then turned to look around.
"If we are using my ranged ability... if anyone else joins us they need to be good at fighting without their quirks...or do you think a repeat of last time to be a wise call?"

Hatsume was impressed at his speed of thought, "you're quite the strategist...I'll leave it to you."

He nodded and thought.
The best way to do this was to repeatedly turn his ability on and off, preventing anyone being able to rely on their quirks and keeping them permanently distracted...but if he did that, he'd completely ruin anyone's chances to show their own skills and make enemies of basically everyone.

"Just us then. I'll piggy back you this time, it won't be as short a trip after all, and as a physical combatant, I do have a little pride."
She nodded, quiet for once as Izuku's eyes roved around to examine the other teams, analysing. She recognised a fellow genius and knew to let him be.

The klaxon went, and they all moved to their positions around the field.
Izuku went down on one knee and Hatsume climbed onto his shoulders, surprised when the boy rose as if her weight was little more than a feather.

They could both feel the eyes, so many that neither could even discern the jealousy directed at Hatsume from the pure ambition rolling off the rest in waves.

The moment it began, every team seemed to dive for the pair. Izuku scowled in irritation. Did they not learn?
His eyes glowed bright, some of the horses collapsing as their momentum or bodies changed.

"You ready, Izuku?" She asked, eyes bright.
Izuku raised his hands to hold tight to her utility belt. "Ready."
She powered the jet pack, and they swiftly rose above the battle, to hover above the chaos.

Izuku brought in the range to twenty metres, negating the risk of Katsuki getting ideas being an issue...which he did of course. And they watched the battle happily enough with the audience, placing first with ease, and getting to know each other very well in the process. They discussed a lot of things in the air and even settled the specification for Izuku's goggles.

When they glided down, Izuku landed like it was nothing, sweeping Hatsume off his shoulders, holding her by her waist and lifting her down like they were a pair of dancers.
The various definitely male problem children he had befriended and bewitched actually questioning his sexuality for the first time, instead of their own.

The oblivious pair parted ways for lunch, after exchanging numbers.

———

Izuku smiled to himself, it had been fun talking to his new friend.
He was heading over to Shinsou, when he felt a firm grip on his shoulder. He knew who it was, he'd sensed them coming so didn't yell or jump out of his skin at the touch. He turned to look into those heterochromic eyes.
"Time to talk?"
Surprise flickered across the taller boy's face, but he nodded.

Bakugou watched them go. If that damn half n half confesses...
He followed them at a distance, and Izuku grimaced when he sensed it.
"Todoroki?"
The bicoloured male raised his head.
"I've need to speak with someone. I'll be a sec."

He turned back, rounded the corner, taking Bakugou by the collar of his gym clothes and pulling him out of ear shot.
"Don't." He said shortly.
"You aren't the-"
Izuku interrupted him, eyes burning into Katsuki's.
"You won't let anyone be the boss of you, I think I've worked that much out, Katsuki, without the reminder." The blond flinched slightly but Izuku didn't notice. "But I'll owe you one. Can't you see this is important. Would you have liked him listening to our conversation on the bridge, or my confession at Aizawa's? Please respect his privacy and I'll owe you a favour. Kaachan?"
"Tch. Fine."

Bakugou scowled, pulling out of Izuku's grip and turning back toward the canteen. He hated how he seemed to be backing down all the time, but when it came to Mid-Aizawa Izuku...he knew he'd probably be doing that most of his life...
He kinda hoped he would be.

Plus that favour could be useful.

———

Izuku turned back too and returned to where Todoroki waited.
"Sorry." He said, a little shortly.
One sharp blue eye watched him closely (the other hidden under his bangs), and the teen nodded, pushing off from the wall and continuing to walk.
Izuku followed nervously.