Traitors (Izuocha)

1- Save a life; Gain a friend

Ochako's POV

I ran down the alleyways and scrambled up a fire escape, listening to the pros and cops run past. I pulled off my hood and mask. I had just finished robbing a small convenience store a few blocks away. No one was hurt, I just needed the cash. 5,366 yen. Just enough for about two weeks. I heard voices on the rooftop above me. I went up another few stairs to see onto the roof. A boy, around my age, was standing on the ledge in front of me.

"You've always known best, haven't you?" He asked. He was talking to a blond boy who was watching him retreat to the edge. "So when you told me to, what was it? "Take a swan dive off the roof" I thought, maybe in some way, I'd finally give you what you'd always wanted." He said, flashing a pitiful, maniacal smile.

"Deku, don't you dare jump!" The blond yelled. "I take it back, just don't fucking jump!" The boy turned away from him.

"Oh but that's not true." He said sadly. "Goodbye." The boy took a simple step off the roof. I caught his wrist as he fell.

"That was close." I muttered. The boy looked up at me, tears streaming down his freckled face.

"Please let go. I jumped for a reason." He whispered. I pulled him onto the fire escape regardless. The other boy was standing on the edge, talking to himself.

"Fucking nerd! He wasn't supposed to jump!" He muttered angrily. The two heard his footsteps retreat back across the roof to the door. I turned my attention to the teen.

"You've got two options here." I explained. "A, you walk into school tomorrow like nothing happened, or B, stay "dead". Either way, I would love for you to join me." He tilted his head at me, his green hair falling in his face.

"Join you? What do you mean?" He asked. I flashed my mask in front of my face.

"Recognize me now? I think you'd be a great ally, should you want to join me." I said brightly. A look of shock mixed with surprise painted his face.

"You're the gray thief! You're responsible for a string of convenience store robberies all around this area of japan! But to be your accomplice? That's a nice offer, but.." His voice trailed off. I rolled my eyes.

"So what'll it be?" The boy shrugged.

"I don't really know. I've always wanted to be a hero, but we live in a society that glorifies heroes and quirks, and shuns the people who have less desirable quirks or are quirkless. I want to help them, but I can't, because...because I'm one of them." This boy was quirkless? No wonder he was suicidal. I had seen videos and stories of how quirkless people were treated. It was pitiful and disturbing.

"I think I can help you with that." I suggested. The boy looked at the ground.

"You can help me change society?" He asked skeptically. I shrugged and adjusted my backpack.

"We can try."

Izuku's POV

"Alright then, I'll help you, you help me?" I asked. She nodded in agreement. "We can meet back here after school tomorrow then." I looked over the rail of the fire escape. "Jump again." A voice told me. "She can't catch you this time". I shook my head.

"I guess we're working together you should know my name." The girl said, interrupting my thoughts. "I'm Ochako Uraraka. It's Deku, right?" She must have heard Kacchan call me that on the roof.

"Well actually, that's just a nickname Kacchan called me to bully me. I'm Izuku Midoriya!" I exclaimed. A pained expression crossed her face.

"Oh sorry, I didn't know!" She said frantically. "Although, I like it! It kinda sounds like "You can do it!", don't you think?" I had never thought about it that way.

"Deku it is!" I blurted. She looked taken aback, but nothing else. Uraraka started walking down the fire escape, her hair bouncing with each step.

"See you tomorrow." She called. I watched her return to the busy street and disappear into the crowd.

"Yeah, See you tomorrow..."

My keys jingled as I slammed the door behind me. My mom poked her head out of the kitchen.

"Oh your home!" She said. "Did you do anything interesting today?" Was I supposed to tell my mom that I was attacked by a villain, had my idol crush my dreams, and attempted to kill myself all within a few hours?" I shook my head.

"Not really. Although I did make a friend." A friend that happened to be a criminal, too. I went to my room and flopped my bed. I spotted the All Might poster in the corner, his stupid smile pasted onto the paper. Heh, some hero he was, crushing my dreams within seconds, without an ounce of regret.

I got up and tore it from its place on the wall, remembering his words: "That's a nice dream young man. Just make sure next time your dreams are attainable." I ripped the poster into pieces.

My last hope; crushed by the person I idolized most. Kacchan, everyone had been right all along. Reality hit me hard. It was something I should have accepted from a very young age. I remembered what my mom told me the night I found out I was quirkless. I wish things were different too, Mom.