Rise of the Phoenix

~ C H A P T E R 9 ~

Is this just another depressing vigilante fic? Yes. Yes it is. It's a guilty pleasure of mine... and Shinji agreed to it :) We are in America, so things are getting crazy. We hope that everyone can stay safe in the coming days and take care of yourselves.

 Katsuki stared blankly at the TV.

It has now been three weeks since Izuku disappeared and Katsuki was convinced that the nerd would show up any day now, maybe a bit more skinny and definitely crying, but show up nonetheless.

Katsuki would make him eat and take a bath, then they could go to his room and play Heroes. He would let Izuku have the first pick of the action figures and they would have a sleepover.

Except it wouldn't be a sleep over because Katsuki was never letting Izuku leave his sight again.

"Katsuki." Mitsuki said gently, "Don't sit that close to the TV you will ruin your eyesight." Katsuki just scowled.

Mitsuki sighed, "Fine, Brat. I think you will look very handsome in glasses anyways." Katsuki deepened the scowl but inched away from the TV, his mom placing a tray that was their dinner on the floor next to him.

"If you feel up to it, you can come sit with your dad and I at the table?" Mitsuki suggested and Katsuki shook his head, "Ok. Love you, Brat."

"Love you too hag." Katsuki mumbled quietly when his mother was far enough away not to hear him.

Katsuki ate his dinner in silence, the only noise being the droning of the news reporters with their fake smiles.

As Katsuki fell asleep, he questioned himself, 'He is coming back, right?"

~~~

Izuku clenched the money from the wallet the robber had in his hand as he walked into a small shop.

Izuku was unsure what the theme of the shop was-and the name held no clues- but there was clothing in the window for a cheap price compared to the other shops around.

"Howdy. Welcome to Junk I Found On A Beach, how can I help you?" An old man asked without looking up from the newspaper he was reading.

The old man had a grey wool cap with wispy white hair escaping from it. His eyes looked young even though the wrinkles on his face told Izuku otherwise.

"Hello?" The man asked again when he heard no response, looking up from his paper, "Oh, hey green bean. What do you need?"

Izuku looked up at him, preparing to answer when the bell connected to the door rang. A new person was here that deserved help more than him.

Izuku hurried to the back of the store so he didn't disturb the new customer.

Or at least that was the plan until he heard a muffled cry of fear and a strange clicking noise that filled Izuku with dread.

He slowly made his way back up the aisles and peeked around to see what was happening.

A person in a black hoodie was holding a gun up to the shopkeeper.

The old man that had greeted him at the door was hurriedly fumbling with what Izuku inferred was the cash register.

"Hurry up! If anyone else shows up you are dead!" the hoodie shouted, voice high with desperation.

Izuku silently snuck around the man, utilizing his learned skill of making himself as small as possible. Izuku hesitated as he pulled out the knife he stole from the woman in the alley and that was when the storekeeper caught his eye, desperately shaking his head.