The Hope Barely Found

Brats Don't Always get Punished

Izuku forced himself up and lunged at Muscular before he could reach Kouta, wrapping his arms around his neck.

Muscular slammed Izuku against a wall as he was chocked, but to no avail. Izuku held on until Musculars grunts of pain for weaker and weaker.

Izuku wasn't looking so good himself either. Blood was streaking down his back and face, his lip was busted, eye bruising up, and neck had bruises from where Muscular had choked him. He was sure his stomach was bruised too.

Finally Muscular slumped to the ground, and gratefully Izuku slipped off of him, collapsing to the ground in exhaustion.

"You did good," he whispered as Kouta ran over to check on him.

"You- you almost died- for me-,"

"Of course." Izuku forced himself to stand and pick up the boy as he burst into tears. "You deserve it, Kouta. You're going to grow up to be amazing and dominate whatever you decide to do. Understand?"

Kouta nodded, grabbing onto Izuku desperately as he wailed. Izuku started to stumble back into the forest. He had to find an adult to protect Kouta. Right now, Izuku was a walking target.

***

Todoroki and Shinso had somehow ended up together when Kaminari had run off from a jump scare and Shinso had gotten hopelessly lost trying to find him. Somehow they were now facing off a villain who was wrapped in one of those crazy tight suits, shooting his gun at them, had crazy crooked teeth and could only mumble, and was winning.

Moonfish kept shooting while giving muffled laughs. His bullets were actually more like sharp, long metal... teeth. It was incredibly creepy and Todoroki and Shinso did everything in their power to not even touch it.

The two were struggling though they were both great fighters. It took a while for an opening to finally happen which Todoroki took immediately, going for Moonfish's legs and promptly knocking him over successfully. Shinso took the chance to kick his face in, kicking it until it had been fully bloodied and was clear Moonfish was out cold.

Both boys collapsed to the ground in relief.

***

Izuku was racing through the woods with Kouta now on his back when a strange, homeless looking man appeared. Oh wait, that was just Aizawa.

Izuku and Aizawa stared at each other for a second before Izuku gently passed over Kouta. "Watch him."

Before Aizawa could respond, Izuku was gone, darting in and out of trees.

Aizawa bit back a curse as he cradled Kouta in his arms, carefully to avoid showing him the burned part of his arm where he had reached into the fire to grab the gun which Aizawa now had strapped in his waistband.

***

Uraraka and Tsuyu were facing a small, blonde bun haired girl with a strange mask on. Large needles shone in her hands.

"Hi!" She squealed. "I'm Himiko Toga! I'm looking for someone! Can you help me?"

Tsuyu and Uraraka sent each other a look.

"Depends," Tsuyu started. "Who are you looking for?"

"Izu, of course!"

***

Katsuki and Izuku were racing, Kirishima right on their tails with Kaminari and Sero as Izuku desperately tried to escape Katsuki.

Katsuki managed to catch up just enough to jump on Izuku, knocking him to the ground so the others could catch up. When they arrived, Katsuki had Izuku pinned down.