Izuku stood there in the middle of field alone. He had asked for the day off and it had been a week since the talk with Dabi.

I can use all those quirks but the Black Whip and One for All. I did a complete notebook on myself last night. The problems I have... I just hope this is something I can do right.

"Hey."

"Hey Shouto!"

"Are you ready for this?"

"More than ever."

Shouto grinned, "I haven't seen you this excited since the sports festival."

"Oh! I'm engaged by the way."

The dual user stared at him.

"Wait- what?"

"I think it was an accident but Dabi said it was real so I guess we just stuck to that story?"

"Um...."

That wasn't very romantic?

"Well... surround me with ice."

Shouto had a million questions but he could wait. He touched the ground and a giant wall of ice shot up into the sky. The temperature around Izuku had dropped drastically but it was nothing to worry bout. He closed his eyes and tried to remember Dabi's words.

Just feel it.

One for All fired up quickly. He looked down at his wrist for the mini gauge that Mei had made him almost two years ago. The number flew up to sixty nine and stopped. He let out a shaky breath and released the Black Whips too. It was time. He had someone to control the wild nature of the quirk. He was just glad Shouto wasn't afraid of him.

The tendrils surrounded him calm and just floating around him waiting for a response. He had to just feel it like Dabi had said. Just feel it. It seemed like he needed a more clear objective instead of thinking about it too much. He felt himself lifted into the air like they were stilts.

Destroy the ice wall.

The whips lashed out at an enormous length slamming into the ice. It started to crack but it wasn't going down as easily as Izuku had thought. Shouto must've thickened it on purpose. If sixty nine wasn't enough, he needed to push a little more. He closed his eyes hard and let out a breath.

He needed an idea. What could he do if he couldn't use One for All on his own body alone?Izuku had to think.... think....

"Maybe that's why you keep that asshole at arm's length?"

Arms length.... Oh! Dabi, you're brilliant!

One for All began flowing through not just through his body but through the black tendrils floating outside of his body. He heard the gauge beep and he glanced down to see it was reading ninety five. A weird grin appeared on his face as he willed them to slam into the ice wall. They cut through the ice all the way down into the ground, collapsing it inward.

"Hey!"

Izuku saw the ground caving in around his friend. Black whip flung out and grabbed Shouto placing him further away where it was safe. It seemed like Todoroki was unharmed but he looked shaken for some reason. Izuku landed on the ground and released it.

"Are you ok?"

The dual user nodded.

"Those... they emit a weird feeling..."

Deku looked ashamed. Shouto had realized what he had just said.

"It's ok! You did everything you could to save me and I thank you for that. I was just so surprised."

"I almost made it."

"Almost to what?"

"To one hundred percent! I was able to funnel it into the Black Whip. What I need to do now is blast it to one hundred and take away the tendrils a little at a time and maybe I can handle the strain better with practice."

Shouto looked thoughtful for a second.

"Where did you get that idea?"

"Dabi! He was talking about keeping Kacchan at arm's length. When I think of him, I think of power. Maybe I can use Black Whip to take the backlash instead? I can use it as an extension of myself!"

"I think that's a great idea."

"You have tonight off too, right?"

"Of course."

"You mind staying until dinner time?"

"I can until five. I promised to meet Nemuri."

Izuku cracked a smile, "I have no idea how you two manage to stay together."

Shouto arched an eyebrow with a dark smile, "More normal than you and Tomura being together."

The hero laughed, "That's true."

"Are you ready to try again?"

"Yup!"

X

X

"We need to talk."

Kurogiri looked mildly surprised. He was rather glad to have a break from his.... babysitting job. He just wanted to grab the newspaper and return to their base where he had quiet time.

"What is it Tomura?"

"Do you know anything about the Villain to Civilian Act?"

"I do actually."

Tomura sat in his chair staring at the glass of milk in front of him.

"How did you find that out? That's not common knowledge."

"Found out from Izuku and Todoroki."

Kurogiri nodded.

"I suppose Endeavor was trying to find a way to free Dabi."

"That surprises me a little."

"Same here. What do you know about it?"

"Not much. It's not something used very often. No hero is willing to put their life on the line like that anymore."

"What if I wanted to do it. For us. All of us."

"You're serious?" the mist man asked.

"I am. I... had been thinking a lot."

"No wonder Dabi was worried. He said you've been very quiet lately. Even with the reveal your fiance had wanted.... him to fix his quirk problem, you remained quiet."

Tomura's lip twitched.

"He's not- never mind. Would you want to do it?"

Kurogiri hummed for a few minutes.

"If you are, I will."

"Why does it matter if I do?" Shigaraki asked looking slightly annoyed.

"I've always taken care of you. I haven't had anything else in my life really. Besides, I like sitting on the balcony with your fiance, having coffee and discussing things. He's a very good conversationalist. I suppose you already assumed Toya wants out because of his family. Then Jin and Himiko for the baby. The thing is, do you want it?"

Do I?

He remained silent.

"It seems you haven't thought about it."

"I can't wrap my head around it."

"Which part?"

"All of it. I don't.... I don't remember much when I was Tenko Shimura. I have no idea what it's like to be normal. They all had a normal life, even you but..... Can I have that?" Tomura asked.

He was genuinely afraid.

"You seem to fit in just fine here."

"That's different."

Kurogiri nodded.

"Izuku has already thought of the consequences of him supporting you and coming out as your fiance. He knows there's a chance he will lose everything but he said it was worth it, all of it, just for you."

"He wouldn't say anything like that. That's his stupid dream-

"It's true."

Tomura bit his lip and scratched lightly at his neck.

"Don't do that. You've been doing so well."

He stopped, giving Kurogiri a dirty look.

"Even if you don't like it, Izuku is in it one hundred percent despite the rocky past you both had. You will never find anyone else more supportive than him in this world. He's one of the best heroes to get behind you. Even if part of you hates it, he loves you. Even if you thought he was a worthless copy of All Might."

He placed his head on the table and slammed his fist down.

"I am no different. I was almost a copy of All for One."

Kurogiri patted his back, "You aren't a copy at all. Neither is he. He's out there trying to work past it."

"Then how can I?" Tomura asked, "I'm always going to be known as the villain who murdered people and tried killing a bunch of children. They're going to think I brainwashed him."

"You have to have faith that he'll be there to defend you. I know you have very little but you can place your trust in him."

X

X

"I DID IT! I DID ITTTTTTTTTT!"

Izuku stood on top of ice chunks and rocks, thirty feet into the air, shaking his fist victoriously. He was covered in blood, dirt and he was wet.

"YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAA!"

"You sound like Present Mic."

The two of them were roughed up pretty bad. Izuku's shoulder had popped out of socket twice but it was well worth it.

"I can't believe it! I made it down to four tendrils to still move if not too much. I can't believe it!"

Shouto grinned.

"Mei is going to have to make you another gauge."

Izuku looked down to see the cracked screen.

"I know.... but it seems to be a small price to pay."

I feel so free! I can't feel any better than this!

He held his arms up high feeling the wind hit his face.

"You care if I call All Might and tell him?" Shouto asked.

"Hell yea! Call him and put him on speaker!"

The phone rang three times before he answered.

"Hello Shouto! Long time since I heard from you. How are you?"

"I'm great actually. Izuku is here with me too."

"Hello Izuku! Have you trained any?"

"That's why we called!" Izuku said excitedly, "I fixed my problem for the time being!"

All Might got quiet.

"Are you still there?" Shouto asked.

"Y-yea! What did you do?"

"I hit one hundred percent while using my Black Whips. It seems I have to have four of them out to maintain the balance of One for All but I got it! The two of us are pretty banged up though."

All Might laughed.

"I'm glad to hear it!"

Izuku looked at Shouto. There was a weird look on his face.

"All Might.... Can we come and talk to you. Please?"

"Sure. I'm not busy right now, so I can talk."

"Are you alone?" Shouto asked.

"Yes. Is everything ok?"

"We need to have a serious talk. Alone," Izuku said, "This... this is bigger than One for All and we need your help."

"Alright."

"This stays between us for now. Ok?" Shouto said rather panicky.

Izuku eyed him nervously.

"I swear."

"We will be there shortly."

"Alright. Good bye."

"Bye."

Shouto hung up and let out a sigh.

"Are you ready for this?" he asked.

Izuku smiled, "I've been ready for a while."

Shouto smiled, "Me too."