He groaned awake, struggling with the weight on top of him. She woke to his shifting. She outstretched her body with an adorable squealing yawn. She released the tense stretch, flopping back on him, cuddling.

"Kyouka, I gotta get up." He chuckled.

"No, you don't." She sighed, barely awake. "You just over prep as much as you analyze."

"Maybe, you're right."

"Maybe?" Snoring out that rebellious note.

"Okay, yes you're right, but still it's better if I get up now."

"Nah... I won so I decide." She crawled around him like a cat to find her phone. She checked it and dropped it back on the bed. "We still have an hour. .." She mumbled against his shoulder, curling up on him.

He sighed defeated. "I have to be there in an hour." He rubbed her back, kissing her forehead. "You just procrastinate because you can get away with it."

"Yup." Kissing his jaw, before they napped for a while longer.

Two hours later.

"I can't believe we actually slept for two more hours!" Izuku tripped, putting on his pants.

Kyouka was scratching the back of her calf with her bare toes. She was getting coffee ready. She was only wearing his dress shirt, loosely buttoned. "I was so comfy."

"I was too." His eye cringed. "Have you seen my eyepatch?" He checked the spot they were standing at last night. "Nevermind." Picking it up.

"Coffee's ready. Here, I poured it in a thermos."

"Thanks, Kyouka, you're the best." He reached for it after fixing his eyepatch.

She rose an eyebrow. "But aren't I the reason you're gonna be late?" She pulled on the eyepatch strap over his nose, and let it go as a playful flick.

"Yeah," he chuckled. "But it's a small thing that makes you, you, you know?"

"Yeah, babe, I know." Kissing the tip of his nose, wishing him well at work. He kissed her forehead and said his goodbye, heading for the door.

Kyouka followed behind him. "Oh, don't forget, I'm playing tonight, you'll be there, right?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world."

"As cheesy as always." She snickered. "But like you said, it's what makes you, you, you nerd." Playfully shoving him out the door.

"The hero nerd, Deku!"

"Oh, shut up!" She suppressed a giggle as he took steps to the hall. "Be safe, love you."

"Love you too." He waved with a smile as he took his leave.

The life in his green eye vanished as he left, replaced with that cold dead orb.

It never was the same after the rained died.

Drip, drip, drop.

"I don't think we can just stand here all day." Her words came out muffled from his chest.

Izuku nodded, slightly tapping her hair as well. He was thinking of a quiet place for them to be. "Hm, there is this nearby park I used to play in a lot when I was a kid."

"That... actually sounds nice." Lifting her face from his jacket.

They both shared a smile. He began to pull from the embrace, guiding her. "We can walk it from here, c'mon."

"Yeah."

They walked side by side under the umbrella as the rain dropped around them like piano keys.

As they arrived, Kyouka slowly began to detach from his arm. She scanned the area, her vivid orbs couldn't find anything suspicious, she gave his forearm a final squeeze before letting go, trying to do this by herself. "Wanna go to the swings?"

Izuku acknowledged her effort and contently obliged. "Sure, sounds fun."

She wiped the droplets off the seat, before sitting. He stood behind her. "Here, let me push you."

"It's okay, you don't have to."

"It's fine, I want to." He grabbed the chain links and began to swing her back and forth.

"...Thank you..."

The umbrella was left off to the side as they played in the rain. They took turns on the slide, and climbed around the jungle gym, 'and there was this moment, the sun was able to pierce the clouds for a minute or two, and the light shined off her face, framed by the twinkling droplets falling around her, she turned to me basking in the glow of the light, and smiled.' Izuku couldn't get the graceful image out of his head for the rest of the time they stayed at the park.

"Today was fun." Jirou let as they walked to her door. "I feel so drained though."

"Well, you did a lot. You made some great progress."

"You really think so? All we did was go to an empty park."

"You took a step outside Jirou. I know, you know, that it is progress."

She sighed at the door. "I know, but at the same time, I don't know, you know? Like what if I can't muster this resolve every day."

"Maybe you won't have to, eventually it will get easier... And if it doesn't, at least you won't have to be by yourself. I'm here Jirou. That's not gonna change."

She was inside her home, facing Izuku, who was at the porch. "I..." She glanced down, in thought, then faced him again. "Thank you, Izuku." She took a deep breath and rushed out her words before she second-guessed herself. "N-Next time let's invite Uraraka, a-and maybe Momo, and m-maybe more... I know they're worried."

Izuku almost gasped but stopped himself with a small grin. "Yeah, they are... But don't rush yourself either. Be patient, how about next time it's just you, Uraraka, and Yaoyorozu."

"... And you, right?"

Izuku scratched the back of his hair. "I, um," he wanted to tell her that it wasn't a good idea. Yaoyorozu's attitude towards him was still difficult, but he couldn't say it because of the pleading in her eyes. "Yeah, Jirou, of course."

"Great!" Accidentally squealing. She cleared her throat. "Sorry, it's just, I haven't seen Momo in a while. I'm kind of excited."

"Y-Yeah... It'll be fun. See you later, okay?"

She happily nodded. "Be safe! And thanks again for today!" Waving goodbye and closing the door.

Izuku sighed in distress, walking away. 'I should probably text Uraraka. Maybe she can smooth things over with Yaoyorozu.' He turned a corner, deciding to cut through the park. He preferred the quiet scenic route. (That, and he still naturally goes incognito, from his old habits.)

He passed by the swings, thought of her, and ignored the problem with Yaoyorozu for now. He happily shook his head. "Today was fun, ne?" This was a normal life he was able to live. The life he had wanted to for so long.

"Villains don't deserve to show such smiles!"

Izuku's eye narrowed at the huge fist. He didn't have any time. It crashed into him, whole, like a brick wall. He skidded and tumbled, returning to the swing set, his back reverberated off a metal pole, stopping him. "Aha!" He took a painful breath. "Wh-What?" Cough, cough. He was also seeing some red. His forehead was bleeding. He didn't want to activate his quirk, yet. Who was after him? "No, I'm not a villain!" Seeing a shadow approach through the rain.

"A leopard can't change its spots." He rose the fist he smacked him with and held it with the other. "Attacking two students at USJ, hospitalizing Ingenium's little brother. Helping Stain commit countless crimes." He held his fist tighter. "Not to mention the deaths of my good friends Pixie-Bob and Tiger, ending the pussy cats. This society believes in forgiving all that, all because All-Might asked? Ridiculous! I will take it upon myself! I will not let you corrupt Jirou!"

Izuku's orb widened. "The pro-hero, Death Arms!" Rasping it with a strained breath. 'Jirou did mention interning with him.' His ears twitched at the sound of stomped puddles approaching. 'Why? Why is this happening?' Izuku forced his head up to the towering hero. He wasn't in his hero outfit. He was more or less dressed like a biker, leather jacket and jeans.

"I'm not..." Struggling to breathe. He didn't want to use his quirk, there had to be a peaceful way, right? "I'm not that person anymore." He didn't know if he was telling Death Arms or himself. Izuku forced himself up as the steps came closer. He hugged his ribcage and pressed for resolution. "Don't do this." Izuku gulped as Death Arms ended the distance. "Heroes don't do this!"

"Don't lecture me, murderer!"

Izuku braced himself for the incoming uppercut to the gut. 'I don't need to use my quirk. I don't need to use it!' His eye widened as his body was raised by the heavy blow. "Ghwaa!" His skull was grabbed in mid-air. 'I don't want to!' He was slammed down, his face skidded through the gravel, scrapping him and peeling off his eyepatch. "I'm not..." A villain.

He felt his body being raised, he could only stare at the eyepatch as the rain pelted it. 'Dabi gave that to me... Didn't he?' He couldn't think straight. 'I hope he's getting sleep.' He was at eye level with Death Arms. 'I also hope Toga is staying out of trouble, oh, Stain too.' Death Arms grip tightened around his throat. 'I also hope I get to walk away from all this like she said...'

"You have to keep trying! You can be a great hero!"

My eye grew. Standing in front of me was myself. Except this Deku had two eyes. "Who are you?"

"I, um, I think I was the you, before you, I'm not so sure though." He scratched his cheek bashfully. He met my eye. "But you can't give up yet! You got farther than the both of us ever could!"

"The both of us?" There were more of me?

"Oh, yeah..." The bounce in his eyes left and he stepped aside to reveal it to me.

A little boy was bent down on his knees crying over his folded arms. "Mom! Why?! He said he was a hero! He said he would help me... Why All-Might... Why me...?'

I chocked back a gasp. The other Deku walked up to him, rubbing his back." Don't worry, it's gonna be fine."

"No, it's not! Why are they calling me a villain! I never meant to hurt Mom!" He bawled, trying to bury himself further into his arms.

I almost gulped. I decided to take a step forward to the younger me.

He stopped crying, his body went rigged. I opened my mouth about to try to say something.

"You're the one who hurt Mom!" He pounced up at me like a rabid animal. My eye widened seeing his, two empty sockets, crying blood.

The other Deku restrained him, just as quick, hugging him from the back. "No, he wasn't! He's going to be a hero!"

"You're a villain! You hurt Mom! That's why we can never see her again!"

"No! It was All-for-One! He planned this, all because of All-Might!"

Standing behind the two Dekus were two silhouettes and I knew them. One was All-Might and the other, All-for-One.

That's right, it was because of those two. Because of HEROS and VILLAINS! My empty eye erupted with flames. "It was because of you!" It was your fault! I lunged for him, tackling him to the floor. I wrapped my hands around his throat. "You kept saying, All-Might would save me!"

"Don't worry, I am here! I made it in time, Young Midoriya." It was the weak version of All-Might, still smiling. "You don't have to do this. You don't have to be a villain."

"Why don't you just finish it." All-for-One lectured. "My dear Midoriya, you will always be my greatest accomplishment. More so than Tomura. I know you're in that rebellious state, but I'll always be here, to keep you company. Always." Finishing it with that maniacal laugh.

"That's your flaw kid." Stain, here he was standing in front of me, with the other two by my side. "You were always easily influenced by everyone. Never resolved to one path, never will."

"Or, is it that you can't escape us?" It was her. She was squatting down to my face level. Her cold finger played with my jaw. "You can't escape, can you, Izuku darling." Toga had that murderous smile full of obsession.

I'm not like you all! I... I am, I am... I squeezed my eye shut. "I won't!" My grip tightened around him. My emerald flames began to flare all around. "I don't belong to any of you!"

He placed his hand on my shoulder. "Yo, Deku let's go get some coffee. Looks like you need a pick me up." My body hesitated its panic with relief. I opened my eye. My head turned up to him. Dabi.

"Y-... Yeah." Then it was just me and him. Everyone else vanished. "Thanks, Dabi. You always look out for me." He offered his hand and helped me up.

He glanced up, bored. "I guess that's just how being a big brother feels like. Never thought of it, I guess. So how you doing?" That last sentence had dry sarcasm and I couldn't help but lift my lips.

"I think I'm currently being choked to death by a hero, so I can't complain."

"Why aren't you using your quirk. Just like last time with Muscular."

"That was different..."

"Was it?"

"I don't know... I feel like I'm at a crossroad. If I keep walking as a hero, then I have to say goodbye to you guys. And at the same time, I don't think I even want to be a hero... I keep seeing the flaws of this society's version of heroes." The society that did this to me.

"They're just government slaves, anyways." Dabi had his head turned, staring off into the nothingness. "We all have to be the person we are, there's no escaping that." He closed his bloodshot eyes. He opened them after a simple breath of truth. He rose his arm, pointing at me with his index and middle fingers, his other hand was in his coat pocket. "So be the hero you are." My eye widened as his smirk grew. "Get it, now?" He began to turn around and walk away. "I'm going to try and catch some Zzz, don't forget about us, okay?" As his body began to vanish into a graceful sapphire fire.

"Thank you, Dabi."

Did it always seem this simple? How did I lose sight of it? My first thought. I will walk away from this. All of it!

Death Arms narrowed his eyes. Was he dead yet? Something was off. His eye socket was twinkling. "What?" Before it sparked and ignited into a powerful emerald flame. "Arhaa!" It burned him, forcing him to let go of Izuku. He stepped back, shaking his hands in pain. "You bastard!"

"I didn't want to use it, but at this point it's self-defense. Once I use my quirk, it usually means someone dies. Sorry." Without a hint of remorse. Only his cold detached voice. The rain didn't damper his flaming eye, only causing slight steam around him. He equipped his mask guard. His body swayed left and right, before sporadically bolting at Death arms.

"Bring it!" Death Arms ignored the pain in his hands and clenched them. The rain did hinder his vision, and Deku's boots barely left taps, mimicking the rain. Death arms felt a presence to his right and swung. He missed, hitting the rain. A straight punch to his gut. Death Arms gritted his teeth. He slammed down with both hands. Nothing but debris. Izuku was perched on his huge fists, his burning eye trailed his hazy maneuvering. He ran up his arm, jumped into a twisting knee, slamming it straight to Death Arms' jaw. He stumbled away from the aerial Deku.

Izuku landed with a drift. His burning feathers fluttered around him. He stood away from Death Arms. "If he could do it, so can I." Remembering one hero he always related with. He grabbed a flaming feather. It didn't burn. He tried to increase the output of the small feather, it grew longer, brighter and denser. It still didn't hurt him. "It's like Toga said, my flames burn everyone except me." Staring at Death Arms.

"You will always be just a villain."

Izuku didn't respond. He swept the blade-feather across the rain, pulling it back, preparing his strike. One quick leap boosted with his wings.

Death Arms roared as thunder boomed. He threw his fists in a barrage against the scatter speed of Deku. He dodged Death Arms gatling. Low, step left, deflect, hop-skip into it. Izuku gritted proper footwork inside his guard with a powerful thrust.

A scorching impale..!

Death Arms body went limp, but he continued to struggle even with the flaming wound in his chest. He rasped out a bloody breath. Izuku leaned up to his ear. "I have a theory. I bet you made sure to come here unfollowed, you couldn't let anyone know you would attack me, because only a villain would do something like that, don't you think." Deku felt his body tense around him. "My theory is that you've always been a villain, only wearing the mask of a hero."

"That's who you are." He coughed out.

"Maybe, maybe, but I can't stop now."

"You won't get away with this, I'm not the only one who thinks you should be walking free. It will be suspicious if they find me."

"I know that's why the rain will wash away your blood and ashes. You were never here." No hesitation. He twisted and pulled out the feather. Death Arms went wide-eyed about to scream. Izuku's wings enveloped him in a high degree torrent of flames...

His wings lowered their output into nothing as everything was washed away. "You threw away your life for nothing."

Izuku held a lonely moment of silence in the rain for the fallen. He rose his head forward and walked away.

Izuku recalled that day, as he walked up the stairs of a run-down building. It was empty, riddle with homeless like always. His phone began to ring. He answered it to a familiar voice.

"Midoriya, how's it going."

"Good, Tokoyami, how are you?"

"Fine I was going to-" Someone interrupted him.

"Is that Midoriya! Here, let me invite him."

"Wait, Hawks, sir!" Inevitably losing control of the phone.

"Midoriya, it's Hawks, Tokoyami and I were wondering if you wanted to go on a Saturday soar! It's a new thing I hope pick ups for people with flying quirks, to unify us more."

Izuku gave a sweatdrop laugh. He couldn't say no, honestly. "Of course, Hawks sir. But I am quite occupied if you'll excuse me, give Tokoyami my regards."

"Yup, yup, see you Saturday." He clicked, Midoriya heard a cut-off protest from Tokoyami.

Izuku sighed reaching the door. He gave the knock, before opening it. "I'm back."

There they all were. "Uncle Deku!" Eri ran up to him, hugging him tightly. He smiled, petting her head. He asked if she was being good and she happily nodded, saying Uncle stain was teaching her chess.

"Hey, I wasn't done getting your hair ready." Dabi walked up to them. "We were going to go out, wanna come?"

Eri looked up at Deku with puppy eyes. He chuckled in defeat. "Sure. It's been a while."

"See I told you he would now let's get ready so we can go."

"Yes, Uncle Dabi!" Happily going with him to the couch as he did her hair.

As soon as Eri, left she tackled him into a hug, burying her face in his chest. "My turn, My turn!" Jumping up and down in the embrace.

"I missed you to Toga, but you know-"

"I know, I know, you're with that bitch." She raised her head to meet his eyes. "Oh, I'm just so happy to see you Izuku." Her succubus eyes receded into warm affection. "It's because you're happy too aren't you?"

His emerald orb shifted from cold to sincere. "Yeah, Toga I am."