Triumvirate Knights: Chapter 37 (Patreon)

Chapter 37:

Inko:

Inko Midoriya could admit, at least to herself, that she was a bit of a worry wart parent.

How couldn’t she be?

All of Izuku’s life her little boy wanted to be a Hero, and when he was deemed quirkless that only seemed to drive him to try even harder for that goal. Fighting Bakugo, throwing himself into harms way to help other kids even when the danger to him was so high.

She was proud of her boy- but she did indeed worry about him so very very much it almost hurt sometimes.

So when he called her, pleading with her to come to the hospital, her heart was in her throat the entire ride over to the emergency room, needing to remind herself constantly that her boy had just called her on the phone. So it must be ok and not as bad as she was already thinking.

Even so, the thoughts circled, round and round in her head the entire time.

When she finally made it to the hospital; and laid eyes on her son, it was a relief beyond measure to see that he wasn’t hurt. That there wasn’t some new scar or that he’d gotten into some terrible fight or accident.

But then the question came as to why exactly she was here.

“What!?” She didn’t scream out the question but it was certainly a close thing. Her son cringed, hands rising to try and forestall any arguments or questions that might be coming.

“I-I know its a lot to ask but-”

“A lot to ask!?” She interrupted her boy, something she rarely ever did. “Izuku. This… this isn’t a pet this is a little girl! I… this is more than just ‘a lot to ask’.

“I know-” He pleaded. “But mom, she has nowhere else, no one else. I… it doesn’t feel right just leaving her here.”

Her Izuku was a good boy, and her heart felt for the girl but even so.

“I don’t know Zuku.” Even as she said the words she started to think of the theoretical cost the actual literal cost. Clothes, food, new appliances and hygiene products for a little girl. At the absolute least a few hundred dollars and that’s just what she could think of off the top of her head.”

“Mom-” Izuku hesitated. “At least meet her?” He asked. “If you see her you’ll know why we can’t just leave her here.”

She hesitated; mostly because she knew herself. She could rarely say no to her son as is; and thanked the gods every day they’d given her such a good boy that was considerate and didn’t abuse that fact. If she saw a helpless child who needed help that badly… she just knew her resolve was going to crumble.

Curse her soft heart.

“I…” She gnawed at her lip, fingers worrying over the strap of her handbag. “There’s no one?” She asked, almost pleading. “All Might’s agency? One of your other classmates? Social services? Anyone?”

Izuku’s features softened. “It… doesn’t have to be forever mom.” He said, and she knew it was just to appease her, because she could see how much it cost him to say it. “Just… maybe a day or two? At least long enough for us to figure something else out but… I just don’t want to leave her alone in the hospital.”

Oh… oh her boy had her stupid soft heart too.

Inko looked down, still fidgeting with the strap of her bag, rationalizing her choice in her head even as she knew her own rationalizations of ‘just a day or two’ would probably wither and die on the vine as soon as she herself said yes, only to be replaced by new rationalizations later on why it was ok if it extended past a day or two.

“Ohhhhh….” She bemoaned. “Ohhhhh- lets… let me see her.” She said, hoping there would be something something wrong or bad that would let her put her foot down a bit more firmly, though she knew there wouldn’t be. Her boy wouldn’t ask her for something like this if he didn’t think the person he was helping was worth it.

Izuku smiled, his whole face lighting up with a grateful glow “Thank you mom.”

She wanted to remind him that she hadn’t said yes yet but she didn’t- she didn’t have the heart to.

When he escorted her to the room, and she met Eri, Inko realized she’d been right.

The second she laid her own eyes on the girl all of her own protests melted away.

Curse her soft heart!

(X)(X)(X)

Eri was her name and she was such a sweet girl, it made Inko cry thinking that anyone could have hurt her as the doctors claimed she’d been hurt.

She signed all the paperwork, she jumped through all the hoops with both the doctors and the police officer from Witness Protection. When they left they were ‘taken’ from the hospital in an unmarked vehicle, with a driver, another officer would take Inko’s car for her back home. Her name was kept out of the public record,as was Eri’s.

She understood, without needing to be told, that whomever had hurt this poor girl was probably looking for her.

Thus looking for her and Izuku.

And even still she couldn’t regret agreeing to take this poor girl home.

Perhaps her boy had inherited some of his goodness from her after all.

It was dark by the time they made it home. The plainclothes agents stationed outside their building said they’d remain there for the night to make sure everything was ok before the observation detail took over and she was grateful for the added piece of mind.

Eri was quiet and shy, almost subdued, Izuku carried her in his arms and Inko saw the girl fighting off sleep, her head continually lulling before she caught herself.

Stepping into her home though, the little one was finally losing her valiant fight, eyes half lidded and nearly insensate.

“Go take a shower sweetie.” She whispered, maneuvering herself to grab hold of Eri as Izuku passed her over. She didn’t have her son’s muscles but the little one was so thin she weighed almost nothing. “I’ll take her to the guest room.”

“Thanks mom.” Her boy smiled gratefully. “I’ll come right out to help you with dinner-” He promised, as if to make up for all the trouble.

She smiled, nodding at her boy as he hurried to shower and change out of his school clothes.

Making her way to the guest room she lowered herself just enough so her fingers, and possibly Eri’s bum helped pull the handle down to open the barrier, admitting her into the darkened room.

Leaning down to finally place the girl on her bed for the night she noticed immediately Eri’s grip growing tight around her clothes, little fingers fisting the fabric.

She heard something in her ear, a frantic whisper that startled her.

Don’t be a dream. Don’t be a dream. Don’t be a dream. Don’t be a dream.

The little girl’s voice was pleading with her, caught in a frightful fugue of half sleep, Inko jumped as the little horn on her head sparked but did nothing else.

She rubbed a hand down the girl’s silvery white hair. “Shhhh shhh.” She cooed, hands hugging the tiny girl. “It’s alright baby. I’m not a dream. I promise.”

The girl’s grip eased enough for Inko to pull away, eyes glassy and unfocused, still flitting uncertainly between consciousness and sleep.

She settled the little one down onto the bed, tucking her in as Eri lost her battle with sleep and shut her eyes again.

“I’ll be right here when you wake up.” Inko promised.

(X)(X)(X)

Izuku:

The next morning came, seemingly in an instant, and by his measure all too soon.

He’d barely slept properly the night before, mind awash in thoughts and whirling concerns regarding not only Eri, but his return to school, where no doubt Aizawa and Professor Gentle would have decided on a punishment for him and Bakugo, his training with One for all and the knowledge that Bakugo might still think he was an agent of All for One.

A part of him was still insulted by the accusation, an indignant anger burning in his chest, but that part of him warred with the part that recognized that Bakugo had kept those suspicions to himself. He hadn’t tossed Izuku’s name into the mud where it might never recover from.

Even one whisper of those words might just turn all of class 1 against him.

Well… most of the class… Asui had said she believed him… He didn’t want to test it, but he could only hope the others would be so understanding.

He could already hear and smell his mom making breakfast. So fully getting up, he showered and dressed in short order; then stepped out of his room ready to face… whatever the day had in store for him.

“Oh, good morning sweetie.” His mom smiled, the skillet sizzling as he smiled back.

“Good morning mom.”

“Can you go wake up Eri honey? I’m almost done.”

“Sure mom.”

Turning towards Eri’s guestroom he wondered if the little girl was still asleep, it’d been a long day for everyone yesterday, but especially for her.

Knocking gently on the door, he called out. “Eri- It’s Izuku. I’m coming in ok?”

Turning the handle, gently pried the door to the room opening, parting the barrier, and found-

“Oh!” He was startled. “You’re awake.”

She was. Eri sat upright in her bed, sheets pooled around her waist and legs.

Large red eyes stared up at him;

“You weren’t a dream.” He heard her whisper.

Oh.

He let the door open, lowering himself as much as he could to kneel by her bedside. “No, we weren’t a dream.” He smiled as gently as he could. “Would you like to come out of your room? Breakfast is ready?”

The girl looked confused, then unsure but before she could answer, Izuku received another shock as the doorbell rang.

He blinked, and heard his mother also remark from the kitchen. “Oh? Who could that be.”

Suddenly, his instincts burned, the possibility that an actual threat might have followed Eri to his home, to his mother, flared bright and red across his mind and before he even realized what he was doing he’d practically sprinted from Eri’s side and found himself stopping his mother from going further by grabbing her by the bicep.

“Wha-Izuku!?”

“I’ll get it.” He suddenly said, cold water dropping across his senses as he saw the startled fear in his mothers eyes at his abruptness, only to be replaced by a dawning worried realization.

He turned away, inching his way towards the door before he took a breath and looked through the peephole as his mother began dialing the number given to them for the observation detail. .

And thus he received his third surprise of the day.

Blinking he soon found himself yanking the door open with incredulous eyes.

“Asui!?” He balked.

Tsuyu raised a larger than average hand and waved with a soft ribbiting croak.

“Hi.”

“What’re you- How did you?”

“I wanted to check on Eri-chan.” Asui answered. “And I remembered your address from when you told the medics.”

Ahh- she, but- wh-

“You have a good memory.” He mumbled numbly.

“Thanks.” She answered.

Izuku felt his mother walk up behind him, phone left in her pocket. “Oh, hello.” She smiled, the previous concern forgotten. “Are you one of Izuku’s friends from school?”

Asui smiled. “Yes Miss Midoriya.” The frog girl bowed. “I’m sorry for intruding, but I was worried about Eri, and I wanted to check on her before we went to school… I don’t have Midoriya-chan’s number.”

Suddenly, Asui leaned to the side a bit, peeking over his shoulder which made Izuku do the same.

Eri stood there, hovering just behind the corner she was peeking past.

“Hi Eri-chan.” Tsu waved again, and Izuku could tell she was trying to smile for the girl.

Hastily, he stepped aside “O-oh! I’m so sorry. Come in.”

“No, I'm sorry,” She said. “It's rude of me to show up unannounced-” She bowed again to his mother.

“It's alright.” Inko assured. “You’re Izuku’s friend! You’re more than welcome here.”

Asui did smile at that, turning to look at him. “Go get ready for school, I’ll help Eri wake up ok?”

Izuku blinked, “Alright, if you’re sure.”

Tsuyu nodded, making her way inside and towards Eri, his classmate knelt in front of the girl.

“Hi Eri-chan.”

Eri hesitated to speak, ducking her head and averting her eyes. “H-hi.”

“Wanna get cleaned up and get some food?”

“...Ok.”

He remembered Asui mentioning taking care of her siblings and he couldn’t help but notice that the experience showed. She gently gathered up the toothbrush they’d bought for Eri last night, and actually walk the little girl through the process of brushing her teeth- it hadn’t occurred to him she might not know how to do it for herself if she’d been kept in captivity for so long-

And while Eri did as she was asked, Asui worked a steady comb through the little girl’s tangled mess of hair.

When they finally sat down at the table to have Breakfast- pancakes. He hadn’t had pancakes since he started watching his food intake for UA.

Eri cried.

He wasn’t sure what brought it on, but the little girl took a single bite and she just… started crying.

He wasn’t sure how to help, and even Asui seemed at a loss. It was his mother who swept in, taking the bawling girl in her arms and rocking her gently back and forth as she sat down on the couch.

It would be later, much later, after everything, after he’d gotten the whole story- that he realized that Eri hadn’t necessarily been crying over something as simple as sadness or joy.

It’d been pure confusion of it all.

And that was so much worse.

(X)(X)(X)

Bakugo:

Standing in the hall in front of Principal Nedzu’s office, Bakugo felt his irritation spiking alongside his nervousness.

Where the fuck was Deku?”

Aizawa had sent him here the second he laid eyes on him, telling Deku would be joining him shortly.

That was ten minutes ago.

Class started in another five.

Deku was never late.

Suspicion, nervous anxiety and anger swirled inside the boy, small pops and cracks bursting from his palm like firecracker fireworks in a nervous tic.

“Bakugo-san”

The ashen blonde startled, turning his head to the voice only to see the tiny principal standing  at his side, staring upwards at him with that small, typical smile on his face.

The tiny principal raised one paw, gesturing to his door.

“Please. Come in.”

The mouse/bear turned, hands behind his back as he marched into his office with a seemingly happy air; Bakugo followed after him.

“Deku’s not here.” He grumbled.

“It appears Mr. Midoriya is running late today. I will speak to him individually, Nedzu answered as he marched around his desk to reach his chair, jumping onto the cushy rolling seat with a hup.

The chair rolled a bit, and Nedzu jerked it forward until he was close enough to his desk to grab it with his paws and pull himself fully into position.

It was… a little ridiculous honestly.

Bakugo sighed, tension easing from his shoulders as he stared past Nedzu’s chair to the big window behind his desk, ready to hear whatever the little mouse had to say.

“Aizawa-san has agreed to let me decide on your punishment for your actions yesterday.”

“Figured.” He muttered; Aizawa had been pissed. But Bakugo had expected his anger, and took it into account when he decided to do what he did. Aizawa would either try to expel him, which Bakugo was prepared to fight tooth and fucking nail against. Or he’d defer his punishment to the one person who could expel him, Nedzu.

Looks like the hobo-teacher was really gunning for him now.

“Tell me Bakugo-san. What punishment do you believe your actions merit?” Nedzu asked, leaning forward in his seat so his paws could clasp together on his desk, the little smile never even twitching on his furry face.

“It was a combat test.” He repeated his earlier justification. “So what if I hit Deku harder than Aizawa thought. He got up and hit me right back.”

“Aizawa claims the force was clearly excessive. He, Professor Gentle and some of your classmates had thought you’d killed him.” Nedzu contested.

Bakugo snarled insulted as his red eyes finally swiveled back onto the beady eyed mouse. “I’m not that stupid! I know how much that loser can take!”

“How so?” The principal’s calm little droll didn’t even hitch. “The limits of Izuku’s quirk are mostly unknown- how could you have been so sure he would be able to survive that kind of hit?”

“He tanked a blow from Man-hands earlier;” He justified again. “She hits hard enough to shatter concrete by accident. If he can take her blows, he could tank mine too.”

“I see. And if he needed to remain conscious for his quirk to hold that level of endurance?”

Bakugo blinked. “What?”

“Theoretically-” Nedzu answered. “If his endurance required conscious effort to activate  and keep activated, what would have happened if he would have hit the ground from that height after your impact?”

Bakugo recognized the trap, but he didn’t see much of a way out of it.

“He didn’t lose consciousness.” He tried.

“But if he had?”

…

“He’d have died.” The blonde bomber snarled.

Nedzu nodded.

“That’s not how his quirk works though.” He tried again.

“Are you sure of that?” Nedzu asked, raising an eyebrow. “How are you so sure if I may ask?”

He wasn’t.

Nedzu turned his chair, hopping down to march over to a coffee maker and begin brewing himself a cup.

“But you’re right.” The mouse conceded. “He didn’t lose consciousness- but another question, what if his quirk was like that of ‘Starfield?’

“Who?” He snarled. He wasn’t the damn nerd who was a fucking encyclopedia of quirks.

“Starfield. A hero on the eastern side of the island” Nedzu shrugged. “Her quirk is an invincible barrier. But it can only take one blow of infinite strength, before needing to recharge for a second or so.”

“That’s not how it works either.” Bakugo snarled.

“Are you so sure?” Nedzu countered again, his smile growing ever so slightly as Bakugo realized the trap- again. “How?”

The blond ground his teeth, fists clenching at his sides.

… Shit.

The silence in the room stretched on, Nedzu apparently content to wait for his coffee as Bakugo stewed in his thoughts.

The coffee maker announced it was finished with a pleasant ding that sounded like a gunshot in the silence of the room.

“The fact is-” The mouse began as he poured himself his cup. “-that there were simply too many unknowns. You couldn’t be sure of the safety of what you were doing.” He plopped the pot onto his cradle, taking a long, slow sip. “And I think you know that.”

Bakugo didn’t answer.

Nedzu made it to his chair again, reaching up on his tiptoes to place the cup on the desk before jumping onto his chair again, this time without the roll carrying him away.

The mouse/bear’s black eyes stared at the blonde bomber. “I can understand getting caught up in the moment, but this was an excessive level of aggression that must be curtailed for the safety of all our students.

A muscle in Bakugo’s cheek twitches, desperately wanting to argue that he’d only gone that hard after Deku and would only go that hard because it was him- but then the other part of his brain caught up, shutting his mouth before he went and said something that he couldn’t take back.

He wanted the truth. He had to know if Deku sold out…everyone Not to needlessly ruin the loser’s life.

“Unless you had a very good reason beyond your grudge to do this I’m afraid a punishment must be meted out…” The Principal paused, his head tilting. “Well? Bakugo? Was there a compelling reason for this?”

The two sides warred in his head for barely a moment longer.

Fuck you Deku. He mentally snarled.

“No sir.” He said, features and voice completely neutral.

Strangely, the principal’s smile returned.

“Then I’m afraid Bakugo that until further notice you are on a probationary status in the hero course. One more incident any other incident and you will be either expelled or placed in the Gen ed course here at UA. You are also obligated to attend mandatory remedial classes with Professor Gentle, Professor Midnight and Professor Cementoss to discuss ethics, appropriate levels of force and the standards of what would be considered rules of engagement. Any missed class, any complaints from your teachers and I’m afraid the consequences will be far more damaging and far more permanent. Am I making myself clear?”

The blond nodded.

“Yeah.” He muttered. “I hear ya.”

(X)(X)(X)

“I’m so sorry we made you late.” He apologized again as they stepped off the train.

“It's not your fault.” Tsu told him- again. “You weren’t the only one to find Eri and I went to your house to help on my own. You didn’t make me late, I made me late.” She affirmed. “And I’d do it again.”

“I know but-” He cringed, the UA building coming in view. “We’ve practically missed all of the first period!”

Asui  cringed, wincing  “Yeah… Aizawa’s gonna be angry- Ribbit.”

The two began to jog towards the school, rushing up the main steps and towards the courtyard.

They made it into the halls, the normally bustling passageways were cavernously empty and their footsteps sounded loud as the noise bounced off the walls.

As they rounded the corner of the juncture just before Class 1’s room, both of them slowed down, and Izuku shared a nervous look with Asui before he decided to be the first one through the door. It wasn’t much, but at least all the stares would be on him first.

He took a breath and slid the door open.

Aizawa stopped mid lecture, eyes turning towards Izuku and then flickering over to Asui as she peeked past his shoulder.

“Midoriya, Asui.” The teacher didn’t growl but his voice was cold-

As if to compound the severity of their ‘crime’ the bell rang.

First period was officially over.

Somehow the teacher’s eyes seemed to glint like daggers.

“Class dismissed.” the man said, setting down his book, many of their fellow classmates were giving them pitying looks, though Setsuna waggled her eyebrows in a way that made a flush crawl up Izuku’s neck.

As the class began to gather their things, Aizawa crossed his arms, leaning against his desk.

“Both of you better have a good explanation.”