Chapter Text
“Do you think the owner of the treehouse will ever show up? Claim their territory and kick us out.” Himiko Toga asks, as she makes an attempt to brush her hair. At first glance, it isn't a bad question per say. You should just think about it deeper before asking. Izuku Midoriya looks at the walls around him. Old.
“It's not entirely out of the question, but I doubt it.” He knocks on the wood. “The treehouse is old. Whoever made it is either too old to remember this place, or they're dead. I guess even with the chance they find this place, they won't think it's theirs since we added extra rooms.” Izuku is fond of how the treehouse turned out after they were done with it. He is happy they managed to add new rooms, because for obvious reasons that was not easy. Looking around though, he can proudly say it was worth it. “I wouldn’t worry too much.” Izuku adds.
Himiko elbows him. “I’m not worried. I know the magnificent rules of..” She puts her brush down and starts spinning for the theatrical effect. “Finders keepers!”
Izuku slightly laughs for a second. “What are you, a child?” Then it occurs to him. “Himiko! You’re going to mess up your hair!” Izuku says, grabbing her shoulders. His theory is confirmed. “It looks like a rat’s nest.”
“You’re one to talk.” She counters. Himiko pouts as she looks at her phone’s camera. “Goddamnit!” She tries to run a finger through her hair. It gets stuck.
“How is your hair always so messy?” He asks. He picks up her brush and hands it to her. She doesn’t take it. “I’m not your maid, take it.” He says. To be fair, it is just for the sake of banter but they’re close enough for that to be the norm.
“You know..” Himiko starts. Just by the tone Izuku knows whatever the hell it is that comes out of her mouth, he will say no to. “If you brush it yourself, maybe it’d be easier.” Izuku is apparently right.
“ Absolutely not.” Izuku replies, no hesitation. Himiko looks flabbergasted, as she takes the brush and continues doing her hair.
“You’re kidding me.” She says. Izuku has no clue as to why she’s so confused. “You let me move in with you when you ran away from foster and found this place. “ He nods. “You stored blood from villains you caught when you started as a vigilante. Hell, you’ve let me drink your blood before!” Izuku nods once more. “But you draw the line at brushing my hair?”
“I’m failing to see the problem.” Izuku responds, shrugging. “I would explode Tartarus if it came down to it, but your hair? I wouldn’t dare shave it if you asked. That shit is tangled.”
“At least I try keeping it neat! Your hair would fall apart if a brush touched it with how little you take care of it!” Himiko just puts her hair in buns for the sake of simplicity.
“Well hurry up, we’re going to be late.” Izuku doesn’t even address the hair insults, because if he denied them he’d be a liar.
“We’re going to be late? Late to what, being early? The school can wait.” Himiko gets her bag despite this, then they put on their shoes and go down the ladder.
“You are the least punctual person I know.” Izuku insults, before jumping when the steps stop. To be fair, if they repair this then it’s more apparent there is a treehouse. With the broken steps, you have to look up to notice. They start their way to school.
As they walk, Himiko points to another building. Another middle school. “Why can’t we go there? It’s an easier walk.” Izuku looks at it more, then remembers the whole idea when he enrolled them somewhere else.
“That’s Aldera. Bullying is a huge problem there. Plus,Mei, Neito and Hitoshi aren’t there. It’d be harder to see them if we went to Aldera.” Izuku spins a pen around his fingers as he says this.
“I get the second point. We could handle bullies though. We ain't pussies.” Himiko says bullies with venom in her tone.
“How many vigilantes do you know that draw attention to themselves, combating as civilians?” Izuku asks, raising an eyebrow.
“Zero.” Himiko crosses her arms. “If it comes down to it though, I will stab a bitch.” Izuku notices a crowd at school. “Speaking of stabbing.” So did Himiko apparently. They run over and it’s a certain bubblegum haired inventor. She’s kicking ass. “Oh fucking-” Himiko grabs Izuku’s wrist and they make it to the front of the crowd. “Should we help her?”
Someone is bloody, and it isn’t Mei Hatsume. “I say she’s fine.” Izuku responds. He cups his hands around his mouth. “Fuck him up!” He yells.
“Well clearly, I am!” Mei yells back. She punches the guy in the face. “How fucking dare you touch my babies?!” Mei screams.
“Shit, he touched her inventions?” Himiko asks. “He had that coming.”
Mei is absolutely winning, at least up until the point a teacher comes. He breaks up the fight and grabs Mei’s arm. “You’re going to the office!”
She rolls her eyes, carelessly. “Aw man.”
“And you two!” Now, Izuku is probably mistaken, because that finger is pointed at himself and Himiko. They roll their eyes and follow. Izuku gets the remains of her invention on the way. “You three are in big trouble.”
“What did they do?!” Mei asks, pissed. The teacher ignores her as the three are left in the office. The principal's office. He shuts the door on them. “Ven aquí, pendejo!” She yells. There is no response. Mei rolls her eyes and sits on a chair. “Fucking ow.”
Izuku gets a first aid kid from his backpack. “What happened? And where are you injured?” He asks. She points to her forehead, then Izuku makes eye contact for this purpose. Actually looking at her face helped him realize holy shit, she’s bleeding from the forehead. He starts tending to the wound.
“This imbecile,” Mei starts, “Went over to me, got my headphones and hit me over the head with them!”
“Your noise canceling headphones?! You added so many features to those!” Himiko gawks. “Aight, that’s it. I’m finishing the job.”
“Wait.” Izuku says, rolling his eyes. He finished with the injury as Himiko sits next to Mei. Izuku steps back and gets her headphones. He looks back to see Mei’s head in Himiko’s lap. Thinking about it more, that is actually a pretty good idea considering she could have a bad head injury. For now there is nothing they can do, so this is smart. “I’ll put them in your backpack, alright? You did a great job making these. Not a dent.”
Mei smiles at the compliment, as Izuku packs them up. “Thanks! I made it so that they’re durable, but won’t deal too much damage!”
“You are way too prepared.” Himiko comments.
“Don’t be jealous now.” Mei teases. “Just because you don’t have that, doesn’t mean it’s not a good quality. Himiko rolls her eyes. It’s almost a cute scene. Almost. The principal walks in. Mei opens her mouth to speak, but she’s too late.
“Don’t even bother, I know what happened. How dare you attack innocent students in my school?” He asks. Then he looks the two in the chairs up and down. Izuku does not appreciate hearing him mumble a certain word that starts with a d. They aren’t even lesbians! They’re only sitting like that because someone is possibly concussed. That's only because of his negligence as a principal. Izuku keeps his mouth shut though. “You are suspended for a week.” He says to Mei. “And you two have detention.” He says to Izuku and Himiko. “Hatsume, you’re dismissed. All of you, get out.
Izuku can’t even lie that he is surprised to see his friends Hitoshi Shinsou and Neito Monoma in detention. He sits next to Hitoshi. Meanwhile Himiko goes next to her brother.
Brother, yeah? That whole situation is complicated. To be fair though, all four of them were in an orphanage. And you can't always stick together. Maybe that’s just his mommy issues talking though. He notices a paper is being subtly handed to him. A note. Izuku picks it up and reads it.
Some dumbass framed me for mind controlling someone to use their quirk on Neito. They somehow managed to get Neito in trouble too. You?
Well that’s not depressing at all. Izuku looks at his purple haired friend who passed the note. He writes his own response as to what happened with Himiko and himself.
Mei beat some guy up for hitting her over the head with her headphones. She is suspended for a week. We just got caught in the crossfire. You good?
Izuku hands the note back, facing forward as he stares at the wall. As far as anyone else is aware, that is all he has been doing. He does kind of see Hitoshi nod at him though. They’re definitely going to have to talk once detention is over.
“I’m going to die you guys, a truly sad day for us all.” Neito says, falling backwards intentionally. “Catch me, my knight in shining armor!” Of course Hitoshi is the only one to get him. “I’ve been saved!”
Himiko snickers a bit before vocalizing her thoughts. “Your knight in shining armor? He’s a lanky bitch in a messy school uniform.”
“You hush it! And stop trying to make me catch you!” Hitoshi argues, shoving Neito a bit. “I ain’t no knight, and you’re a grown ass teen so stop acting like a stereotypical Disney quirky teen girl.”
Neito puffs his cheeks slightly. “I’m hurt, truly. It is alright my love, I know you do not mean these awful words. It is your terrible mood from that terrible place.”
“We aren’t dating.” Hitoshi deadpans, before lightly elbowing him. Izuku is torn on whether that is an endearing move or not.
“Just stop catching him.” Izuku throws in. “He only falls ‘cause he knows someone will. Just don’t. It really isn’t that hard.” Izuku averts his gaze to the theatrical blonde. “But he’s right. You are not a Disney quirky teen girl.” Neito lets out a fake offended gasp at this comment.
“All people princely aside, want to head over to my house? I need some witnesses so my dads don’t think I actually brainwashed someone to hurt someone else.” Hitoshi asks. It is a tempting offer, Izuku can’t lie. Hanging out with his friends? That sounds great.
“I am going to remind you who your dads are,” Izuku responds. “They don’t hate us or anything, but vigilantes should absolutely not go to a hero’s house unmasked as their son’s friend. At least one of them would get mad that we’re roping you into it or something.”
“What a bummer though! I like Eraser and Mic. They’re funny.” Himiko says, taking a lollipop from her bag and eating it.
“By funny do you mean that they gave up on trying to arrest you?” Neito asks. “I can go to your house.” He offers.
“Alright. Tomorrow then?” He asks him. Neito nods in response. “Cool. Then I’ll see you later.” Hitoshi heads his own way as the trio bid him farewell.
“You know, it’s nice. He seems happier since he got adopted.” Neito says, as they head their own way. “I guess it’d be nicer if he had that sooner.
Izuku turns to face him. “It would be. How’ve you been anyway? You’ve been fostered for a while, but the adoption was recent.”
Neito shrugs. “I’m glad to have a stable home.” He responds. Izuku is no idiot. He can tell even though Neito is happy, he doesn’t think it’s a stable home. “I just wish I could do something about you guys. You know, Himiko. I can at least try to say something about you? Maybe I can get them to bring you too. They can’t separate twins right?”
Himiko smiles at him, and it seems more fond than not despite the circumstances. “We weren’t separated, idiot.” He rolls his eyes at her as she continues. “We’re still twins, no matter the living situation. We can always be that. What, you think someone can stop us from doing whatever the fuck we want? And I know what I want to do. I’m sticking with him. Kay?”
“Himiko, if you have a shot at a better living situation, don’t let me hold you back.” Izuku cuts in. “Neito is handing you an offer on a silver platter!”
Himiko crosses her arms. “You ain’t holding me back. Mind you, we fixed that treehouse together. I am not ditching. I want to be around both of you, but I feel free!” She does a little spin, similar to in the morning. “And I am! At the end of the day it’s my choice. I’m not exactly choosing between my friend and brother if I still get to see both everyday.”
That perspective makes Izuku can’t help but smile. She always has that sense of freedom, even when times get tough. He can’t help but envy that good trait. It makes him wonder though. What if she didn’t? For all he knows, she’d be a feared villain with a thirst for blood. To be fair, that’s where moderate blood drinking comes in. It is mostly black pudding though.
“Glad to hear it, ‘Miko. Anyway, I have to head my own way. I’ll see you two though.” Neito says, bowing as he bids his farewells. He walks down his path as Himiko and Izuku continue theirs.
“Hey, Izuku.” Himiko starts. She looks more solemn than usual. “I know we aren’t supposed to care how society views us.” Well that doesn’t sound good. “But do you ever want to be how people see you? I mean, they call me a villain for my quirk, but it’s all fun and games till I actually am, you know?”
He puts a hand on her shoulder and shakes his head. “That would still be letting the assholes dictate your mindset. As for myself, no point in purposely being useless. Unless that in itself is the point? Shit I do-” He never finishes his sentence. He hears laughter.
“Vigilantes it is.” Himiko says. It doesn’t even feel like she is laughing at him. She holds her hand up for a fist bump. “Stop being a nerd.” He rolls his eyes, but returns the gesture regardless. Eventually they make it home and Himiko throws her bag on the floor as if she just hauled a bus around Tokyo.
“Stop being dramatic. We have a patrol to get to at seven.” Izuku scolds. “Get ready.”
“Yeah yeah, Asani.” Himiko retorts, using the name the public decided would be great for his vigilante persona. He immediately glares at her.
“At least the public didn’t name me Jinx! In fact, mine is better!” He picks up his vigilante outfit. “Still a dumb name though.” The two get ready swiftly. To be fair, they were running out of time due to the fact they got a two hour detention for something they did not do. They head downstairs and make their way to the alleys to start their patrol. Musutafu doesn’t have the most heroes, but also not the least. There are surely villains as anywhere else would have. “Hey, did you know that before quirks, the crime rates here weren’t even high?”
Himiko stares at him before shrugging. “You sound like those quirk hating cults trying to defend mass genocide.”
“You know damn well I don’t hate quirks.” Izuku responds, twirling a knife around his finger.
“Right, sorry, you’re a nerd.” They climb onto a building. “Anyway.” Himiko starts, dragging the y. “I got intel there would be a trigger trade around here!”
“Say it louder for the people in the back, why don’t you? But is there any info on where that’d take place?” Izuku asks.
“I have a hunch, I can take you where I overheard it. Follow me, soldier!” Himiko says, before hopping onto another building. Parkour. Great. Izuku jumps to follow.
“Ah shit.” he mumbles. If the way he goes is jumping off a roof with his shoes untied and tripping, then he is going to wish he didn’t exist. But then he feels something tightened around his waist. He realizes it’s a very much familiar capture scarf. “So I’m not going to die in a completely embarrassing way!” He announces, as he feels himself being pulled back onto the roof. When he’s back on two feet, he looks up to see Eraserhead.
“Tie your shoes for once.” Eraser scolds, clearly not too happy about the fact he just saved someone from what could have possibly been the dumbest death ever. Izuku smiles at him, though it’s not like he can tell with the mask. “Or maybe get rid of the flashy red ones. Doesn’t that make it clear as day when you’re around?” He retracts his scarf as Izuku stares at him, unable to explain why he can’t.
“I would if I could. Trust me.” Izuku responds. “Thanks.” A few seconds later, Himiko is back on this rooftop.
“Do I have to monitor you like a mother bird?” She asks, but it seems she realized the mood from the last topic. “You good? You aren’t hurt or anything, right?” Himiko asks. Izuku shakes his head. That’s one of the things he can appreciate. She can be sarcastic, or just unserious and carefree. She still knows how to be nice when it matters.
“I’m good. Thanks.” Izuku fixes his jacket a bit as Eraser speaks.
“What are you two up to? Is there something important going on?”
Of course this reminds the two exactly what they were doing. Izuku quickly ties his shoes. “Trigger trade!” Himiko says, and running back to where she was initially headed the second Izuku stood. He followed and so did Eraser.
“Do you have any more information than that or are we going in blind?” Eraser asks. She shakes her head. “Of course we don’t.”
Eventually they make it to the site, and see the substance already set in syringes. The dealer however, was just about to leave. Izuku sees that they’re armed so decides to go before he’s noticed. He immediately tackles them with the rod part of his spear by their neck to make sure they don’t attempt to run. Judging by their equipment, he can assume this person has a gun since their quirk isn’t too combat based. That or they have it for backup. Quirks can also get worn out. He sees the capture scarf around the person who bought it as Himiko holds the trigger.
“You got scammed.” She says to the villain.
“Jinx. Problem solving first.” Eraser says as Izuku takes the gun.
“Well I’m not an idiot! Asani. Lemme deal with em.” Himiko offers, as she ties the guy up. “How the hell is he already unconscious? These guys are weak!”
“I hope you don’t think this is supposed to be more fun than efficient.” Izuku puts the unconscious bodies by each other as Eraser and Himiko talk.
“Whatever. Anyway, we’re going to leave before any cops come. Have fun dealing with them! We’ll handle more stuff in another area.” Himiko waves, grabbing Izuku’s hand as she leads him to another alleyway. This is going to be a typical night. Izuku can already tell. That’s alright though. He’s been glad with the constant pace his life has gone at for a while.
Izuku is outside after patrol, heating water in a kettle over a fire. To be fair, they need to use their power bank as sparingly as possible. Himiko is outside next to him, holding the instant ramen. It’s pretty dark out, and even darker here with all the trees around. You could see the light from the moon if you climb this one though. They have their solar powered lamps that they typically leave on top of the roof during the day so they can see better. The fire also helps. When he’s done he pours the water into the cups and they climb to their roof with the lamp and food. Izuku has something that’s been bothering him for a while on his mind. Eventually though, he musters up the courage to ask.
“Hey, Himiko.” He starts. “What are we going to do for high school? I was thinking of UA, but security is super tight there. They seem like the kind of school to contact guardians.”
She looks back at him. “We don’t have to be heroes. We’ve been doing a good enough job saving people as we do, and there are so many less restrictions!” She exclaims, excited. “We can just do any school honestly. Maybe try to get a part time job in the meantime. Who knows. We might even get an actual house. How about I choose our school this time, yeah?”
He thinks about it. “Yeah. I chose our last school. It’s only fair.” Izuku can’t help but feel a little assured that he doesn’t have the pressure of another big decision for himself and his friend. Especially since their future depends on it. He can’t help but wonder if she’ll end up choosing UA though. For now though? He can just enjoy dinner.