Thread by @GreyFrey3

Day 5

bkdk, dkbk, villain! bk, rookie hero! dk, age gap (4 years), heavy flirting, slight nsfw touching

Warning: smidge of violence, injuries

#twinstarsweek2022

Villain attacks on a daily basis are par for the course for heroes, especially in the wake of All Might’s downfall

Still, they’re never easy to contend with, even for the most seasoned pro.

If you’re a rookie? A trial doesn’t begin to describe it. It’s more of a baptism by fire, an anointment in chaos and a blessing of pain, all rolled into one, with a healthy side of paperwork for dessert.

Izuku knows what it’s like all too well—because he’s dealing with his first major crisis right now.

“Give up!” he shouts. Admittedly, it’s far weaker and uncertain than he’s going for. But that’s lack of experience on his part.

Plus, he’s frazzled by the disordered scene around him. Heroes from his agency are all engaged with various villains—a struggle that’s leaving a lot of damage in its wake.

If he has it his way, Izuku would be flipping through debris, looking for civilians.

But he’s currently squaring off against a notoriously unpredictable villain—Ground Zero. The rescue will have to wait.

“Are you serious?” The older villain asks. “A damn rookie thinks he can take me on?”

Izuku swallows thickly.

He hasn’t worked hard his entire life, studied endlessly, and filled about twenty or so notebooks with details about every hero/villain he can find to quail in the face of adversity. Even if it is a dangerously handsome face.

“Yes! I am serious!”

Ground Zero barks a laugh, sweeping his eyes over Izuku. It makes the rookie’s stomach flip. Partially because he’s being visually dissected by one of the most menacing villains in town.

But also because Izuku has secretly harbored a crush on said villain since he first appeared in the headlines, almost five years ago. Back then, it was puppy love. Now it’s… more complicated. And it’s especially nerve racking because this is their first encounter.

It’s a shameful secret of his. A hero, having feelings for a villain? That’s a subject no one teaches at UA. But what’s Izuku to do? Not only is Ground Zero absurdly good-looking, but he’s also more of a fringe villain.

He almost never hurts any bystanders, and causes minimal incidental property damage. Aside from his open hostility towards heroes, he’s practically one himself. Just with twisted ideologies.

“No way am I letting some /brat/ boss me around!”

Ground Zero punctuates his exclamation with an explosion, and Izuku dances out of harm’s way.

Izuku trained for this day for a long time. He couldn’t help it. After all those pages dedicated in his notebook to Ground Zero,

he’s unconsciously developed a few strategies to counter him. Which he demonstrates now, using his quirk to send his body hurtling towards the enemy.

“Th-this is your last warning!” he shouts as he closes in. Izuku is expecting a counterattack.

He’s just not prepared for how fast Ground Zero executes it. Before he blinks, there’s already a fist buried in his gut, forcing all the air out of his lungs in choked gasp.

“Wanna say that again?”

…Okay, so there’s a lot of hostility towards heroes.

Izuku recovers fairly quickly—it’s not his first time having the wind knocked out of him—and then they’re fighting for real. Blows are exchanged, attacks thwarted, and moves showcased, all while explosions and lightning crackle in the air around them.

It’s almost romantic, if dangerous combat is your thing. It’s definitely exhilarating—a skirmish that Izuku has only dreamt about, now coming to life before his eyes.

And then things become serious when Izuku spots an incoming projectile, flying fast and deadly towards Ground Zero’s prone back. There’s no time to warn him. So Izuku’s body moves on its own.

Surging forward, he grabs the villain by the front of his costume and throws him out of the way.

Unfortunately, that means he’s directly in the path of debris that’s moving so quickly, he has no choice but to be impaled by it.

“Stupid ass hero,” comes the voice, right next to his ear. Then three things happen at once.

There’s an explosion in front of him, blasting the projectile into a fine dust.

The rooftop caves beneath his feet, floor heaving as it breaks apart.

And a strong arm wraps over his chest, pulling him flush against the solid form behind him.

After that, the world becomes a cloudy haze of dust, chunks of drywall, and darkness.

Only when the chaotic symphony in Izuku’s ears quiets down to the sound of his own racing pulse does he dare crack open an eye.

They’ve fallen through the roof of what appears to be a shipping warehouse. Makes sense, since today’s battle is taking place at a port.

Izuku’s mind switches to rescue mode, gaze sweeping over the wreckage around him. Thank gods, the room is clear of civilians. In fact, other than he and the downed Ground Zero, they’re alone.

Izuku crawls the short distance to the villain,

praying silently that he’s still breathing. The sight of his chest steadily rising and falling almost makes him cry in relief. Then it’s just a matter of checking for injuries.

Ground Zero has quite a few—apparently, he took the brunt of their fall.

But it’s mostly bruises and scrapes, aside from a nasty gash on his forehead. Izuku examines it closely, admitting to himself that he knows next to nothing as far as treatments go.

Just as he opens his mouth to call out the villain’s name, he realizes that a pair of alert, crimson eyes are trained on him.

“Thought I was down? Defeated?” Ground Zero snorts, a hand settling ominously on Izuku’s chest. “I could kill you right now.”

“But you won’t,” Izuku whispers, his proclamation bold. But his tone is uneasy. “You sacrificed yourself to save me.”

“Just returning the favor. I don’t want to owe anyone.” A smirk pulls on the corners of his mouth. Ground Zero has that feral look in his eye—

the one that makes Izuku’s limbs feel like they’re made of jelly whenever he sees the villain on the news. In person, he’s lucky he’s already crouched next to him, otherwise his knees would buckle.

//That expression should scare me. Something’s wrong with my brain.//

Even Ground Zero threatening him doesn’t concern him as much as it should. The villain shifts his hand and for a split second, it’s almost like those gloved fingertips are testing the feel of his chest.

Izuku starts to sweat.

“Now that we’re even, what makes you think I care if you live or die?”

Izuku swallows back the urge to tell Ground Zero exactly why he won’t kill him, based on all the information he’s collected over the years.

Mostly because he knows the villain won’t hesitate to smack him for talking too much. So he just mutters “I just know” and refuses to show how unsettled he is by that piercing stare.

He also pretends like Ground Zero’s fingers—

skimming along his high collar and brushing against the sensitive skin of his neck—aren’t affecting him.

“How do you know my fighting style, little hero? Never seen that mug before. Pretty sure I’d remember it.”

Izuku goes as red as the cherry that he is.

Cue the rambling explanation. “I collect quirks! I mean, I study them. Like a hobby. Most kids buy action figures! Of course, I have those, too. Uh…I’ve been watching you for a long time. I m-mean, your villain highlights reel. The ones on the internet. Bl-blogs.”

Ground Zero traces a distracting pattern on the underside of his jaw with his fingertips. “Your quirk is one-of-a-kind. You’re amazing!”

“So, you a pervert or just a nerd?” he asks, and Izuku can’t tell if he’s teasing him or if he’s genuinely curious.

“Never seen a hero fanboy over a villain before.”

Izuku doesn’t know what to say, but then Ground Zero grabs him by the back of the neck, jerking him forward until they’re nose to nose. Now he can’t form words even if he tries.

“You’re brave, I’ll give you that. Reckless, too.

And stupid.” The villain tilts his head, eyes half-lidded. Izuku shudders as he /almost/ brushes their lips together. “Not bad looking.”

Dizzy from how close they are, he responds without thinking. “Th-thanks.”

Ground Zero raises an eyebrow as he drags his gaze purposefully over Izuku’s body. His hero costume has never felt more skintight, and he’s becoming more flustered by the second. The villain is flirting with Izuku… or maybe just toying with him.

“What’s your name?”

“Mido—” Common sense, having left the scene until now, suddenly comes flying back with a vengeance. Almost regretfully, he finishes, “D-deku. And I should place you under arrest.”

“/Should/? This is almost too easy.”

Ground Zero releases him and just the scant inch or so he backs off makes it possible for Izuku to catch his breath. He hasn’t realized he’s been holding it sporadically this entire time.

“I mean, I will! You need to t-turn yourself—”

Ground Zero wholly ignores him as he climbs to his feet. Izuku ends up staggering to his own, which turns out to be a mistake when the villain is suddenly back in his face. Reeling, Izuku trips and falls…

or he would have if Ground Zero didn’t suddenly steady him with a hand on his backside.

That’s right. Backside. And he pinches it none-too-gently.

“Tch. Can’t even stay on your feet, rookie.” The villain’s grin is full of wickedness.

“Y-you just…!”

“I’m a villain.” He shrugs nonchalantly, canting his chin in Izuku’s direction. “One that looks forward to our next meeting, little hero. When you wake up, remember to ice the bump.”

Before Izuku can ask what he means, the man suddenly headbutts him.

And the last thing he sees before everything goes black is a self-satisfied smirk.

/end

@twinstarsweek