Chapter Text
Their walk off of UA grounds was quiet. It was still early, almost stupidly so, but it was nice. It…reminded Izuku of when they used to walk together in the mornings. It had been more than three weeks since the last time. Somehow it felt like both an eternity, and yet not long at all.
Their last walk also hadn’t included sneaking off campus to feed cats, but Izuku was just happy they were out in the first place.
It wasn’t too far of a trek, though it felt longer with three bags of cat food on his shoulders. Izuku was carrying kibble, while Hitoshi toted jugs of water and a bag of plates and bowls. He wasn’t entirely certain of how many cats he would be feeding, but he knew it would be a lot. Hopefully most of them trusted him enough to let Hitoshi get close.
Neither said a word on the way there. It wasn’t silent out, never was in the city, but it was still nice. People bustled about with coffee cups in hand and stifled yawns, feet barely clearing the concrete with groggy steps. The scene was a familiar one. Hitoshi and Izuku gathered a few odd looks, but for the most part no one spared them a second glance. They had probably seen weirder in all honesty.
Izuku knew the way, and began to weave his way through the alleys. He felt eyes begin to follow them. Hitoshi evidently did too, but he kept following Izuku. It made him feel remarkably warm to know Hitoshi still trusted him despite everything.
Eventually they reached a dead end, deep in the maze of buildings. There were things dumped back here; Boxes, dented trash cans, ratty blankets, and an assortment of random items. It was hard enough to navigate this far in on foot, let alone for cars or trucks to possibly make it back there, so there were no dumpsters. By all means, the alley was devoid of human life.
There were, however, plenty of cats. Almost a dozen in sight right off the bat. And Izuku knew some were hidden in the boxes and other niches scattered around the alley. He slid the bags off his shoulders, motioning for Hitoshi to come forward. He did, slowly and staring at the cats with increasingly wider eyes as more emerged.
“I’m going to shift for a second, ok?” Izuku said quietly. Hitoshi eyed him with an emotion he couldn’t name, but nodded.
Izuku full-shifted, waiting for the cats to get closer on their own. One of the bolder ones stepped up. They were tall, but skinny, with the cat equivalent of a sneer on his face. His blue-gray coat was dirty, but he seemed decently healthy besides that.
“You the one Benji told us was coming?”
“Yeah, my name is Izuku. We brought a bunch of food and water for everyone.”
“Hmph, so he wasn’t lying. Alright. My name’s Sasha, don’t put your nose where it doesn’t below and you’ll be fine.”
Izuku nodded, turning to the rest of the cats. One bounded up, meowing very loudly. Their coat was dusty, but Izuku could make out a tuxedo pattern. Their yellow-green eyes locked onto the bag Izuku had set down.
“Whatcha got there, human-cat?”
“Food.”
Another cat trotted up, a small tortoiseshell this time, curiosity and hopefulness shining in her green eyes. “Truly? You brought all of us food? I have enough, but some of the others don’t.”
“We brought enough for everyone,” Izuku assured her. “The other human is my friend, it’s ok to go near him.”
“Thank you, thank you kind one- Birdie do not chew on the bag.”
“But I want fooooooood, Clawdia!”
Izuku turned, seeing a mostly white cat who had brown tabby patches with his claws stuck in the food bag. His green eyes almost seemed to have eyeliner thanks to some of his markings, the color emphasized by his pink nose. He was also whining about the food and his claws now being stuck.
“Well you have no one to blame but yourself,” Clawdia meowed.
“Eh, go easy on him, Clawdia,” a furry black tom hummed, nearly startling Izuku from his sudden appearance. “You know how scarce food can be for the ones without homes.”
“I know, Jessie. Doesn’t mean the bag has to be clawed open though.”
Izuku listened to the two talk for a moment, before wandering off. More cats were emerging from the woodworks. Two more approached Izuku, one a happy looking tabby with an interesting splotch of orange on her cheek, and the other almost the exact opposite. They were fluffier for one, and had a black coat. White streaks were obvious on his head and chest, less so on his stomach and paws. The contrast was amusing.
“You brought food?” The first asked.
“I did,” Izuku said, ears pricking up the slightest bit. “There’s enough for everyone. I’ll help get everyone some in a second.”
“Oh, I’m alright, I think. Just wanted to make sure this big softie got some.” She leaned against the tom to her left, who looked a small bit embarrassed.
“Carlotta, I can get my own food.”
“Maybe, but I can still make sure some is saved for you, Storm.”
The bigger cat grumbled, trailing after his smaller friend as she trotted up to the food. Hitoshi was standing near the bags, staring out at the sea of cats with the jugs of water still clutched in his hands. He looked decidedly overwhelmed at the sheer amount of cats. Izuku decided to go help him before Birdie tried to climb his leg or something.
He shifted back, grabbing a food bag before anyone could rip it open with claws. Hitoshi began setting out a bunch of plates and bowls. Izuku filled them carefully, making sure to space it out so none of the cats were jostling for enough.
He noticed four hanging back though. Two were perched on discarded wooden crates, shifting from paw to paw and staring at the food. Another was laying in a patch of sunlight, fur green like Izuku’s, though lighter. More like leaves than dark moss. The fourth was hesitating on the edge of the crowd, sending glances at Izuku but looking away just as quick.
Well that wouldn’t do. Izuku full-shifted again, and moved towards the closest one, who was on the ground. Their white and brown patched fur was dirty, and Izuku could see a still-healing notch in their ear. Heterochromatic eyes locked onto Izuku as he came closer. It reminded him of Todoroki, except green and black instead of blue and gray.
“Do you need help?” Izuku asked gently, keeping a respectful distance.
“Ah, no. No, I’m…fine.”
“There’s enough for everyone, it’s ok to take some.”
The cat shook their head, gaze drifting back to the food all the same. “The younger ones need it more. I can…I can get food elsewhere. Try to convince Baylef and Pai though, they might take some if you convince them.”
“And you?”
“I can always snatch something from a cart. I can shift like you, kit. I’m a cat morph. Baylef, Pai, and Olu can too, though they don’t like to for whatever reason. I’m here more to protect.”
“…ok. There’s still plenty though, I promise. Will you eat if they do?”
“Olu doesn’t need to, they have some kind of photosynthesis power, but…yes. If you can convince the other two and there’s more left, then I’ll eat.”
Izuku nodded, then bounded up to the splintering crates. Cat food wasn’t the most delicious thing, but it was better than nothing. It was better than stealing and getting caught.
The other two cats watched him carefully as Izuku jumped up beside them. The one closer to Izuku looked curious at least. She was a very fluffy gray cat that was just slightly smaller than Izuku. Her white paws shifted as she looked between him and the food below. The other was another tuxedo cat, fluffier than Raven had been.
“Are you Pai and Baylef?” Izuku asked.
“What’s it to you, stranger?” The black and white one, Pai, questioned.
“We are,” Baylef answered.
“Perfect!” Izuku chirped. “The brown and white cat over there? You know them?”
“That’s Senshi,” Baylef told him. “Did they need something?”
“They won’t eat unless you two do. There’s enough for everyone, I promise. I know cat food isn’t really the best, but it’s better than getting caught stealing, isn’t it?”
“It is,” Pai chuffed. “And if Senshi won’t eat until we do, then I’ll go. Heaven knows the loyal idiot won’t do anything until we’re taken care of.”
“True,” Baylef meowed, getting to their paws. “Come on then, we both know Senshi needs to eat more.”
The two trotted off, Pai making a detour to make sure Senshi followed them. Izuku happily let them go, turning to the rest of the cats crawling about the alley. There were still some hanging back, but more of them were lining up to get some food and water.
There was still a bit to do though, so Izuku didn’t sit still for long. The first thing he did was go back to the green cat, Olu. Izuku got their attention by leaping onto the box they were sprawled out on.
“If you’re here to ask me to eat too,” they said without opening their eyes, “I don’t need it. My quirk lets me eat the sunlight.”
“I figured,” Izuku meowed, settling calmly on the weathered wood. “But the others are eating, and you look like someone that remembers information well.”
Now that caught Olu’s attention, it seemed. They rolled to their paws, staring at Izuku with sharp eyes. “What information?”
“A place you can go, all four of you. It’s a safe haven for cat morphs and Flerkens.”
“You don’t say. And if such a place existed, where exactly would it be?”
“A valley. I can give you the information, but can you share it with any other Flerkens or cat morphs you know too?”
“Sure thing, kid. Got a place to write it down?”
Izuku nodded, and spat out a notebook and pen. He shifted back, using his hands to scribble down directions and numbers to contact. Olu didn’t bother shifting to human form when he finished, just whipping a tentacle out to swallow the paper whole. They nodded to Izuku, meowing in thanks, and went back to basking in the sun.
Hopefully his Auntie Tomoko’s valley would have a few more residents soon. Going there the first time had shown him there were more Flerkens in the world than he thought. If Izuku could help find more of his kind, and guide them to safety, then he would be happy.
“Oi, green one.”
“Be nice, Sprinklez.”
Izuku turned, seeing a group of four cats walking up to him. Two of them were obviously young, having yet to lose their kitten fluff. The first—Sprinklez, he assumed—was black and white, looking like ink had been dripped over the top of her, with a white stripe down her nose and muzzle. She was puffed up proudly, marching towards Izuku like she was trying to imitate a bigger cat. The second kit was small and pure white, yellow eyes flickering around as she trailed at the heels of the two adult cats.
The adults cats were walking up slightly calmer than Sprinklez was. The first, who had scolded her kit, was a calico. She had her tail gently laying over the back of the white kitten. The second was older, a gray tabby that was probably a street cat if Izuku had to guess. She had a tear in her ear, and a few scars on her white-flecked muzzle. She also seemed content to try and stare into Izuku’s soul while Sparklez attempted to intimidate him.
“You’re too big,” The kitten said bluntly.
“I, uh, ok?”
“You brought a lot of food. Give my granna some.”
“Sparklez, be nice,” the calico scolded again.
“Eh, let her be, Chloe,” the older tabby meowed, still staring at Izuku. “There enough food there for a swarm o’ woodpeckers, kit?”
Izuku blinked in confusion, “Yes? There’s enough food for everyone, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Good. Come on then, kits, Flakie was sayin’ she’s hungry as a starving antelope.”
“Mother, Flakie is deaf, I would have heard if she said how hungry she was,” Chloe sighed. “And you’ve never seen an antelope.”
“Ay, I’ve seen it on that blinking screen your humans have there.”
“Granna Zabby’s funny,” Sparklez giggled, curling around the elder’s paws.
“There’s enough food for everyone,” Izuku said again, catching the four’s attention. “You can have some even if you have humans, don’t worry.”
“You’re a good kit,” Zabby meowed, sharp eyes locked onto Izuku again. “Keep that head on your shoulders, alright?”
Izuku nodded, still a bit confused, and watched as the four padded back towards the food. Hitoshi was still dishing up plates and bowls of it, pouring water as he went too. The swarm of cats around him were waiting patiently for their turn. Mostly.
Two more cats went dashing past Izuku. One was a blur of white and black fur, their long tail whipping behind them. The second trotted by slightly slower, their russet and brown fur more obvious. Amber eyes flickered over to Izuku for a moment.
“Thank you, for the food,” they meowed.
“It’s no trouble,” Izuku said. “Everyone deserves to eat. I only wish I could do more.”
“You’re doing plenty, kit, don’t worry-“
“Lucyyyyyyy let’s go!” The other cat called back, a distinctly big-cat growl to their voice.
“I’m coming, Isamu. Wait for Thea-“
A white and brown blur raced past Izuku, tackling Isamu, who went down with a squeaky roar. The two tumbled away, giggling in halting meows and growls. Lucy sighed fondly, bidding Izuku goodbye before chasing after their two friends.
Izuku took a moment to look around the alley. It seemed like everyone was content, and that all the food and water had been laid down. Hitoshi was sitting on the cement off to the side, watching all the cats with a fond look. He glanced over at Izuku, his expression changing to something more hesitant.
Izuku shifted back to human, and made his way over to Hitoshi. He slid onto the ground, watching the cat colony from a distance. The ones who had other food sources let the others eat first. There was plenty left though. They would all be well fed tonight. It made him happy, knowing he had helped at least a little bit.
Now he just had to help fix what was hanging above their heads.
“I…I’ve been thinking, like you asked me to,” Izuku murmured, hardly audible unless listened for.
“I have too.”
Izuku hummed in acknowledgement, not looking at Hitoshi quite yet. He didn’t know what waited for him in the next minutes. If it was rejection—an actual breakup—then he would hold onto hope for another few minutes. Even if it was a narrow string, he would cling to it. It was better to hope than let everything slip through his fingers, becoming a thread in the tapestry of their shared past. It was better than yielding to the dread curling in his gut like a venomous snake.
“I hurt you by getting hurt myself, didn’t I?” It wasn’t a question, not really. Izuku knew it, and Hitoshi did too. “I thought that…I thought that being a hero was putting yourself in danger so no one else had to. That by being the target, I took it off of other’s backs. I got hurt, and thought I had done the right thing.”
“You did,” Hitoshi assured him quietly. Izuku saw him staring up at the sky. “Just not in the right way.”
“I know that, now. It took Ochako to tell me the obvious, but…I know. Putting myself in danger isn’t being a hero. I can’t- I can’t save anyone if I can’t save myself.”
Hitoshi dragged his eyes from the sky to the pavement below, nodding to what Izuku was saying. They were quiet for another moment. There was no rush for words, no brook of sentences babbling from their lips. Just a patience for the other to find what they wanted to say.
“I wasn’t fair to you either,” Hitoshi stated like it was a fact. “I should have talked to you, instead of saying we needed a break. I just…didn’t know what to do.”
“No, I think…I think I needed that, to realize. And I understand why you did it. You always distance yourself from what you get overwhelmed by, Hitoshi.” Izuku paused, gathering his words into something coherent in his mind. “Can we just…promise?”
Hitoshi finally looked over at his, an eyebrow raised in question. “Promise?”
“To talk. To communicate. I don’t- I don’t ever want this to happen again. It hurt, being away from you. If I do something wrong-“
“Hey, no. Stop that.” A hand brushed Izuku’s, tentative and almost fearful. “We’re equals, ok? You did something that can and should be changed, but you don’t do things wrong, Izuku. We make mistakes, and those can be learned from and forgiven. We’ll tell each other when we make a mistake, and learn from it. You aren’t the only one in the wrong here.”
“But I…”
“I never talked to you about this. I’ve been terrified for your wellbeing for a while now, and I never mentioned it. Yeah, your mistake was more…extreme, but I’m not blameless. We both could have been doing more to stop it from reaching this point.”
Izuku nodded slowly, dropping the argument on his tongue. He took the hand sitting next to his in a gentle hold. They sat there, peaceful in their bubble of cats and hesitant promises.
“So we both promise, from now on, to talk before things get too much?” Izuku said softly. “And to tell each other when something is wrong?”
“Yeah, I promise.”
“I promise too.” Izuku turned, and saw purple eyes staring back at him. He let himself get lost in their swirling galaxies for a moment. “I missed you, My Shin.”
“I missed you too, Mon Minou.”
Izuku shuffled closer, laying his head on Hitoshi’s shoulder. He breathed in the scent of his person, and felt like something shifted back into place. For the first time in weeks, he felt whole.
It felt like he was finally home.
“We should probably get back soon,” Izuku murmured, knowing Aizawa-sensei would get worried if they were gone too long.
“Yeah.”
Yet neither moved, not for a few minutes at least. Izuku got up first, stretching his limbs and shaking himself from residual grogginess. He offered a hand to Hitoshi. To his boyfriend. His person.
Tall as he was, it was easy to pull Hitoshi to his feet. Together, they gathered up the empty dishes. Some of the cats wound their way around their ankles, meowing in farewell. Izuku guessed more than one was telling them to come back soon.
Hitoshi brushed Izuku’s hand with his fingertips, still hesitant. Izuku just smiled softly, grabbing his person’s hand in his own. It was almost like when they had first started dating, still unsteady with the weight of something new, but glowing in the knowledge that their feelings were returned.
It wasn’t a beginning, and it certainly wasn’t an end. Izuku thought it was more like a puzzle. Their edges were slowly growing, filling in the middle, as they discovered more about one another. One day, he hoped their puzzle would be complete, no piece left without a place. No part they didn’t know about the other.
But for today, they left the alleyway together, hand in hand once again.
BONUS :
Ochako was sitting in the common room, doing homework and trying to convince herself that no, she did not need a snack until this English assignment was finished dang it.
But she was sitting there, when Shinsou and Midoriya walked in. They were holding hands, and smiling. Ochako blinked, set her pencil down, and slumped in her chair with a sigh of relief. Thank god, her idiots had figured their shit out.
She smiled, waving to them as they headed back upstairs. They were giggling and gently shoving each other like lovesick teenagers. Which, they kinda were, but those two very much acted like they were already a married couple.
Ochako just shook her head, and texted Midoriya to let him know she was calling dibs on being the maid of honor at their wedding.