heaven is a place on earth with you

AT THE ZENITH OF THE CLIFF, where the air hung with the heady fragrance of soil and the distant melody of chirping birds, Ivette stood in solitary communion with cosmic forces. They wrapped around her, feeding into her like a lover's embrace that would not end. She closed her eyes, letting them soothe her mind and ease her soul, and listened to their gentle song. The world around her felt so small, but at the same time, it was huge, as though she had become a part of it. Like a flower, blooming and growing in the garden of an infinite field.

"̴̯̆T̴͎́a̶͖̚ḱ̴̟e̴̥͛ ̸̯͌a̵͕̓ ̴͍̎d̵̪͌e̷̮̎ȅ̴͈p̴̘͛ ̴̩̃b̵̘́r̴͉̐e̵̬͋a̴͍̚t̴̺̒h̸̘͝,̸̢͝ ̵̙̾v̷̛̦i̵̹̽s̶̫̚u̵͇͝a̴̺̓l̸̟͑ḯ̵͉z̴͔͝e̵͈͆ ̵̲̓t̶͍͘h̷̯̐e̸̞͌ ̶̙̀ë̷͉n̸̹͗e̷͔͛r̵̥̈́g̸͉͌ỳ̵͕ ̶̫͒ȃ̴̪ṛ̷͝o̸̢̽u̸̅͜n̴̡̅d̷̺͌ ̴̩̀y̶̼͒ơ̵̻u̵̙͒,̶̹̈́ ̶̂ͅd̶̺̆r̵̛̫a̸̧̒w̴̖̃ ̵̓ͅi̸͎͋t̵͓͐ ̵̮̈́i̸̘͆ń̸͎,̷̟̅ ̷̬͝ä̴̻n̴̬̈́d̷̥̈́ ̶̪̒t̴̫͝h̴͖̋e̷̻͘n̵̜̕.̸̧̕.̷̳̓.̸̢͑r̴͚̄e̷̲͝l̵̼̔e̸̘͋a̵̜͝s̷̹̏e̷̞̿ ̸̠̑i̵͛ͅt̴̠͂ ̵̳͂a̵̖͌l̷̹͛l̸̼͠.̶̩͆"̷͎̓

"Isn't it better to meditate first?" Ivette said aloud, her voice carried away by the breeze.

"̷̲̎I̴̺͘t̴͎̂'̵̪̈́ś̸̝ ̸̹̏a̴͙̾ ̷̳̈w̷͔̉ạ̴̓s̷̖̅t̸̕͜e̸͚̋ ̸̰̏o̷̜̾f̵͎̆ ̴̺͒t̵͓͋i̵̹͝m̵̞̔è̵͍.̸͙̊ ̷̩̀T̶̬̓ö̷͇́ò̴̪ ̸̧̀t̶̖͛e̷͍̎d̸̨͛í̸͔o̵̙͝ū̷̪s̴̢̅.̴̭͝ ̴̣͠J̶̦̐u̵̧͝s̶͇̈́t̵̺͒ ̷͚̈́l̷̢̽e̴̓ͅt̷̙́ ̵͔͌ị̵̐t̷̜͆ ̵̠̈́ọ̷̊û̵̠t̸̮̕ ̸̺̊i̶̛̙n̷̥̈́ ̶̻̓ơ̷̗ń̶̞e̴͕͠ ̵̺͊b̷͈̑ḯ̶̠ǧ̸̠ ̵̰̈́b̶̲͘a̵̠͑ǹ̴̤g̷͚̉.̵͚̄"̷̲̈́

That made her laugh a little, even if it did seem a bit strange to her. But it did make sense. The faster Ivette got to work, exerting her quirk to its maximum, the faster she'd get stronger.

Extending her arms, Ivette inhaled the essence of the forest around her. The verdant aura shimmered as she harnessed the unseen currents, her quirk activating in response to its call. It flowed through her veins, lighting up her muscles, tingling through her fingertips.

She wasn't sure what she was doing, but with a long exhale, Ivette surrendered herself to the innate forces within.

The energy flowed from one point in Ivette's body to another. Each breath seemed to be taken from a different part of her being, but they all joined together into something greater. A great, wide expanse opened beneath Ivette's feet, the ground shifting and changing as the energy moved through her. And then, just like that, her eyes snapped open. Her vision was clear, her senses sharper than ever before.

Her hands glowed, green wisps wrapping around her body. With another breath, Ivette focused her thoughts on one thing only—stronger, invincible, unbeatable—

A large explosion escaped from her palms.

She saw the world explode. The air burst open, debris scattering everywhere, a deafening explosion rocking the air, throwing everyone around her off balance. Both the students and pro-heroes alike whipped their heads over, eyes searching for an imminent sign of danger.

"What was that?!" screeched Pixie-Bob, her ears ringing slightly from the force of the attack. She got into a defensive position, instincts roaring to life, ready for whatever might show itself.

No answer came. There didn't seem to be any villains nearby at all.

In a panic, everyone looked towards the cliff, seeing rocks fall from the edge, crumbling and crashing to the ground. Clouds of dust obscured whatever lay behind.

The students were on high alert for anything that might appear, frozen in their positions. Bakugo had his hands submerged in boiling water, Todoroki was soaked and sitting in a bathtub, and Kirishima had Ojiro's tail in his hands, his skin hardened. They watched, waiting for some kind of warning signal, some kind of indication of what to do next. Their classmates were in the same position, as well as the other students from Class 1-B.

Izuku was on the ground, muscles aching and screaming for rest, but his attention was on the top of the cliff. He recognized the burst of green, recognized the colour like a second heartbeat, and his chest clenched tightly when he realized who that explosion might've come from.

The dust settled. Ivette stood tall, her eyes wide in disbelief.

Her hands were still out, in front of her, and her hair was floating above her head. She was hovering in the air, green wisps curling around her body, cradling her like a second skin.

She slowly lowered herself to the ground. Her entire body was trembling, like the wind was still blowing in her direction, but it felt more akin to the shaking of an earthquake.

Bakugo's eyebrows rose higher, his face scrunched into a frown as he took in her state.

"What the fuck...?"

Ivette muttered something under her breath, and she paused, as if she was waiting for a response. It seemed to come to her, for her eyes lit up, and a feral smile overtook her features.

Her lips parted, and suddenly, there was a roar that shook the very ground beneath them. And not just her; the whole area seemed to vibrate with it.

The forest glowed green, mystical and magical. The trees swayed in the wind. Leaves fell gently, like ash drifting down. Izuku turned his head to the side. His heart leapt in his throat, mouth feeling dry as a bone. The roots of the large trees beside his body trembled, as if sensing something, a vibration deep in their cores.

Another explosion was heard, a flash of green, and then another, and another, until it was as if a single beam of green light was calling every tree and bush on earth. It was powerful. Strong. Beautiful. The light shone brighter, brighter still, until it enveloped the land altogether. The earth itself rippled with its roar, and the trees and branches bowed with its weight. The ground shook, the sky shattered.

And it all came from one person. One student.

"How magnificent," Tiger breathed, his eyes enlarged. He stood beside Izuku, a slight look of awe on his face as he stared at Ivette. "The power in that girl... it's astonishing."

Izuku couldn't help but nod.

His sister was amazing. She was strong, resilient, and determined. Her quirk, when combined with the strength of nature, truly brought people to their knees. He was proud of how far she'd come in so short a time.

And maybe, just maybe, envious.

How come she's gotten so strong and not me? Those thoughts poured into Izuku's head on an unending loop as he watched his twin release her powers into the sky in periodic blasts.

"Come!" Tiger announced, hands on his hips. He drew his attention to the older Midoriya sibling. "We mustn't fall behind!"

He was right. If Ivette was moving forward at such a fast pace, then it was Izuku's job as her twin to hurry up and chase after her.

He grinned and got up. "Yes, sir!"

With every flash of green light, each boom of a blast, every shake of the ground underfoot, Ivette's power grew exponentially. She could feel it. It rushed through her bloodstream, racing through her limbs, through her very veins. She knew this energy. This was power. This was strength. This was her birthright.

"̸̹̎T̷̹̒ḧ̷̯́i̷̲̕s̸͉͗ ̶̞͑p̸̡̓ö̵̭́w̴̥͛ë̴̖r̷̨̽.̴̤̌.̵̎͜.̷̝́i̷̘͑s̶̼͆ ̴̛̩y̶̥̆o̸̞͋u̸͓̾.̶͖͠ ̸̻̉Į̸̽t̵̉ͅ ̶̧̔ī̸̝s̸̮͝ ̸̞̀ẘ̷̧h̶̛̖o̷̝͠ ̶̭̉ÿ̵͍́o̸̰̕u̸̞̐ ̷̳̈́ǎ̷͙r̷̼̐ë̵̼.̵̺̇"̷̫͗

Ivette controlled everything in existence, with nothing more than her own will. She knew exactly how to manipulate the flow of life and shape the energy around her into a weapon.

"̶̟̄T̷̙̕h̶̗͑e̸̛͔ ̷͍͛f̵͓͗o̶̡̓ŕ̵̬e̸͉͋s̷̖͒t̶͕̂ ̵̻͗d̸͇̕ä̷̠́n̵̡̕c̶̣̚e̶͎͂s̴͑ͅ ̷͖́t̶̙̍õ̴̦ ̴̡͛y̵̙͛ō̶̱u̶͉͘r̶͎͘ ̶̣͘ț̵̂ú̷͙n̸̦̈́e̶̯͒,̵̛͖ ̷̡̔a̷͍̐n̷̼̽d̸̩͌ ̴̀ͅt̷̪͊h̵̨̆ė̷̙ ̵̰͠w̸͔̒o̴̳̎r̸̗͗l̷̡̚ḍ̸̄ ̵͇̅į̷͊s̴̰̅ ̷̞̽y̶̅͜ǫ̵̅ų̵͝r̸̫͝s̷̡̄ ̷̛̪t̸͈̔o̸̬͐ ̸̢͑ć̶͉o̶̫̎m̵͉͠m̸̦͌a̶̜͠ņ̷̓d̶̯́.̸̺̑"̸̩̓

"Bruno, this feels incredible," Ivette said, smiling brightly, teeth on display. Her eyes were bright, her cheeks flushed red from the rush, and her voice filled with glee. She felt alive. Alive. "It's almost like..." She gasped. "It's like..."

Almost like a hero's destiny. Almost like a villain's curse.

"̷̣͊L̵̲̀ḯ̸̡k̶̛͍e̷͓̊ ̷͇̒ț̸͘h̷͍͐ė̴͇ ̶͙͘s̸̹͒u̵̺̐n̶̜̊ ̷͈̍r̶͕̈́i̷̗̍s̵͙̿i̸͚̾n̴̳̎g̷̲͐ ̸̺̊à̶͇f̸̫̓t̸̖͋ë̷̤́r̷̝͂ ̷̠͌ȃ̴̺ ̶̑ͅs̷͙̍t̶̰̊ǫ̵̓r̶͎͐m̷͂͜,̶̢̏"̸̘͒ ̴̮͝

Bruno finished for her.

"Yeah," Ivette replied, laughing blissfully. "Pretty much."

"̶̇͜T̴͉̊h̷̖̅i̵̪̍s̵̜̅ ̶̥̿i̵̳̓s̸̱̅ ̴̡̆w̵͉̉h̵̜̒ă̴̤t̸͓͑ ̷̤̋f̷̡͝r̴̻̚e̵̤͂e̵͆ͅd̸͈͘o̷̱̒m̶̙̓ ̴̩̆f̸̣͝e̷̝͂ḙ̶̚l̶̟̄s̴̗̔ ̴̮̽l̷̟͝i̶͙̕k̷̫̐e̴̲͆,̵͎̓ ̶͇̚I̷͇̋v̶̗̚é̵̼t̷̯̏t̸̨͐e̵̯͆.̶͆͜ ̵͈͊Ř̶̗é̸͜l̶̙̚ī̷͕s̴̖͊h̵̭͐ ̶͈̀i̵̫̍n̵̻̒ ̸͎͗i̷̲̔ẗ̴̺.̴͍̐"̴̲̒

Freedom tasted like violence as Ivette let herself go, her quirk activating over and over again to release the energy building up in her veins. The forest pulsated in tandem with her, harmonizing with her emotions, responding to her will. The trees responded to her every command; their movements were fluid, their powers unfaltering.

In time, Ivette would grow stronger, until the world trembled under her feet.

In time, she would become unstoppable, unstoppable in every sense of the word. She had the power to pave her own path in her grasp, to finally do what she set out to conquer—correct a broken system and bring peace to all whose lives had been ruined by it.

But for now, it was enough to feel the power thrumming in her veins and the wind in her hair, a smile plastered across her face, and a gleeful gleam shimmering in her emerald eyes.

༺═──────────────═༻

Having her head spin and her ears ring was not the feeling Ivette expected to have after a gruelling training session. Sure, the fatigue was expected, and so was the dizziness, but this? Ivette didn't realize just how much of an impact her exertion had on her, not when her arms were heavy with exhaustion and her legs felt like lead. The way she could barely lift one foot in front of the other was evidence that she had pushed past her limits. She had done it.

A sense of accomplishment that wasn't all her own filled her.

"̴̻͝W̵͈̅e̵̩͌l̵̲̾l̷͖̔ ̸͚̒d̵̠̊o̵̗͒n̸̰̚e̶̥̋,̸̯̔ ̴͇̾I̷̠͐v̸̝͠ḛ̵͛t̶̰̆t̶̳́é̶̟.̵͙̂"̸̼͆

Ivette had transcended the boundaries of what she thought possible. It was exhilarating. Amidst this post-exertional symphony, Ivette stood, a living testament to her inner fortitude. She discovered the sweet nectar of personal victory and was gulping it down like her lifeline.

Bruno was proud of her. Truly, he was.

It pleased him to witness Ivette's perseverance, to see her keep going even when exhaustion begged her to stop— to rest. Bruno revelled in the fact that Ivette hung on his every word, his guidance a lighthouse in her tumultuous sea of effort. Heaven's calling, the angels' whispers.

"̸̺̕P̴̫͘r̷̋͜ǒ̸̻u̸̪͑d̸̪͂ ̷̟̈́ơ̶̖ḟ̴̻ ̴͈͐y̸̱̌o̸̝̊ú̸̮r̸̅͜s̵̻͝e̶̦̐ḻ̸͒f̷̞́,̵̬̈ ̶͓͝ą̴͝ř̷̗e̸̋͜ń̶͎'̸̱̀t̴̰͛ ̴̱̐ȳ̶̬ȏ̸̱u̸͈̕?̶̲̑"̴͕͝

His voice was a subtle sound woven into the rustling thoughts occupying Ivette's mind. They carried an undeniable satisfaction.

"̵͉̄Y̶͔̆o̷̺͝ṵ̸̃'̷̖̚v̴̢̀e̵̮̔ ̴̞͝p̶̮͆r̸̄ͅo̸̩͊v̷̺́ë̴̤́ń̴̡ ̵͚̑ẗ̵̠h̸͇͂a̸͖͐t̸͙̂ ̸̱̉l̵̼͗ĩ̵͚ḿ̸̥i̸̋ͅt̷̹̀ș̵̂ ̷̲̐a̵͇͝ṛ̶͑e̷͖̒ ̷̞̇b̵̳̽u̵̔ͅt̷̺͂ ̴̹̀i̸͎̔l̸̼͝l̷̤̓u̸̫͌s̷̟̀i̷̯͂o̶͍̓n̷̼͆s̵͇̽,̵̼̈́ ̷̦̓m̸̩͒ȳ̷̳ ̵͍̄d̴̪͋e̶̤̔a̶͓̋r̴̙͑ ̵͈̍Ǐ̸̫v̷̩͠e̸̹̊ț̶̍t̸̖͌e̷̦̓.̸͚̎ ̵͕͊Y̵̺͐o̴̠͌u̴͉͌'̸̘͊v̶̘͝ḛ̷͒ ̶̹̋t̴̖͊a̵̛̻š̶͔t̴̠̐e̵͍̕d̴͈̏ ̶̰́t̵͈̎h̵̨͂e̶̟͛ ̷̙̑s̵̼̓w̸̟̿e̷͙͗e̴̟̿t̷̼̓n̶͎̍e̴̢͌s̴̯͠s̵̱̽ ̵̮͑ȍ̷ͅf̸̧̎ ̷͖̈́ä̶̻́c̶̜̽h̸̛̰i̴͎̍e̸͚͑v̸̰̈́e̷̩͝m̷͔̍e̸̛̫n̵̬̅ẗ̸̹́,̴̟̆ ̵̭̓ä̴̗́n̴͚̿d̷͇͝ ̸̡͗i̴͎̐t̶̬͘'̸̬̌s̸̠͗ ̶̫̃ä̷̳ ̸̼͒f̸̲̐l̵͕͘ā̵̢v̷̲̈́o̷̖̍u̵̱͂r̸̳̄ ̸̞̏t̴̉͜ẖ̵̍a̴̾ͅt̴̤̎ ̶̡̈́l̸̞͋ǐ̶̤n̴͇͋g̸̛ͅe̴̯͝r̶̳͝s̶̙̾.̶̯̃"̵̐͜

Yet, within the folds of his pride, Bruno harboured a dual nature. He wanted her to thrive, to ascend to heights unimaginable, but he also longed. He longed to see Ivette surrender, to give in and become one with him.

In the intricate tapestry of their connection, of mind, body and soul, Bruno saw echoes of biblical narratives—a garden of newfound knowledge, a tale of endurance and temptation, where Ivette was both the protagonist and the unwitting Eve in this otherworldly Eden.

Thanks, Bruno, Ivette thought, pleased with herself as she forced herself to walk towards the campsite. The sun was beginning to settle, bringing forth a serene contentment of nature's solitude. The campfire shone from their spot, lighting the area around them in gentle amber light. I couldn't have done it without you.

"̷̟̈́Y̷̙͘ẽ̶͍s̵̹͗.̷̙͆ ̷̧̒T̶̞͆h̸̝͛a̷̘͘t̷͈̍ ̷̲́i̸̘͊ş̶̛ ̶̞̕ȑ̵̼i̸̗̍g̷̺͗h̶͍́t̸̜̎.̶̣̾"̸̙̕

Ivette raised her brows, amused. Oho?

"̴̣͘Y̸͈͆o̶̳̍u̵̗͌ ̴͖̽ẃ̷̰į̴̋ḷ̴̚l̸̠̋ ̵̬̅l̴̤̚e̴͈̍ā̵͎r̸̤̆n̴̥͠,̴͔̓ ̴͎̔ỉ̶̬n̷̲̿ ̶̼̚ț̸̃i̸̝͝m̶̛̺ḛ̵̍,̵͂͜ ̴͜͝t̴̝́h̷͉̚ȧ̸͖t̵͈͝ ̵̼̒I̶̲͛ ̵̜͊á̷͇m̴̖̎ ̷̯̋a̵͎͘s̷̖̀ ̶̜̑m̵̹͐ṷ̵͂ċ̵̠h̶̰̐ ̷͖͆a̷̘̚ ̴̩͛p̴̏͜a̷̭̓r̸̲̚t̷͍̀ ̴͈̑ȍ̵̫f̶̟͑ ̵̞͗y̶̰͆o̴̙͂ū̸̞ ̵͈̇a̶̙͛s̸̜̒ ̴̯̈́y̷̼̏o̶̫̐ū̴̥ ̵̢̕á̶̯r̵̫̾ē̶̟ ̸̡̔ả̴̜ ̸͓̐p̴̪̋a̴͉̕r̸̨̚t̸̞͐ ̵̬̇ó̵͍f̷̮̐ ̸̝̇ÿ̸̭́o̶͕͆u̴̻͐r̷͈̉s̸͖̀e̵̜͝ĺ̸͖f̵̦̎.̵̱̔ ̸̠̈́P̷̻̔e̶̻͝ö̷͎́p̵͉͘l̸̫̔e̶̢̋ ̴̫͆w̸̝͐i̸̳̕l̸̼̽l̵̪̑ ̵̗̓c̴͑͜o̴͚͛m̵͉͑e̸̳̍ ̶̬̎à̷̝n̸̻͊d̸̹͐ ̴̱̔g̷͕̾o̸͈͑.̸̺̅ ̵̤̈́T̶̫̚h̴̗̀e̵͍̅y̷̠͛ ̸̱͠ẅ̴̧́í̷̳l̸̳̅ḻ̴͌ ̸̻̊p̷̢̑r̶̥̀e̵̹̓t̴̼̚e̵̯͌n̵̛̼d̵̖̈́ ̷̙͊ț̴̋ò̶̘ ̷͎̔k̶̪̒n̵̥̏ò̵̖w̷̭͝ ̶̻̿ŷ̸͕ȍ̷̙u̶̩͌,̶̈́͜ ̶̺̿p̶̯̾r̶͍̊e̵̱͆t̶̰̋ẻ̸͖n̸͇͘d̶̳͐ ̵̦̄t̶̟͘o̸̤̊ ̵͇͂u̷̩̎n̸͔̂d̶̗̈́e̸͓͝r̵̛̭s̴̹̓t̷̙̔a̵̟̋ņ̶͒ḑ̷̉ ̸̖́y̵͖̾ő̶̯u̸̻͋,̵̢̾ ̶̻́b̵̦̕ü̵͚t̷͕̂ ̶̹̓t̵̩̀h̶̘͝ȩ̸͆ỳ̵̤ ̵͕̀ạ̵͊r̴̖̊ḙ̷̆ ̵̔ͅn̵̪̒ǒ̸̰t̴̢́ ̵̬̑y̶̳̒ǒ̶̖u̷̖͝,̵͇̀ ̵̳̿Ī̴̝v̶̟͐e̶̯͛t̸̨̋t̷̠̐e̴̮͛.̴̄ͅ"̷͎̎

Ivette listened to him. The words carried a weight, and it wasn't just because of the physical exhaustion she felt. It was a mental fatigue, too. The campfire's glow flickered like distant stars in her weary eyes as she approached it, the warmth of its embrace inviting her to rest.

The whispers from Bruno lingered, intertwining with the night's gentle breeze, a subtle harmony.

"̴̭̄I̷̩̊ ̸̠͛a̴̛͔m̷̘͛ ̸̯̈́y̸̥͛ọ̵́u̸̺͘.̷̯͂"̶͙͝

And you are me, she finished.

Her attention shifted, and she searched for her soulmates amid the clustered grouping of her classmates and Class 1-B. Ivette's gaze found Todoroki first, his back squared, a stoic silhouette. It calmed her racing thoughts. Her shoulders relaxed, and a subtle smile curled on her lips in a momentary respite.

He turned, and their eyes met.

Ivette saw how he lit up, like fire burning through his body, brightening him from within. Todoroki was beautiful in that rare but fleeting way when he was completely content with simply existing as he gazed at her in return, with nothing left to do except exist. She could feel the intensity of his gaze from the corner of her eye as she approached him.

Her lips pursed when he frowned.

"What?" she asked, tilting her head to the side.

"Ivette, your nose is bleeding."

"Is it?" She reached up, fingers brushing against liquid warmth. "Oh. Damn."

Todoroki's frown deepened. He fished something out of his pocket, a tissue, and took a step forward. With a gentle touch, he wiped away the crimson evidence. "Don't push yourself too much," he told her, almost beratingly.

"We're here to push ourselves," Ivette replied, her laughter echoing through the training area. Still, she didn't object as his fingers moved over her face, humming lightly under her breath. "Besides, a little blood's never hurt anyone."

That wasn't the right thing to say.

The tension in Todoroki's frame became palpable, and the light glinting off his left side grew dimmer. As if sensing the change in temperature of Todoroki's aura, Ivette tensed.

Shit.

Shit, shit, shit.

"I mean—" She cleared her throat.

"We're here to train, yes, and to push ourselves, but not to the point where we hurt ourselves in the process." Todoroki's words turned cold. His voice dropped so low she almost couldn't hear it over the pounding of blood in her ears. "It won't be good for you, Ivette. Or us, either."

His tone made her want to flinch. The only reason she didn't was because she knew what it would mean for Todoroki. Knew what horrors laid behind his expression. How it would affect his self-control. How it could cripple him, leave him broken.

As Todoroki's words lingered in the air, Ivette was acutely aware of the vulnerability he exposed, a vulnerability only she could exploit.

His tone, the subtle nuances of his expressions — she deciphered them effortlessly. Ivette wasn't just attuned to his thoughts; she could see the unspoken, hear and grasp the complexities of his emotional turmoil. Yet, this knowledge came with a weight, a responsibility.

Ivette realized that she held the key to unlocking the gates of Todoroki's emotions, both the light and the shadows. A power that, when wielded thoughtlessly, could shatter the carefully constructed walls he had built around him.

"̶̝͌Y̵̞̆ő̴̠ǘ̸͎ ̴̫͝h̶̙́ả̶̯v̵̦͒e̵̟͋ ̷̯͆ţ̵̔h̵̖͠e̴̱̊ ̶̬̓p̵͉̎o̸͉͑w̶͍̅e̵̝͌r̷̗̈́ ̴̡͘ṱ̷͝õ̵͙ ̷̠̌b̷̠́r̴͈̿ḛ̴̈́á̵̺k̸̦͒ ̶̮̓ḥ̴̃i̸̪̓m̷̟̍ ̷̹̇i̵̤̍ṋ̴̑ ̴̳̊y̶̖͌o̸̙͝ŭ̶̳r̸͇͒ ̶̢͋h̵̢̋a̶̖͑n̴̟̈́d̷̳̈́s̷͎̑.̴̧̅"̸̙͘ ̷̟͑

Buno's voice was a stark reminder of the delicate balance she needed to maintain.

For a moment, Ivette stood in silence, grappling with the implications of her awareness. She could peel back the layers, expose the vulnerabilities, and, in doing so, either offer solace or inflict irreparable damage. The power to heal and hurt rested in her hands.

"̴͖͊T̴̞̚r̴͖͘e̴͗ͅa̶̯͂d̴͎̓ ̵͈͐ç̸̛a̸̗͗r̷̡̍e̵̜͛f̷̰̀u̵͍͛l̴͙̄l̴̝̀ȳ̴̦.̶̠̔ ̵͇͛T̸̯̆h̴̡̀a̶̧̒t̴̰̾ ̵̢̽b̴̯̎o̵̥̎y̸̡̿ ̷̧̃i̸͎̋s̸̗͒ ̸̬͐b̸̨̕r̷̬̒o̴͎̒k̵̬͝è̷̳ṇ̵̈́ ̵̣̎e̶̫͒n̸̘͝o̶͔͘u̵̼̿g̴̫̈́h̶̥͝.̷̟̀"̷̱͋

The training ground, once filled with the sounds of exhausted students, became a backdrop to this silent realization. Ivette met Todoroki's gaze. She understood the fragility of the connection they shared. Understood the importance of handling this power with care.

It was a double-edged sword.

The dance between vulnerability and strength, delicately choreographed by the intertwining threads of their souls, unfolded under the flickering light of the training grounds.

Ivette sighed. "Sorry," she apologized, emphasizing her guilty tone, trying to calm herself down, even though Todoroki's presence was starting to feel like an itch under her skin. "Let's start again." She looked up, meeting his bone-chilling gaze. "I'll be careful. I won't go further than what's strictly necessary."

Todoroki's eyes narrowed, and he regarded Ivette intently before nodding once. "Good."

She saw the relief flash across his features before his posture softened.

They were quiet for a moment as they watched each other carefully.

Slowly, without breaking eye contact, Todoroki extended his hand towards her. Ivette took it and felt his fingers curl gently around hers.

Their palms pressed together, and Ivette's heart swelled as she looked into his eyes, warm and tender and soft. "You can rely on us, too," Todoroki murmured. "Whatever it takes, we'll help you." He smiled softly, the corners of his mouth lifting ever so slightly. "Together."

"Together," she repeated, gently.

༺═──────────────═༻

Knowing they had to cook their own dinner and dreading the idea, the students dispersed, their wearied bodies seeking the solace of a change of clothes and a momentary rest from the intensity of the day. Ivette headed back to the girls' room and changed into a more comfortable attire. The fabric slid over her skin. It offered a welcomed release from their school's training uniform.

The quiet rustling of clothing and the occasional laughter blended seamlessly with the calming evening breeze. "I can't feel my limbs," Hagakure whined, tugging on her shirt.

"You can't see your limbs either," Jiro teased, though her eyes were plagued with fatigue.

Ivette snorted quietly.

"I don't know about you guys, but I feel more tired now than I did earlier," Ochako admitted, stretching her arms and yawning. "My back hurts from all that tumbling around."

"Same."

"Me too."

"I can't believe we even have to cook our own dinners," Ashido complained, letting out another yawn, her eyes falling shut halfway through. "This is going to take forever. I just want food in my belly and sleep in my bed!"

"Don't worry, if we divide the tasks up, we can finish efficiently." Asui walked over, offering an apple from the bag of snacks she brought with her to Ashido, who quickly accepted. She beamed and took a bite into it, crunching away happily. The group of girls left their room and headed outside. The smell of a familiar forest night enveloped them, mingling with the aroma of impending sustenance. Hunger gnawed at them, and it was time to appease it.

Setting up a makeshift cooking area, they gathered ingredients and utensils. The rhythmic sounds of chopping, sizzling, and the occasional laughter of students filled the air. The shared task of preparing a meal became a communal experience, fostering a sense of camaraderie among the tired but determined students.

Ivette shuffled after the first soulmate she saw, leaning against Bakugo's back as he stood behind the stove, tongs in hand. He was focusing on the beef but felt her presence before her touch, a shiver racking up his spine at the warm touch. Ivette pressed her side against him and said, "I'm tired. Why do we have to do this?"

He tensed slightly beneath her. She could tell he'd been tense all day, and knowing Bakugo, his anxiety was probably the result of his earlier score. He was always so hard on himself. It made Ivette frown as she studied him from the side, noting how the tension in his shoulders eased just a little. It wasn't enough to erase the lingering heaviness in his eyes. But, Ivette decided to keep this knowledge to herself.

If it helped him relax, then so be it.

"Don't be lazy," he scolded, his tone soft like it always was around her. "Help out."

"I am. See?" Ivette nodded over to the benches where she was using her telekineses to peel the potatoes. "It just hurts my head."

"Then use your hands instead."

Ivette's expression faltered. She hooked her chin over his shoulder, watching as he flipped the beef in the pan. Bakugo didn't look at her, but she knew he was aware of her scrutiny. Ivette couldn't help it. It was hard not to notice the way he carried himself whenever they hung out. His shoulders were tense and stiff, ready to move at any second and prepare for attack, yet there was no malice or anger behind the rigid set of his body language. He simply... didn't seem to be himself around her anymore. And the worst part? Ivette knew the reason why.

It was because of her.

It was always because of her.

"Are we okay?" she voiced, hesitant, tentative.

"What do you mean?"

Ivette shrugged. "I dunno. It just feels like we've been arguing a lot these days."

Bakugo didn't say anything, hands wrapped around the tongs. The crackling sounds of the cooking meat were a backdrop to their unspoken conversation. There were words sitting at the tips of their tongue, ready to be said but too afraid to be spoken aloud.

Each quiet second that ticked past amplified the weight of their shared history.

The last time Ivette and Bakugo had been like this...well, it was during their last few years of Junior High. When Bakugo chose to bully Izuku, and Ivette chose to defend him.

This time—there was no bullying, no defending.

They seemed to be falling apart by their own hands, the architect and the muse all in one, and it would have been funny if it weren't so depressing. They had both come so far, but it still felt like everything was crumbling. Like they never managed to catch a break.

There was a long pause between Ivette's question and Bakugo's answer.

He released a slow exhale, as if letting go of a tension he hadn't realized he was holding. Bakugo turned towards Ivette, and for a moment, his gaze softened.

"We're fine, dumbass," he muttered, his gruff words belying a trace of warmth.

He resumed his cooking, and Ivette offered a small smile, a mixture of relief and understanding. In that shared silence, a subtle recalibration occurred, bridging the gap between them. As the aroma of roasting beef filled the air, the unspoken acknowledgement lingered, weaving a quiet reassurance into the fabric of their relationship.

All around them, the shadows were lengthening. The birds' songs were quieter, too.

"Come on, beef's done," Bakugo announced, as soft as always. "Let's add it to the curry."

Pots and pans clinked, vegetables sizzled on the grill, and the fragrance of herbs and spices began to permeate the air, replacing the lingering scent of sweat and vomit. Laughter, fueled by shared exhaustion and the anticipation of a satisfying meal, reverberated across the makeshift kitchen area.

Kaminari, wielding a pair of tongs with enthusiasm, grinned, "Nothing like teamwork to turn this into a feast, am I right?"

"Absolutely!" Sero chimed in, flipping a few skewers with flair.

As the dishes gradually took shape, the students found solace in the act of preparing a meal together. The physical weariness began to dissipate, replaced by a shared sense of accomplishment. The idea of cooking their own dinner transformed from a daunting task into a communal adventure, strengthening the bonds that tied Class 1-A and Class 1-B together.

Ivette sat beside Bakugo when food was served. She ate at a slow pace, listening in on the conversations happening around her. The energy around her seemed to buzz with life, and thoughts slowly began to pour into her head.

They weren't her own, of course. They never really were.

These thoughts consumed her, weighing down on her chest, constricting her breaths. They threatened to suffocate her. Ivette curled her fingers into fists, nails digging crescents.

Bakugo noticed. He glanced at her and saw the distant, pained look in her eyes.

Wordlessly, he dropped his right hand into her lap, his palm facing upwards.

Ivette didn't say anything as she reached out to cover his hand with her own, her thumb stroking absentmindedly over the soft skin.

Bakugo hid his contentment with a spoonful of rice.

"̵͕̐Ḫ̸̆e̴͉̕'̷̘̀ś̴̘ ̸͍̔n̵̝͋o̸̢̐ŝ̶̹e̸̗͒y̴̠̆,̷̖͒ ̴͕͝ȉ̵̧s̷̤͊n̶̖̈́'̵̼̅t̷̤̉ ̶̦̒h̸̗́e̵̓ͅ?̸̲͛"̶̯͝

Ivette perked up at Bruno's voice. She angled her head to the side, feeling him direct her attention to her brother. Izuku was walking away with a plate full of rice and curry in his hands, a hesitant but determined expression on his face as he left the outdoor dining area.

One flash of her eyes and she read his thoughts.

Very nosey.

"̷̢͒I̶̩̽t̸̳͛'̶̳̑s̴͕̎ ̸̲̔ǵ̵͉ò̸͚n̶̡̈́ň̵͓a̸̜͝ ̸̲͆e̸͍͗n̴̬̎d̴͚̀ ̸̡̆b̷͖̚ȁ̵̤d̴̺́l̶͜͝y̵͍͒ ̶̥̿f̶͍͛ọ̴͊r̶͉͐ ̴͕̚h̸͝ͅi̵͔̿m̸̭͌ ̴͖̓o̸̪͝n̵̜͗ĕ̶̤ ̶́͜ḑ̵̛a̶̟͝y̷̞͋.̸̝̌"̴̯̚

It might, Ivette thought, a small smile playing on her lips as she continued to eat her food. But that's what makes him...him.

Her brother was as kind as he was strong. Perhaps it was that kindness that made him strong. That gave him courage.

But there was also fear, and uncertainty. There were times when Ivette thought Izuku's kindness was the only thing keeping him alive. The only thing that pushed him forward. The fear made him weak, but the thought of being kind, of saving someone's life, filled him with energy, with power and with a smile so bright.

The warmth that blossomed in her chest was accompanied by a gentle squeeze on her hand. It came from Bakugo. She squeezed back, eyes fluttering shut with a peaceful exhale.

Ivette hoped Izuku found what he needed. She hoped he learned to trust himself. She hoped her twin brother got to live a life free of worry.

A life of happiness.

"̶̗͊Y̶̓ͅo̶̻͐ų̷̉ ̶̧̇c̷̝̽ǎ̶ͅň̸͈ ̵̨͊m̵̡̕ȁ̵̻k̵̹̈́ẻ̵̪ ̴̹̈́ȉ̸̠t̷̞̓ ̵͙̓h̴̽͜ạ̴̑p̵͍̉p̵̠̐e̸̎͜ń̵͕.̷̮̉"̷̘͂

I plan on it.

"Oh yeah! Ivette!" The sound of her name echoed through the lively atmosphere, abruptly pulling Ivette from her contemplative state. Kaminari's energetic form was animatedly waving a half-filled spoon and his mouth full of unchewed food. Beside him, Jiro couldn't hide her cringe in response to his lack of table manners. "What were you doing earlier?"

"Yeah!" Ashido joined in, her eyes wide with playful exaggeration. "There were so many green explosions! I thought you were gonna blow the whole place away!"

"I was training," Ivette replied, her tone casual.

"Yeah, dummy," Ashido teased, rolling her eyes with a beaming grin. "But what type?"

"I was seeing how much energy I could release at a single time."

Yaoyorozu turned around in her seat and furrowed her brows. "I thought Aizawa-sensei said to practise your telekinetic duration?"

"He did." Ivette nodded. "But I got bored and switched things up."

"Man, I wish I could do that!" Sero added, his eyes reflecting a mix of awe and genuine desire. He sat back, a hand over his stomach, after hurriedly scoffing down his plate of food.

"You could. What's stopping you?" Ivette's encouragement blended seamlessly with the light banter encapsulating the amber-lit area.

"Aizawa-sensei would kill me."

"I think he'd leave you in the forest," Kaminari interjected, eliciting laughter from the group.

Ivette looked back and forth between her classmates, a subtle furrow forming on her brow as confusion painted her features. She processed their words and was left momentarily lost in thought. She mused, "He didn't mind when I told him what I was going to do instead."

"That's cause Aizawa-sensei favours you," Kirishima insisted, leaning back in his seat to catch her eyes. Ivette shook her head.

"He does not."

"He so does. We've all seen it! He's wayyy more lenient with you than us."

A flicker of surprise danced in Ivette's eyes as she absorbed Kirishima's assertion. "Really?"

"Totally! Haven't you noticed?!" Kaminari chimed in, his eyes gleaming with a shared understanding that bordered on amusement. The subtle dynamics of Aizawa's interactions had not escaped their observant eyes, and the revelation sparked playful banter among the group.

"No," Ivette answered.

Jiro snickered and leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. "Really?" Her eyebrows lifted inquisitively. "Does the fact that he let you off scotch-free for wearing a bikini at school not ring a bell? Or when he gave you extra points on his test for completing it early?"

Ashido nodded her head eagerly. "Or when he never shouts at you for sleeping in class but always punishes the rest of us by giving us extra homework!" she whined, crossing her arms.

"Huh." Ivette scratched the back of her neck. "I never thought about that."

"Either Aizawa-sensei was pretty impressed with your work, or he's playing favourites." Jiro straightened her back, a teasing expression plastered onto her face. "Either way, I think he has a secret soft spot for you."

"We should test that theory," Kaminari piped up. "See if he'll give us a longer break tomorrow if we get Ivette to ask."

"Seriously?" Jiro deadpanned. She loved her soulmate—she truly did. But sometimes, he was such an idiot that it was embarrassing. "Do you even know who you're talking about?"

Kaminari blinked. "What? Of course!"

"Do you really think Aizawa-sensei will cut us slack? Aizawa-sensei? Who told us to try not to die?" she reminded him. Kaminari paused, thought about it, and hummed thoughtfully.

"Oh yeah. You're right."

Jiro rolled her eyes. "Dumbass."

"Hey!"

༺═──────────────═༻

The room was cloaked in darkness, broken only by the soft glow of a small lamp in the corner. Ivette laid on her front, groaning in frustration as she tossed the covers off her. She couldn't sleep. The rhythmic shuffle of cards being dealt echoed as the girls engaged in a late-night card game.

"Where are you going?" Uraraka called out, spotting Ivette rise from her futon.

"Katsuki," Ivette grunted, not bothering to elaborate as she headed for the door and left the room. She navigated the quiet corridors, eventually arriving at the boys' room for Class 1-A. The door creaked open, revealing Bakugo in the midst of tying up Mineta in his futon. Izuku and Tokoyami were also aware, the former reading a book on his bed while the latter was lying down, scrolling through his phone.

"Ivette?" Izuku's voice carried surprise once he saw his twin sister. "What are you doing here?"

"I couldn't sleep. What're you guys doing?" She shut the door behind her, shuffling into the room.

"Making sure this asshole doesn't sneak out," Bakugo gruffed, tightening the rope around Mineta, who squeaked in pain.

"Hey, that hurts!"

"Good! You fucking deserve it!" Bakugo's anger flared. He didn't forget about the slimey bastard's comment about Ivette yesterday.

Ivette scanned the room, noting that while her classmates were all sound asleep, there were a few missing. "Where's Eijiro?"

"He's at his extra lesson."

"Ah, with Ashido?"

"Yeah."

Ivette's steps were purposeful but unhurried as she walked over to her soulmate's futon, her presence marked by the soft rustle of her clothing. Without a word, she plopped down, the subtle shift of weight on the floor registering only briefly before she settled.

Bakugo, finishing the task with Mineta, pushed the indignant student away. Mineta stumbled, the ropes restricting his movements, his protests fading into the background. The room fell into a tense stillness, broken only by the muted sounds of the others in the throes of slumber.

Bakugo fell back onto his futon and spared another glance at Ivette. In the dim light, his crimson eyes flickered with a mix of curiosity and understanding.

"Can't sleep?"

Ivette shook her head.

"Come here."

Bakugo's voice, a tender invitation wrapped in the familiar cadence that only Ivette could decipher, beckoned her. His arms opened like a sanctuary, a haven crafted just for her. In that moment, she slipped into the warmth of his hold, a dance perfect over time. Bakugo pulled his blanket over their heads, cocooning them, the ambient sounds of the room hushing.

As their legs crossed over one another, the boundaries between them blurred. Bodies moulded seamlessly, as if they were two pieces of a puzzle, finally finding their perfect fit. The shared space beneath the covers became a canvas for an unspoken connection, an intimacy that transcended the need for words.

In the quietude, Bakugo and Ivette discovered a refuge from the world's chaos, a place where vulnerability and trust melded into something more profound. The soft rustle of the blankets became a lullaby, serenading them into a realm where only the language of closeness prevailed, and the outside world faded into insignificance.

From where he sat, Izuku smiled, closing his book and deciding to retire for the night. He curled up in his futon, wishing he could share it with his own soulmate, picturing her pressed against him as he drifted into sleep. Unbeknownst to him, Ivette read his thoughts, her lips stretching into a knowing smile.

Her quirk activated.

In silence, a gentle message reached Izuku: a gift of a pleasant dream.

Bakugo noticed the subtle shift in the air.

"What did you do?" he questioned, voice laced with sleep.

Pressing into his shoulder, Ivette replied, "Nothing to worry about."

"That doesn't answer my question." He tightened his hold on her.

"I'll tell you later."

Satisfied for now, Bakugo settled down, and untrue to her words, Ivette kept her secret. They both knew she'd share when the time was right.

How long? Neither knew.