there's something so beautiful
about the fire roaring within her veins

FLASHES OF GREEN resounded across the room. An emerald-eyed girl laid on her back, sprawled out on her twin-sized bed, arms rising above her head and fingers twirling the strings of energy-made wisps, illuminating the dark room. Nicotine flowed through her veins, numbing her body, pushing away the nightmares threatening to dig their claws into her brain.

The stars peered through the window, crooning a mournful symphony.

Objects floated through the air, encompassed in a sage mist. Darkness seeped into every corner of the room, stalking to the figure on the bed silently, a predator ready to attack and feast on its prey. Ivette wasn't scared of the dark. She never had been. She welcomed it like an old companion, succumbing into its intoxicating embrace. Images, memories that were not hers, plagued her mind with nightmares, and sleep never beckoned her. She laid still and awake, eyes following the luminescent tendrils produced from psionic energy.

A soft, daunting melody flowed through her ears; headphones nestled comfortably in her ears. She brought her vape to her lips and took a deep breath, holding the vapour in her mouth before sucking it in, revelling in the slight burn in the back of her throat. Whether it was supposed to be there or not, Ivette didn't know — she didn't care. It helped push away her troubles, and that was all she could ask for. All she wanted.

Sometimes they soared over her, prepared to crash like a tsunami among an unsuspecting city. Vicious collective waves were ready to destroy buildings and capture humans, devour them whole, choke, asphyxiate, suffocate them to death. Give them an untimely demise and welcome them as the new children of the sea.

A flash of emerald appeared in her head. A soothing comfort soon followed.

There was only one person who could help her.

And she needed him. Now.

Rolling off and out of her bed, Ivette grabbed her socks and shoes, slipping them on. She didn't bother to change. It was only Bakugo's house, after all. Putting her vape back in its secret compartment, lest her twin or mother find it and throw it out, Ivette left her room and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" she heard her brother ask, his head poking out from around the corner. Izuku and Inko were standing in the kitchen, preparing a simple meal for breakfast.

"Bakugo's house," Ivette replied, raising her hand and waving a slight goodbye. She pushed down on the door handle and swung the door open, stepping out and closing it behind her. She walked over to her soulmate's house, and since they lived in the same neighbourhood, it didn't take her long to reach her destination.

She knocked on the door, knuckles gently rapping against the wood. Mitsuki was there to greet her, eyes widening in surprise. "Oh, Ivette! Come in, come in," she ushered, stepping to the side and welcoming the greenette inside. "Katsuki is in his room."

"Thanks."

Ivette made her way up the stairs, familiar with the layout of the house. She opened Katsuki's door, lips quirking upwards, when she spotted the blond fast asleep on his bed. Ivette shut the door gently and slipped out of her shirt, grabbing the one on his chair and putting it on. She smiled as she was reunited with the caramelly scent of her soulmate. Climbing onto his bed, Ivette snuck under the covers and curled into his side. Bakugo responded subconsciously, wrapping his arms around the girl and drawing her in.

For the first time in a while, Ivette fell into a peaceful slumber.

Time passed by quickly, the sun rising in the sky, the clock striking twelve in the afternoon. Mitsuki came in to check on them. Her crimson eyes spotted her woken-up son. She couldn't help the smile blooming onto her face. He and Ivette truly were cute together.

"Katsuki, your—"

"Quiet."

Mitsuki's brows twitched in irritation, mouth forming into a scowl. "Huh?!"

Bakugo glared at her before motioning to the green-haired girl in his embrace, fast asleep. Her face broke into a tender expression, and she nodded in understanding. "There's food in the fridge," she told him. "Your dad and I are going to go out."

"Okay," he responded quietly.

Mitsuki smiled tenderly and left, closing the door behind her.

Katsuki looked down at the girl, running a hand through her hair. Contentment flowed through his body. This felt right, he thought. Her in his embrace was right. It was correct. This was how it should be—them against the world. Katsuki would protect her against anything and everything. Just like how he knew she would do the same.

(if only he could protect her from herself)

Stirring in his embrace, Ivette's eyes fluttered open. She glanced up, locking eyes with crimson orbs that stared down at her lovingly, though she could see a twinge of worry within his depths. "Hello," she whispered.

"You haven't been sleeping, have you?" He gently thumbed the dark bags under her eyes, concerned. Ivette shrugged, nuzzling deeper into his arms. "Nightmares?" She didn't answer, but he knew he was correct. Ever since they were younger, Ivette would get nightmares, but they weren't frequent, just occasional.

"They've worsened," she muttered. Bakugo held her closer, enveloping her in his protective hold. The two laid in silence, the blond drawing circles on his soulmate's back.

Walking along the roads were Kirishima and Todoroki, both of them making their way to Bakugo's house after getting a message from Izuku detailing his worry for his sister. Could you check up on her? was what he sent them. Just to see if she's okay. They were more than happy to go. If Izuku contacted them, they knew something was wrong, and they couldn't help the worry burgeoning in the depths of their stomachs.

(izuku and inko knew the older twin was awake all night; they could see the flashes of green from under her door)

The duo spotted the Bakugo parents exiting their house, the older adults pausing in their steps. "Kirishima-kun, Todoroki-kun, Hi!" Mitsuki greeted jubilantly. "How are you?"

"We're good," Kirishima answered for both of them, grinning broadly.

"Katsuki and Ivette are already upstairs," Masaru informed, smiling fondly. "Make yourselves at home."

They left the house in the soulmates' care. They trusted them, even their, unsurprisingly, wild pomeranian. He may be rough and aggressive, but he was civil and disciplined to no end. No way would he let anything break in their house, hence why they trusted him enough to leave him home alone.

Kirishima knocked on his soulmate's door before opening it, gaining the attention of the two inside. Katsuki saw Shoto and immediately turned away, still mad at him for going easy on him during the sports festival. Katsuki felt like the taller boy was looking down on him, and he hated that.

Shoto frowned.

"Do you mind if we come in?" Eijiro questioned.

"Of course," answered Ivette. The duo excused themselves and dumped their bags onto the coffee table placed in the centre. They plopped onto the floor by the bed, Ivette sitting up to face them whilst Katsuki faced the other way. "Have you rested well?"

Kirishima nodded, much brighter than Todoroki's simple nod.

"Have you eaten?"

They shook their heads.

"Mom said there's food in the fridge," Katsuki murmured, and Ivette nodded, pulling the blanket off her body.

"I'll go prepare it." She slipped off the bed, revealing her long, slender legs. Heat seared Kirishima and Todoroki's faces as they gazed at the mysterious creature; she, who had an open smile and a closed soul. The stars whispered of her creation, their blood flowing through her veins, illuminating the wisdom —the pain, the generosity, the love— in her eyes. But horror rumbled through their bodies as they noticed the scars littered across her thighs. Katsuki already knew Ivette had self-harmed in her past, but the revelation was a shock to both Todoroki and, especially, Kirishima.

"Can I help?" he asked, deciding not to ask since it wasn't his place. She'd come out about it when she wanted to, he concluded. Kirishima respected privacy over everything; he was raised like that, and his beliefs remained even in his teenage years. Ivette nodded, and they made their way downstairs, leaving the two soulmates in the room to make up.

Todoroki stared at Bakugo, who refused to look at him. He knew he was upset; he could feel it through their bond. "Gomen," he mumbled, referring to their match. Guilt bubbled under his skin, merging with his cells.

Bakugo didn't respond.

"I know you're mad—"

"I'm more than mad."

Todoroki bit his lip, feeling a pang of hurt shoot through his heart. "I don't think you're weak," he said, hoping that would ease his soulmate. It didn't. "I-I..." Shoto didn't know how to explain his decision to the explosive boy, so he opted for the truth. He told him about his father and his mother and the abuse the latter went through.

Silence encapsulated both of them.

"I couldn't do that to my own soulmate," Todoroki admitted, his chest feeling heavy, like an invisible force was pressing down against his ribcage, suffocating him.

"I can handle it."

"I know." Todoroki sighed, looking down at his left hand. "I don't think I can."

Bakugo understood his soulmate, well, to an extent. He exhaled deeply and turned over, opening his arms. "Come." Todoroki obeyed, crawling into his bed and securing himself in his embrace.

"I'm sorry," he apologised again. Bakugo just held him closer.

"I understand."

From downstairs, Ivette smiled, using her powers to listen to both their thoughts from upstairs. They were going to be okay, she thought, turning back to the food in the microwave. "Is that all?" Kirishima asked as he finished plating the table.

Ivette nodded. "Just call the others," she said. Kirishima complied and headed upstairs, ready to call them. A broad grin stretched across his face upon seeing them cuddling under the covers. He was glad they made up; he didn't know what he would do if the tension continued among them.

"Food's is ready," he enlightened. They nodded and came downstairs, the four of them settling around the table and grabbing their full of food. It was a simple, traditional Japanese lunch, rice and grilled salmon with a side salad and a few other small dishes prepared by Bakugo's parents.

"Oh," started Todoroki, breaking the tranquil silence blanketing their shoulders. "I visited my mother today."

The three turned to him in surprise.

"Did it go well?" Ivette asked softly.

Todoroki nodded. "Yes. At least, I think so," he responded. Kirishima smiled happily; Bakugo's face remained indifferent, though they could see the softness of his eyes. Ivette, on the other hand, kept her emotions to herself, plastering on a facade. "I told her about you guys. She said she wants to meet you."

"We'd be honoured," replied Ivette for the group, the other two nodding.

They continued on with their lunch, sharing conversations here and there, most of it being carried by Kirishima. Ivette blocked the boiling animosity from their bond, directing it to another part of her body. Her hatred for her soulmate's parents would always remain within her, especially since she felt the relief flowing through Shoto, who was glad to have made up with his mother.

It didn't sit right with Ivette.

Both his parents were abusers. His father and his mother. She saw his past, saw everything his parents ever did to him — a poor innocent boy who just wanted his family's love and who received none of that.

Mental illness or not, she thought, fingers tightening around her chopsticks, knuckles whitening, no mother should inflict pain on their child. Ivette drew the line there. She didn't care what Shoto said, didn't care what he did to defend her honour. Ivette Midoriya despised both the older Todorokis. She can take her victimising attitude and fuck off. I forgive you, my ass. You should be grateful Shoto even came to see you.

"̵͖̬̼̝̬̼̗̭̠̄́͘S̶͎͈̀̈́̌̉̈́̊͐̉̈͊͆̈̚̚͝ḧ̴̢̧͍̻͈̮̙́͛̎͜͠͠ǫ̷̥̜̻͇̀͐̇̋̇̏̽͌͂̆̎̒̋͜͝͝w̸̡͙͖̹̟̠͖͔̲̓̅̕ ̶̟̤̳̭͈̥͗̌̃t̶̨͓͕͉͔̯͖̣̞͇̭̖͍͙̋̂͘ḧ̵̼͇́̈́͌̇̓͛͘͝͠é̴̲̪͓̜͖̯ḿ̴̢̳̭͍̣̣̋͆̂͆̏̑͗͗̏̕͘̕͜ ̷̞̫̰̜͙̿̏̉̽̓̉̈̎̔̃̉͆̕t̷̨̡̡̛̘̪̻͊͌̽̑͆͊̿͂͊͋͊̕h̸̜͔̙̰͖͓̥͈̩͂͐̈́͛̄͐̃̍̀͊͠ē̸̺̘͖̪͕̈̂̆̾̉̀́̊̊́͘ ̷̨̛̘͚̥̯̼͕̘̤̱̰̭̟͍̊̅̉̔̊̈́̀͜͠c̴̦̻̱̗̰̗̼̎̎̍͒̽͘͝ͅo̵̭̤̤̰̯̜͈͙̫̥͆̽͋̿̾̃̓̀̈̃ņ̵̛̞̣͈͔̦̹͈̿̔̽̉̉́͊̒̈̈̆̚ş̶̦̻͍͙̣̟̜̖̀̎̄̐̈́̃̋͌̄̆͐͛̕̕͜͝ͅe̷̯̭͎̟̿̄̿͑̏̑̅̀̊̒̀̉͝q̷̹͇̻̥͍̱̪̞̘͚̤̜̉͒̍ͅú̵̧̼̟̖͈̺͖̜̩̩̒͂̆̅͌̓̿̑͑̌̌e̶̢̨̢̱͖̮̻͚̗̰̫̼̟͆̿͂̆̓͋̊̃̽̑̀̆͘n̵̢̝͙̭̟̄c̶̮̊̆̽̌̊̌̒̆͐̓̕͝͝e̴̞͈͙̬̠͊̌́ş̵̛͈̗̬̬̭̖͚̑̿̐̽̑̆̂̒̅́̀͠ͅ ̵̨̛̝̱̼̟͙̱̖̘̯̄̃͒͋̅͑̆̚o̷̧̝̎̂̾f̶̡͔̙̙͈̳͇̹̽̿̿̇̇̌̈̑̉͒̿̂̕̚͝ ̵̨̡̗͙̫̹͎̲̮͎͔̞͔̊h̸̡̤̭̩̩͖͙̮̙͒̓͐͌a̸̧̫̻̮͛͑̌̿̀͛ṙ̷̖̥͔̱̋̿͗͊̇͛̑͘m̵͚̳̣̟̜̟̜̗̰͙̹̦͇̯̆͘ḭ̴͎̦͇̔̓̓̾̃͑̊͊̔͠ṇ̷̥̓̐̉̀̔͊̈́͛̌͘g̴̡̡̭̳̙̥̻̘͍̺̻͍̤͒̇͒̎͊͋̉̋̆͊͆͝ ̴̩̘͐̽̉̾̏̀̕͝ẏ̴̡̨̡͕̻͎̤ͅo̵͇̫̒̔̃̃̿͆̚u̴̢̥͙̜̦͎̥̘͉͍̭͐̉͂̒̍̈́͑̆͛̒͊̚r̸̢̠͈̱̦̮͙̮̙̝̼̘͎͆̎̾̋̇̓͆̈́̎͆͂͑͝ ̸̲͓̬͐̑̆̽͘͝͠l̶̢̳̯̞̩̘̟̂͂̒̿͒̃͌̉̑̀͂̐̋̚͜ͅō̶͖͍̜̾͐̍̈͋̇̋̈́̽̀ͅv̶̨͚̳̳͙̹̂́͛̋̽̀e̷̢̜̝͎̩̥̳̥̩̪̝͒́d̶̼̜͎̜̘͈̜̻̞̭̤̃̓̊̏͐̅͗͝͝ͅͅͅ ̸̜̣̖̰͓̟͌ǫ̵̛̮͈̥̼̮̹̟̤͖͓̃̋͝n̴̜̜̥̪͓̟̭̲̳̪͊̈͋̋̚͜ͅͅḛ̸̏̀̓̆̅̄̐͒͘s̷̢͔̗̺̬̜͈͇̓͂̊.̷̡̛͔͓͙̰̟̦͈͓̟̼̝̋͑ ̶̛̰͙̖͎̳͎̺̘̗͖̝͇̭̱͌́̈́̒̾͌̎Ŗ̷̛͖̖̥͈̠̮̩̜̮̾̈́̏̽̓̽̿̀͐̊̕͘͜͜͝ẹ̶͕̱͎̙̻͇̰̯͑̈̏͒̃̏́͂̈̓͑͆̕ą̶̰̼̙̼͚̖̤͎̫̱̝̔̈́̂̏̀̾̈͊̿̿̒̒ͅͅp̷̡͉̝͇̩̭̏́̃́͊̌̚͜ ̴̟͔͊̽̊̈́t̵̢̰͔͑̈̑̇̓̕ḣ̷̢̰͎̤͔̞̝͇̭̩̰̝̬̏̐̅e̸̢̨̛͓̰̤̹̟̝͉͈͙̩̗͊̌̏͐̅̔̋̓̊͝͝ ̸͇͉̮̟̗̗̻̰͔̄b̸̡̛̜͖͎̥̤̥͊͜è̸̢̛̬͚͍́̏͋̂͋̆̽͜͝n̵̨̺̮͔̞̣͖̤̞̿́̾͂̾͌͂ẹ̶̢̬͚̼̺̪͍̝̀̒̈́̔̌̏́͜͠f̵̢̫̞̿̅́̂̔̓̿̒í̶̧̢̬̯͎̻͉̼̼̞͙͂́̎̚ͅt̵̪̹̯̭͖͚̭̬̲̬̗͐̆̎̔̔̏̈́͋͜͝ͅș̸̡̩̼̞̺͍͍̲̙͙͕̗̻̑̓̾͛̓ͅ ̶͈̤̟̪̝̤͐͒̎̓͝ơ̴̛͈̫̍̃̓͛͗̏̄͗͝͝͠f̷̢̞̭̼̙͚̹̻͍͈̽ ̸̛͔̳̠̲̮͓̠͚̥̱̙̦͌̐̚͜t̸̢̙͍͈̲̮͙̣͈̝̒͑h̸͓͇͚͔̭̾͘͝ȩ̵̜͕̟̙͍͙̝̜͔͗́̓̋̅́̇͐͝ͅï̴̛̹͊͆̎̎͊̀͠r̵̨̖̠̬̮̈́̋̀̽̕͜ͅ ̴̯͕̝̆s̴̖̭̲͉͖͈̞̫͔͎͈̍̉̆͗̈́̓̉͑̈́͘̕͘̕̚͝o̸̧͓̟̜̼̙̠̯̐̀̀̈́̏͜͜ṟ̸̢͓̙͎̭̦̯̖͚̣̅̀͗̂r̸̢̛̛͚͎̱̙͍͖̠̬͗͂́̅̐́̚͜͝ö̴̖̜̜̫̳̼̖̼̜̻̺̗̹͓́͊̄̅͆͒̈͒̂͛́̐͆͝ẇ̵̡̡̠͓̻̙͍͖̜̞̟̱͋̐͑́̎̈̔̎̈ͅ.̶̢̛͍̦̗̦̰̯̦̜̟̘͉̍̇̎̒͘͝ͅ"̷̨͎͚̝̯̠̗̝͈͕͖̠͕̍͒͑͂̂́̔͒̀̔̓̏͜ͅ

I wouldn't dare, Ivette told the entity in her head. He had been silent these past few days. His presence was drowned out by the nicotine in her system. It was her only solace. Her only escape— a paradise of silence.

Ivette would remain civil for the benefit of her soulmate, but she'd take pleasure in crushing Endeavour's reputation when and if the time ever came.

I'll be his hero, she swore, staring piercingly at the scarred boy. I'll be all their heroes.

She'd save her soulmates from this inhumane world; she'd destroy society within her grasp and remodel it into the image she saw fit. She'd save those that were never saved; she'd take out those exploiting the hero community for the sake of their own benefit and pleasure.

She would play the role of the villain if she had to.

Ivette had no qualms with that.

And the entity in her head couldn't wait. His darling master would wreck havoc across the world, across the seven heavens, and he would accompany her as they burned in hell for their sins. He would guide her— help her.

No else understood Ivette like he did.

Not her family.

Certainly not her soulmates.

He knew that they were holding her back. Her last morals were tied to them, and they anchored her to the seabed. The entity in her head knew she could rule the seas.

T̶͇̖͛̑̀͆h̸̛̭̗̮̳̯̦͍̲͐̓̆̑̔͘̚e̸͖͋͋̀̌̍̿͌͌y̶̛̱̫̺̼͓ ̶̨̹̝̟̩̙̟̅͜ñ̴̛̫͌̀̈́̄e̶̳͖̣̲̠̫̰͆͜e̴̥͍̒d̸̙̜̻͊̈̄͘ ̴̩̞̠̊̊̃̈́͗ţ̷̩̩͍̳͕̘͋̿ǫ̸͇̰̖̝̬̠̍ ̴̨̥̤̪̜̉̂́͘g̴̨͎̩̺̫̺̈́̄̍̋̊͘͜͝o̴̞̾͘, he thought. Ơ̵̪̦̯͙̻̾̄͋̒̀n̶͇̺͛l̸̢͆͛̋̽͗̕̚y̸̜̥̲͇͇͆̊̍̇̈́͌ ̷̢̣͇̘̺̈́w̵̡̨̒̈͐̊̃ĥ̷̩̼͇̙̦̯ͅé̴͍̫̻̏̏͋̈́͠n̷͚̮͔͆͐͝ ̸̨̲̦̩̖͒͊͆t̴͓̣̜́̄̋̕h̸̹̤͇͙̤͖͆͆̓̊̈e̵̱̼͓̘̜͓̽̅͆̇̔͜ͅy̵͓̳̫̩̮͒͑̋̃̀̈̉͜'̸̧̨̡͖͓̌͗̈́̏̐̂͠r̵͙̿͑͊̇̌̌ę̷͕͇̤̬̗͙̻͑̈̓̈́̃̌͛ ̴̙̤͓̝͖̭̙̏͋͛͑ͅg̶̠̲̑͐́̌̿͝o̸͇͇̟͖͂̀̒̉ͅn̸͇̂e̵̛͔̺̞͖ ̴̢̼͔̤̔̎̏̾͂͝c̸̢̧̹̰̪̫͋͒͌̍ḁ̷̛̦̑̕n̵̗̟̎̍̀̓͗̚ ̷̘̗̙̣̽̾͗͝͠Ḯ̸͓̭̳́͒̍̏̀͜͠v̶̧͕͈́̀̽͌ͅe̸̜̖͎̺̺̪̯̓͜t̷̫̻͓̝͔̞͕̋̎́͛̍͠͝t̵̖̿̔͐̔̊e̶͎̼̳̭̪͖͚̅ ̷̢̭̘̙̦̦͙̘̈̀̓̍̓̾̅͑r̵͚̟͎̠̾̀̄̕e̷̹̲̦̞͔͎͖͓͒̎̍̄̎̅̾̕ä̴̬͍̩̳́͛̐̅̑c̴̜̼̍͐͒̾͌̆͘͜͜͝ͅh̶̫̻̖̿̈́̃͋̅̀̕͝ ̴̮͂̃̀̋͒̃͝h̸̟̼̰̝̗̞͑̄̂̕e̶̡̮̙̟̭͈̭̣͑̿͂̉̐̄̾ṛ̷͗̐̄ ̸̩͇̠͇̞̂̿͑̾͋f̵̛̰͂͐́̓̅̾̐ṵ̷̯̘́̀͊l̴̢̞̤̫̦̯̃̔̍͝͠͝ͅl̸̩͚̗͆̈́̅ ̴̧͍̞͙̺̹͗̐̈́͗̑͌̚̚p̴̡̯̠̲̦̼̫̈̍̏ǫ̴͍͎̖͙͈̲̘̒t̵̻͓̼̤́̃͂ę̴̰͈͇̼̀̕͝͠n̷͙̩̦̭͖̰̦̪͒̿̾̿ẗ̵̩͆̽̑̑̈́̌̈́ï̷͖̬̺̽͆̃̆a̶̢̲͓͈̟͔̫͆̐̽̽̎̾̏̕ͅḽ̷̡̘͙͉̀̋͌́̽̄̒.̸͇͙̉̈́̓̈̊͘ ̴͈́̅̈́͂͂͠ͅ

The pieces on his chessboard shifted.

The spaces between the queen and her knights were growing further. Time was all he needed. Time and patience.

And then the game would begin.