I don't own anything except any original characters (including the Reader's concept) and/or any original plot

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Chapter Twenty-Four - "I..." "I know. I feel the same"

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"Merry Christmas, bitches!"

Groans spread throughout the living room. Lifting your head, you sent Himiko a glare, who had the gall to smile back. All of you had spent the night before playing games and exchanging stories. Because of that, you'd been up until one in the morning. An early wake-up call was not what any of you wanted.

"It's five in the morning you freak," Dabi hissed, throwing a well-aimed pillow that Himiko only just dodged thanks to her good reflexes, "We went to bed four hours ago!"

"But it's Christmas morning! Look, the sun is coming up! We have to have a big breakfast, and open presents, and watch Christmas movies-"

Lifting your hand, you sucked out enough of Himi's energy to knock her out cold. She fell to the floor, loud snores falling from her lips. Everyone let out simultaneous sighs of relief and almost immediately fell back asleep.

Four hours later, at a much more reasonable time, you woke Himiko up with a cup of hot chocolate. She pouted for five minutes before perking up again when Atsuhiro brought breakfast out. It was hard to hear the thank you's with everyone's mouths full, but Atsuhiro beamed all the same.

After breakfast was presents. Whilst there were some gag gifts, most of the presents were surprisingly heartfelt. It made you smile outwardly, but on the inside, you felt like falling apart. The people you surrounded yourself with were so loving to those that earned it. You didn't deserve it. You were going to destroy all the trust they had in you.

Lunch consisted of takeout from all of your favorite places. After, you went to your room and packed a backpack full of things- some of your Christmas presents, several pictures, and a couple of pairs of clothes.

Poking your head into the living room when you were finished, you said, "I'm going out. I should be back later tonight."

"What? But it's Christmas!" Shuichi exclaimed, "All of us were planning on spending it together!"

"Yes, Shuichi, it's Christmas. Hence the Christmas tree," you deadpanned, pointing at the stupidly large tree all of you chose online, "I have some things I need to get done, I can't stay."

"On Christmas? Screw Christmas! Hohoho!"

Rolling your eyes good-naturedly, you faked an annoyed huff, "This stuff needs to get done. I'll be back in time for Christmas movies and before bed hot chocolate. I won't even kill anyone this time."

Himiko suddenly jumped off the couch, stalking over to you. Her cat-shaped eyes stared you down. Shifting nervously, you nearly jumped out of your skin when she suddenly squealed and pulled you into a bone-crushing hug.

"You're going to go see that person you like, aren't you?"

The room burst into chaos, and you resisted the urge to knock Himiko out again. It was too late to take her words back, but it'd still satisfy that vindictive part of you.

"Alright, alright!" You yelled, successfully shutting everyone up, "Yes, there is someone. No, I won't say who it is. No, you can't meet them. Yes, they know who I am, and no, they don't care. I will know if you follow me, so don't even try it."

Tomura pushed through the others and stepped up to you. Pushing down any nervousness that might have been dredged up, you met his eyes. The two of you stared at each other for a solid minute before he blinked and nodded once. The rest of the League was staring at you with wide-eyes, and it occurred to you that they'd probably never seen your silent fights for dominance before.

"I'll kill them if they hurt you."

"Love you too. See ya!"

Your normal driver took you to the train station again. You spent the car ride trying to calm your racing heart. The League had gotten some of the truth out of you. It would be fine. Yes, you were going to see Katsuki, but there were plenty of other things you wanted to get done too. Things you were extremely conflicted over. They didn't know about any of that and they wouldn't until it was time.

(It had been four months since summer vacation. You'd spent the first two stuck in an identity crisis, thinking over all the choices you'd made since confronting All for One for the first time and wondering why the hell you thought it was the best way to achieve your goals. The next two months were spent carefully planning how to destroy everything you'd built for yourself. Nabu Island was the catalyst in a series of life-changing events that forced you to actually grow as a person. Now you felt conflicted, determined, and reborn... it kind of sucked.)

You stopped at a middle-class apartment first. It was a short train ride away from the mansion and registered under a fake name. Waving at the neighbors, you unlocked the door and stepped inside. Here you were a teenage girl going to the local highschool - an extremely prestigious one - and living alone because of it. You were so absorbed in your studies other people rarely saw you, but you were friendly all the same. It was strange being seen so often without any disguise and having no one recognize you - as a villain or a missing person.

Setting the useless knick-knacks up around the apartment, you stopped in the bedroom and pushed the bed against the wall. Running your hand across the wood floor, your nails caught on a loose board. Pulling it up, you let out a sigh of relief at the two small cases sitting there innocently. No matter how many times you checked you were always scared they'd be gone. As far as the others knew they were with the Doctor. The Doctor thought they were with the Deternat scientists.

You slipped one of the cases into your bag and left. You'd be returning back later that night.

After that you took the much longer train ride to Musutafu Station, getting off and taking your normal route to UA. It wasn't as late as normal, but the sun was setting all the same and it would take some time before you actually went to Katsuki's window.

Being more cautious since there was more light, you walked through the battlezone you were very familiar with by now to the dorms. There were still lights on. Slipping your (new and improved) mask on just in case, you also pulled the hood of your black sweatshirt up over your head to hide your hair.

Crouching low, you carefully approached the windows lining the living room of Class 1-A's dorm. There were plenty of Quirk signatures there. A lot of the class must have still been up, then. Closing your eyes, you searched for one in particular-

Swinging your bag off your shoulder, you hurriedly pulled out the case containing the red Quirk erasing bullets. Holding your hand out, you focused on the Quirk signature you wanted and pulled. Feeling it entering your body, you placed your hand over the bullets- unsure if it would even work.

Aizawa's Quirk energy wove itself into the metals of the bullets and combined with Eri's DNA residing inside the weapon. When you pulled your hand back the bullets were warm and you knew that it had somehow - miraculously - worked. Now, whether or not the bullets did what you wanted was yet to be seen, but you'd done what you could at this point.

Slipping the case back into your bag, you slowly backed away from the window. The sun had fully set by this point, and a quick look at the time made you suspect Katsuki would be going to his room soon.

Making your way to the back of the building, you shot yourself up to Katsuki's window and slipped inside. He hardly ever locked it anymore. It was a strangely endearing - and somewhat dangerous - thing for him to do. Taking a seat on his bed, you set your backpack next to you and got comfortable.

Around ten minutes later you could hear his voice nearing the door. It sounded like he was yelling at someone, but the person he was talking to wasn't upset by it. Unsure whether or not that person would enter Katsuki's room, you slid your backpack under his bed and rushed over to the closet to hide inside.

Seconds after you closed the door, Katsuki's room door opened.

"Yeah, whatever Shitty Hair. Just get the fuck out of here."

"Yeah, yeah. I know you like to go to bed early. Goodnight, bro!"

"Night."

Waiting to hear the click of the door, you slid out of the closet with a teasing smile growing on your lips.

"You actually said goodnight to so- ah!" Ducking under a sudden punch, you bounced back to your feet and sent Katsuki a look, "Did I scare you?"

"No!"

Chuckling, you returned to your seat on his bed. He eyed you warily, and it made you slightly uncomfortable. The last time you'd seen each other was on Nabu Island. The months after that disaster had been overwhelmingly busy with the plans you were currently trying to stop, so you hadn't had the chance to stop by. Maybe that was a mistake?

"You cut your hair," he finally said.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. It was time for it. It's a nice change, don't you think?"

There was a slight upturn to Katsuki's lips that said what his words wouldn't. It made you smile back more obviously. He flushed pink and turned away. The action only made your smile wider. He was such a dork.

Pulling his chair out from his desk, he set it up so he could face you head-on. Raising a brow, you silently asked him why he wouldn't just sit on the bed with you.

"The last time you were here we kissed and I said we wouldn't work."

"... yes," you weren't sure if you liked where this was going.

Katsuki clenched his fists, then released them, then did so again. A small part of you wondered if it was a nervous tick. A larger part of you wondered if he was trying to gather sweat for your final confrontation. Was this it? No, it couldn't be. You had so much to do. This couldn't be-

"I was wrong."

Jaw dropping in shock, you struggled to find the right words to respond. That was not what you were expecting him to say. At worst you were going to get turned in and at best he was going to let you down easy and you'd continue on like you always had.

"But-"

"Let me talk, please?" Katsuki sounded so desperate that all you could do was nod and remain silent, "I said we wouldn't work because I'm going to be a hero and you're a villain. What we're doing is dangerous already, and both of us could be in serious trouble if we got found out. But on Nabu Island, I saw you do everything you could to save those kids. I'm sure Handjob didn't tell you to do that, but you did it anyway. You're a hero to them, and you're a hero to Eri too. She talks about you all the time and it drives the heroes crazy. You've done awful shit, you're making awful choices, but I know you can- you are good. You try to convince yourself you aren't, that you're irredeemable, but coming from someone who's done awful shit too I know it isn't too late.

"I've had like four near-death experiences this year, and I have a feeling it's not going to get any better as time goes on. You aren't scared to call me out on my shit, and you understand what it feels like to be crushed by expectations. I sit here waiting every night for you to come because I want you here. I want you, (Y/n). And I- I- damnit!"

Surging forward, Katsuki pressed his lips against yours. Unprepared but not unhappy, you were quick to respond the best you could. Katsuki grabbed your wrists in one of his hands, and he was so gentle you felt your breath hitch in your chest. You were crying.

With his free hand, Katsuki reached up and brushed the tears off your cheeks, a knowing smile on his face. You'd never seen that expression before, it was too soft and endearing for it to normally appear on Katsuki's face. But there he was, looking at you as if you were worth something. And wasn't that crazy?

"This is the third time you've seen me cry. I'm two ahead of you," you whispered with a wet laugh.

"That one time is all you're gonna get. But I'm sure we can get even in other ways," the soft look was replaced by a roguish smile, and you thought it suited him much better.

"Katsuki, I..."

"I know. I feel the same."

The two of you couldn't say it. Not yet. You were two broken people piecing each other together with shaking hands and hesitant trust.

Still, when Katsuki leaned down to kiss you again you could see it in his eyes. Feel it in his touch. Taste it on his lips. You knew everything you saw in him was mirrored in you.

I love you

I know. We'll say it to each other someday

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When you finally left Katsuki's room the moon was high in the sky. You kissed him on the cheek and wished him a Merry Christmas. He gave you a letter from Eri. You pulled your backpack over your shoulder and jumped from the window.

"Ah, Energy. Or should I say (Y/n) (L/n)?" Every muscle in your body tensed. Slowly turning around, you met the beady eyes of UA's Principal Nezu. The world was tilting on its axis. Were you about to pass out? "Let's have a talk in my office, yes?"

Nodding mutely, you followed behind the being who was a solid ¼ of your height. Did he have backup? Maybe you could just take him out and run. It would complicate things, but you'd always known getting discovered was a risk-

"Would you like some tea?"

Blinking, you looked down and realized you were sitting in a chair. Looking back up, you realized Nezu was waiting for an answer, "Oh. No thank you."

"Don't trust it, do you?. I wouldn't either. You can take your mask off, I'm aware of your identity." Nezu poured himself a cup of tea while you pulled your mask off., "Now, you've been visiting Mr. Bakugou since his kidnapping, correct?"

"Ye-" pausing, you cleared your throat, finding your voice weak, "Yes."

"You've done so knowing the danger both of you are in, yes?"

"Yes."

"Yet you continued to do so. Why?"

Smiling wryly, you said, "I have a feeling you already know, Principal Nezu."

The bear-dog-mouse (what was he?) nodded, taking a long sip from his tea, "Yes. I must admit that I haven't known since the beginning. I actually only found out when Power Loader reported repeated shutdowns with the security cameras and droids. There was no obvious tampering directly to them or to the servers, so I watched myself one night and saw you. I assumed the worst, but you left Mr. Bakugou without harm and I put the pieces together. Nabu Island left me determined to speak to you."

"Will you arrest me?" There were no other energy signatures around. Unless the heroes had suddenly figured out to shut down their bodies, it was truly just you and Principal Nezu.

"I should. However, I'm intrigued by you. You participate in villainous deeds yet save my students. You are quite young, and I believe you were pulled into something you can't get out of."

"I wasn't pulled into anything. I sought All for One out. I wanted to change the world," it sounded so stupid now. So young and naive. Mere months ago you believed you were doing the right thing. But things had changed so quickly... you had changed so quickly, "This isn't exactly what I meant."

"Are you going to fight with the villains until the bitter end, (Y/n)?"

Blinking back tears, you took in a deep breath to calm yourself. Nezu was hitting you everywhere it hurt with truthful words. Truths you weren't ready to face, or truths you were in the middle of accepting, were being shoved down your throat.

"No. I... I have a plan, Principal Nezu."

"I find that doing things alone is much more difficult than asking for help."

Hearing the obvious offer, you cleared your throat and leaned forward, "Many of the things I need to do are already done or set in stone. No plan survives first contact with the enemy, but I have several backup plans ready. There is one thing, however. It will get rid of a constant worry in both our minds."

"What do you need?"

There was a twinkle in Nezu's eye that gave you hope. You had more allies than you thought, "A distraction. If you can buy me enough time so I can do what I need to do, then we can stop a war."