Okay, so this might be five parts.
Same rules as last time: Izuku is always bold.
Here, we have the Apology Song (Diego Luna), Interlude IV (Zach Callison), and Legends (Juice Wrld).
Aiden_hunter recommended Legends. That ended up fitting really well, so I accepted it. Thank you!
Anyway, hope you enjoy!
Warnings: Beginnings of panic attack, villainous Izuku, angst, fluff (you have to squint).

- - -

Since Izuku disappeared, Shouta has been restless. Sick. Overall, terrible. It took Hizashi, Nemuri, and Inko to make sure he did not wear himself to the ground searching for Izuku. He knew the kid could care for himself, but he rather be right there with him instead of Izuku being on his own.

So when he heard that Bakugo had seen Izuku, he made his way to the HC to find a huge facial wrapping on Bakugo's face and everyone sitting around the meeting table.

"Eraserhead, please sit," The President asks him. Shouta can't help but still be pissed at her for forcing Izuku into this position, but he still needs to work with them. Reluctantly, he sits down.

It takes a few minutes for it to start, and it takes everything not to demand for it to start, let along keep a blank face like usual. Shouta is starting to realize what exactly Izuku has to do to play his cards right as, no matter how angry the kid got, he remained his wild self. Finally, the president motions for Bakugo to start.

"I'm just going to give you the basics. You don't care for the rest of the shit anyway. The person that you have been looking for electrocuting everyone is Virus. The idiot got himself brainwashed and is currently on the League of Villain's side. From what he blabbed about, he plans on taking down the HC."

Shouta feels sick. Izuku wasn't okay. What the hell happened? How did Izuku, the smartest person next to Nezu, get himself brainwashed?

"Was he in his hero costume with whatever he uses? How did you know he was brainwashed?" The President asks.

"Yeah. His electric baton whips are how he is doing this. As for how I know, he was fucking pissed when he saw me and asking why the hell I am a hero. If that doesn't confirm it, he doesn't remember Aizawa-sensei or anybody else. No way in hell would the nerd just allow himself to forget his friends." Shouta almost couldn't believe it, but he forces himself to focus.

She hums, considering her options, "We need to shift our attention to arresting him. Midoriya is the most dangerous out of everyone. If he dispatches a plan, we would have trouble counteracting it. I'm going to tell the news to lookout for him and have more top heroes focused on his general area of attacks."

Shouta immediately shuts that down, "You know how much public panic there would be if we announce that Midoriya is now a villain? He is a huge figure. Besides, he will either shut that down or use it to his advantage. Don't give him more to work with."

"What do you suggest we do, Eraserhead?"

Shouta turns to Bakugo, "Has his fighting style changed or is there any significant change about him?"

Bakugo nods, "The nerd is way faster than the last time I fought him. Thinking about it, he kept his distance until he knew he could get me without me having a chance to even touch him. Usually, he would close the distance between each swing to force the opponent somewhere. He kept moving around instead. His arm still produces the same power of force as you can see."

Maybe Izuku isn't allowed to touch people? That would make sense for why he is so quick. He usually likes to make a show before attacking. Sure, he might have wanted to hide his identity, but there would have been a mix of bruises on the people to. So far, only Bakugo has been physically attacked.

"Let me face him. I know his fighting style the best, and I would have an advantage since he does not know me. My costume also allows me to resist electricity, so his main attack his out," Shouta offers himself without a second doubt. He doesn't trust the other heroes to do it without screwing up, getting themselves injured, or injuring Izuku.

"What won't stop you from just letting him go or joining him?"

Shouta glares at the HC president, "You really think I'm going to let the kid I have known for years stay with them? I'm not risking his health any further with this."

The President relents, "You start tonight."

Shouta nods and immediately leaves to get ready. He will get Izuku back.

It takes Shouta three days to find Izuku.

- - -

Three Days Later

Izuku was right when he thought Shigaraki was going to be pissed. He was beyond pissed. He was infuriated. As soon as Izuku told him the news, Shigaraki attacked him without giving him a chance to defend him. It's impressive that he is still alive.

Izuku is still waiting for his neck to recover, but that doesn't mean he can't stop doing this.

He has to keep going.

Despite the blood going through the bandages around his neck, Izuku went and did his job. He has to be careful. He can't turn his head, so if he has to look somewhere, he has to turn his body or actually look with his eyes. It's a huge inconvenience, but Izuku did this to himself.

It takes everything not to cut the collar of his costume off due to it grinding uncomfortably against his bandages.

Izuku sticks to the rooftops and prowls. He has to be extra careful. He can't look behind his back, so he has to listen.

Izuku doesn't take into account an underground hero approaching him.

At the same time, Shouta finally found Izuku. It took him a moment to realize it was Izuku because of how terrible he looked, but it's him.

He finally found his best friend. Now, he needs to get him back. Shouta follows Izuku silently, waiting for Izuku to slow down as not to freak him out and cause him to fall off a building or something.

Shouta realizes two things: first, the kid is much faster as Bakugo said. However, the second is more concerning in that he doesn't realize that Shouta is behind him as all. Izuku is usually VERY well-aware of his surroundings, always checking behind his back. He isn't turning his head at all. Maybe he is injured? Shouta is about to find out.

Izuku finally stops to look down an alleyway when a deep voice interrupts him, "Izuku."

On instinct, Izuku spins around and swings his electrified batons at the figure only for them to catch them, the electricity going through the costume. Just like his.

"What the fuck? The idiot only saw me once and he's already replicating the damn costume or something? Didn't realize I need to patent this shit." Izuku snaps as he violently pulls the batons away from the person and withdraws them. He quickly studies the figure. A black costume with similar upgrades to his, a long scarf (possibly a weapon), and a guy who overall looked like a hobo with the long black hair and scuffle. Underground maybe? Usually, he would recognize every hero. Why not him?

Shouta knows something is wrong with Izuku behinds him being brainwashed. His hair is all over the place, probably from the constant use of electricity. It looks like it hasn't be taken care of. His skin is pale. His eyes are dull. Izuku doesn't look himself.

Shouta answers Izuku's question, "You made my costume, Izuku."

Izuku glares at the man, "I don't know who are you. I haven't made a costume for anyone, especially one that rips off my style."

"I'm Shouta. Izuku, I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to help. Just let me explain-"

Izuku interrupts despite his gut telling him to trust this guy, "Help me how? You're probably just going to return me back to the stupid HC and make me suffer all over again!"

"Kid, you've been brain-washed by the League of Villains somehow. Trust me, please-"

Izuku doesn't give Shouta a chance as he puts his batons away and runs forward to attack. Shouta easily dodges. At least Izuku isn't using lethal attacks. He notices how his movement is limited. He's injured somewhere.

Shouta sighs, focusing on dodging Izuku,

"Izuku, I am humble, for tonight I understand. Your royal blood was never meant to decorate this sand. You've suffered great injustice, so have thousands before you. I offer an apology, and one long over due!"

Shouta knows Izuku is listening despite not showing anything. He sees the kid flinch. Not wanting to injure him more, he limits his movement a bit.

"I am sorry. Izuku, I am sorry. Hear my song, I know I sing the truth. Although we were bred to fight. I reach for kindness in your tonight!"

Izuku doesn't know why, but something is telling him to stop. He is about to land a hit, and even though his brain says to land it, his gut stops him. Izuku freezes, watching the guy-Shouta- before him. Who is he?

Shouta continues,

"And if you can forgive, and if you can forgive, love can truly live. And if you can forgive, and if you can forgive, love can truly live."

Izuku, for once, finally uses his brain. Didn't Bakugo say something that contradicts his memories? And now this guy is saying he is brainwashed? One person is a coincidence, but two isn't. There's something going on. He remembers when he woke up over a month ago with a terrible migraine. Thinking about it, it isn't natural. Izuku also remembered how he didn't know the facility despite knowing he should.

Izuku also found out about the lie they gave him the first day. He wasn't the one that. There was no signs of just one person fighting. It was a group versus group fight. Something is up. Maybe Shouta has the answer?

Shouta sees Izuku thinking. That's something,

"Izuku, I am frightened. But I'll use my final breath, to tell you that I'm sorry, let us end this dance of death. Two centuries of agony, that tore your heart with sand. Here and now with my amends, this senseless giving ends."

Shouta starts to approach Izuku, and Izuku doesn't pull back in any way.

That's when Izuku remembers that Shigaraki said not to let anybody touch him. That's an unusual command. Maybe that's the trigger? The solution?

"I am sorry. Izuku, I am sorry. Hear my song, I know I sing the truth. Although we were bred to fight. I reach for kindness in your heart tonight!"

Shouta is close. When Izuku doesn't move, he goes to run a hand through his hair.

The moment Shouta touches his scalp, Izuku's head feels like it explodes.

Shouta is there to catch Izuku when he collapses. He bends down to the ground, holding Izuku to his chest. Keeping him as close as possible after so long. Shouta massages Izuku's scalp, hoping it helps as he finishes,

"And if you can forgive, and if you can forgive, love can truly live. And if you can forgive, and if you can forgive, love can truly live. And if you can forgive, and if you can forgive, love...love can truly live."

Izuku watch memories slam into him, barely able to recognize they are his due to the skull-splitting pain. He bites his tongue, tasting the metal in his mouth. He has no idea how long he is there ready to cry.

Shouta holds Izuku and waits, running a hand through Izuku's hair in attempt to fix the mess.

Too long later, Izuku finally becomes aware of his surroundings again. Of course, he feels completely lost. A lot of his memories are conflicting, so he has no idea what is real and not. Slowly, he realizes he is clinging to somebody and pulls back to look up.

"S-Shouta?" Izuku asks. Strangely enough, Shouta is one of the few people he is confident in his memories about. He knows the man, and there's nothing conflicting with his experiences.

Shouta looks down at him and sighs in relief, "Hey, kid. How are you feeling?"

"Shit," Izuku mutters as he finally stands up, nearly stumbling since his head is still being a bitch. Shouta grabs his forearm quickly, allowing him to stabilize.

"That's expected. You just got your memories back. Come on. I want to make sure you're okay," Shouta starts stepping away and leading towards a safety ladder, and Izuku is about to follow, but he stops.

He still has his mission. He can't just not return. If Izuku joins Shouta, Shouta and whoever else is around him would be in danger.

He needs to defeat the League of Villains in order to get free.

When Shouta notices, stopping, "Izuku?"

"I can't."

"Kid-"

"I'm sorry, but I need to finish this. I can use this to my advantage."

Shouta sighs, approaching Izuku. He knows Izuku is probably confused, so he didn't even plan on telling the HC about him tonight. Actually, maybe he never would. Shouta wanted to take Izuku home, fix him up, and just comfort him because that's what he needs right now. Shouta is more than willing to hold Izuku from them if it mean he would be safe. He would let the kid be a vigilante or whatever, but it would be better than treated like shit by the HC. Shouta speaks to him,

"We're finally free. Welcome home. It's just you and me now. Standing alone. The world is ours-"

Izuku cuts him off.

"No, it isn't."

"Get in the car."

"This isn't finished."

"What?" Shouta should have known Izuku would want to finish this, but he didn't want Izuku to do this alone like it seems like he wants to. Especially not after what just happened.

"Even though the kid's dead, I'm still seeing red. I'm just a shell of his form that his innocence shed."

Izuku struggles to remember who he is. Is he a hero or a villain? Was he willing to protect or kill?

Shouta bends down to Izuku's height, looking him in the eyes that just look so confused and dead. Knowing Izuku, he is probably hiding his fear.

"He lived a good life and he gave it to you."

"Oh, is that right? You know it's no true! Look at him showered in blood and flowers. Now look at him showered in blood and flowers. Now look in my eyes, he still holds the power. After years and tears and confronting his fears, he's dead on his record for the world to hear. And they'll all think that it was suicide. But Shouta, I know it was you inside."

Shouta can't help but be confused. Are Izuku's memories still unstable? Is he still talking about himself?

"I saved him. I held him till the moment he died."

Izuku rips out of his grip, staring at Shouta with instability.

"You choked him out of his own goddamn mind! You promised the world to him, a goddamn lie!"

"What do you want from me?"

"Oh, look outside yourself!"

There is no way in hell was Shouta going to help Izuku with the League of Villains when he obviously needs help. He isn't going to let the kid drown over this.

"I won't help you take him down."

"Fine. I'll do it by myself!"

Shouta needs to convince Izuku fast out of this stupid plan.

"You don't need it!"

"Oh, I know that I need it!"

"He's been gone for years, I know you can beat it!"

"No, look in the mirror, you know we both fear him. We're one in the same. We're afraid to be near him. We utter the name with our spirits defeated, but you let me kill him. You're worse than Shigaraki."

Shouta makes sure he is ready to capture Izuku if he tries to run.

Izuku finds his escape.

"I told you to end it. It was all for the best."

"So I have you to blame for this pain in my chest?"

"No!"

"If you won't go, I will. To avenge the lost soul I killed."

"You're filling your heart with hate

All the same as the kid that you just left face down on the pavement!" "No! No! No! No! Save it!"

Shouta is so fucking scared that he is about to lose Izuku again. He's aware he can trust Izuku to survive, but that's his bestfriend and his brother. He is willing to throw his life on the line for him.

"It's time I made a statement. A pity the city has ruined us. We could've fooled Japan with just the two of us, but Shigaraki has made a fool of us."

"You're lost."

"One, two, three, four. Is this what love is really for? Is this all I get for being yours? The kid in front of me in blood and gore. Five, six, seven, eight. years put to waste for all I hate. They'll all know Shigaraki's fate. That show's about to start, don't be late."

"Izuku, don't do this!"

Izuku gives Shouta a small smile, "I'll get in contact with you soon."

With that, he runs.

Shouta immediately chases after him only to lose him after a block.

Shouta slows down and curses. All he can hope for is that Izuku keeps his promise to message him somehow.

- - -

Izuku returns to the base and immediately goes to his room. The moment he locks the door, he collapses against it and starts struggling to breathe.

"I usually have the answer to the question, but this time I'm gonna be quiet. Ain't nothing like the feeling of uncertainty, the eeriness of silence. This time, it was so unexpected. Last time, it was the drugs he was lacing. All legends fall in the making. Sorry truth, dying young, demon youth."

Izuku is so mad at himself. He should have never fell for something like that, but look where he ended up: a fucked-up mess. He struggles not to scream as anxiety tries to suffocate him.

"What's the 27 club? We ain't making it past 21. I been going through paranoia, so I always gotta keep a gun. Damn, that's the world we live in now. Yeah, hold on, just hear me out. They tell me I'ma be a legend. I don't want that title now cause all the legends seem to die out. What the fuck is this bout?"

Realizing sitting there doing nothing isn't benefitting, Izuku forces himself on his feet and finds an empty notebook he keeps about and a pen and just starts writing down all his memories.

"I'm tryna make it out. I'm tryna change the world. I'm tryna take her out. I'm tryna take your girl. More importantly, I'm tryna change the world. Maybe flex with some diamonds and pearls, yeah."

Izuku takes a deep breathe in and out as his hand shakes. He should take his costume off, huh? However, it isn't a high priority. What if Shigaraki somehow finds out? At least he has a way to defend himself.

"I usually have an answer to the question but time I'm gonna be quiet. Ain't nothing like the feeling of uncertainty, the eeriness of silence. This time, it was so unexpected. Last time, it was the drugs he was lacing. All legends fall in the making. Sorry truth, dying young, demon youth."

Hours later, Izuku has filled the information with everything he knows of the past four years. As much as he would like to figure his entire life out, it would take too long. He needs crucial details. Nearly everything is contradictory. Izuku leans his head back. He is so fucking tired.

Thank fuck Izuku doesn't come out of his room except for missions. Otherwise, he would be suspicious.

"My mind is foggy. I'm so confused. We keep on losing our legends to. The cruel cold world, what is it coming to? The end of the world, is it coming soon?"

Izuku pulls out the laptop that he built during his time here. It's time to research and figure out what is and isn't accurate. He enters his name and gets to work.

"I usually have an answer to the question, but this time I'm gonna be quiet. Ain't nothing like he feeling of uncertainty, the eeriness of silence. This time, it was so unexpected. Last time, it was the drugs he was lacing. All legends fall in the making. Sorry truth, dying young, demon youth."

The overall research takes a couple of days. After hours upon hours of research, he figures out what is true and not. He stares at his notebook decorated with scribbles.