It was weeks after that meeting when they met again. It wasn't by job either but by chance. Izuku had been headed "home" when Bakugou—he had stopped calling him "Kacchan" the day his mother died—came out of nowhere and slammed him against the wall. He had given up the dream of being a hero and even so, the other was still targeting him. With wide green eyes, Izuku stared into the narrowed red ones. They showed how much anger and hate the owner held for the smaller boy. "What the fuck do you think you're doing, Deku?"

Deku. Deku. Deku! Deku! It means useless. But Izuku's not useless. Why would anyone want a useless informant? Would anyone his age be thought of as useless when they'd realize he had their weaknesses noted in the back of his mind? Would anyone his age be thought of as useless when they'd realize he could have them killed with no other thought? He isn't useless, but the facade of it is there. He learned from his father's employees on how to mask his worth. He learned to hide his strength. He learned how to faux an expression, to lie and twist his words. He learned well on how to manipulate the puppets like a puppeteer.

  Izuku stayed motionless, not really understanding what he did to set him off. "I-I'm just—just walking home," he stuttered, his eyes scanning the area for a way out. He was hoping for at least someone to see this happen but nope. No one ever did and those who did would pretend not to. It was just it always was and he didn't understand why anyone would allow this happen to him but never for another. It was because he was quirkless, right? That was the only reason he could come up with. That or he was just easily hated.

His grasp on the green-haired male tighten as his scowl deepened. He pulled him away from the wall then slammed him against it again, the smaller one of the two grimacing in pain at feeling the brick scrape against his skin. "That isn't what I fucking mean, you shitty nerd! I'm talking about how you fucking think you're so much better than everyone else!"

Oh my god, how dumb is he? Okay, backtrack, why did I ever look up to him again? Brain? He blinked at him for a moment, glancing anywhere but him. "Um, what? I-I don't think I'm better than—than anyone. I mean, I-I'm quirk—quirkless!"

He stopped for a moment before glowering. He rested his hand on his shoulder again, forcing the young quirkless one to flashback to the day a few weeks back when he came to the realization that he shouldn't be a hero. He smirked at him as he slowly activated his quirk. "Then you know that you're never going to get into U.A, right? Get out of my way and we won't have any problems, got it?"

"O-of course!" Not. Brain, seriously, I need answers on why I ever thought he'd be such an amazing hero. Midoriya was left alone after that. A burn on his shoulder; scrapes on his back, hands, and knees; and another bruise on his face. He had been punched and shoved onto the ground before the blond left. He sighed as he moved his hand up under his shirt to feel his back, wincing at the feeling of some of his skin hanging. It wasn't bad, but it stung and was irritated when his clothes brushed against it.

"So the son of Midoriya Hisashi is bullied?" Midoriya tensed as his eyes closed, trying to reel in his anger at the sound of that voice. He turned around and met red eyes full of glee. "So, tell me, does your dad know about this?"

  "He won't if you don't snitch," he warned, wincing as he placed a hand on his shoulder. He pivoted on his heel but never got too far. A hand wrapped around his arm. "Let go of me, Shigaraki."

  "No." He tightened his grip on the injured boy. "You're coming with me so Kurogiri can treat your wounds."

  Izuku blankly stared at the villain. "I can do it myself. This wouldn't be the first time," he tried reasoning. It didn't help. The next thing he knew he was being dragged through a portal and tossed onto a chair. He wasn't the only one surprise seeing the expression that was on Kurogiri's misty face. He knew that the adult was surprised to see the son of Hisashi again, especially by the courtesy of his own ward. The boy was injured from what he could see but even so, he put up his mask. "Ah, hello, Kurogiri. It's been a while, don't you think?"

  "What happened?"

  "Nothing much. Just—"

  "—was being bullied," finished Tomura. He didn't understand why this brat wouldn't even try to get help. He didn't understand why he even cared for this brat, but no matter how hard he had tried, he couldn't stop thinking about how useless he was or even stop the random bursts of anger when this kid wouldn't even try to stick up for himself. He would die one of these days and he wouldn't even try to fight for his life. How fucked up is this kid? He didn't know and he didn't want to find out. "Just fix him up and then send him on his way." He waved at the green-haired teen dismissively before sitting down beside him and taking out his gaming console. He would steal glances at the one being treated before forcing himself to keep his focus on the game.

Midoriya was on his feet before Tomura knew it. He was about to bid farewell when the younger villain grabbed a hold of the teenager. Green eyes blinked at him. "What do you want?"

  Wow, he despised him, didn't he? No matter, it didn't bother the villain. "You don't want your father to find out, right?"

  "Are you going to try and blackmail me?" he inquired, leaning forward and meeting his gaze. "You won't be able to do a damn thing. I know how to get out of them just for your information." He wasn't going to let this son of a bitch manipulate him. He was never going to let it happen. "I don't even see what you want to know."

  Tomura snorted and shook his head, grinning at the smaller male. "Who said anything about wanting information?" At the look of confusion, he pulled him closer and clarified, "I want you to be by my side. Simple. You do what I want you to do and your father will never find out just how much of a disgrace his quirkless son is."

Midoriya scowled, clenching his fists. "You think that I keep it a secret because I don't want my dad to think that?" The icy tone he held wasn't pleasant. "I don't tell anyone because it doesn't matter what happens to me in the next upcoming months. I have this last year left to deal with that bastard and I'll be a true informant by the next time we meet. The asshole just doesn't know that." He pulled his arm away and gave a dramatic bow. "That being said, I bid you farewell."

Kurogiri opened a portal to the child's home and closed it when he stepped through. He turned his yellow eyes to his scowling ward. "That didn't go as you planned, right?"

"That cheeky little brat!" He slammed his hand on the counter with his quirk activated. He growled as he pulled back and stared at the hole he made. "He has so much potential and built up anger. If he joins the League, we can finally topple the heroes' pedestals!"

* * *

A day later, they met again and this time it was in Kiyashi Ward. Midoriya was just alone and looking through different stores. Tomura saw him and walked up to him, wrapping his arm around his shoulders. The villain started up a conversation with the boy as if they were old friends. Midoriya glanced down at the hand on his shoulder and noticed the only finger that was lifted up. The older male was not sure what the teenager was thinking and he didn't expect his wrist to be grabbed then pulled to a store to their right.

  The entire time red eyes would constantly shift towards the green-haired teen. Large green eyes scanned the walls and shelves for something the entire time. Tomura was silent as he waited for a reaction from the boy who was obviously muttering. Soon enough, he found whatever he was looking for and grabbed one of his hands, slipping on a black leather glove. What an idiot. My quirk would only turn it to ash. But it didn't. He watched and noticed that it was only for two fingers. He blinked and stared at the glove then at the teen who put it on him.

"You can hurt your fingers if you continue to do that. It'll tense up the muscle."

Why did he say it so innocently? That wasn't what Tomura expected. Midoriya took off the glove and led him to the cash register. He had yet to say anything and the green-bean apparently had this all figured out and bought him the gloves before he could disagree. "What—?"

  "Accept this as a gift and an apology for the way I've been acting and treating you." Midoriya shoved the bag to him and walked away from him. He left the store and started heading for the food court, his stomach grumbling.

  Tomura watched for a moment before jogging to catch up to him, capturing his wrist  in four fingers like he did earlier. "Why are you even apologizing for that?" He was puzzled as to why someone would even apologize for acting a certain way. He never met anyone who would even apologize for something as minimal as that.

Midoriya didn't even spare a glance, wrapping one arm around his nonstop growling stomach. "Want to eat with me?"

Taken aback, he lets go. That prompts the younger teen to turn towards him, blinking widely at him. "Uh—sure?"

"Is that a question or an answer?" Comes the sarcastic reply but the smile on his face suggested that he was only teasing him. "You should put on the gloves I bought you."

The villain glanced down at the bag that held the gloves that could keep him from destroying everything around him with one touch. He slipped them on with Midoriya's help, muttering a snarky thank you under his breath. They headed for the food court in silence, one casting glances to the other while the other just kept his gaze forward and ignoring their presence. "I don't get you, Midoriya. For that, you interest me."

  The smaller teen finally turned to look up at him. "Why say that? I'm nothing of interest."

  "Oh but you are! You always seem to be in between hating yourself or hating anyone else."

  "It's both really. I just can't really express the hate for myself and everyone else at the same time."

  A laugh ripped through the air at the response. "See? You're interesting!" He wrapped around his arm around his shoulders and pulled him close. He pushed him to a booth and told him to order whatever he wanted while he paid.

  "What? No! I'm paying for myself. You pay for yourself."

  "Not going to happen. I'm paying. You paid for my gloves, I'm paying for your lunch."

"Do you have money?" He shook his head when he pulled out a wallet. "Are you sure you're a villain? I've never met anyone like you," he said with a look tossed at him.

"I can say the same for you. You're one of the oddest informants I've ever met."

  Once he sat down, he didn't say anything and watched as Shigaraki left with his order to buy him. Why was he even doing this? He thought for a while, unconsciously muttering his thoughts. He was alone anyway and not bothering anyone.

  Tomura stepped towards the booth, holding their orders. He noticed the storm of words coming from the teen's mouth and blinked. He glanced around but no one seemed to be bothered—too busy talking amongst themselves. He placed the trays on the table reaching over and placing a hand on his shoulder. "Midoriya—" The villain retracted his hand quickly when those sharp acidic eyes snapped to him so suddenly. "Um, your food."

  His emotions quickly changed as he smiled at the villain. "Oh, thank you!"

  They spoke randomly but they learned more about each other than normal informant-client relations usually do. They found out that they're only three years apart, had a few interests in the same games, and so on so forth. Maybe they weren't ever meant to have just an informant-client relationship. This was their first friendship in years and they did not want to give it up any time soon.

* * *

They might've gotten closer than they had ever intended. It wasn't something that either one of them ever foresaw coming. One day they had been hanging out, they leaned against each other talking while Tomura listened to Izuku (they're on first name bases) explain a plan and the next Izuku went silent. He turned to him and asked if he was okay only for him to get up and frantically nod. "I have to go. I'm sorry," he apologized. "I'll send you everything else later. I really—"

He stumbled and Tomura reached out to catch him only to fall with him—on top of him. They stared at each other for a good five seconds before the older teen pulled away from the younger teen. "Um?"

  "It's fine." He scrambled to his feet and tries to leave again only to be stopped again. "I said I'm okay. I just remembered something. I'm sorry, Tomura." His red glittering gaze never left the boy who was so frantic to leave. He sighed, nodding. He told him to come back when he finished doing whatever he needed to. "I don't think I will. Not for a while."

That didn't sit well with him. "Izuku," he started, reaching out and grabbing his arm. He pulled him closer, wrapping his arms around him. "What's wrong?" He ran a gloved hand through the bush of green curls hoping to calm the other down. A small smile crossed his face when he noticed the other lean closer to him but it faded at the sight of tears gathering. "Izuku, what's wrong?" He pulled away and wiped away at the loose tears once he started crying. "Shh, it's okay. You don't have to tell me just yet. It's okay. You're okay. You're with me right now. I promise I'll keep you safe." That seemed to worsen his crying, but he clung to him tighter, burying his face in his chest. They stayed that way for a long while, unmoving until Izuku could breathe easier and his cries slowed down. 

  "I'm sorry," he muttered, moving to pull away from him. "I didn't want you to see me breakdown like that." He was forced back into the hug tighter than before. A small murmur was all he received. The villain was doing his best to comfort the informant but he didn't seem to be making it easy for him. It was hard to accept something that was usually given to him by his mother—and no one else. Comfort was never given to him like this. His father was mere words and promises, but that was okay since he was at work and had no time to come home.

  They finally sat back down, Izuku explaining how stressed out he was. He did not want to go back to school, he felt like he could not live up to his father's expectations, and just the whole bullying thing was starting to get to him. He wasn't even sure why it even happened, he just suddenly felt the need to cry and did not want to bother Tomura. "You're not bothering me, Izuku." He met those bloodshot green orbs, pushing away the hair that curtained his face. He have him a smile of reassurance, running a hand through his hair in a calming motion. "You never bother me."

  "Tomura?"

  He sighed and pulled away, cursing himself for that. "Nothing, sorry." Why was I getting all emotional like this? He needs help and what, I think I can use him in his moment of weakness? Izuku sighed as well, curling up against him. He rubbed at his face to rid of the dried tears with Tomura watching in slight concern. He was silent—the air around them comfortable as they breathed and didn't move from their spot. They just relaxed with Izuku deciding to finish the plan for them.

It wasn't until the following day did Tomura finally got the nerve to ask him out. And after that, everything went well. For a while.

  On the first week, Midoriya and Shigaraki were laying on Midoriya's bed, relaxing. The villain was lost in thought, hugging his small boyfriend when he suddenly pulled away and sat up drawing a concerned expression from the green-haired boy. "Tomu?" he asked, cocking his head to the side in question.

"I'm sorry, Izu," he murmured as he moved to place his hand on his cheek before stopping himself. He wasn't wearing his glove to protect his boyfriend from his quirk. He had forgotten it like an idiot. He pulled back once again. "I don't want to hurt you. I'm only going to hurt you. My quirk—I destroy everything I touch and I don't want to harm you, Izu."

Izuku stared at the older teen with despair. He sighed softly knowing that the other thought like this. He reached forward, cupping his face and planting a small kiss to his forehead. "It's okay. You're not going to hurt me."

  He didn't know . . .

  "You will never hurt me."

  . . . what was bound to happen in the future.

  "Not with your quirk. I trust you, Tomu."

  He shouldn't have trusted him.

  Tomura stared his boyfriend before breaking out into a smile. He placed a small kiss on his forehead and hugged him, still being mindful. The two lay beside each other, soaking in each other's warmth and scents, returning back to their relaxation. Tomura held Izuku while the latter ran his hand through his hair, smiling gently and placing a small kiss on his cheek. They spoke about nothing and everything. They were happy to have each other.

  They had many insistences like that now and then. They would always be there to help each other no matter what. If anything, they would protect each other when needed. In one case, Midoriya had taken control of a villain who had a contract with him and had tried attacking Shigaraki. The look on the older teen's face was one he wouldn't forget. It was nice being able to shock his boyfriend.

  In a matter of weeks, everything started to crumble. They spent less time together, Izuku having to take on more jobs—not to mention his school and the bullies there (after one day, when he visited Shigaraki, covered in bruises, the latter wanted to rip apart the person who hurt him)—while Tomura was hellbent on trying to get more members in the League and to defeat All Might. Their lives started getting in the way at the moment and they agreed to meet up when they could.

Midoriya has planned to surprise Tomura and arrive a little early to the bar before the time they set up. The door was ajar which was strange since Kurogiri was adamant on keeping the door closed. Before he went in, he heard his name come from the black mist. A frown came across his lips as he listened to them speak of their relationship. "Sensei, I understand what you're saying, but I'm only using him." Something inside him broke. "I don't even care for him. I'm manipulating him to get answers without his knowledge." Midoriya closed his eyes, tears having gathered behind his eyelids and he was trying to keep back. They went from that and when he heard what the plan was—when he would breakup with him, it was too much.

  Taking a moment to compose himself, Midoriya opened the door and made his presence known. "We can always breakup now." He was calm on the outside, using a facade as strong as titanium to make sure it didn't break nor crack. "Apologies, but it seems that this was only game of cat and mouse between the two of us. We cared nothing for each other but the information the other held. We were both the pawns and the manipulators. Any contracts or information you need will be done with someone else from our company."

  Tomura gaped at Midoriya with an expression that the latter couldn't place his finger on, but he didn't care all the same. The look was quickly masked with anger, a fire in those red eyes as they burn holes into the younger teen. "So I guess then we part our ways here?"

  "It seems so. Goodbye to the three of you. This may as well be the last time I see any of you." He pivoted on his heel and walked off, no one noticing the pained and sorrowful expression in either of their eyes. Midoriya arrived home and immediately locked himself in his room, curling up on his bed. He sobbed into his pillows. Why am I so naive? No one but three people will ever care for me. And one of them is gone. No one will ever care for me. So I shouldn't try anymore.

  He cried and cried, only keeping the tears back at school. He went through the motions there—just waiting for the day to be out of that hellhole of a school. After a while, he came to his senses and told himself—when they meet again, it won't be pretty. He was not going to be hurt by him again. He had to put up a facade—freeze his heart and make sure no one would ever care for someone like him. He didn't have to be liked or cared by anyone. He would be okay with just his father and his assistant. His father's cousin was okay but he barely saw her. He was just going to have to hold everyone at an arms length.

  The day of the breakup, Tomura had been left alone with Kurogiri who wrapped his arms around the teen. He knew. He knew the lie was only for Sensei who had slowly disapproved of their relationship. At first it was okay, but seeing how his feelings were getting in the way of things—well, he wasn't really happy. Shigaraki choked back a sob. The black mist had never seen this side of him in years. Heartbroken.

  He was going to get revenge. He wasn't going to let him get away with playing him as a fool.