What a damn hero - Part 1

This fic is a commission for Goddessofthe world! It will be a oneshot eventually but I'm still tweaking the rest, so here's part one!

If you're interested in commission info, click here! (also remember top-tier supporters get a prompt request, just send me a message!)

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Izuku's fingers curled tighter around his shaft, and he moaned quietly as he shifted his grip, eyes darting once more to the phone in his other hand. The screen had gone dim, so he tapped it quickly to brighten the image, a much less controlled moan coming out when he saw it in all its glory.

It shouldn't have been nearly as sexual as Izuku found it. It was just a simple selfie, taken in front of a wall of mirrors at the gym – it wasn't like he'd never seen one before, he'd checked out dozens of them on that exact same account, but this one was different.

For one thing, the man in the photo was so damn sweaty. His clothes stuck to him like glue, and one broad hand pushed hair back from his damp forehead, making every muscle of his thick bicep pop under the intense lights. The other hand held his phone to take the picture, and even with the haze of horniness clouding his mind, he couldn't help but think it was a little ironic that both their phones held the same image. He couldn't imagine what this man – this relative stranger – would think, knowing they made some quirkless nerd moan so loud that the neighbours could probably hear him tugging desperately at his cock.

As much as he tried to tell himself it was the sweat and the arm that got him so riled up, a little nagging voice told him it wasn't true. It sang a teasing song in the back of his mind, taunting him endlessly.

It definitely was not because the hot dude was wearing an All Might tank top. He was not that pathetic. Shut up, tiny voice.

With a last little whimper and a harsh tug, he came in his hand, immediately regretting it when he saw the mess on his bed cover. He should really learn to put a towel down or some shit, but he'd been so caught off-guard, just scrolling lazily through his news feed and suddenly BAM boner. He'd hardly taken the time to stop and consider the ramifications.

He hit the 'save' button on his phone, storing the photo for later, then after a brief pause to consider, hit the 'like' button to match. So what if the guy found out his random social media follower liked his sweaty gym selfie? It wasn't like his mind would be depraved enough to think that tiny pink heart meant he'd jerked off to it.

With the phone set aside, Izuku stripped the blanket off his bed, relieved to discover that his mess had been contained to the top layer. He left the rest of the bed made and headed for the bathroom to toss his blanket in to wash, searching the linen closet for a spare to get him through the night. The ping of his phone made him jump, and nervously he peeked around the corner, staring at the pulsing green light near the top of his device.

Was it the sweaty guy?

No, that was stupid. More likely it was...

His hand trembled a little as he picked it up, biting down on his lip, and sure enough the familiar number lit up his screen. He did what the internet had suggested – opened it, took a screenshot, and immediately deleted the message. The screenshot would upload by itself, stored for later in case he ever needed it, but the message would disappear without the words ever meeting his gaze.

Except for the few short, crude glimpses he got as he found the right buttons, but the action was burned into muscle memory now, he could practically do it with his eyes closed.

With a little shudder he tossed his phone back on his bed, making a round of the apartment to reassure himself that every window was closed tight, every curtain drawn, and that the door was locked – both the handle and the deadbolt.

Another ping, and Izuku felt himself tearing up. It was always the worst when it was dark out, and in winter, that meant anything from four in the afternoon. Walking home in the dark was a thing of nightmares, but still he diligently worked as late as he was needed in a tiny office cubicle, then hurried his pace a few blocks over to lock himself away, praying as he turned the lights on and checked every room, every closet, that he wouldn't find a figure waiting for him, wouldn't discover a monster under his bed.

Finally he braced himself, lighting up the screen once more, and almost cried in his relief when he didn't see that awful number waiting for him. He was so thankful that he almost didn't notice the name that was there.

BakuKatsu: Here you go, dude.

Attached was another photo, with the familiar shock of blond spikes he'd once thought were odd but now found kind of cute, the piercing red eyes that felt like they could stare right through the screen and into his apartment, like they could see his dick hanging out, still unwashed.

It'sZuku: Thank you so much!!

The man in the photo was slumped against his hand, like maybe he was tired after a long day of work, but the other hand was up in a familiar rude gesture, flipping the camera off casually. His eyebrows were furrowed together, eyes narrowed – he looked incredibly unimpressed.

Damn, this guy was good.

BakuKatsu: Why do you need a bunch of pics of a buff angry dude, anyway?

Izuku froze when the message came through, staring with eyes as wide as the strong hands on his screen.

BakuKatsu: Obviously you don't have to tell me, but like, are you alright and shit?

It'sZuku: I'm fine!! There's just, um, like a pushy guy? He won’t take no for an answer, you know? He makes me kind of nervous. But it's okay!! Really!! I can stop asking!!

BakuKatsu: Literally every post starts with “send these to those creeps who won’t leave you alone” and you think I'm telling you to quit it? Relax, nerd.

Izuku was still debating a reply when the next one came through.

BakuKatsu: Just take care of yourself and shit, alright? Doors and windows are locked?

It'sZuku: Yeah!! I bought special locks for the windows near the fire escape and stuff, and I have a deadbolt on the door!

BakuKatsu: Alright, good. Have you blocked his number yet?

It'sZuku: No, people told me I should keep a record of any messages he sent me

BakuKatsu: Fuck that outdated noise. You've already told him to fuck off, yeah? Block him and if he tries anything else, call the police right away. There’s always a hero nearby who’s more than happy to show up and deal with this shit, y'know?

It'sZuku: Okay!! I'll do it right now!!

BakuKatsu: Does he know where you live?

It'sZuku: I don't think so, I moved pretty recently and I've tried to not update anything he could maybe see

BakuKatsu: Good. If he manages to show up at your apartment, whatever you do, don't open the door. You know how many idiots let them in so they'll stop yelling and upsetting the neighbours? Stupidest shit ever, I swear to God. Don't let him in, don't answer him, just call the cops and wait for someone to arrive.

It'sZuku: I will! Thank you for the help, you've really helped me calm down. You're my hero! <3

BakuKatsu: Hah. I hear that a lot.

Izuku paused, staring at the screen with his eyes wide again, brain running a mile a minute as he thought back over all the gym selfies, always up early to work out, even on weekends and holidays; the vague comments about his job, his clients being the inspiration for his photo posts; and the snarky responses to viral articles and videos about the slow decay of the hero world as All Might phased into retirement.

It'sZuku: Are you a REAL hero?!?!

For a long couple of minutes, Izuku thought maybe the man had left. He was up so early every day, after all – he probably went to bed at a much more reasonable hour than Izuku did. Or maybe he was just tired of Izuku asking questions about his personal life and blabbering about his fears?

BakuKatsu: Yeah, you could say that

It'sZuku: Oh my God!! You're amazing!! I always wanted to be a hero but it turns out that's pretty impossible when you're quirkless, haha. I saw your All Might shirt in one of your photos, are you a fan too? He was my favourite hero growing up! Oh my God, have you ever met him?!

BakuKatsu: He was one of my teachers at high school

Izuku couldn't hold back the yelp that came from him, his fears all but forgotten in favour of the overwhelming excitement that flooded his body. He was talking to a real life hero who trained with All Might at U.A. Although he didn't recognise the face in the photos – no one else seemed to have either, that was kind of weird. What heroes were there in Japan whose identities were a secret? Not many, that was for sure. He had to be pretty local, too, if All Might was his teacher – unless he'd just travelled to the area specifically for U.A.? Or he was brand new, fresh out of high school? But he must have been in sports festivals, surely! Not that he really saw people's faces close enough to identify, on the television broadcasts. He knew names and quirks, not faces, not-

It'sZuku: What's your quirk? It must be awesome, right? Is that why you're at the gym every day? I know other heroes take breaks, but you never seem to? Is your quirk physically demanding? It would explain why you're so muscular!!

BakuKatsu: You're a big damn fanboy, aren't you? Hah. Should've known. Yeah, it's pretty demanding, especially on my arms. I have to deal with kind of a recoil effect when I use it in full.

Recoil. Recoil?

No way.

It'sZuku: Ground Zero????????????????

BakuKatsu: What the fuck nerd, how the hell?

It'sZuku: You ARE!! Oh my GOD!! I'm such a HUGE FAN?! I'm so sorry I didn't mean for this to become so weird you've been so NICE and so HELPFUL but oh my GOD you're GROUND ZERO holy SHIT excuse the language

BakuKatsu: Wow, watch your fuckin' mouth.

It'sZuku: I'm so sorry!!

BakuKatsu: I'm kidding, you damn nerd. I literally said fuck like thirty seconds ago

Izuku's fingers shook as he typed, spamming the man with endless questions, regaling stories of his triumph and praising his smart decisions. Ground Zero was an icon in Izuku's mind. He wasn't just some guy with a flashy quirk – okay sure, his quirk was flashy as fuck, but every move he made was so calculated, so measured and practiced. And while other people might complain about his snarky attitude or foul language, Izuku watched with awe. He was a complete hero, from head to toe, an image of pure victory. He needed to know everything about the man.

BakuKatsu: Alright nerd, it's been like an hour and I can tell you're never gonna be satisfied but I gotta SLEEP and you probably should too, idiot. I'm trusting you to never repeat a fuckin' word of any of this shit. If I start getting spammed with DMs from journalists tomorrow, I'm gonna have your ass on a silver platter, Quirkless.

Somehow, the word didn't make Izuku frown or fill him with an old sadness. Maybe it was just because it was coming from Ground Zero of all people, but it actually made him smile faintly. It was just a dumb nickname, not an insult or a taunt – almost fond, in a way? Though maybe that was just Izuku's wishful thinking.

It'sZuku: Of course!! Thank you so much, it was so fun talking to you and the photos have helped so much – I guess I won't need any more now that I've blocked him!! I hope you don't mind if I keep following you though, I'm always fascinated by all your posts!

BakuKatsu: I have over a thousand followers, Quirkless, you think they're all using my pics for their intended purpose? Pretty sure half of them are just jerking it anyway. G'night.

It'sZuku: Goodnight!! Sleep tight!! Have sweet dreams!!

Izuku finally headed for the bathroom to clean off his crusty dick, long since forgotten about, but as he wiped himself down his phone pinged again on the counter. He leaned over to take a look, and when he saw the name on his screen  – Ground Zero he thought to himself – he couldn't help but smile.

BakuKatsu: I'll hit you up next time I'm bored

It'sZuku: Looking forward to it!! ^_^

That night, when Izuku fell asleep, it wasn't tensed up listening to every footstep and creaking door. For the first time in a year, Midoriya Izuku fell asleep with a smile on his face.