Chapter Text
Panic threatens to overwhelm Izuku as he drowns in the realisation that not twenty-four hours after he and Mezo decided to get back together again he's gone missing and it's all Izuku's fault. Logically part of him knows that's not true – there could be any number of reasons why Mezo hasn't turned up for school, all of which have absolutely nothing to do with Izuku. He could have caught the stomach bug that's going around and is off sick, there could have been a family emergency and he's with them, he could be at an appointment he forgot to tell Izuku about because they were too busy kissing, one of the Todoroki clan could have gotten to him...
He swallows down that thought along with the bile in the back of his throat as he tries to concentrate on what Ochako and Mashirao are saying as they list through all the places that Mezo could be if he's not at school. Deep down, something is telling Izuku that they're all wrong: somehow Shouto found out Mezo and Izuku said they were going to get back together and attacked him. How could Izuku have been so stupid? He's known what Shouto is capable of ever since he found out about him but he still went home with Mezo anyway. His ears are ringing and black spots start skittering over Izuku's vision, like he's going to pass out.
“Hey Midoriya, you alright?” Minoru's voice cuts through the static filling Izuku's brain, snapping him back to himself.
“I don't know,” Izuku replies. There's no point lying: his friends already know something is wrong.
“You look as if you are about to faint,” Yuga says. “Do you need to go outside?”
Izuku shakes his head. He tries to get to his feet but his legs threaten to give out. “I need to find Shouji.”
“Let's think about this logically,” Ochako says. “Even though Shouji's not at school there's only so many places he could be, right?”
“I guess so,” Mashirao says but he sounds unsure. “That doesn't explain why he's not picking up his phone though.”
Ochako shrugs. “He could be in a university class, and have his phone off?”
“Why would he be at a university class?” Minoru asks.
“Some people start them early,” Ochako replies.
“Yeah, only people like Iida.”
“Also this is the Hellmouth we are talking about,” Yuga agrees. “Any number of things could have happened.”
“I'm trying not to worry Deku, you jerks,” Ochako hisses, glaring at the both of them.
“I'm already worried,” Izuku tells her. “After everything that happened with Shouto I knew it was a bad idea to get close to Shouji again but I did anyway. If anything has happened to him – if a vampire's gotten to him, especially one from Endeavour's clan – then it's my fault.”
“Oh Deku,” Ochako says with a sad sigh.
“What happened between the two of you anyway?” Mashirao asks. Four pairs of eyes all turn to look at him as if he should know the answer. “Oh...”
“Okay, let's think practically here,” Minoru says, “Sunnydale ain't exactly a big place. It's not like we'd have to search all of Yokohama or something.”
“Oui,” Yuga agrees. “There are only so many places that he can be. If you were with each other only yesterday it is unlikely that he has left town.”
“You've got school and we already know he's not here,” Minoru says, counting on his fingers, “the shopping district, the graveyard and a couple of parks.”
Izuku frowns. “I'm pretty sure there are more places than that.”
“Yeah, but if we each take a part of town to search it won't take long to find him,” Ochako says, trying to sound positive. “I'll do a scrying spell, Mineta can take the shopping district, Deku check his house, Ojirou if you take the graveyard and Aoyama look in the parks. If we finish one we keep looking somewhere else.”
“And if those of us who have his number keep ringing him, we might be lucky and he picks up,” Minoru says.
“Ochako gasps. “Check social media as well; if he's active, then he's probably okay.”
“We shall meet back here in an hour,” Yuga offers. “It is only an assembly this afternoon so no one is going to miss us.”
“Let's go then,” Mashirao says, getting to his feet. “I'm sure we'll find him – if anyone finds him, text everyone to let us know.”
Tears threaten Izuku but he swallows them down as his friends all get up around him. “Guys, are you sure? I can't ask you to cut school for me.”
Ochako places a hand on his shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “Deku, as much as we would all do this in a heartbeat for you, this isn't just for you.”
“Yeah,” Minoru agrees. “Shouji's our friend too.”
“Okay,” Izuku says. He wipes a hand over his face to catch the tears clinging to his lashes and smiles at them all. Whatever their reasons for helping, he's just glad that they are. “Let's go then.”
“Do you think we should let Mr Aizawa and Mr Yamada know what's going on?” Mashirao asks as they head outside. “If a student is missing, surely they'd want to know.”
“Haven't they got a meeting with Travers and the Watcher's Council right now?” Minoru asks, checking the time on his phone.
“Yeah they do,” Ochako says. “Mr Aizawa was complaining about it this morning.”
Puffing out his cheeks Izuku sighs deeply. “Let's leave it for now then,” he said. “Firstly, we can't interrupt that meeting – Mr Aizawa will kill us.”
“Ain't that the truth,” Minoru says.
“Also if Travers gets wind of this he'll either say it's one student and we should be focusing on Endeavour,” Izuku continues, “or he'll say that he's coming back to Japan.”
Yuga wrinkles his nose in disgust. “That is a thing that nobody wants.”
“And I guess we might find Shouji in the mean time,” Mashirao says.
“Yeah, that too,” Izuku says, although he doesn't necessarily believe it.
An hour turns into two and by the time Izuku heads back to school the sun has set and he's pretty sure everyone will have gone home. After going to Mezo's house and finding it empty, then searching some of the other places Izuku knew Mezo liked to go, he meets his friends at the school's entrance and the tiny glimmer of hope that he had been desperately clinging on to that one of them would have found him dies. He's met with a sea of glum faces and he knows that none of them have seen or heard anything from Mezo either. The urge to vomit has returned; Izuku tries not to let the panic show on his face but he imagines he's doing a terrible job.
“Any luck?” he asks, even though he already knows the answer judging by the defeated looks.
Yuga shakes his head. “I am sorry Midoriya, I checked everywhere in every park but could not find him.”
“I looked in all the shops but he wasn't there,” Minoru says. “I even checked the drug store in case he was actually buying loads of lube and condoms for a big night for you two.”
“You just went there because the pretty American girl is working,” Ochako scolded.
“Melissa only works at the weekend,” Mashirao says. “She's got uni classes during the week.”
“And how, pray tell, would you know that?” Minoru asks with a smirk.
Mashirao's face turns scarlet and he quickly changes the subject. “I didn't find him in the graveyard and he hasn't picked up his phone either.”
“I tried the scrying spell but it didn't work how I thought it was going to,” Ochako says. “I couldn't find him anywhere in Sunnydale at all but the weirdest part was that it wasn't like he was anywhere else either. It's like he's dropped off the face of the earth completely.”
“Like he's dead?” Mashirao asks and Izuku nearly buckles at the thought but to his relief Ochako shakes her head.
“No, if he was dead I would have been able to find him but there was literally nothing,” she says. “No trace of him anywhere.”
“That's weird,” Minoru says.
“Incredibly,” Ochako agrees.
“How does a scrying spell work?” Mashirao asks.
“I have to have something that belonged to the person,” Ochako replies, “in this instance I used a pen I never gave back, then I place it on a map on Sunnydale and it should tell me where the person is with a coloured light.”
“And the only reason it wouldn't work was if they weren't in Sunnydale, right?” Minoru asks.
“Well, it wouldn't have worked if I didn't do it right,” Ochako says.
“But you did though,” Minoru says as if that should be obvious. “You're like the best person at using magic.”
Ochako flushes. “Thanks.”
“So if Shouji wasn't in Sunnydale what would have happened?” Izuku asks.
“He would have shown up as a glowing light outside of the map, if that makes sense,” Ochako says, “but there was just nothing which kind points to him not being on this plane of existence.”
“As if he is in another dimension?” Yuga asks with a frown.
“Apart from me messing up the spell completely that's the only explanation I have for why I couldn't find him,” Ochako says.
“Yikes!” Minoru grimaces.
“I think it is time to find Mr Aizawa and Mr Yamada now,” Yuga says.
Izuku nods. “Yeah, I think so too.”
He turns and makes a beeline for the library, the others following close at his heels. They're talking behind him but it's all white noise to him. How could Mezo be in a different dimension? Is this something that Shouto has done? If it is he must have gotten help from a very powerful witch because, as far as Izuku knows, none of the Todoroki clan have access to any kind of magic at all, never mind magic that powerful. There are an infinite number of dimensions and if Mezo is stuck in one then he could already be dead and they'll never be able to find him and...
“Yo Midoriya,” Minoru says, breaking him out of his thoughts.
“Was I doing it again?” Izuku asks, cringing.
“Yeah, but it's cool: you're stressed,” Minoru assures him, giving his arm a gentle pat.
“Everything's going to be okay Deku,” Ochako said, linking their fingers together and squeezing his hand. “I promise you, we'll find him.”
“Thanks,” Izuku says, pushing the door to the library open. He doesn't have it in him to contradict her because he desperately wants to believe that she's right.
“And then we can... oh my god!” Whatever Ochako was going to say that they could do once they found Mezo dies on her tongue as they enter the library and her eyes fall on the large table in the centre of the room.
Sitting at the table and serenely reading a book that has a Sunnydale High sticker on the spine sits Denki. The harsh florescent light above him shines off his golden hair, giving him an almost angelic look, and Izuku has to remind himself that he's looking at a vampire. Fingers twitch towards his backpack for his stake but he stops himself. There would be no sense starting a fight with Eijirou and his clan when Denki hasn't done anything. Whoever was the last of their group to enter the library lets the door bang closed and Denki looks up. Izuku's whole body contracts and he feels his friends all tense up behind him. The air crackles with electric tension as Denki slowly closes the book, putting it down on the table and Izuku readies himself for a fight but then Denki smiles.
“All the players are on the stage, everyone's here for the star,” he says, dreamily.
“Still bonkers then,” Minoru observes.
“Shut up,” Mashirao hisses.
“Do you want him to eat you?” Yuga asks.
“Denki Kaminari...” Ochako gasps.
Denki's musical laugh echoes through the room. “That is my name,” he says spinning to face them, “and your name is Momo Yaoyorozu.”
“N... no it's not,” Ochako stammers, terrified to correct him but Yuga talks over her and only Izuku hears her.
“How did you get in here?” Yuga asks. “I thought that the school was protected so that vampires could not enter.”
“It's not protected,” Minoru cuts in before Denki can answer. “Vampires have to be explicitly invited in before they can enter, even public buildings.”
“You are mostly correct,” Denki says with a smile, “but in this case I was actually invited in.”
“By who?” Yuga asks.
“Omnes qui quaerunt scientiam, grati sunt,” Denki replies, causing the group of students to stare at him.
Minoru blinks at him. “Come again?”
“Isn't that the school motto?” Mashirao asks, and Izuku suddenly remembers where he's seen those words before: on a huge sign outside the school. He always thought it strange that a school in Japan had a Latin motto but never questioned it that much.
“What does it mean?” Ochako asks.
“All who seek knowledge are welcome,” Denki replies. “I seek knowledge, so I entered.”
“You speak Latin?” Mashirao asks.
Denki nods. “And Italian, Japanese, German and English.”
Minoru whistles. “Impressive.”
“Well, I have been around a lot, one does tend to pick things up on one's travels,” Denki says with a soft laugh before he leans forward and grins conspiratorially. “Also tiny green birds help me.”
“Okay,” Izuku says.
“Cuckoo bananas,” Minoru mutters, earning him a slap to the back of the head from Ochako.
“Shut up, will you!” she hisses. “Do you want him to kill us all?”
“What bought you to the school Kaminari?” Izuku asks, hoping to keep the conversation going so that Denki doesn't have a chance to dwell on Minoru's comment, if he heard it. “Aside from knowledge of course.”
“Didn't you want to see me again, Slayer?” Denki asks, looking mournful.
“I was surprised more than anything,” Izuku says, choosing his words carefully. “I've never seen you alone.”
Denki sighs deeply, suddenly melancholy. “I'm not allowed out on my own; it's not safe while Daddy is around.”
“Who is he talking about?” Mashirao whispers.
“I do not wish to know,” Yuga replies, also whispering.
“I couldn't stay away though,” Denki says, getting to his feet. “You were calling to me, Slayer.”
“I was?” Izuku asks.
“Yes.” With a grace that makes him seem as if he's floating, Denki closes the distance between himself and Izuku. When Denki reaches him, he wraps his arms around Izuku and pulls him into a hug. Izuku's entire body stiffens in terror and surprise while cries of distress sound from his friends.
“Hey!” Minoru yells.
“What are you doing?” Mashirao demands.
“Let him go!” Ochako cries.
“Guys, it's okay,” Izuku says, praying that none of them will do anything stupid. It doesn't seem as if Denki wants to hurt him but that could change if his friends try to pull him off.
Pulling back a tiny bit, Denki places a hand on Izuku's cheek and presses their foreheads together. “You've been screaming for help everywhere you go, I've felt it.”
“I'm sorry.”
“Don't be sorry,” Denki says softly. “Do you need help?”
Biting his lips together so that he doesn't instantly burst into tears, Izuku nods.
“All you need to do is ask then sweetheart,” Denki says and presses a soft kiss to Izuku's cheek.
“I'm looking for someone and I can't find him,” Izuku says.
“That boy of yours?” Denki asks. “The handsome one?”
Izuku flushes all the way up to his ears, staining his cheeks a deep crimson. “Yeah that one, I think Shouto Todoroki might have gotten to him.”
“I assure you Shouto Todoroki has nothing to do with this but he does need help. He's back in this dimension now,” Denki says and Izuku's heart leaps into his throat.
“Do you know where he is? Can you take me to him?” Izuku asks, his words coming out in a jumble in his haste.
Denki closes his eyes as if focusing on something that no one else can see. “He's in the park near the graveyard.”
“I need to go, right now,” Izuku says and turns to leave the library, too worried to think about anything other than finding Mezo.
“Wait, wait, wait,” Minoru says, stepping in front of him before he can reach the door. “How do we know that this isn't going to turn into some elaborate trap?”
“Mineta, I don't have time for this,” Izuku says, brushing him off. “I need to find Shouji.”
“But Midoriya how do you know that Shouji is going to be where Kaminari says he is?” Yuga asks.
“Kirishima and the rest of them could be waiting to ambush you,” Minoru adds.
“Guys, maybe don't insinuate stuff,” Ochako says, shooting a nervous glance at Denki who, instead of looking offended, laughs.
“It's nice to see the two of you agreeing on something,” he says. “It's commendable that you both care for the Slayer so much that you would put aside your differences to keep him safe.”
Minoru and Yuga look at each other before they both flush and turn away, Minoru mumbling, “Whatever.”
“They're not trying to be rude or anything,” Ochako cuts in, wanting to keep the atmosphere civil. “It's just that so many vampires want Deku dead so we wanted to be sure.”
“You have a good group of friends, Slayer,” Denki tells Izuku, smiling at him. “Keep them close.”
“I'm trying to.”
“You're right to be cautious,” Denki says. “There are many who would want the Slayer dead so that they can do as they please. I have no such agenda.”
“Well, that's good,” Mashirao says, a nervous smile on his face.
Denki's eyes flash wickedly. “Not yet anyway.”
“Good enough for me,” Izuku says. “Can we go?”
“Better be quick,” Denki says, “he might not have long.”
The bottom drops out of Izuku's stomach and the colour drains from his face. “Oh no...”
Before anyone can stop him, Izuku darts out of the library, not waiting to see if anyone follows. The others run after him, none of them looking back to check whether Denki comes with them or not. Alone and humming to himself, Denki heads back to the table and picks up the book he had been reading, taking it back to the shelf he found it on before finally heading out of the library to follow Izuku and his friends. He heads towards the nearest exit, his movements unhurried as he takes his time to stare around dreamily. It's been a long time he's been in any kind of school and he loves seeing how things have changed over the centuries.
“I suppose I could have lead him to Eiji and the others,” he muses to himself. “Would have caused a fight though, Kacchan wouldn't like it. I could have had him all for myself – it's been so long since I've had a Slayer and he smells so sweet.” He sighs deeply, a smile on his face. “He needs to stay alive so he can kill Endeavour... also I like him. He's cute so I'll let him live.”
Taking one last look down the corridor, wondering what it would be like to be here during the day when it's full of life, he finally turns to continue following Izuku and the others. It's so frightfully boring being cooped up in the crypt with nothing to do but watch television with Hanta (and those shows are so predictable that it's hardly worth the time and energy) that he's enjoying time free. Maybe he could ask Eijirou nicely if he could go out more, even if that means with a chaperone. As Denki turns he's not paying as much attention as he could be and finds himself walking into something solid.
“Hey, watch where you're going!”
Denki opens his mouth to admonish this lowly human for daring to speak to him in such a way but stops himself. His fangs aren't out and humans these days (particularly the young ones) have very little respect for anyone. Instead he looks over the boy standing in front of him, taking in every tiny detail – the shock of deep violet hair with eyes the same colour, framed with dark circles and a glare on his handsome face – and something shifts back into place like a long forgotten puzzle piece finally finishing the picture.
Hitoshi...
“Hey, don't I know you, star boy?”