Chapter 17: The Answers We Seek

A/N: Hi~! It's been a while, huh? I rewrote this chapter about 6 or 7 times, so that's why it took forever. Sorry about that, it just... didn't wanna flow. We've finally reached the reveal scene! I hope I've done it justice. And please enjoy!

IMPORTANT! I've gone back through all of Viridian and rewritten the story, adding in more details and whatnot. I'd HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you re-read this story before reading the new chapter. You may not necessarily be confused, but it'll help add more depth to everything. :3

I also can't remember which fanart I've linked before and which fanart I haven't. So if I double-link one, that's why. If I forgot yours, please let me know and I'll post it with the next chapter. :3

I've also misplaced a few usernames of people who've made amazing fanart, so if I get yours wrong, please let me know. ^^;

For fanart, please look at this story on AO3, Quotev, or Wattpad, as this site doesn't allow me to create links. :3

That being said, I've created a Discord! :D If you wanna join, this is the link: Dz5Er7W

There are TWO ANIMATICS for this story, and I'm so PUMPED! :D Ginormous thanks to Ollie for this! I'm SO HAPPY! Here's the link for that. :3 Just look up Cups Animatic on youtube, and it should pop up. The second one's by the same person. :D

As always, send any fanart to aizawa at email dot com. :)

Izuku paced in the little camper he called home. Keigo was eyeing him; the winged hero was still smattered here and there with bandages from his release from the hospital the day before. Most importantly, today was Saturday—the day of the meeting where he'd reveal himself as a time-traveling 44-year-old man who also happened to be their 15-year-old student and the vigilante-turned-hero that the world seemed to have their eye on.

He was understandably a little nervous. They'd either believe him and help out, or he'd be wishing he could undo whatever it was he was about to do when they laughed him out of the room and called the happy farm.

He clenched the necklace.

"Relax, Zukkun. I'm here with you. Besides, you're bringing along more than just the necklace." Keigo placed a hand on his shoulder. "No need to pace a hole in this place, it's barely holding together as is."

"Hey! My house is perfectly—" He paused a moment to slam the panel back onto the wall where it'd popped out. "Stable, thank you!" Keigo gave him a flat look. "Okay, so it's a work in progress. But it's livable."

"Livable and safe to live in are two very different things, my bro."

"It hasn't given me tetanus yet~"

"The yet shouldn't even be there." Keigo groaned. "I swear, if you don't move in with me, I'm going to tell U.A. today and make them build a dorm system."

"MOM, NO!"

"Mom, yes." Keigo crossed his arms.

"But U.A. will take away my sake!" Izuku cried.

"You still have that?! NO ALCOHOL UNTIL YOU'RE LEGAL!"

"I am legal!" Izuku stuck out his tongue.

"Not in this timeline, you aren't."

"Fine, whatever." Izuku huffed, making a mental note to hide several alcohol bottles in various locations around town (and UA) so Keigo didn't take them away.

"Don't stress. If they don't believe you, we've still got Hanabi." Keigo reminded him.

Hanabi was an acquaintance of Keigo's that owed him a favor. She had the most curious Quirk: Memory Lane. She could pull other people into someone's memory and make them all relive it in third person, as spectators. Izuku was itching to analyze it, especially since it worked in spite of memory-altering Quirks.

She was a mental specialist who often worked with police. Her Quirk would work accurately even on someone who'd been memory altered or had their memories suppressed. He wanted to know the specifics, but he had yet to meet the girl in question.

He hoped he wouldn't have to. That was an absolute last-ditch option. He didn't want to traumatize everyone, after all. Or… re-traumatize them? Whatever.

Either way, the issue now was how to go about this… Aizawa likely already suspected him of at least knowing Viridian, if not pulling the same conclusion as Todoroki about him being related to himself (and he was right—Keigo laughed his ass off when Izuku told him about Todoroki's accusation).

He looked down when his phone buzzed. Call him paranoid, but he slipped a tracker into Aizawa, Tsukauchi, and Keigo's hero phones (or work phone in Tsukauchi's case)—something that they took with them everywhere. That way, no matter what, he could find them if they got into trouble.

And Aizawa was on the move. But he was heading away from U.A. Izuku's brows furrowed. That wasn't right… where was he…?

Dadzawa: Viridian, I was going to ask you to pick Midoriya up, but I'll do it myself. I want to give him a home-check. I know you said he's safe at home, but I need to make sure. I think we've already established that you don't always recognize Quirkless discrimination as such.

Oh, shit. "Keigo?" He looked at his brother. "How fast do you think we could fly to my mother's house?"

"I'd say about ten minutes or less, why?" Keigo shot him a suspicious look.

Izuku showed him the phone. "Because Aizawa's en route to what he thinks is my house. And Inko really doesn't want to see me, I'm sure."

"Crap. Hold on, Zukkun!" Keigo shook out his wings as they ran outside. Izuku made sure to grab his things. Well, that's one cat out of the bag.

Shouta didn't know what he was expecting when he knocked on the door of the Midoriya residence. The woman that stood before him bore a striking resemblance to his Problem Child. She had a thin physique with long green hair and shimmering green eyes.

"Hello?" She tilted her head, confused.

"Hi, I'm Aizawa Shouta, your son's homeroom teacher." He answered, but the woman looked even more confused.

"My son…?" There was a flash of… was that confusion in her eyes? Had Midoriya not informed her of his attendance at U.A.? He really hoped he hadn't just fucked up and made a possible abusive situation worse.

Shouta was about to say something, when footsteps echoed on the concrete stairs leading up to the apartment. He turned to see his Problem Child panting lightly. The kid stopped when he saw his mother in the doorway.

"M–Inko." Midoriya started.

The woman looked at him for a moment, as if she didn't recognize him. "Oh, Izuku. I'm sorry I haven't been home, much, lately. Goodness, I never even asked which high school you got into." She smiled softly at him, but something was definitely wrong, here.

Midoriya snorted. "I got into U.A.'s Hero course."

"Come, now. Don't lie, especially in front of a guest. We both know your… condition."

Condition? Does she mean his Quirklessness? Shouta felt anger spark up within him.

"My name is Aizawa Shouta, a teacher at UA. Your son is my student—I teach 1–A Heroics." He stepped in, noting with a small amount of smug satisfaction as the woman jolted at the information.

"1–A… UA's…? But… he's Quirkless? Heroics is far too dangerous for someone like him." She protested. Something about her tone made it seem forced. Like her worry wasn't genuine.

"Don't even pretend to care." Midoriya shook his head. "You're a terrible mother, you know that?"

Shouta jolted at the steel in his student's voice. The woman apparently hadn't expected it, either.

"Listen here, Izuku. I am your mother, and you will not disrespect me that way."

"What kind of mother doesn't even notice that her son's been gone for over a year?" Midoriya spat, glaring. There was a disappointment coloring his tone. "I mean, I knew you didn't care, but this is a new low. I thought you'd at least notice."

Shouta's head spun at this new information. This was looking to be a case of severe neglect. And… had Midoriya run away? Where was he staying? And why the hell hadn't Viridian told them?!

Midoriya Inko eyed Shouta nervously for a moment. "Don't lie—I made your favorite just last night for dinner."

"Oh, did you, now? Do you even remember what my favorite meal is?"

"Of course I do, I'm your mother. It's Katsudon."

"It hasn't been Katsudon since I was seven." Midoriya sighed. "Look, just… don't. Don't even bother, anymore. Not that you did to begin with." The boy gave his mother the most exhausted look Shouta's ever seen on a child's face. It was weary and filled with a sense of resignation. "You know… I think some part of me still held out hope… that maybe you really did care about a Quirkless kid like me. But it looks like I was wrong. Again."

Shouta could sense the finality in his student's tone, and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked back at the woman in the doorframe as he guided his student away. She looked like she'd been slapped, but there was something in her eyes.

Maybe there was something else at play, here.

Either way, he was going to file a case against her with Tsukauchi for child neglect, but for now he had some more pressing matters. Once they were away from the complex, he looked at his student. "You ran away."

"Around the beginning of my third year of middle school."

"And you're staying…?"

The kid sighed. "I guess there's no way around it, is there?"

"No."

"Dagoba Beach Park." Shouta stopped short.

"The dump?" Even Viridian should've known that was wrong, Quirkless or not. So why… why hadn't he told them? Unless… Viridian really was Midoriya's father. In that case, were they both living at the dump?

"I'll have you know that you can salvage a lot in that place." His Problem Child huffed. But wait… hadn't Hawks said that he'd spent time at Midoriya's place? "If you're wondering about Hawks… I asked him not to tell anyone. I have my reasons, okay? I've got some powerful enemies after me, and I can't put him in danger by staying with him."

"More powerful than the League of Villains?"

Midoriya snorted. "I'm sure it'll make sense after this meeting."

The meeting. Shouta would be lying if he said he wasn't beyond curious. Even Principal Nezu hadn't been able to figure out the mystery that was the child walking beside him, which was moderately terrifying. He wondered just how much of a headache he'd have by the end of this.

They rode the early morning train in silence. Midoriya was staring into his phone, but he hadn't scrolled for several minutes. The kid was understandably nervous, and likely shaken from their earlier encounter with his mother.

"Listen, Midoriya." He spoke up softly, and those bright green eyes turned to him. "No matter what happens at this meeting, know that I'm in your corner, okay? I'll be here for you."

"If you believe me." Shouta would never admit it aloud, but the kid's lack of faith in him hurt.

"I will believe you. I promise." He found himself locked into a staring contest. He felt exposed, like Midoriya was judging his soul, determining his worth. It was unnerving, to say the least.

"I really hope you do, Shou." His eyes were somewhat glassy and unfocused, but not quite in a flashback sort of way. It was as if he was remembering something. Shouta was so caught up in the mystery that was his student that he nearly missed their stop.

"This is us, Problem Child." He gently ruffled the kid's hair, earning a surprised smile from the boy. Midoriya quickly followed after him as they entered U.A., heading straight for Nezu's office.

Midoriya stopped him right outside of the principal's door. "Sensei? I need to use the restroom. I'll be right back."

Shouta almost stopped him, but remembered how defeated the kid had looked after speaking to his mother. He probably needed a bit of time to process that before delving into his trauma. He sighed. "Fine, but make it quick." He entered the office alone.

The principal was already there, enjoying a cup of tea with Tsukauchi and Hawks, though Viridian was nowhere to be seen. He twitched. Damnit, why was that man always late?

"Midoriya will be joining us shortly—he's using the restroom first." Shouta explained before anyone could ask. Hawks chuckled lightly to himself, but Shouta didn't get the chance to ask him about it as Viridian walked in.

"Hey, Ri." Hawks greeted casually.

"Keigo~" Viridian grinned as he came over and clasped hands with the hero. Well, looked like those two were on friendly terms. They'd probably met on patrol or something. The two did seem to have similar personalities, and if Viridian was related to Midoriya, then it would stand to reason that the two would be close.

"Ah, Viridian, I presume?" Nezu smiled. "Would you like some tea?"

"Principal Nezu." Viridian greeted. "And Present Mic. Yes, I'd love a cup of tea, thank you."

"Ah, good." The principal handed Viridian a cup. "We're just waiting on Midoriya, now."

Hawks chuckled lowly, but masked it as a cough. Viridian sent him a glare. "Before we start, I… have something I need to tell you. Midoriya will still be a little bit." Viridian said.

Had he spoken to the kid beforehand? If Viridian had something to say and he didn't want the kid to know, then it'd stand to reason that he'd have the kid make up some kind of excuse to leave, and as a teacher, Shouta's heard the restroom excuse more times than should be legal.

"Oh?" Nezu tilted his head.

"I promise, it's related to our reason for being here today."

"What, have we finally graduated to 'tragic backstory' or something?" Shouta rolled his eyes. He normally wasn't one to joke, but Viridian had a similar sense of humor. He supposed it was okay to joke with his… friend.

"Actually, yes."

Tsukauchi choked on his coffee as Viridian calmly took a sip of tea, pulling his mask back down before speaking again.

"And your origins relate to Midoriya's trauma in what way?" Nezu narrowed his gaze, suspicious.

"In every way." Viridian answered. "But my story… is unbelievable. I know it's going to sound insane, but… I need you to trust me." There was something in his eyes. A desperation. The sort of soul-crushing agony that drove men to madness. A loneliness that was so sharp and a grief so strong that Shouta's heart hurt just seeing it in his friend's eyes.

"You're our friend, Viridian." Tsukauchi spoke up. "We trust you."

"Of course we'll believe you." Shouta nodded in agreement. Nezu and Hizashi stayed quiet, but he could sense their curiosity.

"You already know my answer." Hawks smirked.

"So… Here's the thing. I'm actually from the future."

There was a pause. Surely he must be joking, right? Viridian did that a lot. But there was a look in his eyes and a shock that was painted all over Tsukauchi's face that told him he was telling the truth.

Viridian pulled out a carefully bound stack of papers—they looked old—and handed them to Nezu. "Those are the blueprints for Project Hope—the time machine I built alongside Aizawa Shouta, my good friend."

Shouta jolted at the sound of his name. "Me?"

"Yeah, you. Well, future-you." He sighed deeply. "The plan was for Shou and I to jump back together, but… he died protecting me… died to send me back."

Hizashi's hand took his, and Shouta looked at Viridian in a whole new light. This man had once been his friend, and he'd died to send him to the past… but why? Why was that necessary?

"I'm afraid that I'm still missing some information." Nezu noted as he flipped through the pages. "This is certainly feasible given the materials and calculations, but I fail to see why this was necessary." There was a sort of sharpness to the principal's gaze. "Altering time for the wrong reasons is technically illegal, though it's never been done on this sort of scale before. Ten years?"

"Thirty-eight, actually." Viridian admitted. The room jolted.

"Even the handful of time-related Quirks that've popped up over the years… nothing of this scale has ever been…" Tsukauchi trailed off, blinking owlishly at the vigilante.

"If it's illegal, then you can arrest me after I kill Shigaraki Tomura. But I have to prevent the future I came from." His fist tightened.

"Is this personal? Or is the greater populace at risk? Depending on the situation, it may be legal." Tsukauchi spoke up.

"Shigaraki Tomura will bring an end to the world as we know it. Cities razed to the ground—billions, perhaps more, dead. I've seen so many horrible things."

"The apocalypse?" Hizashi choked.

"Yeah." Viridian nodded. "I've already changed up a few things, but until he dies, that future is still there. Until I can kill him and prevent him from receiving All for One, that future will remain."

All for One... the name of a shadow-villain who ruled the underworld. If the rumors Shouta had heard about him were correct, he was the villain equivalent of All Might—truly a terrifying prospect.

"All for One?!" Tsukauchi blinked before his gaze narrowed. "So he is alive."

"Yes, but the real threat is his protégé—Shigaraki Tomura. He may seem like a childish gamer—and he is, right now—but he's frighteningly intelligent." Viridian shuddered hard. "He created these Nomu that have… special attributes. Things like speed, strength, flight… They eventually grew into their own species and gained an animalistic sentience. They'd attack any humans they came across. I can count on one hand how many survivor groups I ran across, even after…" He winced.

"So let me get this straight." Tsukauchi took a deep calming breath. Shouta knew the feeling—this was a lot of information. "You've come from thirty-something years in the future to kill the man who will one day destroy the world, causing the deaths of countless people." He paused. "Do I have that right?"

"Yep. Pretty much." Viridian nodded. "I know it's unbelievable… but I've… I've got proof."

Shouta blinked at that. Proof would be nice, because right now it just sounded like some kind of fucked up fairytale.

"Shou gave it to me… Said it'd convince you." Viridian lifted his mask a bit and reached down his shirt enough to pull up a necklace. It actually looked a lot like Midoriya's.

Nezu's eyes widened as something clicked into place, and Shouta was somewhat terrified, because he'd never seen Nezu look shocked before. "I see." Nezu chuckled to himself for a moment before dissolving into full on cackles.

"Aw~ You took my fun away." Viridian pouted.

"Relax, Ri. Everyone else is still confused." Hawks chuckled. So the winged hero had already known all this. He felt a little miffed that this other hero was trusted before himself and Tsukauchi.

He ignored Nezu, who was starting to calm down, as he took the proffered necklace. It was only then that he saw what sat on the other end of that chain.

His hand went to his own necklace, hidden beneath his shirt. Two rings sat together, one with a deep purple stone and the other with a bright shining green one. 'Forever in Harmony' was engraved along the inside as celtic-like knots intertwined with one another around the outside of the band. The one with the purple stone was encrusted with dried blood, and it looked a little worse for wear when compared to the other one. Neither looked to have been cleaned in a long time.

Hizashi gasped beside him. "That's… our wedding bands?" They both raised their gazes to Viridian.

"That's right." He smiled softly. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you, back then. But I swear I'll protect you, now."

Shouta reluctantly handed the rings back to the vigilante-turned-hero, who took them gently with a soft look. He rubbed his thumb along Hizashi's with a forlorn gaze.

"Hasn't Midoriya been taking a while?" Tsukauchi spoke up suddenly. "I mean, I know this was a lot of information—very important information, mind you—but weren't we originally here for the kid?"

Oh, yeah. That was right. But now, something new started to slide into place in his mind.

Midoriya called them Zashi and Shou, and he was far more skilled in combat than normal. He took down a Nomu without a second glance, and mentioned them during the Battle Trials before he'd even seen the one at USJ. Midoriya had had previous encounters with the Nomu, but refused to tell them where or when. He didn't socialize well with his peers—though that was slowly changing between Hatsume and Shinsou—and was always on-edge. He had severe PTSD and seemed to be after Shigaraki Tomura.

The puzzle pieces had been there all along, but he'd never thought to put them together like this before.

His eyes widened as Viridian reached for his mask.

"Oh, yeah… about that."

He slipped off the mask, and at first Shouta couldn't process what he was seeing. Fluffy green hair and bright green eyes framed by a familiar smattering of freckles. The scar from Shigaraki was what really cemented this as reality.

With a shuddering breath, Shouta clicked the final puzzle piece into place.

Midoriya Izuku smirked. "I fixed the 'w' key."