Chapter 17

"I'm glad to see that the wraps are helping, or at least looking like they are." Brian said as he and Izuku sat in his newer office. Being the manager of Queen wasn't easy but to Brian it was worth it. It was the last day of Izuku's hiatus from classes. He finished up his school work the day after Itsuka and the others had talked to him. He began working out again, he had begged Toshinori for forgiveness and received it in a fatherly hug and kind words. The next day he went to UA to ask for forgiveness from Aizawa and Nedzu who forgave but also reprimanded him on his actions, he accepted both the forgiveness and the criticism. He then went to the support department for something to help with the constant sore throat and raspy voice he has. Power Loader and Hatsume quickly made throat bandages, or bandages in general, that the temperature can be controlled remotely. He cleaned himself up, slept better, and shaved. Now, he was here, talking to Brian before talking to Queen. He had asked Brian if he could help teach him to sing again.

"I'm glad Hatsume made an app to control the temperature." He said as he swiped down on his phone before pocketing it. Brian nodded before sighing. He stood up and walked over to sit in front of Izuku.

"I'm not going to reprimand you seeing as you have been by your mother, teachers, girlfriend, and etcetera. What I am going to do is ask how are you going to fix this, and what's next?" Brian asked as he looked the boy in his eye. Izuku looked away, tugging at the bandages on his neck.

"I'll… apologize to them. Kacchan will be the hardest to talk to but I know I need to do it. After that, I'm not sure. We're still training my voice and if I can't get that fixed before the second album… I think they should go on without me. They all deserve someone better, someone who didn't do what I did. Didn't run from a problem… didn't run from them. I should have asked them for help but I…" He scoffs and shakes his head. "… I screwed up. So, I'll ask for forgiveness and then let them do their thing."

"Don't be a fucking idiot." Katsuki said which made the boy jump and spin around to see the remaining members of Queen walking through the door. Denki and Kyoka looked worried but relived at the same time. Katsuki was hard to read, his usual scowl was there but it was like it was painted on. He sat in the chair opposite of Izuku as Brian had gotten up and moved back to his chair behind his desk. Denki and Kyoka sat on the couch. There was an awkward silence before Brian coughed.

"So… who wants to start." He said.

"I will." Izuku said leaning in. "I… I have been selfish, conceited, self-loathing, and downright hideous."

"Good start." Katsuki said before getting stabbed with an earphone jack by Kyoka.

"After Itsuka talked to me I realized how much I was hurting you by allowing myself to be consumed by hurt, pain and fear. I knew it hurt me to lose my band, but that's not it at all, it's our band. I need you as much as you all need me. I regret allowing myself to be consumed by pain and I only have one question for you. What can I do to earn your forgiveness back? I know I don't deserve it but is there a way I can?"

"That's what this is all about? That's why you called us down here?" Denki asked before also being stabbed by Kyoka.

"Can you give us a minute?" Kyoka asked. Izuku stared at her before looking towards Katsuki who shot his eyes towards the door. Izuku got the hint and stood up. He walked out of the office. As soon as he left Denki looked at his girlfriend.

"Why'd you do that?" He asked. Kyoka smirked.

"Wanted to." She said which garnered a snicker from Katsuki. Izuku leaned against the wall that held their Diamond record. He sighed as he rubbed his throat subconsciously. Brian walked out of the office and stood in front of him.

"Don't worry, they still care about you. It'll just take time." He said. Izuku grimaced.

"They know I don't have much time left singing." He said as he looked up at Brian, hand still on his throat. Brian smiled softly as he placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.

"You're all seventeen, you have all the time in the world. Just don't rush it feeling as if you don't." He said, Izuku nodded and dropped his hand. The door opened and Denki stepped out.

"You can come back if you like." He said before walking back in. Izuku nodded to himself before walking behind his bandmate. Izuku sat back down in the chair he was sitting in before as Brian took his chair again. Katsuki stared at Izuku with a sharp glare before scoffing.

"First off nerd, don't run from shit. When you have a problem, come talk to us." Katsuki said.

"Done." Izuku said without hesitation.

"Second," Kyoka started gaining the attention of the singer "Work on getting betterand healing, Queen is not Queen without you as you said earlier. We want you apart of this, of us, so saying you'll leave us be is bullshit."

"Okay." Izuku said again without hesitation.

"Lastly," Denki said as he stared Izuku down who was becoming more and more worried before the bassist pulled out a folder and held it out to him "What do you think?" Izuku's eyes flicked between the bassist and the folder before chuckling and grabbing out of his hand. Kyoka shook her head as Katsuki scoffed but held a small smirk. He skimmed through the contents of the folder before closing it.

"I'm liking it so far Denki." He said as he started to hand it back. Denki stopped him and looked in his eyes with seriousness that he hadn't seen in the boy in a long time.

"Only keep it if you are going to come back. Only keep it if you are serious about our next album. Keep it if you will be a part of Queen again and not self-loathe over something that can be worked around. Keep it if you promise to not do that again, it hurt seeing one of my best friends wallow in self-pity over a thing I would gladly lose if it meant you were okay. Keep it if you promise." He said with an emotional, but serious tone. Izuku held the file as the two stared each other down. Izuku then smiled and pulled it back and placed it on the table besides him.

"I promise." He said which got Denki excited as he hollered a cheer and jumped to hug the singer, who was too shocked to react as the boys and the chair tumbled backwards. Kyoka gasped in worry before chuckling. Brian snickered and shook his head, walking over to help the boys up. Katsuki hid a single laugh with a scoff as he smirked. Looks like the band was back in session.

"So, let's run through it one more time." Izuku said as he clapped on the other three members of the band.

"Last time Mercury, and I mean it." Kyoka said as she wiped her forhead before drinking out of a water bottle. She was singing instead of Izuku because his therapy was not finished and Hatsume stole his wraps from him to tinker with them. He sent Iida to get them back but so far it had been unsuccessful.

"I agree." Denki said as he flexed and unflexed his fingers.

"If you pussies can't take a li-"

"Kacchan… not now." Izuku inturupted before turning back to the temporary singer. "And I agree darling. Last one, no if's and's or but's." After a minute or two the three active members were ready Izuku gave a countdown and they started playing.

"Steve walks warily down the street, With the brim pulled way down low, Ain't no sound but the sound of his feet, Machine guns ready to go, Are you ready, hey, are you ready for this? Are you hanging on the edge of your seat? Out of the doorway the bullets rip, To the sound of the beat…"

The bass was amazing, Denki really had struck gold with this bass line. A simple one but dear lord did it work. Kacchan gave backing drums that complimented the bassline almost perfectly, as did the guitar that Kyoka was playing. Almost everything was perfect. He ran a finger over his scar.

"Another one bites the dust, Another one bites the dust, And another one gone, and another one gone, Another one bites the dust, Hey, I'm gonna get you, too, Another one bites the dust…" Kyoka felt off. The song was good but something didn't sit right. Even though she was trying her best at singing, it just didn't feel right. She felt bad for butchering Denki's song. But this was the cards they were dealt.

"How do you think I'm going to get along, Without you when you're gone? You took me for everything that I had, And kicked me out on my own, Are you happy, are you satisfied? How long can you stand the heat? Out of the doorway the bullets rip, To the sound of the beat, Another one bites the dust, Another one bites the dust, And another one gone, and another one gone, Another one bites the dust, Hey, I'm gonna get you, too, Another one bites the dust…" It just didn't sit right with Denki. Kyoka, bless her heart was trying but it just didn't sound right. Everything else was perfect, the vocals… Izuku needed to be the one behind the microphone.

"There are plenty of ways that you can hurt a man, And bring him to the ground, You can beat him, you can cheat him, You can treat him bad and leave him when he's dow,n But I'm ready, yes, I'm ready for you, I'm standing on my own two feet, Out of the doorway the bullets rip, Repeating to the sound of the beat oh yeah, Another one bites the dust Another one bites the dust And another one gone, and another one gone, Another one bites the dust Hey, I'm gonna get you, too, Another one bites the dust" Katsuki knew that the nerd was talented with his vocals, but he was just now realizing that he was truly the soul behind the bands success. Not a lot of offense to Jacky but she just couldn't match the… she just couldn't match Deku and he hated thinking that.

They wound down the song and Izuku rubbed at his throat. No offence to Kyoka, and no arrogance on his part, but the song just didn't sound like a Queen song. He sighed as he looked at his bandmates and there slightly annoyed and frustrated expressions on their faces. Kyoka caught his eyes.

"Well…"

"It was… good."

"But not great." Katsuki said.

"Yea… not great." Izuku said softly.

"No offense babe, but Izuku please get better faster." Denki said gaining the chuckle of the two mentioned.

"I agree with you Denki, it's just not the same." Kyoka said as Izuku could barely see a nod from Katsuki. He sighed as he rubbed at his neck and pursed his lips.

"I will try."

"Try harder damnit." Katsuki said.

Izuku smirked. Try harder… so he shall.

AN: Hello again. I'm not overly pleased with the ending of this chapter. I tried ending it sooner but I wanted to get a song in. Anyway, More music, therapy, and friendship next chapter. There will be some family stuff come up in the next couple of chapters so be expecting that. Anyway, i'll see you next time. Peace. -3008

A Night at the Opera (Album One):

Don't Stop Me Now

Bohemian Rhapsody

Love of My Life

Keep Yourself Alive

Somebody to Love

Killer Queen

We are the Champions

You're My Best Friend

Crazy Little Thing Called Love

I'm in Love with My Car

We Will Rock You

Album Two:

Another One Bites the Dust