April Catch-All

[inheritance]

WHO: Izuku & a lot of people
WHERE: Everywhere
WHEN: Throughout April
WHAT: Shadow shenanigans, aftermath, and other things
WARNINGS: None

Comments

[messianic]

Yeah, basically. But if we have a campfire or something, like when we did that storytelling...

[Maybe it would keep the shadows away?

... Minato's brow furrows a little, though, as he glances Izuku's way.]

... You look like you need some sleep, Midoriya-kun. [Like. More than most.]

[inheritance]

Mmm maybe multiple campfires, enough for everyone to gather around? We should have enough people with fire quirks--I mean, powers to help out with that.

[Ah, Minato's worried.] I-it's okay! It's not that bad. It's probably just like with the furniture--the shadows will stop eventually! I'll be able to catch up on sleep after that. I promise! [Izuku waves his hands placatingly with a laugh, doing his best to muster up his brightest smile to convince the both of them.]

[parodeity]

That brings up the very real concern of "how long will this last". [ actually. ]

[messianic]

[Suspicious stare!!]

... It's hard to say.

[Honestly...]

At least with the furniture, we had a goal to work towards. But here... I don't know how long this will last. [It might last forever, which would be Really Bad.]

[inheritance]

[There's nothing here to be suspicious about!! Everything is totally fine!]

That's...true. [Izuku's smile falters.] And with the furniture, we got a warning from #FFFFFF before everything started. None of the recent quests mentioned shadows...

[parodeity]

[ dave would check but he promised john he wouldn't time travel if he didn't have to. also, he doesn't want to start up any loops. ]

Maybe that means it's not a quest?

[messianic]

[Minato just nods quietly, brow furrowing a little.]

I think so.

[It's the only thing that makes sense, right?]

It's not a quest, so... it's something else weird happening here. We really haven't been here long, so it's hard to say what else could be going on here.

[inheritance]

[Not a quest? Then what else could it be? Though this place has been downright strange at times, their shadows have never acted up like this before. So, what could have chan--

Suddenly, Izuku inhales harshly. Dave's group had encountered shadows like these in the forest. They'd all been so relieved that nothing like the goat men or the trolls had followed them into the town, but maybe something had come out with them after all.]

...it's my fault. [Izuku breathes out, swamped with horror at the realization.] Strider-kun, the shadows your group found in the forest...weren't they like these?

[parodeity]

I...our shadows moved and shit independent of us, yeah, but they weren't tryin' to kill us.

[ just steal their color. dave crosses his arms over his chest, uncertain. ]

Everything keeps coming back to shadows...

[messianic]

[... Wait, what? Minato's brow furrows, his gaze moving right over to Izuku's expression. That's... that's not entirely wrong, now that Minato thinks about it. If the shadows had... come back with them, somehow, or were lurking in their shadows, or--]

That might explain some of it...

[... But Izuku's expression is what's worrying him even more than finding the answers right now.]

Midoriya-kun, this was not your fault. [Not at all.] We all volunteered to go into the woods.

[inheritance]

But...if going in as a group is what triggered the reaction from the forest--

[Izuku doesn't get to finish that sentence. Taking advantage of his distress and the three boys' distraction, his shadow lunges into action, sending one potted plant flying in his direction, and then another right after.

With a gasp, Izuku ducks out of the way.]

[parodeity]

[ dave's nodding along with minato already because yeah, whatever, they all took the risk and for sure would have even if izuku hadn't been the one to start it out.

but then there's something flying their way and since izuku ducks, dave automatically reaches out to try to drag minato to the side at his too-quick flashstep pace. hi minato ]

[messianic]

[Yikes.

Minato's dragged to the side by Dave before he can even really process what's happening, but he'll thank him later--he's focused on Izuku immediately, brow furrowed.

His paleness, these words...]

Midoriya-kun, hey--!

["Are you really okay?" That's what he wants to ask, anyway, but things are happening a bit too fast to get the words out.]

[inheritance]

I'm okay! [Izuku says quickly, rushing back toward them with a guilty look on his face.]

I should've been paying more attention--you guys didn't get hit, did you?

[Right on cue, another pot comes flying in their direction. This time, Izuku calls up his quirk and brings his fist up to smash through it, rather than leave Minato and Dave in the line of fire again.]

[parodeity]

[ whoa. ]

I'm chill, holy shit. But seriously, maybe we should get out to a place with less ammo -

[ like, say, sharp gardening implements. ]

[messianic]

[Yeah, it'd be good if they did that like... now.

Because there sure are some very sharp gardening implements being chucked their way, and Minato reacts on automatic, ducking to the ground and trying to drag Dave with him, out of the path of those trowels and spiky implements.

Y i k e s.

Heads up!]

[inheritance]

[There's too many of them being thrown this way! Izuku, still crackling with energy, kicks at the air in front of him, using the air pressure send the gardening implements off course and away.]

Come on, let's get out of here!

[That's when his shadow decides to grab at his ankle and tug sharply, sending him tumbling to the ground with a yelp.]

[parodeity]

[ dave sure isn't dodging being dragged to the ground with minato, although a second later he's crouched and ready to jump, sword in hand. ]

Izuku! [ or at least ready to dart across the space to try to a) check on izuku or b) fend off other sharp implements... ]

[messianic]

[Shit shit shit.

The shadow manages to pick the worst possible timing (of course it does) to tag Izuku back down, and Minato half-turns when Dave moves to fling himself forward.

Please don't fling yourself towards teh sharp implements, Izuku...

[inheritance]

I'm okay! [He takes a second to wave Dave back away from the line of fire. Then, Izuku scrambles back onto his feet, shaking off the sting of the fall easily.] Just keep going!

[Except, he definitely spoke too soon.

It happens quickly. Once Izuku has his back turned, ready to sprint forward and catch up with his friends, the shadow grabs hold of a pair of shears and strikes at him. This time, it lands a hit, the sharp end of the shears break through his shirt, raking up and across his entire left side.

Surprised, Izuku stumbles, clutching at his side, where blood's already soaking into the material.]

[parodeity]

Izuku! [ yeah, that's probably a fairly deep cut. dave knows how to handle those - grew up with swords slicing through his skin - but he can't do it right now while things are still happening.

he'd ignored being waved off, so he's at least close enough to reach out, or try to. ]

If we can get you out of here, I can sew it up -

[messianic]

[This...is a mess. It's such a mess, and Minato fumbles for his Evoker immediately, lifting it as he turns to try to look at Izuku.

He's stumbling. He's bleeding, Minato needs to summon before something worse can happen, and he doesn't even have the time to worry about how it'll appear, and besides, this is more important.

He lifts the Evoker to his temple, but before he can pull the trigger to make that shadow recoil--]

[inheritance]

Be careful! [Izuku cries out when he sees Dave getting closer.] Just make sure it doesn't get you, too!

[For a second, it looks like everything's going to be fine. Though he's injured, Izuku's already struggling back onto his feet to get away. (Somehow, he looks even more pale than he was before at this point, as if all his remaining color's been taken away.) Before either Dave or Minato can reach him, though, his shadow makes one last lunge forward.

Its mouth opens up wider than a human mouth should, and before any of them know it, it's swallowed Izuku up into its darkness. Izuku doesn't even have time to react before he's gone. The shadow lingers in place for a moment longer. Then, it fades out of sight, too.]

[parodeity]

Shit. [ dave stumbles to a stop a second too late, and what the fuck is the use of super speed if it doesn't help when you need it to? he stares blankly at the spot where izuku was for a heartbeat. ]

- We need to go check on Egbert. [ muttered, but yeah. ]

[messianic]

[That... that happened so quickly. Minato's fingers loosen on his Evoker as he stares at the spot where Izuku and his shadow both disappeared. That's...

...What.....]

Mid...oriya-kun....

[... And then Dave's muttering something, and slowly, Minato lifts his head, blinking slowly, as if trying to come out of a daze.]

... Oh. [John. Right. Of course Dave's worried about John.] We--we should look for Midoriya-kun first. I'm sure John is fine.