Chapter Text
"I'm afraid there's no hope for him." The squealing of a roller chair turning towards the family of three seemed to echo throughout the small clinic room. The clammy hand of a small girl squeezed onto her brother's as she looked up at his crestfallen face. Izuku, the name that belonged to the small boy, had a wet glistening in his eye that was only intensified by the overhead fluorescent lighting.
The physician, now fully facing them, casually leaned against his chair's arm, explaining the evolutionary reason as to why the green haired boy wasn't able to develop a quirk of his own. Words that were said after began to blur into the background for the young girl. Currently, she was focused on her trembling brother. Worry, along with a hint of guilt, was eating at her heart, her tiny stomach feeling as if it was devouring itself. This wasn't supposed to be how things went today. Tiny arms awkwardly wrapped around the boy, his twin sister trying her damned best to comfort him, and an all too loud clacking sound reverberated through the room from Izuku dropping his beloved All Might figurine. Inko Midoriya, their endearing mother, used her telekinesis quirk to pull the figure off the white tile floor and into her hand.
All Might's figure seemed to taunt them, at least to the girl. A well loved super hero flying through the air, using his quirk to help him jump around the city and save pedestrians. The shiny plastic smile that was reminiscent of the real one, a smile that her brother had latched onto and set out his ideal future as a hero. Even his sister has the clip memorized, having heard it every single day. Admittedly, it had annoyed her on multiple occasions. She didn't understand why her brother was so obsessed with the hero. It was his job, right? So what was so important about All Might specifically?
✶
"I want to save everyone with a smile, Hinako! Just like All Might!" Izuku exclaimed to his sister, wearing an All Might onesie with the hood up, two yellow flaps sticking up just like the hero's signature hairstyle.
"Pft, okay little bro." Hinako replied, ruffling his hair from underneath the hood.
"You're only older by thirty seconds! Izuku cried, playfully shoving his sister's hand away. "But that doesn't matter anyway, because one day I'm gonna save you and momma."
Hinako was taken by surprise, only slightly. She was used to his heroic remarks, but honestly she had admired her brother's passion in this moment. The look in his eyes was of determination and of promise. She wanted to capture this moment and keep it in her mind forever. There was zero doubt in her mind that Izuku would save her, and her trust in him was infallible.
✶
Fate had changed the course of their lives in that small white room, though. Inko carefully got her children ready to leave, Hinako demanding to stay by her brother's side, her grip on his hand tightening almost painfully so. The walk back to their car was silent. It was an uncomfortable, unknowing feeling that none of them knew how to confront. Glances were shared between Inko and Hinako, both of them trailing their eyes back to Izuku, who was still in a daze.
While Inko finished strapping the two siblings into their seats, she hesitantly brought up an offer to her adored babies.
"How about we go get some ice cream? I saw that there was a limited All Might cone." Inko tried to persuade, but also sounded nervous, as if mentioning the hero might illicit a different reaction from her son rather than his usual sunny demeanor when it came to the pro.
Instead, Izuku wiped away his tears that were streaming down his face, and gripped onto his All Might figure tight, plastic squeaking under the pressure.
"Yes, ma'am!" He replied, trying his best to smile through the newly formed tears evident in his eyes.
Hinako let out a breath she wasn't aware she was holding, and nodded in agreement. "Yes, ma'am. Please."
Inko sighed quietly, standing up straight to close the car door. Before closing the door, she looked at both of her children and put on a bright, genuine smile and gave them a thumbs up. "Then let's go on an adventure, my loves."
A nervous smile was given by Hinako as she watched her mother shut the door and proceeded to get into the vehicle's driver's seat. Something about her mother's eyes seemed sad, and Hinako knew why. No one would believe that her brother could be a hero now. There was simply no way, and Inko wasn't sure how to confront this truth with her child. Instead, she tucked it away in her pocket and drove out of the clinic's parking lot, determined to melt her son's worries away with a sweet remedy.
Hinako was silent for the ride, listening to her brother play with his toy. She stared out the window, mulling over the information in her mind. Guilt is too heavy of a burden for a child to bear, but the girl couldn't help but to despise her quirk now that her twin couldn't share the same enjoyment. It felt wasted on her, someone who had no preference for becoming a hero. Always the one how was unproblematically the bad guy in her brother's games of heroes versus villains when he asked. The young girl stewed in this feeling, the urge to take action in helping her brother evident, but unsure of what exactly she wanted to do.
✶
Pineapple swirls of ice cream were placed in a blueberry waffle cone and was topped with two identically cut yellow wafer cookies. A tired looking teenager had just handed Inko the second one he had made, which she then handed to Hinako. The first one made had been given to, of course, Izuku, who was jittery with excitement as soon as he saw the ad for the themed dessert on the shop's window. Hinako turned and headed for her brother, smiling at his delighted face as he bit into one of the wafers.
After Inko had paid for the two ice cream cones, she turned and smiled at Hinako, who was now showing off her brand new ice cream to her brother who in turn told her to try the "really yummy cookie". Heading towards the nearest booth next to her children, Inko slid in and motioned for the twins to follow suit.
"Come here Zuku, Hina, I don't want you both making a mess." She called, and they happily walked to the booth seat facing their mom, Izuku following after his sister.
"Do you like it, sis?" The boy asked as he got comfortable in the seat. A grin was plastered across his face, though it wasn't quite reaching his eyes, and he looked over at Hinako with expectancy.
"Mhm. Mine's even better than yours, I bet!" Hinako replied with a playful smirk.
Izuku took this personally, and decided he needed to try his sister's ice cream as well. "Let me try!" He begged, reaching for the cone his sister held with his free hand.
"Nu-uh, you can keep your own." His sister teased, raising her ice cream higher into the air and away from him while sticking her tongue out.
Little hands were grabbing and pulling, their treats slowly melting during their messing around, and the twins suddenly stopped when their mom started wiping Izuku's arm, ice cream dripping down it and onto the table.
"Now, now, you two." She began, moving her focus to the table, using a fresh napkin to wipe pineapple drops from off the table. "I bet they're both super yummy."
Inko wadded up the paper napkins, tossing them into a bin that was placed right behind their booth. "Try them both, mom! Then tell us." Hinako recommended, earning a vigorous nod from her brother.
"Yeah, please, mom!" Izuku immediately shoved his ice cream towards Inko, curious as to what she might say, and she giggled at him, taking her son's half melted treat to taste it.
Inko took a small bite of the ice cream before pausing and looking up in thought. Soon, she nodded slightly and handed the cone back to the boy, taking her daughter's cone next. Izuku started to happily eat his own ice cream as soon as he got it back, eyes never leaving his mom. After taking the second bite, Inko placed the index finger of her free hand on her chin, rubbing over the small area while still seeming to be considering the outcome.
"Hmm." Inko mused, handing the cone back to her daughter. Inko looked between her two children, who were both waiting in anticipation for her answer, and she smiled at them. Inko admired them for a brief moment, wanting to pause this moment in time and stay for a while, just loving her precious babies.
"Yep! Both are equally delicious!" Giggles erupted from both twins, and they leaned against each other while enjoying their treats again. Clearly this was the best answer.
"It's all because it's All Might!" Izuku cheered happily, essentially drinking ice cream soup from the blue cone cup. The exclamation made Hinako giggle again.
"Yeah, sure. I think it's because of the cookies." She replied, now starting to nibble on the blueberry waffle cone. Izuku seemed to accept the opinion, as he said nothing to argue, and Inko just smiled at them both.
"Well let's hurry up and finish them before they fall apart, now." Their mother said kindly, ushering her children to finish up. Izuku was pleading for another after they had devoured the desserts, but Inko wasn't having it. Instead, she promised the boy katsudon for dinner, which he immediately gave in to her wishes.
Hinako just rolled her eyes, giggling and grabbing hold of her brother's hand. The family of three walked through the exit of the ice cream shop, the girl taking a moment to appreciate her twin's smile. 'Is this how he feels when he talks about wanting to be a hero?' Hinako thought. Because in this moment, she knew she would do anything to protect his smile. No matter what.
✶
Perhaps it was inevitable. Her mother was hesitant to put on Izuku's beloved All Might clip that night, especially after the newfound information they had all learned that day. However, seeing the puppy dog eyes on her son's face was more than enough to give in, her heart tightening. Even Hinako looked up, her fairytale book tossed to the side where she could watch the video with her brother. Hinako felt as if she needed to do this, just in case he needed reassurance.
As she held onto her Izuku's hand, she could feel him begin the tremble. A frown made its way onto her face as Izuku's favorite part of the video began to unfold on the computer screen, and she was now aware that Izuku was crying. He squeezed Hinako's hand a bit tighter, and she returned the squeeze in silent support. Inko opened the door, peeking in to check on the two, and Izuku slowly turned the chair so he could ask her a vital question. Izuku let go of Hinako's hand, lifting a shaky finger towards the screen showcasing All Might holding multiple civilians.
"Can I," the boy's voice was quiet and trembling, looking up at their mom with wide eyes. "Still be a hero? Mom?" He finished, and Hinako too looked up at her mother for the answer.
"Oh, Izuku!" Inko cried out, her own tears now streaming down her face. She stumbled over to the twins, embracing both of them into her arms, hugging them tight. "I'm sorry, Izuku. I'm sorry."
Hinako was taken aback, her mother's scent engulfing her along with the hug, their mom obviously distraught for her son. 'No, mom.' Hinako thought, shifting slightly to look at her crying brother, and noticed her own eyes watering, her cheeks wet, but she tried her best to suck up her tears. 'That's not what you should say, mom.' Hinako's left arm wrapped around her twin's shoulders, hugging him tight.
✶
Later that night, after they had been tucked into their beds, Hinako realized that she couldn't rest. A feeling stirred in her stomach of uneasiness, and she felt like she needed to see her brother. Hinako not so silently sneaked over to her brother's All Might themed bed, crawling onto the mattress where a motif of All Might hair was displayed on the sheets covering it. Izuku himself was cocooned in the matching comforter, nothing but his green hair sticking out.
"Hey, bro." Hinako whispered, poking at where she assumed his forehead was through the blanket. "Gimme some blankets." She told him, lightly tugging on his fuzzy cocoon shell. After a silent moment, Izuku slowly emerged and began to unravel the blankets from himself with his sister's help. Once they were both comfortable under the comforter, Hinako pulled her upset twin close into a hug.
"Zuku," she started, already feeling her brother sobbing against her chest. "I think.. you can still become a hero." She felt her brother's tiny hands grip onto her night shirt, sniffling. It was as if he was silently asking her 'Are you sure?'
"You just have to promise me something." She pulled away from her brother and used her night shirt sleeve to wipe away a few tears from his cheeks. "Promise me that if I'm ever in trouble one day, you'll come and save me." Hinako looked at Izuku, waiting for a verbal confirmation.
He looked at his sister with wide green eyes, and at last wiped away his own tears. A determined look made its way across his face. "I promise." He nodded at her, giving a small smile that took ahold of her soul.
Hinako found her brother falling asleep before her, so after she was certain she could move without disturbing him, she turned to lay on her back, staring at the ceiling. Deep in thought, she considered her future for the first time. Realistically, Izuku wouldn't become a hero. That was just the reality of this world. His determination alone wouldn't give him what it took to become a pro. Being blessed with both of her parents quirks, yet never considered being a hero. At least, not until that surge of energy she had earlier that day.
Izuku's smile.
That feeling in her swelled again, and she turned her neck to look back at her brother. She studied his face. All the freckles littered on it, just like her own. His face was so peaceful when he was sleeping. She wanted to protect him, to keep that smile on his face. She wanted to reassure him that he was worthy of becoming a hero. Let him hold onto his dream. Hinako wondered for a moment if this was the same feeling Izuku had when seeing All Might's smile. One of pure sunshine.
Hinako found herself with a newfound determination. She wouldn't let her quirk be all for nothing. It wouldn't be fair to her baby brother. Then and there, on that tiny All Might bed, she made an oath to herself that she would do whatever it took to become number one. She owed at least this to Izuku. She would become worthy enough for him, that way she could look at him with a smile and tell him, "You can become a hero!"
Drowsiness soon overtook the small girl, and she turned herself back towards Izuku's sleeping form to snuggle with him. She silently promised him that she would stop at nothing to become his hero before drifting off into a deep slumber, fighting villains in her dreams.