Chapter Text
Izuku wiped the sweat from his brow. He had just finished working with Aizawa to move Hitoshi’s stuff out of his room and into Izuku’s before building Eri’s bed and furniture. They were putting the last of her clothes in the closet. A week after adopting Eri, they had gone online shopping with her to get all the things she wanted. A physical store would be too much for her. That weekend they decided to set the house up for her. She had only been on the campus so far. Izuku smiled at the thought of her seeing her room. He put up the fairy lights and plugged in her nightlight. They had also done some clothes shopping so he put everything in drawers. The sheer number of toys and room warming gifts she had received was surprising. The UA teachers had gifted her a lot of things, so had the students. She was probably one of the most spoiled little girls in town. She deserved to be spoiled though. Izuku felt like a proud father.
Hizashi carried her into the room once it was put together. She squealed and clapped her hands. She was placed on the floor where she proceeded to run around, checking things out while Izuku, Aizawa, Hitoshi and Hizashi all stood in the doorway. They smiled at her as she looked at the mountain of toys but then she stopped and turned to them with tears in her eyes.
“There is so much stuff.” Izuku knew that feeling. He walked up to her and hugged her; the pair were pulled into the arms of the family soon after.
Izuku woke up to crying and his arm being shaken. He opened his eyes to see Eri in tears. Normally, no one would be able to get close enough to touch him in his sleep but he felt safe in the apartment and Eri had an uncanny ability to be completely noiseless. He had also just gotten off patrol so he had been dead to the world. Izuku let her climb up on his bed as he sat up. He went to turn his lamp on but saw it was already glowing with light. That’s when he realised he was still dressed in his gear. He had fallen asleep in uniform again.
“Nightmare?” Izuku asked. Eri was holding one of his pillows to her chest. She nodded.
“Wanna talk about it?” Izuku asked. He had taken his mask off before passing out and weirdly enough his leg but that was it.
“H-He found us and kil-killed you!” She started crying harder. Izuku opened his arms, letting her choose. She chose to sit at arm's length where she could see him at all times.
“That won’t happen, Eri. We are completely safe here.” Izuku was familiar with the emotions she was feeling. He just didn’t know how to help her.
“I used to have those same nightmares. A different villain but the same premise.”
“What’s premise?” Eri asked through sniffles. Izuku forgot she was a child.
“It’s, um, the same idea. I used to have the same dream as you but with a different villain.”
“Oh….d-does it get better?”
“With work, it should.” Izuku wasn’t about to tell a little girl that her nightmares might stick for a long time. Maybe because she was a child she could heal and forget faster. That didn’t stop him from feeling guilty however.
“Are you better?” Eri asked. Izuku decided to give a vague answer.
“I am getting there.” Eri nodded a Izuku's answer. He gave her a soft smile.
“Is the villain you dream about why you have your scars?” Eri asked. This wasn’t the first time the topic had come up. Izuku always avoided the conversations about his scars when they pertained to him. He didn't want Eri to hate her scars.
“Some of them are from that villain, some are from other villains too. Many have left scars.” Izuku decided. Was this a bad response? Yes, it was but he genuinely had no idea how to answer. He wished Hizashi was here to help Eri. Izuku felt like a useless curse to everyone.
“I feel like a curse. I hurt everyone I am around.” Eri whispered. Izuku froze, his heart sinking at her words. She felt the same way. He didn't know how to help her since he couldn’t help himself.
“Eri, you are not a curse. It wasn’t your choice in what you had to do. You prove you are not a curse every day that you are here. You are so kind and don’t deserve what happened to you.” Izuku decided to say. Eri didn't look convinced.
“Pinky promise?” She looked at him holding out her hand with her pinky out. Since the underground facility Eri always asked for a pinky promise if she was unsure.
“Pinky promise.” Izuku linked their pinkies and smiled brightly at her.
Izuku walked down the hallway with Eri by his side. She was wearing her favorite dress. Eri loved tagging along with Izuku when he wasn't teaching. If he had to teach, then she was either with Aizawa or Recovery Girl. Today was reserved for students to come up with their festival ideas. Izuku was supposed to be supervising them but really, he was snooping. His scape goat was Eri. He would have Eri run into a room and distract the students while Izuku looked to see what they were panning. He had not been caught yet. Eri was a great attention grabber. She even pretended to cry about her lost toy once. Izuku had taught her well.
He was mostly just checking out which classes to avoid with Eri. He wanted to see the events beforehand so she wouldn't be jumped or triggered by something. Izuku was doing an okay job of figuring things out until he got to Class 1A. Their plans weren’t written down or drawn out. He was also caught by Hitoshi who had the gull to call him out.
“Hey, look. Its Green Cherub. Oh, he is looking for our plans.” Hitoshi called out smiling. The whole class turned to Izuku and smirked.
“Fuck you.” Izuku said to Hitoshi who gave him a offended look.
“There is a child present!” Hitoshi hissed at Izuku. Bakugou and a few other students snickered. Eri was unbothered.
“Fuck.” Izuku responded then realised what he said. He was met with glares. Eri was too distracted with some glitter to hear Izuku. He talked to the students for a bit but he got his cue to leave when Eri accidentally dropped the glitter and it went everywhere. He scooped her up and ran out of there as shouting followed them. Eri was giggling.
Mirio accompanied Izuku and Eri around the festival. They had visited a petting zoo, Izuku was still unsure how that was allowed, a cafe, and then a candy cart. Izuku had gotten Eri a candy apple since she had never had one. They were planning to go to 1A’s concert. The three of them were headed to the next classroom when Izuku’s phone went off. Apparently, there was movement on the back border of the school. He was happy he wore his gear that day.
“I will be back soon; I have to go take care of something.” Izuku announced to Mirio and Eri. Mirio smiled and gave him a thumbs up. Eri tried to say something but she had a mouthful of candy apple so Izuku didn't understand what she said. He started jogging once he as out of sight.
He ran to where the security notification had come from. He was met with a sharply acentric dressed old man and a small woman who was dressed like a circus performer. The pair was standing outside the fence looking as if they were trying to figure out how to get around it. Izuku walked up to them.
“Who are you two?” Izuku asked calmly. They seemed startled at Izuku’s sudden appearance.
“I am the Gentle Villain and this is my partner, La Brava! Have you not seen the news?” The man seemed confused. So was Izuku. He had been so busy with Eri he hadn’t really be looking at the news.
“Nope. What do you want?”
“We want to prove you do not have good enough security and since your school is famous, we’re going to get famous by proving how incapable it is!”
“That was unconventionally honest. Try the fence if you want but I’ll warn you that I designed it.” Izuku did design it and he had a feeling this was going to hurt Gentle Villain. He also texted Nezu to send some police and Hound Dog. Maybe an ambulance or two. Izuku put his phone away then crossed his arms expectantly. Gentle Villian smiled then started hopping up in the air, invisible platforms letting him climb. Just as he got clear of the top of the fence a net fired from a tree and wrapped tightly around the man. He fell from the sky to the grass on the other side of the fence. La Brava ran over to him and cut the net. Gentle got up and tried a few different tactics to get over the fence but all attempts failed. By the time Hound Dog showed up Izuku was having a hard time concealing his laughter. Gentle and La Brava looked like two burnt, drowned rats. They were both soaked and singed. Izuku would have to get himself a treat later for his genius. The police showed up and the two were taken away. Izuku checked the time. He jumped when he saw the concert was about to start.
“Hound Dog, take care of this I have to go!” Izuku hollered then started running for the school. He wanted to be there for Eri’s first concert.
Izuku looked around him. It was loud, sure, but it was a nice kind of loud. The type that drowned everything else out. Only you in an absolute sea of sound, just floating in it. He looked to Eri who was smiling, Hitoshi was up on stage singing with a grin on his face. Pops was rocking out and Dad was laughing, leaning against the wall nodding to the beat. In that moment it hit Izuku. He was home. He had a family. One that he knew would protect and love him forever. He deserved it too. He has worked hard. He was loved. Eri deserved to feel this way. Izuku would get better for her. He would get better so he could tell her there was an end to the fear and sadness. So, he could tell her that loving herself was okay and possible. That she was not a curse. He wanted her to have that same feeling. That feeling of happiness that starts from the ground, moving up your body until it is in your hair. A feeling of complete elation as you realise you are safe.
Izuku felt tears fill his eyes and for once he didn’t mind. He didn’t wipe them away. He embraced them. Izuku moved himself between Dad and Pops, putting an arm around each.
“Thank you. Thank you so much.” Izuku whispered to Aizawa.
“For what?” Aizawa asked, not looking at Izuku.
“Everything.”
“No problem, Green Cherub.”
Epilogue!!!
Izuku had been working with Eri for months on her poker face. Today was the test. Finally, the whole family was in one house at the same time, so it was family game night. Of course, they would be playing poker. Izuku had been teaching Eri about manipulation and a good poker face in secret, instructing her on the workings of the game at the same time. She was ready. Everyone sat around the dinner table with their cards delt out. Hizashi being the dealer since he hated playing poker. (Texas Hold’em)
“Queen of diamonds. Place your bets.” Hizashi called out as he flipped the first card. Izuku had literally nothing. A 2 of Clubs and a 5 of Spades. He kept his face flat, instead watching Eri who also was unreadable. Hitoshi and Aizawa gave Izuku an unimpressed look at the same time.
“Did you really teach her?” Hitoshi asked annoyed. Izuku not answering was an answer in itself. Hizashi looked offended.
“You won't even teach me, but you’ll teach Eri! She is too young for this. She shouldn't even be playing!” Hizashi protested. Izuku snickered. Eri copied him. She was turning into a mini Izuku which he wasn’t sure was good. His therapist said he had grown and she was happy to see him make more of an effort to get better. He was feeling better. He smiled more and more genuinely.
“Can we just move on with the game?” Aizawa got them back on track. The game ended with Izuku winning, Aizawa in second then Eri and finally Hitoshi. Hitoshi was pretending to be a sore loser to get hugs from Eri. Which was funny because as she hugged Hitoshi, she kept whispering “I beat you.”
“And finally. To the young man who deserves this more than anyone else. Somone who has been a hero for years and years, protecting everyone no matter who they are or where they come from. I award Green Cherub an official Hero License.” Nezu spoke into the microphone. Since Aizawa, Hizashi and Izuku were hero teachers they were required to go to the Hero Licensing ceremony. Mirio’s class was graduating. Sadly, Mirio was held back a year so that he could relearn how to fight being quirkless. All the hero teachers where in chairs behind Nezu on the stage. They all paused and turned to Izuku. He was so happy he was in his hero attire otherwise they would see his blush. A hand pushed him forward. Slowly, Izuku got up and approached the podium where Nezu stood smiling.
“You deserve this.” Nezu smiled at him. Izuku accepted his license, shaking Nezu’s paw at the same time. Flashes started going off as people took pictures. Izuku’s vision became blurry as he walked back to his seat. He stared at his license. It had a picture of him in his uniform and his personal info. He felt his shoulders being patted and words being said but he couldn’t remove his sight from the license. He never thought he would get one. He had given up on that dream years ago. Before he could stop himself, a small sob broke loose and he started shaking. Arms wrapped around him. He recognised them, Aizawa's.
“You did it kid. I told you; you are a hero.”
“Why is Greenie sad?” Eri asked. Izuku broke the hug with Aizawa to kneel down in front of her.
“I’m not sad. I am really happy. These are happy tears.” Izuku explained to her as he sniffled and wiped his eyes.
“Oooh. Pinky promise you're not sad?” Eri asked holding up her hand. Izuku chuckled.
“Pinky promise.”
“Mirio, what did I tell you about analysis?” Izuku asked looking over his quiz.
“It saves lives and makes you look smarter?” Mirio answered uncertainly. The smarter part was a joke.
“Are you sure?” Izuku asked looking up from the quiz. He wanted an answer, not a question.
“Yes.” Mirio answered more confidentially
“Then say it as if you are sure! and yes, you’re correct. Now, why was your analysis wrong?” Izuku smiled but ended the sentence pointing at the projector with an image of two villains.
“I don’t see anything wrong with it.” Mirio answered truthfully.
“Why did you say the man was more dangerous than the woman?” Izuku pointed out what he found wrong. Mirio’s analysis wasn’t completely incorrect but there were things he’d missed and presumed.
“Because men are more powerful?” Mirio answered with another question. Izuku shook his head.
“Wrong thinking. Gender doesn't matter. Quirks matter. You can tell he has some sort of Bull quirk based on the horns, his nose and the fact that he has hooves. She, on the other hand, shows no quirk. She is an unknown. Also, just because she is small doesn't mean she isn't scary. People can be small because of their quirk. People can be small because their quirk is so powerful body training is unnecessary.” Izuku saw it as important to teach analysis mostly to those with weaker quirks. You made less mistakes if you could break your opponent down. Izuku had been working hard with Mirio to help him get ready. Mirio still had his goal of saving a million people which Izuku encouraged. He would teach him how to be the best hero he could be. Probably Izuku's favorite part about teaching Mirio was trying out different fighting styles to see which one fit the boy the best. He also loved teaching him about weaponry. Mirio was a fast learner and would receive his license soon.
Izuku didn’t think he could smile wider as Hitoshi crossed the stage in his own gear to accept his very own license from Nezu. When his hero's name of
“Mocking Bird” was announced, the Yamada-Aizawa family cheered like maniacs for Hitoshi. Once the ceremony was over, they all jogged to him and enveloped him in a hug. Eri handed Hitoshi the card she had made. Hitoshi was smiling as he read it.
“Thank you, Eri, so much.” Hitoshi scooped her up in a hug. She squealed. The other newly licensed heroes walked over, congratulating each other. Class 1A asked for a class picture with Green Cherub and Aizawa. Izuku and Aizawa agreed. Both teachers were given cards and gifts for being good teachers from both class 1A and class 1B. Hitoshi had been patrolling with Izuku and Aizawa for a while but now he could do it on his own.
A year ago, Aizawa and Izuku created an agency stationed in the middle of the red-light district. It had a soup kitchen and a donations store with bedding and clothes for the homeless. It also had contacts for people in need. There were job pamphlets and hygiene magazines. Izuku added a public, free bathroom with showers and toiletries. The agencies were well kept and regular staff being red light district residents only. They got a few heroes to sign on so now the red-light district became regularly patrolled. It was supposed to mean less patrolling for Izuku and Aizawa, but Izuku stayed at the agency a lot to make sure everything was going well. As a licensed hero he could move freely.
Today was the day. He decided to announce his identity. He had talked it out with the government, police, and the Hero Commision. He would not be prosecuted. He wouldn’t announce it on news or anything he would just live life normally and let people figure it out. It wasn't long until a picture of him maskless walking down the street in uniform started trending. When reporters stood outside the Green Erasure Agency for hours, Izuku walked out in gear and took his mask off to answer questions. Cameras and voices clashed. Izuku cleared them away. He only came out here to shoo them off since they were scaring the locals.
Over the years Izuku would get many tattoos and piercings. Most if not all where floral and covered his scars. From his elbow up to his shoulder. He never went further up his neck than the collar bone and nape. He never got face tattoos or anything below the elbow. On his back covering the burn scar he had sunflowers and plum blossoms. (Arkane_M made an art piece. I am letting them finish it up before posting it on Instagram). the sunflowers were for healing, the plum blossoms meant hope. Izuku got Hydrangeas on his sides and stomach as an apology for those who died under his watch, Spider Lilies for respect to the dead, a semi colon and butterflies. He had a beautiful collage that told his story.
His two favorite tattoos had to be two hands in a pinky promise lock over his heart. A small hand with Eri’s signature bracelet and then a bigger hand with Izuku's scars. The other one was placed right under the pinky promise. He had each family member draw a flower in a bouquet.
For piercings he had gotten his earlobes done then the outside of his right ear was pierced: helix, Lower industrial, Orbital and a few between all of these. He usually just kept studs in but if he was really dressing up them, he would put different earrings in. His left ear had an industrial, Helix, Conch, Daith and Tragus.
Izuku never went to a robot leg. He chose to show Eri what strength and acceptance looked like by keeping his regular prosthetics.
Izuku held Eri’s hand as they descended to the subway platform. The voices of the crowd clattered off the tile walls. They waited for their train to pull up then stepped on. Izuku felt no fear. Today was Eri’s first day of real school. They had worked hard to get her here. Izuku had also worked hard to be able to bring Eri to school. The only way to get there other than car was by train. They chatted as the train went. Izuku left the subway with no hesitation or heaviness. The pair walked down the street until they were outside the school. Izuku handed Eri her lunch and kneeled down to hug her.
“You’ll pick me up at 2?”
“Yup. I’ll be right here.”
“Pinky promise?”
“Pinky promise.” After locking fingers and once Eri had disappeared into the building Izuku turned and walked back to the train station. He would be okay. He was okay. He survived. He lived.
Author and Editor Notes.
Hello! I’m Natsusa and this is my sad goodbye to Green Cherub. Just like all of you, I got absolutely hooked on Izuku’s adventures and eagerly awaited the notification that there was another chapter for me to read. I saw a lot of potential in Author-san and offered to help take her writing to the next level! She was kind enough to let me help her with Green Cherub and I could not have been happier. I walked into this as an editor but came out with one of my closest friends in existence.
Katie is a phenomenal human being and I love everything about her from the random comments to the points where I need to use Google Translate to understand what she’s writing. She has grown so much from chapter 1 until now and I could not be prouder of her. She has put her all into Green Cherub and cares immensely for all of you. During those nights where we plotted together, Author-san would always ask, “Do you think the readers would like this?” or “I don’t want to keep the readers waiting too long, I want them to enjoy Green Cherub.” Your author puts in her heart and soul to bring these chapter to life and I really appreciate just how much she cares. You guys are her motivation so please, from the editor, go and thank Katie in the comments, on Instagram and Discord. She deserves every word of praise from all of you.
As I write my own goodbyes, I look back on how Izuku has grown from a scared child who was abused to and amazing badass brother and hero. He has taught me so much and it was an honor to watch him grow. Now, we part ways and begin a new adventure for more lessons to be learnt and more angst to be dished out. I want to thank Author-san for allowing me to be a part of this and influencing my life in ways I could only dream of.
Katie you are amazing, thank you for everything.
Also, be prepared to be emotionally scarred with what we’re cooking up, mwahahahahahah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Until next time, sayonara!
- Editor
Hello, all my Cherubs, gremlins, gorgons and readers. I want to start this off with a thank you. Thank you to all my readers who stuck with me through my pre-edited writing and through my messy schedule. Thank you to all of those that showed support by commenting or just by sending a Kudos. Most of all I think this goes without saying but thank you Natsusa. Natsusa has sat with me many a time and dealt with my crap. There is a 7-hour time difference between us, but she kept with me staying up late or waking up early to edit chapters. She is honestly a godsend. Many a night her and I stayed up late/early scheming and planning what to write. She has been there in ways many haven't. If you haven’t already, please go thank Natsusa in the comments.
Since November 29th, 2023, Green cherub has been there for me too. Anytime I was having a hard time I would write Izuku dealing with something similar or thinking through my life as if I was Izuku. My favorite part about writeing though is the people you meet and the kind of unique experiences you get. I saw someone reading Green Cherub in public once. It helped me with my motion sickness because I didn't have conventional time to write this book so instead, I wrote literally any chance I had. If I couldn't find time, I made time because you all are worth it.
Green Cherub saved my life. I swear every time I was having a hard time suddenly, I would get a discord chat message, a comment or a Kudos notification. It reminded there were people out there that cared and who wanted me to finish Green Cherub. I think I am ready to move on though. I am not done writing, just finished writing Green Cherub (might be some one shots later who knows). My next project that won't come out for a while is called Green Death.
This won't be posted for a while since I genuinely hated writing as I posted. To damn stressful so I will be waiting until at least half the fic is written before posting. (Why am I lying to myself. I have no patience) This will hopefully mean less plot holes! (Yes, I know about the Green Cherub ones I am just choosing to live in ignorance). Here is a sneak peak of Green Death it will be pretty similar to Green Cherub.
“Izuku held a man’s head up by the hair, a knife glistening in the other. He drove the blade into the man's neck slowly. Izuku dropped the lifeless body, flicking the blood off his weapon as he walked out of the warehouse. Stepping around and over bodies the whole way. He stopped outside the door, taking his phone out and dialing a number. It rang twice then the line picked up.
“I finished the job.”
“I’ll come pick you up.” The line went dead”
I am very excited for this next fic and cannot wait to see you there! If this is your last work of mine you read then Goodbye. I hope you have a plentiful, amazing life. For those who will return, see you soon I can't wait to meet again!
For the last time on Green Cherub, I will say goodbye. Like Izuku I hope to continue life in a hope filled way. I hope you have enjoyed Green Cherub as much as I have. Again, thank you for everything. See you later! I love you all!
- Katiekualla, Katie, Author, Satan
(Finished writing July 24th 2024)