Work Text:
Izuku was familiar with long sleeves. He wore them all year round in an attempt to hide the ink-black words that spiraled around his arms, up and down his legs and across his chest. It was hard to forget what you were when it was tattooed over every inch of your skin…
“Useless, worthless, stupid, insane, weird, delusional, quirkless”
“Deku”
The only words of kindness were found along his wrists, courtesy of his mother.
“Precious, brave, kind, selfless, smart, loving”
They pushed back the words of the bullies, though their words still overtook nearly all his skin. Then he met All Might.
“Strong, determined, brave, shy, young, understanding, intelligent, son”
His words slowly spread from his wrist and started snaking up around his arms, and when he started at UA those positive words exploded until they finally covered his arms and legs, the negative, a dark stain confined to his chest, but even there they were fading.
“Cool, stubborn, happy”
“Crazy, strong, selfless”
“Cute, timid, golden-hearted”
“Kind, hopeful, thoughtful”
“Compassionate, friendly, humble”
“Strong-willed, persevering, earnest”
“A hero”
These words pushed and pushed until the words spoken by the bullies were only found in a small circle above his heart. He began wearing short sleeves and smiling more, he spent time with those who cared about him and he cared for them in return, making sure they were happy and knew they were loved.
Shinsou watched in amazement as “monster, creep and villain” was replaced with “Cool quirk, you are a hero and, I understand”
Todoroki blinked in surprise as new words spelt “yours not his, I care about you” along his left arm after the sports festival.
“We are here for you, you can talk to us” remained printed along Iida’s hand while he sat in the hospital after the confrontation with Stain.
Uraraka cried as she saw the many words of encouragement after her match against Bakugo.
"Friend" was scrawled on Bakugo's palm. It had been there since he was four years old and still hadn't disappeared, the evidence Deku had always cared about him, the evidence he had tried so hard to ignore - because how could Deku still think of him as a friend after everything he had done... it infuriated him.
Yet as he reached out to grab Kirishima's hand and saw Deku's idiotic smiling face, he started to believe that maybe, Deku did still care about him.
---
It was many years until the insults around his heart finally faded into nothingness, but when they did a million other beautiful words came and took their place.