expiationnet

[Oh, so many reasons.

Izuku’s quiet for a moment, trying to figure how to respond without getting too personal. This conversation isn’t about him, after all.]

It doesn’t make it any less bad while it’s happening. [Inhale, exhale; and then with absolute sincerity and conviction: ] And if it’s anything at all like what you’ve experienced, I’m sorry. You don’t deserve that.

[Is he talking to an absolute stranger? Yes. Is he still not completely sure what in the world happened to make said stranger feel like a “freak”? Absolutely. Does that in any way change his conviction that nobody should ever have to go through what he did or feel the way he felt? Not in the slightest.]

[He's heard similar speeches before, but for some reason, Deku actually sounds believable. Or maybe he's just more willing to hear it now.]

...It's fine, really. I found a place. [Xavier's is definitely a better school, although, he still feels weird there in some ways, with his powers being so uncontrollable. At least there's Jean and Kurt and Jubilee. And the professors are better.]

I'm sorry if you had to go through that too. You don't deserve it either.

[Honestly, he's going to be surprised if other kid hasn't been bullied or isolated in the past. If he's wrong, he's wrong and look like an idiot, but he'll empathize with him first.]

[There’s a soft, startled sound Izuku can’t entirely suppress at that. He hasn’t thought he was being so obvious. (The idea that the reasons he could detect something familiar at play could also work in reverse never crossed his mind.)

He’s also simply still not used to actually hearing that sentiment directed at him. It’s…doing complicated things to him.]

Oh…thank you. Things have gotten better for me, too, so…I’m glad. For both of us.

[Still utterly sincere. Izuku wears his heart on his sleeve, most of the time.]

I know it’s not something you might ever want to do, but, um. If you’d like to talk about it, I can listen. Or have a conversation. Whichever you want, whenever you want.

Yeah? Well, glad to hear.

[Scott's tone is a little more blasé, but he really means it.

And geez, this other kid is just so sincere. At least when jocks and assholes used to bully him, he was an asshole back. Scott has a hard time imagining him being like that in return. Maybe he's making assumptions, but damn.]

Guess I'll start with this, you have an ability? [Born abilities, but Scott thinks back on a couple of conversations he's had and decides to expand a little.] I guess magic and mages count too.

[Scott might be able to find out for sure one day…if he can ever successfully pry any information at all about it out of Izuku. His “I’m fine” game is strong.]

Ability? You mean like a— a special ability? Powers and things?

[He guesses so, given the allowance for magic (which is still a bit mindblowing for Izuku) but he might as well make sure. You know, before he starts throwing around the word Quirk like the other teen could potentially recognize it.]

Yeah, exactly that.

[Because even if Izuku thinks he's an outcast, or was one, Scott's not going to count him as a 'freak' if he's just a regular ol' teen that wasn't able to hang out with the cool crowd.

He's very nice like that. Yep.]

Since I'm making this obvious anyway, I have a power. And it kind of sucks.

[SO ABOUT THAT…]

Oh - yeah, I have one. We call them Quirks where I’m from. I, um, I’m sorry if it’s rude to ask, but…why don’t you like yours?

[Quirks. Mutants. Probably similar enough. Scott's just going to accept this without fuss.]

I can't control it at all. [Irritation leaks into his voice as he thinks about his situation once more. Granted, he's only had his powers for like two days, but he doesn't even know where to begin with control. Alex and the Professor was going to help him, but they're not here and Scott doesn't know who to really go to about this.]

It's just. Always on and the reason why everyone doesn't notice is because I'm wearing special shades.

[Ahh, Izuku knows the control struggle mood. He can absolutely see why that would be rough for someone their age, if the Quirk could interfere with ordinary life. …though he is kind of reflexively assuming it’s a power the other teen has had most of his life already, because why would anyone else have Izuku’s issue for a similar reason as Izuku?

Hmm…permanent passive manifestation, visibly obvious, requires a support item…heteromorphic type? Could be emitter…but an emitter type that operates on passive activation and isn’t a sapient class would be new to him…]

So it’s eye based?

[Legitimate question, he doesn’t like to theorycraft off of assumptions alone if he doesn’t have to. Sorry, pal. Izuku’s not only legitimately and deeply fascinated by superpowers in general, but he does things like research Quirk Theory as one of his hobbies. There’s going to be some well-meaning prying.]

Edited (PHONE I KNOW I TOUCHED THE PREVIEW BUTTON—) 2023-04-25 17:35 (UTC)

Optic blasts.

[He's mentioned his ability to a few people now, but he really hasn't fully talked about the strength behind them yet. It's not something Scott's exactly proud of, being so dangerous to people around him. He may think that others are annoying, but causing any sort of injury just makes him sick to his stomach.

An audible sigh can be heard from Scott's end and now he just sounds more worried, almost anxious in a way. Hard to be cocky and confident about something like this.]

Last time I had them uncovered, I shot through an archery target and split a tree in half. [Not that the Professor seemed to mind all that much, but.]

Blasts? Like energy?

[So it is a passive emitter type? And a really impressive one, at that! But having that kind of power and not being able to control it...no wonder he's got such a bad relationship with his Quirk. It reminds him of Eri, in a way.

Maybe that's why his next words come out soft and gentle.]

A lot of Quirks can be hard to handle at first, so I'm sure you'll get better with yours with enough practice. [A beat, then:] It sounds really cool.

[Professor McCoy can probably explain his powers better than him, which is a little embarrassing. Sure, he's like an ultra smart mutant and everything, but Scott's the one that's dealing with actual optic beams and everything.

He just needs to remind himself to really pay attention to him when he gets back, whenever that will be.]

Yeah. It's a pure concussive force.

[So guess it's like getting hit with a truck or something? Scott's not sure if that metaphor fits though. And while he knows the other kid means well, he's still not sure if he'd call his ability 'cool.' Been nothing but a hassle since he's had them.]

Sure, cool. [He doesn't even try to sound believable.] Well, since I told you my 'Quirk,' what's yours? Can you control it?

Oh, I haven't heard of that one before!

[Cheerful, with no small amount of breathless energy - like this being so completely new to him is a good thing. He can't help it, a Quirk this new and unique is candy to his nerdy self, and he's getting tempted to ask for a demonstration. He wants to take notes.

It's enough that he doesn't even feel as nervous or self-conscious as he has been when asked about One For All. He's talking about Quirks, and it's been so long since he's been able to do this. He's in his element. And he's already sorted out how to describe it without giving everything away.]

Mine's a lot more complex than normal, since it's capable of expressing multiple abilities. Some of them are easier to handle than others. But...yeah, mostly? [He lets out a sheepish chuckle.] I still have a lot of room to improve.

[So, you know. He gets it. Controlling OFA takes work.]

[Geez, he really sounds excited over this. It makes Scott almost flustered that someone thinks his ability really is neat. He's just felt like a ~~bigger~~ freak since then, and even some of the other students at Xavier's School are wary of him. Maybe that's why he's been able to bond with Jean so easily, since they're also afraid of her.

So. It's nice. Scott feels a smile crossing his face, feeling almost lighthearted since the first time arriving here.]

No shit, really? Now that's cool. [He's actually impressed, with some level of excitement entering his voice.] Most of the other kids I know just have one ability. How did you learn to control multiple abilities? Sounds like I could really learn from you.

[Izuku just loves Quirks, each and every one. Maybe it's a result of him not (naturally) having one of his own. One For All is an honor to carry, a blessing and a burden in equal measures, but it's still hard to really genuinely think of it as his.]

Most Quirks are just one ability where I'm from, too! Or an...ability package, I guess? Like having a bunch of the traits of an animal. Ones like mine are really rare.

[In that, only two Quirks in the entire world allow the user to actually have multiple Quirks at once. Even Todoroki's Half-Hot Half-Cold is a single power formed by natural inheritance, even if it does manifest as two related but distinct abilities.]

And I, um...actually didn't have all of my abilities right away. I had a bit of time to get used to the first few individually, and some of them are easier to use than others. It's not really as impressive as it seems...

[Scott doesn't think he can place Kurt in that animal trait category, but he gets it. Part of him wants to call the other teen an ultra freak because of how unusual but cool he is, but he's sort of got the hint that Izuku probably wouldn't appreciate it. Has to be mutual liking of calling each other freaks for that to work.]

So, like having fur and heightened senses? Wouldn't want to have that wandering around high school, honestly.

[A mutant with traits of a land animal seems plausible though, like a dog or a wolverine--]

But dude, how can you say that? [Scott almost huffs, but everything about his tone is still encouraging.] Getting used to even one ability is pretty amazing and you have like, several.

Animal Quirks aren't really any different than other kinds. I've got a few classmates with animal traits, they're wonderful people.

[So is at least one member of the school faculty! God bless you, Hound Dog.

It's never not going to feel strange, being told anything about him is impressive. One For All is, sure, but One For All isn't him. In comparison...]

My classmates all have much better control over their Quirks than I do. I have to work twice as hard as they do if I ever want to catch up.

[His classmates don't have to control multiple powers though, if he's been following Izuku correctly. But Scott can understand the frustration still, like you want to be in control of all your powers, doesn't matter if someone else has only has one.

Because even losing control of one power can have serious consequences.]

Well, you aren't alone in that. I mean, I just got my powers a few days ago, so I also need to work really hard to catch up.

D-d-days?! B-but you-- we're both-- you said you're--

[Please don't take his surprise and confusion the wrong way, he's just. Not sure how to respond to meeting someone who literally understands what suddenly needing to master a Quirk fast feels like, what getting one after being so used to being Quirkless for all your formative years is like. Because people naturally getting their Quirks this late isn't how he's used to things working!

He's so confused. He's so unexpectedly excited. He's so confused!]

Y-you're a late bloomer?

[For a few seconds, Scott just squints at his charm as he listens to the slightly flustered reaction from the other teen. He didn't quite expect that response. Guess he thought that he's had his optic blasts for much longer... but he doesn't really understand why that's such a big deal.

It's not uncommon for other dumbasses around his age to suddenly get their mutant powers. Although, Jean and Kurt has had their powers for much longer... shit, is he weird in that aspect too??]

What the hell does that supposed to mean? [He huffs, sounding just a little defensive.] It's not that weird.

[He tries to sound confident but he doesn't fully succeed in that aspect, with the slight doubt coloring his voice.]

[He hears that doubt, but the words themselves hit him way harder. Oh no. Oh no. He messed up...!]

I'm sorry, I...where I'm from Quirks are supposed to have come in by the age of four, I shouldn't have assumed...

I'm pretty sure mutants are different.

[He's somewhat sure, at least?? Scott sort of paid attention when class talked about mutants and everything, but the subject matter hasn't been fully developed and he wasn't a mutant at the time. So, not too much attention was given, although that could be said about a lot of the classes he was enrolled in. He was too busy just being sort of angry at the world in a typical teenager way to thrive in his courses.

Not that he flunked out or anything. Just. Yeah. Also he's just going to give the term 'mutant' out finally.]

I mean, I see kids younger than me with their powers, but I'm not the only one, okay?

[There's a quiet, confused sound over Scott's use of "mutants" - but no, there's more important things to worry about at the moment. Weird terminology conflicts can be dealt with later.]

Okay. I'm sorry, I really didn't mean anything by it.

[Izuku's a lot quieter now, more subdued. He kind of feels like he just did something along the lines of being a jerk to Shouji or Koda for being heteromorphs. Or calling Shinsou's Quirk "villainous." Or...or...

...well.]

I, um...I didn't get a Quirk until I was fifteen. It's not supposed to be something that ever happens back home, and I just...I wasn't expecting to ever meet someone my age even a little bit like me. I'm really, really sorry.

[He supposes he owes the other teen this much, after shoving his foot in his mouth like that.]

[...Geez, this kid is really taking this hard, like he kicked Scott's puppy or something like that. It's more than he clear that he's truly apologetic about what he said and the mutant feels his anger leave him in a sudden rush. Yeah, there's no point staying mad, especially since he feels sort of bad snapping at Izuku.]

Hey, it's fine. Don't worry about it.

[They're both still weirdos when it comes down to it and Scott doesn't want to just blow off the other kid that he can maybe relate to here. Being alone really sucks.]

I didn't realize that things were really different for you. So, we're good, alright?

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