Chapter Text
Izuku had always been different. He could always see things that weren’t there for as long as he could remember. Most ghosts, however, weren’t so… clingy . Izuku heaves a sigh as he tries to ignore the ghost following him. Once he had noticed Izuku react to something he’d said even if he hid it well the ghost clung to it and had been following him ever since - it’d been days now. Izuku couldn’t afford to get distracted, with the Pro Hero on his ass and the villains he was chasing after still in the lead he had to focus on making sure he didn’t accidentally become a solid mass while phasing through a brick wall of something. Never again that shit hurt… They had met a few days ago when the Pro currently chasing him had initially begun to hunt him down, the wispy blue-haired man had been attached to the raven-haired demon who had showed up during a fight between a couple of goons and himself. He would have almost managed to get him if it weren’t for Izuku’s ability to just not be there. He was just barely quick enough to turn himself invisible before the infamous underground hero could activate his quirk rendering Izuku unable to use his own, he can’t erase his quirk if the man can’t see him.
Izuku manages to catch up to the villain, flinging himself forward and becoming tangible just before impact, his knee connecting with the back of the hulking man’s head, effectively knocking the man off balance and making him tumble forward, face-first into the ground. Izuku lands on top of him, pressing his knee into his upper back, grabbing a fist full of the hair, fur maybe, he looks kind of furry , pushing his nose into the pavement and planting his other foot on the ground next to his face, Izuku turns his free hand intangible and lowers it into the man's chest, feeling him release a violent shiver as he rests his hand around his diaphragm.
“Move and my hand will become solid again…” Izuku growls through his voice-changing mask making his voice gravelly, “You wouldn’t like that experience.”
The man growls in defiance and struggles slightly, so Izuku wiggles his fingers until he feels the man still completely. “Get off me!”
“Sorry dude, but you decided being a bad person was your core personality trait so now I gotta beat you up.”
He hears Eraserhead finally come to a stop behind him, the soft thump of boots hitting the pavement the only sound besides the sound of strained breathing now coming from below Izuku. He hears the ghost that’s latched onto the man whistle in awe as he sees the beast of a man pinned beneath the emerald-eyed vigilante.
“Phantom.” The Hero’s voice rings out, resonating deeply in the dark of the night.
“Eraserhead.” The vigilante replies, glancing over his shoulder, no longer paying much attention to the villain under him. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
The older man slowly starts to circle to the front of the two on the ground, his steps slow and measured. “I didn’t realize I was quite so famous,” his dark eyes narrowed as he assessed the small vigilante, “though, perhaps not as famous as you.”
Izuku keeps his eyes trained on Eraserhead in an unnerving stare down before he speaks once more, “Hmm, flattery won’t get you anywhere, but you’re welcome to just stand there while I finish doing your job for you.”
The raven-haired Hero scowls and tosses handcuffs at Izuku. “Use those.”
Izuku grins behind his mask, toxic eyes crinkling at the corners as he catches the handcuffs with the hand, he’d been gripping the villain's head. Keeping eye contact with Eraser, he pulls his other hand out of the bulky man's chest cavity at an agonizingly slow pace. Well, agonizing for the poor schmuck beneath him, Izuku found it quite entertaining to torture him. Once fully removed he yanks the guy’s arms back and swiftly cuffs him, getting up he “accidentally” kicks him in the head. The ghost sniggers, while the Pro looks mildly unimpressed with his antics.
“The cops will be here soon, for both of you fools.” Eraser heaves a sigh as though this entire interaction was physically draining him of his energy.
“Guess that’s my cue to…” Izuku is cut off when Eraserhead’s capture scarf is wrapped around his midsection, effectively pinning his arms and stopping his escape. Izuku looks up at the dark-haired man and gives a sheepish smile, not that he could see it. His hair floats in the air like whisps of thick black smoke, his eyes glow a bright red cutting off access to his quirk and his only means of escape.
“You will not be going anywhere.”
Izuku sighs and then directs his gaze at the ghost hovering behind the Pro who gives the vigilante a questioning look when he too looks at where the boy is looking but not seeing anything.
“Hey, a little help here buddy?” Izuku asks the ghost as a mischievous grin spreads across his face.
“Who are you talking to?” Eraserhead demands, tension bleeding into his stance as he expects someone else to appear but once again not seeing or sensing anyone else, he glares harder at the vigilante entangled in his weapon of choice. “Your tricks are getting tiring and old, Phantom. No one’s going to help you here, and you’ll be riding in the back of that cop car when it gets here.”
“No tricks here Mister Eraserhead sir. Just pleading my case to a fellow… phantom.” Izuku stifles a manic giggle as he watches the wispy-haired ghost jump into the hero, it’s not a full possession like Izuku’s own ability allows him to do, albeit very briefly, but it causes the Hero to slacken his hold on him, releasing him from his confines both from the capture scarf and the quirk. Izuku quickly takes the few seconds the ghost buys him to become intangible and escape. His quirk effectively erases his presence amongst the living as he darts away from the scene of his would-be arrest.
The ghost follows him once more and as soon as they’re far enough away Izuku stops atop the roof of a nearby skyscraper, having used his ability of flight to reach it. He becomes solid once more as he collapses against the railing to catch his breath from exerting himself so much in a short amount of time. The ghost watches in silent excitement as he waits for the boy to acknowledge him again, and when he finally does it’s with an exasperated sigh.
“Yes, yes, I can see you. No, I will not pass along any messages for your family, please be on your way…” Izuku grates out as he adjusts his mask and fixes his disheveled clothing now that he can breathe again. His tone doesn’t deter the overly friendly ghost, however.
“I don’t need you to pass along anything for me, quite the opposite. I would like to help you . Y’know, with your little hero problem.” He grins. “That big scary hero just so happens to be one of my best friends, er… well he was before I sorta died , but you get what I mean.”
“This… is why you’ve followed me around?” Izuku shoots the ghost an incredulous look as he questions this one’s sanity. “What you want revenge on your old pal? He gank you or something?”
“Sho? HAH! He wishes.” The ghost bends at the waist clutching his stomach as if he felt pain from the laughter he was wracked with. “No, I just want to prank the absolute shit out of him, death is so boring when they can’t see you. So, I figured you could see me, and I can give you… ammunition, per se, to use against him.”
Izuku’s interest is piqued. He’d never considered the possibility of having a ghostly friend, typically he sends them on their way if they’re causing trouble, and if they aren’t then he ignores them. He’s certainly seen ghosts attached to other heroes, but he never considered that they could help him too. He stares at the ghost, looking him over from top to bottom, taking in his outfit, the shit-eating grin on his face, and the wispy hair, before ultimately deciding he had nothing to lose.
“Fine, I’ll take you up on your deal.”