My very first interactive thread, and my first piece of writing this 2020 after a long hiatus!

Half-Life 2 AU; Midoriya-centric, ship and story to-be-influenced by Midoriya's actions (done thru polls). Future NSFW~

It's Midoriya's first relocation outside City 08, of what used to be Tokyo. These relocations have ruined any possibility of Midoriya keeping any friends, contacts in general, which is the purpose of them in the first place.

Now what happened, exactly? Just as quirks were manifesting in the world's populations, the Black Mesa Incident occurred, which basically allowed aliens to flood Earth, and consequentially attracted the attention of an alien empire, bent on conquering worlds.

Now they are here, and imposing their will on Earth.

Midoriya keeps tabs on any information that he deems will be useful in the future, about the "Combine" empire. He keeps them in his old Campos notebooks, hidden in his suitcase, the only thing he can keep.

He loved his notebooks, willing to fight for them even, which earned him a lot of nasty scars from defying Civil Protection officers. He considers himself lucky that he wasn't just shot in an alley already.

Now he's on a train in the continental mainland, looking out the window on what used to be lush forest and farmland, now abandoned and crumbling, if not littered with outposts of the alien empire. He'd see the occasional alien "synth" outside, which would prompt him to sketch it.

His journey would take an agonizing week in the same train car, just sitting there in his seat, sleeping in the same train seat, using the shared toilet that's seen cleaner and better days.

"How long until we get to.. where we're going?" he asks a fellow citizen.

The citizen looks outside, and points towards a towering monolith in the distance. "Eh, judging from the Citadel over there, probably a day."

Midoriya just nods, and wonders what new trials he'll have to endure in the new city.

A day later..

"Welcome. Welcome to City 17. You have chosen, or have been chosen to relocate to one of our finest major urban centers."

Those were the first words Midoriya heard on stepping out of the train. He looked around and found himself in an Eastern European city.

He can sense that this city is much worse than City 08, judging by the rowdier Civil Protection officers who just love harassing citizens. He'll have to keep his suitcase near him at all times, it's all he has left.

He takes a seat on a bench and takes some time to read where-

-his new home might be at. Sitting idly, he found himself looking at peculiar citizens with quirks that must've been awesome if they can use them, but sadly, their quirks look restrained by collars.

"You alright there buddy?"

Midoriya is startled out of his daze by this random citizen; he looked bulky, an uncommon sight in these times, and sporting jet black hair.

"Earth to buddy? You haven't been drinking the water, have you?" he waves his hand at Midoriya's face.

"NO! I mean no, I haven't!" Midoriya recomposes himself. "Uh, did you want something?"

"Oh you just, looked dazed is all. Are you new here?" the man sits beside Midoriya.

"Mmhmm. I just got here from City 08"

The man's eyes sparkled. "Oh! I'm from City 08 too! Having trouble-"

"-finding my place, actually." he rubs his head, then stands up, kicking a water can on the way up.

"We can look for our places together, if you'd like? Civil Protection seems fine with 2 people walking together." he offers.

Should Midoriya..

(This is only supposed to run for 12 hours BTW, damn u Twitter)