#not pictured: me fighting for my mcfuckin' life trying to find pics while on data because INTERNET WENT OUT

[that-spider-fan-over-there]

Why don't we talk more about how similar Tenko and Katsuki actually are?

It feels very odd, for me at least, to see Izuku's narrative foils being compared to him, but not to each other. It's so easy to draw their lines, parallels and foils.

Arrogant, childish and unapproachable, with destructive Quirks and a similar hatred of losing the battles they fight. Katsuki's starting line on the same chapter Tenko was introduced. And in a world of various characters with red eyes, they play straight the "Red Eyes, Take Warning" trope.

Look, for the most part, murderous, but one of them was convinced it was what he desired while the other just says that because he couldn't understand his feelings. Indoctrination and Trauma Rationalization vs. Inferiority and Emotional Supression.

The appearance and attitude of bloodthirsty children that covers up their intelligence and strategic leadership abilities.

The keys that brought the Kamino Incident. Making them intrinsically connected as the turning points of Hero Society's starting collapse whether they like it or not.

Neither wanted companionship, wanted to do things their way, alone. Yet both gained friends, and while their goals haven't changed, they don't need to do it alone. Bonus points for befriending a Todoroki when they've started off on the wrong foot.

Tenko, groomed by AFO as a Symbol of Fear. Katsuki, thought by Izuku the Symbol of Victory.

Died, in a physical and spiritual sense. Tenko, physically in 269, spiritually in 238. Katsuki, spiritually in 285, physically in 362. And still, were reborn in defiance of AFO's will.

Tenko unknowingly had expectations for his future from the moment the idea of conceiving him was planted, and was never taught he could be something other than destructive. Katsuki would have support for anything he wanted, yet pushed himself to be perfect. Because otherwise, what was the point?

Speaking of, AFO is their villain. Tenko, who destroyed the original vestige so he could fight Izuku himself, while Katsuki destroyed his physical body in an act of heroism because Izuku couldn't. And despite being taken out for the time being, their role isn't finished yet.

A villain confronts their convictions, their "roles in the story". Calls out their "childish, incomplete" desires. It causes in them a realization, destroys a mental block they didn't know they had, making them more powerful in the process. And for further points, their hands are broken in the process.

Somehow, both are connected to One For All, present in the vestige world. Both could even be considered a "Tenth OFA user", depending on your point of view. Izuku did sacrifice his dreams and gave the Quirk to them, after all.

A hero with the arrogance of a villain, minor antagonist growing to be the protagonist's confidant; vs. a villain with heroic lineage and instincts, a major antagonist who's the hero of his own story.

Tenko hates the role All Might perpetuated in society because of what it means, when no hero helped him. Katsuki, even with the flaws Toshinori shows, remains a fan of All Might to the point he actively decided to honor him with his hero alias.

Tenko was said by Re-Destro he was on the process of a Quirk Awakening, a liberation of sorts. Katsuki, post awakening and revival, was on the process of learning something new about his Quirk that was very similar to Izuku's.

And to top it off, both of them could easily kill a person with their touches, their Quirks. Their hands, seemingly, easily, made for destruction. And Izuku would still reach for them anyways.

This post was brought to you by: someone who would find very funny if post canon Tenko and Katsuki got along with Izuku but hated each other's guts (like someone who hates his younger sibling's boyfriend) + me being annoyed at the discourse surrounding the OP/ED lyrics and who "Izuku" is referring to + me wanting to see AFO's ass getting kicked by the three of them.

Thank you for reading!