Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“You can't be a hero without a quirk.”

Those were the words coming out of his idol's mouth the first time he met him.

Midoriya Izuku was born quirkless, in a society where quirks were essential. Still, he dreamed of being a hero, just like his idol : All Might.

Thus, when he finally met him, he asked him the question that stuck to his mind everyday…Could he be a hero without a quirk ?

No.

That was his answer.

He couldn't.

And it was why everything went downhill.

His dreams destroyed, heart aching, he went home and locked himself in his room to cry. He never told his mom. He never told anyone. He saw later on the news that Bakugo Katsuki, his childhood friend, had been attacked by a sludge monster and was saved by their idol.

He saw everything on TV, from when All Might smiled at the camera to when Bakugo stood up and asked him in front of everyone…

“Do you think I could be a hero ?”

All Might laughed.

“Of course you can !”

Huh ?

Huh ?

Izuku stared at the screen with wide eyes.

Why not him ?

Because he was quirkless ?

Because this time it was on camera ?

Hypocrite.

Because Bakugo had a ‘heroic’ quirk ?

Hypocrite.

Because people around them were watching with stars in their eyes ?

“Hypocrite.” Izuku murmured, tears falling down his cheeks.

It was no surprise Bakugo cornered him the next day at school.

“I met All Might, nerd. He told me I could be a hero. He said it to my face.” He was bragging, his two friends looking at him like he was a god. Izuku had felt like that, too, when he still looked up to him. When they were friends. “Still think you can get in U.A. huh ?!”

But now, he knew better. “No. I don't care. I don't want to be a hero anymore.”

One of his friends laughed. “He's throwing in the towel ! What a useless quirkless freak.”

“But at least I wasn't attacked by a sludge monster and looked dumb during it.”

And oh he should have stayed silent. He regretted his words when he heard Bakugo speak again. “What did you just say, Deku ?”

He ended up with a burn mark on his shoulder and a bloody nose.

His mom wasn't there when he got home. He took care of his small injuries and went to his room. He couldn't stop crying. His life had no meaning anymore. He hated All Might now that he knew how much of a hypocrite he was. He hated Bakugo, now understanding that they drift apart too much to ever be close again. That he hated him, too. Because he was quirkless.

And, frankly, he started to believe it. He couldn't do anything without a quirk. He opened his computer to research on what quirkless people’s options were, and he stumbled upon something he never asked for :

‘The life expectancy of the quirkless would only be 20 years due to the rate of suicide and crimes against them.’

He stared at him and hesitantly clicked on the link, reading explanations that he already knew from the title. Quirkless people either killed themselves or were killed before adulthood. He looked at the article’s comments, only to see hateful quirkist people.

‘They deserve it lol’

‘They’re useless anyway, who cares ?’

‘Wish I could see that irl lmao’

Izuku wished he hadn't looked as his heart ached, a recurrent feeling since the day before. He stared at the ceiling for minutes after that.

What was the point in trying ?

He canceled his application for U.A. the next day. The teacher gave him a look of ‘I told you so.’

Izuku ignored it. He didn't apply for any other highschool and the teacher tsked.

“Not that surprising.” He said.

Izuku ignored it and left, deciding to skip school today. He wasn't feeling well. He instead walked around the city, watching heroes fight villains, watching cops arrest criminals, watching kids talk about their favorite heroes and how they plan on becoming one…

Everything revolved around heroes. No one would ever want him. No one would ever accept him. This society sucked. He no longer felt at his place. He no longer felt human. He felt like a wandering being, hurt, hatred growing in his heart. Only two days had passed and he was getting sick of hearing heroes, seeing heroes, smelling heroes…he was tired of being here. He felt like he was only serving his few years being alive, the sole suspense in his life being if he would end up killing himself or being killed.

There was no point in going to high school, there was no point in getting a job.

Life made no sense. Had no meaning.

He wandered a while, not realizing night had fallen. When he got back from his thoughts,he headed back home, mind fuzzy, stomach growling from not eating at all today. When he arrived, his mother quickly came to hug him.

“Where were you ?! I was so worried, you weren't answering any of my phone calls ! It's so late !” She screamed.

“...’m sorry.” Izuku mumbled.

“Your school called me saying you didn't go to class today…are you feeling okay ? Is something wrong ?”

“No…I'm just feeling…sick.” Which wasn't false.

“You should have called me, then ! I would have picked you up and taken care of you-”

“No.” Izuku cut her off. “I don't want your boss to scream at you again…and we need the money.”

“Oh honey…” She sighed. “You're not the one that should worry about that. Worry about yourself first, okay ?”

He forced himself to nod.

“Good. Now go rest, I'll make you some dinner.”

However, he wasn't able to eat anything. Everytime he swallowed, he wanted to throw up. The food was good, his mother made it, but his body refused to eat. He set the plate aside, only managing to cry again.

He started to regularly skip school, wanting to be as far away from his real life as he could. He wanted to escape, to be someone else. He wanted to have fun. He only had a few years left anyway.

But walking and getting lost in his thoughts weren't enough anymore. It was starting to hurt him even more as the only thing he could think of was All Might telling him he could never be a hero.

So, when he stumbled upon a group of teenagers slightly older than him, smoking while laughing, he got closer. That smell was clearly not tobacco.

“Hey,” he spoke.

They turned to him. Three boys and two girls.

“What are you smoking ?” He asked.

One of the girls laughed. “Are you a cop or something ?”

“A kid cop.” The other laughed even harder.

“No.” He continued. “I wanna try.”

He didn't know where all that confidence came from. Maybe the fact that he didn't care anymore. They all stared at him until one of the guys talked. “How old are you ?”

“Old enough.” He answered.

The guy laughed. “Good answer, come here.”

“You really gonna make a kid smoke weed ?”

“So what ? He's probably the same age as me when I started, and he asked for it.”

The guy let Izuku sit with him and handed him his joint. Izuku tried it but coughed hard. The others laughed. After a few other tries, he managed not to cough and felt his mind getting fuzzier.

“How are you feeling ?” Another boy asked, smiling.

Izuku laughed. “Great !”

They all went back to talking, including him in their discussion as he kept smoking on the first guy's joint.

After a while, he felt numb and good at the same time. He walked down a street with the five teenagers he met, laughing with them at everything they saw, finally feeling included. He probably felt that good with them because he was high, but he didn't care. Everything was fast, his thoughts fuzzy and his mind high.

He didn't even know how he managed to remember his own address nor how he found his way back home after saving the five teenagers’ numbers in his phone. He went to take a shower and went to bed, not even checking if his mom was home or not.

A few days went by. He missed the numbness he felt that night. He wanted to feel numb again. He wanted to feel numb forever.

Which was why he called the guy's number that he had learned was named Haruto. They planned to meet in the evening at the park they met with the others. He sneaked out and joined them. They all welcomed him. They weren't his friends but they thought he was fun to get high with.

They talked while smoking and drinking, as they brought beers. It was the first time Izuku drank one, but the others did and he wanted to be accepted. They were really high about an hour later and were having fun, playing like kids in the park, swinging on the swings laughing. Izuku didn't feel a thing. He was looking for that when he came here, but now, he wanted to feel something. Anything. He was laughing with two of the girls, giving each other stupid dares. When his turn came, he laughed.

“I wanna feel something,” He started. “Hit me.”

The two girls, Saki and Nami, both laughed and Saki hit him without hesitation, too high to care.

Izuku felt the pain like an explosion emanating from his left cheek and spreading to the rest of his face. If he had been sober, he would have cried out in pain, but right now it felt good. It was a deliberate pain, the only thing he felt through this fog, as if the sensation was barely holding him back to life. A small drop of blood fell from his nose and reached his lips, the taste of blood fitting perfectly with the suffocating and liberating sensation of weed. The three of them laughed, and he screamed.

“I wanna bleed more ! HIT ME.”

And she did.

The blow made his vision go black for a second and blood flowed from his nose. He kept laughing through the pain, his eyes burning.

“Shit,” Nami smiled. “Izuku's bleeding like crazy !”

The others came to see.

“Hit me too !” Haruto said.

And just like that, their night became bloody.

He was glad he had sneaked out, because if his mom saw him bleeding like that, she would have freaked out and taken him to the hospital – even though no doctor wanted to take care of a quirkless person. He washed his face and held his nose right with a band-aid. It would heal eventually.

When his mother found out he didn't apply for any highschool, they fought. It was the first time ever.

She came to see him, worried, asking why he gave up on his dream to get into U.A. and why he didn't apply for something else.

She was trying to be nice. She always was. She was the gentlest mom out there, always caring. And he was mean to her.

“Why do you care ?” He sighed.

She seemed surprised as he never answered her like that. “I’m worried, honey. Did something happen ? You know I'll always support your decisions, but you need to go to school…”

“Why the fuck would I need that ?!” He yelled. “Leave me alone !”

She frowned, trying to be firmer. “Do not talk to me like that, Izuku. I want to help…talk to me.”

“I don't want to go to school, I don't want to be a hero ! Go search for the life expectancy of quirkless people and come back after that. There is no point.”

“Is that the problem ? Did a quirkist person insult you ? You know you shouldn't listen to these people, you're perfect the way you are.” She tried to get closer.

“Don't.” He stopped her. “Go away.”

“I just want the best for you, Izuku ! You deserve to go to highschool, you can achieve your dreams-”

“I don't have dreams anymore. There's no point.”

Eyebrows furrowed, she spoke again. “That's enough. I'm signing you up for a good highschool near for next year.”

Izuku tsked and rolled his eyes. He won't go anyway.

“Dinner's ready. Come eat…” She finally added.

“I'm not hungry.” He turned his back to her.

She sighed and left.

He felt bad. He never talked to her like that until now, but he couldn't help it. It was like rage consuming him from the inside, menacing to explode. He had to get it out and couldn't do otherwise. Anger and hate were the main part of his life now.

Izuku kept skipping school, sometimes staying home. He felt empty and full of uncontrollable emotions at the same time. He felt weird. He couldn't stop thinking, many thoughts polluting his mind, and none of them was positive.

He watched TV to try and focus on something, but every channel talked about heroes. Each. One. Of. Them.

“All Might saving Tokyo from terrorist attack.”

“Wild Wild Pussy Cats successfully saving civilians in danger during villain attack.”

“Endeavor puts an end to one of the biggest cartels distributing ‘Trigger’.”

“Hawks arrests villains trying to rob a bank.”

“Best Jeanist and Edge Shot team up to thwart a terrorist attack in Nagano Prefecture.”

Heroes.

Everywhere.

Heroes and quirks.

All the time.

He felt tears menacing to fall from his eyes, his fists clenching and his heart aching.

What could a quirkless person bring to society ? What was he capable of ? He was useless, his whole existence was pointless. He shouldn't exist. He had no place in this world.

Anger and sadness made his body tremble as he started crying. He was lost. Everyone hated him. Bakugo and his friends were right. He was a freak.

Too much emotion made his head light, the urge to smash everything rushing through his veins. He grabbed the remote control and threw it at the TV, the screen breaking. He tried to let off steam by hitting the sofa cushions, imagining Bakugo or All Might in their place, shouting his hatred towards them, but that wasn't enough. His blows then went towards himself, hitting his arms, his legs, his head, crying out his hatred towards himself, lamenting the fact that he would never be of any use to anyone. He ended up breaking down in tears, cries that sound like screams, his body numb from the blows, bruises already starting to appear. But it wasn't enough. He needed to be in pain. Too many negative emotions and thoughts were rotting him from the inside, the mental pain never going away. He screamed, trying to get it all out, to get out what he was feeling, only to cry again. He tried to get up but collapsed to his knees. He crawled to the kitchen, knowing one thing : if the mental pain was too much, the physical pain would calm it. When the body is in pain, it sends hormones to the brain to calm the pain, soothing not only the pain felt by the injury but also the negative emotions, allowing the person to breathe. To feel light.

This was the goal he was looking for. So he grabbed the first knife he saw and stretched his arm out in front of him, shaking. Inflicting an injury on himself was hard, but he knew that once he got over it, he would feel better. He placed the blade on his skin and, with a cry, he pressed down, gently tracing a straight line so red liquid escaped, falling to the ground. He dropped the knife next to it, sobbing. Quickly, he felt his heart calm down, a feeling of lightness and fatigue taking over. His thoughts calmed as he focused on the pain, watching the blood spill out. His emotions faded, giving way to a feeling of unease and guilt. 

And yet, he felt good.

Cleaning up the evidence was the hardest part. After running his arm under ice water to wake up, he simply put a bandage around it, not caring about disinfecting the wound. He had washed and put the knife away and now he had to wipe the blood off the floor. Guilt overwhelmed him, but at the same time, he had difficulty realizing what he had done. 

The last few days had seemed unreal. He no longer felt like he was inhabiting his body. He felt detached from everything. 

After cleaning up, he decided to go to sleep, figuring it was the most effective way to forget.

He and his mom fought again when she got a call from the school saying he skipped school for days.

“If something’s wrong you can tell me, Izuku ! I'm your mother, I'm here to help-”

“You can't understand !” He screamed.

“I can try ! We all have bad times, okay ? Let me help you.”

“DO NOT compare my bad times with yours ! We are NOT the same.”

“Izuku-”

“No. Do people avoid touching you ? Do people scream saying they'll catch your sickness when you talk to them ?” Izuku cut.

Inko didn't have time to answer before he continued.

“Do people tell you you're useless ? Did your teachers purposefully give your bad grades because they think you'll never achieve anything in your life anyway ? Do you risk being killed or harassed every time you go out ? I don't think so, mom.” His voice cracked. “You'll never understand.”

Inko’s heart broke in a million pieces, tears streaming down her face. “Is that why you've been so different lately…? Did someone hurt you ? You barely go out, you don't eat dinner…”

“It's none of your business !”

“It is my business ! Your my son !” She cried. “Your skin is so pale and you lost weight- I'm so worried Izuku !” She tried to touch his face, putting a strand of hair back in its place, but Izuku violently pushed her away.

“Mom, don't touch me, don't touch my hair !” He angrily yelled.

“Have you had anything to eat today ?” She asked, insisting on his health.

“Mom, stop with the food thing already !”

Tears appeared in his eyes too, rolling down his cheeks, highlighting the dark circles under his eyes. Inko sobbed. Since her husband left them when they found out Izuku was quirkless, she had taken care of her son the best she could. He had always been a wonderful child, never causing problems to anybody. Seeing him so hurt by life, so lost, and so far away from her was too hard for her. She didn't know what caused all this but she wanted the best for him. She wouldn't let him sink.

“Izuku…” She softly started. “I'm going to find a therapist that can help you…”

Izuku laughed bitterly, wiping a tear away. “Like anyone would want to help a quirkless teen.”

“I'll find something, okay ?!” She ended up yelling in helplessness.

“Stop trying ! There's no point, mom ! Let it go.”

She shook her head. “No…I'd never leave you hurting. I love you…”

“I don't care !” He shouted. Before Inko could say anything else, he left to his room, slamming the door.

Later on, he went for a walk, trying to find something that could ease his mind. He arrived at a shop selling magazines and other small things like candies or…

Cigarettes, he thought when seeing all of the different brands on display.

He heard some people say they helped you relax. He decided he wanted to try. Anything could help. Thus, when the owner wasn't looking, he grabbed a pack and a red lighter and quickly left, eager to try them.

If it did feel weird at first, he found out it did relax him.

It's during the weekend that, when he came home in the evening, his mother was waiting for him with the pack of cigarettes, a terrified look on her face.

“Please, tell me it's not what you think.”

Izuku looked at her, not really feeling any guilt. “What else could it be ?” His eyebrows furrowed when he realized he had hid them before leaving. “Wait, you searched through my room ?!”

“It's not about me ! It's about you, Izuku ! When did you start smoking ?!”

“Leave me alone !”

“No, this is too much ! Do you understand how worried I am ?! Tell me what happened…Did I do something wrong ?” She said, questioning the education she had given him.

“God, not everything revolves around you !” He rolled his eyes. 

“Who sold that to you ? That's illegal.”

“No one sold me anything !”

She paused, shocked. “Did you steal it ?”

“And ? Tsk. Do whatever you want with it. I'm going to my room.” He said as he left.

“Come back here !” He heard his mother's order but ignored her.

He went back to school two days later. He was exhausted, barely sleeping anymore, dreaming of that numb feeling, hurting himself over and over again everyday. Scars decorated his arms. He hid them by wearing a black jacket. Everyone looked at him weird – he looked like a zombie.

During lunch break, Bakugo and his friends took him outside to ‘talk’. Izuku didn't have the energy to fight back or be scared.

“Deku.” Bakugo hissed. “Are you trying to hide from us by not coming to school or something ?”

“Dude, he looks dead.” One of his friends laughed.

“He might as well be, he's useless anyway !” The other joined.

Izuku simply gazed at Bakugo, not an ounce of fear in his eyes. And Bakugo hated that.

“What's your problem, huh ? Always looking down on me. You think you're better than me, right ?” He creepily smiled. “I'll show you who the best of us is.”

The blonde grabbed the green haired arm and slightly burned it using an explosion. Letting out a cry, Izuku felt adrenaline coursing through his veins. Angry, he punched Bakugo right in the face. He stepped back, appalled, staring at Izuku with wide eyes. His two friends had stopped laughing, as shocked as him.

Then, real rage took hold of Bakugo. A shiver ran down Izuku's spine.

He ended up bleeding when they were done with him. They left after insulting him some more and he got up, wincing in pain.

At that moment, he wished he could show them. He wished he could get revenge, but he was useless quirkless Deku. He bottled that feeling up and decided to go steal another pack of cigarettes.

He needed to relax.

He came back home at around 8 p.m.

He arrived in the living room, only to see a mortified look on his mother's face. In front of her were Bakugo and his mother.

“Shit…” Izuku hissed.

They turned to him.

“Izuku…” His mother started.

“Izuku.” Mitsuki said. “I am deeply disappointed in you.”

“What the fuck are you talking about.”

“Don't play dumb with us, young man, I've seen the bruise.” She retorted, showing Bakugo's face. A dark bruise could be seen under his eye.

“What the hell did you tell her, Kacchan ?” Izuku was shocked and hurt. Bakugo had bullied him for years and he never said a thing, but he defended himself once and now he was the one at fault ?

“I told her the truth.” The other teen shrugged. “That you've been mean to me all year long. And that today, you hit me saying I could never achieve my dream of being a hero…”

“Are you kidding ?!” Izuku screamed, rage growing inside of him.

“Don't you yell at my son !” Mitsuki interrupted him. “I can't believe you turned out that way…Inko and my son told me things that happened during the last week…You're a really bad influence. I mean you cheat, you lie, you steal…And now you're becoming violent.”

That last word pushed him over the edge as he laughed in disbelief. “Oh my god, are you kidding me ? Where do you think I learned that shit from ?!”

“Don't scream like that Izuku, let's talk it out.” Inko tried to calm them down. “I'm sure it's a misunderstanding, my son wouldn't hit Katsuki…”

“Yes he did !” Bakugo yelled.

“I don't believe this shit, HE HIT ME TOO !” Izuku shrieked.

The three others jumped at the explosive rage that made his voice tremble as he screamed.

“Are you accusing my son of being violent ?” Mitsuki stood there, shocked. “I don't care. You just confessed what you did. That should be enough for Inko to do something about it. I'll even talk to the principal and get you expelled.” She looked at Inko. “I see why your husband left.”

Izuku saw the sadness in his mother's eyes and was about to go after the two Bakugos when she stopped him.

“Enough.” She murmured. “That's enough, Izuku. I'm…disappointed. Go to your room. We'll talk about it later.”

“You believe him ?!

“You confessed.”

“Fine. I hit him. For the first time ever. How many times did he hit me, huh ?” Without thinking, Izuku rolled up his sleeve, showing the burn. “Who do you think did that, huh ?”

But what Inko spotted were the scars. She grabbed his arm. “What is that ?! You hurt yourself ?!”

Izuku pushed her away. “That's not the point !”

“I don't care ! Why did you do that ?!”

“Leave me alone !” He ran to his room and locked himself up.

Inko cried, not knowing what to do, not being able to do anything.

And the Bakugos did get him expelled. He said nothing, his mother only cried even more. He didn't care.

She went to her room. He felt empty. The last thing tying him to his life was gone. He had no school anymore and his mother was a mess. He was all alone, on his own, like a wandering spirit trying to forget everything. He gazed at the old family photos, his younger self smiling, holding his mother's hand. He gazed at the living room, the kitchen, the bathroom, trying to find any string left with this place.

But he found nothing. It didn't feel like home anymore. Nothing did. His old pictures weren't him. He felt like a stranger in his own apartment. Like a ghost of himself. He didn't feel attached to anything here anymore. He slowly walked to the front door, stopping slightly in front of his mom's room. He heard crying. That was the only thing she did anymore. She probably gave up on him too. He entered his room and grabbed his black jacket, cigarettes and lighter inside, leaving his cellphone on his bed. He put it over his white t-shirt and put on his red shoes. He unlocked the front door and walked out, leaving the keys on the lock, the thought of coming back never even crossing the back of his mind.

It was night. It was cold. He should have been cold as he was only wearing shorts and it started raining, but he felt nothing. He walked, not really knowing where he was going, a lighted cigarette stuck between two fingers. He regularly took a hit, feeling his muscles untense. At one point, he didn't know if the water on his cheeks were rain or tears. He didn't even care.

He heard music coming from the end of the street and headed there. It was a nightclub. Probably an illegal one as the building seemed abandoned from the outside. The bouncer was smoking a joint, already high. He didn't see Izuku walk past him and get in.

He wanted to feel something. Anything.

Inside, the music was so loud it echoed through his skull and ribcage. The room was full of people, more or less drunk or stoned, dancing and jumping in all directions. The spotlights cast purple and blue light, flashing and moving here and there. He pushed his way through the crowd, looking for something amusing. He bumped into a boy of around 20 who stopped him.

“Hey there, pretty boy.” He smiled, a drink in one hand. “You have beautiful eyes, you know that ?”

The compliments fell on deaf ears. Izuku eyed his drink.

“Want some ?” The guy offered. “I call it ‘Voodoo Juice’.”

He handed it to the teen who drank it without thinking. He coughed ; the taste was horrible. The guy laughed.

“You like it ?”

Izuku tried to look up at him, but his head started hurting. Drugs. The lights and colors danced before his eyes, the noise seemed distant, and he swayed on his feet. The guy caught up to him by holding his hips, stroking them lightly.

“Let's have some fun, what do you think ?”

Izuku's mouth felt dry. He didn't feel good. He wanted to feel something, yes, but not that. He couldn't think too much and felt weak, but managed to get out of the guy's grip and quickly walked away. He heard the guy shouting over the music, following him.

He bumped into several people before reaching one end of the room. A small corridor apparently led to the bathrooms. He went there when he spotted the sign ‘Exit’ next to it. When he reached the bathrooms, he wanted to go drink or splash some water on his face to come back to reality a little, but the man and woman fucking above the sinks dissuaded him. Instead, he headed towards the emergency exit. He heard the guy calling after him and hurried to open the door and get out.

The cold air hit him and the heavy rain pounded his skin. The coolness gave him enough strength to move away from the door. A figure was a few meters away from him. He thought he recognized the smell of cigarettes when it spoke in a deep voice : a man.

“A kid ? What are you doing here ?”

Izuku turned his head towards him and backed away, tripping and nearly falling. The man came to catch him before he slipped on the wet tarmac, letting his cigarette fall to the ground.

“Shit, don’t hurt yourself.” He held Izuku against him. “Are you okay, kid ?”

The man gently grabbed his chin and lifted his head slightly to inspect his face. Izuku's unfocused gaze didn't escape him and he growled in annoyance.

“Who drugged you ?”

The guy in turn went out through the emergency exit and stopped when he saw the scene in front of him. The man glared at him when he felt Izuku trying to get away from the new arrival. 

“Are you the piece of shit responsible for his state ?” 

The guy tried to lie. "He's my little cousin, thanks for stopping him-" 

"Right, don't fuck with me. I hate people who take advantage of others... Especially since you can see he's a minor, you fucking perv." he reproached him, taking a gun out of his belt, pointing it at the guy. 

He panicked. "It's dark inside, I didn't know he was so young ! The bouncer is supposed to check the ages of those who come in-" 

"The bouncer has been high for an hour, and by the way you reacted, you knew damn well he was a kid."

“Wait dude, we can share if you want-!” 

The man fired three times, the guy falling to the ground, his blood spreading like a puddle around him before being washed away by the rain. His body jerked a few times before stilling. "Disgusting freak.” The man hissed before looking down at the teen. He tried to soothe him. “Calm down, it's okay now…He can't hurt you anymore.” He sighed. He may be a criminal, but he wasn't a monster. He wasn't going to let a drugged kid alone in a shady alleyway. “I'll bring you home tomorrow, I promise. Until then, I'll take care of everything. C’mon, let's go…”

He helped Izuku walk and headed towards his hideout.

Izuku's head hurt. He woke up in the morning on a couch, a blanket on top of him. He sat up, wincing in pain. He looked around.

It wasn't a house. A studio maybe. There was a coffee table in front of the couch, a small makeshift kitchen, an armchair, a TV and a large table with chairs. The blinds were closed, he knew it was morning because of the clock indicating 7 a.m. on the wall.

The door opened and a man entered. He wore glasses, a purple jacket and a pink scarf. His hair was gray. Izuku was somewhat distrustful. The man saw him and gave a small smile.

“You're awake, good. How are you feeling ?”

Izuku swallowed, his throat dry. “Who are you…?”

“Kagero Okuta.” The man answered. “Call me Giran. What's your name ?”

“... Izuku. Where am I ?”

“No full name, huh ?” Giran snorted. “You're at my hideout. More precisely, my temporary apartment.” He grabbed a glass and filled it with water before handing it to the teen. “Drink something.”

Izuku hesitated before taking it and drinking.

Giran sat down on the armchair. “Mind telling me what happened last night ?”

Izuku rubbed his eyes. They hurt. “I don't know…I wanted to feel something…To do something fun. I went to that nightclub and…I don't remember everything but…were you that man in the alleyway ?”

“I was. I saw you completely drugged, getting followed by a guy.”

“You shot him.”

“I did.”

Still, Izuku wasn't scared. His distrust disappeared. “You saved me. Thank you.”

“No need to thank me for such a trivial thing. How old are you ?”

“...Fourteen. Turning fifteen in July.”

“That's young to be on your own on the streets, don't you think ? Where do you live ? I'll take you home when you feel better.”

“I don't have a home.”

Giran didn't seem surprised, as if he predicted it. “That's what I thought. You ran away, right ?”

Izuku sighed, putting the glass down. “I guess so…”

“That's okay. I won't judge you. It's more common than you think. And of course, I won't try to talk you into going back. Everyone has their reasons. Do you want to talk about it ?”

“... People simply don't understand. I hate them. I hate everything and everyone. I don't even know if I want to die or live. Neither really scare me.” Izuku started.

“Why is that ?” Giran was no therapist, but it was a kid he had in front of him. He still had an ounce of empathy.

“I'm quirkless.” Izuku said, preferring for his host to know immediately. He was prepared to be kicked out, however, Giran seemed sad.

“I understand better now. Poor little one…Life must not have been easy for you, huh ?”

“...I was bullied for years. People avoided me like I had some sort of sickness that they could catch. Everyone hated me. But I still wanted to be a hero…Until All Might himself looked me in the eyes and told me it just wasn't possible.” Izuku continued. “I started hating him. Hating all of them. I hate this quirkist society. I wish I could destroy everyone's life like they destroyed mine.”

Giran had an interested look on his face. “Is that so ? Well, you were lucky to find me. You can stay here…Maybe I'll find something interesting for you. For now, consider this place your home.”

“Really ?” Izuku exclaimed. “You don't care about my quirklessness ? You're really offering me to stay…?”

“Of course. You need a place to live. I'm not kicking out a kid. And we share ideas, so…”

A feeling of relief made Izuku relax. “Thank you so much Giran.”

“As I said, you don't have to thank me. Rest a bit more. I have some work to do but I'll be back soon.” He got up. “In the meantime, you can watch TV and eat what's in the fridge.”

Izuku nodded and Giran grabbed a small dark bag before leaving.

He didn't know what job he had. He should ask him later, but for now, he felt sleepy…

Maybe it was the start of something new.

Chapter Text

Giran probably was one of the nicest men Izuku ever encountered. He quickly found out he was a criminal and that he was an information broker. Izuku didn't care one bit. He hosted him for free and actually treated him like a human being. When he found out Izuku smoked, he didn't try to stop like anyone would. He simply told him to be careful with his health. And when he saw his scars, he had hugged lightly.

“I'm sorry you feel that way.” He had said. “But that pain can become strength. Instead of hurting yourself, direct that anger to the outside. I could teach you how to fight, even if I'm getting old.” He joked.

Izuku agreed. Turns out sports actually helped him control his emotions and relaxed him.

He had been there for two weeks and a half. Turned out that, if his mother had reported his disappearance, the police didn't care. No one cared for a quirkless kid going missing.

They sat together on the couch, watching TV. Giran was smoking – after making sure the window was open – and Izuku was eating some chocolate cookies. As always, channels only talked about heroes. He passed through them.

“How was your work ?” He asked while still searching for something to watch.

Giran sighed. “Nothing interesting. How was your day ?”

“I trained alone a bit. I took a shower…and I ate a full meal.”

Giran smiled at him, using his free hand to ruffle through his hair. “I'm proud of you. It's a good sign that you're getting better.”

Izuku loved Giran’s praise. For once, he felt cared for and loved. “Thanks.” He smiled.

Still passing through the channels, he eventually stopped as one of them was diffusing images of a big operation. On the screen, they could see the hero Kamui Woods get inside a building with some others.

“That's a stupid move.” Izuku commented.

“Huh ? Why ? His quirk is useful to catch people.”

“Maybe, but you also have to take into account the environment and the teammates present. If it was a large area why not, but here he finds himself inside a building of limited size. Using his Quirk could prevent his teammates from moving forward or taking action and possibly even hurt them. This is one of the problems with long range Quirks. Given the arrangement of the other heroes, he should stay outside. Plus, since it's a villain hideout, there must be emergency exits. By staying outside, he could surround the building with a barrier, preventing any escape. Other heroes would be more effective inside, like Lady Midnight for example... With her Quirk, she could put the entire building to sleep. Anyway, it shows that they have no strategy…”

Without realizing it, Izuku had started ranting.

Giran looked at him in shock. “I…didn't think about that…How…How are you capable of seeing all of that so easily ?”

“I'm sorry, I didn't realize, I talk too much sometimes-” Izuku panicked. “I…I was such a big fan of heroes that I discovered I love to analyze them and their quirks…It was a strong passion. I practically know every hero, whether they'd be limelight, underground, support, rescue…I could probably even recognize a few of them out of costume.”

Giran sat upright, pleasantly surprised. “Why did you never mention it ? It's so rare to find someone like you.”

“Someone like me ? I'm nothing. I'm…”

“Useless ? You're far from it, Izuku. You need to realize that.” Giran assured. “You have one of the smartest minds I have ever met. How could no one see your potential ?”

Izuku, embarrassed, slightly laughed. “You're exaggerating…”

“I'm not.” He denied. “Do you know how rare analysts are nowadays ? Hell, you might even be one of the only ones capable of it.”

“You…you really think so ?” Izuku murmured in disbelief, hopeful.

“Of course.” Giran smiled. “I think we might have found what you can do.”

And Izuku finally felt useful. He started analyzing the most famous heroes and Giran sold them. People actually paid a lot for them and they were of great quality. The man became a famous information broker among villains and vigilantes, his precious information coming from a ‘secret help’ as he still prioritized Izuku's safety. Still, word spread that a rather gifted analyst was offering his services – even though they thought he had some sort of quirk that helped him. Customers multiplied and Giran earned more money than before. Izuku was happy his hobby could help him. The man could even pull some strings to obtain information on less known heroes so he could refine his analysis. After some time, people started to make requests.

For the first time in his life, he felt like his existence had some meaning. He had somewhere to live and a person that cared for him. He was useful and people respected his work, even if they didn't know he was only a quirkless fourteen years old.

Giran often praised him, and that only encouraged him to continue. His old life completely vanished from his mind, not an ounce of guilt in him. He was happier than ever in his life. Even as a kid he felt bad. Now he felt like he had a future before him.

Training made him stop hurting himself. He didn't think about getting high or drunk anymore and focused on the present. He felt less anxious and slept more.

He felt like a change of life was exactly what he had needed all this time.

He was writing down some notes for his analysis on the hero Edge Shot when Giran came back from groceries.

“Hey, kiddo.” He greeted.

Izuku smiled at him, greeting back.

“I got you these…weird biscuits that you like.” He added.

The teen got up, stars in his eyes. “The strawberry and chocolate ones ?”

“Yeah-”

Giran didn't have time to finish his sentence that Izuku had already grabbed the packet from the bag and was now hurriedly opening it. He held back a laugh. When Izuku started eating them, he was putting away the groceries. He eyed the open notebook on the table.

“What’re you up to ?”

Izuku sat back down, facing the man instead of the notes. “Edge Shot analysis.” He said, mouth full, but Giran wasn't here to teach him manners. He hosted the kid because he wasn't going to leave him on the streets since he didn't want to go back home anyway.

“I see. Having fun ?”

“I guess.” Izuku swallowed. “I'm out of cigarettes.”

“I don't know if it's clever for me to buy you cigarettes…You're fourteen. I'm not here to stop you, it's your life, I'm just saying.”

Izuku shrugged. “I know. But it relaxes me. And, well…since I started working out and training I think I also started to smoke less. One step at a time, huh ?”

Giran smirked. “You can take some of mine when you need to.” He finished putting away the groceries. “Wanna train ? I don't have anything important to do for now.”

“Sure !” Izuku put away the packet and his notebook before putting his shoes on.

The building they stayed in was pretty much, well, not abandoned, but close to be. No one else lived there and, as Giran said, it was temporary. But in the meantime, the basement was pretty much soundproof. It was large and Giran had arranged lights and a tatami, as well as a punching bag not too far away. He also brought some things to work out. Izuku really was touched by how the man did his best at getting what the teen needed.

He had started working out and training to fight if needed to ease his mind and stop hurting himself ? Giran had arranged a whole fucking basement for him to do so and helped him whenever he could.

Izuku started with some stretching and warming up while Giran made a few phone calls, supposedly to reschedule appointments so he could stay the rest of the evening with Izuku. He didn't want to bother him, and every time he canceled something work-related for him, Izuku felt guilty, although Giran kept telling him that he was still a child, and as the only adult able to take care of him right now – and that he wasn't a monster and that although taking care of a kid wasn't on his to-do list, it didn't bother him any more than that – that was the least he could do.

When Giran finally hung up, he placed his phone along with his scarf, jacket and glasses on the bench against the wall before coming closer to Izuku, who waited for him, wearing old jogging pants that were a little too baggy and a t-shirt.

“Ready ?” The man asked and Izuku nodded. “Good. Show me what you remember from last time.” He said, getting on the tatami, followed closely by the green haired.

They trained for two hours before Izuku eventually asked to rest. They made their way back to the small apartment and the teen grabbed a fresh bottle of water from the fridge.

“You're doing pretty well, you know.” Giran assured.

Izuku smirked. “Easy against an old man.”

Giran rolled his eyes. “Go take a shower, you stink.”

“Same for you, maybe even more than me !” The younger retorted.

“Sure, kid.”

Now it was Izuku's time to roll his eyes before going to take a shower, almost missing the fond smile Giran offered him, and Izuku never felt so accepted as he hid the smile creeping on his face.

The next day, Izuku woke up from a guilt tripping nightmare, and Giran found him smoking shakily at the window.

“Everything okay ?”

Izuku took a bit of time to answer. “I…My mom…I just…”

Sensing the serious matter, Giran came closer, sitting across from the kid.

Izuku looked at him before looking down and opening his mouth again. “I didn't think. I knew my old life…wasn't for me. I would never be accepted there. But I just…I had a nightmare. Of my mom.”

Giran nodded. “Do you want to go home ?”

“No.” Izuku bluntly said. “Never. It's just…Listen, I love her. I love my mom, she always tried her best and took care of me, but…I was drifting away. I was…slowly breaking and I saw how it made her feel. She cried and cried, she didn't know what to do…We argued. We never argued before…And I…I feel bad for her. I wish I could be who she thinks I am.” He paused. “But I am not. I am not the little boy she loves anymore…I can't pretend to be him anymore. I can't go back. I know I would just destroy myself like I was before leaving and that she would suffer the consequences. I don't want her to. But it's not my life anymore and she just…doesn't know what happened.” He stopped for a few seconds, dragging a long puff from his cigarette before blowing the smoke out of the window, shoulders slightly relaxing. “And I don't want her to. I want her to keep that memory of the sweet little boy that was her son. Not this. I'm not worthy to be the son of such a wonderful woman…and she doesn't need to feel guilty about me. I just wish she could have an explanation…something to…to help her let go and keep on going on with her life. So she can focus on herself and not on how to deal with a quirkless depressed teenager.”

Giran's eyes softened at the struggling the kid was going through. He understood him and felt sorry for the woman that apparently was such a great human being. He wanted to help. Izuku didn't say more and Giran took time to think. The kid wanted a new life. One where he was free. One where he was accepted for who he was and Giran wasn't dumb. He knew how good the teen felt with him because Giran cared about the person and not their past or their quirk status. He gazed at the green haired boy in front of him. He was so young. He needed someone to rely on and it was too late for Giran to deny that role. Izuku was already attached to him and Giran…couldn't deny he was growing pretty fond of him too either. He'd let Izuku stay as long as he wanted to. Even if it was forever, Giran didn't mind. Company was always appreciated.

He had a solution in mind, but it was a harsh one and he didn't know if Izuku would be okay with it. Well, he did already leave his old life behind but still.

“I have an idea,” he eventually spoke. “But I don't know if you'll like it.”

“Shoot it.”

“We can fake your own suicide.”

Izuku coughed on smoke. “What ?”

“You did say you had suicidal thoughts lately, correct ? Before I rescued you.”

Izuku nodded.

“Then you can write a letter as if you killed yourself, so you can say anything you want to your mother to ease her guilt. That way, she'll go through grief but will be able to move on eventually.” Giran explained. “It will hurt her but…at least you'll be free and she'll be too. She'll have answers for your disappearance instead of wondering where you are until her death.”

Izuku examined his words, eyes wide, before a hint of realization came to haunt his gaze. He looked away, a hurt expression painted on his face. “You're right…” he sighed. “It's…the only way.”

And so they did. Left Izuku's shoes at the edge of Musutafu’s biggest bridge, a letter neatly tucked inside one of them. Izuku didn't tell Giran what he wrote, but the man had heard him sobbing while writing it, so he guessed it was mainly directed to his mother. Probably apologies, kind words and a few reasons he would have killed himself. They quickly left after making sure no one saw them and got back to the apartment.

Giran took off his coat, hanging it on a chair, before looking back at Izuku. The teen was standing in the doorway, arms tightly hugging himself, head down. Giran grimaced and hesitated before speaking, his voice as soft as he could make it sound.

“Izuku…”

He saw the boy shiver and open his mouth, trying to talk, but unable to. He stepped closer, speaking again.

“It's alright, kid…You're with me. I know this whole situation is, huh…” He wasn't the best at comforting people. “... complicated. But…it's not the end. It's even the opposite. It's the start of something new for you…”

Izuku didn't answer for a few seconds, clearly on the verge of tears, before articulating. “I know, it's just…just that…it…” he started shaking and, suddenly, he broke into tears, throwing himself in Giran’s arms. “It hurts…!” 

The man, startled, bit down on his bottom lips before slowly hugging the kid. “I know…” He sighed, closing his eyes. “I know. I'm sorry.”

The boy cried for a long time, maybe hours, Giran didn't remember.

But he didn't care. All he knows is that he hugged him tightly until the end.

For a week, Izuku closed in on himself, nose in books he read, notes he wrote and cookies and biscuits he ate. He didn't talk too much. Giran was a bit worried but he couldn't force the kid to talk to him. He needed the time he needed. He had to grieve for himself. His old life. He had become detached from it, from his mother. He was no longer Midoriya. Just Izuku. A teenager searching for a new identity. An identity that would make him happy. And Giran knew that it would be a path strewn with pitfalls. He had to find what he wanted, and it might just take years, so getting it...but he was strong, and Giran knew it. He would succeed, and Giran would be there every step of the way. He promised it to himself.

Thus, he could only wait for Izuku to either feel better or come to him.

The second thing happened in the middle of the eighth night after they faked his death.

Giran was sleeping in the bedroom since Izuku preferred to sleep on the couch. He sometimes had insomnia and liked to watch TV during those. It probably was around 2 a.m. when the door delicately opened. It was dark and the man barely reacted but was awake anyway. He didn't know if Izuku wanted to simply come close to him or talk and guessed he would wake him up if needed.

Small light steps got closer and Giran felt the mattress sink next to him. He felt a head rest against his arm, soft curls tickling his skin. After a few seconds and a small tug of his t-shirt, Giran put his arm around the boy, hugging him gently, his other hand gently stroking his hair.

“You're okay,” he whispered softly. “I'm right there.”

“Giran…” Izuku's small trembling voice said.

“Yes ?” He slightly opened his eyes to look down at him, only to see a tear running down his nose. He kindly whipped it away with his thumb. “What is it you need ?”

“...Talk.”

“Discussion or just you talking ?”

“Discussion.”

“Okay.” He nodded. “Tell me.”

Izuku clinged slightly onto him before speaking. “I feel bad is all. My mo- Inko didn't deserve it…She deserves…a good son.”

“You're perfect, Izuku.”

“‘m not.” He hissed. “I just…wish I could have been what she needed.”

“You shouldn't live for anyone's expectations.”

“Don't act like you don't have some…”

“You're already filling any expectation I could have for you.” Giran told him. “You went beyond them.”

Izuku slowly looked up at him, sweet green eyes glowing in the dark, glassy with tears. Giran softly put a hand on the teen's cheek, nicely caressing it. “You're perfect just the way you are, and I am so, so proud of you. You made a long way in just three weeks, and I know you'll do great things with time. And it's not expectations, because those great things can be whatever you want. It could be getting a girlfriend, having friends, traveling around the country…whatever you think is a great thing is to me too. And whatever it is, I'll always be proud of what you achieve as long as you follow your heart and your values, as gray as they can be.” he smiled. “Got it, kiddo ?”

Izuku's heart melted. He felt so understood and loved right now. He felt like someone finally appreciated him. He felt like Giran would never be disappointed in him and that created such a safe feeling in Izuku's mind that, all of the bad feelings that he had bottled up for years, all of the pain, all of the struggle came out, like a wild animal locked away in a cage. Like Giran used the key to open it and let his feelings free.

And for the second and last time of the week, he broke down crying in Giran's arms.

He couldn't make those feelings go away, he knew it would take a lot of time and a lot of work on himself, but he could finally express them.

And if it wasn't the biggest relief he ever felt in his life, he didn't know what it was.

Two weeks more had passed.

Izuku felt better, even if his suicide never made it on the news. He guessed the police didn't care. He hoped his mom would eventually grieve him.

He had found a new passion. Engineering and mechanics. He went out with Giran the week prior, only to find a broken radio in a dumpster. He took it as a challenge to fix it. After all, some music would make their life a bit more dynamic.

And he did. He fixed it pretty easily after finding the right tools and figuring out how it worked.

“You fixed it ?” Giran said, surprised. “Shit, it looked so broken I thought it wasn't possible.”

Izuku smiled. “Nothing’s impossible to me !”

Giran grinned before ruffling through the teen's hair. “Just how far can your smart brain go, huh ?”

“Beyond your expectations.” He answered, jokingly repeating the man's own words.

Giran laughed, pulling out a cigarette. “By the way, analysis request for you.”

Izuku was putting the radio on the counter, thinking it was a good place for it to be. “Shoot it at me.”

“Hawks.”

Izuku raised an eyebrow. “Hawks ? Why ?”

“That's what the client asked for. Don't know much more.”

The teen thought for a bit. “I never did his, I definitely could but…the man seems pretty nice…”

“You don't want the job ?” Giran asked. “It's fine if you don't. I have enough clients. I don't have to worry about denying one.”

“Your reputation could be impacted.”

“I don't care if you're the one asking me to turn him down.”

Izuku smiled then sighed. “You're too nice to me. I guess I could try, but you know, even though he's popular, he's a pretty secretive one, even more than All Might.” He couldn't help the little comment as he remembered the Number One Hero bluntly telling him about his injury and time limit back on that roof. Giran didn't say a thing. “It would have been easier if I could see the bird face to face since his quirk is pretty versatile. From videos only and since his important and serious missions are usually kept under silence, it'll be a hard one. I love a challenge, but I know I won't be able to get everything.”

“It's okay.” Giran reassured. “It’s not like the client’s strong enough to kill him or something. Plus, I know you're already working on your Endeavour analysis for fun, I prefer you to enjoy it, so I'll let you rush this one if you want.”

“I won't rush it, don't worry, but I won't give everything out.” Izuku pouted. “He's one of the few heroes I don't mind, you know…He seems nice and all, and he's hot.”

Giran snorted. “Never saw the appeal.”

“You're straight.”

“And I'm not a horny teenager.”

“Wha- I'm not horny !”

“Whatever you say.” Giran smirked. “Nice to learn your sexual orientation by talking about Hawks of all things, by the way.”

Izuku furiously blushed. “Shut up ! It's not like I'm like gay or anything- Well, I mean, I'm not straight but I- well, Hawks was kind of an awakening you know but it's not like I fantasize about him or anything, I'm not a crazy fan ! I'm not even a fan-”

“You're rambling.” Giran warns with an amused smile.

At that, Izuku immediately shut up, deeply embarrassed. Silence took place before he spoke again. “I'll do a short analysis and you'll say that you couldn't get anything more since he's really secretive, okay ?”

“Sure, kid.” Giran laughed. “Go ahead.”

Shyly, Izuku left to get on with it.

Since it was pretty much understood that Izuku wouldn't be leaving Giran's side soon and that Giran didn't want him to anyway, they found him some clothes. He decided to go for a more baggy style, thinking it would be way more comfortable since – as Giran always reproached him – he was always sitting in weird positions when he worked and for fighting too.

So, baggy pants, tank tops and boots it was. Black, dark green, dark red and dark blue. He wanted to have colors but still had to be discreet, so dark colors were better.

He actually felt really comfortable that way. He figured he would simply wear sweatshirts or coats in winter.

Izuku looked into engineering more and more over time and actually liked it. It was so complex and interesting. He started trying to build and fix things as a spare-time activity aside from analysis, covering the floor in junk, cogs and tools, getting kindly reprimanded by Giran who always tripped on it first thing in the morning. Still, the man encouraged him to follow his passions – not without thinking out loud about how he couldn't wait to find a bigger place to stay at so Izuku had his own space and stopped invading the main room with his things.

Izuku trained more and more, getting stronger every week. He was more endurant, stronger and faster. And Giran decided to teach him how to use a gun. ‘For emergencies’, as he said.

“Steady on your feet or you'll lose your balance.” Giran reminded. “Always have the security on. Put it off only when you're sure you're going to shoot. Since you're not used to it, use both your hands to hold the gun. Like that, perfect. Always keep your finger away from the trigger except when you're going to shoot. We don't want any accidents.”

Izuku listened and focused on the target a few meters (a few feet) across from him. Giran told him how to aim and so he did and shot once. He hit the target, so that was good, but he hit a leg…

“That's really good for a first time !” Giran encouraged him. “Should we try again ?”

Izuku agreed and he tried a few more times.

It only took a few weeks for him to aim pretty well.

Izuku breathed in the fresh air coming from the sea. He went out with Giran since he had spent days working on some analysis of an underground hero he found nothing on – and that annoyed him. Giran took him for a walk to ease his mind and it worked. He felt good, walking near the beach, side to side with him. Weirdly, he felt like Giran was a sort of father. He was looking after him and teaching him things. He took care of him and loved him in his own way. Walking with him felt relieving. It was silent at first, both of them listening to the sound of waves hitting the sand and the song of the seagulls, until Giran spotted a different bird singing.

“Izuku,” he calmly called. “You hear it ? It's a Turdus cardis. Usually called a Japanese blackbird.”

Izuku stopped to listen. “Its singing is pretty…How do you know so much about birds ?”

“I liked learning about them when I was younger.”

Izuku smiled. “That's cool. I like birds. I love to hear them sing.”

“Me too, kid.” Giran smiled back and kept on walking.

Izuku followed. After a few hesitant seconds, the teen reached out to hold Giran's hand. A bit surprised, Giran still let him and firmly squeezed it. The green haired slightly smiled, reassured by his presence.

Giran never thought he would be so fond of the kid when he first found him. He thought he would leave eventually, but he decided to stay here with him. An old morally gray man. It was a surprise the kid trusted him but Giran liked it. He liked having someone to look after. To feel actually useful for. Thinking back to his lonely life, he was more than content to have company. It felt strange but he appreciated it.

He never had a family. His mother and him were never close and he had left when he was of age to live on his own, which led to this type of villainy. Weirdly enough, the fact he'd met Izuku made him think he didn't regret it. It made him think he would do it all over again if it meant meeting Izuku again one day.

Because, even if he probably would never admit it to someone's face, Izuku was like the son he never had. He looked up to him, liked his presence and advices. Searched for his praise and approval and waited for him in the evening so they could talk and eat dinner together. The kid looked so happy whenever he even just acknowledged his presence.

Oh, Giran loved the kid. He loved him so much that, even after only barely two months of knowing him, he knew he would put his life on the line if it meant allowing anything good for Izuku to happen.

And by the gentle squeezing back from the youngest, he understood those feelings were reciprocal.

Chapter Text

Izuku kept punching, ignoring the burn in his lungs, muscles and throat. Grounded in a fighting stance, he kept throwing quick harsh punches at the punching bag, using his anger as strength. He thought of the Bakugos. He thought of the teachers, who never did anything. He thought of all of these people avoiding him, glancing at him like he was some sort of disease, of freak. He gritted his teeth and punched again. He thought of the guy back at the nightclub. He thought of society. He thought of All Might.

He screamed as he punched again, making his knuckles bleed.

He eventually stopped, catching his breath. It was the morning. He hadn't slept. Couldn't sleep. He didn't know why. It happened sometimes.

Sometimes, he felt so angry he simply couldn't close his eyes.

The basement's door opened, Giran leaning against the doorway. Izuku relaxed.

“Already training ?” The man smiled. “Take a break. We're going out.”

“Huh ?” Izuku raised an eyebrow. “Where ?”

Giran sighed with a slight fond smile. “It's your birthday, isn't it ?”

Oh.

He forgot about that.

Giran didn't. Giran didn't ? Giran remembered ?

Izuku blushed, embarrassed, and smiled, feeling his heart flutter lightly. “You…”

“How could I forget ?” The oldest asked before he could even finish his sentence.

More than happy, Izuku made his way back to the apartment to take a shower and get changed, not without Giran reprimanding him for making his knuckles bleed.

Afterwards, Giran took him to eat breakfast at a small café downtown. They talked.

That's all, they talked while eating and it made Izuku smile. Then, Giran brought him to the mall.

Izuku never went to the mall before – no friends to go with and an overprotective mother.

“It's huge !” Izuku yelped when they entered.

“Sure is,” Giran snorted. “And you're the one to decide where we go. I'll buy you whatever you want.”

“Really ?!”

“Yes, really.” Giran looked amused.

Izuku proceeded to drag him along, amazed at every store they passed by. He stopped almost every second, explored the stores’ shelves and made a mental list of things he might want so he could decide later. Giran followed, a smile on his lips, eyes soft as he watched the teen have more fun than he ever did in the past months.

“Look at that, it's so cool isn't it ?!”

“Oh my god, I love that color !”

“Do you think this would suit me ?”

“It's so pretty ! Don't you think so ?”

“This smells good ! Right ?”

“So sparkly !”

Giran was used to it by now, of course. Izuku was pretty energetic when he wanted to, but it participated in making him very likable. Giran was still shocked how easily the kid had made his way in his life and to his heart. He was still following him when the green haired suddenly stopped in the middle of the way. The man raised an eyebrow.

“Izuku ? You okay ?”

He seemed to look at something. Giran followed his gaze to spot a group of a few teenagers, laughing, looking at the stores' windows. He guessed they probably were…

Ah, Giran understood, friends.

He stepped closer to stand next to Izuku, obviously noticing his frustrated and sad expression. He gently put an arm around his shoulders, catching the younger’s attention.

“It's okay,” he said. “You know how to make people love you, I promise. You'll make friends. Might take some time, especially in your situation, and it will probably be villains, but people will like you for who you are. People will accept you like I did. You'll find your place.”

Izuku seemed to think for a second before answering. “My place with you is good enough. I like it.” He smiled. “Thanks.”

Giran smiled and nodded, and off Izuku went, back to their day.

Around noon, they walked towards the exit, Izuku holding a small bag containing what Giran bought him, but before they reached the exit, the older man stopped.

“Juste remembered,” he said. “I have to go fetch something. Can you wait for me here ?”

Surprised, Izuku shrugged. “Sure.”

Giran ruffled his hair then left. Izuku stood there, waiting. After a few minutes, he decided it wouldn't hurt if he just looked around a bit. He looked at a few stores, getting distracted in front of one displaying TVs with Hero emissions playing on it. When he finally turned around, he bumped into someone, violently falling backwards. The person hastily grabbed him by the arm with one strong hand and steadied him with the other around his waist.

Izuku's eyes met the person's purple ones. It was a boy around his age with purple hair. He seemed tired and a bit startled by what just happened. However, Izuku paused, eyes lost in his. He found they were a particularly pretty shade of purple… What was it ? Iris #9867c5 ? Amethyst #a45ee5 ? Whatever it was, Izuku loved it – and yes, he knew a lot of different shades, thanks to Inko's passion for sewing. The dark circles under the boy's eyes only highlighted their color. And he smelled like…citrus and fur ? Izuku spotted a pet store near them, probably where the boy was coming from. Did he like animals ? Such a green flag, in Izuku's opinion.

Truly wondrous, the green haired thought.

He may have stared a little too long as the boy asked in a wavering tone, “Huh…Are you okay ?”

Snapped out of his thoughts by the boy's enrapturing voice, Izuku stepped back with an embarrassed giggle, blushing. “Sorry ! Was just surprised for a sec.”

“It's okay. Sorry for bumping into you.”

“Don't be !” Izuku blurted out. He internally screamed at his own words. “I-I mean, I'm the one who wasn't looking where I was going…”

The boy shrugged. “Whatever. Bye.”

“Wait-” Izuku stopped him.

Oh god, how am I supposed to keep the conversation going ? He internally panicked.

“Did you come from that store ?”

The boy raised an eyebrow. “The pet store ? Yeah, why ?”

“Ah, I like animals too ! My favorites are cats !”

The stranger seemed actually invested. “Oh. Mine too.” He looked away, seemingly hesitating, before holding out his hand. “Shinso Hitoshi.”

Oh my god oh my god oh my god.

Izuku gently shook it. “Okuta Izuku.”

Hopefully Giran didn't mind Izuku using his last name – the teen was sure he wouldn't.

Shinso nodded. “Nice to meet you.” He eyed the TVs. “You like heroes ?”

Fuck no.

“Who doesn't ?”

“Are you aiming to be one ?” Shinso asked.

“Not exactly… How about you ?”

“Sure. I'm applying at U.A. for next year.”

Oh.

“Wow, you must have a wonderful quirk then !” Izuku cheered.

“Not exactly.”

Now, that was interesting.

“Tell me ! Every quirk is wonderful in my opinion !”

Actually no, but he really wanted to hear it.

“If you insist… It's called Brainwashing.”

Oh!

“Oh my god, that's so cool ! Tell me more, please !” Izuku almost begged.

“Well, huh…” Shinso seemed a little unsettled. “I can, well, brainwash people who answer me. They do whatever I say…”

“I love it.” You'd make an incredible villain. “How can you say it's not wonderful ?” I wish I could have a quirk like that. “I'm sure you'll get accepted.”

The boy’s eyes were wide, as if no one had ever told him that. He stuttered, looking away. “T-Thanks…”

Izuku grinned. “I like to analyze quirks. I could help you with yours, if you want ! You might think you already have everything figured out, but usually, people tend to overlook certain useful things.”

Shinso tensed, unsure, before speaking again. “I don't know. It's generous, but I'll…think about it for now.”

“No problem.” Izuku said, then quickly added, “Do you want my number ?”

Please say yes please say yes please-

“Uh, sure.”

Yes !

They exchanged numbers, but sadly, Shinso had to leave after that. Izuku looked at the new number in his brand new phone which Giran bought him two weeks ago. It only had the man's number until then, but now, he also had Shinso’s !

He only took it because that guy was totally his style and also because he saw those teenagers, those friends hanging out and he wanted one too but also because he was a future hero student which could be good-

“Kid !” Giran's voice yelled.

Izuku immediately turned around and ran back to him.

“You okay ?”

Izuku smiled. “Totally !”

Suspicious, Giran asked. “You look weird. What happened ?”

What happened ? Yeah, what did happen ? He met a guy. He was cute. He liked animals. Izuku knew his name, and they exchanged numbers…And they basically silently promised to see each other again, right ? So…

Izuku beamed. “I think I made a friend.”

His favorite dish for dinner ? He thought this day couldn't get any better.

Key word : thought.

As they finished eating dinner, Izuku was ready to do the dishes, but Giran stopped him before he got up. It was already night, their only light coming from the lamp on the wall – a subdued light giving a comforting aspect to the room. Giran took out something wrapped in a nice clean cloth.

“Our trip at the mall was so you could experience something new and buy a few things,” the man said, “but this is your actual gift.”

Izuku, curious, extended his hands. Giran gave it to him and he gently unwrapped it. He widened his eyes : it was a personalized and tailor-made folding knife.

The handle was thick, allowing for good stability of the blade, and yet the knife was so light and easy to handle, Izuku's fingers closing perfectly around it. It was mainly made of wood although small flowers were engraved in ivory. He unfolded the blade : it was also engraved, pretty curved lines curling around and carrying petals with it to the tip. Looking closer, at the base of the blade, his first name was engraved in beautiful, fine little calligraphic letters. “𝓘𝔃𝓾𝓴𝓾”.

And Izuku felt like crying.

“It's…it's really for me ? You had it customized for me ?”

“Of course,” Giran smiled. “I thought you'd like having your own knife.”

Izuku jumped out of his seat and ran to hug him tightly. Giran laughed and hugged him back.

“Thank you…so much…you're always so nice to me,” Izuku muttered, tears in his eyes. “It's the best birthday I ever had.”

“You deserve it, kid,” the man sighed happily. “I'm glad you're happy.”

Izuku learnt how to use it properly and was pretty skilled in his opinion. Life followed its path. He and Giran gave clients what they wanted and used the money to buy food and got to cafés. Giran trained him every day and Izuku spent more time outside now. The teen felt happy. He had a stable life with a place to live and someone to take care of him. He had food and hot water, even some money when Giran gave him some. It was like he finally found a safe place, somewhere he could be himself. He'd never thought he would find such a place. He always thought he was going to die before finishing middle school and probably by killing himself, and sure, he wasn't even scared of death after what he went through, but now he did want to live.

He finally wanted to live as long as he could and that's what he was telling himself as he was attacked on his way home.

He was walking through an alley, coming back from the store, when someone jumped at him with a knife. Thanks to his training, he dodged and elbowed the stranger behind the head. They caught themselves against the wall as Izuku stepped back, grabbing his knife. His heart was racing, trying to process what had just happened. The attacker turned to look at him with a determined gaze.

“Who are you ?!” Izuku yelled.

They didn't answer. Instead, they rushed him, trying to stab him right in the throat. Izuku ducked and punched them in the stomach.

Well, he thought he did, but the person disappeared, back to where he was before attacking again.

A teleportation quirk ? No, I felt them move. It's a speed enhancing quirk. And a weak one at that. Clearly not as strong as heroes like Gran Torino.

“You think you scare me ?” The teen hissed. “You know the two main problems with untrained speed enhancing quirks ?"

The stranger ignored him and attacked again, from the right side this time. Izuku easily dodged and quickly firmly grabbed the stranger's arm, giving him a knee right in the solar plexus, causing the person to cough, breath taken out of them.

“One : once the person is moving, they can hardly change their trajectory.” Izuku continued before pinning them to the ground in one swift movement, restraining their arms behind their back with a strong hand. “Two : once restrained, they can't use it anymore as their limbs are stuck.”

Izuku himself was surprised by how easily he handled the situation. Did his training really make him that strong ? Or maybe his opponent was just weak… They probably were. With his other hand, the one holding his knife, Izuku took off the person's hood to reveal a young man in his twenties. Defeated, he started yelling at him.

“Quirkless people should die ! You're polluting society !”

Oh. A quirkist. And an extremist at that. Should have seen this coming.

“So you search for quirkless people to kill them ?” Izuku angrily said, tightening his grip on the man's arms.

“Of course I do ! You're useless ! It's a fucking disease and you deserve worse than death for existing !”

There it was. Anger. Izuku was angry. But when wasn't he ? And why did that asshole think he had the right to choose who had to die ? Those words, he heard them times and times again his whole life. People suicide baiting him. People insulting him. People hitting him. But people actively trying to murder him ? What the hell had this world become ? What the fuck made people think they could simply get rid of 20% of the population like that ? On what criterias did they base themselves to decide who deserved death ? Had his only crime been to be born ? Existing ?

Anger became hatred in his blood, knife finding the man's throat on its own, Izuku's thoughts blurry with rage. “Still, you're the one who lost.” He bluntly commented with a calm voice as a harsh emotional twist of his wrist slit the man's throat.

In that swift, small twist, his only thought was that he was done with that shit. As blood poured under them, his only thought was that he wanted to destroy everything. As the man's plaintive gurgling sounds resonated in the alley, his only thought was that society sucked. As the light left the quirkist’s eyes, his body twitching for a few seconds afterwards, his only thought was that he was going to change it.

But as silence took place, only broken by his heavy breathing, eyes wide from what he had just done, he realized.

What am I supposed to do now ?

And so, with shaking bloody fingers, he pulled out his phone, calling his first contact on the list.

“Giran,” he breathed out, “I have a problem.”

Chapter Text

Izuku felt weird.

He killed someone, a human being. Still, he couldn't bring himself to feel bad about it. That guy tried to kill him and was quirkist of all things. Actually, Izuku felt like he deserved it.

Giran had arrived soon after, worried, only to find Izuku patiently waiting. They got rid of the body – which allowed Giran to teach him about how to deal with a dead body – and went back home, where Izuku took a shower before sitting with him.

Giran asked him if he was okay.

Izuku didn't know what to answer, because yes but no.

“I killed someone.” He eventually said. “But I… kind of don't care ? I mean, I know it's bad, but I just… don't feel bad.”

Giran nodded. “Do you regret it ?”

Izuku snorted. “No. I told you, he was quirkist. He deserved it.” He sighed. “I still feel weird about it… Probably because I never did it before, but there's something else. I think…” he paused. “I think I feel okay because it was the right thing to do, and I don't because it simply proved that society sucked.”

“Because you were so cut off from everything by living here ?”

The teen nodded. “I felt like everything was getting better. I was stupid to think so, the world keeps spinning, even without me in it. But now that I realized it… I can't stop thinking about people like me. People that suffer, that are discriminated against, people rejected by society who have nowhere to go.” He looked at his hands. “If I hadn't met you, I would have probably killed myself. I was lucky. Others aren't.”

Giran hummed, examining him, before speaking. “You feel angry about injustice, don't you ?” And before Izuku could agree, he added, “And you feel like you have to do something about it.”

Izuku looked up at him, silent for a few seconds, before clenching his fists. “If I don't, who will ?”

Giran understood. Giran supported him, and as he had said once, he was proud of him for having a critical spirit. For having convictions to follow, and actually follow them.

Thus, he agreed to help Izuku become a villain.

Nothing too crazy. He was still worried, he warned him, told him to be careful. But he still helped by officially showing up with him at work meetings, introducing him as his analyst.

People were eager to meet him. Everyone in the underground had heard about the gifted analyst working with an information broker.

Of course, no one knew his real identity apart from Giran. Izuku wore a black mask covering his nose and mouth – it had a voice changer included –, as well as a jacket from which he pulled a hood on. It was dark green. The rest of his outfit could vary, since he used his usual clothes ; baggy pants and tank tops from different dark colors. He also had a utility belt, just in case.

It wasn't much, but enough to be taken seriously.

The thing that surprised people was his villain name.

~

“ ‘Deku’ ?” Giran said, eyebrows raised. “Are you sure you want people to call you that ?”

“I am.” Izuku assured. “It has a nice irony to it. I'm not expecting you to understand.” He smirked. “It is destined for someone else. Someone I know will get it.”

~

Now that people saw and met him, rumors about him only ran faster, bringing more clients. As he was talking to one with Giran, in a bar, the man having known Giran for enough time to have a drink with him, the client asked, “So, Deku. You're a good analyst, you could be so useful to heroes. Why are you here ?”

Izuku glanced at him, made sure his voice changer was activated, then answered. “In my opinion, this society is fucked, and one of the principal things setting that system up are heroes. I want to change that shit, starting by taking down heroes. Then, I have other targets in mind, but you're not concerned.”

The client laughed. “Smart little one, aren't ya ?”

Giran grinned. “They sure are.” 

Right, that too. No one knew if he was a boy or a girl – or anything in between –, and it was pretty fun to see people trying to guess.

Izuku never gave a clear answer.

Giran sighed. Someone hired him for a few months, and usually, when that happened, it was for hard and long work. Hopefully Izuku would be able to help him.

At first, he simply gave them information they needed, meeting them in a bar – a young blue haired man, one made of purple and black mist, and a third one who only talked through a TV.

Only this time, when he walked in, the first thing the mysterious TV man asked was,

“I heard this famous analyst works with you, correct ?”

And Giran didn't like that. Those people clearly were big people. He did research, he wasn't one to jump in without knowing who wanted to hire him, and he didn't find much except a lot of people saying their boss was a terrifying man. He knew they were up to something, and as much as he didn't want to keep Izuku from doing what he wanted, he was worried sick.

Working for clients he knew was something, but this…

He heard they were searching for people.

They were making an organization, and he didn't care about their business, but if they wanted Izuku in it...

Now that just wouldn't do. It was dangerous, more than simply being an analyst for an information broker. It was risky. Big organizations tended to catch heroes’ attention. Raids, arrestations,... God, he could get killed. But would he even have a choice ?

Giran clearly didn't. The three of them waited for his answer. He couldn't lie, they already knew the truth.

He couldn't protect Izuku this time, and it made his heart ache.

“They do.” He reluctantly nodded. “You want to meet them ?”

“It would be nice.” The man paused. “You seem tense. Are they important to you ? Don't worry. I have no reason to hurt them, I just need to talk.”

Giran said nothing for a while. “It's not like I have a choice anyway. From you or them.”

They set up a meeting date.

He talked to Izuku about it.

“Me ? They want to see me ?” He said, surprised.

“You're a talented kid,” Giran sighed. “Anyone with a brain would know it. And that guy is smart.”

“Yeah but… you said they're making an organization. I don't even know their goal.”

“They'll probably talk to you about it. I just know they're against heroes, like any villain…”

“It feels weird to be wanted.” The teen confessed. “Would they still want me if they knew I'm quirkless ?”

“It doesn't change how smart you are, Izuku.”

Izuku smiled. “...I mean, if it lines up with what I want…”

“That's why I wanted to warn you.” The man cut. “You'll be smart enough to figure it out, but they could lie. And I… I'm worried. Working with an organization is different. You'll have a boss to obey, big expectations, and it's really dangerous.”

“Giran…”

“I'm worried for you. Here, I can assure your safety. You're like a son to me.”

Izuku's eyes widened, throat tightened. He felt tears prick at his eyes as Giran continued.

“Most of the time, you'll be with them. Who knows how they work ? You could get killed. Heroes will be after you. Everyone that's not part of them will be after you. You may be alone, dealing with a new scary environment and I…” he paused. “I understand it could mean a lot for you. If they do think like you, it could be the only way to do what you want. Change society like you want. Avenge yourself, be happier… I get it. I do. And I won't stop you if you decide it's best for you and your future.” He gently grabbed Izuku's shoulders, squeezing them slightly. “But please, I'm asking you to be careful…”

Izuku snapped and immediately hugged his father. The man hugged back.

“I promise I will…” he sobbed. “And if I ever accept their offer, I'll come see you whenever I can. I'll send you letters. I'll be sure to keep contact with you.”

Giran smiled. “I care so much about you, Izuku. I'd never thought you would become so important to me when I met you. But you are, now. And I will always only wish for your happiness, whatever happens and whatever you choose to do with your life. It's not like I'm a pretty good example anyway…”

“I don't care about how miserable you think your life is, I don't think it is. You've been the nicest person to me ever, you became the father I needed, and you're free.” He wiped a few tears away. “And I want to allow you to keep being free. And I want to be free myself.” He looked up at him. “I want us both to be happy. I want everyone who isn't to be. I just want everyone to smile, I hate seeing people suffer from how this world works…”

“I know, Izuku. And I know you'll do your best to achieve your dreams. I just need you to promise to focus on you first. Be sure you're happy. If that's your goal, to be truly happy, then whatever you do will be honorable to me.” He softly ruffled through the teen's hair. “Because, if you accept their offer, the first thing I want to notice when I next see you is a smile on your face.”

Izuku laughed, then smiled at him, “I promise I'll do whatever I can to make sure everyone I love is happy, along with myself.”

Izuku opened the door.

He was requested to be alone for the meeting, so alone he came, and he felt so anxious he almost thought he would faint.

He got in, only to be welcomed by blood red eyes looking at him. He closed the door behind him, making sure his body language made them think he was relaxed, just like he learned to.

“You're Deku ?”

“The one and only.” He nodded, talking through his voice changer.

Izuku noticed the bartender as well as the TV behind the blue haired man (were those hands ?). It was on, just like Giran told him.

The TV man spoke.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Deku.”

“I imagined you taller…” the blue haired man commented.

Izuku ignored him to answer the TV man. “The pleasure is all mine. But I don't like to beat around the bush… What do you want from me ?”

“I see. Do not worry, I'm not one to talk just to say nothing. I asked for you because I think your skills could be useful… But I'd like Tomura to explain it all to you."

The blue haired man, apparently called Tomura, sat upright and turned to him. “It seems you're pretty smart, and I'd need that for my plans. With an analyst as talented as you, it'll be way easier to get rid of people in our way and prepare our operations.”

“Yeah, I think I kind of got that you needed my services. But I'm not going to help an organization if I don't even know their goal.”

“Fair enough.” ‘Tomura’ sighed. “To put it simply, this organization’s goal is to end society as it is, starting with heroes. Most of them do it for money or fame, and don't even care about people. I want to destroy all of it. Get rid of this corrupted excuse of a world… Starting by killing the one pillar of it, All Might.”

At first, his explanation caught Izuku's attention. It matched his own thoughts, but before he was able to think it further, the mention of killing All Might revived a rage deep inside of him, one he thought he had buried, a hatred like nothing else. Flashbacks came back to him. 

“You can't be a hero without a quirk.”

He left him on a roof, far from his home, dreams crushed. He sent him into that endless pit of sorrow.

He was as corrupted as any other.

Without a second thought, without letting ‘Tomura’ finish his speech, he extended his hand.

“I'm in.”

A short surprise flashed through the man's eyes before it turned to delight as he grinned, shaking Deku’s hand.

“My, my, seems like All Might hurt more people than people think, huh ?”

Deku noticed his new boss kept his pinky far from his hand. “Five-point based quirk ?”

Red eyes met green ones, and Tomura's grin widened. “I think we'll get along just fine.”

Izuku would apologize to Giran later. His father might have assured him he wouldn't stop him, the teen still felt bad.

Chapter Text

Izuku sat on the bar's couch, hood off and mask on the table, as Shigaraki Tomura, his now boss, watched him from one of the bar stools.

“If you didn't already have proven your skills, I would have kicked you out,” he said, “you're what ? Fourteen ?”

“I'm fifteen.”

“Same thing.”

Izuku grinned, “At least I'm smart.”

“Otherwise, you wouldn't be here, Deku.”

Izuku had joined a week prior. He took the time to say goodbye to Giran and pack some things before coming back and now revealed his face to his boss.

“As we talked about the other day, I'm good at engineering and other things. I can build things for you, but I'll need space.”

“You can work here until we find you another place, it's not like we don't have space…” Shigaraki said.

“If we end up recruiting other people, we might need more.”

“We'll talk about it when that happens,” he shrugged, “for now, we need to plan our first attack.”

“What do you have in mind ?”

“The school year has started… As you must know, All Might is now a teacher at U.A. From what we got, students will be training in an outside facility next week. He's supposed to be there. I want to kill him there.”

Izuku raised an eyebrow, “if there are students, we need to know their quirks. Is that facility the U.S.J. ?”

“You know about it ?”

“I dreamt of going to U.A. when I was a kid. Anyway, I know that inside, there are lots of different parts with different types of terrain or natural disasters. Which means we can efficiently separate students in places where their quirks will be useless. That way we can focus on All Might.” The teen explained. “That's why I need the list of students with their quirks. We also have to be prepared for other heroes possibly being there.”

Shigaraki hummed, “Alright. We'll get you that.”

“How do you plan on killing All Might ?”

“My Sensei lent me a creature capable of rivalizing with him.”

“Really ? I'm all ears.”

“It's called a Nomu. It's modified to have multiple quirks and all.” The older one said, “We also got that All Might is weaker than before.”

“He sure is,” Izuku agreed, “we might get a chance. But still, he's strong. I know you don't like it…but prepare yourself for the idea of failing. Nothing works all the time.” Shigaraki glared at him but he continued, “if we ever happen to fail, I'll have a backup plan to still impact him. And afterwards, we'll find other things. I swear. And if I can get that list, you might also be able to kill one or two students, which will be bad for their reputation.”

The blue haired man seemed to relax slightly, “fine. But only because I believe in your judgment.”

“You trust me ?”

“I didn't say that,” he cut, “I'm simply not stupid enough to not realize you're smarter than me. That's why you're here.”

Izuku smirked before changing the subject, “As for All Might, you said it yourself, he's getting weaker,” he paused, a mischievous grin spreading on his face, “and I might have some information about that.”

Bakugo watched as the landscape passed through the bus’s window. He was hearing his friend talk, but didn't want to participate.

Yes, his friends. Almost a year ago, he would have never used that word. However, a lot had happened and a lot had changed.

Midoriya Izuku, his childhood friend which he had started bullying when he was diagnosed quirkless, had gone missing before confirmed dead as the police found his shoes and a suicide note on a bridge.

At first, Bakugo didn't want to believe it. When he went missing, even if he didn't admit it, he was worried. He had helped search for him, asked everyone at school if they saw him recently, but no.

No one cared anyway. The police almost refused to take care of the case just because of his quirklessness. His mother had had to cause a scene for them to just make them mark him as missing in their reports – which made him realize just how badly quirkless people were treated.

Then ‘missing’ became ‘deceased’.

It had hit him hard. It hurt. He hated himself. He was an asshole. A piece of shit. He never deserved Izuku's kindness or admiration. He didn't even deserve to have been his friend when they were kids.

He wished he could go back in time. But that wasn't possible.

Once back home, he had broken down. A panic attack. Guilt clinging onto him, hatred for himself boiling under his skin. It was his fault. Izuku killed himself because of him, because he couldn't handle his own flaws and took it out on him.

His mother put him in therapy.

It worked for his behavior and was kind of helping with his anger issues, but grief and guilt still made him want to throw up every morning.

He never cried more in his whole life than the year that had passed.

At least, he would never be like that again. He was nicer. He successfully made friends. Actual friends and not stupid assholes who followed him around like lost puppies.

Well, one did, but he wasn't an asshole, just an idiot.

But even the fact that he got into U.A. felt like a bad thing. He didn't deserve it. How could he ever be a hero after that ? After bullying a quirkless person until they fell into self-harm and drugs before killing themselves ?

Because yes, Inko had told him. Or, more exactly, he heard her tell his parents.

She would probably never recover. Her only child, her son, killed himself.

And no one knew it was because of Bakugo.

Which made him feel even worse because she quit her job and could barely get out of bed and take care of herself. She blamed herself for not having been able to help him. His parents helped her and came to see her almost every day.

They were all grieving. They saw Izuku like a nephew as he and Bakugo were born the same year and had known each other since then.

And it was all his fault.

It would always be his fault.

Bakugo didn't feel worthy of being a hero anymore.

But he had to.

For Izuku.

Hoping the boy could see him from up there, he would show him how he changed.

He would become the hero Izuku would have been.

The bus suddenly stopped and their teacher announced they had to step out of the bus as they just arrived.

Bakugo followed his classmates.

Once inside the facility, which was called the U.S.J., he saw Aizawa and Thirteen talk about something as the latter put three of their fingers up, but he didn't hear what they were talking about. After that, Thirteen started explaining the type of exercise they would be doing.

Only, Bakugo spotted a purple and black dot slowly widening above the fountain.

“Sensei,” he called.

His teacher spotted it too and immediately got into a fighting pose.

“Thirteen, evacuate the students ! Those are villains.”

Immediately, the students started panicking, except for Bakugo who was ready to throw hands already.

If he had to, he would beat them on his own, but there was no way he would let them hurt his class.

Izuku was slightly nervous.

After all, he was only fifteen and was already heavily participating in a terrorist attack against All Might.

Not that he didn't like it. Actually, he wasn't just nervous, but also excited.

Moreover, with their contacts, they were able to get the students’ list along with their quirks. That way, the teenager was able to plan everything ahead. He told Kurogiri exactly who was to be sent where and with how many opponents from the villains they got to work with them.

He wasn't surprised when he saw Bakugo was in the class as well.

Anyway, standing next to Shigaraki, hood and mask both on, they entered the U.S.J. through the portal. Eraserhead, their teacher, immediately reacted and students tried to evacuate, however Kurogiri stopped them.

Izuku couldn't see All Might anywhere. Did that idiot already use all the time he had ? Well, that just wouldn't do.

He focused back on Eraserhead, trusting Kurogiri to follow his indications.

The hero spoke up, “Who are you ?”

Shigaraki smirked, “We're the League of Villains.”

Izuku had no say in their name choice. Don't blame him.

A few villains tried to attack the underground hero as he still tried to get information from his boss, but Shigaraki stopped answering him. As much as he was a yapper when it came to his plans, Izuku and him talked about it. Revealing too much was bad.

The green haired was happy to see he listened.

He got out of his thoughts to analyze Eraserhead on the fly and leaned near Shigaraki’s ear, “I know he gets dry eyes from using his quirk too much. His goggles hide who he's watching but when he uses it, his hair starts floating. He can only erase one person’s quirk at a time and can't look away or blink, which means he's at disadvantage against a group of opponents. Keep many people attacking him at once. If you can, target his eyes. I'm pretty sure his quirk would be less useful with only one eye.”

Shigaraki nodded with a grin, “Good. Ah, it irritates me…,” he said, scratching at his neck, “All Might isn't here.”

“That fuck ass probably got tired. I think he can only use his quirk for a limited time now.”

Izuku looked back at where Kurogiri was. The students had been separated. Good. He just had to handle Thirteen now.

Denki was able to get on the boat before getting killed by the villains in the water, but not without some trouble. He thought he wouldn't make it and was heavily breathing to calm himself down. The mist guy separated them in different areas of the U.S.J. Obviously they knew about their quirks. Otherwise, why would he specifically be in a place surrounded by water when he had an electricity based quirk ?

Jirou helped him get on the boat, and she couldn't do anything with her quirk either. Sound was slower and not as effective in water.

They knew Mineta also arrived here with them, but since they panicked to get there, they lost him. They were currently searching for him around the boat.

When he heard Jirou scream in horror, he ran to her side.

He stopped when he saw something floating at the water's surface, a small purple body, water tainted in red around him as villains laughed.

His breath hitched as he hugged Jirou to his chest, hiding her eyes, while his stayed wide open and fixated on the scene below them.

Asui Tsuyu was at disadvantage in the Conflagration Zone, along with Koda and Ojiro. None of them had anything useful against fire and they could only try to fight back against villains, hoping a hero would soon come.

In the Downpour Storm Zone, visibility was greatly reduced. Sato, Yaoyorozu and Kirishima had a hard time spotting enemies and regularly had to take surprise attacks. Fortunately, with Kirishima’s hardening body, he wasn't too injured.

Unfortunately, he lost sight of Sato during a fight. He and Yaoyorozu were running around, calling his name. He might have needed help.

The girl was already tired, taking attacks after attacks. She couldn't use her quirk much.

Still, when they stumbled upon Sato lying in a puddle of blood, despite her shock, she immediately created medical supplies to try and help him while Kirishima took care of the villains around them.

Tokoyami was alone in the Landslide Zone. He had no place to hide. The place was beaming in light, making Dark Shadow weak.

He was already injured.

He could only hope heroes would arrive soon.

In the Mountain Zone, Hagakure and Shouji couldn't do much, overwhelmed by the army of villains attacking them.

Their quirks didn't combine well either. Shouji clumsily hit her already, and Hagakure didn't fight well. She could only distract them while Shouji fought.

It wasn't much, but they were hoping it would be enough until someone came to help.

Shoto was pretty sure the villains made research on them as he found himself stuck in the Ruins Zone with Bakugo.

His quirk was strong and could adapt easily, therefore the only way to slightly slow him down was put him somewhere with many obstacles.

Same for Bakugo.

Moreover, they didn't get along at all. Did the villains know that ? Probably, otherwise the two strongest of the class wouldn't be together.

Which was a problem as the blonde only yelled and attacked here and there and almost injured him many times.

Bakugo wasn't a complete asshole. Most of the time he was pretty nice and helpful when he could, despite his shitty moods, but when he was fighting, it was as if he released his emotions. Shoto could see anger and sorrow and his movements. He was motivated by something that hurt him deeply, but it only made him reckless, and it was exactly what Shoto didn't like. He had enough.

As they got rid of yet another villain, he turned to him, “Can you stop that ?”

“Huh ?” The blonde raised an eyebrow, glaring at him.

“I know we don't get along for whatever reason, and I also know that you're not a bad person,” the other said, “but I see how hurt and angry you are. I don't know what it's about. What I do know is that it makes you take risks. We need to work together to get out of here and help the others.”

“I don't need you telling me what to do,” Bakugo snarled, voice softer than when he was usually angry, meaning Shoto wasn't far from the truth.

“If you want to be a hero,” Shoto spoke again, “you need to control your emotions.”

Bakugo paused before sighing, “Fine. What do you have in mind ?”

Iida successfully ran away. Sero, Ashido and Uraraka were trying to help Thirteen who was badly injured after trying to stop the mist villain – he didn't make a move anymore, simply guarding the entrance, watching over the place, ready to attack if needed.

They felt useless as their teacher fought, clearly at disadvantage.

Eraserhead understood the person next to the blue haired one was analyzing everything happening, telling his probable boss what he got. He understood easily they were an analyst, and it was more than worrying. Who knew what information they got about his students ? If that analyst was skilled, they could already know the weaknesses of everyone here.

He tried to get to them, but there were too many low ranked villains to take care of beforehand.

After all, he still had to protect the students who stayed with Thirteen.

Izuku watched the scene with Shigaraki, supervising everything when apart of Kurogiri appeared next to them.

“One of the students escaped,” he said.

“What ? Which one ?” Izuku asked.

“Blue hair and engines on his legs.”

Izuku tsked. “That one would have caused problems anyway. No matter the terrain, if he was smart enough, he would have found something to get here. We already have two strong people who will probably arrive soon to take care of, that's why I thought leaving Ingenium’s brother here with Kurogiri would be better…” He glanced at his boss who was watching him ramble, “I apologize for my mistake.”

Shigaraki hummed, scratching at his neck again, annoyed, “That's fine. Whatever. At least All Might might show up now.”

“I apologize for being careless, Shigaraki Tomura,” Kurogiri added too.

“I said it's fine.”

Kurogiri left again.

“Deku,” Shigaraki called, “You know how to fight ?”

“I know how to defend myself, I'm sure of that at least,” he said, “I could manage hand to hand fighting if the person's quirk isn't too unpredictable.”

“Great, because Eraserhead is coming. You'll be a better opponent for him than me.”

Izuku paused and smiled behind his mask, “because I'm quirkless. You're not too dumb, you know.”

“I'll decay you.”

“You can't, I'm too useful.” Deku joked, stepping forward.

Shigaraki stepped back a bit.

The man had to admit he was shocked to learn Deku was quirkless. He thought he was so skilled because of an analyzing quirk or something. Turned out to be pure talent. His brain truly was impressive. Moreover, with the quirkless discrimination being prominent in Japan, he understood better why Deku had accepted to join him. Plus, when heroes would learn a quirkless teenager was better than them, their reactions would be fun.

Thus, he watched the green haired teen pull out a knife, dashing at Eraserhead when he got too close.

Chapter Text

Eraserhead suddenly backed away when the one he was sure was the analyst and potentially right-hand man(?) of the blue-haired guy charged at him as he tried to reach them. He hadn't anticipated that they could also fight; an error of judgment on his side. 

He didn't even have time to meet their gaze when his enemy attacked a second time, even more quickly, trying to bring their knife down on his right side.

He dodged. The person was short, no taller than his average student, but that didn't mean anything. They could very well have a mutation quirk or simply be short... He had simply noticed their size because it made them more difficult to hit or catch. A good advantage.

Of course, his first reflex was to erase the person's quirk, but no major change could be noticed. Probably a mutant quirk or a mental one they weren't using to fight, then? That must be it.

However, he had little time to think about it as his new opponent was already rushing at him again. They were fast and efficient, clearly trained. Their fight became an assortment of dodges following failed offensives and other vain tricks.

The hero should have known that fighting who he was now sure was an analyst would be complicated. They anticipated his every move, his every strategy, and never failed to counter them.

That's why, just for a second, just one where he took the time to try to think about the best way to beat them, his concentration faltered slightly. And if he only had a few years less experience, he wouldn't have noticed the blade trying to blind him quickly enough.

He moved back a few inches, just enough to not lose his eye, and the knife sliced his skin instead, leaving a nice gash just on his right cheekbone, deep enough to leave a nice scar.

In that brief moment, he caught sight of their eyes. Deep green irises, gaze hard and determined, with a touch of excitement possibly due to adrenaline. 

He saw nothing but hatred in them.

He didn't hesitate. He couldn't afford it. They were the only remaining barrier between him and the likely leader of this operation... Until, a thousandth of a second before he managed to capture the analyst with his weapon, a brute force hit him so violently that he flew several meters and landed into a wall, hitting his head hard.

And for a second, everything went black.

Deku stepped back when the Nomu hit, getting the hint that he didn't need to keep the hero away anymore. However, when he was about to go back to Shigaraki, the USJ’s door was suddenly kicked open.

And All Might stood at the top of the stairs, his signature smile nowhere to be seen.

But Deku's only grew.

Quickly, the teen hid behind the closest bush, taking out the very thing he was sure would be enough to achieve what they wanted anyway if they were to fail.

He placed it exactly how he needed to and watched as Shigaraki laughed.

“A bit late aren't you, All Might?” the man snickered.

All Might now was between the Nomu and Eraserhead. “Whatever your goal is, I won't let you hurt anyone else.”

“Oh yeah? Well, as I said, you're a bit late… Your students are in danger, and their teacher couldn't even do anything to help! You heroes are so useless… You take on values that you don't even respect! Views you never follow! You are the very representation of what is most rotten in this society... And we are going to prove it,” Shigaraki yelled. “Nomu!”

The creature immediately went for the hero's injury on his left side.

Deku’s grin only grew further.

Shoto and Bakugo had a hard time reaching the plaza, but when they eventually did, the scene in front of them screamed only of emergency.

All Might was bleeding heavily from his left side and more blood was coming out of his mouth. He was fighting a horrible looking creature which had its brain out. Shoto ignored the small nausea washing through him.

Immediately, his blond classmate went to help and he followed quickly after; however, the #1 hero stopped them.

“Stay behind, kids! Take care of Aizawa!”

Shoto understood it left no room for arguing and stopped Bakugo from going anyway. “Bakugo-kun, our teacher is injured.”

“So?! You go take care of him, I'll help All Might!”

“You'd only be a burden and get in the way! Stay behind! If there is an opening, we can try something, but for now let's make sure Aizawa-sensei is alive!”

That seemed to convince him as he ran to their teacher. Fortunately, he was breathing despite his injuries. Shoto would bet he had some broken bones and maybe a concussion, though.

When he turned his attention back to the fight, All Might had taken the advantage again, pinning the creature to the ground. Still, the teen could see all the effort he was putting in it and wasn't sure he would be able to hold it much longer.

He scanned the area and spotted a blue haired man standing further away, watching the scene.

“Bakugo-kun,” Shoto called.

“What, Icyhot?”

“That man. He's probably the one giving orders.”

The blond smirked, a wild look on his face. “Then I'll crush him. You stay there.”

Shoto didn't have time to argue as his classmate was already rushing at their enemy.

It seemed to work for a second; Bakugo fought the blue haired guy. The man was fast and clearly annoyed by it, but it kept him occupied. It enabled All Might to hit the Nomu’s brain, earning a displeasing shriek from it.

Shoto thought they were winning. He didn't even think about the possibility of someone else being there.

He saw movement to his left, near a bush, but reacted too slowly.

Two gunshots sounded.

Shoto's eyes widened as one bullet hit All Might’s left side and the other probably one of his lungs, causing him to cough even more blood and losing his balance, surely having a hard time breathing. The Nomu grabbed him, and once again, it had the advantage.

The teen sent ice towards the newcomer, or well, tried to since they shot his hand right when he extended it. They were exceedingly fast.

He let out a shout of pain as blood flooded outward. Grabbing his hand, Shoto looked anywhere but at the hole in the middle of his palm. It was a similar pain as to what he felt when his father used to hit him.

Well, maybe just a bit more painful, but still.

When a second later he looked up, he was held at gunpoint. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Bakugo turn around to come help him, only to stop when the person spoke up.

“Move and I shoot.”

Shoto didn't doubt they would nor that they would succeed. From what he saw of their speed and reflexes, even if he launched an attack, the bullet would come faster. He also noticed the blue haired man putting a hand on Bakugo's shoulder, keeping just his pinky up. A silent threat.

And none of them could do anything nor come up with a plan as one of them would surely die anyway if they even blinked.

Thus, Shoto froze, and the two teens were forced to watch as the #1 hero screamed in pain while trying to fight the creature.

And when white smoke started emitting from him, when he fell to his knees and Nomu stopped before him, when the smoke cleared to reveal a frail looking man, bleeding from too many different places, holding his left side, none of them could believe it.

The blue haired man bursted out in laughter. Bakugo's face fell and Shoto's felt his heart pound in his chest. He could only imagine his classmates’ reactions from the top of the stairs where they were watching.

The only one who didn't seem surprised was the masked person holding the gun.

The man walked closer, still laughing. “My dear analyst wasn't lying, then… you really are weak and unable to protect anyone anymore! Look at you. A frail and fragile old man. Is that really what you all call ‘the Symbol of Peace’? How hilarious.”

Bakugo, no longer under his threat, tried to move, only to be kindly reminded of his friend's position by an amused whistle from the shooter.

Shoto was surprised by how caring his classmate was; he thought the blond didn't like him. He was still grateful though. He really didn’t want to die today.

The man sighed. “I was really expecting much more from you, All Might… But I guess your time really is over, isn't it?”

Shoto was pretty sure he never saw anyone that happy about killing someone. It creeped him out. The hands, the smile… everything. And when the man was about to put his five fingers on All Might’s face, Shoto was about to scream–

Someone shot the man's arm.

Immediately, dark mist protected him from the other bullets.

“My apologies for us being so late, dear students!” The principal’s voice said from the top of the stairs.

Angry, the blue haired man hissed. “This is not over… you just always have to ruin everything, heroes.”

Cementoss tried to capture him only for the man to disappear through a portal along with the creature. Quick steps next to him then caught Shoto's attention; the person wasn't threatening him anymore and was running towards the bush.

And then Shoto saw it. There, hidden between the leaves was a camera. And it was recording.

At the realization, the teen stood up and ran for it too, trying to freeze the villain in place, but a portal appeared and stopped the attack.

The villain's fingers grabbed the camera, turning it off, before letting himself fall backwards into a second portal, but not without sending Shoto a playful wink.

Only silence filled the facility, broken by the heroes running towards the different biomes of it to rescue the other students.

But the ones who had witnessed it all could only stare at the figure in the middle of the plaza, trembling and injured: what was left of the #1 hero.

Shoto swore he saw a tear run down his cheek before he fainted.

Two days later, all the teachers were reunited around a large table. A crisis meant a meeting to find solutions.

Even if none of them could see any.

The results were terrible. All Might, the #1 hero, was in the hospital and potentially unable to continue his role as the Symbol of Peace.

Eraserhead was doing relatively well, coming out with only a few broken bones. Being passed out had probably saved his life, although he would always hate the fact that he hadn't been able to put up more of a fight.

Thirteen was also currently in the hospital, but was said to be ok according to doctors.

There was one death among the students, Mineta Minoru. Another was in a coma, Sato Rikido. He didn't die thanks to his classmates' fast reaction. Few others were in the hospital too, such as Yaoyorozu Momo, Tokoyami Fumikage, Shoji Mezo, Todoroki Shoto and Tsuyu Asui. They were badly injured but their life wasn't on the line. The other students suffered minor injuries and were sent home for the week.

Needless to say, no one was in a really good mood. But they still had to talk about it.

Dozens of reporters waited at the front gate of the school as the drama-hungry people they were. The attack had been a hard hit for their reputation. Heavy consequences would come with it and some of the teachers were sure it wouldn't be the end of it.

“It indeed is a critical situation,” Nezu started. “Parents don't trust us to keep their children safe anymore. One of them passed away… A shame, truly.”

“How are we supposed to fix things?” Yamada sighed. “Those villains sure were smart, starting with U.A.”

“They got exactly what they wanted,” Kayama agreed.

“We’ll have a hard time coming back from it. I have a reunion with the Commission tomorrow. We believe this organization plans on other attacks,” the Principal explained.

“No shit,” Kan murmured. “From what we gathered, they want to show the ‘corruption of society’, whatever the hell that means.”

“Do we have any information on them? We need to be prepared!” Ishiyama interrupted.

“We know that their leader seems to be Shigaraki Tomura, Quirk: Decay. We have no further information on him,” the rodent answered. “The creature is apparently called a ‘Nomu’. As for the analyst who was with them, the only things we know is that they're a good fighter, have green eyes and that Eraserhead couldn't identify their quirk – or gender.”

“It would be logical to think they have an analysis one,” Ectoplasm added.

“It's the most probable theory, yes.” Nezu nodded. “We’ll conduct more investigations to find any more information on a possible analyst or informant with green eyes.”

There was a pause before Yamada spoke again. “But, that's not the only thing we have to worry about, is it?”

“That's right,” Nezu smiled before displaying a video on the large screen behind him.

It was a video of the fight, from All Might's arrival to the other heroes’. It wasn't edited. It showed everything, no cuts, nothing. And that was probably what made people believe it even more easily.

The video was posted just an hour after the attack. The original had over 30 million views when they managed to delete it. It was too late. People downloaded it and were reposting it, sometimes the whole thing, sometimes only parts of it.

Mainly the moment where All Might revealed his weakened form.

They weren't even able to track down from where it was posted.

“People are already losing faith in heroes, especially in All Might. Public opinion is exceedingly important for the Commission. This is why every hero is asked to participate in stopping the League Of Villains before something of the sort happens again,” the white mammal spoke, never looking very impacted by it all.

“Shit,” Snipe muttered.

Everyone could only agree.

“So… what happens now?” Kayama asked.

Nezu seemed to think for a moment, but everyone knew he already had the answer and was simply playing with them. “I believe All Might will have to retire before people start getting violent.”

After that reunion, none of them could bring themselves to eat when lunch came around.

Shigaraki was laughing as if it was the last time he would be able to. Watching the TV, they could only smile at how every channel talked about the attack and, more especially, the video they posted afterwards.

Deku was extremely proud of himself. He shot All Might! He ruined his career! He ruined U.A.’s reputation and hurt so many people.

The growing anger inside of him was more than pleased.

That's what you get for being a fucking hypocrite, the teen thought.

Shigaraki had been angry about failing and could only complain about his injury… until Deku showed him the camera. Weirdly enough, all his anger washed away. It seemed he even forgot about his arm now.

Everyone online talked about it; so many people were on their side now. Sure, it was easier to say those things when you were anonymous, and they would probably deny it when faced, but still. They had the impact they wanted.

And something else made Deku giggle: Bakugo had been useless. He couldn't do anything and Deku knew he would hate himself for it. And wasn't that just the best feeling ever? Knowing he hurt his ego?

It was all so… perfect.

“I can't believe it,” Shigaraki grinned.

“I told you I had a plan B, didn't I?” Deku answered with the same expression before focusing on his work again. Sitting on the ground in front of the coffee table, he was building some smoke and glitter bombs. It was as useful for him as it was annoying for his enemies.

“You're a genius,” Shigaraki praised.

The other TV, the one from where Sensei talked through, turned on. “Very well, Tomura. I am proud of where you've come from. And, of course, congratulations Deku.”

The green haired dipped his head in thanks.

“Now, many people will want to help your cause. You should think about recruiting…”

The rest of the discussion between Sensei and Shigaraki fell on deaf ears. Deku figured his boss could take that sort of decision on his own. However, he was pulled out of his thoughts again when his phone's screen lit up, allowing him to see the new text he just received.

‘Meet me at the park tomorrow at 3 p.m.’

Izuku could feel the blush tainting his cheeks, his heart rate fastening. With stars in his eyes, he grabbed his phone and clicked on the notification to make sure he wasn't dreaming.

Realizing it indeed was real, a large smile appeared on his face.

It was the first date of his life.

Chapter Text

Shinso was waiting.

Sat on a bench in the park they set their date at, his heart was pounding. He was thirty minutes early, but he just couldn't sit still back at his apartment, so he decided to walk here, thinking it would help.

It didn't.

Now, in the very place his date was going to take place, his anxiety could only grow.

They talked through texts for a month before setting this up as they were both extremely busy. Okuta– no, Izuku, as the boy insisted for him to use his first name (and so Hitoshi asked the same), told him he was working on a project for school, and of course, Shinso was getting used to his new one, the illustrious UA.

At first, Shinso was reluctant. After all, he didn't really understand why this guy would want to talk to someone like him. However, as they talked, it became obvious Izuku was interested in him in a potentially romantical way and probably attracted to him in a physical one.

It was weird, having someone interested in you.

It was even weirder to be interested back.

When he realized it, he was surprised. They were both so opposite in personality. For one, Izuku used emojis. Way too many emojis. Of all types, often not even related to the discussion at all.

And the worst thing about that? Shinso liked it. He liked it a lot. He was a cold texter, and strangely enough, liked to exchange with someone who wasn't unsettled by it, almost as if the boy was used to it.

Despite their huge differences, they still had some similarities. Shinso never got along as well with someone before, and… it’s a nice change of pace.

Was it the reason he started developing these sorts of feelings? What if it was just friendship, and he simply didn't know how it felt since he never had friends? Was it bad that he didn't know which type of relationship he would prefer? In any case, he would be awkward in both.

And still, he hoped for teenage love. He longed to be normal, to be like everyone his age. Experience youth like everyone else. Maybe he could finally have a normal life? Perhaps this was the start of something new, something good?

Would he be good enough? He didn't want to hurt him or break his heart. And wouldn't people look at them weird? Of course they would. They're not straight. Most people think it's disgusting, revolting even. Is he ready to face it? Accepting his own homosexuality had already been harsh, so showing it? Not be scared to love someone?

He felt like it was impossible. He felt unsafe. If they hold hands, would they receive dark glares? If they showed affection, would they get insulted? If they kissed, would they get harassed? Would their possible blossoming love be safe and remain unscarred or would society take that from him too? First, people rejected him because of his quirk, but that could be hidden. Would he hide his boyfriend the same way? As if it meant nothing?

No, that was stupid. If it meant nothing, he wouldn't try to hide it, would he? The opportunity of being loved, of finally living his life instead of enduring it…

He wanted it. He wanted it so bad; he wished and prayed for it. But God knew how afraid he was of it, too.

And on top of that, another fear came in. What would his parents think? They were already so distant and disappointed in him. They were fleeing from him all the time. If he opened his mouth near them, it was like he summoned the devil. If they learned about his sexuality…

And Izuku's family situation was still unclear, too. He said he didn't live with his parents, but with a family friend. Shinso thought about a godparent of some kind. Were his parents deceased? Would his caretaker reject the boy?

They were risking so much by simply going on a date together, and that made him want to cry, just a little bit.

He wished to be free of those worries for a hundredth time, hoping to dissipate all these thoughts before his crush arrived–

Everything polluting his mind vanished when footsteps sounded on the dirt path and he looked up, purple eyes meeting green.

His jaw dropped, and his brain was sure he never saw anything more beautiful than the sight before him at that moment.

Deep emerald irises sparkled as they looked at him, as if the sight of him made Izuku feel like the happiest in all of the universe; thin lips stretched gently in a pleasant shy smile, and his light curls of a captivating green twirled following a fine breeze passing by. His clothes were simple, yet Shinso knew how to recognize someone who had prepared carefully: an ironed pastel t-shirt, jeans that looked new, and dark shoes that gave a casual but still elegant look.

To anyone else, Izuku might seem like a simple teenager who threw on any clean clothes in his closet to quickly meet up with a friend, but Shinso could guess at least a good two hours of preparation. Perhaps his vision of things was biased since he noticed neither the tension in the posture of the boy in front of him, nor his shifty gaze or his short breathing; he only saw perfection.

The sun's rays illuminated him in such a way that each of his features seemed softer, prettier, and Shinso thought he was having a heart attack.

Everything seemed so perfect, so unrealistic, so beautifully enrapturing... It was…

Ethereal, his mind completed, that single word replacing any previous anxious ideas.

“Hi Hitoshi-kun,” Izuku lightly greeted, and it was all it took, those two words said in that bewitching voice, spilling from those soft lips, pronounced with that velvety and silky intonation, for Shinso to know he was in love.

His breath hitched, his heart almost came to a halt, and he struggled to stay steady on his feet when he got up, stumbling a bit. He hastily swallowed and stuttered, “Hey…” he forced himself to continue as to not let an awkward silence take place, “How are you doing?”

“I'm okay,” Izuku answered with another embarrassed smile. “I've been doing a lot of homework lately, I'm happy to finally see you again…”

“Yeah, same…,” he cleared his throat., “Do you wanna, like, walk around the park for a bit…?”

“Sure!” he agrees.

And so, they started slowly walking, following the flowered paths. Some cherry trees were starting to blossom, yet Shinso could only think about how good Izuku looked with that scenery around them. If he had any doubt about his feelings before, he didn't anymore. He was pretty sure friends don't stare at each other lips for a few seconds imagining how it would be like to kiss them–

Embarrassed by his own intrusive thoughts, he looked away. What should he do? What should he say? Should he do something? Should he say something?

“My favorite flowers are camellias,” Izuku suddenly informed., “Did you know each color has a meaning?”

Startled, Shinso turned to him, waiting for more.

Izuku gently smiled. “Red is for passionate and romantic love. White for platonic adoration and care, and pink for longing, when you miss someone a lot, either romantically or platonically.”

“I didn't know that,” Shinso confessed.,“You like flowers?”

“I like a lot of things. I'm very curious. My… uncle defines me as ‘a short demon with a smart brain full of random useless knowledge that somehow manages to use it in the most unexpected way’.”

“Yeah, from what I saw that seems accurate,” Shinso snickered along with Izuku. “...Is that who you're staying with? Your uncle?”

Izuku paused for a second then nodded, “He's like a father to me. Well, currently I spend most of my time with some…friends. And he works a lot. And I rarely see him since I, like… almost live with my friends? I mean, I sleep there…a lot…all the time…?” He sighed, “It's complicated.”

“Seems to be, yeah,” the purple haired boy smirked. “But is it really life if it's easy?”

Izuku huffed, “Of course not.”

From there, the conversation became more comfortable, and they were able to laugh and joke together more fluidly. Soon enough, they walked out of the park, and Izuku spotted a small café he apparently heard good critiques about.

They settled at a table outside, enjoying the cool air. They ordered pastries and tea and kept talking, taking ages to finish eating because of it.

“By the way, Hitoshi-kun,” Izuku exclaimed suddenly, “How about U.A.? You got in, right?”

“Oh, yeah,” the teen flushes.

“In the hero course?” the other insisted, hopeful.

Shinso swallowed and blushed, muttering, “Yes.”

Izuku gasped in delight, “Really?!”

“Yeah, class 1-B…”

“Oh, I'm so happy for you!”

Shinso looked at him. Izuku looked away, a glint of disappointment passing through his expression. Shinso’s heart clenched and his eyebrows furrowed, but before he could speak up, the green haired did so.

“I'm glad, actually,” he adds, “since it's the other class that got targeted by that attack…”

Oh, Shinso thought, guilt and shame churning at his guts, he was just worried. I'm stupid. Stop being paranoid.

“Yeah… I'm glad too,” he ended up answering before slightly leaning in, fingers brushing against Izuku’s hand, trying to be reassuring. “I'm okay.”

Their gaze met, and Izuku blushed. Shinso was pretty sure he did too. Where did that confidence come from?

Izuku beamed, and once again, his worries disappeared.

Shinso liked to think their date was a success, but he still felt like he was missing something. They talked, ate, and he offered to walk him home, which he was doing right now… But something felt off. He knew he had forgotten something.

“It was nice,” Izuku eventually murmured, “all of it. Really.”

Shinso agrees with a nod, “I liked it too. I, huh… wouldn't mind doing it again…”

And maybe if it goes well too, we could seriously think about us and our relationship, went unsaid.

“Me neither,” the shorter one responded, “I'd love it actually.”

Satisfied, they kept walking.

Satisfied… Shinso should be more than satisfied. He should be happy, ecstatic even. His heart was beating fast. He glanced at Izuku. It started beating harder.

He felt something on the tip of his tongue. He had to add something, something burning his inside from the start… the thing that he felt was missing for a while now because of his own stupidity.

Because Izuku spent so much time getting ready, probably even practiced things he would say. Shinso had acknowledged it, of course. He felt his breath taken away and fell for him even harder.

But he never vocalized it.

He wanted to facepalm. Was he that much of an idiot, really? Why didn't he say anything? He should have done it from the start! What if Izuku thought he hadn't put in enough effort because Shinso didn't say anything? He couldn't let that happen.

Izuku abruptly stopped, “I think I can continue on my own from there. You know, since I'm with some friends, I wouldn't want to bother them…”

“Huh, yeah, of course, I understand,” Shinso blurted out without thinking. “Stay safe, alright?”

Izuku gave him a small smile and started walking away.

Time seemed to slow. Shinso was fucking everything up; he had to say something. Izuku had been perfect all along, and Shinso had only been a nervous wreck of nerves during most of their date. It was all perfect, but it could be even better if he could just utter those few words. He knew how compliments could stay stuck in one's head. He knew Izuku would remember it forever.

Thus, despite the fear growing inside him, he called out, “Izuku!”

The boy stopped and turned around, surprised at the lack of honorifics, only for Shinso to finally let it out before he could talk.

“You're beautiful.”

As if on cue, the wind picked up gently, softly brushing their skin, the sunset's light making the scene seem out of time. Izuku's eyes widened, his cheeks turning a blazing red and yet it seemed so light on his face. Shinso could almost feel the joy emanating from the smile blooming on his face, his eyes crinkling like a happy child; he could almost hear their heartbeats aligning, as if linked, simply waiting to meet again during their next encounter.

Not another word was spoken, but they didn't need any.

Izuku walked away, like a ghost disappearing into the falling night, like a feverish fleeting dream, like the fleeing owner of the heart of the poor teenager left alone under a streetlamp that came to life with a flashing light a few seconds later, signaling to him that it was time to go home.

And yet, he had never felt such happiness before.

Turning on his heel, he missed the eerie sight of a black and purple portal opening to swallow the green-haired teenager, the incriminating scene camouflaged by the darkening sky.

Izuku stepped out of the portal and inside the bar, taking in the now familiar smell of wood and alcohol.

“Hello again Deku,” Kurogiri greeted, “How was your date?”

Izuku let a dumb dreamy smile appear on his face, “Perfect…”

Izuku couldn't have hoped for it to go better than that. It was even better than what he had wished for. And all that preparation paid off! He would have to call Giran when he would have the time. After all…

*

This was the first date of his life.

He excused himself, earning a raised eyebrow from Shigaraki and feeling the displeased stare from Sensei even through the screen.

Once outside, he immediately scrolled through his contacts and clicked on the one he was looking for. He called the number, heart pounding. The man picked up.

“Giran! Hey…,” he greeted. They talked for a minute, making sure everything was fine on both their sides, before the time he had to explain why he called arrived, “So, huh… Do you happen to know how to prepare for a date?”

*

Shigaraki rolled his eyes, “You better not mix your personal life with our business.”

Izuku mimicked him, “I already told you not to worry,” he paused a second, blushing. “But he said I'm beautiful…”

“Do I look like I care?” the young man tsked, disgusted.

“Well, you should.”

“Why?”

“Because I'm your dear analyst and I know you love me.”

“Right, and I never drink,” he mocked, sipping on his whisky.

“I think you've got issues with admitting your feelings. Do you want Giran to find you a therapist?”

“Fuck you,” the blue haired man hisses. “At least I'm not a horny teenager.”

“At least I go on dates.”

“I don't give a damn about love,” he argues, “and it was your fucking first one.”

“So? I did it. Not you. Virgin.”

“The hell does that have to do with–?!”

A ‘ding’ coming from Kurogiri’s phone cut their discussion short. The mist man put down the glass he was cleaning and announced after looking at the screen, “Our potential future allies will be there shortly.”

“Shit, I forgot!” Izuku yells, running to the back to change.

Shigaraki finished his drink by the time he came back prepared, mask and hood on.

“I'd die for a cigarette right now,” the teen mumbled, making sure he looked good enough, activating his voice changer at the same time.

“That'll have to wait,” His boss said, discreetly checking if he looked nice too.

“I know I am in no place to intervene, but smoking can cause serious health problems, especially for someone as young as you–” Kurogiri started.

“Don't care!” Deku cut, taking his place further to the back of the room on the opposite side to the door.

“You stay there and be quiet, I'll handle it,” Shigaraki ordered, facing away from him. “I might need your input, but for now, shut up.”

“Don't act as if you don't like hearing my beautiful voice–”

“I said shut up,” Shigaraki repeated with little conviction.

It wasn't long before the door opened, revealing Giran. “I might be early, but I have other things to do.” His gaze lingered on Deku for a second, softening before hardening again. “I got you two people to meet. Come in!”

He stepped aside to make way for their possible future members. A teenage girl around Izuku's age entered first, soon followed by a lanky looking dude covered in scars, of which Deku suspected to be from a fire.

The guy eyed him as he spoke to Shigaraki, “So you're who everyone is talking about…”

His voice was hoarse and raspy, probably because of his injuries, but Deku also knew how to recognize someone who smoked. His guess was confirmed by the quick sight of a pack of cigarettes in his jacket pocket - which made Deku even more nervous with the urge to smoke one. He didn't need to get closer to register the strong smell of ashes and smoke, a smell that didn't just come from tobacco. He probably had a fire-related quirk, which could also explain the burns – accidents are common when children first develop their quirk. Other than that, he had a cold, dark and hard look in his eyes. Deku immediately recognized the face of someone who life and society had tortured. Given his physical form, he didn't fight much in close combat, which was logical if his quirk was indeed a fire one. He also clearly wasn't awash in money if his ruined clothes were any indicator.

Depending on the man's convictions, views and ideas, he might be a good fit.

“I can't believe I'm here!” The girl suddenly yelled, pumping her fists in the air excitedly. “You're so cool! Your attack was so bold and so, so incredible! You did it to show how hero society is shit, right? Right?! I agree! Oh my god we should totally be friends!” Shigaraki looked unsettled, surprisingly enough. “Please, let me join the League of Villains!” she concluded.

Even the guy next to her looked at her in mild bewilderment.

“Alright…?” Shigaraki eventually said after a few seconds before regaining his composure. “And you, burnt guy, why are you here?”

“I agree with the idea of society being a corrupt system that needs to be changed, if not completely destroyed,” he answered, seeming disgusted by sharing a similar line of thoughts with the blonde girl., “I think heroes are polluting the world. Real heroes don't exist. People in general are simply selfish hypocrites… Good people don't exist. There is only suffering, pain, dread and sorrow in this world.”

I love that man, Deku instantly thought, because finally someone fucking understood–

Oh, wow, maybe Kurogiri was right. He was a misanthropist. But at the same time, Giran said he was somewhat a philanthropist because of his dream of creating a safe world for pariahs…

What do you call that again? An oxymoron. Yeah, Izuku was an oxymoron and Deku was the embodiment of it.

He decided it was better to focus back on the conversation at hand when, after a few seconds, the blonde girl said, “Damn, you didn't have to expose your emotional trauma like that, man… I know a good therapist if you want.”

“You're the one that fucking needs it, you crazy bitch,” the man retorted harshly.

Mouth agape, the girl was about to reply when Shigaraki cut them off.

“Mind presenting yourselves?”

Immediately, excitement returned once again in the girl’s eyes. “I'm Toga Himiko! Nice to finally meet you, Shigaraki-chan!”

“Fuck no, call me that again and I'll fucking dismember you.”

This only seemed to make her even more joyful, creeping the scarred guy out more.

“Call me Dabi,” he ended up saying.

“I didn't ask for your villain name,” The boss hissed. “Your real name. What is it?”

“You'll learn it when the time comes.”

Shigaraki got up, furious. “Do you think you are in a position to do what you please?”

The guy didn't seem impressed. He was ready to fight, Deku noticed by the new placement of his feet.

Might be my time to intervene before he decays the entire bar.

Deku stepped forward. “Boss, I'm allowing myself to decide it's time for my input.”

Shigaraki turned to him with a heated glare, “It's not.”

“It is.”

A short silence followed during which a staring contest occurred. Deku won, but only because his boss gave up after seeing he wouldn't back down. He would have asked for his opinion anyway, so then or later was the same.

Satisfied, Deku approached with a grin hidden by his mask, addressing his words to Dabi. “Fire-based quirk?”

Dabi’s eyes narrowed.

“They’re my analyst,” Shigaraki helpfully explained, “so don't get your shit worked up, it's their fucking job. If you hurt them, you won't get out of here alive.”

Dabi tsked in a way that told the analyst he wouldn't allow such a personal question a second time. Thus, Deku directed his gaze towards Toga.

She was pretty. As in, objectively beautiful. Blonde hair and golden eyes glowed with the dim light of the bar. She looked captivated by his presence, clearly extremely curious. She had fangs. It was easily noticeable now that Deku was closer. Mutations around the mouth were usually for quirks based on ingesting a certain type of food. Since this mutation at least included fangs, Deku leaned towards liquids that she would need to drink from a solid type of food by biting it – obviously it was in case she would only have the food itself with her, she could very well buy the liquid if it was something widespread.

But if it was she wouldn't be there, would she? Only people rejected by society were here. People with hatred for others. People who suffered from it all.

When he realized he had been staring for a bit too long, he spoke up again.

“Your quirk requires you to ingest a certain type of liquid, doesn't it?” Her eyes lit up. Bingo. And if it was something controversial enough for her to be here as a criminal at such a young age… He had a guess, and if he was right, he was more than impatient to know what it enabled her to do. “Blood?”

She gasped, eyes widening. “You're so smart,” she whispered, but still loud enough for everyone to hear.

Izuku slightly blushed. Deku cleared his throat. “May I ask what your quirk exactly is? I can't invent things and there are no clues of what it could allow you to do…”

“Of course! I can take people’s appearances if I ingest their blood! But I usually do it especially if I love them very very much…” She hummed, continuing, “Though, I still have to regularly drink blood to stay alive.”

“That's fine,” Deku nodded, “your quirk is wonderful. You'd be perfect here!”

“Deku,” Shigaraki warned.

“Sorry, not my decision. But that's my input, boss. They would both be useful here.”

And we don't have much of a choice, is the silent argument he added with a glance.

Then, with a pout only the three present who personally knew him could guess behind his mask, he murmured, “I already have strategic ideas…”

Shigaraki slightly groaned, “I guess it's fine then. You can both join. Come back tomorrow in the morning before I get a headache.”

Toga squeaked in joy. Dabi didn't say a thing but had to grab the blonde with the collar to get her out before she would jump in Deku's arms to thank him.

Once both left, Giran closed the door to follow.

Izuku turned to Shigaraki.

“You're lucky I trust you enough,” is all his boss said before gesturing to the door to allow him to go see the man.

With a happy chuckle, Izuku ran out the door, checking only Giran was left in the alley before running to him. The man expected it from the way he simply opened his arms.

Izuku hugged him tightly before deactivating his voice changer.

“I'm glad you're doing fine,” Giran smirked, “I get you're happy where you are, yeah?”

“Hell yeah! I can cause chaos and be praised for it.”

“As I was expecting from you,” he laughed. “I'm reassured then. You seem to have an important place there. I would have thought Shigaraki would be more strict with you.”

“Nah, he's nice when you know how to handle his moods and shit.”

“Good. Can't wait for you to make the headlines again, kid. You're getting closer to your dream, aren't you?”

Izuku nodded with a smile, responding with, “When I get there, I'll make sure you're the happiest from everyone out there. It's a promise.”

Giran smiled. “Don't worry about me, Izuku. Focus on yourself.” Before the teen could argue, he kept going, “By the way, how about that date?”

Izuku flushed and proceeded to explain in detail everything that happened, despite knowing it was an attempt at changing the subject.

Giran was truly happy for him. The look in his eyes told everything Izuku needed to know.

‘You’re the only thing I'd never regret in my life.’

Did Giran feel like his only success was helping Izuku? Did he think his only good action was giving a broken kid a chance at life again? Probably. Was it sad? Yes. Did they care? No, not really.

Because they had found each other and it permitted them to be better, happier. Hopeful.

They were both rejected by others and they were both able to start healing by accepting each other, creating a weird tandem of a substitute father with a substitute son. And it was enough at the time.

As Giran waved, walking away when it was time to leave, Izuku promised again, under his breath, that he would do anything to see the man smile and laugh, to thank him for everything. To make the bags under his eyes disappear and the tension in his muscles relax, to simply erase any regrets he could have and give him a chance at being free and happy.

Little did he know that promise had already been fulfilled before he made it the very night they met, the only regret being the man wouldn't be able to ever tell him properly.

As Izuku turned on his heel, walking back in the bar when it was time to separate again, Giran wondered for the umpteenth time if that nostalgia, proudness and slight worry was what every parent was feeling seeing their child grow and build their own life, leaving to explore the world on their own and create their own family of hurt people who would comfort each other.

Little did he know that by chasing that utopist dream and following the very people who would love him like no other, the teen was digging his own grave, and he would never be able to see it and save him.

No hero was worthy anymore. That thought polluted his mind like no other, keeping him awake at night. It kept him angry.

The number one hero was dead. Not in the literal way, no. His hero persona was. The man behind was still alive last he heard, but he didn't care. It didn't matter anymore if he couldn't keep his role anymore.

He was obviously going to retire after that attack. The video had been shared worldwide, forums in every country only talked about it.

It infuriated him. The only true hero wasn't anymore. Only fakes remained.

Could someone else take his place? Not for now. Someone so heroic appeared once in a blue moon. It would happen eventually, he was sure of it. But for now, he had to keep carrying out his duty. He had to work harder, quicker, more. Get rid of more of them, punish all of them.

Why did that ‘league’ attack him? Hurting kids and trying to kill All Might? For what? Vengeance? What a futile reason.

He hoped they had a good reason, and even then, he would probably disagree. There was no good reason to actively try to take the Symbol of Peace down.

The worst part was, some people were on their side.

All fakes. Everyone was foolish and had fake convictions and selfish dreams.

Would someone else stand up? Would someone else appear? Could he find someone to replace All Might?

Was it even possible?

The world needed a symbol. This corrupt society needed someone to change it for the better.

Crime rates were already increasing only a few days after the events.

Maybe he could find something, someone. There had to be a person somewhere who could change it all.

A true hero.

In the meantime, Stain would keep doing what was right.

Purge society.

He failed. Not only as All Might, the number one hero, but also as Yagi Toshinori, the eighth wielder of the One for All.

What would his master say? What did Gran Torino think?

The old man didn't say a thing except telling him to rest.

He was still in the hospital, torso wrapped in bandages, feeling weaker than ever. Physically as well as mentally.

He couldn't stop himself from scrolling through social media. He couldn't bring himself to ignore all the comments.

–

queenmidnight69 • 2 days ago

I don't agree with villains but tbh All Might wasn't even able to do anything besides getting hurt. Like srsly, he would have died if other heroes hadn't intervene

slurptities • 1 day ago

I feel so bad for those poor kids who had to watch it all. I hope UA has good therapists. Honestly how the hell do you let that pass? I thought they had like the best security system in Japan? ONE KID DIED. Another one is in the hospital. How do you fuck up that badly?

My condolences to the victims’ families🕊️

         boobsmakemegoferal • 18 hours ago

womp womp

smallmight2234 • 3 days ago

Stay strong All Might, we believe in you✊🏻 wtv people say, don't give up! You did your best! It's not ur fault

          LOLplayer • 3 days ago

How can u defend that guy💀 he wasn't even able to defend his students, u fr trust him with ur life rn? He's not fit to be a hero anymore. His best days are behind him

          smallmight2234 • 3 days ago

           Reply to @LOLplayer

Do u hear urself? All Might has been the Symbol of Peace for almost 40 years. He's always protected us, why would that change now?

          justanirishfucker • 2 days ago

           Reply to @smallmight2234

Because a few years ago he would have been there in a few seconds and would have beaten those guys in less than that.🤣 #ALLMIGHTISBETTERRETIRED

villainapologistfr • 1 day ago

LMAO HOW THAT MASKED PERSON WHISTLES TO REMIND THAT BLONDE DUDE HE SHOULDN'T MOVE??? ATE.💯💯💯

ihaveamaskkink • 2 days ago

That masked villain is kinda hot. Might add “and a gun one” in my username.

          mathsucks123 • 2 days ago

what if they're a minor

          ihaveamaskkink • 1 day ago

           Reply to @mathsucks123

even better (im a minor too)

squirrelsarecute567 • 4 days ago

I'm not exactly on the villains’ side but they did help us get rid of someone who isn't fit for the job anymore and would have hidden it. We're safer that way. It was time All Might let other take the renes

mmmmhhmirko;) • 3 days ago

All that time All might was that fragile looking dude?? Man I regret even being a fan, he looks ridiculous 😭😭

bestjeanistmarryme • 4 days ago

Why is there even a debate?? Villains are bad. They killed a kid. All might did his best, yall r just blind

          34568013ilovemanual • 2 days ago

We don't even know why they did this. I say we give time to it all. Usually villains act with a reason.

          iwannakms • 2 days ago

          Reply to @34568013ilovemanual

Do we really need a reason? Hero society is corrupt, that's not new. They're just trying to wake ppl up. #ALLMIGHTISBETTERRETIRED

ihavesevereanxiety • 5 hours ago

Idk what to think. I was kinda waiting a few days to see people's arguments but yeah idk. I'm still sorry for the victims’ families tho. Stay strong

edgeshotfan • 22 hours ago

Can the heroes really be trusted at U.A. if shit like this can happen on their property? I mean, how many heroes do they have on standby???

          garustream • 20 hours ago

Idk, seems like an excuse by ua to get more money from the commission. They already take up 1/3 of Musutafu, what else do they want?

lifeisshit • 3 hours ago

y’know, I never rly liked all might in the first place

           allmightstan • 2 hours ago

bro u literally have comments on this channel saying “All Might will not fail to villains like them!”

fuckvillains • 1 day ago

All Might was the pinnacle of heroism, protecting and defending the entire nation from villains and saving so many innocent lives. We will always remember him as the true hero he was and still is, no matter how he steps down from his position as number 1 hero.

          queque90 • 19 hours ago

Dude there is obviously smth we don't know about. What If all might did smth shitty and they're avenging themselves

          ghjklmao • 18 hours ago

           Reply to @queque90

Wth would he have done. He's all might, he's the best. This is literally the only reason why he was attacked. Villains want him gone. Now that it's done, crime rate is already increasing. We need to encourage and support the heroes.

sunlightandshit • 2 days ago

Ok so, I know that All Might retiring from heroism is like a big deal, but is anyone going to talk about the kid that literally DIED because of that attack on U.A.?!

          gigglespoop • 2 days ago

IKRRRRR!!! Absolutely despicable that shit is being swept under the rug!!!”

seawaterlion71 • 3 days ago

Astonishing how u r all FUCKING BLIND. All might represented hero society. He's the embodiment of heroes and of how society is based on quirks and rules and shit. By attacking him, they're just showing how they think it's revolting. It's a system full of inequalities and they're trying to enlighten people.

OPEN YOUR EYES!

#ALLMIGHTISBETTERRETIRED #WESTANTHELEAGUEOFVILLAINS

–

The announcement of his retirement had shocked the public. However, Yagi didn't have a choice. He couldn't fight anymore. His injury had worsened, he couldn't even take his muscled form anymore.

People's opinions were ambivalent and opposed. No one was sure of what to think. Most people were still on his side – though it didn't ease his guilt; a kid died because of his incompetence –, but he couldn't turn a blind eye to the fact that a few people were starting to gather and question heroes and society as a whole.

All of that because of those villains. Because of people so entitled they thought killing was justified to reach whatever goal they had. They had to stop it before they hit again.

He shouldn't think about it. It didn't change anything. He should have done something long ago. He pushed it aside for too long.

He had failed.

Now it was time to find his successor.

Chapter Text

Deku didn't know how it turned out so bad, but he could still try to fix that, right?

Stain, the Hero Killer, was someone he had been interested in since the start of his villainy. His opinions and actions seemed somewhat correct to the teen; someone who found himself to agree with the self-proclaimed vigilante.

Since the League’s ideals were similar, he thought that, perhaps, they could get him to join…

He felt stupid now.

“I'm not joining a group of stupid wannabe villains who have no convictions,” he said. “Especially ones who forced All Might to retire.”

“Huh? I thought you hated heroes!” Complained Shigaraki.

“Not All Might. He was the only true one, but you took that away. Do you really think you're gonna make a difference that way? You're simply foolish.”

Alright, that might have been the moment to step in…

Deku took a deep breath in and spoke up, “Whatever you thought about All Might… I understand but I disagree. Sadly, he wasn't as perfect as you think… And we think similarly, don't we? We think society is corrupt. We think heroes are only fake.”

“So you endanger the lives of kids in a U.A. facility?”

Ouch, didn't have to bring that up.

“I'm out of here. I have nothing to do with stupid reckless criminals like your little group.”

And with that, Stain left. Deku sighed, rubbing his eyes.

“Whatever.” Shigaraki eventually spat. “It would have been great to have him but I don't need him. I got plans anyway.”

“And can we know what those are?” Dabi's hoarse voice asked from the couch.

“You didn't ask for my opinion on that yet, so fill me in.” Deku added.

“I don't know when yet… But Sensei will lend me some Nomus. We can unleash them on heroes.”

“Mh… So, trap heroes somewhere without civilians? That's hard but not undoable… Depends on who you're targeting and how many Nomus there will be.”

“Without civilians? Why?” Shigaraki raised an eyebrow.

Izuku turned to him, surprised. “So as to not hurt them…?”

“Why do we care about that?” Toga chimed in.

Baffled, Deku looked at them all. “You do realize the whole point of the League is to bring society down?”

“Yeah, so?”

“Most civilians don't take part in what we need to take down. To take care of them, we use public opinion. Make them believe and agree with us. And for that, we can't directly hurt them… Well, okay, I shot that teen at the U.S.J but he's not dead, you know. It was a one time thing.” He ranted. “Anyway, our targets are heroes and the HPSC first. If civilians are killed, that's not gonna help us.”

“We're villains,” Dabi argued.

“Legally. But we don't have to be monsters,” Izuku retorted.

A tense silence followed.

“You’re so kind, Deku-kun!” Toga exclaimed with a large smile.

“A bit too much.” The fire user sighed, stretching slightly on the couch.

“I guess I can think about it,” their boss hesitated. “But only if you're sure it'll help us. Honestly, I would rather unleash Nomus and watch people get killed…”

“If we want to make a change, we can't dive in head first. First, I'll see what I can do about Stain, then we'll talk about what you have in mind.”

Shigaraki shrugged, a sign that he gave him the freedom of doing what he pleased for now.

He announced he was going out for a bit, trying to find Stain.

On his way out, his gaze drifted on the TV, the one ‘Sensei’ talked to them through. He almost missed it, but he tensed immediately when he realized…

Since when was it on?

It wasn't when Stain came in, he was sure of it. Did he arrive during it? Or after? Was he listening? Did that happen before? How many conversations had the man eavesdropped on without him noticing?

Suddenly, the feeling of being watched made his blood run cold.

Before he could look suspicious, he got out and quickly walked away from the bar.

He didn't trust ‘Sensei’, and now that was just creepy. Izuku was sure he was hiding something.

He would think of it later. He had to find Stain.

It took him time – of course it did – but he managed to find the Hero Killer's silhouette on top of a building. A few hours had passed since their meeting at the bar, and Deku hoped it had been enough for the man to calm down.

He climbed up, Stain already noticing him – of course he did.

“What do you want?” he snarled, looking at Deku over his shoulder.

Deku stopped a few meters away from the obviously still-angry villain, calmly answering, “I respect your actions and ideas. I'm not here to try and recruit you again.”

Which was a half lie to be honest: he wasn't actively trying to recruit him, but if he could, that'd be nice.

“I just thought we could talk,” he added.

Stain let a second of silence pass by before speaking again, muttering, “You look pretty young.”

At that, Izuku simply pulled his hood off and put his mask away, revealing his face. And at Stain’s baffled look, he simply shrugged. “Society always attacks the weakest, no matter the age, doesn't it?”

The man paused before looking away. “Still,” he sighed, “you're just too young.”

“It was either that or killing myself. I think I turned out pretty well.”

Stain tsked, seeming slightly softer now knowing he was just a kid. “What are you even doing with them?”

“I'm an analyst. And kind of an engineer in my free time. I guess it can be handy.”

The killer glanced at the city again. “What do you want to talk about? I don't have all night, kid.”

Izuku slowly walked closer, stopping right next to the vigilante. “You talked about us targeting All Might… I wanted to tell you why I did. Shigaraki sees him as a martyr for his ideas, a symbol of society as it is. While I agree, I did also agree with you when I was still a normal middle schooler.”

“All Might was the only hero who wasn't one for money or fame.” Stain argued. “You had other targets available, such as Endeavour.”

Izuku snorted. “Yeah, we'll definitely take care of that bitch one of those days. It's obvious he's an asshole.” He hummed lowly, searching for his next words. “I… believed in All Might. Before. I was sharing your opinion… until I met him.”

“You met All Might?”

“Yeah, crazy, right? I was fanboying so hard. I almost got killed by a slime-covered villain and he saved me,” the teen explained.

“I remember that incident,” the man thought out loud. “I don't recall you being part of it, though.”

“The incident which was mediated happened afterwards. I ran into the villain a while before that and All Might saved me… It's kind of my fault if the villain was able to attack someone else, I apologize. But still… it doesn't change what happened because we didn't know he had escaped then.”

“What do you mean?”

Izuku took a breath in. The memory still hurt. He couldn't explain why, but it was all still so painful in his heart, throat and stomach; it was as if he was back there, on that roof.

“You can't be a hero without a quirk.”

“I was born quirkless,” Izuku continued, “yet I always wanted to be a hero. But that's impossible, isn't it? At least, that's what he told me.”

“What?” Stain turned to him. “Your quirk status doesn't matter. Your values do. What do you mean he told you you couldn't be a hero?”

Izuku could still recall each and every second as if it had happened just the day before. “My entire life, I was bullied and mistreated for my quirklessness, but I never gave up. And so, I asked him…” He paused so as to not cry. “I said, ‘can I be a hero without a quirk?’” He clenched his fists to hide his trembling. “‘Could I ever hope to be someone like you?’”

He felt the air tense, the cold of the night only adding to the chilling rage boiling in his guts. He glanced at Stain to weigh his words.

“He looked me in the eyes and said, simply just said, no.”

His voice started shaking, and yes, maybe there was some sadness in it, but that was not the reason, no.

Izuku was angry.

“‘You can't be a hero without a quirk.’”

Izuku was absolutely enraged at everyone and everything.

He never asked to be powerless in a world where power was the most important part of people. He never asked to be different than everyone, no. In fact, when blowing the candles on his birthday cake, each year, alone with his mother as his only friend, he always wished for one single thing.

To be normal.

He was an anomaly, a failure, a good-for-nothing; he was a useless, unfit Deku.

And he would have killed to be like everyone else. Even if his quirk was stupid, it would have been better than just nothing.

Except Deku wasn't a failure nor was he useless anymore, was he?

No, Deku was a prodigy, a genius teenager, an analyst of the League of Villains and right-hand man to its boss, Shigaraki Tomura.

He was the second in command of an emerging criminal organization, and he had a feeling it would take him oh so, so far.

He was useful to someone. Someone wanted him.

Shigaraki wanted his presence, his input. Shigaraki needed him.

And while yes, Izuku was still unfit in this world, Deku had found his place.

And he would make the entire universe regret it.

He didn't realize his nails were drawing blood out of his palms until Stain pulled him out of his thoughts.

He must have understood Deku wasn't lying by the way his eyes became bloodshot with rage.

“And I thought All Might was the only true hero… I understand better now. He was simply hiding it more than the others.” He sighed and muttered things the teen clearly wasn't supposed to hear. “This world really is coming to an end… Is anybody even worthy anymore?” Then he suddenly turned to him again. “Kid, what do you want to accomplish? What’s your goal? What do you desire to achieve?”

Vengeance, was the immediate thought going through Deku's head.

But only Izuku spoke up, letting the wrath and madness sleep for now, letting himself be hopeful just a bit more.

“Peace,” was his answer. “I want a world where everyone can smile freely without having to worry about the future. I want people to feel accepted. No pariahs, no discrimination… I know it seems utopic. Maybe it is. But that only means I'll have to work even harder. I need to change society as a whole. I have to take care of heroes, and not only the corrupt people in their ranks, but the profession itself. It promotes flashy destructive quirks… Just for the performance of show. For fame. I guess that mainly includes taking down the HPSC… It all contributes to a world built on injustice. It only profits the rich and the strong.

“Some people are weak and it's not a shame. Everyone is different. That's why others can stand up to protect them. It should be like before it became remunerated by the government… when people simply did it because it felt right to them. The Age of Vigilantes. Where people like the Peerless Thief and Indomitable thrived. I simply don't understand why power is so important when you can just be happy by living together…

“But I guess people are selfish like that, aren't they? I don't want to be that way… I need to help people, that's all that I must do. People like me. People like you. People like the type the League recruits. People excluded and rejected, people who don't fit the standards… I could have given up, I know. No one would have blamed me. But then, who would be brave enough to fight? We need many people. We need to make everyone realize it, too.

“It's the only way to actually do something. I'm not going to sit on my ass and wait years to do something, still trying and hoping to be legally allowed to do anything, because I know it would have neither ever happened nor have been enough. I don't care about people recognizing me, I just want to change things. I need to act or no one will.”

Stain kept staring at him, speechless to Izuku’s long winded speech before, “You don't want people to know you? To know you did it?”

Izuku let a slight laugh escape him. “Who cares about people knowing you're the one who did it as long as it's done? It could be anyone else. I also want people to realize that: that they can be the change too. I don't want myself to be known, I need my actions and ideas to be.”

“And such a smart mind like yours allied with idiots like them for what?”

The younger one scoffed. “They share similar goals. More on the ‘destroy society’ part than on the ‘build another better one’ one, but still. They're like me. They're good support. And Shigaraki has a lot of resources, thanks to that guy he calls ‘Sensei’.”

“I don't trust that mysterious man just by the rumors I heard of the ‘background funder’ of the League. Be careful.”

“I will be. I don't either. Something’s off–” He paused. Did Stain just tell him to be careful? He didn't have time to dwell on it as the discussion kept going.

“I'm sure you'll do great, kid. For what it's worth, you might not be a hero, but you have the mind for it. I guess some criminals are less corrupt than heroes.” Stain searched through one of his pockets before he took out a small wrinkled piece of blank paper. “You got a pen, or something?”

Not really getting what the vigilante was doing, Izuku naively pulled out the pen he always had on him for analysis, handing it to him.

Stain scribbled something so quickly it could even rival Izuku's train of thoughts when he analyzed something. The man handed him the pen back along with the paper. Izuku took a look at it, eyes going wide. “Is that…?”

“My number,” he confirmed. “If you need anything – not your stupid friends, I'm convinced you're the only one with a working brain and worthy enough of my attention – call me.”

Izuku, shocked, embarrassingly stuttered, trying to thank the Hero Killer, but he was already about to leave. Still, he stopped and looked back for a second, uttering the only thing the kid had ever dreamed of.

“All Might was wrong. You could have been a great hero, kid.” He looked away and focused on his departure again while finishing his sentence, a cool breeze making both their hair twirl in the wind. “Maybe even the best and only true one out there.”

The night was dark, the only hint of escape being the unchanged moon. The city lights did nothing to soothe the sobs that escaped him in the minutes following his exchange with Stain. He couldn't decide if they were cries of joy, relief or pain. Maybe all of it at once. But, the important thing was that this man, the one wanted for years for his murders, the one renowned for his heart of stone, had just rekindled the flame of aspiration deep in the teenager's heart. His words had been simple but so heavy that they had fallen on a fragile soul with such force it had broken again for the umpteenth time since its appearance on earth. Only this time, Izuku wouldn't know if it was positive or not.

Speaking to no one but the invisible stars of the polluted sky, his words lost to the atmosphere, never repeated or remembered again, he merely whispered, "Was that so hard to say, All Might?”

Going to therapy had helped Katsuki. His father made him go, and he refused at first, but now he could see all the good it did to him. Reflecting on himself and his deceased childhood friend was something he had always hated; however, he had to admit it drastically changed his mindset.

Of course, he had realized how much of an asshole he had been over the past few years, and that evolved into making him realize being the best shouldn't be his only goal.

In fact, he told himself he should see that as the first step to be a hero. Being the strongest like All Might didn't mean being the strongest at beating villains. It meant being the strongest at saving people. 

It was the very essence of being a hero; but of course, the blonde had overlooked that, indoctrinated for years by the environment, everyone praising him for his naturally powerful and flashy quirk. He could see all the flaws of that system now.

And, of course, that enabled him to see Midoriya Izuku had always been a step ahead of him, hadn't he? Quirkless, he already knew that. He saw it all, didn't he? Of course he did. His goal had always been to help.

“When we're heroes, we'll save people together!”

Little Izuku kept repeating that, and what did Katsuki answer?

“We'll be so strong no villain will be able to beat us.”

From the outside, there was nothing wrong. It was cute, even, seeing two friends play heroes together.

And still, it showed exactly where they both stood at that time.

Katsuki had always been the one in the wrong. Blinded by his strength, he hurt the only one of them who deserved to achieve that dream.

And look how that ended up.

It was all his fault. He still hadn't told anyone except his therapist (which had already been so hard, so imagine standing in front of his parents admitting it. Imagine having to look at Inko, stare in her eyes and tell her ‘I killed him.’).

Guilt was eating him every day, but that was what he deserved, and the only way to atone for his sins was to be better.

Katsuki will become better.

He will achieve Izuku's dream by becoming a real hero, and maybe then, finally, forgiveness would come.

Only then, maybe, from up there, his childhood friend would look at him with the same awe as when they were kids.

Although, he would never accept any type of forgiveness.

He… he wanted to suffer because he felt it was the only way for him to live after what he had done.

And if the first step in getting closer to how selfless Izuku had always been (even though it would always be impossible to replicate such kindness) was to accept helping out some of his classmates with their homework, then so be it.

Which was why he was currently at his house with Uraraka and Ashido, trying to nicely get them to understand maths.

Who thought being nice was so hard? Izuku truly had been an angel.

“I can't understand a thing!” Ashido complained.

“Then concentrate harder,” Katsuki muttered.

“By the way,” Uraraka suddenly spoke up, “the sports festival is coming!”

“That's right! I'm so excited!” The pink girl exclaimed.

Avoiding the homework by a change of subject? Seriously?

Katsuki innerly sighed. C’mon, Kat, be nice. It can't hurt to talk for a bit. You didn't force yourself to remember their name for nothing anyway, did you?

“I'll try to get first place.” I'm going to get first place.

“Honestly, I would be happy if I passed the first round!” Ashido laughed. “Each year, it seems to get harder…”

“Don't discourage yourself, Mina! You'll do great!” Uraraka assured before looking at the blonde with a large smile. “And I'm confident you'll succeed in winning!”

Oh. That was nice.

Why did he care anyway? Of course he would win, it was his first step in the first step of being the strongest to become a true hero as Izuku had been.

He suddenly realized how he missed hearing his friend cheering on him. He forced himself to answer, taking what replacement he could. “You better do your best too.”

Perhaps it could count as his first proof he was better. Maybe the sports festival could show Izuku how he had changed.

If he was even watching over him.

Chapter Text

Yagi may have retired from being a hero, but it didn't mean he couldn't teach.

In fact, he really wanted to be a teacher – not only to feel useful again, but also to prepare the new generation the best he could and to find his successor.

The problem was, the U.S.J. attack greatly impacted U.A.’s reputation. Parents were terrified, a family was even in grief, and a few students were forced by their parents to quit the hero course. Some ended up taking the general one instead, others completely quit U.A. Principal Nezu had been understanding and made sure everyone received compensation. Class 1-A was now missing five students: Mineta Minoru was deceased, Sato Rikido was still in a coma and probably wouldn't come back to school when – if – he woke up, Yaoyorozu Momo had been transferred to another hero school, Ashido Mina and Ojiro Mashirao had been transferred to the general education course. A few in 1-B were also missing, and the hero students remaining had probably fought tooth and nail with their parents to stay.

They were brave. Yagi wouldn't have been surprised if no one stayed. Sometimes you realized how dangerous being a hero was and changed your mind – it was completely fine.

Still, he was glad many wanted to keep trying.

A psychological support unit had been opened in the school for those who needed it, and a minute of silence had been held when classes started again in the memory of the deceased student and in hope the hospitalized one would recover soon.

Some students tried to stay cheerful, others seemed flattened. But they all wanted to work hard.

They didn't say a thing when Yagi walked in, a frail old man in a suit, striking contrast to what they were used to. However, they looked at him with respect and hope. It warmed his depressed heart.

They truly held heroic spirits.

He stood with Aizawa and listened to the same explanation as the students.

“You have a few weeks until the sports festival,” the tired man said. He had recovered quickly, and a scar decorated his face under his right eye, inflicted by the League of Villains’s analyst. “It's an important event. That's where you'll be able to catch the eye of pro heroes for your internship later this year.”

At that, a few murmurs were heard. Aizawa waited for them to quiet down before continuing.

“Don't be too harsh on yourselves. After what happened, you have the right to feel slightly down. The sports festival is held every year, so you'll have two more chances to be known. Don't pressure yourselves too much.”

Yagi was surprised to hear him so encouraging, but he guessed the man felt responsible for the results of the attack at least as much as him.

They all felt responsible. They all felt that failure deep in their bones.

They had lost a kid.

They had failed him.

Yagi zoned out thinking about it and only came back to himself when the bell rang at the end of Aizawa’s explanation.

“See you after lunch,” Aizawa sighed as students left.

Silence filled the room.

“Are you alright?” Yagi stupidly asked.

“How could I be?” Aizawa murmured. “We have to be careful. Increase security. Protect the students. We can't let that happen again.”

Yagi nodded. “Of course.”

Aizawa gazed at him. “... Don't be too harsh on yourself either. Things happen. You couldn't have known the villains had so much information about you. We may have been unable to effectively protect our students, but they're still the ones at fault. They're the ones responsible. Everyone will only be safe when they're in jail.”

After that, Aizawa left. Yagi stared at his feet.

How did they know? He thought.

How did they know about his weakening state?

~

“A spy.” Nezu stated, a small polite smile adorning his features, as he intently watched the teachers around the table.

Eyes wide, Yamada exclaimed, “A what?!”

“A spy is a person employed by a government or other organization to secretly obtain information on an enemy or competitor.” Nezu helpfully supplied.

“No, I know what a spy is! But could a spy really manage to get into U.A. without being caught?”

“Villains did. Why not a spy?” Kayama retorted.

“It would explain all the information they got. Having an analyst helps, but an analyst can only analyze known information. That's why information brokers exist.” Aizawa thought out loud.

“So we need to search for a spy?” Kan raised an eyebrow.

“The spy was not discovered. I have all the reasons to believe they are still here, in the school, to keep giving out information to the League.” The mammal affirmed. “Please be on the lookout.”

~

But how could a spy have known? It explained how they knew the students’ quirks and relationships, and how they knew about the U.S.J. 

He palmed his left side.

But not his weakness. He was always extremely careful.

“How…?” He muttered, all alone, standing in front of empty seats.

The light pollution in the areas with nightlife was so high that it was impossible to see the stars, making the dark expanse of the sky appear much blacker than it actually was. After all, with so many street lights, billboards, and LED lights, the night sky couldn't remain untouched – but what really bothered Izuku was that this mixture of lights was harsh on his retina. If he stared at one for a second too long, his eyes would burn.

It was late, around two in the morning, and he had suffered a painful insomnia the night before: he was exhausted and all the activity around him made him want to smash his head against the nearest lamppost.

The crowds, the noise, the lights – restaurants, clubs, karaoke bars, and in the alleys, drug dealing and prostitution.

The unmistakable scent of alcohol and drugs reached his nostrils, awakening unpleasant memories. He shook his head, trying to distract himself. He even came to prefer the scent of ashes, tobacco, and sweat of the man with him and instinctively moved closer to him.

“I get that it's less likely to get caught in such an environment, but this place really sucks.” He commented, slightly wincing at the sight of a street fight further away.

“Still more entertaining than you.” Dabi kindly spat.

Deku rolled his eyes. “You seem familiar with the place. Did you spend time here before?”

The question earned him a glare, and Izuku calmly added the thought to his mental list of ‘sensitive Dabi subjects to avoid so as to not get burned alive’.

He shut up – it only lasted a second.

“Well, at least we're out together, just the two of us, for the first time!”

Dabi groaned. “You speak almost more than the crazy blonde.”

“Toga’s craziness is what makes her fun.”

“Is that so?” The man responded, disinterested.

“Yeah. Basically the opposite of you.”

“I'm not here to have fun. I'm here because our boss is paranoid.”

“You don't seem to like obeying orders.” Izuku noted.

“Who the fuck likes to follow orders from a manchild?”

“I don't know, you could be kinky.”

Dabi – finally! – looked at him, a repelled expression painted on his scarred face. “Don't ever fucking say that again.”

Izuku smiled, innocently blinking. “I still think it's great we're out together, we can learn more about each other.”

“I'm not interested in making friends.” The other refused, turning right into an alleyway.

“I am.” Izuku insisted.

Dabi sighed, stopping, and turned around to meet his gaze. “You might be a smart little shit, but you're a fucking kid. You shouldn't be anywhere near the League or me. You should be with your mom and dad and go to school.”

“My dad used to hit me for being quirkless and bailed and my mom thinks I killed myself months ago.” Izuku evenly informed.

Dabi seemed taken aback, reflecting for a second. “ … Forget it. Just know I'm not here because I want to. What I meant to make you understand is that you chose to be here and you have to deal with the consequences. Shigaraki might have ordered me to accompany you, but that doesn't mean I'm willing to put myself at risk for your safety. You shouldn't be there, and I won't take responsibility for you, however useful you can be. I'm a villain. I don't care about your age or your background. If you die, you die. Don't try to forge links with me because I just don't care.”

Izuku didn't answer, simply taking out his mask and putting his hood on. Deku sighed. “I'm not waiting for anyone to take responsibility or protect me. I may be young but I know what I got myself into. It's what I want. I don't care if I die either.” He put his mask in place and stretched. “It would just be good to know we can count on each other… But fine, just being my bodyguard suits you enough.”

“I'm not your fucking bodyguard.”

“Geez, man, it's a joke. You know, since Shigaraki sent you with me to make sure everything went fine…”

Cold eyes answered him.

Izuku blinked once more and shrugged before activating his voice changer. “Alright.”

Deku guessed he would have to get used to people’s reaction to his identity. Toga had been exalted to meet another teenager, but Dabi had looked… disgusted? Annoyed? He didn't know and he had no way of finding out – that guy was like a fucking brick wall whenever you spoke to him.

A brick wall with flamethrowers.

That mental image made him chuckle; Dabi ignored him. The fire user was starting to get used to the analyst’s weird behaviour.

They walked into a small building by the back door.

They were supposed to meet a group of lone villains who were willing to do whatever was required of them in exchange for money. It kind of made Izuku sad to know most of them ended up that way because of society's perpetual inequality of repartition regarding riches.

Deku's plan was to ask them to cause chaos here and there in the city to occupy weaker heroes so they could trap the big fish with a higher emergency and get rid of them with the Nomus.

It wasn't perfect, but Shigaraki was his boss and once he had an idea, he would hardly let go, thus Deku had to work with the little liberty he had.

As Dabi had said, he leaned back against the wall and scrolled on his phone, letting Deku do all the talking and everything else.

He sighed. The group they managed to gather stared warily at him.

Time to get to work.

Bakugo Katsuki wasn't sad – at least not more than on a usual daily basis since his childhood friend’s death.

He was actually angry.

Those villains had hurt his class. Mineta wasn't someone he appreciated, he barely spoke to Sato, and he didn't know the others for long, but he had tried to be a good person, he had helped Ashido with homework, he had lent a hand to Yaoyorozu when it was her turn to clean the classroom and she was alone – he had done things, put effort into it, and now everyone looked sad and some were missing because of their parents.

Those villains destroyed the dreams of some of his classmates, those villains had hurt his teachers, those villains had hurt All Might, his idol.

They had even posted a video of what happened. A video where he was seen to be obviously useless. He was humiliated, U.A. was humiliated.

Why? Because they felt like it? Because it made them happy to hurt others?

The world worked better without them. Everyone would be safer when that League of Villains would be arrested.

Even better if they died.

That's all they deserved for using All Might, his and Izuku’s idol, to entertain themselves.

That's what they got for flattening Uraraka’s usual cheeriness. For stopping students from achieving their dream.

Katsuki hated villains, and he especially hated those villains. He made it his personal business to avenge his class.

Villains polluted society. They brought nothing good – only death, sorrow and chaos.

And for no reason at all.

A part of him also hated them because he felt like he had been a sort of villain back in middle school, because he targeted the weak, because he decided he wanted to. Because he couldn't handle his own failure.

If it was similar for villains, then he knew he could never forgive them – one, because he didn't forgive himself, and two, because he knew they could change but didn't want to, since he experienced it.

So he would make them regret.

For himself, for his class, and especially for Izuku.

Classes were over. Uraraka had asked him to meet with others behind one of the gymnasiums. She had said they were going to train for the sports festival.

He was going to, anyway, but had wanted to do it alone. He always did things alone, he surely didn't need anyone to help him. He was going to decline. He was going to tell her to fuck off–

Instead, he nodded.

He nodded because since the start he tried to help them improve, because it was also a way for him to be nicer. He didn't want anyone to end up like Izuku. If to avoid it, he had to become the one on whom they could rely, he would. He would help, he would listen.

He would train with them, because even if he was stronger than the others, he wasn't better than them. Far from it.

Izuku had proved it to him.

And so, now, he made his way there, stumbling upon at least half the class.

They smiled and waved.

They hadn't even started.

They had been waiting for him.

Because he was included. Because he was important.

Something inside of him warmed.

He let out a shaky breath and, looking away, subtly waved back, hurriedly walking up to them.

Even Ashido and Ojiro were there. He raised an eyebrow.

“What?” Ashido smiled. “Our parents don't want us to follow the hero course anymore, but does that mean we're willing to step down? Of course not!”

“We’ll train too. We'll also participate in the sports festival after all.” The blonde added.

Katsuki huffed. Idiots.

Still, he smirked. Others started to stretch and exercise, getting ready to train with each other.

He cracked his knuckles. “I want to start by sparring with someone. Both of you, come at me.”

Shinso didn't really care about what had happened. Sure, it was sad, it was horrible even, and he knew that, but he weirdly felt… neutral. After all, he never knew the kid that died, and barely spoke with anyone of his class, so the fact that some of them left didn't touch him more than that.

Those days, he mainly focused on his studies…and his new relationship.

It was official now. He had seen Izuku again, for a second date, and halfway through, the teenager had smiled at him, seeming excited, and blurted ‘Hey, let's be boyfriends now’.

Shinso swore he fainted. Turned out he didn't but actually agreed.

And now his entire life revolved around his new boyfriend. He texted him, called him when he could, they saw each other when possible, and Izuku even helped him with some homework. It didn't seem to bother him – he was always so kind.

Shinso smiled dumbly thinking about it. He had just gotten out of class and was walking towards their meeting point. No matter how many times they saw each other, his heart still pounded in his chest.

He stopped along the way to buy a bunch of flowers. Camellias. Red ones. Izuku's favorite flower.

He hoped Izuku would like it. He'd die to see him smile – and he died every time he did too.

He arrived at the park, walked up to the bench they always met at, and saw him sitting there, on his phone.

Shinso took a deep breath in and approached. Izuku looked up and beamed. His phone became long forgotten in his pocket and he rushed to hug Shinso. Tightly. Too tightly.

Still, Shinso let him.

“I'm glad to see you!”

“Me too,” Shinso said, handing out the bouquet, “here.”

Shinso swore he saw the sun in the green haired’s eyes.

“For me? Really?” He took them, burying his nose in them to smell the strong scent. “You're the best, Hitoshi.”

Shinso smiled and slowly took his hand. But he immediately caught the sight of the scratches on his knuckles. “Are you alright? What happened?”

“Oh,” Izuku breathed out, “I was practicing martial arts.”

Shinso, shocked, stared at him. “Since when?”

“A while. I never told you? Sorry… I hit the punching bag too hard and hurt myself. I didn't want to worry you…”

Izuku seemed so guilty that Shinso’s heart ached. “Don't worry about it! It's okay. It's alright. Just be careful okay?” Then he grinned. “I didn't know my boyfriend was so strong…”

Izuku got a mischievous glint in his eyes and smiled. “I can show you how strong exactly whenever you want.”

Shinso blushed. “What?”

Izuku laughed and dragged him towards the exit. “Come, let's go buy something to eat!”

Shinso followed, embarrassed, not even taking into account the blonde teenager watching them further away with a phone in her hand nor how Izuku was relieved his boyfriend was too in love to understand the punching bag he mentioned was now six feet under.