Chapter Text
They were RIGHT there.
From all the times Bakugo was in Deku’s apartment as a child, he could recognize it anywhere. Sure, the video showed a slightly different apartment, but there was one thing that was the same. The bottom wall lining. It had to be. It ran along the bottom of every single room, white with a slight curve at the top.
Bakugo couldn’t even believe that he remembered such a small detail.
But if he was right, that meant Shigaraki was keeping Deku in a place close to Autie Inko. Hell, they could even be next door. When they went to visit her, they must’ve passed right by them, and Deku couldn’t do anything.
“You what?” Aizawa asked, eyebrows raised.
“I said I know where he is!” Bakugo said again. The room glanced at him in anticipation. “I used to go to Deku’s apartment all the time as a child, and I am 100% certain that they are in an apartment in the same building.”
“How do you know that?” Nezu asked.
“Because the lining on the wall is the exact same. I am sure of it.” The teachers looked at him skeptically, but Bakugo kept his face determined.
“But why there, of all places?” Present Mic added.
“Maybe Shigaraki didn’t expect us to look there.” Aizawa Sensei pointed out. “Or maybe he wanted Midoriya’s mother close by so that Midoriya wouldn’t cause trouble.
Behind him, Bakugo felt Uraraka shiver at the thought.
“Well, what’re we waiting for! Let’s get him!” All Might stood in his hero form for a moment, before his disappeared behind a cloud of smoke and emerged in his tall, skinny skeleton.
“We need to think calmly about this. We need a plan to do this without endangering Midoriya, his mother, or any residents.” Nezu said.
Bakugo saw Aizawa heavily sigh, glancing at his students before saying, “I have an idea.”
“Hmm?”
“Let’s have the kids go visit Midoriya’s mother. It will be inconspicuous, and they’ll be there to protect her once we begin to engage. I already sent them to visit her once before, so them doing it again shouldn’t cause an alarm.”
Bakugo, Round Face, and Four Eyes straightened their posture, eager to be involved in any way possible.
“You want to send the STUDENTS in? Why put them in harm's way?” Midnight said.
“Like I said, it’ll be the least likely to cause alarm. We can’t just send in Pros. Shigaraki could hurt or kill Midoriya in a second, remember.”
“But--”
“Stop, both of you.” Nezu said. He paced back and forth, looking at Aizawa for a moment, then the students. Nezu caught Bakugo’s eye, and in that moment, Bakugo tried to seem as bold and confident as he could.
“All right, Aizawa.” Nezu settled on, let’s work with your plan.”
The three students exhaled. Aizawa seemed happy, but anxious at the same time.
“Okay. Listen carefully.” Aizawa moved to the front to present his plan. “You three,” he pointed to the kids still in the doorway, “sit down, please.”
They did. Then, Aizawa told them the plan.
Izuku awoke suddenly and quickly, thrashing his body backwards. But Shigaraki wasn’t there anymore.
Looking down, Izuku saw the damage that had been done. It was hard to make out upside down, and given the not so careful handwriting, but he was pretty sure it said FRAUD, followed by USELESS. Still freshly produced, lines of blood dripped from most of the letters, spilling onto Izuku’s pants and the floor.
Every movement made him feel raw and uncomfortable. Not that he could move much, with his hands being back up high behind him.
The camera was still placed on a table in the room, Izuku noticed, but it didn’t look like it was on. He shivered, remembering Shigaraki's message. Izuku had purposefully not looked into the camera. He couldn’t bear the thought of every single person he knew seeing him in this vulnerable state. At least he passed out before he could scream....
Shigaraki entered, breaking his thoughts. “Ah, those came out nicely. They’ll be nice and visible for next time.”
Next time. So, he was planning on recording again.
Shigaraki was referring to the words carved on his chest. Izuku didn’t say anything.
“What? Don't like the new look? Honestly, it’s not much worse than those other scars you already had.” Shigaraki didn’t carry anything with him, meaning that Izuku probably wasn’t going to be fed. His stomach rumbled.
“What’re you trying to accomplish with the videos? You claim it’s to ‘show the world about the truth behind heroes’, but if anything, you're just showing them that I'm still alive. It’s giving them motivation to find me faster.”
Shigaraki kneeled in front of Izuku’s face. “That’s where you're wrong. You see, the whole meaning of heroes is created by a false sense of HOPE. The whole world puts their faith into them, but in reality, they deserve none of it. I’m going to show them to lose faith in you, and therefore the rest of the filthy heroes. Show them that once in a weak position, heroes aren’t as brave and selfless as they think.”
“But that won’t change anything!” Izuku protested, “It’ll only make you seem like even more of a bad guy, which in turn places even MORE trust in the heroes.”
Shigaraki slapped him abruptly. Izuku reeled backwards, the chains swinging him slightly.
“Oh, it’ll work better than you think. Just wait and see.”
Izuku’s vision blurred. He couldn’t tell if it was from the slap or exhaustion.
“It won’t stop my friends from looking for me.” Izuku said before he could stop himself.
Shigaraki grabbed Izuku’s chin and pulled him forwards, pinky lifted. His fingernails dug into his skin, making Izuku’s eyes water. “By the time I'm done with you, your friends won’t want to be your friends anymore. I’m going to bring out every secret, sin, or dark thought you have ever had. I’m going to make them wish they never knew you.”
He let go, Izuku’s face falling quickly from the lack of support. He looked at the ground, studying each crack in the hardwood. The thought of every secret he had being exposed scared him. Nothing would HURT anyone else, but if people knew the truth about One for All, he and others could be in serious trouble.
But Izuku would hold out as long as he could, no matter what. He wasn't going to give up as easily as Shigaraki thought.
Shigaraki grabbed the camera, bringing it over close to Izuku. He placed it on the floor, pointing upwards. Izuku was sure that anyone watching would be able to see every bead of sweat on his face. A red LED light signaled that it was on.
Izuku, now with the camera being on the floor, could only avoid looking into it if he were to look up, which took a lot of neck strength that he didn’t currently have. The lack of food and water, not to mention his injuries, left him in a pretty weak state. He probably wouldn’t be able to walk, if he currently had the ability to do so.
Shigaraki then pulled out the same knife from earlier, which still had some blood on it, and began to heat it with a lighter.
“Hello again, we’re back.”
Izuku almost chuckled, his introduction sounded like something you would hear on YouTube.
Shigaraki waved the knife up and down the lighter, getting all parts of it hot. Izuku did not like where this was going.
“I think this time, we should get to know our guest even more. What do you think?” Shigaraki looked at Izuku as if expecting him to say I couldn’t agree more!
Izuku pursed his lips, trying his best to ignore what was coming.
Unexpectedly, Shigaraki placed the burning hot knife directly under Izuku’s chin, forcing his face up to look directly forwards. He didn’t move it from that spot, so if Izuku let his head drop, the burning metal would sear his skin. It took great effort to keep his head up, and his neck muscles already started to burn.
“Each time you don’t answer one of my questions, I'm going to raise the knife a little higher. Our little hero here doesn’t have much energy due to his injuries and exhaustion, so let’s see how long he can go before he inevitably drops.”
Izuku kept his head up, trying to keep his breathing steady and his eyes forward. He could smell the heat from right under him.
“Question one: What is your full name?”
Izuku didn’t want to give into his little game, but decided he would answer what was necessary to keep the knife as low as possible for as long as possible. “M-Midoriya Izuku.”
Shigaraki smiled wildly.
“How old are you?”
“Sixteen.”
“If you had to kill one of your classmates, who would it be?”
Izuku coughed. He didn't expect a question like that. “I wouldn’t.”
With no hesitation, Shigaraki raised the knife quickly. It nicked his chin for a moment before Izuku could move higher, and he let out a small yelp. The spot burned.
“If you had to kill a member of class 1-A, who would it be?” Shigaraki asked again, his face full of absolute joy.
“No one!” Izuku said again. The knife went even higher, and this time Izuku was ready. He moved higher before it touched him. Now he was looking up towards the celling, not leaving much room to go further. His neck started to shake.
“Someone has to die, who is it?”
Izuku couldn’t risk going higher. He pondered for a moment, then said, “Me. I would kill myself.”
Shigaraki looked annoyed with this answer but accepted it anyways. The knife didn’t lower. “Would you kill a villain if it meant a child could go home safe?”
“Killing isn’t for me to decide. They would go to jail.”
Shigaraki didn’t raise the knife, but he waved it threateningly. “The ONLY way for the kid to survive is to kill the villain, would you do it?”
Izuku knew exactly what Shigaraki was trying to get at. Although he didn’t want to answer, he couldn't avoid the inevitable. “.... Yes.”
He closed his eyes, feeling like he betrayed All Might and the rest of U.A. In all honesty, he WOULD kill a villain if it was the only way, but only after all other options had failed.
Shigaraki’s eyes illuminated as he continued. “Who is the worst teacher at UA and why?”
This question was kind of placed awkwardly. It seemed pretty low stake, so Izuku decided he would use Aizawa and apologize to him later. If there ever was a later. “Aizawa. He’s harsh and sleeps during homeroom most days.”
“Do you want to kill me right now?”
Izuku paused at this one. He knew Shigaraki was most likely trying to provoke an answer out of him, and it almost worked. Hell, he’d been put through hell the past however-many days, it makes sense that he’d want Shigaraki dead. But Izuku just wasn’t like that. “No. I want you to get some help, and possibly rot in jail for the rest of your life.”
Shigaraki fumed, raising the knife at a much higher scale than before. The length of it touched the entire underside of Izuku’s neck, forcing a scolding yell out of his mouth. He quieted quickly, swallowing dry, trying not to move an inch. Now he was looking up almost as much as he possibly could with his hands up behind him. Sweat dripped down the side of his face.
“Have you ever had a suicidal thought?”
Maybe you’ll get lucky with a quirk in your next life. Go ahead and take a swan dive off the roof.
Izuku hadn’t thought about those words for a while, and suddenly they appeared again. He and Bakugo, even if unsaid, had improved their relationship since then. Izuku himself had been much happier since starting at UA. But he couldn’t lie that there had been a time....
Shigaraki noticed the change in his face. “Hmm?”
“y-y-yes.” Izuku’s whole body was shaking with exhaustion, the ends of his vision blacking. He wasn’t sure how much longer he would be able to hold himself up.
Shigaraki let this answer sink in a bit. He turned the knife once over in his hand. “Okay--now tell me; would you be in U. A’s hero course if you had no quirk?”
“Probably--probably not.” Izuku couldn’t imagine getting through the entrance exam if he had not been given One for All earlier that same exact day.
“Do you think people without quirks could be heroes?”
“Yes.”
Shigaraki placed all five fingers on Izuku’s exposed shoulder. It was only for a second, but the damage was already done. Izuku’s skin peeled away, leaving the muscle and tissue exposed. He screamed, his head dropping onto the burning knife. It burnt part of his flesh and cut into him. Shigaraki held it for a few seconds before finally pulling it away and letting Izuku drop like deadweight, the chains on his wrists the only thing keeping him up. He swayed back and forth, barely hanging on to consciousness.
“Lies. People without quirks could never be a hero, and heroes themselves know that more than anyone.” Shigaraki stood, picking up the camera and talking directly to it. He ignored Izuku’s muffled sobs in the background. “Midoriya Izuku has a quirk that arguably could be one of the strongest sheer forces of all kinds. He has grown up with this power and knows nothing about what it’s like to be powerless. Yet, he claims that the powerless can be heroes, too. People like him have no idea what it’s like to be ignored. They have no idea what it’s like to have to blindly trust other people with their lives because they are unable to defend themselves . Now, it is their turn. It is time for the world to realize that heroes couldn’t care less about you. They care about their own public persona and agenda. When it comes down to........”
Izuku’s hearing started to fade. The pain was too much to handle, his body looking for an escape through unconsciousness. The last thing he saw, Shigaraki turned the camera off and left, before darkness engulfed him.
The next video was broadcasted everywhere. On the streets, in public transportation, on every single Television and device....
That being said, while Iida and the others were on their way to Auntie Inko’s they saw everything. HEARD everything. Uraraka broke into fresh tears when Deku admitted to having suicidal thoughts.
At that part, Iida noticed Bakugo stiffen beside him.
Once Midoriya’s shoulder was disintegrated, Iida could barely contain himself. They needed to get there, fast. They jumped out of the train and raced towards the apartment building.
Upon entering, things seemed normal. For some reason, this ENRAGED Iida, because somewhere in this building their friend was bleeding and unconscious, but people came and went as if nothing was wrong.
Things were quiet once they reached Inko’s door. Bakugo knocked brutally.
“Auntie Inko! It’s us!” He yelled.
Nothing happened. The door remained unanswered.
“Do you think maybe she stepped out...?’ Uraraka suggested. She looked behind her shoulder questioningly.
Just then, the door opened, but only an inch. A pair of green eyes peeked at them, full of tears.
“I’m s-sorry, now’s not a good time...” Inko sniffled. It was obvious that she had just seen her son in the video.
Bakugo ignored her and shoved the door open. She stumbled backwards, surprised.
“What--”
“Listen, we need to be here. They know where De--” He paused, “--Izuku is. They are getting him right now.”
“We’ve got her, Aizawa sensei.” Iida spoke into his communication device, “Go.”
On cue, noise erupted all around them.
As soon as he heard the word from Iida, Aizawa was in full combat mode. Deciding that Shigaraki would be in an apartment on the same level as the Midoriya’s, and probably only a few doors down, teams were separated, and each given an assigned apartment to raid on cue. Aizawa chose the one two doors to the left, thinking that it was the most likely of choices. HE wanted to be the one to beat Shigaraki’s face in for doing those things to his student....
The door smashed down easily thanks to Mt. Lady’s gigantic hand. It tumbled out of the way, leaving Aizawa to lead the way in with his eyes red and hair flying. The first thing he saw was Problem Child, wrists suspended, at the far side of the room. The noise and commotion did not cause him to stir.
“Tell the others it’s this one!” Aizawa ordered. He crossed the room quickly, keeping his eye out for Shigaraki. He dropped to his knees, scooping Midoriya’s head into his hands and shaking it gently.
“Kid! Kid, are you with me?”
Aizawa already knew what his injures were but seeing it up close and in person was even worse. Blood pooled around them, staining Aizawa’s pants as he held Midoriya's head.
“Problem Child?” Aizawa placed a finger on his neck to feel a pulse. At first, he couldn’t find it and thought that—well, thought the worst. But then he could feel it faintly. It was slow.
“...Aiz’.... Sen--sei?” A green eye cracked open, and Aizawa felt his stomach leap to his chest.
“It’s alright. It’s me. We’re getting you out of here.”
“...Thas....goo’.” His breathing became shallower, and it looked like he passed out again. Letting go of his head for a moment, Aizawa reached up and unhooked the chain from the ceiling. He caught Midoriya before he crashed to the floor.
“There’s no sign of Shigaraki.” Midnight came back around the corner, shaking her head. “But there’s a body. It’s probably whoever lived here....”
“That’s okay, let’s just focus on getting Midoriya out of here for now.” Aizawa held onto his student carefully, trying not to touch the exposed muscle or any other serious injuries. “Can you please get Uravity in here?”
She nodded once and left. Aizawa tried to move with Midoriya but found that his legs were stuck to the ground.
“Fuck-”
There were no locks on these shackles. They were simply drilled into the floor. Aizawa yelled, “I need help here!”
All might ran in, followed closely by Uravity. She gasped in shock at the scene.
“My boy...” All might crouched next to Aizawa.
“All Might!” Aizawa gestured to the floor, pulling Midoriya upwards slightly so that there was enough space to work.
“Right--” He popped into his hero form and used his strength to pull the screws from the floor, as well as shattering the quirk-suppressing cuffs on Midoriya's wrists. Not a moment later, he shrunk back into his skeleton form. Midoriya fell forwards into Aizawa’s arms.
“Uravity, could you?”
She ran over and placed her hands gently on Midoriya’s head. Immediately, he became weightless and floated just above the floor. Aizawa carefully placed his hands on him to push him out of the apartment.
“Let’s go.”
In the hall, Mrs. Midoriya came running out of her apartment in tears, Iida and Bakugo trying to hold her back. “Izuku! Izuku! Is he okay?”
Problem Child regained consciousness for a second, eyebrows furrowing when he noticed he was weightless. “U... Uraraka?”
“I’m here, Deku!” She was running alongside him.
Midoriya tried to look around, but his eyes closed once more. “Where’s.... Shi...raki?”
“Don’t worry about that right now.” Aizawa said.
Ignoring Mrs. Midoriya, Aizawa headed for the stairs, leading the team. The ambulances were already waiting in the parking lot. A group of medics ran and met them halfway with a stretcher. Once Midoriya was over it, Uravity yelled, “ Release!" And he was gently placed onto the sheets and whisked away without another word.
Uravity almost fell over, but Aizawa kept her steady.
“You did good.”
She didn’t answer. She kept her eyes on Midoriya, all the way until the doors shut and the ambulance drove off with lights flashing and sirens blaring.