Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It starts innocuously enough, with All Might being invited to run the yearly Quirkless course on Quirk Warrior.

“It’s been a rough course this year folks – only six runners have made it all the way through, but we’ve got one last contestant to go.”

“That’s right, Ken, and it’s the one you’ve all been waiting for. This year’s Quirkless Run has pulled out all the stops – the jump hang is longer, the wall is higher, and it’s all for this one last runner. Ladies and gentlemen, the one, the only, the legend, All Might!”

cinnadust

My favorite thing about All Might running the QLC is that he doesn’t run at all. He strolls through like he’s fucking bored.

Staples083

his wingspan is enormous

pipe-fingers

Petition for All Might to run the Quirk course #NumberOneInOurHearts

GangOrg4n

look at him wave at the audience he’s not even tring lol Absolute Legend

Red-Phone-Wire

please someone make these announcers losing their shit into a meme

All Might’s appearance rockets the ratings to unseen heights; the full video goes viral and has over a million views before the weekend is over. It isn’t long before the agency is fielding phone calls from the usual suspects – reporters, journalists, talk shows – but also from some more unusual places.

Toshinori lights up when PR brings him the first batch of requests and immediately agrees to do them all. The second flurry of requests comes before the cooking show segment is finished airing and the floodgates open. Every reality show and competition is clamoring for All Might to guest star.

Quirky Kitchen makes it an hour-long special. The first half is dedicated to some old American favorites; he chats with the host and audience while slicing tomatoes with charming ease. The audience delights in his culinary prowess, gained over long years of bachelordom, and laughs at his silly anecdotes. Which makes the second half all the more surprising.

With the burden of secrecy lifted, Yagi Toshinori can finally see his way forward. All Might can no longer be a pillar, but, perhaps, Yagi Toshinori can be a support beam. While the live audience munches on potato chips hot from the fryer, Toshinori pulls a simple hardback chair from the set, seats himself, and opens up.

“Cooking… it’s a lot like my Quirk – my strength is gone, but the reflexes, the training, all of that is still there. I can’t eat what I’m making anymore, but I still know how to make it. And I can still share it with all of you.”

explendative

holy shit

out-of-batt

damn, look at him flipping burgers @9:32 this man is perfect??

h0m3b0dyJJ

Okay, guys, my dad had a gastrectomy a few years before he died and it’s seriously no joke. My dad lost 63 pounds just a few months after his; it’s hard to keep anything down and you have to eat little meals all the time and there’s just so. much. food. that you can’t have anymore. He was taking like a billion supplements and vitamins just to manage everyday challenges. I can’t even imagine going through that on top of being an active Pro.

its-ibuki

we must protect All Might at all costs

He laughs when his students gather round, babbling about the dance show. He ruffles Ashido’s hair fondly.

“You don’t get to Number One without some fancy footwork! Take that to heart, my young students,” he nods sagely, managing to extract himself before he’s late to the staff meeting. He heads down the hall, but not before tossing one last piece of advice over his shoulder.

“And learn at least one social dance!”

Honestly? I don’t like the hero rankings. I’d prefer they didn’t exist at all. How do you rank acts of heroism? Why is saving one life worth less than saving a hundred? You can’t quantify someone’s worth down to a data point. What’s a hundred lives to a parent that’s lost their only child?

- All Might discusses the ranking system on Hero Discourse

12,086 notes

LoreleiFae

another day, another reason to love All Might

FlipFlapItsATrap

you know, I never really got the hype around All Might. Like, I understood he was number one and super strong and all that, but I never got all the fervor around him. I started to get it after Kamino, but it’s really little moments like these that make me understand why he was number one. why he’s still number one, no matter what the ranking says. #NumberOneInOurHearts

07ohseven

@FlipFlapItsATrap: I’ve met All Might twice, both before and after Kamino (humblebrag, lol), and he really is just the nicest guy. He never treated anyone like they weren’t worth his time, from teenagers hunting autographs to little kids that wanted a hug. I ran into him again a few months ago at the Mustafu Library – he’d tucked himself away into a corner with a few books and we talked a little about what he was reading (a biography and a fantasy novel, if you were wondering). He asked me to call him Toshi and gave me some movie recommendations.

07ohseven

@FlipFlapItsATrap: I got off topic there, but what I wanted to say was that you’re right – All Might wasn’t number one because he was a good hero. He was number one because he’s a good person. All Might made me feel safe, but Toshi made me feel comfortable, like talking to an old friend. I hope I get to meet him again one day. #NumberOneInOurHearts

Kizumi Takada @0Window0Knight0

@AllMightOfficial how many people have you kissed?

All Might @AllMightOfficial

@0Window0Knight0 None.

All Might @AllMightOfficial

@0Window0Knight0 But, many, many people have kissed me.

Peony-crowned

Next time on Hero Theory – is All Might asexual?

Superxxchar04

@peony-crowned: OTP – All Might X Justice

Hkoin

@superxxchar04: All Might X A healthy mind body and soul in a long life filled with joy and laughter FTFY

He’s carrying a stack of grading in one hand and nearly throws the entire stack into the air when Present Mic grabs him in the hallway, begging him to be on his show. After a few moments spent calming him down, Toshinori manages to gather that his guest host for the night has had a last minute cancellation. He offers an easy smile and agrees to fill in.

He wasn’t expecting Hizashi to open the phone lines up for questions, but what kind of hero would he be if he couldn’t roll with the punches?

Am I on the air?

That’s right, listener! You are live and you’ve got a question for us?

Yeah! Well, for All Might. Big fan by the way, you’re the greatest.

Thank you kindly, young man!

Right, so I was wondering – do you make more from your hero work, or from merchandising rights? I’ll hang up and listen, if that’s okay?

Perfectly fine, listener!

I don’t – didn’t – make any money at all from hero work. Any bounties have gone to victims or to charity, and I’ve never sent anyone a bill for helping at a natural disaster. Merchandising rights more than cover the agency overhead – I’m not even the highest paid individual at my own company.

TexasSmashMe

I’m sorry to inform the hero fandom that Stain was 100% correct – there is only one real hero, and his name is Yagi Toshinori.

drrdrrdrrdrr reblogged from nessalee

[gif set]

[First image description]

A young All Might flies through the air, cape billowing like a banner

[Second image description]

Silver Age All Might holds up a collapsing bridge pillar with one arm while the other gives a thumbs up.

[Third image description]

Golden Age All Might overlooks the city from a skyscraper, bangs ruffling in the wind

[Fourth image description]

All Might stands tall, battered and bloody, a single fist raised into the air

[Fifth image description]

Yagi Toshinori bounces at the front of the course, posture relaxed, waiting for the starting bell

[Sixth image description]

A toddler yanks on Yagi Toshinori's bangs as he smiles indulgently

[Seventh image description]

Yagi Toshinori sitting in the bleachers at Yuuei, beaming proudly at the field where his students compete

[Eighth image description]

Yagi Toshinori stands, battered and bloody, face turned away, pointing into the distance

A Hero for Eternity

All Might / Yagi Toshinori

36,875 notes

CoraBakes

get u a man that can do both

la-la-lo-li

The one with the kid is so cute <3 Yagi-san would be a great dad

kainnn9056

pft look at him casually holding up a bridge with one arm hes so extra i love it.

 He's just leaving the school when PR messages him with the request from Hero Monthly magazine. It's usually the kind of thing he would sign off on without a second thought, but his eye lingers on a single word - photoshoot. This wouldn't be like answering questions about his gastrectomy online, or explaining his injury on a talk show - this would be actively showing off the wound that nearly killed him.

Toshinori never expected to retire; hell, he'd never expected to survive. He assumed he would die as he lived - being a hero - and take all his secrets with him. But now...

Now he thinks of young Midoriya with his scarred hand; of his friend Todoroki, who couldn't hide his burn if he wanted to. He thinks of Iida's older brother, learning to walk again. He remembers Best Jeanist may lose his own stomach in the near future and the scar under Aizawa's eye. He remembers hospital wards full of children with amputated body parts and prosthetic limbs and dreams of heroism. He remembers being twelve and quirkless and thinks again of young Midoriya, to whom quirkless may as well have been a synonym for disabled.

[Image set]

[Cover image description]

Yagi Toshinori sits in a crisp white button-up on an angled couch, legs stretched over the cushions, looking at the camera over his shoulder.

[First image description]

Yagi Toshinori adjusts a cuff-link, grinning wildly at something off camera, suit jacket flared in the wind.

[Second image description]

Yagi Toshinori sits on the edge of a bed, hands together between his open knees. His white shirt is unbuttoned, revealing a  skinny chest and hints of spiderwebbing red.

[Third image description]

Yagi Toshinori looks away from the camera shyly, one hand rubbing the back of his head. His scar is viciously red, stretching the full length of his torso before disappearing below the hem of the dark slacks clinging to his skinny hips.

108,792 notes

vedran-oligarch

All Might looks like someone punched a hole through him and I'm still lusting over his fine ass hot DAMN

i-am-a-blank-page

@vedran-oligarch: it's the eyes - they're always the same and they're always so intense

vedran-oligarch

@i-am-a-blank-page: point, but those beautiful hipbones aren't hurting my lady-boner

IrisEvergarden

I really, really love the last picture. His expression is so sweet and unsure and humanizing - the whole set is, but that one really does it for me <3

paperclipped-wildflowers

his hair looks so soft

IrisEvergarden

I just want to give this man a hug, he's so good and pure and brave

ExpectingDelay

okay, but how how no one mentioned the interview part?!

If I saved one person when I lost my stomach, it was worth it. If I brought one child home to their parents when I crushed my lungs, it was worth it. If my words have helped someone through a rough patch, if I inspired someone to do better, be better, it was all worth it. There are a great many regrets in my life, but helping others has never been one of them. There is nothing I wouldn’t break; no sacrifice that would make me hesitate.

That's what heroism is - it's taking these hits so that no one else has to.

this man is incredible.

flowwithit54

@ExpectingDelay: I'm fucking crying rn we don't deserve All Might OR Yagi Toshinori

 It's almost nine when Ishiyama finds him lazing on the teacher's lounge couch, idly scrolling through his own tag online. In the past few minutes alone, he's found post after post from individuals finding strength from last week's magazine shoot. A teenager with an arm mangled in a villain attack; an office worker embarrassed by needing a wheelchair; a boy with an annoying twitch thanks to an accident with his electricity Quirk. Thousands of messages of love and support, admiration and inspiration. It's almost enough to make him wonder why he'd been so worried about the inevitable. Ishiyama hands him a cup of tea.

"You look happy today, Yagi."

He closes the phone and takes the offered tea with a smile.

"Yeah. I guess I am."

Chapter Text

ALL MIGHT FAN FORUM

General Discussion
All Might Battles
Meeting All Might
     Rescued by All Might
     All Might Encounters
     >Small Might Encounters (New!)
Fanart and Fanfiction

CaptainCelb09
So, I've met All Might before. I just didn't know it was him.

It wasn't a big deal or anything - I tripped walking home one day and this really tall skinny guy stopped to make sure I was okay. I was embarrassed someone saw me and brushed him off, practically ran away. Now I'm sitting here with my face on fire cause I tripped in front of ALL MIGHT and he tried to help me up and akslhsdfouashefgoawu I cannot fucking believe this I should have taken his hand

070809
Pudding Cups

Time - 6:53 PM

Scene - Shofu Park

Your Narrator - crying on a bench

My girlfriend had just broken up with me. Through text. Like, ouch, right? Anyway.

I'm just kinda staring at my phone, blurry eyed, kicking at maple leaves, wishing I could text her back cause she just blocked my number when this tall blond guy shuffles up and takes a seat at the other end of the bench. Doesn't say anything, just sits, placing his grocery bag beside him. It's a public park, whatever right?

I'm wiping my eyes, putting my phone back in my pocket and suddenly there's this white thing in front of me - blond guy is offering me a napkin, Still doesn't say anything, just smiles a little. I take it and wipe my eyes, blow my nose, try to get it together cause apparently I look bad enough that this complete stranger is worried about me. I'm stuffing the napkin in a pocket when he holds something else out - a chocolate pudding cup, one of those with the little spoons in the lid.

I'm kinda like wha? but take it anyway and he takes another one out of his bag, he's got a six pack of them in there, and he tears off the lid and starts snacking and I do the same cause fuck it, right? I eat the whole thing and he gives me another one, like we're old friends or something and I'm halfway through it when he finally speaks.

"Bad day?"

And I can't help but laugh. It's so dumb. I'm single and heartbroken and eating pudding cups with this stranger on a public park bench as it gets dark and I don't know what to feel anymore. I tell him what happened and we eat the whole six pack together, shootin' the shit until the street lights come on. He calls me "young man" and claps me on the shoulder and it's so dumb but it cheered me up. He puts all the trash back into the bag and tosses it in the bin and tells me he needs to get going and hell, I do too. 

I didn't even get his name. I thought about that encounter a lot though. I have a new girlfriend and she's great. We were together when All Might's last battle happened, watching everything go down on the TV at a bar and we're all losing our shit and I lose it even harder when the smoke clears cause that's the guy I ate pudding cups with what the hell

The last three years, any time I'm having a bad day, I go to the store and get some chocolate pudding cups. Whenever the world was just a shitty place, I'd think about that blond guy, shuffling through the park and making things better as he went along. 

And I guess it figures that man would turn out to be All Might, cause that's what All Might has always done - moved forward and made things better.

spite-and-aesthetic
my dumbass cat

small might plucked my stupid cat out of a tree wtf kinda cliche is this guy

AM_FAN0112
i cannot BELIEVE

TWO YEARS. TWO FUCKING YEARS ALL MIGHT HAS BEEN COMING INTO MY SHOP ARE YOU SERIOUS WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL TOSHINORI

I'M DEADASS SERIOUS HE COMES IN EVERY FEW WEEKS AND BUYS A BOOK AND SOMETIMES WE CHAT ABOUT MANGA AND HE ALWAYS ASKS HOW SCHOOL IS GOING AND HELPS WITH MY ENGLISH HES SO NICE AND TOLD ME TO CALL HIM TOSHINORI IS THAT HIS REAL NAME?? A CODENAME?

I GOT HIM HOOKED ON SUGAR SUGAR CAT CAFE ITS THE DUMBEST SYRUPY SHOUJO ROMANCE AND WEVE BEEN READING IT TOGETHER FOR OVER A YEAR WHAT IS MY LIFE

Sexi-tery
Long post is long

Lemme set the scene; it's raining buckets, and I'm on my way to a job interview in the ritzier part of town. I've got my best clothes on - nice, crisp suit jacket, smart-looking skirt, a decent-but-could-be-shinier pair of heels. I've just left lunch with a friend and I've got an hour before the most important interview of my life.

That's when a bus rolls by and drenches me in the greasy puddle-water of downtown Tokyo.

Y'all, I was trying not to hyperventilate. I don't have time to go home and change. Even if I did, these were my best clothes. I'm screwed, no one is going to hire me looking like a sopping mess, *I* wouldn't hire me looking like this whatdoIdo

Someone picks up my umbrella. I didn't even realize I'd dropped it. I'm still freaking out. Someone is pulling me, I'm not even on this planet right now, someone is talking to me, I have an interview, where are my anxiety meds?

There's this blond guy hunched over, trying to bring me back down, telling me to breathe, calm down, you'll be okay. He's breathing with me and it's working and I think I might be crying but my face is so wet I can't tell.

He gets the story out of me once I'm back on planet Earth, and gets this determined look on his face. Drags me across the street into a clothing store. A really, really nice clothing store. Outta-my-budget, outta-my-lifetime sort of clothing store. Pushes me to the racks, tells me to pick out whatever I want. 

I don't even question it - I may be back on Earth, but I'm still in the upper atmosphere somewhere. I grab a few things to take to the dressing room and fit myself into an extremely nice pantsuit. An attendant comes in to help, gets the tags off so I can wear the clothes out, bags my soaking wet puddle of cloth and blond guy pays for it all without even blinking.

He leads me back out, hails a cab, and I'm like, what now? And we pull up to a salon and he gets my hair dried and done, I KNOW he must have tipped the hairdresser a crazy amount to get me in and out that quickly, and the cab is idling outside the whole time, waiting to take me to my interview when we're done. All the while, blond guy is smiling, cracking jokes, and just being all-around charming. I'm wondering what I'm going to owe for this, what he wants, maybe he's some sort of creeper? But he seems so nice?

And when we're done, he prods me over to the cab, but doesn't get in. Doesn't ask for anything, just wishes me good luck. Like, who even is this guy? Who does all that for a total stranger?

All Might, that's who. Holy crap you guys, All Might got me to my interview on time and it's the best job I've ever had. I'd still be pushing pencils in a miserable office if he hadn't been there that day. 

Kirasagwa74

A train ride

I remember a time before All Might. I remember when the Yakuza worked out in the open and villains took what they wanted without fear.

I'm old, is what I'm saying. These bones ache and creak every time the weather even thinks about changing. I don't complain too much; I'm used to it. I'm used to being out of the loop and lost in the shuffle. It's alright - I have my routines and I stick to 'em.

One of them is riding the train to a favorite cafe. They have an excellent coffee blend. I've seen All Might on that train many times, though I never knew it was him until a little while ago. He's a good man with kind eyes. If it was crowded, he would let me have his seat. Chat about the good ol' days, heroes from another generation. I haven't seen him on the train in a while. I miss him.

SingleSuperMom31
Carried Home

This was pretty recent - just a few months ago. Long post up ahead.

Context: I'm a single mom. My ex didn't want kids, so I've raised Aya by myself. It's been a little difficult lately thanks to a broken arm, but I've managed.

Anyway, I took Aya to a local park a few months ago. It's a few minutes walk from the apartment, and I wanted to grab some things from the store anyway, so I took her out to let her burn off some energy. Her Quirk is Photosynthesis, so she has a lot of it!

When we get there, the first thing Aya wants to do is get on the swings. She's almost three and my arm is broken - I don't want to put her in a regular swing in case she falls, so I'm trying to maneuver her into one of the strapped swings with one arm. Aya isn't heavy, but I'm still struggling to manage when a thin man with blond hair walks up.

"Ma'am? Would you like some help?"

He's tall, super super tall, and gaunt, but he has a kind smile. Aya likes him right away and helps her into the swing and pushes her a little while she screams to go higher.

He was so, so nice to my little girl. He let her call him Toshi and played with her for over an hour, lifting her on the monkey bars and holding her hands on the balance beam since I couldn't manage it at the moment. He sits with me when some other children come to play, and we talk a while, about Aya, about how my arm got broken (it's quite a story), about being a single parent.

It's hard, you know? I love my kid, I'd die for her, but it's still hard, and it's even harder with this arm. He was just so nice - he had this presence, like you could tell him anything and I did. I told him about my ex, that he left, that he didn't want to be a part of Aya's life. You could tell he was really listening, not just being polite. I've gotten a little teared up, and he just smiles and pulls a handkerchief out of his pocket. He's quiet for a little bit, watching the kids play. Then he turns back to me, and I know I'll remember this for the rest of my life, word for word - 

"I don't have any family of my own, so perhaps it doesn't mean much coming from me," he looks a little awkward. "But for what's it's worth, I think you're doing a fine job. One day, Aya will be old enough to appreciate what a strong, lovely mother she has."

Aya sees me crying and comes rushing over, hugging my knees and I'm a mess and maybe a little bit in love. He's just so kind and Aya has crawled into my lap and hugs my neck. It's sunset, so her Quirk is finally slowing down and she falls asleep while I'm still reeling over the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.

I'm apologizing, it's late, I still haven't gone to the store, Aya is asleep on my lap and I'm trying to figure out how I'm gonna get her home with this broken arm and he offers to walk us home. He lifts Aya up and puts her head on his shoulder and I know she's drooling a bit, but it doesn't seem to bother him. He radiates this goodness and warmth and safety; I don't even hesitate to invite him in for a cup of tea. He comes in long enough to put Aya on the couch, but doesn't stay. He wished us both well, and that was it. I took Aya to the park every day that week, hoping to see him again, but I didn't.

Until two weeks ago - I was making dinner and Aya was watching cartoons. I thought it was cartoons anway, when she yells - 

"Mommy! That's the man who carried me home!"

And that's definitely him, there's no mistaking it. I shouldn't be letting a three year old watch this, but I can't look away either. All Might played with my Aya. All Might told me I was a good mother. All Might carried my daughter home. All Might is fighting for his life on my television right now.

I didn't know what love was until I held Aya in my arms. I didn't know what heroism was either, not until that night. Not until I connected two people together and realized they were the same person. I didn't know what a hero was until I realized that "hero" wasn't a title All Might put on and took off, it's something he IS, 24/7, on and off the clock. I'd live the rest of my life with a broken arm if I could have half of the strength and kindness that exists in this man, if I could be even a fraction of the person he is.

I think about him every day. I got an All Might keychain, so I'd always have something close by to remind me that heroism isn't always about punching villains and holding up buildings; sometimes, heroism is about talking to a stranger. Sometimes, heroism is about pushing a swing.

Sometimes, heroism is about carrying a little girl home.

Chapter Text

He wonders if he should warm Young Midoriya about it, but no - the boy is a fan himself. He's no doubt aware, has probably created his own share of content; the boy might have a heart attack if he brought it up. No, best to leave if be for now. Midoriya will come to him when he needs the advice, a day which will hopefully be far in the future.

He laughs to himself, imagining the young man's face when the inevitable happens and an eager fan sends along a no-doubt salacious note and a pair of unmentionables. Gran Torino ragged him for weeks.

He'd rag him some more if he read what Toshinori had clicked on in a moment of morbid curiosity.

His soaked white T-shirt is translucent in the sunlight, clinging to golden-tan musculature rippling with suppressed tension. He's so close - you can count the scars on his hands, hands that have broken bone and punched through buildings. Hands that are currently leaving trails of fire over the fabric of your jeans as -

He drops his phone, blood and heat rising to his face, fumbling to catch the device before it hits the floor. He's aware of his own fandom of course, though his exposure has largely been through fanart - the agency prints a monthly newsletter of drawings and fan-creations; he himself keeps several personal favorites framed at home. Fanfiction was a concept he'd been distantly aware of, but never sought out. He unlocks the phone again, hurriedly scrolling away from the... erotic.... scene, choosing to read a few comments instead.

TeaWeather
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

ph0t0b0mb4r
i'm SCREAMING

2358-8532
I really like this story and I appreciate all the hard work you put into the crime drama and police procedural but I gotta admit, THIS is what I sat through all that buildup for.

That makes him pause. Buildup? Police procedural? He scrolls back to the top, clicking the author's name and finding himself on a profile page full of stories, the one he just left at the top.

Banana Creme and Fever Dreams

You are a new detective for the Mustafu Police, transferred from the States on a job assignment. When shipments of seemingly-random cargo begin to go missing - a pallet of sheet metal, a crate of bananas, an entire load of silk - it's up to you to connect the dots and find whoever is responsible. And when people begin to go missing? Well, that's when All Might gets involved.

He's eight chapters in and this author has no idea how the criminal justice system works; there's not nearly enough paperwork for one thing. Still, it's ridiculously entertaining, and he finds himself genuinely enjoying the mystery that's developing. It's a little silly, but he bookmarks the page, planning to read the rest later - he can always skip over the inaccurate portrayal of himself. Or at least, pretend it's a different character.

All Might has always been a little bit fictitious.

He finds himself idly scrolling through fanfic websites while lazing on the couch, ignoring the television. He isn't entirely sure why.

The villain grabs at All Might, fast, but not nearly fast enough. His smile never wavers, only grows wider as it finally sinks in for the kingpin of the Blueburn Syndicate - this is one fight he isn't going to win.

Most authors write him the way he expects - bold, confident, ever-smiling. There are differences in interpretation; one All Might is rash, hot-headed even, while another is a warrior poet. There are disaster zones and press conferences,  school-days and Sports Festivals, even office drama at his agency. Recently, there have been stories of what he's like as a teacher.

"Fear not, Principal!" All Might bellows with a laugh. "I will find the villain who keeps leaving the coffeepot empty posthaste!"

It's odd, this knowledge. People writing stories about him, what they think he's like. All of them have little pieces, but none of them have a full picture. He finds he doesn't mind; these are all pieces that he's given to the public. His fans craft infinite versions of him - headstrong, quiet, trustworthy, cool, placid, brash, wise, whatever they need him to be. It doesn't bother him, to be loved in this way.

They're calling him Small Might now, to differentiate between before and after Kamino. It's cute - he likes the nickname. He likes the stories that begin to populate his feed.

He's no less tall for being so slender now, towering over everyone else in line. It's nigh unthinkable - All Might, waiting in line, like anyone else. All Might, stopping in to get out of the rain and enjoy a cup of tea. All Might, idly chatting about the weather with you.

His fans have lost none of their love - if anything, it seems to have grown. Even in this form, the spirit he cultivated for so long remains at the forefront of the public consciousness. Small Might retains his optimism, energy, and willpower, tempered by a muted intensity.

It still isn't him, but it's closer. 

It's the Reader fics that grab at his heart. They're the ones who... not understand, not exactly, but that come the closest. Writers who not only love, but ache to be loved back. There's an intimately familiar sorrow within them, a sorrow he's lived with his whole life, the ache of a child who grew up alone. Who never felt like enough.

Who still didn't feel like enough.

He crouches down on his haunches to meet you at eye level. He's smiling, but it's a different smile than the one you've seen a thousand times on the television. This smile is softer, kinder. He offers a large hand, warm and calloused, and you take it, slowly, letting him pull you up from the ruined street littered with rubble.

He learns quickly how to read the ratings system, how to filter out the mature content. He understands it exists, he's fine with it, really, but he doesn't want to read it. All Might belongs to the world; in that respect at least, his love is spoken for.

Even so, he comes back, again and again, to the ordinary stories. Small meetings in small places. Coffeeshops, book stores, chance meetings on a train, a stranger in the park. It's a gentler, quieter love that soothes his troubles like waves against a boulder. Fans who don't want a hero, but a friend.

"I - I know it's not much, but," you're stumbling over your words like an idiot. "If I can ever do anything to help..." You stop your rambling when his hand alights on your shoulder. It's a light touch, like he's afraid to hurt you, and accepts the card from your shaky hands.

Perhaps he's a fool after all, chasing something that's both a source of pain and a balm to his soul. He relates to that loneliness, that longing, so profoundly that it hurts. He thumbs at the star at the top of the browser and places another bookmark. 

Chapter Text

ALL MIGHT FAN FORUM

General Discussion
All Might Battles
Meeting All Might
     Rescued by All Might
     All Might Encounters
     >Small Might Encounters (New!)
Fanart and Fanfiction

Gone4-a-Jog

Small Might Sensei

I like to go jogging. I started recently and I’m not very good at it – I can’t run very fast or very long. But I like taking different routes and discovering new places when I stop to catch my breath. It was during one of my longer runs that I bumped into All Might.

I’d heard someone behind me a few minutes before I stopped to put my hands on my knees and try to gulp down as much air as possible, but didn’t hear that he stopped when I did so I jumped and nearly fell on my ass when I got upright, then nearly fell again when I saw who it was and this long sentence doesn’t begin to cover the comedy of errors that was my life in these few moments.

He stopped cause I was running wrong. Sidenote: there’s a such thing as running wrong. Apparently, you want to land in the middle of your foot and try not to land on your heel at all cause that can cause problems. He also taught me a few breathing rhythms for different intensities of runs.

He ran with me for about twenty minutes, correcting my bad posture and seriously I know every post on this forum says it, but All Might is super, super nice. Like, you’d think he’d have at least a little ego or something, but he doesn’t. He just wants to help everyone. He said hello to everyone we passed and doubled back to throw away a bottle someone dropped. He’d so nice you guys.

I’ve been using what he taught me for a few days now, and haven’t gotten a stitch in my side once. It’s so much easier to run now. Thanks Sensei!

Pepper-oni

Seatmates!

Small Might sat next to me on the bus. Pretty sure he could have had any seat he wanted no matter how crowded it was, but he was really polite and kinda awkward about asking if he could sit with me. Meanwhile, I’m internally screaming while trying to keep it cool on the outside.

He was texting someone on his phone – I tried not to stare too much, but it’s All Might, you know? I didn’t catch much, just that he was proud of someone, which, hello, is so frickking cute. He looked happy.

m0toroildrmz

A brief conversation with my mother:

“Mom, do you know who that was?”

“No?”

“That was All Might! All Might, mom!”

I leave my mom alone for five seconds to use the bathroom, and I come back to ALL MIGHT helping her with her English crossword puzzles. She didn’t even get an autograph for me.

oba-san581

the beach

I don’t know why it took so very long for it to click – after his last battle, I couldn't shake the feeling that I’d seen that tall, skinny man somewhere before. And he is such a distinctive gentleman; I was sure I knew him, somehow. It wasn’t until I met him on the beach that it finally fell into place.

I’m retired these days, so I have a lot of time on my hands. Every day, I take a walk from my home to the library and back. Sometimes I stay a few minutes, sometimes the entire day gets away from me. For months, almost every day without fail, there was a man and a boy cleaning the shoreline near my home. They would be there when I left for the day, and were still there when I came back. The boy was a scrappy, freckled little thing, cute as a button. The man was slender, but undeniably strong – he would step in to help with some of the bigger appliances, but mostly directed the boy and cheered him on.

I stopped to speak to them a few times; the boy was such a polite young man, and All Might was genial and humble. I never would have known. I could never have guessed had I not met him again, returning from the library with a book to enjoy near the waves.

It’s strange; heroes are so flashy these days, hustle and bustle and fight and move. And we appreciate them, need them. But there’s something so very special about the little things. All Might personally spent almost a year helping clean up a beach. Would anyone else in the top ten have done that?

He was every bit as kind as I remembered. He doesn’t accept praise very well, insisted the beach was all the boy’s doing. Which is fair enough I suppose – he did most of the heavy lifting. Even so, that man was out there almost every single day, with lunch and water and cheer and kind words. It warmed my heart, watching the two of them progress across the sand. I’m so glad All Might is a teacher now; those kids are in good hands.

spite-and-aesthetic

again with the cats

small might plucked my cat out of a tree AGAIN – same cat same tree he even fucking remembered me is this guy for real?

MKPlusUltra

All Might does not skip Leg Day

So I’m minding my own business, checking messages on my phone, waiting on my drink order, when there’s some commotion across the street – lotta loud noise, people screaming and running, standard-issue villain-tries-to-rob-the-till-at-the-combini sort of afternoon. It’s a tall guy with, like, I guess it’s a stretch Quirk off some kind? He looks like he walked out of some old-timey cartoon, all wiggly limbs bouncing everywhere, running from what looks like some rookie Pro – I don’t even think they were a rookie yet; maybe an intern? Anyway, Noodle Arms is booking it, Intern is after him as fast as his short legs can manage. Leggy clears the street in one jump and starts twisting his head around like he can’t decide where to go next.

It’s at that moment when All Might himself exits the building next to mine, one hand leaving his pocket to check his watch and Noodle makes a decision.

Now look, I’m gonna break this down into slo-mo for ya, cause seriously, it was a thing of beauty. It was one, smooth, impossibly cool-looking move, and every piece of it needs to be appreciated. This DUMBASS, who clearly had no plan whatsoever beyond “grab a hostage,” honestly thinks he can take on ALL MIGHT, I guess cause he’s skinny now or something. He wraps his stupid noodle limbs around him and All Might doesn’t even twitch when Dumbass constricts his arms and waves a gun around. Dumbass is yelling something, I don’t know what, who tf cares. All Might kinda tilts his head, wriggles his shoulders a bit, then lifts his arms up and slides out of the jacket so fast the fabric doesn’t even lose its shape. I’m not even kidding, it looked like it was on an invisible mannequin, this move came straight from the Acme school of How To Defy Physics. Dumbass has just enough time to look shocked before he’s eating a size 13 leather shoe – All Might dropped to his haunches, made a quarter-turn, and kicked his leg up and back, straight into the jaw of Dumbass. He kicks him so hard his feet actually lift off the ground and he flies backwards into a streetlamp.

All Might doesn’t even look angry; he just looks Annoyed, like someone forgot to put sugar in his coffee. He picks up his jacket and slings it over a shoulder and waits around a few minutes for the police to catch up and haul Noodle McDumbass into custody while Short Intern babbles away with stars in his eyes. It was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.

AM_FAN0112

HE’S BACK

HE HASN’T BEEN TO THE SHOP IN THREE MONTHS TOSHINORI YOU USELESS SUNFLOWER I WAS WORRIED ABOUT YOU. I LEFT SO MANY TEARS ON HIS JACKET

YOU FUCKING SWEETHEART. YOU ABSOLUTE RAY OF LITERAL SUNSHINE. I WILL SAVE EVERY COPY OF SUGAR SUGAR CAT CAFE FOR YOU I WILL READ EVERY SINGLE DUMBASS ROMANCE MANGA I CAN FIND I WILL WORK IN THIS TINY BOOKSHOP FOR THE REST OF MY STUPID LIFE JUST NEVER SCARE ME LIKE THAT AGAIN YOU AWKWARD JACKRABBIT DON’T EVER LEAVE ME HANGING LIKE THAT AGAIN

I’M SORRY FOR SCREAMING I JUST MISSED HIM SO MUCH HE’S MY FAVORITE CUSTOMER EVEN BEFORE I KNEW HE WAS ALL MIGHT. HE’S AN ADORABLE OLD MAN

RedRibbon

A good man

Perhaps it’s a little unfair for me to comment since I work in the Tower. Still, there are some things I wanted to share with the world and this is a good place to do it.

I’ve been at the agency for three years now, mainly doing secretarial work. My direct superior is a man named Yagi-san. Yagi-san acted as All Might’s personal assistant, right hand man, concierge, whatever you want to call it. Telling something to Yagi-san was as good as telling it to All Might directly. I, along with everyone else in the Tower, learned why that night in Kamino.

I’ve read many, many posts on these discussion boards and if I were to identify a unifying theme that everyone seems to mention, it’s that All Might is a nice guy. That he really, honestly cares. That he worries about the little things just as much as the big things. I’ve worked with Yagi-san for three years and can confirm that none of it is a show for the adoring public – it’s all 100% true.

Let me tell you something, I worked with Miruko’s agency before All Might’s, and Wash before that, but unless the two of them also have secret identities, neither one of them was on the ground floor pushing pencils with the rest of us like All Might was. I’ve seen Yagi-san escorting new hires around the building when they get lost. I’ve seen him roll up his sleeves and change a busted printer cartridge, ink all over his shirt. He knows everyone’s birthday. He’ll do coffee runs, answer the phones, make deliveries, grab lunch, whatever you need. I’ve seen him as All Might, shutting the press down when they start getting pushy with the employees, or dropping by the daycare and making the kids light up.

I’ve never seen him complain. I’ve never seen him brush anyone off. I’ve never seen him be rude, or arrogant, or insulting, or aloof. I’ve never seen him treat anyone as lesser, as if they weren’t worth his time. Yagi-san lifted morale just by being in the building, the way All Might cut crime rates just by existing. Everyone in the agency loved Yagi-san just as much as they loved the hero; everyone had a story about All Might, and another one about Yagi-san. I’ve seen a few of those stories on this very board.

But this one is mine:

Ever since high school, I’ve used a ribbon to keep the hair out of my face. I love my curls, but they can be a nuisance waving around at the edge of my vision, so I keep them pulled back. I like using ribbons because scrunchies often get caught in my un-tameable mess of hair.

My ribbon snapped one day at work. It wasn’t a big deal – just a minor annoyance to have to keep pushing my hair back. But Yagi-san noticed. He noticed without anyone saying anything, and came back from lunch thirty minutes later with a beautiful red ribbon that he tied into my hair.

It really is the little things that matter the most. This tiny little gesture made me feel seen, acknowledged, valued. Not just as an employee, but as a person. All Might cares about those kinds of things – his employees aren’t subordinates, they’re people. He doesn’t rescue victims, he recuses people. He doesn’t pull you up to his level; he gets on yours and puts you on his shoulders.

I’ve worn that ribbon nearly every day for two years. It’s gotten thin in places, kinda frayed at the edges, but still doing its job faithfully. A bit little like the man who gave it to me.

Chapter Text

I AM HERE – to answer your questions!

Proof it’s me. Last known picture of my publicist’s happy days. The bunker I’m staying in so she can’t kill me when this goes viral. Ask me anything!

ob-vi-ous-ly

What is your Quirk?

That's a secret!

tez-la-coil

What’s your favorite pizza topping?

Pepperoni! I can’t eat pizza very often these days though.

HonoriaB

Hi All Might! Big fan with a question I’ve wanted to ask for a long time; what is your stance on vigilantes?

I cannot legally endorse vigilantism; however, neither can I advocate idly standing by when someone needs help. If you can do something without breaking the law, do! If you can help someone without placing yourself in harm’s way, do! You don’t need to be a hero or a vigilante to make a difference.

ColorObscura

How would you advise ordinary people to make a difference?

There are any number of things you can do - volunteer, recycle, teach, learn, be present and active in your own life. Be a listener. Be a sibling. Be a friend. These things matter more than you may realize, for all that they seem small.

MabelDidNothingWrong

Mr. All Might Sir, are you aware of the mountains of explicit fanart featuring yourself?

Yes.

MabelDidNothingWrong

Okay, follow-up question, how do you feel about the mountains of explicit fanart featuring yourself?

I accept that it’s par for the course in this line of work and I’m glad it makes you all happy. That said, actually seeing it weirds me out.

Koreh57

What was your working relationship with your publicist like before this AMA thread?

We had a mutually beneficial relationship; I did stupid things, she spun them into positive things. The incident at Kamino Ward has had her running ragged – I have a very generous severance package prepared for the day it all becomes too much.

pumpkins_and_spice

During your segment on Quirky Kitchen, you talked a little bit about your gastrectomy – this is a procedure that I may be going through myself in a few months. Do you have any advice or tips that you would be willing to pass on? What were the first few weeks of not having a stomach like?

First of all, let me say that I’m very sorry you’re going through this. There is still life to be had after, but it’s a massive change and a struggle to reach something approaching normalcy after something like this.

Your scenario will likely depend on whether you’re having a full or partial removal; either way, one of the best things you can do to begin preparing is to start collecting recipes. Get your friends and family to help you – make it a communal effort! There will be some things you likely won’t be able to have, at least not for a while, so enjoy them now!

Adjusting took a long, long time – it’s something I still struggle with every day. I no longer feel hunger, so I forget to eat. Get an app to set alarms and reminders for yourself. Track your progress. But most importantly, don’t forget that just because it’s not the same as life before, doesn't mean that it’s life over. There is still joy to be found all around you :)

27percentBatterylife

Is there anything you wish you could eat again?

I miss being able to digest sugar easily; I always had a sweet tooth. I fell in love with pecan pie during my time in the States, and I haven't been able to eat any in years.

Tsunagi-the-Hungry

I realize that it’s probably Top Secret hush hush business, but what can you tell us about the villain at Kamino? Who was he? What’s his name? What was his goal? Why did he kidnap a UA student? Have you met him before? What the hell was all that about?

I cannot disclose very much information about what happened that night in Kamino Ward. What I can tell you is that the villain in question is very dangerous, and was acting as a sort of mentor to Shigaraki Tomura, the leader of the League of Villains. We do not know his name.

I have met him before. We fought some years ago; I won.

43-59-87

If you won the first time, how did he come back? Was he not incarcerated?

We were under the impression that the man was dead.

fxck0ffm8

What do you mean by “under the impression” he was dead? Was he, or wasn’t he? Is our government so incompetent that they can’t tell a dead body from a live one?

There was no body. We assumed because the medical team had to scrape his brain matter out from under my fingernails. Does that answer your question?

coffeedispenser

The scar on your left side - was it given to you by this villain?

Yes.

coffeedispenser

Would you be willing to elaborate?

Again, there are some things I'm simply not allowed to talk about. Our first bout was brutal, vicious, and destructive. It was the only time in my life I fought not just to incapacitate, but with intent to kill if necessary. Everyone saw what happened in Kamino, and that was with both of us in less than ideal shape; the first go-around was even worse.

The wound in my side occurred near the end; I literally had to hold my own organs in just to finish the fight. It was not a pleasant experience.

its_sunnie

Hello, this thread got hella dark let me just make a distraction here… do you have any hobbies?

I love movies and film! I have an impressive movie poster collection, if I do say so myself; many of them are autographed. Lately, I’ve been taking care of a few succulent plants – my students got them for me while I was in the hospital. My echeveria is growing beautifully!

Bold-Of-You_To-Assume-I-Wont

What’s your favorite time of year?

All the seasons are wonderful in their own way, but I particularly enjoy the colors of autumn.

ohtobeyoungagain385

Hi All Might! I’d like to hear any fun teacher stories you have!!

I have many! My students are amazing and learning more and more every day. During final exams, I took on two of the boys in a simulation match – the match could be won by either putting a pair of handcuffs on the villain (me) or by getting through the exit gate. Both of them too quite a beating, but slipped through the gate and passed with time to spare! And I have to admit, I get a real kick out of playing the bad guy – watching their faces change when they realize I mean business is hysterical.

On the flip side of things, Present Mic once accidentally locked everyone out of the teacher’s lounge. The staff were rather surprised when I picked the lock before someone could find Eraserhead.

not-a-vigilante

Okay, I need to know how/why you know how to pick locks when you can break doors with your pinky finger.

It’s wise to have a wide variety of skills; you never know what might save your life one day. Certainly, I could have broken the door down, but then we would have a broken door. It’s no good solving one problem by creating another.

39_Bottles

Back to Kamino a moment: there was a moment during the fight where the villain said something to you, and it knocked you off your game. What did he say?

The villain I fought does not rely purely on physical strength; he is known for mind games and pulling at one’s psyche. He had a piece of information that was personally relevant to me, that I will not disclose here.

germanhotchocolate

Is your refrigerator running?

Let me go check!

jkl04

Well? Don’t leave us hanging!

My fridge is running just fine!

AM_FAN0112

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MOMENT IN SUGAR SUGAR CAT CAFE

EVERY TIME MR. WHISKERS KNOCKS OVER THE SALTSHAKER, I LOSE IT ALL OVER AGAIN!

heliotrope-teacup

Boxers or briefs?

I’m sure you can find fanart for either version.

forkeepsies

ANSWER THE QUESTION ALL MIGHT

OpalescentButterfly88

The people need to know!

Mulan-Rouge

Your run of Quirk Warrior was AWESOME! What is your training regimen like?

Thank you, my friend! I do make an effort to stay in shape – I enjoy jogging the most, but I get into the gym as well. It’s nothing as intensive as my prime years, but that’s no reason to slack off!

450-five

What was your workout routine like in your prime? What’s the most you’ve ever been able to dead lift?

Hero-ing as my day job WAS the workout! As for weight training, you couldn’t put enough weight on the barbell to accurately measure that – need I remind you that I’ve held up buildings in my career?

wannab3h3r0

Hello Mr. Might! I'm taking the UA entrance exam next year - got any advice?

No cheating now! Be confident in yourself and your abilities. Study hard for the written test, and act the way a hero would in the practical. Good luck!

I'm sorry to leave you all, but I'm afraid my time is up! My publicist has found me and I have to go face her wrath with whatever courage I can muster. Let's do this again sometime, shall we?

Your Former Number One Hero,

ALL MIGHT