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Throwing a We lived, Bitch party bi-yearly was tradition of the famous Class 3-A. It was also a thin anchor of keeping what’s left of their sanity, because there’s only so much of schoolwork and random villain attacks a class can take. So right after the midterm exams, after all the tears and last-minute food preparation, they got white girl wasted.
Except Katsuki. He never gets wasted, he swears. He can hold his liquor down and punched drunkenness in the face because fuck that bitch. If he’s not walking in a straight line it’s because he’s too gay to bother, not the alcohol.
And because Katsuki never EVER gets drunk, it was not his fault that all the Klondike bars exploded. It was the table’s fault. No, he did not trip on it and face-plant into the crumb-littered carpet. The stupid thing was probably planted by the League to assassinate him. He had to kill it, snacks be damned. That’s why he has no reason to be here while the rest of these shitfaced idiots try to summon a demon for some Klondike bars.
“You need to take responsibility.” Glasses pointed accusingly at him like this was some shitty romance manga instead of the dark horror his classmates carved into the floor. Huh, if he squinted and tilted his head a bit, some of those symbols looked like the lyrics to AKB48’s “The Fall-in-Love Fortune Cookie.” Nice.
“Here,” A book is dropped into his hands, lined in silver and enough dust to cause lung cancer. Soy Sauce points to some words on the open page. “Say these lines after Momo’s done.”
Katsuki squints. “Who?”
“Ponytail.”
Ah.
Grape Shit makes some disgusting comment about demon titties and then asks Snow White to summon an animal so they can sacrifice it. Snow White does, except it’s a gaggle of angry geese that chase the little bitch right out the window. When everyone stares, the mute boy meekly signs that no one will ever find his body. Katsuki’s respect raises just a hair for the guy.
“Let us begin the goetia” Emo Bird stats of lowly, unraveling a decorated knife from the depths of his cloak. With completely unnecessary flourish, he nicks the flesh of his arm and dips his fingers in the wound. God, he could he at least have some decency to keep that smile off his face while he paints the floor with his blood? Everyone already knew that he probably jerked off to the thought of this very moment.
Chanting starts after everyone forms a circle. Katsuki’s not really sure what they’re saying, but it sounds like a bunch of weird Latin phrases and quite possibly the Declaration of Independence back words. In between the chants, a person would step in front of the circle and start belching out lines, except for Icy Hot. He just sits on the couch and records the whole thing. That bastard. He’s the one who wanted to summon demons in the first place. Fuck him and his dark web searches.
Someone touches his arm. Its Hair Shitty, so that’s okay. Its more than okay. Katsuki would let him touch him anytime, any day, any position. “Bro, It’s your turn.”
Right. He knew that. Let’s show these fuckers how it’s done. Katsuki looks down at the book and squints.
What he’s supposed to read is a damp mess of nitroglycerin and smudged squiggles. The dry-ass paper must have absorbed sweat from his hands. How the hell was he supposed to read this thing?
Fuck it, he’ll do it live.
“Get thy ass out here you useless demon. You,” A stifled burp spills in-between. Racking his brain for a good insult that rhymed with useless demon and I'm the best. “You shitty Deku! “
Boom. Eat his ass, Shia LaBeouf. Where’s his amen?
“Amen!” The class extras cheer, with a few Hallelujahs! thrown in for good measure. Katsuki grabs another drink to toast his victory.
“Heyyyy,” Found Race slurs, peering at the last part of the book. “That’s not what the words say!”
“I fuck give a don’t” Like hell he’s going to admit that he was wrong. He drains his 5th cup? 38th? Whatever. It’s empty now so he tosses it to the pile of shit lounging on the couch. Unfortunately, it does not hit Half-n-Half’s face because it gets caught in the glowing symbols rising off the floor. “See? It worked. Now shush up.”
He can’t decide whether to flip her off or her spontaneous double, but he has two free middle fingers for a reason. So he lifts them high and wakes up in bed.
No idea how he got there, but he’s too busy trying to turn off the sun because his head is fucking killing him.
Clawing through his drawer, he finds and takes some much-needed aspirin before heading downstairs, following the smell of something cooking. Was Diabetes making breaking today?
Waiting downstairs is enough breakfast food to feed an army of puberty-ridden gremlins, littering the counters with both Western and traditional dishes alike. Standing in the kitchen is some guy that Katsuki is 98.3% sure is not a part of his class, dressed in fashion disaster pajamas and swaying his fucking sinful hips to Chopin's Piano Sonata No. 2 as he flips batter in a pan. There’s also a leathery spike-tipped tail poking out of pink sheep pants to pour orange juice into a glass. Cyan blue and emerald green pop out of his shirt and shimmer unnaturally in intricate patterns with each flutter to the beat. All in all, it was memorizing and did absolutely nothing to stop Katsuki’s eyeballs from pounding against his skull.
“Oi! Who the fuck are you?”
The rat’s nest of green turns around, revealing surprised doe eyes and tiny horns curling upwards. Freckled cheeks lift into a smile. “Good morning Kacchan!”
Fury unleashed at such levels would explode a normal man’s heart in seconds, science has proven, but science does not apply to the wraith of Katsuki.
Bush Head shrieks and flaps up from being burnt alive. “Kacchan watch out! You’re going to burn the wheatcakes!”
“Burn in hell!”
The one-sided slaughter fest does go as Katsuki plans, instead nosediving into a longwinded game of Keep Away from Murder. The other four occupants in the room do absolutely nothing to stop the annoying asshole from dodging his investable death. Eyebags, who clearly is too braindead to know that you don’t interrupt a gentlemen’s homicide, taps Bush Head on the shoulder while Katsuki is busy trying to stab the guy with a kitchen knife.
“Hey, can I have the rest of the natto?”
In a flash, the knife is flung away and Katsuki finds himself trapped in the coils of Bush Head’s tail that was not this long in the beginning. Nor was it made of leather, the texture too soft to be, but something more of melted feathers. His explosions do absolutely nothing against it regardless, and the stupid tipped end keeps poking his face. He snaps his teeth at it, but it always moves just out of reach. It better not turn into a fucking tentacle.
“Hmm? Oh, of course Shinsou-kun!” The fucker smiles sweetly to Eyebags as he scraps the rest into an awaiting bowl, completely unbothered by Katsuki’s screams of rage or the explosions hitting his body. “If you want some more or anything else, just let me know!”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t ignore me you bastard! I’ll slit your throat!”
“Now Kacchan,” Bush Head turns to him with a sigh, like he’s talking to a particularly small child. The audacity makes Katsuki unleash another round of explosions directly to the guys face. Bush Head still looks the same after the smoke clears, but now more of a sooty piece of shit. “It’s too early for this. What’s wrong? Is your hangover getting worse? I’ve got some persimmons lying around. But wait, you don’t like sweets. Maybe I can make some-“
“What’s wrong is that you’re not a shit stain on this floor.” That stops the damn mumbling. Good riddance. His ears were grated with how annoying it was. “So stop calling me that and DIE!”
“Eh? But you insisted I call you that after you summoned me!”
Summoned? What the f-
A few hazy memories from last night choose this wonderful time to bounce up and rebound against his brain. Katsuki stifles a groan. There is no way that happened last night.
“It’s true,” the hell spawn, Deku, lets him go with a laugh. “Thank you for summoning me! I’ll do my best to protect and take care of you all with all my might!”
“…and then Aizawa came in, used his capture weapon on me, and dragged me here.” Deku, which the supposed ‘demon’ introduced himself as, finishes with a beaming smile from his chair, oblivious to the disbelief clouding the room.
Well, partial disbelief. Aizawa’s class had quite the reputation.
“Ahhh, I still can’t believe! This is my first summoning!” The teen fans his face in an effort to restrain his giddy squeals. “It was an ordinary day too! Not super ordinary, because Tom-ani made a comment that he loves humans, and those three words can never be ripped from his mouth. Not even with rusty pliers. So I told him and it turns out he was being sarcastic, because he went yeah, no shit!, and tossed the book he was reading on the floor. I picked it up and saw that it was titled "Dog Shaming". Dog shaming! I love humans, but I don’t understand how they can be so cruel to shame dogs, must less even write about it…” The rambling cuts off with a startled squeak once the demon realizes his bad habit was going off again. “Sorry about that! Did that answer your question?”
“No need for apologies.” Nedzu smiles, beady eyes twinkling with bemusement. “Thank you for answering and opening a well of new questions. This is new ground to explore for what was once brushed as past fables. A reevaluation of literature and history for an invisible player. Not the most challenging, I’ll admit, but still quite fun!”
“Wait, Nedzu, you can’t really believe this is all true?” Midnight says incredulously. The boy pouts at this, drooping a bit in his prison of Eraserhead’s binds.
“Vigilant in any situation, as expected of a hero like Midnight! But I’m not lying, I can prove it!” With a thin pop, Deku is standing in the middle of the room, far from the wrapping that now flutter around empty air. Midnight and Aizawa move on instinct, but don’t get very far when a translucent barrier of blue and flicks up between the heroes and the teen. Even with Aizawa’s quirk activated, it does not fall. “See? I know Eraserhead’s quirk doesn’t work on mutant ones, so I had to show something a bit more emitter-like. Even so, his quirk won’t work on anything I do since I have none.” The barrier drops with a handwave and Izuku is back in his chair, politely waiting for the two heroes’ responses. He takes their silence as remaining disbelief. “Oh, do you need more proof? Hmm…maybe I could show you all the Netherworld? Ah, but your mortal souls wouldn’t stay in your flesh for very long. That’s not good.”
“No need to continue, Deku-kun.” The principal intones before the child can go on another muttering spree. “I believe my collogues are convinced for the time being. Perhaps we can schedule a tour for another date. In the meantime, you won’t mind answering any future questions I have regarding your culture?”
“Of course not, Principal Nedzu! I will do my best to help. If you are ever in need of a contract, just let me know. You can make one with me or I can recommend some good demons if you want something specific.”
“Specific?” Midnight echoes as the Principal offers the teen tea.
Deku accepts graciously. “Demons can do pretty much anything within their power, but we prefer contracts that fit our interest. My brother likes contract involving destruction, so he usually looks for those types. He’s good at them too, but you have to be careful of the exchange price or he’ll take advantage of you. A lot of demons will try to do that to ignorant humans. I don’t agree with that, so that’s why I added my guardianship to their request of Klondike bars in exchange for the class’s souls. I want to be a demon who both saves and protects!”
“Yet you still take advantage of my students by forming a deal when they were under the influence.” Aizawa’s voice is cold, his eyes colder. “If you really have good intentions towards these kids, I suggest you drop the contract.”
“I can’t do that, not directly.” The boy frowns and puts down his cup. “Even still, I wouldn’t do so. No demon would. This is how we survive. A demon can live much longer than a human, hundreds of years even, but eventually that energy they're born with will run out. We get that energy either by eating a human’s soul, contracts, and/or some type of relationship with another demon. Most demons prefer contracts because it gives them an opportunity of even more energy if they get a soul out of the deal.”
“You plan to eat them?” Deku shakes his head frantically, waving his hands up in a defensive manner.
“No! No! Not unless they want me to! I’m very young in demon standards so I still have lots of energy left to sustain me, and their contract is powerful enough by itself. So they get to do whatever they want with their souls when the time comes, and I’ll respect their wishes.” He hopes he gets his intentions across, but the tension doesn’t drop the slightest. Deku doesn’t mind really. It just shows that these humans care about his wards too. Maybe someday they will see that they are on the same side.
“You said that demons can’t break the contract directly, so I assume humans can, correct?” The smile doesn’t fall from the principal’s face. “Stories always go that the demon must be slayed in order break the contract, but I would hate to think that’s the only way to do so.”
Ah, another show of trust. He shoves down the urge to sigh and answers instead. “It’s not. There are less messy ways to do so, though still pretty difficult to achieve. The easiest way is to make a deal of even greater value in exchange of giving up the other deal. The other way,” Unwanted memories flash on the back on his eyelids, but this is not the time. “The other way is to say the true name of the demon three times. I love heroes, but I will not give you my real name. I’m sorry.”
“Why not?” Eraserhead’s eyes bore into him. Too many eyes, Deku realizes. Too many human eyes are looking at him. But he closes his fists and continues, because he needs them to trust him. He can trust them. They are heroes, and this is not the same.
“Names have power. That’s why a true name can’t be known unless a demon willingly gives it to someone, or unless someone who has been told shares it elsewhere. Know a demon’s true name, and you can do more than break a contract. You can control them, make them do whatever you want, however you wish.” Again and again, and they would be powerless to stop you. No matter how hard you try. No matter how much he screams and screams and-
This is not the same. His reminds himself. His nails shrink down to normal size, leaving deep indents behind hidden in closed palms He doesn’t acknowledge it, expression carefully the same as before. “This is why it’s a demon’s most guarded secret.”
The humans don’t pick it up. Not quite. Eraserhead’s glare flickers to still closed fists. Deku knows he will see nothing different. The ragged man looks like he wants to speak again, but he doesn’t get the chance when the door opens.
“I apologize for my lateness, Principal Nedzu,” A blonde skeleton of a man walks in sheepishly. “There was a villain attack on my way here, and I had to stop and…” The former number one hero trails off, eyes widening when he sees who was in the room. “Deku? What are you doing here?”
“All Might!” The man nearly topples with the blur of wings that greet him, blood shooting out of his mouth from the force. Not that the demon minds, too busy hugging the man contently. The rest of the heroes watch the scene in confusion.
“You know this boy, All Might?” All Might wipes away the blood from his mouth to reply, but Deku beats him to it.
“Of course he knows me! He’s All Might! Did you know that he made a deal once to sell his firstborn for revenge? It was awesome!” No one in their right mind would believe such a statement, but the way the retired hero pales tell the heroes a different story.
“You, the symbol of peace,” The glare Aizawa gives has the older man shivering uncontrollably. “Decided that it was acceptable to sell an innocent life, a child, for something so petty and selfish as revenge?”
“I d-didn’t-“
“Didn’t what?” Midnight all but purrs, low and dangerous. “Didn’t mean to? Didn’t have a child? Thank goodness you haven’t, but just to ensure you never do…” Her whip cracks ominously against the floor.
“Oh, but it’s too late for that. He had me!” Deku pipes up, gesturing proudly to himself to everyone’s horror. “He forgot that he made that deal too, so he never told my mom. But he did try to get me back when he found out I was still alive.” The demon sweeps the very uncomfortable man in a hug. “Isn’t he the best deadbeat dad ever?”
“Well then,” Toshinori awkwardly pats Deku hair, trying to steer the conversation anywhere else than his dirty laundry. “What brings you here, my boy? Are you interested in attending U.A and becoming a hero?”
“Not at all,” Deku let’s go to take into the air, pointed tail wagging excitedly. “Aizawa’s class has made a deal with me! Me, of all demons! I can hardly believe how lucky I am for my first deal.”
All Might doesn’t look that excited. In fact, he looks rather appalled.
“Midoriya, I am happy you’re interacting with your peers, but I don’t think you should be making deals with them.”
“Why not?” Deku scrunches his brows. “They just asked for some Klondike bars for their souls.”
“Their souls?!” All Might sputters. Deku nods.
“They were really new to the whole demon summoning thing. And really desperate for those snacks.”
“Deku.”
“I couldn’t say no to them, but I didn’t want to give them an unfair trade or let them try to summon another demon who wouldn’t be as considerate. They were so adorable and other demons would eat them up on the spot if given the chance. So I said to myself, I’ve got to protect them. I’m going to adopt all of them. These are my children now.”
“Izuku, listen-“
“So I did. And I can’t just abandon then now, you know? They’re my responsibility. Ah, sorry. I forgot that you may not understand what I’m talking about, All Might. Hmm…How do I explain it?”
“Midoriya Izuku, was it?” Izuku freezes. That was answer enough for Nedzu, “You understand that I cannot put our students at unnecessary risk, no matter how good the intentions are. I’m sorry for this. Midoriya Izuku.”
“No!” Izuku moves, but Aizawa’s scarf and Midnight’s whip catch his wings and legs, trying to pull him back. He rips through their bindings easily, but it still takes time. It’s still too late.
“Midoriya Izuku. Midoriya Izuku.”
Gold chains erupt from the ground, piercing through the demon’s skin, yanking him to the ground to kneel. Golden symbols sprout from each wound, spreading farther and farther like poison in the veins. The demon struggles even as more chains wrap around him, silencing his voice to muffled pleas. Even with his eyes covered, everyone can still see tears streaming down the teen’s face. All Might makes a move towards the boy but stops when Nedzu raises a paw.
“I’m aware that you trusted us with some traumatic information, so please understand that this is not done subject your free will. We simply want our students to be protected from becoming victims. After we have been thoroughly informed of the details regarding demon proposals and deem them acceptable, we can move forward to possible deals with you and other students and staff. In addition, those in this room, save your father, will undergo a memory wipe of your true name. I have a colleague whose quirk can erase memory without knowing the content, as long as they have the exact time, day, and location.” None of the heroes protest to this, so he continues.
“Midoriya Izuku, break your deal with the Aizawa’s Class 3A.”
Paper snaps into existence, unfurling to reveal a contract written in bloody ink. The chains drag the unwilling teen to grab the floating scroll. Blue flames erupt as soon his fingers touch the paper, eating away until there is nothing left. A heavy thunk echoes in the room when the shackles loosen, the ones once piercing his flesh now drop to the floor. The symbols shimmer and fade. Leaving behind a pile of ash and broken sobs hidden in wings.
All Might’s heart breaks at the sight. He, more than anyone in this room, knows the impact of this decision would bring. But it had to be done.
“I…Izuku, my boy,” He starts, reaching a hand towards his son’s hunched form. The broken sobs get louder, shaking the bundle of wings. He gently pries them open to reveal a huge grin awaiting.
“Surprise!” The golden chains burst into confetti. Izuku twirls in the air. A light, bubbly laugh comes from his throat like the chime of bells, but too warm and flickering. “That’s not my true name!”
All Might reels back, blood spurting from his mouth. “What?“
That couldn’t be right. Finding Izuku was so hard in the first place because any documents containing his name it had been thoroughly wiped from the system. Not to mention that he went by the alias ‘Deku’. Did he change it after that unfortunate incident?
The teen gives a knowing smile before settling back on his chair. He snaps his fingers, and the upturned table rights itself back up. Broken china rips out of existence to reappear good as new. Deku pours himself a new cup. “I am Midoriya Izuku, but it’s my given name. A demon’s true name is not given but born deep within them. Once they have survived a decade, they become aware of it, just like they know the power it holds.” He pauses for a moment to take a sip before letting out a happy hum.
“I’ve only shared it to a few people. Mom and Papa were the first to know.”
All eyes zero on All Might, who wears a look of helpless confusion.
“He means me.” Smooth baritone says pleasantly, and All Might stills, because he knows that voice. The heroes all know that voice very well.
They just didn’t know when All For One had entered the room.