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He dragged his feet along the pavement, the sun was sending warm golden rays down in front of him as the words echoed on repeat in his head.
“Pros are always risking their lives. I cannot simply say, “You can become a hero without a power”.”
“It’s not bad to dream, but you also have to consider what is realistic, young man.”
I guess I should have expected it...doesn’t make it hurt any less…. His grip on the straps of his bag tightened.
“I AM HERE!!” All Might slid into his path from an alleyway, shouting his arrival with a dramatic pose. The greenette flinched at his voice, blankly looking up and barely listening. The hero didn’t seem to notice.
“Young man, I come with thanks, a correction, and a suggestion------their bodies moved before they had a chance to think------you can be a hero.”
“...what..?” he had to hear the last part again...surely, surely he heard wrong?
“You can be a hero my boy. I’ve been looking for an heir you see…” All Might proceeded to ramble on, explaining his quirk and its unique ability to be passed on. But Izuku didn’t hear that...instead the message was loud and clear.
“You can be a real hero with my quirk.”
As All Might extended his hand out with a smile, Izuku couldn’t help but feel heat seething under his skin. A thought crossed his mind..
“I decline.”
“That’s what I thought you'd--decline?!” All Might spluttered, Izuku took a deep breath in an attempt to quell his slow-rising anger. He could hear the message. Whether or not All Might said it outright, he heard it.
“Without a quirk you can’t be a hero.”
“My boy, maybe you don’t understand what I am offering,” All Might fumbled, “I can explain it again if that will help settle your thoughts.”
“All Might I heard it crystal clear,” Izuku looked up with a glare, mild satisfaction at the flinch, “you cannot be a hero without a quirk.”
“That's not what I--.”
“Then what did you mean All Might? What else could you possibly mean?” he snapped bitterly, “You’re offering me a quirk, and all of a sudden I can be a hero. Why does something like a quirk decide what I can do and can’t do?!” Izuku could feel the tears threatening to spill, averting his gaze to quickly rub them away, he met the blond’s gaze once again.
“I will prove you wrong All Might. I’ll become a hero without a quirk. I’ll prove everyone wrong!” he shouted. He shoved past the stunned hero then ran the rest of the way home. Only when he entered his room and sat down did it dawn on him what he had done.
“I just yelled at the #1 hero…” Izuku whispered in realization. The thought sunk in as his skin crawled, with excitement or shame, who knows, leaping to his feet and tossing his bag aside. He sat down at his desk and set to work. It was already hard to become a hero with a quirk, so he’d just have to work twice as hard. He meant every word he had said and he planned to follow through.