Chapter Text
cold.
it's the only thought izuku has as he sits on the edge of a building, something-bank? he thought that's what it's called. his legs sway gently in the breeze, the early morning air being so gentle on his face that he almost falls asleep. it's early, close to 3 am if he had to guess, and he finds his eyes drooping. he reminds himself that no, he had to stay awake. he couldn't ruin his own plans.
his thoughts go to everything he had done, the amount of work he had done over the past few weeks at some shitty part time job to save up for his mother so she's not as bogged down by his funeral, the amount of time he spent on that suicide note, and the notebooks that were now smoldered ash in some cheap trash can. he feels a sense of relief, his vague checklist with every box ticked off to ensure that this was it. that there was no going back now. he didn't have anything, anyway, he would admit. he knew his mother must have some hatred for him over his lack of a quirk, who wouldn't? everyone else did. even all might didn't think he could be a hero.
he almost laughed at that. it had taken his heart being truly broken down for him to finally give up that stupid fucking dream. his hands shake as he remembers, remembers the feeling of bakugou's 'advice' ringing in his ears, and remembers the way that ringing only continued when all might told him to be realistic. he feels a surge of anger, but he pushes it down. no point in caring now, it didn't matter. he prays to whatever god there may be, gently placing his shoes nicely beside him, and glances down at the sidewalk. it looks so small, everything does from this height. he wonders how small he is compared to someone else, and how small they are. he smiles at that thought, he was insignificant. it was freeing in a way that only the idea of being nothing in a world of greatness was.
that thought is what has him finally standing, taking a deep breath. he looks up to the sky, says a quiet 'thank you' to whoever may be listening, and walks off.
there's a second where his breath is pulled from his lungs, and as he watches the stars in the sky slowly get smaller and smaller, he wonders if this is what it means to fly. if this is what a hawk sees as it swoops in to get it's food, and if this is what it truly feels like to be free. he closes his eyes, tears finally coming to his eyes as he prepares for the inevitable. it's only a second before he feels something under him, guiding him down before fully catching him. he wonders if that's death, gentle and warm and so, so kind to someone who doesn't deserve his kindness.
it's when he opens his eyes that his world of light and happiness comes crashing down, as he stares at some man who looks just as heartbroken as he is. he has wings, and izuku wonders vaguely if he'd be able to ask him about his quirk, before his brain finally reconnects him back to earth and his eyes water. he stares for only a second before he lets out a cry that makes the man quickly get to the ground, quietly trying to tell him it's ok.
but it's not. he screams it at the top of his lungs, his voice is hoarse from disuse and he can feel the pain of everything settling in. he failed. he failed he failed he failed.
the man is gentle, quick to pull him into a hug as he screams and cries. he can feel the man getting stiff and he almost hears him getting choked up as he tells izuku that it will be okay. that even if things are hard, that even if he had no one to turn to and no heroes by his side, that it would be okay. that he would be his hero, if he needs it. izuku's crying dies out slowly, hands gripping onto this man who he's known for exactly 10 minutes like he's some sort of god, and he asks the quiet question.
can i be a hero? even if i'm quirkless?
and the man pulls back, eyes steely with determination and tears and fear and he nods.
anyone can be a hero.