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Izuku Midoriya was a perfectly average appearing individual.
People would see him as a part of a crowd, but seldom recalled what the poor boy looked like or even that he was there. It was that way in middle school, and it felt that way entering UA. He was another face in the crowd of the general studies students.
That was the plan. That was how it was supposed to happen.
He was not supposed to run into a ghost from his past skulking the halls of the hero institute he was learning in. He was not supposed to be recognized either. Alas, life seldom went the way he wanted it to.
"Izuku?" the raspy voice from his childhood gasped. Izuku stared at the dry skinned elder and made an executive decision to run. A wise one considering that he was not captured by one of his "captor's" followers. A dumb one considering he was now in the principal's office having to explain how he knew the particular crusty man who was sneaking about the filing cabinets and what he himself was doing there.
Thanks a lot Tomura.
And now he had to bring his "dad" in for a conference. Joy.
He just hoped that no one would be arrested by the end of the conference.
"Thank you for joining us today Mr. Kurogiri," Nezu said in a neutrally sweet tone.
"It is not an issue. You said there was something concerning about Izuku?" the Gaseous appearing man asked in a smooth and refined voice.
"Yes. As you may have heard, there was a break in today."
"I did. A most concerning occurrence at such a well protected and fine institute," Kurogiri commented smoothly, "I do hope that you are looking into it, but I do not understand why you would be contacting me? Surely you would address the student and parent population as a whole unless there was a more private concern."
Nezu held his smile, though a knowing and maddening glint appeared in his eyes.
"Most of the people who entered the grounds were reporters. There was one individual however, that recognized young Izuku."
Kurogiri tensed slightly, yellow eyes that peered through the gas seemed to narrow.
"Did they now? Does this individual have a name?"
"Izuku called them Tomura."
Kurogiri closed his eyes. A groan hanging in his throat at the news. He could understand why Izuku had looked so downtrodden being surrounded by the staff. It wasn't because he was called in, it was because he had been seen.
"That is most concerning. If I may, there are certain... off the record statements I should make regarding Tomura. If, that is alright with you of course."
"Oh? And why would these statements need to be kept off record?"
"Safety. Izuku relies on me as his primary caregiver. His only one at this point. And if I end up in police custody because of a recorded statement, then I can't protect him from the very things that I'd be telling you."
"For Izuku's safety? Not your own?"
Kurogiri was silent for a moment.
"Perhaps the boy I once was would have gleefully abandoned him for my own safety and comfort. But the man that I am would never allow it."
"Should the information prove useful, we won't look any further into your past. But in regards to keeping our students safe, well... you know what a teacher must do."
"If nothing else, then keep Izuku safe. He's innocent."
"Of course. We wouldn't want a child to suffer from unfortunate association. Please proceed."
Kurogiri sighed.
"I guess... it started back when I was sixteen or seventeen... supposedly, I was a thief known as Loud Cloud. I would use my quirk to steal and hide objects, then escape. I wasn't well known. In fact, most probably don't even know about my criminal days. Most just recall a statistic. Accidental villain perishing."
Nezu was familiar with the statistic. It was what many of the deaths of villains caused by heroes were called. If Kurogiri was a part of that statistic, then clearly he hadn't died, and someone had saved him. If he had been dead, then things were far more dangerous than he would like.
"I died that day. Or I should say, Shirakumo died that day... My earliest memories consist of being in a lab, then a bar. I was told I had been saved by a doctor, at the request of my "Sensei". I had no memories, so I never questioned it. I worked diligently, never questioning my purpose. Not until sensei entered one day with an upset, and visibly pregnant woman. He hid her away and told me that I was to protect her and her child with my life."
"I assume Izuku is that child?"
"He is. If not for him, I would most likely still be there. I might have remained had sensei not brought Tomura into our lives."
"The one who recognized Izuku?"
"Yes. Sensei... he did something to that child. He was, and likely still is, unhinged. He has no moral boundaries, and is encouraged to destroy everything he dislikes."
"Izuku being one of them?"
"No. Sensei would never allow it. That said, he would destroy Izuku's belongings. Anything he was fond of so he only could rely on Tomura... Sensei only made it worse. Endulging him in his destructive tendencies. It only solidified when he tried to kill Izuku's mother. He was disciplined, but the madness still lingered. He has his loyalty only to Sensei, and he saw Izuku as his. Seeing Izuku in that situation, I had to do something. So, I did what I had to to protect him. I grabbed him and fled."
"But not his mother?"
"I couldn't. Her condition wasn't good at the time. The Doctor was the only person I knew who could keep her alive, stable, and perhaps even reverse the damage from Tomura's decay."
"And you didn't contact the authorities?"
"How could I? I doubt even All Might could stand a chance against Sensei. Even if he..."
"Even if he what?"
"...Even if he did take off half of his face."
Izuku looked down at his hands in worry. He couldn't look any of the hero-teachers in the eye with his nerves and worries threatening to erupt out of him. It didn't help that there were mixed looks of worry and accusation littering their faces. He focused on the ticking of the clock, trying to ground himself and remain calm as the meeting drug on longer and longer. The watchful eyes of his homeroom teacher, Present Mic, and the homeroom teacher for class 1-B were unsettling to say the least.
It was in the tenseness of the ticking room that had everyone's eyes jump to the door when they heard a soft click. Izuku locked eyes on his gaseous guardian, free of any restraints that would indicate he was being arrested.
"Ku-Dad!"
Izuku ran over and hugged the dapper dressed man with relief.
"Izuku, you don't have to call me dad if you don't want to. Nezu is aware of our, circumstances."
Izuku just held on tighter. Kurogiri sighed and looked around the room, his eyes landing on Present Mic.
"Ah... I know you."
"Oh yeah?" the Voice Hero said with a smile. Kurogiri nodded.
"You accidentally killed me once."