Archive of Our Own

Eri was scared. 

Overhaul was right  - she was cursed. 

After all, these heroes wouldn't be in there if she had just been a good girl - had just gone with Overhaul. 

But now they were trapped - because even if she was safe, they weren't. 

And they were running out of time. 

"Welcome, filthy heroes!"

Izuku knew that voice - he'd had nightmares ever since that day, after all. 

Everything was fine - Eri had saved Sir Nighteye right before Aizawa had stopped her quirk, Overhaul and his fellow villains had been caught, and they were all on the way to Tartarus. 

And then the League of Villains had attacked the car. Snatch had halted the attack, but when trying to incinerate the sand hero, Dabi had missed his target, blue flames licking at the restraints that held Overhaul in place. 

And then all hell had broken loose. 

Everyone was surprised that he hadn't attacked either the League, or the heroes on site. 

Until reports started coming in - the transport vans for the eight precepts were targeted - Overhaul had used his quirk to free the powerful villains. 

Every night Izuku had lain awake, worrying about them striking to capture Eri. 

He hadn't thought they would capture him and his friends instead. 

"Now don't worry," came the mocking voice of Chisaki Kai. "You are all going to be far more useful alive." 

"You see," he continued. "To truly test what I can do with the quirk erasing bullets, I need a large variety of test subjects. Quirks, sizes, ages ." 

Izuku was confused by the masked man's emphasis on the last word, until he heard the rest of his speech. 

"I found out that with some experimentation, Chronostasis' quirk can speed up time." 

The captured students tensed as they saw the aforementioned Shie Hassaikai member appear, all readying to avoid his deadly hair.

"Don't worry," Overhaul said as he watched them. "He already used his quirk on you."

"You won't get away with this, Chisaki!" Izuku snarled, lunging forward, green lighting arcing across his form.

"So persistent, you filthy heroes, even when you should just listen, " Overhaul said with annoyance, dodging Izuku's One For All-enhanced kick. "But it doesn't change anything - no matter how much you struggle, I can fix the damage. You'll age. 

But you'll never die." 

"W-what are you doing - why are we here!" Kirishima yelled, Hardening protecting him from another flurry of punches. 

"I adopted you!" Kirishima's opponent declared with glee. 

"You what!?" 

"Now we can just fight!" Rappa exclaimed. "As long as we want! Overhaul can always fix us up, so no need to worry about dying!" 

"I don't wanna fight forever! I wanna be a hero! I-" 

The boy was cut off as he was forced to activate his quirk once again, rock-like skin cracking.

"I will save them! You can't stop me!" Mirio declared, rushing Nemoto once again. 

"Overhaul already stopped you, or did you forget that you have no quirk?" the man asked, though Mirio didn't find himself forced to respond. He must not have used Confession.

Mirio powered through, because Lemillion would save a million people! Lemillion would be someone who smiled!

Lemillion would see Sir again.

Lemillion would see Nejire again.

Lemillion would see Tamaki agai-

"Y-you * hic* think y can d-d-defeeat me, heeeero?"

The drunken man avoided every strike Ochaco attempted, his quirk making her feel worse, and worse.

She couldn't use Zero Gravity.

If she didn't, she was done for.

If she did, the backlash would be immense.

But just one touch!

She clumsily avoided the man's attacks, blocked strikes that - though lacking in any sort of strategic thought - held the power of someone with no inhibitions.

She was forced to duck as a drunken swing almost hit her. 

She could do this. 

She could be a hero's hero. 

But she could save herself first. 

"Don't worry Eri, we'll find them," Shouta assured the young girl.

Why couldn't these children ever get a break—he knew the world was cruel.

But four students had been kidnapped by the Shie Hasssaikai.

With the might of Katsukame Rikiya, and the disorientation from Deidoro Sasaki, the groups watching the students who were deemed most at risk were bulldozed through, before the men disappeared once again. They hadn't even come for Eri, which puzzled Shouta and the police to no end.

He still held onto the hope that they would find his students and Toogata Mirio. 

He needed to.

He needed to believe they were still alive.

Little did he know... there were worse fates.

Izuku ran, he kicked, he dodged, but each attack from Overhaul seemed… apathetic, the yakuza boss choosing to simply counter Izuku's every move with his quirk. 

On and on the game of cat and mouse went, until Overhaul seemed to decide he was done playing around. He pressed a hand to the ground, and spikes shot out of the ground to keep Izuku in place. 

"It's time to experiment," he stated, circling Izuku. "I could just erase your quirk, but what about some Trigger instead?" 

Suddenly Izuku felt a prick on his leg. 

Crap, crap, crap ! He couldn't handle One For All normally! With Trigger-

His thoughts were cut short as a burning sensation crept across him - green lightning arcing dangerously. He tried to kick his attacker away, but only succeeded in eliciting a sickening 'crack.' 

"How annoying. Let's fix that." 

Suddenly Izuku's leg exploded with pain, before subsiding. 

He almost blacked out from the shock. 

He wished he had. 

The dull pain from One For All was now burning - it felt as though he was trying to use 60% of his quirk. The only reason he was still alive being that he was staying perfectly still. But the pain kept growing stronger and stronger.

But he held firm.

He could do this!

He had to do this.

To be a true hero.

He kept repeating it to himself, over, and over, as the burning in his limbs reached a crescendo!

And then...

It all went black.

In the aftermath of the Yakuza group's attack, Shouta had been tasked with watching Eri, moving around to keep the Shie Hassaikai from finding her.

He was currently doing this by driving around through lesser visited areas, avoiding notice.

"Over-Overhaul was right," Eri stammered, tears running down her face. "I-I'm cursed—if I just went back, th-they wouldn't get hurt. Take me back."

"Don't worry Eri," he tried to comfort the young girl. "We'll get them back - don't wor-"

"Take me back!" the girl screamed desperately.

I don't want them to die—because of me!"

Shouta didn't know how to answer her. What could he say to the seven year old.

Especially when he himself was having trouble staying hopeful. 

Mirio continued to fight - he was exhausted - battered - bruised.

But still, he pushed on.

It had only been a day, but Mirio vaguely knew he wasn't the same as when he had first woken up in this nightmare - going by the glances he caught of himself. It seemed that Overhaul wasn't lying about what he'd said.

Mirio couldn't stop to truly process it though, as he pushed on. Overhaul had already been forced to 'fix' him and Nemoto once. He now understood just why Eri was so terrified. The searing hot pain of being ripped apart, only to be 'reset.'

But he was a hero, he was trained to keep going even when he was falling apart. No one would ever know how hurt he was if they looked at him.

Just as long as they didn't see his eyes.

Kirishima just didn't get it.

He knew that being a hero wasn't always pleasant.

He had learned that at the USJ.

He had learned that at the Training Camp.

He had seen it in a way he never had before at Kamino.

He had cracked at the Shie Hassaikai raid, he had learned then.

But that still didn't prepare him for finding himself 24 years older in two days

He blocked another punch with his reddened arm.

Fighting over, and over.

He crossed both arms to catch a dual strike, pain exploding across his body.

He'd lose.

He had an idea

But Rappa would still keep going.

He readied his arms.

And now?

He poured his quirk into his fists.

Now he was starting to-

He struck out with all his might!

-Crumble.

Shouta and his charge arrived at an old beach. It looked similar to how Takoba beach once looked. Trash piled all around into large jagged mounds.

Except for a large barrier.

The pro hero tensed as he noticed the occupants - the most dangerous members of the Shie Hassaikai.

And his students!

It took all he had to keep from going into a blind rage.

They dared!

They dared to torture Eri!

They dared to escape justice!

They dared to kidnap students - students under his care—under Sir Nighteye's care!

He forced the whirlwind of emotions down, crushing the anger and want for revenge, trying to let logic to take over.

But he couldn't fully quell it - not when he knew they were in danger. 

He tried to think rationally - If he could just figure out the location of Tengai Hekiji, then he could Erase his quirk, and free his students-

His thought process came to a halt — plans crumbling as he looked at the captured teens more closely.

Something was wrong - so very wrong.

The young heroes look familiar - yet different. 

Midoriya's features were harder, Toogata's broader, Kirishima's and Uraraka's cheerful faces now angular and mature. 

He approached the barrier. Rage swirling as he tried to hold the rogue emotion back.

"Hello Eraserhead, I'm surprised you came."

Shouta glared at Overhaul, unable to see the person responsible for the force-field that separated them. 

"Let them go!" he demanded. "You won't get away with this!" 

Overhaul just stared at him impassively, before heading toward a trembling Kirishima, the villain's hand outstretched. 

"Stop for a moment, Shin. He needs to be fixed." 

Ochaco wracked her brain for a plan - any plan! 

The thought of using her quirk grew more and more worrying - the effects of Sloshed now so strong that she had a splitting headache. 

This man wouldn't hesitate - his brain couldn't understand how .

But then, she saw her opening, reaching out with her open palm.

Just touch him - just reach out with all five fingers, and this nightmare could end.

She could go back to UA. Laugh with Mina, ask for advice from Tsu....

She reached out…

And nothing happened.

No added nausea.

No feeling.

No victory—not even short-lived. 

She realized that the feeling she'd had - the strange twist in her gut - it wasn't from Sloshed - no.

Her quirk… was gone.

She couldn't get away. 

Couldn't get away

She couldn't… 

Eri couldn't stand it. She couldn't stand how they were getting hurt. All because of her. 

If she just hadn't been so selfish - if she had just gone with Overhaul… 

She knew what she had to do. 

Shouta watched in alarm as the door on the car opened, hoping that Overhaul didn't notice. 

He wasn't even worried that the villain would kill her—he needed her for his twisted cause.

But there were things worse than death. 

"Eri," the villain greeted the traumatized girl, stepping back toward the barrier. "Are you finally ready to be a good girl?" 

Izuku got up, dread filling him as he saw Eri approach the barrier. 

No! She was safe! He wouldn't let her go back! 

He dragged himself to a standing position. The trigger must have worn off, he thought in the back of his mind. 

That's what he hoped. 

Now that he wasn't being held back by Overhaul, he rushed over to his friends' aid - moving so fast he almost left a blurry green afterimage.

When he saw the state of his friends, it took all he had to not stop.

They looked fine, physically.

But mentally, they looked broken, desperate, tired.

These were not the faces of young teens going out into the world.

These were the faces of battle-worn soldiers.

In more ways than one. 

But he couldn't stop, he rallied them. He knew they could do this! They could push through!

Kirishima was the closest to him. He rushed toward the red-haired teen, leaving small craters as he pushed One For All as far as he dared. 

When he caught sight of his classmate, he couldn't help but gasp. 

Eijirou hurt. 

Flecks of rock crumbled away, as new skin pushed its way through. 

Tougher

It hurt. 

Stronger

He felt so helpless. 

Sharp

Everything was fuzzy. 

But it didn't stop there. 

That was hoping for too much, wasn't it? 

His limbs felt stiff, every way he moved ground away at his joints, specks of rock shaved off with each movement. 

It was then that he learned

That if a shield didn't move,

It broke. 

And not man, or nature could fix the cracks.

But nature tried.

And it H U R T.

Thankfully his mind found something new to focus on - the sound of not-lightning filling his ears.

He turned his neck, large spikes of rock jutting around his head like a crude helmet—.

No! He had to keep focused! Midoriya needed his help - he could feel it!

"Midoriya!" he exclaimed, pushing the pain to the back of his mind. "You have a plan — don't you."

It wasn't a question.

Midoriya nodded.

"We need to help Urara- Agh!"

Eijirou's green-haired classmate stumbled, the green energy around him surging. 

"Are you sure you can do it?" He couldn't help but ask, as he heard the groaning of Midoriya's bones.

" I have to!" the teen answered through gritted teeth.

Kirishima knew how he felt.

They headed toward Uraraka, their captors chasing them while Overhaul gloated, the monster.

The two boys made their way to their classmate, who lay on her knees, eyes empty.

"It's gone," she whispered over and over.

"What-what's go- gone ?" Midoriya stuttered, wincing as he forced the words out.

"MY QUIRK. It's gone… I can't get away- I can't get away! "

"We can help you!” Kirishima tried to assure the brown-haired girl, reaching for her hand.

And then it all went to hell.

Because it doesn't matter how hard you try.

If you only crack.

Mirio pushed on, punishing his attacker with well aimed blows, in-between dodging the darts Nemoto shot.

He really didn't want to know just what they contained.

Mirio finally managed to land a solid jab to the villain's head, knocking him out cold.

The blond teen looked around, finally able to catch his breath.

And caught sight of his juniors.

He ran - dashing toward the members of Class 1-A. He stumbled, almost falling to his knees, before righting himself.

He knew he could do this, even with no quirk!

Mirio finally arrived where the three teens were huddled, a determined expression on his face.

"They're coming, Midoriya. We can beat them!"

He watched as the younger teen hesitated, before quickly nodding.

His lightning was so bright! So chaotic! So… wrong . 

He quickly turned his focus to the approaching villains - the large form of Katsukame Rikiya. 

And then he noticed movement in the corner of his eye - the slumbering form of Deidoro Sasaki starting to waken. 

They fought. 

They kicked. 

They pushed with all their might! 

But in the end, they lost. 

He took solace in the fact that their escape attempt had stolen Overhaul's attention, allowing Eraserhead to pull Eri back. 

If she was safe, he could feel better. 

Hours had passed…

The third day drew near. 

Mirai couldn't stand it - they knew where Mirio and the other students were, but they couldn't do a thing!

Earlier that day

Mirai was sitting in his office, looking into potential leads on where the Hassaikai might have taken the teens, sifting through the various digital files and sheets of paper he had strewn across his desk and monitor. 

Just as he was preparing to instruct Centipeder on where to search next, his phone started to ring. 

Quickly picking the device up, he checked to see who was calling, quickly picking it up when he saw the ID of the caller. 

Eraserhead. 

"What is it, Eraser?" he asked the man quickly, hoping that the underground hero had found some sort of clue, no matter how small. 

"Nighteye - I found them!" 

Mirai couldn't help but feel a swell of hope, before he noticed the lack of relief in the younger man's voice. 

"Eraser, is something wrong?" 

…

The answer left Mirai reeling - the villains had locked themselves up in a large barrier - and Eraserhead couldn't see the party responsible to erase their quirk. They were at a standstill.

Quickly making his way out of his office, he called the attention of the Nighteye agency, Centipeder assisting him in contacting various heroes who may be able to help them get through the fortress-like barrier. 

And that lead him to where they were now, meeting with the chosen heroes to discuss their plan to rescue the teens. 

He wished they could just go - waiting while children suffered hurt him deeply - if only he hadn't allowed them-

No. It wasn't worth blaming himself for it now- now he had to save them. 

"I assume that you've all been briefed on what we’re here for?" he asked, the various heroes nodding, or voicing their affirmations. 

"Good. In that case, I will tell you what our current plan of action is. Since Eraserhead cannot see the person responsible for the barrier, we will be forced to break through - that's where Endeavor and Ryukyu come in. After we've broken through, myself, Eraserhead, Centipeder, and Best Jeanist will focus on subduing Overhaul. Ryukyu will be going for Katsukame Rikiya, and Miruko will go against Rappa Kendou… 

After what felt like hours, but was most likely not even fifty minutes, they headed toward the location that Eraserhead had shared. 

The underground hero kept them updated on what was happening. Overhaul had kept taunting Eraserhead, or trying to get Eri to come to him - only stopped by the same barrier that was keeping the heroes out. 

Finally reaching the beach, the heroes readied themselves for battle, the Number One hero glaring at the dome. 

"What scum, hiding from justice! We will show them how wrong they are to believe themselves beyond our reach!" 

Mirai couldn't help but scan the barrier's inhabitants, before finally catching a glimpse of familiar blond hair. 

Only to gasp when he caught a better look. 

Gone was the teen he had mentored - in his place stood a middle-aged man, broad shouldered, and still not backing down. 

He was up against Chronostasis, dodging as strands of hair barely missed their marks as Mirio was forced to dodge. 

Chronostasis had a time-related quirk, but it slowed down time - what had happened… 

He tore his gaze away from Mirio to instead focus on Midoriya, who lay on the ground, the only sign of life being the brief sparks of lightning around his purple-black limbs. 

And then there was Kirishima, who looked more like a vaguely humanoid rock than the fresh-eyed teen who had joined the raid on the Shie Hassaikai. 

Mirai could just make out the person Kirishima was standing in front of as a human shield - brown hair framing the now empty face of Uraraka Ochako.

Though, she too, looked nothing like the young teen she once had. 

"Nighteye - it's almost time - please take Eri back to one of the first responders." 

Mirai pinched his brow as he realized how close he'd wandered, suddenly face-to-face with Overhaul. 

"She belongs with me! Give her back! I must cure them, cure them all!" the villain exclaimed, a murderous gaze in his eyes, pounding on the barrier with his fist. 

Eijirou couldn't help but grasp onto hope he didn't truly have when he saw the flaming figure of Endeavor attack the barrier that had become his prison with powerful blasts. 

With sheer determination, Eijirou clumsily launched a rock-like fist into Deidoro, knocking the man backwards before he slumped over, bottle dropping from his hand. 

Taking advantage of the brief respite, he grabbed Uraraka before dashing for the structure that had to be holding Tengai Hekiji. He started punching it, each swing grinding away at the walls… 

And himself. 

Mirio was surprised when Chronostasis ceased his attack, the pale-haired man rushing toward the strange structure at the center of the barrier. 

It didn't take him long to discern his target. 

Kirishima. 

Mirio did what he had to, and kicked off, arriving just as Chronostasis readied one of his clock-hand-shaped strands of hair, when he turned around, barely avoiding Mirio's punch. 

"You're so predictable, hero. You all fail in the end," the villain declared, shooting out the long-hand shaped strand, only to have his sentence cut short as Mirio kicked out, nailing the man in the chest. 

Chronostasis was shoved back, his head colliding with the wall, and falling unconscious. 

Mirio joined Kirishima, kicking at the walls with all his might, watching as the material slowly warped and cracked. After several agonizing minutes, they broke through, revealing the man hidden inside.

In the time it took him to turn around, Mirio found himself being hurled against the side of the barrier, followed by Kirishima.

They didn't get up.

They had done their best.

And maybe-

-That's all they needed to do.

Shouta watched as Overhaul once again forgot about the heroes and Eri, twisting around to look at the center of the dome. The underground hero was shocked at what he saw - Kirishima and Toogata were scraping, kicking, and punching the structure that he assumed to be hiding Tengai Hekiji. He watched with rapt attention as the two teens slowly carved away at it.

At first, Overhaul didn't seem to pay it any mind, but as it continued, Shouta noticed how he started to scratch at an exposed arm, his body tensing in anger.

"Katsukame, stop them."

While not raising his voice, Shouta could feel a sense of danger in Overhaul's request- no - decree .

And Katsukame obeyed, lumbering toward the students.

Shouta watched in growing horror as he continued on his path, while the boys kept pounding away at the metal enclosure.

He watched in disbelief as they broke through, tearing his gaze away from their now-flying bodies to focus on Tengai Hekiji.

The barrier dropped instantly as Erasure took effect, Endeavor's flames almost reaching Midoriya, before he was able to pull them back, surprised by the sudden lack of resistance.

Now came the hard part.

Slipping his goggles over bloodshot eyes, Eraserhead equipped his capture scarf - quickly joined by Nighteye, withdrawing his Hyper-Density Seals, with Centipeder and Best Jeanist bringing up the rear.

With Erasure, Overhaul stood no chance.

Shouta may have gone too far.

But then again.

So did Overhaul.

Endeavor scowled at Katsukame, using his flames to block the large man any time he tried to move closer to more people.

Endeavor was not about to allow the villainous scum to feed off others to escape justice.

A part of him couldn't help but wish to be the one to bring the Yakuza member to justice - but the wiser side of him knew that he wouldn't be able to without causing severe damage with his flames, damage that rage would not excuse - Ryukyu was the best choice.

The two Pro Heroes continued their deadly dance - it didn't take all that long, but while he was stuck focusing on the scum, instead of assisting against the other Yakuza members, it felt like hours before Ryukyu managed to knock the villain out cold.

"Hey, do I know you?"

Usagiyama grinned savagely as she met the large man's punch with an equally strong kick, driving the two opponents away from each other, before swinging back in.

"I dunno - I don't really try ta hang around villains!" She snarked back, trying to knock out Rappa Kendou with a well-placed kick. Her opponent wasn't slow by any means - managing to block the power-packed attack.

Usually she would relish in having such a strong opponent - such a familiar one. But with the stakes as they were, she knew now was not the time - she needed to end this, and quickly.

Once again she bounded forward, raising one leg to hit the boxer's head.

Her kick was blocked.

He didn't notice her fist until it was too late.

The muscular man was toppled.

Miruko claimed another victory.

Ryuko sighed in relief as she managed to remove the giant of a man from the fight.

She went to approach the two students at the center of the area when she noticed her.

She looked so different - so much older - so much more weary. 

Letting go of Dragon, the heroine shrunk in size, running the last few meters to where Ururaka Ochako lay, eyes glazed over.

"Don't worry, Uravity," she tried to comfort the girl- no, woman.

"You're safe now."

Uravity started clasping and unclasping her hands, tilting her head up to stare at Ryuko with empty eyes.

"It's gone," she whispered.

"What's- What's gone, Uravity?" Ryuko asked, not liking where this was going - the pieces fitting all too well.

"My quirk it's-it's gone. IT'S GONE! It's gone.… I can't get out… I can't get out! " she rambled, staring at her hands in despair.

Ryuko held the once young student as she sobbed despondently. 

Best Jeanist surveyed the once-prison.

How could someone do this? The very thought was repulsive.

From the once-teen sobbing in shock, to the now-man lying on the ground, barely breathing, to the two now-adults who had been thrown several meters, it was a terrible, horrible, heartbreaking sight.

Kamino had been devastating, tragedy on a never-before-seen scale in his lifetime. 

But here he was able to see every victim clearly - their struggle, their defeat, and their victory.

But as he looked over those gathered, he could stop his traitorous mind from wondering… 

Was this nightmare really a victory…

Had they won the battle, after the war had already been lost? 

After all,

Some costs cannot be paid.

Some debts are never cleared.

Some victories…

Taste like defeat. 

Shin stood shakily, having been unnoticed in the commotion. 

The man loaded new bullets into his gun - emptying it of its drug-filled darts. 

These disgusting heroes! Didn't they know about the rot - the uselessness of this never ending battle? 

Overhaul knew- he knew. 

But they had beat him. 

Restrained him. 

Declared their savior guilty. 

Well, if they would make judgement. 

Then so would he. 

"If we can't have her," he screamed defiantly, aiming his gun. 

"Then you can't either!"

"For Overhaul!" 

Shin was quickly brought back down by one of Sir Nighteye's Hyper-Density Seals.

But he knew it didn't matter.

After all,

He had already pulled the trigger.

Izuku knew what he had to do as he watched the fanatical man through heavy eyes.

He forced himself to his feet as the man made his declaration.

His legs screamed as he launched himself into the air.

Izuku hoped he would make it in time.

His teacher screamed as he pushed himself to catch the bullet aimed for Eri's heart.