Chapter Text
"Good grades alone can't get you into the hero program."
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This is fine.
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"If you think you'll have a quirk in your next life... go take a swan dive off the roof."
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This isn't the worst thing to happen to him.
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"It's not wrong to dream. However... you need to be realistic, kid."
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He can get over this.
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"There was absolutely no need to put yourself in danger!"
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He can handle this.
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"I'm sorry Midoriya-kun. There was an accident at your mother's work. She didn't make it."
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He couldn't handle this.
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"An accident?"
The officer nodded. "There was a fire. We're not sure what caused it yet. Your mother was trying to help an injured co-worker get out, but a support beam fell on them and trapped them."
"But what about the heroes?" He asked. "Where were they?"
"There weren't any in the area. They were either already on scene or on their way to help with the incident with the sludge villain and the two middle schoolers prior to All Might's arrival."
He had no words. Why were the heroes suddenly so... incompetent? First All Might crushed his dreams of being a hero, then he got scolded for doing something while all the heroes stood by, and now they let his mom die? These were the heroes he looked up to and worshipped his whole life?
"I know this all must be a shock to you," the officer laid a hand on his shoulder, attempting to be sympathetic, "but I also need to inform you that a social worker will be here soon to help you collect your belongings and move you to your new home."
He took a deep breath, "and where will that be?"
"Well, that depends. Top of the list would be any living relative, another parent, aunts or uncles, grandparents. If not, if you have them, then your listed godparents or anyone listed in your mother's will. And if none of those are viable options, either a foster or group home or nearby orphanage."
So either the Bakugous' or some orphanage. He couldn't go to either, he knew what he'd be treated like given his quirk status. Regardless, he nodded. "Can I go start packing? I-I just need a minute."
The officer nodded and he went to his room. Locking the door quietly behind him and dumped his school supplies out of his backpack. He grabbed anything he thought he might need. Clothes, his wallet, extra cash, his phone after he turned off the location.
For a moment he contemplated grabbing the photo album he had, but only grabbed a single photo. One of him and his mom from when he was six. The image of their cheeks squished together, wide grins stretching their faces, made him want to cry, but his heart felt warm.
Then he left down the fire escape and didn't look back.
~
Living on the streets was hard. It had only been a week, but Izuku was struggling. Nights were colder than he expected, and his money was already running low. He didn't stay in one area long. He spent most days walking, getting as far as he could from Musutafu. Eventually, he found himself in Kamino Ward and looking for some sort of shelter from the rain when he stumbled upon a seemingly abandoned bar.
Slipping into the alley, he quietly made his way to a back door and made quick work of picking the lock. He sighed in relief as the door quietly clicked shut behind him, glad to be out of the downpour.
"Who in the fuck are you?"
Izuku jumped and turned to find a man with several concerning patches of dry skin on his face and neck, and a person seemingly made out of some sort of purple and black smoke or mist. "Uh, no one," he intelligently replied.
The man glared, "no one?" They watched each other for a moment, locked in a staring contest. He seemed to have come to a decision. "Whatever, just means no one will come looking after I kill you."
Izuku panicked and moved to run out the door he came in through, but instead found himself on the other side of the bar. The mist person's quirk he assumed. "I apologize for Tomura's behavior. He has quite the temper, as you can tell." He turned to face them. "Though, now that you have found us, I cannot allow you to leave. May I ask what brought you to our bar?"
Cautiously, Izuku sat at one of the barstools. "Needed to get out of the rain."
The other man, Tomura, sat a couple stools away, grumbling. "Couldn't you have just gone home?"
"Not when you don't have a home to go to."
They both stared at him for a moment. "What?"
Izuku sighed, "My mom died a week ago. My options were childhood friend turned tormentor, the foster system, or run. I chose to run."
"Over a bed and a roof over your head? Seems like a stupid idea to me," Tomura commented.
He really shouldn't be telling them any of this. Who knew what they would do to him. "Well, when you're quirkless, the streets are a better alternative to constant torment and abuse. So, obvious choice."
"Hey Kurogiri, I have an idea."
The mist person turned to Tomura, "yes, Shigaraki Tomura?"
Shigaraki turned to him, "How do you feel about heroes, kid?"
Izuku scowled, "I hate them. They crushed my dreams, scolded me for helping, and let my mother die. I'd gladly watch them all burn."
"Perfect," Shigaraki grinned manically. "How would you like to join us, The League of Villains?"
Izuku blinked, "The League of Villains?"
"Yes! We are a group of villains dedicated to the dismantling of hero society. Heroes do more harm than help, and we wish to destroy them all."
That caught his attention. "Including All Might?"
"Especially All Might."
Izuku grinned, "I'm in."