Chapter Text
Warnings: Soulmates, soulparents, assassin Izuku, selectively mute izuku, Izuku/aizawa
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To Stone went the Stones. Meaning, those chosen by Stone had no choice but to become Stone Guild members themselves. That was the way of things, just like the turning of fate. To the Stone Guild went the poor, the simple—those with nothing to protect them. To the Thorn Guild went the rich and privileged. The two guilds had once balanced the needs of the countries citizens, but one had become filled with darkness, judgment, death, and the children of paupers. To disrespect either Guild was to bring shame down upon him and his family. Disliking the Guilds must be kept in the privacy of one's mind.
That was what his father had told him all that time ago. Back when they were still a family. Before his father had decided his mother cheated on him. An ear flicked as he followed his mother. Just on the edge of his hearing he could hear something. What it was he couldn't quite make out.
The Stone Guild had come to nowhere, far into nothing, to collect their due. Two Brothers in telltale gray jacket, armed with broadswords crossed behind their backs. Behind them was a boy of perhaps twelve years with the yellow-haired, haughty look stood astride the one man. He had no broadsword, but wore a long dagger belted at his waist. His garb was simpler, too, gray pants and a gray shirt. An apprentice he thought.
The Stone Brothers came to a halt in the alley. Their eyes cold as stone as they examined Izuku and his mother. They came to you almost never was it the other way around. Why had his mother contact them?
A Stone Brother fights like a porcupine in close combat. The Judged often try to win their way free, but it’s damnable hard to account for all those slashing quills.
The Judged. Those who commit crimes without a quirk. It was a toss up if the police would catch them or a Stone Brother. If it was a Brother then they would go and face judgement. Fighting as their trial could earn freedom but more often than not it ended their death.
All children learned this in school. It was better to be tried by the police than by a Stone Brother. The chances of getting free were much higher in your favor.
One Brother strode straight toward his mother. The hilts of his broadswords jutted up from behind the man’s shoulders. Izuku could imagine the sharp, jagged blades crossed over the man’s back, though he hadn’t yet seen them. He also couldn’t see any daggers, but if he had learned correctly from school, the man would have knives concealed all over his person.
The other brother hung back his eyes watching. Judging them and how worthy they might be. Izuku's ears folded back nearly flat against his head. He knew that if he was looking in the mirror he would see that his eyes were glowing amber with the wolf.
Wolfkin was what he named his quirk. It gave him many of the characteristics of a wolf such as his ears, tail, and when threatened his eyes. Sometimes he was even able to communicate with them. Though it was through images rather than words. One thing he did not enjoy about his quirk was the difficulty he had speaking. Most words came out in growls if they came out at all.
The Stone Brother reached his mother, and he back his cowl to greet the them properly. On his right cheek was a three-sided black spiral. There was a second this on his neck a rank mark that he couldn't identify. All of them had a similar mark on their bodies as the one on his cheek. The man had white hair and light skin with eyes as green as wet summer grass. Loud eyes they were called in whispers by children. It was thought that anyone who had green eyes held some semblance of power over a legacy.
Legacies like quirks were unique to a person but much more rare. Only about 5 percent of the world had a legacy. Supposedly there was a link between all who carried a legacy but it had never been proven. Like quirks a legacy could be anything.
His mother gave a polite bow before greeting, "Greetings, Stone Brother. Thank you for coming on such late notice."
“Greetings.” The Stone Brother gave a polite bow in return. “Forgive the lateness of our arrival, but we have been long on the road. You wanted to have your son tested?"
Izuku's ears sent flat against his head, his tail twitching in agitation. She did what? But why... then he glanced at his tail. Right his dad had been her soulmate. She probably blamed him for his leaving. Izuku had three soulmarks himself, two parental, and one romantic.
His mother said, "I'm sorry to interrupt your travels, Stone Brother. However given the circumstances I would like my son tested."
"In this case, if he is the child I claim will be my first apprentice, and thus one day will share my status in the guild, and in Japam.” He smiled as he glanced around the alley. “Perhaps a status greater than he or she already enjoys.”
His mother barely withheld a snort of distaste. Izuku's head lowered. He never considered that she hated him enough to call the Guilds. What would she do if he didn't have a legacy? Would she abandon him? Amber bled back into green.
“It would be best if we made haste to get back on our way. I am Dunstan, called Dunstan Stormbreaker by my Brothers. We will test his blood as we do all those of age. While he is young we would take him if his blood speaks."
Dunstan Stormbreaker took carved-bone chalice from his gray bag. Then he approached Izuku with calm radiating off of him. Strangely Izuku felt himself despite himself. Normally if anyone tried such a thing with him it would have failed.
A stillness overtook the man as they caught gazes. Green on green clashed for a handful of seconds. He did not open the lock of his gaze as he extended his hand. His sleeve fell back, revealing rows of dav’ha marks to rival those on heroes arms. Izuku thrust his arm out waiting for for the cut.
Stormbreaker grabbed his wrist and held it. Izuku felt an odd pressure on his mind, but he kept his face as flat and smooth as the man's before him.
“Are you Quiet?” Stormbreaker asked in that low, hypnotic voice. “You are most certainly composed I've seen in recent years. You give me neither fear nor anger. Do you think that means you’re strong?”
There was no power in the world could have compelled Izuku to answer. To his mother Stormbreaker questioned, "What is his name?"
"Izuku," she said dispassionately.
“I like the name Izuku,” Stormbreaker smiled at Izuku as if he knew something the boy didn't, “It’s powerful. Honest. Good. Weight, height—such things matter little to Stone. We have room for many sizes and shapes. Not to mention that quirk of yours. What are you? Wolf or a fox?"
Izuku's ears perked up at the compliment of his name. His nose twitched taking in the man's scent. It was powerful like a storm brewing. Was that where he got his name?
His mother replied, "It's a Wolf Mutation."
Suddenly Stormbreaker's eyes sharpened as he questioned, "Is he injured? Why does he not speak for himself?"
Stormbreaker turned to face his mother but the boy grabbed his jacket sleeve. It had been a gut reaction and he should have known better. But he didn't want to see his mom hurt. Stone Brothers were not forgiving if they thought someone was abusing a child. There was many things they could stand for but that wasn't one.
When the man turned back to look at him Izuku ducked his head. The other assassin said emotionless, "Dunstan it likely has to do with his quirk. If not you can find out later."
Without further comment, he raised the small blade in his chalice hand and sliced open Izuku's wrist. Izuku focused on the glimmering hilts of Stormbreaker’s broadswords and held his iron expression despite the burning pain. His blood spurted into the bone cup, a red line, then a red pool. He made himself keep looking even though the sight made his insides roll.
Stormbreaker pressed a thumb over the flow, then let go of Izuku altogether. The cut throbbed, but Izuku still refused a reaction. His gut churned as the Stone Brother stood. The chalice gave a loud sizzle and belched a geyser of gray steam. He stared at the powerful blast of mist, stunned at such a strong response caused by his blood. His mother’s expression mirrored his own feelings, then shifted to one satisfaction.
She had wanted this to happen. Maybe not quite as strong of a reaction but one strong enough that they would take him away. His heart thudded against his chest.
“This boy will meet our needs,” Stormbreaker poured the chalice contents on the ground, wiped the bowl, and stowed his cup in his hammered leather bag, "I suggest you say your final goodbyes now. It is unlikely you will see him again at least until he is trained."
His mother, no she was Inko now. Being taken by one of the Guilds was to be as good as disowned. No longer did he have the right to call her mother. From now on she was just another person.
Instead of moving closer to Izuku she sneered, "I just want my payment, Stone Brother."
Payment was agreed upon beforehand as it was handed over immediately. Then Inko walked up to him and said, "Flesh of my flesh, you are my son no longer. You are dead to me. I disinherit you before these witnesses and lay foul any claim you might have to my lands or my name. Go from this place and never return."
There it was official. Paperwork would no doubt be signed in the morning. Izuku's ears drooped with his misery. Then like that she was gone leaving him behind with the assassins.
Hating the man, despising his tattoos, his smug expression, and his maddening gray jacket, Izuku considered rejecting the offer even though he knew he had no choice. In a moment’s negotiation, the painted monster had divested him of all he understood, all he valued. It wasn't all the man's fault he had only come when he was asked. But he still needed an outlet for his anger. Anything to take away some of it so that it didn't overwhelm him.
Stormbreaker said, "You are lucky in that your name is unique. We have no others by the name Izuku in the Guild. You will be known as Izuku until your actions win you some other distinction. As your guild master, and by rights of Harvest, I will speak your vows for you. You have no family save for Stone. You have no name and no title beyond what Stone provides. All claims, rights, and inheritance are forfeit. From now until your spirit is released, your blood is Stone, your life is Stone, and you serve only Stone. Welcome.”
With that, he pulled Izuku into a brief embrace to seal the contract. Izuku's calm snapped as he snarls baring his teeth and images flashed through his mind. The wolves at the nearby zoo are feeding off of his emotions. They too become restless and angry. The other assassin lifted his head as the howls sounded through the night.
Dunstan Stormbreaker chuckled as he lifted his cowl with one hand. Then he doubled the force of his grip on Izuku's wrist and dragged him from the alley, down the dirt path, straight toward where where the other waited. He stumbled and fought even though he knew the penalties. If he fled the service of the guild before or after his formal oaths. He would be hunted by Stone Brothers and Stone Sisters and lords alike, until he was captured and sent back to Stone to be judged.
Stormbreaker moved him like a relentless force, no matter how hard Izuku kicked at him. “You have no choice, boy,” was all he said.
Snarls and growls continued to escape him as he fought. Amber returned as it always did when his emotions were high. The other assassin looked at Stormbreaker questions in his eyes. At a particularly vicious kick and Izuku remembering he had fangs that had Stormbreaker nodding.
A warm hand touched his forehead and something pressed not intuitively but gently against his mind. No matter how much he fought it a sense of calm went through him. It grew stronger with the fight in his soul. Until Izuku no longer had the energy to keep fighting. Then the world went black.