Chapter Text
In hindsight, there had been signs about Izuku’s quirk.
The sharp fangs had been a big one. The rest of his teeth were normal, but his canines were growing sharper than what was normal for a child. Had it been any longer, Inko probably would’ve made an appointment with the orthodontist.
The smaller, thinner pupils should’ve been another tell. Slowly, Inko’s son began to grow cat-like eyes, rarely blinking. It scared the children at the kindergarten, and Inko had gotten several calls about it.
And watching him coo over blood and stare at it with a strange kind of wanting in his eyes should’ve tipped her off.
In hindsight, there had been several signs Inko and her husband readily ignored. Izuku was a late bloomer, about 5 years old. Her and her husband had been looking so desperately for any signs of a quirk in him that they had missed the actual signs.
Maybe it was because Hisashi really didn’t want a son with some kind of scary quirk. Hisashi was nice and sweet, but Inko had to admit that he was prejudiced. She had found out about a year into their marriage, but she had hoped that they could work it out for love.
So they didn’t even suspect his quirk until it had emerged. Inko would’ve preferred that she hadn’t had to find out about it in such a gruesome way.
It wasn’t exactly every day she got home from work only to see her son still there, eating a bird, his hands and mouth covered in blood.
“Look, mom!” Izuku had said, brandishing the bird proudly. Inko was reminded of cats killing small animals and bringing them to their owners as ‘gifts’. “Isn’t it pretty?”
It had taken Inko all of 0.2 seconds to pick up the phone and schedule an appointment with a quirk specialist.
In the meantime, Inko had taken her son inside and washed the blood off of his hands and mouth. Thankfully, Hisashi had been on a business trip, so he wouldn’t be there to freak out about their son’s quirk. Inko didn’t want to deal with a confused 5-year old and a hysterical husband.
Thankfully, Inko had managed to schedule an appointment for the very next day.
“Well, his quirk has something to do with blood, as you have guessed.” The quirk-specialist said.
Izuku fiddled with the hem of his shirt, bouncing in his seat. His mom told him he was here to find out more about his quirk. He was excited! Finally, he could prove to Kacchan and everyone else that he had a quirk. He bet it would be super cool!
The man hummed. “Have there been any signs of his quirk prior to this?”
“Yes…” Inko admitted, embarrassed. “Admittedly, I had missed them before, but he started growing sharp canines when he was 4. And as you can see now, his eyes are very… cat-like. This started later, about a month ago. His eyes even dilate like a cat’s when he’s happy or sad. Also, he began showing a strange fascination with blood shortly after he turned 4.”
The doctor nodded. “I see. Well, will you allow me to try something?”
Inko nodded. “Of course.”
The doctor got up from his chair and picked up a scalpel from his drawer. He walked over to his mom and held his hand out. “May I cut your arm, please? I want to try something.”
Mom nodded, looking more unsure now. “Of course. Just… Please don’t cut too deep.”
The doctor nodded, and slid the scalpel across her arm. She flinched and let out a small hiss, but Izuku became hyper-focused on her arm. He made grabby hands at it, wanting the blood.
“I see.” The doctor nodded. “He’s obviously attracted to blood, so you might want to help him manage that urge. It can be disastrous for his social life if he doesn’t control it. I’d suggest-”
Izuku lunged for his mother’s arm, grabbing it and licking the blood off her arm. It tasted very good! Maybe his mom would share more often? He didn’t even register the shouting, or the fact that he was now taller than his mother. He let go of her arm once he was done, smiling peacefully.
“Why- but… How?” His mom’s mouth was hanging open, staring at her son.
Izuku blinked. He realized that he was now taller than his mother, staring down at her. He looked at his hands, then his clothes. They were the same as mom’s.
“... A shapeshifting quirk.” The doctor said in awe, adjusting his glasses.
“Um… Sweetie? Can you please go back to normal?” His mom asked, staring at him uneasily. “It’s really uncomfortable staring at myself.”
“Huh?” Izuku felt his face, and ran his hands through his hair. He realized he had transformed into his mom, somehow.
“Um… How do I do that?” He asked, but the second he was done speaking, he began to feel smaller, and slime all around his body.
Slowly, the copy of Inko melted away, and all that was left was Izuku and slime on the floor.
“Izuku!” His mom cried out, scandalized. She hugged her son to block him from the doctor, who was completely unphased. “I’m so sorry.” His mom said, embarrassed.
“It’s quite alright.” The doctor said, grabbing a sheet from his drawer and handing it to her. “I was a doctor for the human body before this, it doesn’t phase me. And if you’re talking about the mess, trust me, I’ve had much worse happen in this office when it came to patients with more… destructive quirks.”
Inko covered her son with the sheet, tying it around him like a towel.
“So it seems that he can shapeshift by ingesting blood. Though, the slime seems to destroy his clothes. I wonder, does the amount of blood he ingests control how long he can stay transformed, or does it depend on blood type? Does blood work as a food for him or-”
“Um, Dr. Tsubasa?” His mom asked, staring at the mumbling man with something akin to concern.
“Ah, excuse me.” He cleared his throat. “Well, Izuku’s quirk seems to be a shapeshifting one that relies on blood to work. I’m not sure if ingesting the blood itself is enough for him to shapeshift, or if he has to consciously choose to transform, but I’d recommend giving him a small dose of blood every day. He seems to crave it, so it might be a possibility that it’s as essential for him as food and water is for us.”
Inko nodded. “I can give him some of my own. And my husband’s, if he’d be willing.”
He nodded. “Well, if he’s going to be drinking blood, I’d recommend giving him these vaccines.” He picked up a pen and wrote something on a blank strip of paper, then handed it to mom. “Most blood quirks have a built-in protection against most diseases, but better safe than sorry. Also, you’ll have to schedule an appointment with a quirk counselor to help him name his quirk.”
“I see.” She smiled. “Thank you, Dr. Tsubasa.”
“It was no problem.” The doctor smiled.
“Let’s get you home sweetie.” Inko said to her son. “And get you a new pair of clothes as soon as possible.”
Izuku’s new quirk was called Transform.
And he loved it.
One thing Inko discovered about Izuku was that his quirk made him act much like a cat would. His sense of smell was heightened, most likely so he could smell blood. His pupils often dilated depending on how he was feeling, and he would tilt his head to indicate emotions. Sometimes she would find him crawling on all fours, but she didn’t know if that was a him thing, a kid thing, or a quirk thing.
He also had a habit of killing and eating birds.
“Izuku, honey, what do you have in your mouth?”
Crunch crunch crunch crunch
“Izuku-”
CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH
“IZUKU-”
Izuku ran out of the house.
“IZUKU!”
“Kacchan! Kacchan!”
Kacchan was with their friends, as always. Wait until they hear I got my quirk!
“Hey Deku, didja get your quirk yet?” Kacchan asked, like he did every morning. Izuku couldn’t blame him, he was excited to know his own quirk too!
“Yeah!” Izuku giggled. “It’s super super cool!”
“Well, what is it?” One of their friends asked. Izuku noticed that some of the other kids were curious too, getting drawn to the excited boy.
“I can shapeshift! It’s called Transform!” He announced happily. “I need someone’s blood to do it, but I can turn into aaannnyone.”
“Woah, really?” A girl from the sidelines piped up. “That’s so cool!”
“He’s like a vampire!”
“But vampires can’t shapeshift.”
“They can turn into bats!”
“Wait! Wait!” One of the other kids spoke up. “Does this mean you have fangs now?”
Izuku nodded. “Yeah! My mom also says I have cat eyes!”
“Can you show us?”
“Pleeeease?”
Izuku complied, smiling as wide as he could to show off his fangs. He felt a little embarrassed. He never did good when being in the spotlight, that was Kacchan’s thing! That was why Izuku was going to be his #1 sidekick.
“Wooooahhhh…”
“It looks like my cat!”
“Freaky! Cool!”
“Oh! Could you change into me?”
“Yeah! Turn into me!”
“No, do me! I wanna see how I look!”
All of the clamor and shouting was silenced when one of the daycare workers came out.
“Now, now, kids! What’s all the ruckus about?”
“Izuku got his quirk!” One of the kids piped up.
The adult’s eyes shone with interest. “Oh, really? What is it?”
“I can shapeshift!” Izuku announced happily. “I can turn into anyone!”
She smiled. “That’s amazing, Izuku. That’s a very special quirk. You’ll do amazing as a hero.”
Izuku visibly brightened, smiling like a loon.
“I think outside time is up.” The adult smiled. “But I’m sure you can all pester Izuku about his quirk inside.”
Everyone ran inside, screaming and yelling, wanting to get the best toys and be first inside.
Izuku was almost inside when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
“Oh, hi Kacchan!” He smiled. “Isn’t my quirk cool?”
“Yeah.” Kacchan said. “But mine’s cooler. Your quirk isn’t gonna help you take my place as the Number One Hero!”
“Of course not!” Izuku smiled. “That’s why I’m gonna be your Number One Sidekick!”
Kacchan grabbed his hand. “Let’s go mess with all the other extras!”
“Kacchan, you can’t call all our friends extras!”
He scoffed. “Whatever.” He looked at his best friend. “Your quirk is really cool, y’know.”
Izuku grinned. “Thank you Kacchan!”
“Yeah, yeah.” He rolled his eyes. “Now let’s go! You’re slowing us down!”
If Izuku could look back on this scene and say something, he’d say ‘optimistic’. Because, if only for a little while, there was no discrimination between quirks. It was just him and Bakugou against the world, and there was no such thing as ‘villainous’ or ‘weak’ quirks.
It was an amazing time.
He should’ve known that it wouldn’t last.
“Hey mom?”
Inko looked over her shoulder to look at Izuku, who was sitting at the dinner table. His hands were in his lap and he was twiddling his thumbs.
“What is it, sweetie?”
“Where’s daddy? He should’ve come back by now. You said he would only be gone for a week.”
Inko sighed. It had been 2 weeks since Izuku’s quirk was discovered, and it had been 2 days since she told Hisashi.
She knew he was prejudiced but… she didn’t know how bad it was.
“How can I go back to that home knowing that there’s a monster in it?”
“That’s not a monster! That’s your SON! So what if he has a weird quirk? He still loves us! He still loves you!”
“‘Weird’? ‘Weird’?! His quirk isn’t just weird, it’s villainous! Eating birds? Obsession with blood? Come on, Inko! I now you’re smarter than this! We can put him up for adoption and-”
“ADOPTION? Hisashi, you’re not really telling me to give our child away because of his quirk, are you? Please tell me that this is a really bad joke.”
“I’m not joking, honey. Listen, it’ll be fine. We can put him up for adoption and try again. As long as the next one’s quirk isn’t villainous or the child isn’t quirkless, it’ll all be okay. And hey, if you don’t wanna try again we’re practically family with the Bakugou’s. Katsuki can be like a son to us-”
“Hisashi. Are you seriously saying you want me to give away Izuku and replace him like he’s just some kind of toy? Are you seriously saying we can just replace him with Katsuki?”
“Well, it sounds worse when you put it like that, but-”
“But nothing. Either you can keep your prejudiced, selfish self in America, or you can learn to do better and be here for your son. We’re not replacing him or giving him away, and I am appalled that you suggested that.”
“Honey-”
“No pet names. Either you be here for your son and treat him like you did before, or you can stay out of this household.”
“... I’m not going into a house that has a monster in it.”
“Fine then. I won’t let you see me or this house again for as long as he lives.”
“He’s going to be in America for a little bit longer, sweetie.” She smiled. “But don’t worry, I’ll take care of you.”
“Does…” Izuku looked up from his lap. “Does he still love me?”
Inko tried not to grimace. She tried to smile as wide as she could to assure her son.
“Don’t worry honey. I love you. I’ll be here for you.”
“That Midoriya kid’s quirk is… weird.”
“Just weird? It’s villainous. What kind of quirk relies on people’s blood to work? I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up on one of those True Crime shows as a serial killer.”
The adults would mutter things Izuku didn’t understand, and look at him with disdain in their eyes. They didn’t like his quirk, for some reason.
Izuku wouldn’t realize this until he was older, but this was the moment where the disgust and fear towards his quirk began to emerge in the other kids. After all, if the adults say it’s scary, why shouldn’t they listen?
Adults had a sway on children and their opinions. And since the adults vocalized their dislike of his quirk, the kids would soon follow.
“Hisashi, I swear to God! Quit pestering me about this! If you want to see me again, you have to accept Izuku! He’s your SON! I- don’t interrupt me. I don’t care if you think his quirk is ‘scary’ or ‘villainous’.”
Izuku watched as his mother argued with his father on the phone. He knew it. His father didn’t love him anymore, because his quirk was scary. He didn’t understand what was wrong with it, though! It was just a quirk! And it was super cool!
Why was his quirk so scary to the adults?
It happened when Izuku was around nine.
He had gotten home from school, ready to ask his mom for the burn cream again. He always passed it off as rough housing with Kacchan, but sooner or later his mom would talk to the other adults about it.
Izuku just didn’t understand. While the other children seemed to whisper about his quirk and refused to play with him, Kacchan didn’t seem to mind at all, aside from getting a few jabs about how much everyone hated him now. But when Kacchan fell off of a log, it seemed like something had changed when Izuku tried to help him up. It seemed like Kacchan hated him now, for reasons unrelated to his quirk.
He went into the kitchen, and froze. Both to resist his natural urge to drink blood, and both due to shock.
His mom was lying there, motionless. Beautiful blood was everywhere, and in front of her was a note.
Is this what you like?
It was a ‘hate crime’. It was because people thought his quirk was villainous.
That’s what auntie Mitsuki had said.
But that didn’t make any sense.
Who would hurt his mom? His mom was amazing! His mom was everything! She never hurt anyone. If they hated him, why hadn’t they hurt him instead?
Nothing made sense.
He was going to live with his dad, he had ‘custody’ of him if mom was gone, for whatever reason. They were waiting for dad to show up, to come back from the US.
He didn't want that. Dad didn’t like his quirk. What if he was mean to him, like the other kids at school were?
“Deku!”
Izuku looked up.
It was Kacchan.
He was mad.
He was screaming stuff, saying that it was Izuku’s fault that mom was dead.
It was, wasn’t it?
They had only come after mom because of Izuku and his quirk.
Kacchan pulled back his fist to punch Izuku, but Izuku noticed a fresh scab on his arm.
It had been 3 days since mom died. 3 days since Izuku had had any blood. Auntie didn’t know that he was supposed to have blood everyday, and he didn’t want to bother her.
Izuku dodged the fist and grabbed his best friend's arm.
This is it.
This is the last moment auntie will love me. This is the last moment anyone will love me. Once I do this, I’ll be an evil villain.
He knew this. Did he care? Not at this moment. He knew he would regret it, and ask himself why, but that had never stopped him before.
Izuku tightened his grip on Kacchan’s arm before the boy could punch him.
Sorry, Kacchan.
And he bit down.
He transformed into his former friend.
And ran.