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The underground heroes gathered in the bar, prepared to make their move. The villain Zero had been terrorizing the heroes for years now, picking off lesser known heroes left and right. But the last straw had been last week when Number 10. Hero Gang Orca was murdered in his sleep.
As they prepared to make their move on Zero, a new person stepped into the bar. Evaluating the threat, Eraserhead’s eyes automatically snapped to the person. Yet, he found he already knew who it was. His Problem Child No.1, Bakugo Katsuki.
“Hold on. The kid that just walked in is one of my students,” He hissed over the mic.
“What are you doing, dear? Aren’t you tired?” Bakugo said to Zero. Dear? Eraserhead thought. Are they lovers?
“God, what are you doing here? I don’t think that you were invited?” Zero replied, standing up to look at Bakugo. You most definitely were not invited, problem child, get out. “Here you go again, pretending that you love me, when just beneath the surface you’re convinced that you’re above me.” So definitely lovers then. But maybe they broke up? Bakugo has a superiority complex, so that wouldn’t surprise me.
“Dig deep into the past, I’ve never been one for doing things half assed. If I’m here to save you, I’ll be here forever, so take my hand I'll be your knight in shining armor,” Bakugo held his hand out to Zero. Have they known each other for a long time? They seem to be more than just ex-lovers.
Zero just laughed, “You think you’re a hero? And they’ll tell you you are… So stoic and handsome, and you’ve come so far…” But he is a hero? What did Bakugo do? Has he not improved? What happened?
“You think you’re a villain, but I know you’re not. Under all that angst and anger is a beating human heart.” He IS a villain problem child. I know you’re trying to redeem him but there’s only so much you can do.
“What about the lonely little boy?” Zero countered.
“I am sorry,” Bakugo replied. Why was it his fault?
“What about his monsters who prevailed?” Zero took off his mask. Eraserhead almost gasped in shock. This was just a kid? Bakugo’s age? When had the world failed this kid?
“I am sorry.”
“You never came to save my world…” Zero seemed indignant, offended, and really just hurt. What happened to this kid?
“What about us?” Bakugo replied, tears beginning to stream down his cheeks.
At the same time, Zero finished, “What about me?”
They both seemed to pick themselves up again and Bakugo’s offered hand fell.
“I recognize that you’re upset. I know they did you wrong.” Bakugo seemed calmer now, regaining his focus in a way.
“Oh, you know nothing of me.” Zero hissed at him as Bakugo finished his sentence. Maybe it’s been a while since they’ve seen each other? It seems like Bakugo only knows some of what led up to this. Only some of what hurt this kid.
“But trust me, please believe me, this won’t stop the hurt for long.” Why would Zero even trust Bakugo? It doesn’t seem like they’ve had the best relationship before. “We don’t need to end like this…” Zero pointedly gazed away from Bakugo.
“Look me in the eyes.” Bakugo grabbed his chin and forced him to make eye contact. Zero didn’t resist.
“Here comes the hero complex…” Zero rolled his eyes.
“You call yourself a villain but we know it's a disguise.” Bakugo continued.
Zero spoke over Bakugo, “I know I’m a villain but you’re the one who lies.” Is Bakugo a liar? I don’t think I’ve ever seen him lie? At least Zero knows he’s a villain and he’s not playing some Stain idol hero.
“So you’re back at it again, twisting and manipulating every word I’ve said,” Zero finished.
“Come on, you know that’s not true,” Bakugo seemed desperate now, his voice cracking as he spoke. “I’m just trying to help you! Let me help you!” He almost yelled.
“You are not my hero! You don’t know how it felt. What else could I do with the cards that I’ve been dealt?” Zero asked Bakugo, it seemed like he was really asking for an answer this time.
“You are not the villain… You once held my hand...” Bakugo sank to his knees holding out his hands. They must have been close, once, but Zero just seems… distant. Why is Bakugo’s hero name ‘Ground Zero’? It almost seems like too much of a coincidence.
Zero just glanced away and took a step back. “Stand up. Get out. Sometimes things don’t go as planned…”
Bakugo looked back at Zero, his eyes pleading. Though, he did stand up.
“I said get out,” was all Zero said to finish.
Bakugo stood his ground. “Tell me why. How’d it get like this? You wanted to be a hero.”
“Yes, and the entire world pushed me down for it. Do you know what the expected life span of a quirkless person is?”
Bakugo started and then stopped. He doesn’t know.
“It’s fifteen years, Kacchan. I never expected to live long, not in this world. It’s a surprise I even made it this long. Every. Single. Person. I. Ever. Met. Told me that I couldn’t be a hero because I didn’t have a quirk. It was worse than what you even saw, Kacchan. So much worse.” Zero took a second. “But, I kept going and I kept going until I broke. I went until I couldn’t anymore. And once I broke, I was alone. My mother left me for America when I was ten. But then the League found me. They saved me. They didn’t care that I didn’t have a quirk, they were just happy to have another USEFUL member.” This poor kid. But, I know I can’t do anything for him.
Zero’s stance relaxed, “For the first time in my life, I wasn’t Deku. And that, that freed me.”
Bakugo reached out his hand before understanding overtook his face. He left out the way he came without another word.
Izuku Midoriya, codename Zero, was arrested that day. His charges totaling a string of murders almost a hundred long, as well as terrorism and several other less severe charges like stealing.
He was given the death sentence. As the sentence was televised, everyone in Japan saw the crazed look in his eyes. They all saw how he was laughing when he died. It was his sixteenth birthday. He had beat the odds.
And they all heard his final words, “I win.”