Chapter Text
Izuku isn't sure when people started changing around him.
Actually that's a lie.
He knows very well what caused all the problems in his life.
It's being Quirkless.
Kacchan stops hanging out with him?
It's because he's Quirkless.
Kacchan starts beating him up and using his quirk on him?
It's because he's Quirkless.
The other kids follow Kacchan's lead?
It's because he's Quirkless.
The teachers ignore it?
It's because he's Quirkless.
The school nurse won't treat him?
It's because he's Quirkless.
The Principal blames him?
It's because he's Quirkless.
The grocery store charges him more?
It's because he's Quirkless.
His mother grows distant from him?
It's because he's Quirkless and she doesn't know how to handle him.
All Might says he can't be a hero?
It's because he's Quirkless.
Heroes berate him for doing their job?
It's because he's Quirkless.
The one person he can count on to have his back is his dad. Even if he's all the way in America right now.
He promised he'd be back.
So he gets up over and over and over again. And pulls on his uniform that smells of smoke and sweat and is stained with so many things he's forgotten what some of them are and goes to school.
He hates school.
He loves learning.
But hates school.
It's like any other school day really. Until the teacher asks about career plans and Izuku says he wants to go to UA and be a hero…
…You know, like an idiot.
So of course Kacchan and his friends have to teach him a lesson.
It's like any other beating really.
He's held down and Bakugou aims for his torso.
But something happens this time. Either he moved wrong. Kacchan moved wrong or one of the lackeys moved wrong.
What's important is the exploding palm that was aimed for his chest, is now pressed over his left eye.
The smell of burning flesh fills his nose and he screams for what feels like hours before he finally passes out from the pain.
When he wakes up his face hurts more than anything. Why does everything look so weird?
Oh he's only looking through one eye. Well that's unfortunate.
He reaches up with a hand and touches where the burning on his face is.
He can feel bandages over his eye.
"Izuku?" He hears and he turns his head. His mom and dad are there.
W…what? Dad's supposed to be in America.
How can how bad…god how bad must it be for him to come all the way to Japan.
How long had he been unconscious for him to get to Japan?
"Izuku, what happened?" His mom asks eyes wide and filled with tears.
His dad scoffs.
"Gee Inko, there seems to be a burn over his eye in the shape of a child's hand, and we both heard what the doctor said. The pattern implies it was an explosion burn. Hmmm I wonder where he could have gotten that."
His dad's voice is dripping with venom when he says burn and explosion and his mom visibly deflates.
"Hisashi, I know you don't like Katsuki's temperament, but you can't think he did this on purpose!"
"Inko you saw the other burns just as I did! Our son is more burn than boy!" He says.
Izuku whimpers. He's not afraid of his dad. He'd never be afraid of his dad. Not the man who took him to all the hero movie primeres. Who funded his obsession happily. He knows his dad isn't fond of heroes but he never begrudged his son's love of them.
"They were probably just roughhousing!" She says.
"Roughhousing? Then why has Izuku never asked you to look at his wounds? Or one of the adult Bakugou's? Or why hasn't he been to their house for as long as I've been in America?"
"He probably knew you would react like this! Tell him Izuku, this is all a misunderstanding."
Izuku licks his lips.
This is the most attention his mom has paid him in…awhile actually…why?
"Inko, the police already…"
Oh the police arrested Kacc…Bakugou? Oh…his mom doesn't want this to result in a mark on her nephew.
His dad must be the one pressing charges. It makes sense. He's always been able to get around things that are unavailable to him because he's Quirkless and his mom just doesn't care enough to try for.
"The…the wound location was accidental. He was aiming for my torso. Somewhere that wouldn't be seen." He says.
"Izuku think carefully about what you're saying…this will go on his permanent…"
Izuku snaps.
"Look at my face! This seems pretty permanent too!" He snaps.
"Izuku don't take that tone with me…"
"Leave," he says.
"I'm you're mother!"
"And I'm the patient and I want to talk to Dad alone."
"Inko don't make me get security," his dad says.
She huffs and storms out of the room and his dad sighs as he sits in the chair she vacated.
"Izuku…"
"How bad is it?"
"Permanent scarring and blindness in that eye."
Izuku stops breathing.
Permanent blindness.
Bad enough he's Quirkless but now…now he's blind on top of it.
"Izuku I am so sorry."
Huh?
He looks at his dad.
"Izuku there's a lot I have to tell you that I have been keeping from you. But trust me when I say that if I had had any idea what you went through in daily life I would have told you all this a long time ago."
"Dad?"
He sighs.
"I'm going to tell you a story about two brothers."