Work Text:
After their encounter and fight after their provisional license exam, Kacchan knows about the secret of One For All. Somehow, later on, this translates to wanting to go against Izuku further and challenge him whenever Kacchan had the chance. It was usually a declaration about how Kacchan was aiming to get stronger, so Izuku needed to catch up and fight him at his full power, and then, and only then, could Kacchan be called superior.
Izuku tried to see it from his childhood friend’s point of view. He understood the desire to be the greatest. It was his goal as well, along with the more important one of carrying out All Might’s legacy and saving as many people as he could, comforting them no matter the situation. He strived to save them all.
But constantly challenging Izuku to go further and master his power quicker was starting to confuse Izuku. He wondered how this related to becoming the best. Was it simply to beat out Izuku for the number one spot? If that was the case, then Izuku didn’t care all that much. Yes, he wanted to be the greatest hero he could, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he had to be front line and center of all heroes. It’d be nice, yes, but his goal was to save and protect, not be determined by the commission to be the designated best.
It was a biased system, as Izuku came to learn and began to crave it less as time went on. The less he craved the title, the more Izuku sought to instill hope within the people around him and give back to the community.
So, at the moment, Izuku didn’t really know how Kacchan was comparing them two together and how exactly he was determining who was better than the other and why.
That answer doesn’t come until Kacchan finds him at work one day and pulls him aside to a nearby closet.
“Deku,” he says, leaning in close to Izuku’s ear. “We need to talk.”
Those words instantly send Izuku back to his high school days to the moment of fighting Kacchan in the fake city.
They coordinated a time to meet in Kacchan’s home to discuss whatever was bugging his friend over dinner. At least, that was Izuku’s initial thought.
However, he Izuku arrived at the luxurious apartment, he saw no dinner or table spread. He saw the dull tones of the apartment in low lighting. He was sensing a tense vibe, unlike a more relaxing, engaging moment Izuku was expecting.
He closes the door behind him and tugs his shoes off, stepping into Kacchan’s apartment, looking around as if he were trying to find any clues as to what Kacchan’s intents were for this meeting that couldn’t be done at work or in a more public space.
It wasn’t until he gagged from behind, passing out in strong arms did Izuku know that he was in danger.
He woke up sore. He felt compressed and restricted where he lay. More importantly, he was confused. As he was gaining more of his consciousness, he realized he was on a table, heavily restrained against it with heavy-duty equipment that’s usually used to capture the strongest of villains, yet, it’s currently confining Izuku to where he’s spread on the cold metal of the table.
He’s starkly uncomfortable, wondering how he got into this situation, only remembering that he was supposed to have a talk with Kacchan. Then it hit him. He was attacked in the apartment of his friend.
Fighting his restraints, trying to struggle his way out, he heard a door open. He felt like livestock or a cadaver, waiting to be cut open. Whoever had tied him down must’ve known what they were doing, as he was clearly unable to move or turn his head for that matter.
“Stop fighting, you useless Deku.”
Now, there was a voice he wasn’t expecting, nor was the tone something he was used to. This was a tone that was heavily used by Kacchan during their elementary through early high school years before they began to solve their problems with each other. This voice was one of Izuku’s former tormentors. Did this mean Kacchan was the one who captured Izuku? Why?
“I’ve had enough of this,” he grumbled, stepping into Izuku’s line of view. Izuku couldn’t talk as he was gagged with some kind of cloth. This silence allowed Kacchan to continue, “You aren’t worthy.”
Worthy?
“So, you’re gonna sit there like the useless person you are, and I’m going to go on ahead.” He leans forward, bringing his hand up to Izuku’s shoulder. “I’m going to become the best, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me. I’m going to make this power mine and become the best.”
Power? This power? Did he mean One For All? He wants to take it from Izuku.
He so desperately wants to scream for the man to stop. It’s not something that can get stolen. Stealing One For All isn’t going to do anything. This wasn't right. Why was kAcchan doing this? It didn’t make any sense. Why can he get this cloth out of his mouth? Why had Kacchan come to this?
She struggled against his chains and suppressors. “Oh, no you don’t you nasty Deku. You don’t get to get out of this. All Might’s power is mine. At least I’m going to do something with it.”
Soon after, Izuku feels the tell-tale sign of his skin being sliced open, feeling the stinging burn against his arms.
“It's DNA, right, Deku? If I get this little taste of blood, then I can be the greatest. I will be the best.”
All of this made Izuku’s stomach turn around in circles. He hated this. He hated these quirk suppressants. He hated the confinements of his body, tied to a table. He couldn’t understand what drove Katsuki to this point. How could have Izuku not been able to help him? Why had it come to this?
He’s laughing manically, licking the knife in a way that reminds Izuku of Stain and his bloodlust for killing heroes. It sends a chill that rakes through Izuku’s whole body, making him shiver on the already cool tabletop.
Then it hits Izuku like a truck surrounded by a blazing fire, ramming at his side at full speed.
What’s going to happen when Kacchan finds out that One For All wasn’t transferred to him? What’s going to happen to Izuku?
Who will stop Kacchan? Will Izuku escape from his friend’s clutches? Will Katsuki get the help he needs?
There were too many questions without much explanation, making Izuku’s head spin. That, and the blood loss made him dizzy, promptly making him pass out at the sound of Katsuki basking in the thought of becoming overpowered.
Izuku’s scared, both for himself and his friend.
He can’t get up, and maybe he won’t.