Chapter Text
Izuku was on his way home. Tears stained his cheeks, he and his friends had just given Bakugo over to the police knowing he was now safe. They all stumbled back home with feelings of both worry and relief. Izuku knew exactly what he had to do from now on out. Izuku was going to become NO He had to become stronger, better, and more powerful. It was up to him now. He had to push past everything and become the number one hero. It was his only purpose, all he had left.
His mother was gone, dead because he wasn't strong enough, and Kaccan got taken because he wasn't strong enough. He has All Might's power he couldn't keep failing like this. "weak" and "Pathetic"... words of failure filled his head and heavied his steps on his path home. His father would be waiting for him, angry he had once again failed. It wasn't like Hisashi was wrong, Izuku had failed at everything and everyone, and he had to keep giving.
The door crept open, barely making a sound. Heavy drunken footsteps marched down the hall, each step demanding an apology. There he was in front of Izuku, menacing and dark, somehow the black of midnight made Hisashi ever more frightening. Hisashi spits out "where the fuck have you been" Izuku quickly looked away from his eyes, favoring the floor "i-i-i'm sorry s-sir I'll-l leave you b-be now". Hisashi's body language began to scream, unkinking and consequently straightening " that doesn't answer my question brat" he looked down at the boy "goddamit look at me, where is your respect child". Izuku looked back up at him and cowered, eyes and lips quivering wishing he could just sleep "i-i-i'm so-sorry". He looked back down at the floor masking his tears "i-i just came ho-home form-m the ho-hospital, si-sir". Hizashi began to get angry, grasping the child's throat and forcing eye contact "AGAIN". Hisashis voice filled the entire house "Fucking hell Izuku, go to your room I don't even want to know what you did this time". Izuku scurried off, scared of the confessions he knew he would have to make come morning.
The morning soon came, Izuku made his way down the stairs and crept into the kitchen. With knots filling his stomach, an apple was all he really could fit right now. Staring at the glaring sun through the window he wondered what his father would say. Izuku was attacked by villains and their family friend's son was kidnapped… there was no way his father would be cruel.. Right?
Steps pounded into the stairs… His father must have been up. Hisashi entered the room staring down Izuku, glancing at his clear injuries. Hisashi spat “ for fucks sake, more medical bills”. Izuku knew his father hated bills, but he didn't seem to care for his injuries. Izuku quickly apologised “ I-I’m-I’m sorry sir- we-we were attacked at ca-camp sir”. Hisashi grunted, astonished by how trouble followed his useless mistake. Hisashi simply walked away, too irritated to speak to the boy and he made his way to the news.
Hisashi saw it, the news, he saw everything. The attack, the fight, the apology. Izuku hadn't even finished his apple by the time Hisahi was storming back into the kitchen. Unhooking his belt Hisashi started to scream at the boy. “Foolish” he screamed, tossing his sun onto the floor. Izuku’s back arched in pain when he heard another insult roar through the house “Useless”. His father was angry, he kept screaming “Weak”.
His father only tolerated his son now with his new quirk. Before this, he had believed his son was chop liver. His father screamed “ How dare you waste your only chance” the words brought Izuku back to before this borrowed power when his father was crueler than the devil. The belt hit harder with every insult as his father screamed “No boy of mine will fail so many times”. Words Izuku has been belittled with time and time again fill the air. His back was sore and his eyes were blackened.
Izuku is finally left on the floor badly beaten, wishing he had been stronger. Wishing he has been better. Izuku raced up to his room. Izuku believed every word his father spat. Believing that he was weak and useless. He couldn't save his mom, he could save kaccan, he couldn't even save himself. Izuku let the insults marinate in his mind racing to his bathroom.
He tore apart his drawers looking for the blade, and finally, he found it. Wrapped in some toilet paper lay a shiny metal blade. Izuku looked into the mirror for a brief moment. Wondering if this made him weak, he knew he had to be stronger, stronger that's what he needs. He needed to prove he was worthy. Failure was weak and he deserved punishment, and above all else he needed release. Release the pain, and understand failure, so he could be strong. He would be strong enough.
With his mind spiraling the blade tore into his thigh. A gash on top of his old scars littered his skin. Slowly the white became red and blood began to race down his leg. AGAIN. He sliced his thigh until the thoughts went away. Ultimately he knew it was wrong, but what else was he to do? Had to push through the pain, this was the best way to let it go. Let it out.
Izuku looked down at his mutilated thigh. Wondering if he had gone too far he stepped into the shower. The cold water washed away his pain, and down the drain went his blood and his fears. He then bandaged his thigh and cleaned up his other injuries from the past couple of days.
Izuku had received a message from All Might. Meet him at the beach. Izuku knew he couldn’t say no. Izuku got himself ready to meet his teacher, covering his black eye with his janky drug store concealer kit. It wasn't bad, frankly, Izuku was quite good at covering bruises now. So he took off out his window to see the man.
Izuku arrived on the beach and ran to All Might.
Izuku was slapped.
All Might first tell Izuku how stupid it was for him to throw himself into danger, but then congratulated him on his heroism. Izuku knew that All might truly mean the latter, to All Might Izuku was his successor Izuku couldn’t be average or just follow the rule, he had to be great.
All Might hugged Izuku, and for a second Izuku remembered a time where All Might was his hero. Izuku was brought back to reality when All Might started telling Izuku about all the training and work they would be doing. Izuku knew that a part of All Might just want to help him, wanted to make Izuku the best he could be. All Might's intentions were often corrupt with his own need for success. All Might spend years with that power benign number one.
Izuku knew deep inside that failure wasn't acceptable. He now had the thing All Might, number one All Might, praised. He could not fail. Izuku felt the pressure, from every angle he knew he had to become the best. Izuku knew a break, any rest, slowing down, it all wasn't acceptable. Izuku was given so much from All Might and now the hero had offered him his devotion. Izuku couldn’t say no, it wouldn't be right.
With heavy responsibility and pressure, Izuku returned home. He spent his night staring at the ceiling wondering how he could live up to the standards set. Training routines, and new ways to use his power. With his arms broken and beat he would need to start using his legs. Izuku didn't care if he was losing his body or his mind. He owed this power his life, and he was more than willing to give it.