Work Text:
Izuku.
Losing the love of my life at six months pregnant was heartbreaking. Hisashi was a great person, a great man, and a great hero. His willingness to work overseas along with his quirk being fire-breathing made him popular with colder climate countries. But I never imagined that the last time I saw him would be at the airport, wishing him a safe flight. We had already decided on naming you Izuku and we were excited to meet you. But after losing Hisashi, all I felt was fear and uncertainty.
So I moved.
I packed up the house Hisashi and I shared, and moved to one in Mitsuki’s neighborhood. She was also pregnant at the time with Katsuki and I relied on her and Masaru’s kindness to get me through my grieving. But I wasn’t strong enough to bring you into this world without a father. So I lied. Never telling you he was a hero, never telling you he passed from work, never telling you he wasn’t around to see you as a baby.
Seeing you grow up fascinated by heroes truly scared me. Hisashi spoke of the Quirk Singularity theory all the time and always dreamed of what yours would be. Dreamed about whether you would have a mixture of ours, just on me, or a new one of your own. At the time, I was just as excited. But with each day after his passing, all I felt was fear and dread. That you would grow up to pursue heroics and follow in his footsteps; risking your life for others and never making it back home to me.
So I did what I thought was right.
I requested Dr. Garaki specifically to be your pediatrician. And begged him to help me stop your quirk from manifesting. He eventually agreed, and kept you overnight for 3 days. You wouldn’t remember, you were just a baby. But then years later, All Might debuted. And you became obsessed. I bought you all his merch and played “rescue mommy” with you all the time, content knowing nothing would come of it because you were medically quirkless. Because I selfishly made you that way.
And then I saw your little heart break. Being told by Dr. Garaki you’d never manifest a quirk and seeing me cry and apologize when you asked if you could be a hero too. I knew I hurt you more than a mother should. But what was done, was done. I didn’t mean to hurt you, but I also didn’t want you following in Hisashi’s footsteps.
And then you came home one day with a quirk.
We hugged each other and cried; You--happy to be able to try out for UA, and I--gutted that you found a way to become a hero. I wanted to ask where, when, and how. But I knew. If there were ways to take quirks from people, you must’ve found a way to receive one. So I stayed quiet, trying my best to hide my despair. But then you kept getting hurt and your class was attacked and targeted. And I was transported back to the day an international number flashed across my phone screen, where the voice on the other end of the line wasn’t your father’s.
Izuku.
I can see you’re becoming an amazing young man. And a hero your father would be proud of. But I can’t help but feel both weighed down and empty. Knowing, that I never wanted this for you.