Work Text:
Mineta woke up, his consciousness fading in and out. All For One. Dark Shadow. Tokoyami. Mount Lady.. Machia..? Mineta tried piecing everything and anything together as he blinked his vision into existence.
Last he remembers was a flash that forces Dark Shadow into hiding, Mineta blacking out shortly after. But now, looking up at All For One carrying Hawks by the neck had forced him to strain to focus.
"You've pushed me too far.. now I'm going to take that boy's quirk."
All For One's voice was chilling, Mineta trying to stand only to fall to his knees, forcing him to a crawl.
"Step aside… That's enough Hawks, you did your best."
All For One gazed at Hawks' back, glancing at his destroyed wings, seemingly contemplating something.
"Fierce Wings.. even with your quirk factor in such a pitiful state.. you've managed to put up a good fight. Impressive."
Mineta watched in horror, this being his first time seeing All For One's quirk in action, seeing Hawks' quirk get stolen, the wings growing on All For One's back, then he glanced at the ground, Tokoyami unconscious behind Hawks.
"... I'm going to take that boy's quirk…"
All For One's voice rang out through his head causing Mineta's eyes to widen n horror, Tokoyami and his lovable quirk Dark Shadow were going to be separated, and the whole personality and dynamic of the two would be gone.
Mineta was shaking in his costume, looking around to see everyone else down, not a single other person awake or conscious except him, Hawks, and All For One.
He tapped his head and saw blood, immediately being reminded of how Pop Off's overuse caused him to bleed, if only his stupid quirk would be better for this situation, if only…
"Even though your body is rewinding, the amount of quirks you have remains unaffected."
He barely heard Hawks speak, then saw Hawks slash his sword out of All For One's shoulder, the villain's form rewinding to the injury and, when All For One stepped forward to Tokoyami, he couldn't stop himself from throwing that ball from his head, getting the attention of the edge lord in front of him as he started to crawl towards him.
"Don't.. don't steal Dark Shadow.. unless you wanna become a full blown edge lord!"
Mineta said, successfully getting his attention.
"If you're gonna steal something, take my Pop Off instead!"
The injury of overusing Pop Off could rewind him faster, it's worth it in the long run, right?
"You'd get the best hairstyle ever, just don't take Dark Shadow from Tokoyami!"
Mineta yelled to the sky, practically begging him, hoping someone would wake up to take this guy down.
As All For One walked over, Mienta tensed, especially as he dropped Hawks down on the ground.
"You want to play the hero? What did you expect to get out of it? Time?"
All For One let out a chuckle, glancing at the horizon.
"I'll amuse you, let you be heroic, and let you live with your actions."
All For One said with a smirk, crouching down, arrogantly patting Mineta on his head, Mineta feeling the immediate change of his quirk being stolen, the balls on his head unraveling into normal, curly long hair, watching his beloved quirk, his Pop Off, his haircut appear on All For One's head.
"I'll let you get your wish hero."
All For One said with so much arrogance, Mineta thought he could barely rival Bakugo. Looking towards where he was headed before, All For One left, continuing his trek, leaving the now quirkless Mineta behind to try to do something, anything with his fallen comrades.
—-------
Tokoyami slowly came to his senses, his eyes burning, his skin on fire, and him being dragged by someone causing his back to hurt against the rock and dirt below him.
"Come on Tokoyami, I can get you there.. I can… Don't worry.. All For One is gone, we both know that now.”
The bird boy heard upon coming to consciousness, causing him to look at the shaky and uneven voice, seeing a small boy with purple curly hair he wasn't familiar with, but definitely remembered the voice.
"M-mineta?"
Tokoyami's scratchy voice rang out, the small boy turning to look at Tokoyami, causing the bird boy to take a second glance.
"You're up! Thank all that you're up! How do you feel? Nothing's wrong is it? Nothing's different?"
Tokoyami was too stunned to even process he was being asked questions, staring at the curly haired classmate in front of him, the tear stains on his cheek, the blood pouring down his face, the distinct lack of the sticky balls on his head.
“He's okay, he's up.. Dark Shadow..?”
Mineta had asked, talking to himself, seemingly lost in his mind.
"Mineta..? Are.. you okay?"
Tokoyami asked, watching his classmate snap back to reality, still in too much disbelief to say much. Mineta started to tear up but still tried keeping that smile he had, it obvious he's imitating Deku to some extent.
"Please, let me see Dark Shadow, please Tokoyami."
Mineta asked, some tears falling down his cheek as he spoke. Tokoyami tilted his head, confused by Mineta's request.
"May I ask what the reason is?"
Tokoyami asked, trying to sit up only to feel the intense amount of pain from the blast All For One landed on him.
"Please Tokoyami, please."
Mineta begged, this time, Tokoyami didn't bother trying to answer him, letting Dark Shadow come out, the shadowy bird laying tiredly on Tokoyami's body, Mineta smiling and sobbing, a smile still on his face.
"Thank it all that he didn't take it, thank… He's fine, they both are fine!"
Mineta said through sobs, his head resting on Tokoyami's chest. The bird boy put his arms around the smaller one, rubbing his back like he would with his younger siblings.
"Mineta.. why.. where's your Pop Off balls?"
Tokoyami asked, watching the boy continue to sob into his shirt, then lift his head, his curly locks resting on his face.
"I made sure Dark Shadow didn't get taken from you, at the cost of my quirk."
Mineta said with a smile, the tears and snot running down his face still. Tokoyami opened his mouth to speak but, Mineta cut him off.
"No one was up, Hawks was done for, I was the only one able to do anything, my body, it acted on its own, I couldn't stop the words from leaving my mouth as I begged him to leave Dark Shadow alone, to let you both be together.. and, if it means you both are still together.. I think.. I think it was worth it."
Tokoyami was stunned, more so than he already had been.
"Can you move?"
Mineta asked, already standing himself, looking around the battlefield.
"Y-yes, it just hurts to move."
Tokoyami, with the help of Dark Shadow, stood up, his tattered clothes barely clinging to his body. Mineta started walking towards where they came from, evident via the path caused by Tokoyami being dragged.
"Mineta, shouldn't you-"
"Tokoyami, I'm still a hero, I'm still on duty, come on, let's go rescue and tend to the wounded."
Tokoyami looked at Mineta flash that fake smile of his at him, then sighed and walked to catch up with Mineta.
—--------
“You know, you should really leave it to Fumikage.”
Takami said, smiling as he watched the vestige of Mineta stand in place, holding some fans of his close as they started to get the courage to take control.
“You know I can't, he's in a rough condition, much rougher than me and I-”
“Am drained after All For One took your quirk.”
Takami cut Mineta off, watching the purple glow of Mineta start to take form like him.
Mineta blinked, his vestige form flickering some more as he looked up for the first time.
“But.. how can I call myself a hero if I'm not giving it my all.”
Mineta had asked, his vestige form finally flickering away and taking shape, causing Takami to smile and have him walk to the crowd.
“Because.. you already gave it all.. now.. stop being a party pooper, we've got a special guest.”
Takami had said, pointing to the small form of All For One sitting a ways away from the rest of them, mumbled away to himself about his quirk factors not mixing.
“You know… your negative emotions weaken your control on our quirks right?”
Takami said with a smile, Mineta watching as he walked to the group, getting picked up by a taller girl with shoulder length hair.
“And so I was able to get this little fan meet up going… Shigaraki was your downfall.”
Takami chuckled, watching their vestige world crumble as All For One was dealt with outside in the real, tangible world, so he pat Mineta on his head.
“You had a great proper debut kid.. look at all your new fans.”
Takami motioned to the endless amount of people in the vestige world, all of which cheered Mineta on for his sacrifice, claiming he played a big part and making any doubts of his go away as he started to tear up.
Mineta didn't regret a thing. Knowing that he played a part, and his part was well worth it. So, as the world in his unconscious mind faded away, his smile grew bigger and bigger as he cried with pride.