Work Text:
Izuku Midoriya is quirkless.
And always will be.
Society views that as a small problem. Scratch that, society doesn't spare a glance towards the quirkless. Once upon a time they may have, but these days, quirkless aren't viewed.
Maybe, they are, but can it really be called being seen? When the eyes on you are picking you apart, ripping away at flesh until they leave you bare. Figuratively and literally.
Everyone knows the statistics, well, the ones that care about them at least. Izuku is one of them.
Izuku has always known the statistics.
The moment the words had left the doctor's mouth, spilling acid and poison directly into Izuku's soul, aiming to put out the fire within.
The flame lived. And therefore, so did Izuku.
Believe it or not, Izuku didn't cry that day. No, not even a single tear. It was his mother's that left a puddle across the doctor's floor. It was his mother's that were soaked into tissues long after they arrived home.
And once again, his mother's that slowly stopped and ceased their dripping as Izuku curled closer to her.
Izuku isn't stupid, he never had been. Even at the ripe age of four, he knew this was bad. Badder than forgetting to spell a word in his notebook or leaving his lunchbox at home. This was the worst thing by far to happen to him.
But at least he'd go into school on Monday and everything would be alright.
Right?
Wrong. Monday came and Izuku came home sporting a bruise on his ribs, where 'Kacchan' had shoved him aside during play time. Inko fussed over it, offering bandaids and ointment, to which the child accepted.
After dinner that night, Izuku was sat down on the couch, his mother pulling up a slideshow she'd made during her break at work.
Statistics. That is the first time Izuku learned about the statistics. A few days after learning he was not going to receive a quirk. A few hours after his best friend had shoved him away to get past.
That's how it went for a while, school at least. Inko, however, was changing, and Izuku didn't know if it was for the better. Not yet.
His father had been chucked out of the house, true colours on show, about a week later. Inko did not take any of his bullshit.
To Izuku, it seemed as if his mother was becoming stronger. Tougher in a way. Izuku didn't get it. He was the one diagnosed as quirkless, so why was she the one seeming to become someone else?
If anything, Izuku should be changing himself. Yes, he's a child, but the way his teachers have been ignoring him, and his best friend has been beginning to call him Deku, it reminds him of what his mother had showed him. So, Izuku also wants to change. Be tougher, like Inko.
Izuku, does not want to become a statistic.