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Izuku looked out from his barred window, admiring the clear evening skies. It was beautiful and promised a lovely sunrise. Still, he felt anxious- it wasn’t a full moon, but close, and he knew what that meant.
As if conjured by the thought, he heard the steady thumps of leather against hard stone as his father approached. A shiver went down his spine, despite having a thrill of anticipation. His father had been very busy the last few months protecting their territory from the monsters, and he would only get to see his father on nights like these-
When All for One came to feed.
It’s necessary. Izuku reminded himself, moving away from the window to present himself at the doorway, hearing the steps stop on the other side as a key was inserted. If Father could, he would spare me from doing this.
All for One was strong, but their foes were great. His father feared that one day he wouldn’t be able to hold them back- to protect Izuku as he had all these years. It was why he had to stay in the high citadel- only ever seeing the outside world under his father’s escort. The few others Izuku had ever known were the servants and his father’s followers- though they were forbidden to interact with him. Even Kurogiri, the spirit eternally bound to his father, was only allowed to engage with Izuku if it pertained to his health or care; beyond that, he was not to encourage bonding with the child of Hisashi Shigaraki.
A loud clunk echoed through the tower’s space, heavy wood swinging open to reveal All for One standing with a close-lipped smile. His red eyes glowed in the evening light; no fires burned from the hallway- nor in Izuku’s room. They were creatures of the nocturne, and they had no need for such things.
“Good evening, Father.” Izuku gave a respectful bow, as he’d been taught, biting down the yearning instinct to run and hug the figure before him.
That feeling belonged to his other instincts, the ones All for One disapproved of. The urge to have a pack, to bond and give physical contact; these were unfavorable aspects of his mother’s heritage, according to the vampire lord. Things like his nails coming in too big, his fangs too broad, his hair too wild. But his father was meticulous, doing his best to manage the things Izuku couldn’t control.
“Little one.” The vampire hummed, shutting the door firmly behind him and eyeing Izuku’s stoic stance with approval. “How is my prince of the night?”
“Glad to see you.” He blurted , before flinching at the thoughtless response. Glancing up, it appeared his father found the response mirthful , rather than a sign of his lesser instincts. To his secret glee, the vampire stepped forward, laying a large hand over one of his slight shoulders and giving it a reassuring squeeze.
“Yes, it has been difficult to pull away from the disputes happening in our territories as of late.” Guiding him with the hold on his shoulder, All for One moved them towards the chair near the cold fireplace. “I imagine you have been getting bored, regardless of the necessity of keeping you protected.”
Despite himself, Izuku felt his pulse spike in fear- knowing what would come next. “But you’re winning.” Izuku asserted, trying to ground himself as his father settled into the chair, turning him away. Familiar hands leaned him back till he lay against the larger chest, his head was tilted to the side to expose his neck. “And once you’re victorious, you’ll be able to stay longer- to be here with me, right?”
“Hmm.” A cold talon trailed along scarred skin, pale in the moonlight. “One can hope. As long as I am strong, my enemies will not succeed.” His breath ghosted near Izuku, causing the boy to shiver. “Are you ready, little one?”
He was never ready- not really- but Izuku gave a small nod anyway.
White hot pain shot through his system as the fangs sunk into the juncture at his neck, a whimper barely kept back by his gritted teeth. *This is necessary.* He repeated to himself.
All for One had isolated Izuku his whole life- for his safety, for fear of what outsiders would do if they found him. All good, important reasons. But it was hard- the instincts in his heritage yearned for more than the isolation, and his father’s reasons could only give so much comfort.
This past year, on Izuku’s birthday, his father came to him with a solution.
“Little one, it is too great a risk to let you out into the world- your heritage guarantees that monsters will harm you if they get the chance.” All for One had kneeled before the young boy, who had shamefully burst into tears when his father had yet again denied him a chance to leave. “If I was stronger, I could take them out entirely, make sure that our whole territory was safe for you. And I have found a way to do this, but…”
A painful thread of hope sewed at the hole in Izuku’s heart. “A- a way? To finally beat the monsters?”
All for One smiled at him, fangs gleaming. “Yes. I know that with time, I would succeed if I could enact it. But in order to do that, I would need to take something that makes me powerful: blood.”
Izuku frowned. “But you already drink blood?” They both did- while Izuku had never caught his own food, his father was dedicated to bringing him the finest tastes from his own kills. He sometimes indulged Izuku in tasting meats and other meals but preferred when his son drank as a vampire.
The white-haired nocturne looked at him meaningfully. “Your blood, little one. If I fed from you, the strength that runs in your veins from your mother and I combined would be enough to begin toppling my enemies.” All for One held his little hands in his own, swallowing them in comparison. “It would hurt, but I would only need to take a little every month or so- with it, I would be able to guarantee both our safety.”
The child paused, at that. His father had done everything to protect him- he was not familiar with pain, and he certainly didn’t want to experience it. But if this is what it took to be free…
Izuku gasped as the fangs retracted from the bite, pulled from the memory. He hadn’t even realized how heavily he’d begun to sag in his father’s hold, neck pulsing painfully to try and make up for the lost blood that stained his nightshirt.
“It is a shame.” All for One raised a handkerchief to the wound, sounding lighter than before. “Were it not for your heritage, I could thrall your mind so you didn’t feel pain.”
Breaths heavy, Izuku stayed sagging against the figure. He ached- every time they had done this it left him miserable- but he was afraid if he shifted, his father would leave once more. He wanted to hold onto his father’s attention as long as he could . “It’s worth it,” Izuku murmured, seeking the approval of the vampire lord. “If it means you can succeed, then it will always be worth it, father.”
At that, All for One paused. Gently, he gathered Izuku further into his hold, hugging him to his chest. “You are my treasure, Izuku. With you, I will shake this realm to its foundations. Once I am victorious, I will give you the world- never a need for the tower ever again.” He brushed a large hand through the soft unruly locks, resting his cheek against the boy’s head. “If only your mother could see how you’ve grown.”
As subtly as he could, Izuku snuggled into the hold, wishing they could stay like this forever. “What was she like?” He prompted- even having heard it before, he never got tired of his father’s words.
All for One sighed, his voice unusually wistful. “She was perfect. I had my doubts originally, considering her heritage.”
Izuku winced, knowing that the same heritage ran in him, and was the source of constant disappointment. Unlike his mother, he wasn’t perfect. He tried to do as his father asked, but somehow he always came up short.
As if reading Izuku’s mind, All for One said, “The wolf side is so violent and ill-mannered. Yet she never truly grew into her powers like others of her kind , which perhaps explained her gracefulness.”
“What did she look like?” Izuku asked.
All for One’s brows furrowed in disapproval. “I’m certain I’ve told you this before. Can you not remember?”
“I can! I listen closely to everything you say,” Izuku rushed to reassure his father. “You just… tell it so well. I like hearing you speak.”
Izuku relaxed when his father nodded. His explanation had been satisfactory.
“Very well. Your mother was a petite woman with soft features much like your own. Her eyes were a vibrant green and filled with a liveliness I had only before seen in my brother. You have their eyes as well.” In a rare moment of affection, All for One cupped Izuku’s face, his fingers brushing across Izuku’s eyes.
Then the touch was gone, and All for One was easing Izuku off of his lap, depositing him on the chair.
No. Izuku thought desperately. Father couldn’t be going so soon. And yet, he was adjusting his jacket and moving towards the door.
Leaving Izuku alone.
Izuku knew he shouldn’t complain. His father did this to protect him, and it wasn’t as if he were truly alone. There were servants in the castle to ensure his needs were met and revenants to guard against intruders. It shouldn’t matter that Izuku was forbidden from interacting with them beyond what was necessary.
A true vampire didn’t need attachments.
It had to be the feeding and the weakness from it that prompted Izuku to act so foolishly.
Because before he could stop himself, he was scrambling after All for One, and latching onto him from behind. “Don’t go!” Izuku yelled.
All for One stiffened, and that should have been enough of a warning, but Izuku was no longer thinking clearly. His claws extended out, latching onto All for One’s coat.
“Let go of me, Izuku,” All for One said.
Izuku whined. He needed to let go. He knew he needed to, but his claws refused to budge.
All for One’s crimson eyes narrowed. “You know better than to act like this. I’m leaving now.”
Long suppressed instincts surged at the warning, and Izuku bared his teeth, letting out a guttural growl.
No. Pack was supposed to stay together.
At the display, the deadly vampire seemed to grow, shadows extending through the room. “I did not raise a mongrel, I should not see any behavior befitting one.” The words hissed slightly at the end, a sure sign All for One had gone from indifferent to angry.
It’s not fair! Fighting his instinct to cower and apologize, Izuku felt a fire light inside him, snapping for him to face his pack, to bite back. His glare met Hisashi’s, the elder startling back slightly at the expression. “You always leave! I have been good, I have been patient. I do everything to please you, but you won’t accept me. You won’t stay!”
“Stay?” The vampire tasted the words in his mouth slowly, rising in height once more as his fangs extended. “My little one desires his sire to stay, does he? Fine.”
Before Izuku could react- even to back down from losing his temper- All for One had snapped forward. Gone was the care he’d shown earlier, settling Izuku close. Instead, he launched forward, his fangs sinking so painfully into Izuku’s shoulder he could feel the bones creak under the pressure.
A single loud, piercing scream escaped Izuku, before angry talons wrapped around his throat, forcing him to hold still as the vampire bit even deeper.
“I indulge you too much.” Murmured the vampire, though his voice didn’t sound any less filled with ire. “I wanted to have care for my childe, but it appears you grow impatient. Then I’ll simply have to take more, mustn’t I?” He gave a long pull against the puncture wounds, bursting the torn skin under the pressure. “And then I can stay longer, just for you.”
Izuku could only whimper, his ability to breathe weakening by the moment.
All for One did not albeit- he had never pushed his father this far and feared making this nightmare worse. Eventually, he could no longer support himself and collapsed to the floor. All for One released him, murmuring more words above his head, but Izuku couldn’t understand. He felt cold hands lift him- perhaps with more care now- and set him into the soft blankets on his bed.
“When I return,” The words ghosted directly against his ear, the sharp tang of blood puffing near Izuku’s nose. “I expect a better example, little one. Do not test my temper again. Remember: without me, those wild beasts would rip you to pieces.”
Izuku couldn’t respond, his body was too weak after losing so much blood. His head pulsed, and his limbs felt horribly cold like all the warmth had been drained from them along with his blood.
I just wanted you to stay. Tears pricked at his eyes, listening as the door to his keep opened and then firmly shut, his world closed off once more. I just wanted you to stay with me- why is that wrong?
Pressing his fist against his mouth, he quietly sobbed himself to sleep.
The feeding had taken more from Izuku than he had expected because he didn’t wake up until the next night, just as the moon peaked through,
His head pounded like stakes were being driven into his brain, and his body felt zapped of energy. Feeding always left Izuku feeling sick, but the nausea and exhaustion dragging on him was worse than normal.
Father took too much, a voice whispered. But Izuku shook the thought away. He had been bad, and Father knew that.
A cup of blood had been left at his bedside, with Kurogiri’s wisps dispersing. It had to have been left recently. Slowly, he propped himself up, reaching and taking the cup with shaky fingers. The blood was cold- not a fresh kill . Another sign of his father’s displeasure.
Alone in the space, a soft whine broke through, feeling tears slip down once more. He had angered his leader- his pack. But it had only happened because he wanted his pack.
He hated these emotions, these reactions- why couldn’t he be a proper vampire like his father? Would he be allowed to protect their territory, if he was? Would Father let him stay near, and protect the pack as a pair?
I will apologize the next time he visits- even if he barely stays. Swallowing the last of the cold iron, he set the cup down and settled back into the bed, lethargic and still spent. I will beg forgiveness, so when father wins, he will no longer need to keep me like this.
Izuku wouldn’t have to stay protected in the castle, and Father wouldn’t have to worry so much about protecting him. They could spend time together, and tell stories, and Izuku wouldn’t have to constantly let his father down.
Through the barred window, the gibbous moon shone its soft light, reminding Izuku that the next night would be the full moon.
Izuku winced. He knew what that meant—nasty chalky medicine from the doctor that made Izuku’s limbs tingly and his head dizzy. Father had been requiring Izuku to take it for as long as he could remember, as it was the only thing that kept Izuku’s wilder side in check during the full moon. It made for three unpleasant, lonely days as Father never visited during it.
Most likely, Izuku would have to wait another week before his father returned. A sad whine built in his throat, but Izuku mercilessly crushed it.
No, he told himself. He would be a proper vampire so that when Father returned he wouldn’t ever leave again.
It was on the second day of the full moon when the echoing howls jolted Izuku from his uneasy sleep. Scrambling, he clawed at the sweaty, silk bedsheets, snagging several on his jagged claws. Izuku winced, knowing that Father would want to trim them soon, but the thought was quickly forgotten as another round of howls sounded from outside.
“Kurogiri?” He called, voice cracking from his still recovering throat. Normally the spirit would appear the moment he called, but he did not. “Kurogiri?” He called again, his heart starting to pound when the only response was more howling.
*Werewolves. We must be under attack.* Izuku thought with a terrified shudder. Of course, they came when Father was away. Because Father was the strongest of the vampire lords, he had many enemies. He had heard their calls before, but never this close…
Izuku stumbled out of bed, wincing at the cold stone tile. Glancing towards the window, he saw the full moon was high; practically the witching hour. Another howl sounded, closer, and the call had him moving impulsively towards the door.
Locked , of course. Father had always forbidden him to leave without his express permission, warning Izuku that it would be too dangerous. And this situation did seem *dangerous*, but…
Their territory was under attack, *his pack* was in danger. Staying within the keep left him with no way of determining the enemies' location.
Were the werewolves outside the fortress walls or inside? Would it be better to stay hidden in his room or to run for help? Father had left revenants to guard the thick stone walls, but a strong enough pack could tear through their reanimated flesh…
“Kurogiri.” He trembled, trying to sound authoritative. “I need you to tell me what’s happening.”
No answer.
Curling his hands into fists, Izuku closed his eyes and tried to quiet his pounding heart. Father didn't like when Izuku used his powers as it often left him bedridden for days, but in this situation, Izuku didn't see any other option.
He channeled his energy into his hearing, magnifying it to catch the scuttling of spiders, moaning of revenant guards, and the seven werewolves loping up the stairwell.
Izuku's eyes snapped open.
They were inside.
Frantically, Izuku slammed his feet into his shoes and ran to the wall next to his bed. Wiggling a stone loose, he opened up his secret hideaway. A small box full of his treasure lay tucked inside: a lock of hair from his mom, the preserved corpse of Izuku's first successful prey (a rat), a tiny notebook, and a sprig of pine he liked to smell when longing for the outdoors.
All of those Izuku ignored, grabbing instead the lockpicks and dagger. Racing back to his door, he inserted the lockpicks. Biting his lip, he gently unlatched the door. Swinging it wide open.
Father liked to keep Izuku's door locked for his protection, but Izuku hoped, in this instance, he would mind too much. (That it wouldn’t leave him angrier than he already was.)
The dagger felt slippery in his sweating palm as Izuku crept from his room.
Listen- discern their location. Channeling his energy once more, he focused in on the previous space where he'd heard them. Maybe they didn't know he was there- perhaps they were seeking his father's study, or the Doctor's lab, or-
There! Not only did he hear them, he could see them- still two flights down at the main landing. He curled into the shadow nearest him, feeling how the dark blanketed him carefully in its embrace. From above, he listened as the clacking of claws paused, their threatening growls at the incoming revenants leaving Izuku trembling. They showed no signs of hesitation, throwing themselves at his father's minions with a ferocity Izuku had never seen before. They bit deeply against the necks and arms, tearing limb from limb and throwing the pieces to splat wetly against stone.
Of the seven, there was a goliath among them. His fur was lighter than theirs, blond under the black slick of blood. Its eyes shone with an unnatural blue glow, and its maw turned in a seemingly permanent growl.
A monster. Izuku thought in terror, watching them work through the revenants until nothing was left. *Just like Father had warned- they don't even appear to have a reason!*
One of the smaller ones- grey, and Izuku would have assumed old if not for how brutally he had taken out the reinforcements, spoke in a gruff rumble. The echo came back muffled, and he sharpened his hearing once more just as the large one replied. "-an't be far. I don't want to risk splitting up in the very den of that disgusting villain- I'm surprised we haven't hit more ghouls just yet."
"Which direction, then?" Drawled out a thinner one, his black hair obscuring red eyes. "I don't know how the doctor smells, but the revenant stench is too thick here."
Curious despite his fear, Izuku stayed where he was, watching as the giant lifted its head, inhaling the stale air. The werewolf seemed to freeze, sniffing twice more, deeper each time. Izuku only had a second to wonder why before the terrifying blue eyes were turned up to him, seeing him.
"All Might?" One of the other wolves ventured, looking at the leader uneasily. "What is it?"
All Might?! No- not the most dangerous werewolf his father had told him about, the very one that-
"Torino." The werewolf in question choked out, fur bristling as he remained trained on Izuku's location.
The grey were sniffed the air too, its focus turning to Izuku's hiding space as well. "Impossible." The elder breathed out, the gruff tone faint.
Heart pounding, Izuku carefully stepped backward out of sight- they couldn't see him, nothing could when he was blanketed in the shadows as his father taught him, but they caught his scent. Confirming his fears, he heard the leader let out a booming howl, the others joining in as the sound of claws scrambling over stone in pursuit. Abandoning care, the child raced to the far end where there was a servant's staircase. This nightmare was becoming worse and worse-
He was being hunted.
Terror fueled his powers, and without meaning to, Izuku ripped the door off its hinges. Throwing it behind him, Izuku hurled himself down the servant's staircase. His foot caught on one step, and Izuku pitched forward, tumbling down the stone stairs, banging painfully before collapsing in a pitful heap at the bottom.
Tears filled Izuku's eyes as he wheezed , the fall knocking the wind out of him . Already he could hear the wolves' claws clacking on stone as they chased after him.
Izuku stumbled to his feet, ignoring the rips in his sleeping clothes and how the shiny silk was stained by the blood dripping from his skinned arms and legs.
Sprinting through the servants' corridor, Izuku ignored the startled gasps of human servants and moans of revenants. Each had pledged loyalty to his father and would put down their lives to protect him, but Izuku didn't want to be the cause of their brutal deaths by werewolves.
In the kitchen, the cooks were preparing their meal of raw meat and glass of blood. The smell pulled at Izuku's senses. He hadn't eaten since Father left (overeating was bad for him), but he resisted the tantalizing smell and the drool dripped from his panting lips.
The cooks screamed as he ran past, but the snarling of the wolves was more worrisome. Already Izuku could hear the moans from the revenants as the wolves tore through them.
"Faster!" the giant one, All Might, snarled.
"Not our fault there's so many corpses!"
For once, Izuku felt a surge of gratitude for the doctor that Father employed. The doctor's glinting glasses and leering grin had always filled Izuku with a nameless dread. He hated going for checkups, and the powders the doctor prescribed left Izuku feeling drowsy and unmotivated. Yet the revenants were slowing the werewolves down!
Bursting out the door to the courtyard, Izuku skidded to a stop. Above him, the full moon glowed, a perfect jewel hanging in the sky. Werewolves were strongest under a full moon, their powers increased by the mother moon's waxing light.
Maybe it was the same for vampires, Izuku wondered as he felt his sense strengthen and a strange energy fill his veins. With every thump of his heart, he felt more alive, consumed by the urge to run, hunt, and howl victory to the night sky.
He could sense the wolves behind him, tracking him by his scent that was only strengthened by the trail of blood he left behind him.
Flee. His mind screamed. He needed to escape. There was no safety in the fortress. The heavy stone walls surrounding the fortress no longer protected him from danger but trapped him inside with it.
He needed to transform. Father did it all the time, condensing his form into that of a bat that could survey the lands for danger. Izuku had never been allowed to try. Father had deemed it too dangerous, but with werewolves after him, Izuku would try anything.
Focussing on his power, he tried to visualize shrinking down, black membrane forming off his arms. His power surged, and Izuku gasped as delicate wings formed across his arms.
"He's by the walls!" one of the wolves howled.
Their words lurched Izuku into action. Clumsily, he flapped his wings as he staggered up into the air as the wolves burst into the courtyard.
The wall that surrounded their castle had never worried Izuku- he'd always seen it as a protective force to keep the dangers out. Now, he fought frantically for strength as he flapped hard, trying to clear what felt like a colossal obstacle at this height. A clawed hand appeared before him, and he let out a frantic screech as he barely moved out of reach. A quick glance down showed that they were zeroed in on his form, their eyes glowing from nocturnal vision.
"Stop him!"
"He's going over!"
Izuku could already see that half of the pack branched off, likely planning to go around and block him. With a gasp, he cleared the top, his transformation dissolving as he tumbled over the surface. Staggering up, he felt his body tremble, struggling to stay upright.
A black blur vaulted up, landing on the parapet. Izuku stumbled back in fear as the werewolf with red eyes from earlier loomed up from its crouch, face shadowed. "Don't move- you're only making this harder on yourself."
Without thinking, Izuku let out a growl, chest aching from the unfamiliar action. Help! He called out, expanding his thoughts until he connected with familiar forms. Help me, please!
The red eyes widened in surprise. "Did you just-?" Before he could finish, sharp hearing turned towards the forest, a black cloud rushing his way as the chittering of bats grew louder and louder. "Wait!" He knelt instinctively as the first few started to land, biting at his face and shoulders. Two more tried to follow the werewolves' example, and the bats attacked them in kind.
Now! Taking advantage of the distraction, Izuku leaped, his claws managing to cling against one of the extended branches before letting himself drop from a safer height, rushing into the woods.
Father, where are you? His breaths became heavy as he fought against sobs, painfully vulnerable in the strange space outside of the restricted walls he'd grown up in. Unfamiliar shadows passed by him in a blur, taking him deeper and deeper into the unknown. You promised you'd always protect me- I need you! His foot caught on a branch, and he tumbled with a pained yelp into a shallow pond, soiling what had been left of his good clothes. Gasping for air, he briefly caught his reflection in the disturbed surface- green eyes glowing, frightened, face thin and weak.
"He went this way!"
Turning over his shoulder, Izuku could hear his pursuers closing in. Looking around frantically, he saw one of the older trees had soil disrupted from the watery space, creating a shallow cave from the root's overhang. Desperate, he crawled over, begging the obliging shadows to swallow his form as he fought to quiet his breathing. *The mud can help mask my scent.* He told himself, only half believing it. *If I stay quiet, stay hidden, then the father will find me before they do.*
Izuku let the sound of the night frogs and crickets wash over him, hoping his breaths were drowned out as he saw several pairs of clawed feet come into view, splashing into the puddle.
"Which way would he have gone?"
"His smell's been diminished; do you see any movement?"
The child stayed as still as a statue. He watched as more feet joined theirs, the group becoming oddly silent. Praying, he watched as they seemed to shuffle, one or two moving on.
"I think he went this way, spread out!"
The claws disappeared from view, and Izuku held his breath as long as he could before shakily inhaling, weakly clawing himself forward so he could peer out. He didn't see anything- but he could hear one or two in the distance, trying to thrush him out. Letting out a grunt, Izuku scooted the rest of the way out on his elbows, keeping his back to the tree. Was it safe to run? Would they hear him if he did? What if someone was still posted at the castle? Should he stay there? Would they-
A large hand grabbed his shoulder, and Izuku felt what little blood was in his face drain as he turned to meet the blue eyes of a killer.
Izuku screamed, his lungs feeling like they would rupture under the force of his terrified cry.
"He's over here!"
"All Might found him!"
The cry rattling his body, Izuku lurched back, yanking his shoulder from All Might's grip. Izuku turned and raced for a break in the trees, only to lurch back as the werewolf with grey fur burst from the dark. "Don't even think about it, sonny."
Spinning, Izuku searched for an escape but was thwarted when the wolves loped from the darkness, their eyes glowing as they zeroed in on him. As one, they formed a tight circle, preventing any escape route.
Izuku's chest heaved as he panted, his claws flexing from the terror of being surrounded. Each was far bigger than an average wolf with muscles that rippled under blood-soaked fur. Their claws and teeth glinted in the moonlight, each a weapon.
Weapon. Frantically, Izuku fumbled for his dagger, holding it protectively out in front of him. In comparison to the wolves, the blade appeared to be a child's toy, but that didn't stop Izuku from flashing it when one stepped closer.
"Stay back!" Izuku snapped. He bared his own canines at them, feeling a growl build in his chest. "I'm warning you!"
However, the wolves appeared to care little about his threat. A larger wolf with dark brown fur streaked with patches of black spoke up, "Are we sure this scrawny, half-starved vamp is the one?"
"Is your nose not working, boy? Can't you smell him!" the short grey wolf snapped. He looked to be older, maybe an easy target to escape, but when Izuku inched towards him, thinking to burst through, the wolf's fur bristled. "Easy there, pup. Stand down."
Stand down? Stand down?! Izuku thought hysterically. And be ripped to shreds?! Not a chance!
"It's him," All Might rumbled from behind. His blue eyes glowed unnaturally and even shifted into his human form; he looked above. Black blood from revenants dripped off of him as he leaned down towards Izuku. "The scent is unmistakable. He's one of hers."
"But that's impossible! It would make him a vampire and-"
"A wolf," All Might finished.
The conversation was getting dangerous. No one was supposed to know about Izuku's heritage. "I don't know what you're talking about!" Izuku cried. "But go away. Father will be back."
"Your father is far away. No one is around. So be a good pup and drop the knife."
"No," Izuku said, readjusting his grip and baring his teeth. He was not going to be killed.
Even as he spoke the words, he felt movement from behind him. He pivoted on instinct, flashing his fangs with a hiss at his attacker. The werewolf dodged out of range again, but that must have been the signal for the others as well. They never made an opening in the circle, no matter how much Izuku desperately flitted around the space. If they moved forward, Izuku would dodge. If he got too close to the edge, they'd grab for him there. He'd slashed out with the knife from panic more than good form. He was tiring, * exhausted*, but he knew if he gave up it would all be over.
The grey one from earlier finally got lucky- he leaped forward and kicked out against Izuku's wrist when his back was turned. The shock made him release his grip, the weapon tumbling out of their boundary line. Izuku clutched the throbbing wrist against his chest, eyes scanning more and more fearfully as they closed in.
"You're outnumbered, kid. Quit making this harder than it needs to be."
Izuku flashed his fangs again, but the effect was ruined by how tearful his eyes had grown. He didn't want to die- and he was doing everything he could, but it wasn't enough! Why? He'd always done what his father had asked; all those times he was denied access to the real world, to learn more, to do anything beyond his father's wishes. But in the end, he was still going to be torn apart, just like his father warned would happen if he ever left!
"We don't have time for this."
Izuku felt two of them grab him from behind. Growling, he tried to snap at them, but they carefully held his arms, not allowing any give. Before him, All Might solemnly approached, kneeling and reaching out with his ginormous hand.
He should have hissed more- tried to bite his attacker, gone down as a true vampire. But instead, the tired boy flinched back, trembling as he waited for the large claws to tear into him.
Instead, he felt the soft brush along his exposed neck.
"Aren't these... bite marks...?!"
"He's a vampire! Of course, there are going to be bite marks from when he was turned."
But All Might shook his head. "Not if he was a born vampire, and besides, there shouldn't be more than one." His clawed fingers brushed against the sensitive wounds, and Izuku shivered. "Several of these appear recent."
"What?!" one of the wolves snapped, shifting up into a human form.
Izuku struggled against those restraining him, but they tightened their grips, and All Might grasped Izuku's head in his hands, forcing it to the side to reveal his raw bite marks.
Tears prickled as they prodded at the bites. Father didn't drink from him too often, and when he did, it was to protect Izuku! That was why he had suffered through the painful bites without complaints.
"He's been feeding on him," All Might snarled. Bloodlust dripped from him and the other wolves snarled in response, flashing their bloody teeth. A sad, desperate whimper erupted from Izuku-they were going to kill him!
But at the high-pitched whimper, the wolves stilled, their anger fading and grips softening. Taking the chance, Izuku ripped himself out of their grips and ran blindly into the woods.
Dark forms followed after him, and in less than a minute, one crashed into him, knocking Izuku to the ground with a wheeze.
"Hold him down!" someone barked as arms began pressing Izuku's limbs into the dirt. Terrified, Izuku thrashed, fighting with every ounce of strength he had. But the strange energy that had been fueling him slowly dissipated, his pathetic, weak body slumping into the ground.
Izuku let out a pitiful whimper as All Might approached, his form towering over Izuku. Slowly, All Might crouched down, running a hand through Izuku's curls. "Shhhh, little pup. You're alright now. No one will hurt you."
Tears poured from Izuku's eyes. He was lying! Izuku was dead. He hiccuped between sobs as All Might continued to stroke his hair, the sharp claws slowly drifting farther down to Izuku's neck.
"Everything will be explained when you wake," All Might murmured. Then a sharp pain slammed against Izuku's neck, and he fell into oblivion.