Chapter Text
The screams echoed in the distance, reverberating between the walls of the alley where Izuku was hiding. At first, they were just distant echoes, but over time, those sounds drew closer, louder, angrier, more violent with each beat of his heart. Those sounds were accompanied by the all-too-familiar explosions Izuku was used to. It was impossible not to feel the weight of the tension.
He didn’t need to see who they were because, first, he already knew them, and second, he was running from them. From whom, you ask? His bullies. Available 24/7, as if they had no other purpose than to remind him of how insignificant they considered him.
Leading the group was Katsuki Bakugo, aka Kacchan, his old childhood friend… although, could someone who had hurt you so much physically and mentally really be considered a "friend"? Behind him were his so-called “loyal” lackeys—they weren’t. Izuku didn’t remember their names.
All that mattered was that they followed Bakugo blindly, like lapdogs, laughing and reinforcing the idea that Izuku didn’t belong in their world.
Meanwhile, in front of Izuku, stood a teenager with bluish skin and an “immaculate” suit—though it wasn’t—observing him with an almost mocking smile. His two-toned glasses gleamed in the dim alley light, giving him an air of superiority that made Izuku’s skin crawl. The boy stretched out a hand, expectant, as if he knew exactly what was going to happen.
"[Little Broccoli]" the blue-skinned boy suddenly spoke, his voice breaking the tense silence that had formed around Izuku, "YOUR [Free Trial] IS ABOUT TO END."
Even though Izuku couldn’t see the boy’s face from his position, he could feel it; he could feel how much the boy was enjoying the panic that gripped his body. The words hung heavy in the air, a reminder that Izuku’s time was running out, that the offer in front of him was not something he could evade much longer.
"SO, DO YOU ACCEPT THIS DEAL?" the teenager continued, while his hand remained extended, unmoving but full of expectation.
Izuku gritted his teeth, hesitating. His eyes darted between the boy’s hand and the entrance of the alley, where the echo of footsteps and the shouts of his pursuers were growing closer. Sweat dripped down his forehead, and his heart raced in his chest. He knew he didn’t have much time.
“Damn Deku! Where did you go?” Bakugo’s familiar voice echoed, now barely half a street away. The sound of his words bounced off the alley walls.
The smile on the blue-skinned boy widened even more, relishing Izuku’s desperation. He had him cornered, and he knew it, giving him an unbeatable advantage.
There was no other way out. Izuku closed his eyes for a moment, seeking some kind of peace in his decision.
The handshake was firm, resolute.
"Perfect," said the boy, his voice echoing with a strange satisfaction. "Simply perfect."
—--------
Chapter 1:
The Deal
—-----
The day had started like any other for Izuku Midoriya. Waking up before the sun had fully risen, lazily stretching as the first rays of light filtered through the curtains of his room. Then, leaving his room to find his mother preparing breakfast, as she always did, with that gentle and worried smile that was so characteristic of her. Izuku knew she worried more than she let on, but he never gave her a reason to be alarmed. Or at least, he tried not to. After a quick meal, saying goodbye with a “See you later, Mom!” he grabbed his backpack and headed off to Aldera, the middle school where he spent most of his days.
And then, as always, came the part of the day he hated the most: dealing with his bullies. That group of kids, led by his “best friend” Bakugo, always made sure Izuku remembered his “place” in the social hierarchy. A hierarchy based on something that almost everyone had: a quirk. Something Izuku, unfortunately, did not possess. While more than 80% of the world’s population was born with a special power, he belonged to the small percentage that wasn’t. The “quirkless.” To the world, and especially to his classmates, that made him insignificant.
Although Izuku had grown used to this routine, it didn’t mean he didn’t try to defend himself. He did! Well... at least he tried. However, it was hard to fight back when even the school staff seemed to ignore what was happening around them, when teachers looked the other way or, worse yet, praised the very kids who bullied him.
What was the difference between them and him? The answer was simple: Izuku didn’t have a quirk.
But despite everything, Izuku had something that kept him going every day: a dream. He would be like All Might! He would be a hero who saves people, no matter the obstacles in his way!
Unfortunately, between the fact that he didn’t have a quirk, the constant bullying from his classmates, and the way the quirkless population was constantly marginalized for being “useless people,” there wasn’t much room left for hope.
Today, however, luck seemed to be especially against him, like most days. After classes, just when he thought he might make it home without incident, he found himself cornered against a wall. And who was standing in front of him? His childhood “best friend,” Katsuki Bakugo, accompanied by his usual lackeys, or as Katsuki liked to call them, “extras.”
Just as Bakugo and his lackeys were about to leave, Izuku blurted out, “So what if I don’t have a quirk?! I’ll be a hero, and none of you can stop me!” Of course, the realization didn’t take long to hit Izuku.
Slowly, Bakugo turned to look Izuku directly in the eyes, with a simmering rage that made Izuku’s heart race. “Huh?” Bakugo spat, in a voice that told Izuku he was about to suffer like never before. And with that simple reaction, Izuku knew he had messed up. He didn’t think twice and spun on his heels, starting to run. Where to? Who knew, he just had to get away.
“Deku! Get back here right now!” Bakugo’s shout echoed behind him, but Izuku didn’t stop. His legs moved on pure instinct, rounding the first corner he could find. “After him!” he heard Bakugo’s yell, and at that moment, he knew his day, which had started so normally, was about to get much, much worse.
—--------
Izuku didn't know how long he had been running, but he estimated it had been at least twenty minutes. This surprised him because, knowing his terrible physical condition, he had assumed he would pass out after five. The fact that he had lasted this long was a small victory.
Unfortunately, his pursuers hadn’t stopped tailing him for even a minute. Every time Izuku managed to lose them from sight, they would immediately figure out where he was. This led to him now heading in the opposite direction from his house. Now, lost and out of breath, he didn’t even know what part of the city he was in. Great. He couldn’t have imagined a worse situation.
But a ray of hope appeared. As he desperately turned a corner, he spotted a narrow alley, half-hidden by a pile of garbage. It wasn’t the most dignified hiding place, but he didn’t have the luxury of being picky at the moment. Without thinking twice, he dove into the alley, and with a clumsy jump, hid behind the piles of trash. He barely had time to settle in when he heard the heavy footsteps and voices of his bullies approaching.
"Find him!" That was Katsuki's voice. He sounded even angrier than before, as if the mere idea that Izuku had managed to escape infuriated him even more.
Izuku waited and waited.
He waited and waited…
He waited and waited…
But it seemed his pursuers wouldn’t stop searching for him.
Just then, his legs gave out, and Izuku opened his eyes. The loss of adrenaline made his body suffer the consequences of the intense physical activity.
Desperate, he looked around. He couldn’t stay where he was; if they decided to check the alley more thoroughly, they would find him in no time. He needed to move, even if just a little more. Trying to gather the last bits of strength he had, Izuku leaned against the wall and began to slowly crawl deeper into the alley.
-Ffft ffft-
-Ffft ffft-
The sound of his feet scraping the ground echoed in the confined space, though luckily, it didn’t seem loud enough to alert those still searching outside. As he moved forward, his eyes spotted a dumpster ahead. It wasn’t an ideal option, but at that moment, anything would do. He had no other choice. With trembling legs and his heart pounding in his ears, he forced himself to keep moving.
He barely took three steps when the lid of the dumpster suddenly flew open, causing Izuku's heart to leap in his chest. A humanoid figure emerged from the dumpster. A teenager, slightly taller than him, with strange cyan-colored skin and red dimples on both cheeks, dressed in a long-sleeved V-neck suit with a white shirt underneath, white pants, and shoes. He also wore flashy glasses with yellow and pink lenses, giving him an even stranger appearance.
The boy held two bags filled with what looked like trash, and just as he was about to fully step out of the dumpster, he turned his head and saw him. The silence between them grew tense for a moment, but before Izuku could react, the stranger's expression changed. A wide smile appeared on his face.
“LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A [Valued Customer]!” the teenager exclaimed, jumping. He spun in the air, landing in front of Izuku. He grabbed his hand in a firm handshake. “LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF! I’M KRISTON CHAINMAIL! YOUR TRUSTED SALESMAN SINCE [[1997]]!” he shouted with a smile. Izuku tried to process what had just happened, but Kriston wouldn’t let go of his hand, shaking it nonstop. His movements were so fast that it seemed like his arms blurred in the air.
"IT LOOKS LIKE YOU FELL INTO A [[Pool Of Acid]]!" exclaimed the teenager, looking him up and down, and suddenly his eyes filled with a strange static. "BUT DON'T WORRY! I HAVE A [[Special Offer]] JUST FOR YOU!" Without waiting for a response, Kriston leaped again, this time landing with a metallic clang on the now-closed dumpster nearby, his legs bent like an acrobat ready for the next jump. "AREN'T YOU TIRED OF BEING STEPPED ON?! TIRED OF LIVING IN A GODDAMN GARBAGE CAN??!" he shouted, slamming the dumpster hard, the echo rumbling through the alley. Izuku couldn't help but wonder how the lid didn't break from the impact.
"WHY BE THE [Little Broccoli] EVERYONE STEPS ON WHEN YOU COULD BE A…?" [[BIG SHOT!!!]] [[BIG SHOT!!!!]] [[BIG SHOT!!!!!]] "IT'S TRUE! NOW IS YOUR CHANCE TO BE A [[BIG SHOT]]!" Kriston exclaimed, arms spread wide as if expecting the very sky to answer his call.
Meanwhile, Izuku tried to back away. Very, very slowly, taking small steps backward, hoping the stranger wouldn't notice, but he had no luck. Kriston, with inhuman speed, appeared right in front of him again, blocking his way with a dangerous smile.
"STOP RIGHT THERE, [Little Broccoli]! IT'S RUDE TO LEAVE SOMEONE TALKING TO THEMSELVES! AND EVEN WORSE WHEN THAT SOMEONE IS THE ONE WHO’S GOING TO GET YOU OUT OF YOUR [[Pool Of Acid]]!" Kriston's smile widened even more, if that was possible, getting so close to Izuku that he could almost feel his breath on his face. The air between them felt heavy, like the tension itself was made of electricity.
Izuku gathered all the politeness he could muster and said, “Excuse me, but I am not currently in a position to buy anything. Thank you and goodbye.” He gave an awkward bow, but as he tried to move again, Kriston intercepted him, his hands almost floating in the air, like a puppet.
"LEAVING ALREADY?! DON’T YOU WANT TO STOP BEING A MISERABLE FISH IN THE OCEAN?! DON’T YOU WANT TO RISE ABOVE THOSE [[From The Union]] WHO HAVE STEPPED ON YOU YOUR WHOLE LIFE?! DON’T YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR OWN [[Deal]]?! YOUR OWN [[Shots]]! YOUR OWN [[Hyperlink Blocked]]!" Suddenly, Kriston shut down for a moment, his body unmoving while static crackled in his eyes.
The sense of danger grew in Izuku’s chest. Something about Kriston wasn’t right. As if he wasn’t human, or at least not anymore. "What… what do you want?" Izuku managed to ask, his voice trembling.
"ME? WHAT DO I WANT?" Kriston let out a sharp laugh, spreading his arms toward the sky. "I ONLY WANT TO HELP A POOR [[Soul]] BECOME [[Great]], AS THEY DESERVE! TO GIVE MY [[Generosity]] TO SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN REJECTED, WHO HAS BEEN CRITICIZED WITHOUT TALENT, WHO HAS BEEN DESTINED TO A MISERABLE [[Hyperlink Blocked]]." He circled around Izuku with erratic steps. "I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU AN [[Offer]] YOU CAN'T REFUSE, MY DEAREST, NEWEST CUSTOMER!"
Izuku hesitated, his mind racing to find a way out. "How… how do you know me?" was all he could ask, though in retrospect, it wasn’t the best idea.
Kriston let out an almost maniacal laugh. "KNOW YOU?! OF COURSE I DO! YOU’RE THE LITTLE [[Worm]] I’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR!" he shouted, gesturing wildly. "THE [Little Broccoli] WHO DIDN'T GET THE [[Generosity]] OTHERS DID! A YOUNG MAN WITH AN ADMIRABLE DREAM, BUT SADLY CONSUMED BY THE ENVY OF OTHERS!"
As Kriston spoke, something in his words struck a chord within Izuku. Those words he had always wanted to hear, which had always been denied to him, were now coming from the mouth of a stranger, a salesman who seemed to want something much more than just a simple sale.
"‘DON'T WORRY!’ Kriston continued, raising his arms to the sky. ‘WITH MY HELP, YOU CAN BE A [[BIG SHOT]]! YOU CAN BE A HERO!’
Those were the words he had always dreamed of hearing. But was he really that desperate to accept such a suspicious offer? Was he in need of approval?
As Izuku thought, a shout was heard.
“Hey! Someone saw him enter this alley!”
Izuku froze.
The screams echoed in the distance, reverberating between the walls of the alley where Izuku was hiding. At first, they were just distant echoes, but over time, those sounds drew closer, louder, angrier, more violent with each beat of his heart. Those sounds were accompanied by the all-too-familiar explosions Izuku was used to. It was impossible not to feel the weight of the tension.
He didn’t need to see who they were because, first, he already knew them, and second, he was running from them. From whom, you ask? His bullies. Available 24/7, as if they had no other purpose than to remind him of how insignificant they considered him.
Leading the group was Katsuki Bakugo, aka Kacchan, his old childhood friend… although, could someone who had hurt you so much physically and mentally really be considered a "friend"? Behind him were his so-called “loyal” lackeys—they weren’t. Izuku didn’t remember their names.
All that mattered was that they followed Bakugo blindly, like lapdogs, laughing and reinforcing the idea that Izuku didn’t belong in their world.
Meanwhile, in front of Izuku, stood a teenager with bluish skin and an “immaculate” suit—though it wasn’t—observing him with an almost mocking smile. His two-toned glasses gleamed in the dim alley light, giving him an air of superiority that made Izuku’s skin crawl. The boy stretched out a hand, expectant, as if he knew exactly what was going to happen.
"[Little broccoli]" the blue-skinned boy suddenly spoke, his voice breaking the tense silence that had formed around Izuku, "YOUR [free trial] IS ABOUT TO END."
Even though Izuku couldn’t see the boy’s face from his position, he could feel it; he could feel how much the boy was enjoying the panic that gripped his body. The words hung heavy in the air, a reminder that Izuku’s time was running out, that the offer in front of him was not something he could evade much longer.
"SO, DO YOU ACCEPT THIS DEAL?" the teenager continued, while his hand remained extended, unmoving but full of expectation.
Izuku gritted his teeth, hesitating. His eyes darted between the boy’s hand and the entrance of the alley, where the echo of footsteps and the shouts of his pursuers were growing closer. Sweat dripped down his forehead, and his heart raced in his chest. He knew he didn’t have much time.
“Damn Deku! Where did you go?” Bakugo’s familiar voice echoed, now barely half a street away. The sound of his words bounced off the alley walls.
The smile on the blue-skinned boy widened even more, relishing Izuku’s desperation. He had him cornered, and he knew it, giving him an unbeatable advantage.
There was no other way out. Izuku closed his eyes for a moment, seeking some kind of peace in his decision.
The handshake was firm, resolute.
"Perfect," said the boy, his voice echoing with a strange satisfaction. "Simply perfect."
"NOW HIDE!" Kriston wasted no time and slung Izuku over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, carrying him to the trash container. Izuku barely had time to react, his protests drowned out by the metallic sound of the lid slamming shut.
"STAY THERE AND DON'T MAKE A SOUND!" Kriston ordered, with a smile on his face that left no room for argument. It was just in time, as the voices and footsteps of Katsuki and his gang could already be heard approaching from a distance.
With a quick movement, Kriston turned his head toward them, and a smile spread across his face.
"HOLY [[Cungadero]] , WHAT DO MY EYES SEE!? AN IMPATIENT CROWD AWAITING!" Kriston's head began to grow as he looked at the number of people, he hadn’t seen so many gathered around him in a long time, until his head returned to normal.
"DEAR CUSTOMERS, THERE'S NO REASON TO WAIT ANY LONGER! COME, COME! STEP RIGHT UP AND ENJOY THE BEST DEALS THAT THE GREAT KRISTON CHAINMAIL HAS TO OFFER! ONLY FOR A LIMITED TIME!" Kriston raised his arms in a gesture toward the sky.
Izuku shuddered, what is he thinking?! If Katsuki found him there, he was done for.
Katsuki, wasting no time, emerged from his lackeys with a look of restrained irritation, his eyes fixed on Kriston. "Where is he?"
Kriston, always smiling, tilted his head slightly. "LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A VERY EAGER CUSTOMER! DON’T WORRY, THERE’S PLENTY OF QUALITY FOR EVERYONE!" His jovial tone only unnerved the group further, who took a step back when Kriston suddenly materialized right in front of Katsuki, as if the distance between them had never existed.
"Where’s Deku?" Katsuki asked again, now with a vein pulsing on his forehead.
Kriston blinked, though it wasn’t visible through his glasses, "DEKU? I DON'T HAVE THAT PRODUCT YET!" He burst into exaggerated laughter, but it felt hollow, as if he were toying with them. The sound echoed eerily down the empty street, sending another shiver through the group.
Before Katsuki could speak, something green and messy caught his attention. Just peeking from the edge of the trash container, a tuft of hair betrayed Izuku’s hiding spot. Katsuki, his eyes flaring with rage, shoved Kriston aside forcefully and stormed toward the container.
However, he barely made it three steps. In the blink of an eye, Kriston reappeared in front of Katsuki. Although his glasses hid his eyes, it felt as if they were devouring Katsuki. A growing fear bubbled inside Katsuki's chest, but he dismissed it, letting his ego take over.
"DEAR CUSTOMER," Kriston said in a grave voice, "IT'S RUDE TO SHOVE SOMEONE WHO'S WILLING TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU."
Katsuki, with the last of his patience, responded through gritted teeth, "Give me Deku, and nothing bad will happen."
Kriston's smile sharpened, almost cruel. "DOES YOUR [Ego] AND [Inferiority] HURT?"
Katsuki lost his patience and grabbed Kriston by the collar of his suit. His lackeys also activated their quirks.
But Kriston's voice, now icy and without its friendly tone, cut through the air like a sharp blade. "IT SEEMS I HAVE MISJUDGED." Everyone's eyes widened as the temperature seemed to drop around them. "THIS IS NOT A CLIENTELE; IT'S A PLAGUE OF RATS."
Kriston grabbed Katsuki by the neck and lifted him into the air as if he were a Pomeranian stuffed toy. At the same time, mini Kristons appeared out of nowhere, attacking Katsuki's lackeys, neutralizing them in a matter of seconds.
"LISTEN TO ME CAREFULLY," Kriston continued, his voice lower but infinitely more threatening. "IF YOU EVER TRY TO INTERFERE WITH MY BUSINESS AGAIN…" Kriston pulled Katsuki closer to his face while lowering his glasses. "I will personally take care of you." Kriston's red eyes pierced into Katsuki's soul.
Katsuki's eyes met Kriston's, and for the first time in a long while, he felt fear. A deep fear, consuming every part of his being, though his pride prevented him from showing it.
After a few seconds, which felt like hours to Katsuki, Kriston threw him towards the rest of his lackeys, defeated by their mini versions.
Staggering, they got up and fled without looking back, all except Katsuki, who, though wounded in his pride, turned for one last moment to watch Kriston before disappearing.
Kriston smiled and approached the trash container. "[Little Broccoli], THE RATS HAVE ALREADY LEFT," he spoke as he pulled him out of the dumpster like a sack of potatoes.
Kriston tilted his head slightly as he set Izuku down, as if examining him. A thoughtful expression crossed his face as he brought a hand to his chin, gently tapping his fingers.
A light bulb went off in his head. "HOW COULD I FORGET!" His voice made Izuku jump a little. "HERE'S A SAMPLE OF MY [Generosity]!" With a snap of his fingers, a small winged version of himself appeared, floating in the air. The miniature approached Izuku.
When it touched his face, the creature disappeared. But the muscle pain, the fatigue, everything had disappeared as well, as if it had never happened. Izuku blinked, incredulous, as he felt his body light and renewed. He slowly stood up.
"Hm… I… thank you for helping me," Izuku thanked him, though he still felt a bit distrustful.
"NO NEED TO THANK ME!" Kriston smiled broadly, showing his teeth. "WE ARE BUSINESS [Partners], AFTER ALL, AND WE SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER." Kriston wrapped his arms around him in a somewhat awkward hug. Izuku remained still, unsure how to respond, and when he tried to speak, he was interrupted by Kriston’s finger gently pressing against his lips.
NO FORMALITIES! WE'RE THE BEST [Partners]! YOU CAN CALL ME KRIS." Once again, static covered his eyes. "Like they did before."
But he quickly snapped back to himself, letting go of Izuku with a carefree chuckle.
"NOW," Kris continued with renewed energy, "WE MUST PLAN OUR [Agreement & Conditions]." Unfortunately for Kris, Izuku's phone began ringing insistently, filling the silence with its vibrant tone.
Izuku grabbed his phone and glanced at the time…
"5:02 PM?!" he murmured to himself, surprised by how much time had passed. Not only that, but the name on the screen was his mother’s. His heart raced as he realized he must have worried her.
Izuku quickly answered and heard his mother’s concerned voice.
Kris watched the entire exchange…
Trying not to alarm his mother further, Izuku made up an excuse about helping a "new friend" and somehow ending up falling into a dumpster together.
After hanging up, Izuku sighed with relief and turned to Kris. "I… I'm sorry, Kris, but I have to go."
For a moment, Kris remained completely still, his eyes fixed on Izuku, as if processing his words. But then, his expression returned to normal, and his face lit up with a wide and slightly unsettling smile. "IT'S FINE! GO TO YOUR [Hochi Mama]!" he exclaimed, his tone as cheerful as ever. Izuku nodded slightly and began to turn around, getting ready to leave.
However, before he could walk away, he felt a firm hand grab his arm. He stopped in his tracks, turning his head toward Kris in surprise.
"ALMOST FORGOT," Kris said. "COME TO MY SHOP AT THE [Beautiful Tourist Sights] NEAR THE SEA IN TAKOBA! I’LL PREPARE A SURPRISE FOR YOU!"
Kris gently released his arm, allowing him to leave. Still somewhat puzzled, Izuku nodded his head before hurrying away.
-------
When he arrived home, Izuku received the biggest scolding from his mother for 1- disappearing for so long without notifying her and 2- coming home smelling like garbage. Then, he went to shower with extra soap and anything that would get rid of the dirt. After eating and listening to his mother's scolding again, Izuku went to his room and collapsed on his bed.
He thought about the day he had. About how he had answered Kacchan… How he met Kris… How Kris had protected him from them… How Kris had promised to help him become a hero… How he told him that he can be one…
Now that he thinks about it, Kris didn’t seem like a bad person, though he’s still unsure if he can fully trust the "deal." But at the same time, Kris was the first person to say that he could be a hero, that he would help him become one—something not even his mother had said. And how Kris had protected him from Kacchan.
Izuku still has doubts about Kris but is willing to give him a chance. And with his thoughts now calm, he decided to lie down and go to sleep.