Chapter Text
In this universe, the world was somehow even more magical than it appeared on the surface. There were quirks, of course - mystical, mysterious, and above all, wonderful things. Then there were prophecies. They were exceedingly rare. Only a small percentage of the population knew that they truly existed, many believing the idea was merely fantasy. A statement imbued with so much intent and power that the very universe bends itself around it, just to make it true. One knew a prophecy when they heard it.
And then there was Deku. Midoriya Izuku, some called him. And somehow, for some reason, he was more magical than those combined. He didn’t quite know why. All he knew is that one day, he woke up in a place he didn’t know, in a body he didn’t recognize, with no other knowledge than that he had a purpose .
It took him a long time to find that purpose. He felt the untapped power within himself, not quite knowing what it was for, only knowing that he’d know when the time was right.
He created a new name for himself, he created a life, he created friendships and memories. He built it all up from scratch. The magic within him was stagnant. He knew this was not part of his purpose, but he knew he’d get there. The universe built itself around each move he made, and he knew that no matter what he did, the universe would guide him with a steady hand. Bakugou Katsuki became his childhood friend, false memories filling his mind. All Might, his mentor. He created Inko - somehow. He didn’t quite understand how these things happened, but they happened nonetheless.
And so, Midoriya Izuku thrived. From when he woke up at 14, to entering the UA exam, to being happy - he thrived. He never forgot his purpose. He never forgot that he wasn’t quite a person, but he remembered that he had a soul, even if that soul was the universe itself, and that souls needed to be nurtured.
Shigaraki Tomura felt like him.
From that first meeting, Deku could tell. He wasn’t exactly the same, but there was something in him that he knew would grow to spark something. That spark would create a flame, which would turn around as a comet in the universe to create Deku.
He knew. He just had to wait.
The universe was practiced. The universe existed for many, many years, and would exist for many, many more. There were times when Deku felt like it was the end of the world - that everything was crashing around him, that he’d never go on, that that was that - but it didn’t. The universe guided him, and would continue to guide him until his purpose was fulfilled.
Now was one of those times. Shigaraki was different from before, and Deku could feel it. Each time he’d met him, he could feel the change within him, and the black hole that would alter the universe’s gravity grew. He knew it would happen, because it already had.
And it would happen now.
Deku and his friends stood in the ruins of a battlefield, glaring at Shigaraki. They were battered and bruised, but Deku helped them up, again and again, just as the universe helped him. Shigaraki’s manic expression grew wide as he clambered to his feet, Uraraka’s last blow clearly having dealt damage.
Something shifted. The black hole left Shigaraki, and the very air around them became a void. Everything went still. Despite many not believing in ‘prophecies,’ despite a few not even knowing of the idea, they all knew what it meant.
He spoke in his gravelly, petulant voice, with an edge of a smirk that showed he knew exactly what they knew. “You— fools! No human, no mortal, no person may kill me!” Shigaraki cried in a gleeful tone, hands clenching in on themselves, preparing to strike whoever was closest. Almost immediately, Izuku could feel Uraraka freeze next to him.
“Was… was that really - ?” Uraraka spoke in a shaky voice, and despite cutting herself off, Izuku knew exactly what she meant.
“It was a prophecy,” Deku whispered. Thus, it was inexorably true. Almost immediately, clear she had been desperately hoping to be wrong, Uraraka’s eyes fogged up. “So - so it’s… there’s no point? We can’t - if we can’t…”
The fighting continued around them, but it was clear many came to the same conclusion Uraraka did.
There was no point.
Deku wouldn’t allow this. He knew better than that. Even if he wasn’t what he was, he couldn’t give up. “No. There must be a loophole - something we can do,” he explained, logical as he ever was. He didn’t want to expose what he was just yet - he wasn’t sure if Uraraka would still trust him - but he had to give her hope. “We can still do this. We have to fight, Uraraka. Ochaco. There’s no way I’m giving up. We can win - because… because - “
Deku laughed a little at himself, his confident smile unwavering. “I am here!” he grinned at her, holding her hand tight. She didn’t know just how true those words are, but still, her eyes lit up, not only with mirth, but with hope. “Yeah… yeah! If any of us can beat a stupid prophecy, it’s us !”
Shigaraki had beat a lot of people down while Deku had been speaking, and Deku couldn’t afford to waste another second. He charged at him instantly as his back was turned, taking any advantage he could get, even if it was dirty. Shigaraki flipped around at the last second, and Deku’s strike barely grazed his cheek, the sheer force of One for All slicing through skin. Shigaraki laughed as he wiped away the drop of blood that fell.
“Of course you aren’t giving up, hero boy! I should have expected it. I’d ask if you didn’t hear what I said, but I know you’re just filled with stupid amounts of hope,” Shigaraki rambled, a crazed look in his eye.
While Deku knew that this is what he was made for, what the magic inside him was dragging him towards, he couldn’t help but worry slightly. There was enough wiggle room in the prophecy that - he could fail. He’s everyones one chance. He took a breath, feeling One for All bubble beneath his skin, mixed with something else. Mixed with the fibers of the universe.
Shigaraki began reaching out towards Deku, but he stood still, not flinching. “Imagine how sad and pitiful everyone would get, seeing you dead! Their last hope! You must - “
He’s cut off as Deku uppercut him.
Hey - any advantage he could get. Shigaraki fell to the ground, unconscious, not able to withstand both One for All and the very fabric of the universe working against him. Deku took a deep breath as he looked down on him, and he could sense a few of his classmates gathering around him.
“Is… he’s not dead yet. He can’t be…” Tokoyami muttered behind him. “Everyone heard what he said.” People nodded and muttered their agreements - confirmations, for some, that their gut feeling had been correct.
“Not yet, he isn’t,” Deku said. Before anyone could voice their confusion, he pulled his arm backwards, channeling 100% of One for All, and driving it into Shigaraki’s torso. The impact broke ribs, caving his chest in. “Holy shit - !” someone cried, but Deku barely heard them. He didn’t wipe his hand off before reaching up to check Shigaraki’s pulse.
…Nothing. It worked. He felt the embers of the universe flitter inside his body before leaving entirely - both from Shigaraki and himself. Their fates were over. For the first time, Deku heard nothing from the universe. His future was his.
It was silent for a long moment as everyone processed what had happened - when that moment ended, it was an instant cacophony of noise filling his head. Sheepishly, Deku stood and waved his hands around. “Calm down! Guys, let’s just go home. We need to clean up and figure out how to deal with the rest of the League.” They should be easier to deal with now that Shigaraki was dead, but they’d be hard to find, having already run from the battlefield.
Another pause. “...YOU JUST KILLED A MAN, DEKU.” Ah. There’s Kacchan!
“I - well, someone had to…!” he tried to defend himself. While he’d told Kacchan the secret of One for All, he’d never told him about the magic. Deku didn’t know how he’d react - being told so many of your memories weren’t real. Even now, he was still clambering to keep it hidden. His friends were his, not something the universe gave him. He couldn’t lose them, not now.
As expected, though, Katsuki saw right past his charade. “Don’t be snippy with me. We all heard what he said, Deku! No human could kill him! What the fuck are you, a dog?” he joked. Despite the sarcastic tone and words, Deku could tell that beneath it all, Kacchan was confused and… scared. Scared that this wasn’t truly the end. He looked around, and could see the sentiment copied onto many people’s faces.
He squeezed his hands, feeling the tingle of his nerves lighting up. It almost reminded him of how the universe felt in his soul, and he almost mourned its loss. “I… I promise I’ll explain later, okay? But I promise he’s really dead,” he said, looking around. It was more people than he could handle - being disappointed in him, or worse: scared of him.
Kacchan frowned, but huffed in agreement. “Fine. We can’t delay this any longer. Tsuyu definitely needs a cast, and I think Kirishima broke something - “ Kacchan took charge instantly, taking the attention and burden off of Deku, something he was immensely thankful for. He flopped bonelessly to the ground a few meters away from Shigaraki, taking a breath in.
Without the universe taking so much space in his chest, it felt incredible. A weight had been taken off of him, and he could feel it in so many ways. It was almost like he’d been reborn, and he giggled to himself as he moved all of his fingers and toes, just because. He took another breath. Even with the dust still falling and settling around him, it was like nothing before. It was unburdened and fresh, and it… it was his own, almost.
He felt more than saw Uraraka flop down next to him. “You’re gonna have to explain it to me too, y’know,” she said, gently poking him in his side. “I will,” he chuckled. “I’ll explain it to everyone. I want to make sure there’s no doubts.” He watched as the clean up crew arrived and began clearing debris, and he stared at Shigaraki’s body being carried away. Knowing the past and what could’ve been different made Deku mourn for what could have been, but the universe only unfolds in one way. As it was, Deku did not mourn for Shigaraki Tomura.
There, on a dusty battlefield, battered and bruised, Deku fell asleep.