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Midoriya Izuku wanted to be a hero.
It was his dream, he held it close to his chest all his life. He didn't want to let go of it. It didn't matter how many people, strangers, friends, family told him to let it go, he didn't. He didn't give up and poured every bit of his soul into his treasured dream. It was all he wanted in life. To be a hero. To be able to save everyone with a smile. Everyone deserved to be saved and protected. No one was going to be left behind on his watch.
Deku was a villain.
He was feared, people were afraid of him.
His name spread like wildfire in the shadows, but only in whispers. No one wanted to bring his attention to them by saying his name out too loud. It didn’t matter where they were, Deku had ears everywhere. If he didn’t personally hear it, someone from his connections would report it to him. He always knew when people talked about him and didn’t mind making them pay for their mistakes.
Midoriya Izuku always felt like eyes were following him. His bright red shoes drew unwanted attention to him, making him feel like even if someone didn’t know his name, they knew he was beneath them.
Deku was never seen. He worked in the shadows, not showing himself unnecessarily. Just his name gave him a big enough reputation that people feared that he would appear in front of them if they talked about him loud enough. Everyone knew him and were too scared to badmouth him.
Midoriya Izuku’s hobby, his analysis was creepy. It was stupid and useless. That was what everyone told him. He learned it was better to hide his notebooks, if he didn’t want them getting destroyed. He had to rewrite many of them because they got burned to ashes or got dropped into the water.
Deku’s work, his analysis left even heroes shaking in their boots. They were scared Deku would pick them as his new victim and publish all their weaknesses. Heroes had enemies, villains wanted their downfall. They paid fortunes to him to get a glimpse of his analysis. Many, many heroes were put in graves or - if they were lucky - only in early retirements.
People didn’t need to know Midoriya Izuku’s name to belittle him and make harsh comments to his face.
People didn't need to know how Deku looked to be scared for their lives.
Midoriya Izuku's dream was always lurking around in his mind, never letting him forget his goal, what he wanted to become. He was sure he could become the first quirkless hero.
Deku didn't have dreams, so childish like. He was left alone by society to rot and die. No one paid attention to him, when he was hurt and begging for help. Everyone just walked away, immediately forgetting they ever saw him. Now, they couldn’t just forget about him. They had to stay on watch, Deku could make his appearance any minute.
Midoriya Izuku was a hopeful young boy, who had big dreams that he promised himself to never give up.
Deku has seen the bitter side of life. How dark, how unfair it was. He experienced it firsthand, he walked the same roads so many failed by society before him. He lost pieces of himself along the roads, his hopes and dreams all slowly crumbling away. It changed his views, his looks on everything. The missing pieces didn't hurt as much, when they were covered up and hidden away.
Midoriya Izuku wanted to become a hero. He tried all his life, working hard to achieve his dream, protecting it with all of his power. He didn’t let anyone walk over it and destroy it.
Deku couldn't become a hero. That was obvious. He was a villain, selling analysis to hurt heroes, to make them suffer. Like he had to. He wasn't a good person. He didn't have 'the heart of a hero'. He was trying to survive the dark pits life pushed him into, he didn't have time to save other people. Keeping himself alive was already difficult enough.
Midoriya Izuku died alongside his hope and dream. He held them close to his chest until the last second, fighting with everything he could to not have to let them go but eventually they crumbled beneath his fingers. Without them he couldn’t survive.
Deku didn't have dreams. He was born at the loss of them.