Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A 100 years ago, humanity changed forever. 

It started with the glowing baby, found inside a hospital. Soon, powers started sprouting across humanity, a clear divide between those without and those with superpowers. Eventually, these superpowers were named Quirks, each generation producing more Quirked individuals as time went by. 

As they did, crime and chaos became the norm, and with it the rise of Pro Heroes was born. Heroes were allowed to use their Quirks to fight off the villains of society, protecting us. 

Nowadays, 80% of the population has Quirks, with only 20% remaining Quirkless. 

And I’m one of them. 

They say “All men are not created equal”....

Boy, don’t I know that. 

“Looks like it’s a big one today.” 

That was an understatement. The disturbance in question was a large man, who held a bag of (probably) money. Some type of Quirk? You figured, tilting your head. The criminal- you can’t really say for sure if this guy was a villain or not, since he just seemed to be doing a whole lot of nothing. Besides, it’s hard to get a clue on what the Quirk was when the guy just seemed more preoccupied in yelling. 

As it was, Tatooine Station was blocked. 

Annoying. Now I have to figure another way round . You sigh, trying to get past the crowd below. Most folks were busy watching the criminal, no doubt expecting a Hero to show up. As it was, things were crowded, you had to duck your head to avoid catching a police officer’s gaze. You didn’t really look…well…

You were rather tall for your age, you knew that. Enough for most folks to mistake you for an adult, even in the dark. But anyone looking closer would realise a couple of things. 

One: Your clothes were rather odd. Your trousers were a bit too small length wise, exposing ankles. Your shirt was larger on you than you had expected, leaving it hanging off you. 

Two: Your face was rather dirty, your hair a wild mess. 

Three: It was a weekday, and you weren’t wearing a uniform. 

But as it was, you couldn’t do much about your situation. The best you could do was to move. Always move. 

You barely register as two new Heroes detain the criminal, some guy with a control over wood and a tall lady. You just move. Finally you escape the crowd, heading into an alleyway. 

I was born Quirkless. To many, especially in today’s society, I might as well be dead. 

To many, Quirks are the basis of everything. Some see it as the be all and end all solution to everything. That isn’t helped with how society is obsessive over Heroes. 

One Hero in particular is revered above all others. 

The Symbol of Hope . 

During a time where chaos reigned the streets, one Hero set the standard of what it meant to be a Hero. 

Jade Rabbit . 

A man who rose to the top of the charts, saving people! He made people feel safe, and ignited a fire to have better Hero standards for others, he changed how the industry worked. 

I…I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be a Hero. 

The idea of a Quirkless kid like me being a Hero seemed so far out of reach-! 

“Fucking run!” Someone yelled, fire and debris everywhere. You can hear the sounds of the buildings nearby crumbling, and oh god oh god, you weren’t fast enough. You look down at the little boy that was below you, his face streaked with dirt. He was unconscious and you would never regret finding him, not with how he looked at him like he was a real Hero. You can’t outrun the destruction. Debris falls in front of you, blocking your way. But not his. So you peek through the hall, seeing those familiar eyes look so terrified and unsure for the first time. 

“Take him!”

You jerk, blinking as you find yourself somewhere new. Fuck it happened again. You sigh, running a hand over your face. For a while, you have been experiencing these…”blimps”. The “blimps” made it so that your mind shut down, doing things on autopilot as time moved forward, while you got lost in your head- trying to hold onto memories that always slip away. It likely had something to do with your head injury that you had gotten almost a year ago. 

It sucked, as well as all the other events surrounding said shit that lead to you being homeless and…well…unsure how to achieve anything. As it was, right now you were hungry and needed to find food. You look around the area you were in. Seems like you were in some school area. You hear the bell ring and hide in an alleyway. 

Why did my brain bring me here? You questioned. 

Students filtered out, laughter and sounds escaping the dull building. The school in of itself looked rundown, and looked more fitting of a prison than a school. You get why these students seemed happy to escape. You wait for the groups of students to go by, hiding behind a large trash bin- you would definitely be noticed if you were to mingle with them. No need for anyone to know about you, no siree. 

You are just about to move but you hear a voice call out. 

“Hey Bakugou!”

You freeze. That name…Why is it?  

You peek out to see a boy close to your hiding spot. 

He had light blonde hair, the hair spiky and a mess. It kind…It kind of reminded you of a dandelion. He had red eyes that stood out across his pale face. He wore the typical middle school gakuran, his gaze seemed distant. He…He seems…upset.  

Maybe it wouldn’t be obvious to a lot of people, but some part of you seemed familiar with him. It's likely I did know him. From Before . 

There were eyebags under his eyes, subtle, but seeable all the same. He slouched like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. He barely seemed to register what was going on as his classmates- a part of him doubts there are his friends what with the way nobody comments on his emotional state- but what he does, he barks and snarls at. Explosions ring from his hands, warning blasts. You flinch, a chorus of pain echoing through you. I don’t want to know. You tell the memories threatening to drown you in another Blimp. 

Instead you sneak off, leaving the dandelion boy behind. 

Your stomach growled. You moan lightly, holding your stomach. You’ve been trying to figure out what to do about your food situation. You disliked stealing money from others, and as a pickpocket- you weren’t the greatest anyway. Stealing from stores was both easier and harder. 

Easier cause there were plenty of large store chains you could steal from. Harder because you run the risk of getting caught. If not from cameras, then a potential Hero on patrol. So…You had to get creative. 

I feel like this is supposed to be a low. You absentmindedly commented in your own mind, waiting for a chance. You were camping behind the back of a small chain store. The place sold baked goods, and more often than not, people bought things. And anything not bought was thrown away. So here you were, waiting for a chance to grab some of the stale and out of date goods. And luck was on your side, a woman who looked quite dead inside was dumping crap into the large bins. Once she was gone, you grabbed them, finding some salvageable ones. 

You heard a deep laugh ring through the alleyway, as you catch a glimpse of some…green slime thing running through the streets. It’s easy to spot the tons of money the blob has stashed away. Your expression darkened. 

Thankfully it doesn’t take long for someone to chase after the slime guy. 

You don’t stick around long for you to hear the whispers about the Hero. 

So good! You hum as you eat some donuts. They were a little stale, and you did fish them out of the trash, but you were happy with them. You were currently camping out under an overpass, hiding out in the tunnel. The sun shone, the heat intense as you hid in the shade. You eat the donuts, savouring the food. You scratch your cheek, your nose wrinkling at the uncomfortable feeling of dirt. Trying to find a place to wash off the grime and dirt of the streets was hard, public restrooms only did so much. And getting clothes was hard, but you managed to sneak clothes off clotheslines. Odd and old things, but things you didn’t think would be missed. 

You sigh, running a hand over your face.
How long can I keep going like this?  

You weren’t planning for anything. You didn’t have a way to go. You barely remembered anything about your past, only getting the sense that it was best to stay away. HIDE, HIDE AWAY AND DON'T GET CAUGHT.

You hiss, rubbing your head. It hurts…  

Unfortunately, you are no longer alone. 

Laughter fills the tunnel, causing you to stand up in slight panic as something slimy pops out of the sewers. It was the villain from before! It was…some guy, had to be, and you didn’t typically judge people on their Quirks…But fuck. The slime was terrifyingly large, looking like a monstrous wave of green. Its large eyes lock in on you. 

It grinned 

“You’ll make a perfect skin suit for me to hide in, kid!” It said, laughing as it got closer. You tried to run, running into the sunlight. You trip, trying to get up as you look at your leg, finding that green slime wrapped around your ankle. Whimpers escape you. You try to move, your fingers digging into the gravel of the path. But it drags you back, your fingers trying to find any purchase, rocks and stones making drops of red decorated the streets. 

The Slime laughs as it absorbs you into your body. 

“Don’t worry! I’m just taking over your body.” Its eyes watch as you struggle, kicking as you try to get it out of you, holding your breath. “It will be easier for the both of us if you don’t fight back. It will only hurt for a minute. You’ll feel better soon~!” 

You try to grab at the slime, but as you expect it just slips from your fingers. 

Can’t breathe! You panic, the feeling of it all, being trapped and unable to move- unable to breathe- it was all too familiar.

“Grab all you want! My body is made of fluid! Thanks for the help.” The Slime says darkly. “You’re a real Hero to me kid.” 

The rest of the Slime’s words were lost on you as your vision blurred, as you tried to stop yourself from opening your mouth. But panic was drowning you. And the slime was getting in, causing you to choke. Your blue eyes fade in and out of focus. 

One blink. 

You were dying in a tunnel, choking on wretched slime. 

The next. 

You were pinned, trapped in a burning building, choking on wretched smoke.  

The next. 

You were alone, no one coming to save you from this. 

The…next…

You were alone, hearing distant screams and knew no one was coming to save you, so you have to save yourself.  

The..

Your struggling limbs were growing slack, you were going to die alone. 

Next…

You were going to die alone, your vision blurring.  

Your eyes began to close, air going. 

You hid under a table, ready for it to end.  

But nobody came.

And yet…this time, someone did. 

All you got before your eyes closed was the sight of a figure bursting out from the sewers. They wore a mask, and had a visor. They looked familiar. 

You hear the voice yell, before you see green lighting zip by, the Slime being blown away. Your eyes close before you hit the ground.

You felt a tapping on your cheek, awareness slowly trickling in. You opened your eyes, seeing the blue skies above you. You groaned, slowly sitting up. 

“Oh good! Thought you were…Never mind! Are you okay? ” A distorted voice said. “ Don’t worry, you’re safe now. I am here.” 

You glance over to your left, only to be stunned by what you see. 

Bright green eyes glow in the dark of his mask. He had a metal guard around his face, a smile painted on it. Green fabric covered his face, two “ears” sticking out of the fabric, metallic green. 

“Y..You’re…” You stutter, your eyes wide. 

He tilts his head. “Yep! It is me, Jade Rabbit, in the flesh!” 

He laughs. “Glad to see you recognised me.” 

“How could I not? You’re the Top Pro Hero!” 

Even you knew that, and you wandered the streets! 

He chuckles, dusting himself off. 

“Well, from what I can see, you’re okay. I’m sorry I didn’t stop this villain sooner. ” He says, he picked up two bottles, his gaze cold as he regards the slime fucker. “ Rest assured he’s not going to hurt you.” 

You regard the bottles. 

“I…Thanks…” You coughed, the taste of what you experienced still lingering in your mouth. 

“You should go home, kid. ” The Pro Hero suggests. “ If you are still feeling sick, go to the doctor’s.” 

Wait…Crap he’s leaving!? You realised. You stood up. 

“Wait…” 

“I wish I could stick around for an autograph kid, but I’m a busy man.” 

No..Wait!  

You cough, seeing him crouch down- black tendrils already grabbing some of the nearby buildings, ready to leave. 

Shit. Wait, there’s something I need to tell you!  

You will forever blame your desperation for what happens next. 

“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING!” The Hero shouts, swinging through the city. You are predictably screaming, holding his left leg in a panicked grip. You are somehow batting away the black tendrils attempting to grab you. 

“Sorry!” You cry out. “I just need to talk to you!” 

“Normally I’m more than willing to talk, but not right now!” 

“If you drop me, I’ll die!” 

“Not if I drop you onto the rooftops by using Blackwhip!” 

“Please!” You plead, knowing this needed to be said. “I have information I can’t trust with anyone else! I need to tell you what happened!” 

He pauses, floating in midair. 

The sudden stop of momentum is enough to cause you to lose your grip, a yelp escaping you as Blackwhip grabs you by the foot. It lifts you to eye level, your vision upside down. 

“Can’t…Or won’t?” He questions. 

“Both.” You tell him the truth. “Cause I think you’re the only one who would do anything with this information.” 

The Pro has them land on a rooftop, a metal railing being the only thing to decorate the space. There is distance between the two of them. 

Fine with me. You think, as you see the Pro tap his foot. He really is like a rabbit. You mused. 

“What’s so important you decided to pull that stunt?” He questions, his tone tense, his posture guarded. 

“I…” 

Come on…Just say it!  

“I should preface this with saying I’m Quirkless.” 

There…Like a bandage. Just…ripping it off. 

“You.. ” He seems stunned, his metal ears pausing in their twitching as he focuses on you. “ You are?” 

“Yes.” You nod, standing as tall as you could. “And I know this will sound crazy, but me being Quirkless is important.”

He looks at you, his gaze unreadable. Then he nods. 

You swallow. 

“Remember the big disaster about a year ago?” 

He nods. 

“Yes. Truly tragic how much destruction that villain, Crusher, was able to do. Destroyed an entire sector with his Quirk. Lots of lives lost. ” His shoulders droop as he gazes at the streets below. “ I was…unable to help at the time, busy with another mission. By the time I got there, all I could do was focus my efforts on rescue work.” 

You nod, pushing through those memories. 

“I was there ... .And I was found by a Hero…Are…Are you familiar with the name, Slidin’ go?”

He nods. 

“Yes…He’s currently in the top 40 on the charts. Impressive for a small-time Hero. ” His green eyes bore into you, narrowing. “ What does he have to do with this?” 

 “When..” Your voice shakes, the old wound in your head aching. “I was…I was one of the few that was rescued…I had been in one of the buildings…I can’t remember which one…” Your hand rubs at the ache. “I was stuck in the rubble. And he was there, using his Quirk to move things out of the way. I…I called out to him, and he was coming to save me…He said so…He-he started to talk to me, you know to calm me down, make sure I was still awake….” Your gaze lowers to the ground, your vision blurring. “I should have known better than to answer it…He asked about my Quirk….I told him the truth.” 

“Kid…” 

You shake your head, stepping back from him, not even aware of how close he got. 

“He called me…He called me..Pathetic. Said it was a shame I wasn’t useful. Then he…He…” You raise your left hand making a L sign on your forehead. He should know what that means. He has to. “He said, “For Destro, I give this pitiful Soul to you”...” 

Those words…It wasn’t uncommon for the words to be said a few generations ago. A platitude from the Meta Liberation Army…The way the words were said…It reminded you of a cult. 

“He…took me from the rubble, and…and took me to the nearby river.” It was hard to get the words out. “He used his sliding Quirk to force me into the river. Along the way…Some other Heroes saw me. But..they didn’t do anything. They only covered for him…” 

“Shit. ” The word was said in English but you still understood it. He switched back to Japanese. “ Do you remember what the other Heroes looked like?” 

You shook your head. “You…believe me?” 

“Kid…You’re crying. Why wouldn’t I believe you?” 

You jolt, your hand raising to your cheek. Water lined your cheeks, mixing with the dirt on them. It stains your fingers. 

“Huh…” 

You hadn’t even noticed. You quickly wipe away your tears, not wanting to deal with this yet. 

“I know it’s insane, but I know what I saw, what I experienced.” You say, looking back up at the Hero. 

The Hero looked at you, nodding as he studied you. He tried to reach out to you, before you heard a large CRACK erupt the silence. 

“Shit!” He cried out, his hand going limp. Understandably you scream.

“Holy fuck are you okay!?” You say, approaching him as you gently grab his limp arm, ignoring his protests. You pause. 

His arm was cold. 

“A…prosthetic?” You murmur, looking at him. He stared at you, before sighing. He took off his mask, leaving his face uncovered. 

It….It was quite the plain face. He had dark green hair that was in a mess of curls and waves. He had quite the youthful looking face, a rounder face that had freckles lining his cheeks. But it was the small things that gave away his age. Such as the wrinkles that dotted his eyes. His eyes were a dark green, the colour dim as his shoulders slump. He had a scar on his cheek. 

“AAHH!” You scream, averting your eyes. I shouldn’t be seeing this .
“Sorry, so sorry! I know how important your identity is to you and all, I promise I won’t say anything to anyone!” You jump away from the Pro Hero, waving your hands about. 

“Kid!” It was strange to hear his real voice, but it sounded nice. “It’s okay!” 

You pause. You look at him with wide blue eyes. 

“It is?” 

“Yes….” He coughs, wincing in pain. You notice how it takes him a moment to catch his breath. He…He’s hurt.  

“Are…Are you okay?” 

He pauses, his eyes widening for a moment. But he smiles.
“Yeah…I’m fine.” 

You glance at his arm, the prosthetic catching your eye. 

“Ah…This? It’s old. An old injury.” He waves his free hand. “My…My other hand is gone as well. But I got some pretty good replacements. They just break down like this sometimes. Must be the slime from the villain.” 

“And the coughing…?” 

He…was very expressive without the mask, his face scrunching up in pain before smiling. It wasn’t a very convincing smile. “Been around for a while. Got it about…6 years ago along with the arms. Villain wanted to slow me down.” 

And he still does Hero work with those wounds. It was a somber thought. 

“And you still keep going?” 

He smiles, this time a bit more tired. “I don’t want to let people down.” He gestures with his working hand. “All of this, pushing people, pushing Heroes to be their best, to keep people safe…I do it all so that nobody has to suffer through the chaos I lived through. So that people can feel as if things can be better. It’s a fragile kind of peace…” He sighs, his voice almost bitter, but also soft. “I have to bring my A game constantly, to show that change is possible, to use what I have been given to the best of my ability. Even with my…disabilities, I can’t really afford to stop.” 

You frown. Is this the reason why he hasn’t been seen more? Are the injuries he gained that bad? I mean…He lost his hands…No..Arms…And whatever is affecting him…It’s doing its job well, he looks tired .  

“Why tell me this? Why tell me any of this?” You question. 

He looks at you sadly. 

“Well…It was very brave of you to tell me what you went through.” He states. “I just wanted to show you that I was taking this seriously as well.” 

The sincerity in his tone, his eyes, is enough to throw you. You don’t remember much, but you got the feeling that nobody ever took you seriously before. You look away from him, your hand twisting your bangs nervously as you hide your face. 

“Thanks.” 

He nods, groaning as he moves. You hear bones pop as he adjusts from where he was leaning against the railing. 

“I need to go put this villain away. Try to stay out of trouble.” 

“One…One more thing.” You say, surprising yourself. He pauses by the door, not turning to face you. 

“Do ... .Do you think a Quirkless person like me can make a difference?” You ask, swallowing. “Do you think I would ever have the chance to be a Hero like you?” 

He doesn’t face you as he answers. His tone was…distant. 

“No…Not because I think you’re not capable. But Heroes die young. Especially ones like you.” 

You frown at his words as he leaves. 

What on earth does he mean by that?  

It plagued you, his words. Not that he was wrong. Even despite the better standards, even despite the better training Heroes go through. Even despite the Jade Rabbit being the top Pro Hero, someone who inspired Hope for better for so many…

Heroes die young anyway. It’s a fact of life. 

And Heroes die young, even with powers…So what chance did you have? 

But still, you couldn’t help this flame in you that was pushing you forwards. This desire to help people. So even when you left the rooftop, you still wandered through the city, thinking about his words. Besides, you could see that while Hero society had improved in many ways, there was still corruption to be dealt with. And it wasn’t just the Meta Liberation Army to worry about. I really should have told him more. I really had to cry like a fucking baby. You sigh, rubbing a hand over your face. Fucking moron.  

BOOM! 

You jolt, hearing the sound of explosions ring out. Your hands shake. Please not again…  

Your breath is quick as you run, finding the source. 

The scene made your stomach drop. 

It was chaos, the alleyway engulfed in flames as explosions rang out from a panicked boy. The wave of green slime surrounded the boy, entrapping him like he did you. Fires were everywhere. You could see the newer Hero, the wood guy collecting people from the flames, you see a guy with a water Quirk holding back the panicked masses. You hear a Hero with large arms bark out words, though you could hardly register what the words are. But you could barely see the boy trapped in the sludge. 

Ashy blonde hair, in a spiky mess…

A middle school outfit…

Explosions erupting from the palms…

It’s the same boy from before! You realise. Crap! When I hitched a ride, I must have knocked the bottles loose. Fuck! This is my fault!  

You look through the crowds, seeing the pale faced Jade Rabbit, looking like he wants to interfere but can't.
Fuck! He must be spent! That poison! It must sap him of his stamina. He can’t rush in. I did this! Your hands shake as you watch. 

Why don’t they have the water guy put out the fires rather than hold back the watchers? Why aren’t they saving him?  

Your chest heaves, the taste of the sludge staining your mouth. 

He’s not going to last long. 

That thought made your heart stop. 

You had almost died when Jade Rabbit had rescued you. And oddly enough you were fine with death. You had stared it in the face enough to not be scared of it any longer. But this…

THIS CANNOT STAND.  

Seeing panicked red eyes was enough to get you moving. 

Your feet moved before you could plan. 

But you have always been good at thinking on the fly. His body was made of sludge, and you remembered how you couldn’t touch the body, slipping through your fingers. You ignore the sounds of the Heroes trying to stop you, running into the flames. So if I can’t touch his body, what can I touch?

Some parts of his body had to be physical. Like his teeth…Or his very vulnerable eyes. 

“Hey ugly!” You yell, waving your arms. “Remember me!?” 

Those beady eyes lock onto you. 

“Yeah! You’re the brat I tried to possess earlier!” He laughs, the dandelion boy looking at you like a ghost, his vision hazy. “Trying to play Hero now? How cute! Too bad I got a better body to possess!” 

You frown, glancing around, before picking up a rock. You throw it in his eye. He cries out in pain, pain causing him to loosen his grip just enough for the dandelion boy to breathe. 

“Sorry!” You tell the boy, using his body to boost yourself up to the eyes. “Not sorry for this though!” You grin, sticking your hand into the sludge, close to his eyes. “Let him go!” You roar, yanking on the cord you find in the sludge. The villain cries out in pain, as you yank, and yank. 

“To…” You hear the dandelion boy say below you. But you ignore it. 

“Let him go!” You roar again, feeling your body sink. You hear something pop. 

Then you hear it. 

“Release him!” 

Those words were enough to raise your spirits. You look to see the Jade Rabbit in all his glory. Sure, like before, he wasn’t wearing his full costume- it was just his mask, his mouth guard and those metallic ears of his, but just hearing those words- knowing someone was here, was enough to make you smile as you let go. 

It was a wise move. 

“Full Cowling, Smash!” 

The wind pressure alone from the kick was enough to scatter the villain into pieces. But rain starts falling. You hear people make comments. And you also see the useless Heroes start to move. Gotta go.  

You don’t notice the panicked expression of the dandelion boy, shoving away the people who want to question him, and congratulate him. A first for the boy. 

What is this guy’s deal? You think as you run through the suburban streets. Normally you don’t go through here, but right now you were trying to avoid the likes of one exploding boy. 

“Get back here!” He yelled, his voice rough and aggressive. 

Fuck no! You inwardly scream back. 

You manage to hide behind a wall, covering your mouth as you hear explosion boy stop. 

“Fuck! Damnit!” He yells, explosions ringing from his palms in tiny sparks. “Where did he go?” 

You hide, your head hurting as you listen to him. 

“Toshinori!” He cries out. “Damnit nerd! Come out and face me!” 

You freeze. Toshinori?  

“I know I fucked up, I know that! But you can’t keep making Auntie sad! Your family…!” You hear the boy choke on something. 

He should really go to the hospital. He was trapped longer than me…I think. You note distantly. Must be why he saw a dead boy. After all, Toshinori Yagi is dead.  

Eventually you hear him walk off, muttering something to himself that you couldn’t hear. 

You sigh, poking your head out to check he was gone. 

“So what are we doing here?” 

You scream, trying to punch the voice. Your fist was stopped by a metallic hand. 

“Sorry! ” Jade Rabbit apologies. His eyes hold a slight spark to them, less dull than they were before. “ I just noticed you were hiding from that boy. Why? ” His tone was slightly more serious as he asked. “ Is he some kind of bully of yours?” 

You look at him for a moment. Was he?  

You remembered the pain you felt earlier, the way his explosions make your body flinch, as if struck. But at the same time…

“No…Just…Someone I didn’t want to talk to.” 

It was the closest to the truth you can give. 

His eyes bore into yours. But he doesn’t push further. 

“What are you doing here?” You ask him. 

He laughs, rubbing the back of his neck. “It took me a moment to break away from the press, but I am here, to talk to you!” He suddenly coughs, deep heaving coughs that leave you to yelp in panic. He waves it off, taking off his mask, those metallic ears disappearing into…his hair? His face guard disappears into his hair, hiding in the curls on the back of his neck. Your eyes widen at the display of tech, as he puts his mask in his pocket. Seeing him like this, and without your desperation blocking things out, you note he was wearing one of those joke shirts. The one that simply said “Shirt”. 

“Why…?” 

He smiles slightly. “Because…I wanted to apologise."  

“Huh?” You were confused. “W-what for?” 

“For my words earlier. I…I shouldn’t have shut you down like that. It seems that at my age, I let myself…grow bitter I guess.” He looks down at his unbroken hand. “I told you Heroes die young yes, and it is true. But I completely forgot that being a Hero means you meddle anyway!” His green eyes are bright as he looks at you. “The best kind of Heroes are the ones who don’t let fear stop them from doing the right thing! I could tell your feet moved before you thought! You went out there, and bought that boy time! You did more than any Pro Hero did!” He places his hand on his chest. “Including myself!” 

He smiles wide. 

“Ever since I got my injuries, lost my arms, the stamina I used to wield…I had to take on less work, to preserve what time I had left. To preserve the illusion. I have had to walk away from many situations, feeling useless that I couldn’t do more.” He points to you. “But you have helped me push through my limits with your stunt! You rushed out there, regardless of the consequences, and that in turn helped remind me why I do all of this in the place…” He chuckles nervously. “Even if you were a bit…ruthless with your tactics.” He shakes his head. “Not the point. The point is that you asked me if a Quirkless person could become a Hero.” 

The sunset made his dark green hair light up, the wind blowing around you, your bangs lifting up slightly in the wind. 

“ You can become a Hero! ” 

You can feel your breath leave as you stare at the Hero in awe. 

He grins as he speaks. 

“I want you to inherit my Quirk, young man!”

Wait what?

Chapter Text

Wait what?  

Silence filled the quiet suburban street, as you stared up at the Pro Hero. 

Did he just say what I think he said?  

The Pro Hero shuffles on his feet, his grin growing a little tight. His arms lower, his hands repeatedly going from fists to open palms. 

“Uh…Kid?” He says, tilting his head. 

You jolt, standing up quickly as you shout. “Repeat that!” 

“...Uh…You can become a Hero?” He says, his eyes nervously flitting to the side. 

“No! The other thing! The Quirk thing!” You said, your eye twitching slightly. 

The Pro Hero gasps, before sheepishly chuckling. 

“Oh..Right…Yeah, I can pass my Quirk onto you…” He then adds, waving his non broken hand. “Only if you want it though!”

You blink, staring at him. 

“What do you mean you can do that?....” You have never heard of this being a thing. And sure, Quirks in general are strange things, but you think something like this would be more well known. 

He rubs the back of his neck. “I mean…Exactly that? I can give you my Quirk.” 

“Bullshit.” 

“Language!” He coughs out. 

“Bullshit, Quirks can’t just be…Given!” You protest, still trying to wrap your head around it. 

The green haired man grins. 

“Mine can.” He holds out a hand as he explains. “My power is a sacred torch that was passed onto me! A legacy that is bound in heroism! Each User has placed everything into this Quirk, strengthening it throughout the years!” He tilts his head. “And I would like the chance to give it to you!” 

You blink, stumbling back slightly. This was…So much. Almost too much. 

You could feel your vision blur, your hands shaking. 

Wait, no, no no! You inwardly panic. I can’t blimp out now! I haven’t given him my answer yet! I need to know more!  

But since were you ever given a choice in these things? 

Izuku…might have messed up a bit. 

In choice regarding a successor? 

No. 

This kid is the one. 

He can feel how One For All pulls and pushes in him, how it seems to hum in his body with the kid. 

He might have messed up the timing in dumping all of this information. He winces, glancing around the empty street. He feels the faint reprimand from the Second about just casually revealing the secret of One For All to a random kid. But he also knows the Second is literally outvoted by everyone, including the very essence of the Quirk itself. Only Third would back him up. 

But even so, Danger Sense would have warned him about any dangers if people were watching. It especially helped since most of the public did not know about the Quirk. They simply believed he had heightened senses. 

He sighs, quietly approaching the kid. He takes in the details he missed last time. He notes that the kid’s wild hair is covered in brown dirt, but Izuku can spot the golden locks trying to shine beneath it. He notes the odd assortment of clothes. He even spots how the green shirt, while most importantly is too large for the boy, it was also one of the more discreet merch items he had. He knows, because he remembers signing off the design. 

“Kid?” 

I really need to find out this kid’s name. He notes. He glances at the boy again when he gets no response. And get him somewhere safe.  

It’s clear the boy isn’t in a safe place. While Izuku isn’t sure about everything, he can say for certain that this boy is experiencing extreme neglect. Is…he even living with anyone? Izuku frowns. 

He keeps the thought in his mind. 

“Okay…Kid…Can you hear me?” He asks again, watching those blue eyes stare out into space. “Okay…Nope.” He hums. “That’s okay. How about…we get you somewhere safe?” 

And really, there is only one place he can think of taking the kid to. Sure, there are procedures and protocols to think about, but with the new knowledge that the MLA has infiltrated the ranks of Heroes, even under the control of the HSPC. To hear that a Hero left a kid to die, no…not only that but attempt to kill a child…All for a lack of a Quirk. 

It disgusts him.  

He wants to hunt down each of those traitorous bastards and make them hurt, because how many have they left to die, or killed and nobody noticed !? It’s a morbid question with no good answers. 

But he can’t think of that right now. 

Right now, he has a kid to attend to. 

Thankfully, the apartment he has in Mustufar isn’t too far away, so it’s simple to take the kid by the one functioning hand and simply lead him through the quiet streets. The sun is starting to set, the gold light slowly dying away. And to fill the silence, he talks. From everything to Quirks, to Heroes he’s met, to just simply commenting on things. He’s always been scorned for his mumbling, but he can’t help that sometimes his mind works faster than his mouth could talk at times. 

He hardly notices when blue eyes focus back on him again. 

Eventually, Izuku leads the two to a small apartment complex. It’s pretty similar to the one he once lived in with his Mother. He hums absentmindedly, briefly letting go of the kid’s hand as he fishes for his keys. 

“Do…The other residents know…?” A quiet mumble is spoken. It’s only due to Hero and Media training that prevents Izuku from making a screech. He glances back at the kid, the blue eyes now aware- taking note of the hallways and noting entrances. The kid looked out of place, dirt and grime clinging to his form, staining the clean hallway. It makes Izuku’s heart ache. 

“No…” He answers back quietly. “To them I’m just..Midoriya.” 

He shrugs as he opens the door. He pushes aside the whispers he can hear in his ear. He needs to focus. His apartment was fair sized. He had his bedroom, an office space, and an extra bedroom for any guests. The living room had a large brown sofa, with some quilts his Mother tended to knit when the urge struck her. He was helpless to refuse her. The kitchen space was decent, the counter space enough for the baking he tends to get into a habit of. 

“Why…?” He hears the kid say. He shuts the door. 

“Why what?” 

“Why…trust me like this? You shared your identity, your name and home with me?” The kid looks at Izuku, his blue eyes wide and scanning his face. He smiles. 

“Because I wanted to.” He shuts the door, locking the space. The apartment complex, while small, had great security so he wasn’t worried. “Because…Like I said, you’ve reminded me of why I wanted to become a Hero. To help people, to protect their smiles.” He faces the kid. “You were very brave out there today. I can respect that.” He lets his tone drop slightly. “But something tells me ... .You've been on your own for a while…And well…I believe that the essence of being a Hero is to meddle in affairs, when you don’t have to.” 

The kid swallows, looking away. Izuku politely lets the kid have a moment, his mind ticking on what’s needed. He slips into his room, quickly rifling through his closest for clothes that could fit the kid. Or at the very least were clean. The kid was clearly taller than he was as a kid, but as an adult he was at least 5’10 feet. 

He grabs a pair of shorts and an old t-shirt, a rather humorous one that said suit, with a fake suit look to it. 

“Here.” he says, passing the clothes over. He points to the bathroom. “Go take a shower. Take however long you need.” 

Blue eyes pierce at him, trying to sense a lie, but he held steadfast. Eventually the kid heads in. 

Once Izuku can hear the shower turn on, he quickly pulls out his phone. 

Come on, pick up! Pick up! He taps his foot against the floor, moving into the kitchen. He hears the phone ring, then a cheerful voice rings out. 

“Ah! My favourite jeweled rabbit! To what do I owe this pleasure of you calling me? Have you finally accepted my proposal for you to teach?” 

Izuku swallowed. I forgot about that. He shakes his head. 

“Not…quite. I um, need your advice. Is this secure?” He questions, knowing it was a bit obvious, but his mind was racing as he paced the kitchen. He can’t be bothered with trying to be discreet right now. 

“It is now.” Nedzu’s voice dropped slightly, confused but trusting. “What is it?” 

“Okay, so…Today I found a kid.” 

“A new successor? If I recall, didn’t Sir Nighteye recommend someone to you? We talked about Mirio in our talk a few weeks back.” Nedzu hummed out. 

“Not the point.” He states. Forgot about that too. He winces. He’s going to kill me for this. “This kid…Did you watch the news at any point?” 

“Yes! Masterful takedown of that horrid Sludge Villain. I always hate Villains that attempt to take the youth away from us.” Nedzu noted. “You did well in saving the hostage. Barely took you a second. But you wouldn’t contact me for that. May I take a guess and say it has something to do with the other kid? If I recall, no one could find them after they helped the poor victim.” 

“I met them…He…” He groans, almost wanting to run a hand through his hair, but can’t because his arm is busted. Again. “He was the first attempt the Villain made at getting a host.” He knows Nedzu is listening carefully as he hums. “I saved him. And then he told me something. He told me he was involved in that incident…The Crusher attack.” 

“Yes…What a tragedy that was.” 

Izuku winces, his heart stuttering. His hand grips the phone tightly. 

“Yeah…Apparently the Commission isn’t the only thing we have to look out for. The kid mentioned how…Slidin’ go had…tried to kill them. All for being Quirkless, and revealed he was a member of the MLA.” 

A pause occurred, the only sounds filling the silence was the sound of the shower still going. 

“That is…worrying.” Nedzu replied. “What was this child’s name?” 

“Haven’t gotten one. But…The kid seemed to have been living on the streets for a while. Blonde hair, like gold blonde hair, blue eyes…And Quirkless.” 

Izuku can hear the sound of clacking keys as Nedzu hums. 

“Toshinori Yagi…Died age 13. Killed in the heroic rescue of a 4 year old boy. A building apparently crushed him.” 

“Yagi?” Izuku racked his brain. “As in Hayami Yagi, Quirkless activist and main vocalist of her band, Striking Gold?” 

“Familar with her are we?~” Nedzu grinned. Izuku couldn’t see but he could hear it. He groaned. 

“Yeah…” He mumbled, a bit embarrassed by the outburst. “She’s pretty good. As both singer and activist. I respect her work….” He frowns. “Who made the obituary?” 

“HSPC. Said the body was found by our MLA sympathiser.” 

“Shit.” He curses in English, even though he knew Nedzu likely knew. He switches back to Japanese. “We…The kid will be staying with me for…” He pauses. “For the foreseeable future.” 

“And my offer?” Nedzu pressed. 

He considers, hearing the shower finally turn off. 

“Depends on what the kid wants.” Which was both an answer and an admission. “Got to go. Will update you later.”  

The bathroom door opens, steam disappearing into the air. Toshinori Yagi steps out, gold hair fully exposed as he brushes it with a towel, before returning the towel back onto its hook. 

“Were you just waiting for me?” The kid asked. 

Being clean now, Izuku could clearly see the tanned skin that the kid had. The bright blue eyes, that were slightly shadowed. The wild gold hair that framed his face. The ill fitting clothes somehow made the boy look both older and smaller. 

“Yeah…I figured I should wait before ordering takeout.” He says, smiling. As soon as he said, he realised -yeah- he didn’t want to deal with the pain of fixing both his arm and cooking. 

As he grabs his phone again, humming slightly. 

“So…what do you want to eat?” 

The kid shuffles on his feet, looking a little unsure. But his stomach seems to make the choice for him. 

“Katsudon…If you please…” 

Izuku chuckles. Blue eyes stare at him, intense in gaze. 

“It’s funny. Katsudon is actually my favourite.” He smiles. The poor kid didn’t seem sure what to do. 

Once the food arrives and with a fixed arm, Izuku feels bold enough to prod a little. 

“So…” He says, his chopsticks in hand as he watches the kid eat. The way he holds the bowl close, as if expecting someone to steal it from him is enough to make Izuku’s heart ache. But still, he needs to know. 

“I told you my name…But I realise I don’t know yours.” 

The kid tenses, blue eyes pinning him down. It’s like the air was charged with static. 

“I…” That seems to be all the kid can say. 

“I took a look at the news reports on the incident you told me about.” He slides his phone over, showing the familiar blonde hair and blue eyes at the kid. “Is this someone familiar?” He questions. 

“Toshinori Yagi…” The kid replies, gazing at the photo with no recognition in his eyes. 

Oh boy. Izuku can barely hide his wince. “You know…You look pretty similar to him.” 

“ I am not him. ” Toshinori says. 

Izuku flinches, his Quirk rising to the surface before he forces it back down. Shit. He frowns, looking at the kid. That tone, it was filled with a painful mix of denial and sincerity. He really thinks he isn’t…  

When the food was being ordered, it occurred to Izuku that the explosion boy had called out the name “Toshinori”. And yet the golden haired boy sitting beside him doesn’t acknowledge that name. Refuses to on an instinctive level. Guess that answers the questions on why he didn’t go back home…More than just that.  

“Okay…Okay..” He says, placing his food down. “I believe you.” 

“You…You do?” Toshinori looks surprised. 

“Yeah…I do.” He says, hating the lie. But was it really one when there seemed to be a fundamental difference between the kid on his phone screen and the kid sitting in front of him? 

“Oh…” Toshinori turns back to his food, eating it slowly. 

“Okay…So…You don’t have a name?” 

“Can’t remember it.” Was the quiet admittance. 

“Okay..How about…” Izuku rakes his brain for a moment. “Hibiki? It means echo?” 

Cause I’m looking at an echo of who you should be right now…But I hope I change that. He doesn’t say. 

Toshinori seems to consider it. He then nods. 

“I like it.” He pauses before putting down his bowl. His back straightens as he looks Izuku in the eyes, blue eyes bright and blazing. “And I thought about your offer…I want to try! I want to be worthy of your Quirk!” 

Izuku grins at that. 

It’s a step forward.  

“Alright then!” He smiles wide, his green eyes glowing as the Quirk ignites within him, a feeling of excitement buzzing in the air. “I promise I will help you become the best Hero you can be!” 

Toshinori grins. 

“I look forward to it…Teacher.”

Chapter Text

“I don’t see why we’re doing this.” You state, your eyes scanning the crowd as you move around the mall. Your shoulders are tense as you fiddle with the cap that he gave you. It hides your hair well, you were thankfully able to remember how to stuff the hair into the cap in a way that mainly covers your hair. Only your two bangs were out, but you simply tucked them away in the hoodie you wore. 

The clothes were rather tight, ill-fitting. But it was manageable. You didn’t see why your Teacher had to make such a big fuss over it. Wasn’t there more important things to worry about, say training to inherit his Quirk?

“Well, since you don’t really have…anywhere else to go, I figured doing some clothes shopping would help us in the long run.” Your teacher seemed rather casual as he walked through the street, his emerald eyes being the only thing giving away his vigilance. Suppose it comes with having a secret identity. You figured. 

“It…really isn’t needed…” You mumble. You can learn how to make do. It was no issue.

“Please, it’s no problem for me.” He smiles, slipping into a clothes store. “Besides, I would be a terrible teacher if I couldn’t provide for my student…”

You look at him, noting the way his green eyes scanned the items in the store, muttering about sizes and materials, something of that nature. It washed over you, sinking in that you seem to have finally found someone who cared. It was enough to get you to softly smile, looking through the items yourself. 

“Are you sure it’s not…going to be expensive?” You quietly ask. 

He pauses his muttering. He snorts. “Nah. I got plenty of money, even when I give most of it away to charities.” 

That was what sealed it for you. 

As you tried out a series of clothes, he asked you something. 

“So…What Hero school are you thinking of applying to?” 

You try on a hoodie, briefly looking in the mirror, it was a simple baggy, grey one, but it worked. 

“I um…” You stutter slightly. “I was actually thinking of applying to U.A - it’s the closest one here…And um…” You feel a faint dusting of pink flush your cheeks. “And you went there…” You mumble. 

You don’t see how your mentor freezes, as if stunned, from your place in the changing room. 

“Really?”

“Well…Yeah. I know I would have to do a lot of work to catch up, but…I mean…I promise to work hard.”     

“I have no doubt about it.” He says, his voice calm. “In any case, we better get started on training your body up, and making sure you’re caught up on everything. We’ll do that in between your training.” 

You pop out of the changing room, liking the outfit you were in. It was a simple white shirt, with a black jacket that sat snug on you. You wore some jeans with it too, your hair still hidden under the hat you wore. 

“I…Is this…Good?” You ask, holding your hands out. 

He grins. “You look cool. Did all the clothes fit?” 

You nod. “They did.” 

“Good.” He glances up at your hair. “Are you…Still going to hide it?” 

Your shoulders rise. You didn’t know you just knew it felt…bad to have the gold locks exposed. Like I’m hiding from something. And you had plenty of people to hide from. You nod. 

He studies you for a moment, but he doesn’t say as he pays for the clothes. 

It’s unspoken when he helps you buy some dark black hair dye for you to wear. You aren’t too sure why you chose the colour, it was rather plain. But it felt right to IT FELT FAMILAR . The dye was a shit brand, but you really were only looking for something that was easy for you to put on. 

You didn’t ask him to help you with it later, but he did anyway. 

It felt nice to be cared for again.

Chapter Text

“Why do you not let anyone know about your Quirk?” You ask, following behind him. It was a fairly chill morning, the sun not having fully risen yet. You were dressed in a tracksuit, ready for whatever training your Mentor is going to give you. 

He glances at you, his green eyes slightly shocked. He rubs the back of his neck. “Well…For a lot of reasons. For one thing, just think about the amount of villains who would like a hand on the power the Quirk gives…” He glances away from you. “And…Well…As long as the world believes the Jade Rabbit is an all natural Hero- my mom…She’ll be safe. Nobody thinks to look twice at Quirkless Midoriya.” His tone turned grave. 

You frown. “But… Don’t you need to have your identity out in the open? Cause…Cause of the Transparency Act?” You vaguely remember something about that. 

“The only reason the Act exists is because the HSPC wanted to lower the amount of vigilantes who were excusing themselves as Heroes. That and the idea of accountability typically tends to require an identity. Theoretically, a Hero could simply quit being an official one if it doesn’t work out, and then perhaps never receive consequences for it. And it depends on the Hero type you are.” 

“Hero type?” 

“Well you have Limelight Heroes. They typically are the ones you know the most about, interacting with the public the most. They do the merch lines, interviews, and fight villains in public. Holding them accountable is necessary when dealing with the public, and having access to what their identity is makes it hard for them to hide. It does have its downsides, but it encourages honesty with the public.” He begins to mumble, rambling on. But you happily listen. “Rescue Heroes on the same end as Limelight Heroes, especially since most Rescue Heroes work in disaster areas or areas with high risk categories. Being transparent as a Rescue Hero can foster trust with the public, and it helps make them recognizable. Meanwhile with Underground Heroes, their identities remain locked from the public- only certain agencies know it or the HSPC. Due to working with the police on multiple cases, it is sometimes required that they go into undercover cases, the best thing that helps is making sure their real name isn’t leaked. Otherwise you would just have a whole list of problems. An Underground Pro works best with anonymity. Very few tend to interact with the public or are well known. Twilight Heroes are a middle ground, since they tend to interact with the public- but not at the same level as a Limelight. They can also work on police cases and are quite versatile. Their identities can be found, but only if you know where to look.” 

You hum. 

“But aren’t you a Limelight? So…How come nobody has forced you to share your identity?” You question. 

He pauses, blinking, as if hardly believing you actually listened. 

“Oh. Well, when the Act was first brought up, many Heroes at the time made quite the scene- stating they had a right to privacy. Which they were correct- to an extent. Many have plenty of reasons for keeping their identities hidden.” He grins, rubbing the back of his neck. “I was just starting out when the Act was made. Many Heroes who were operating before the Act were allowed to keep their identities secret, including myself.” 

“And now? What if a Limelight needed to hide their identity for whatever reason?”

“Then they would file for “special circumstances” with the HSPC. And even then, they would insist on knowing.” You spot him pulling a face. It was pretty similar to your own. 

“Not a fan of them?” You comment, keeping your tone light. 

He pauses, taking a breath. “I respect the work they do. Really I do. Hero society needs that check and accountability.” 

“I sense a “but”...” You raise an eyebrow. 

“But..” He huffs, rolling his eyes. “The HSPC is still…Well…Not many of the people who work in it have ever worked a day in the field. Neither do they go through the training themselves, and yet they can make the calls on what is needed or not needed.” 

So in otherwise, they can interfere with how Heroes are made with nothing stopping them. That was a lovely thought (!). The HSPC also worked closely with politicians, and many know how politicians can be bastards. 

You hum, looking around before realising you were near some kind of junkyard. 

“Are we supposed to be here?” 

Your mentor grins, his green eyes practically glowing. “Yep!” He places his hands on his hips. “In order to prepare you for U.A, you need training. And in order for that training to happen, you need to be able to inherit my Quirk, but as you are right now, you won’t get far.” 

“But you said-!” Shock floods you as you gape at him. 

He interrupts you. “I told you I want you to inherit it, that you are worthy of it. You still are.” He affirms. “But you need to bulk up a bit before you can wield it, just like I did. Though you aren’t the complete weed I was when I was your age.” 

You blink as he pokes at your shoulder. 

“Why?” 

He grins, shrugging. “One For All is a stockpile Quirk at its core, it gets stronger with each new wielder.” He places a hand to his chest. “I’ve held the Quirk for a long time, and even back then, I still needed to go through training to wield it.” He then adds sheepishly. “There is a chance that your arms and legs could be ripped off…” 

“My arms and what now!?” You yelled, causing Midoriya to shush you. 

“It’s fine, it’s fine! I’ve done the math, triple checking it. Like I said, you’re far more bulkier than I was at your age. And we have 10 months before the Entrance Exam for U.A happens. So I have a plan in place to help bulk you up, and hopefully we will have time to have you get a grip on the Quirk before the Exam as well.” He tries to reassure waving his hands about. 

“It’s that why we’re here?” You look at the trash filled place. “To train me?” 

“Yep! Wanna take a guess why I brought you here?” He looks at you, a wide grin on his face, a clear mirror to the spray painted smile on his costume. You blink looking at the towering mess of junk and trash. But as your gaze drifts downward, you spot sand. You can hear the sea, and buried under the terrible scent of rot and decay, was the smell of salt. You see a sign on the small stone walls. 

“Dagoba Beach?” You note. 

“Yeah…” A look crossed over your Mentor’s face that was hard to decipher. “This beach was once quite a beautiful sight, but as trash was dumped in the ocean here due to the currents, soon people began illegally dumping their own trash, making it what it is today.” He steps forward as you follow him. He raises a hand, Blackwhip unfurling from his fingertips as he moves a large fridge out of the way, letting the rising sun through. “Nowadays, Heroes are often focused on bigger things. Fighting villains and battling them.” he speaks, confidence shining through him. “But sometimes even the littlest of things matter. Being a True Hero doesn’t always mean focusing on that.” 

He turns to face you, the light illuminating behind him, his dark green hair almost glowing in the light. 

There was a small, but very real smile on his face. 

“Sometimes, it can just be reaching out a hand to someone! My Mentor once said that saving people wasn’t just about the act itself, it was also about preserving their smiles! And I agree, doing these kinds of acts, it encourages others to keep improving!” 

Reaching out a hand? You look down at your own hand, the tanned skin clear without the dirt masking it. 

“Come on-!” A voice called out to you. “Here, let me help you.” She looked kind, her pink hair vivid as her dark eyes met yours. 

“It’s okay, it’s just a storm.” A woman’s voice said, holding your hand tightly, while her other hand strokes your back. “Come on, my little sunshine, don’t cry. I am here.” 

“Here, like this.” A hand guides yours as you chop some vegetables. “There we go! You’re doing great -!” 

“I don’t need your hand!” A voice yelled at you. “I can handle myself! Go away you useless -!” 

“Ew, don’t look, the freak’s here.” Someone whispered. 

“How pitiful. He’s all alone. Guess nobody loves him enough to stay.” Another whispered. And soon a collision of whispers hits you, drowning you in forgotten memories.

“Take my hand!” Someone pleads with you before you’re buried. 

“Kid?” A voice calls out. “Kid!” 

A hand grabs yours, pulling you out of your stupor. You look to see green eyes staring at yours, clear worry in them. “You back with me?” 

You look down at the hand holding yours. You knew it was a prosthetic, and yet…And yet. 

It felt warm to you anyway. Your mentor notes your gaze, spotting the hand. 

“Oh! Sorry…Forgot about that, I know, it’s not the greatest feeling in the world.” He goes to pull his hand out of your grip but you refuse. He looks at you, confused. 

“I…I think I get what you mean. About reaching out a hand.” You say, thinking it over. “I…It’s important to let someone know you’re there…That even if you can’t do much for them, still reaching out shows you’re there for them.” 

You grin widely. “I don’t care how hard the training is, I want to show the world that I am here! That peace can be found, in both the big and small!” 

He grins. “Alright then. Let’s get started.” 

And thus your training from Hell began.

Chapter Text

As much as he hated it, he knew he needed to let Nighteye know what he planned to do. He tried to delay it, but knew that eventually questions would come his way by his former partner. Nighteye has been a steady Hero Partner, one of the few he let himself get close to. 

It probably helped that Nighteye had his gripes with the HSPC, having barely dodged the offer of their “specialised training” by using his Quirk to avoid them. The man was forced to live his life “Quirkless” in order to avoid them, only citing himself as a “late bloomer” when it was safe to do so. Then he proceeded to enter into his office, declaring that he would work as his secretary in exchange for helping him track down All For One. Izuku helped Nighteye get his hero licence, slowly learning to trust the younger man. 

It wasn’t often Izuku had found someone willing to tolerate his mumbling, let alone find worth in it. His mind simply worked too quickly for most folks, but Mirai matched him pace for pace. It was a friendship built on mutual trust and respect. Plus the two were giant fans of Heroes, and liked analysing those around them. Izuku respected Mirai, and never held anything against him. 

Not even when he left his agency to open up his own. 

Not even when he used his Quirk on him without consent. 

Not even…

He lets the phone ring. He stares down at it, almost wishing he didn’t pick up. The kid was busy, and thankfully far away enough that he wouldn’t over hear. Last thing I need is to spook him. 

Finally he picks up. 

“This is Sir Nighteye.” It was calm and professional. As expected of the man. 

“Hey, Mirai.” His voice was quiet, but his smile was real, no matter how small it was. 

“Midoriya!” He can hear the shock in his voice. “I…didn’t expect you to call. Is this about…?” 

Izuku swallows. “Uh…Well…Sorta.” He leans against the stone wall, carefully watching the dyed black locks bob around the beach. “I um…Am going to accept the teaching job.” 

“That’s great!” He can hear the genuine relief. 

“But um…I know you wanted me to…um..Look at that kid you mentioned. Togata, right?” 

“Yes. Isn’t he great? I think he would be a great fit for your successor!” There was pride in his words, and Izuku no doubt believed him. In some far flung world, One For All would course through the veins of one Miro Togata. 

But this isn’t that world. 

“I’m not going to choose him.” There. It was blunt, way more than he wanted, but sometimes it was needed. 

Silence rang down the phone, long enough that he checks to make sure he hadn’t clicked off. 

“What…?” Was the question. 

“I’m not going to choose him.” He repeats. “N-not because I believe he isn’t good, not at all, after all you’ve been mentoring the kid!” He has no doubt the Togata kid would shine under Nighteye’s influence. “But…I…” He swallows. “I already have chosen a successor!” 

Another long pause. 

“Ah…Okay. While surprising, I suppose I am impressed you took initiative.” He says. Izuku blinks. He’s…taking this better than I thought he would. 

“You’re…not mad?” 

“Why would I be? Midoriya, I’ve been telling you to pick a successor to train for years at this point. The fact you went for my advice…Especially after the last time we parted.” 

He grimaces, pushing away the memories trying to bubble up. 

“Well, I’m glad that you’re not mad-!” 

“Of course, I want to meet this chosen successor of yours, especially to help with training them.” He interrupts. “After all, One For All is a hefty legacy to hold, and your legacy is even more weighted. But I’m sure whatever student you’ve chosen will hold it up well." 

“Wait!” Izuku cries out, wincing as he checks to make sure the kid isn’t listening. Nope, too busy with the trash. Good. 

“What is it?” Mirai asks. 

“Well..Um..There are a couple of things you need to know.” He states. “Um…Well, for one thing, the kid…well he’s not yet a student of U.A.” 

“Are..Are you saying you…” Izuku can almost imagine the pinched nose bridge, the glasses pushed up and the look of frustration on his face. “You chose a middle schooler to wield your powerful Quirk!?” 

“Well…Um…Yes?” 

“ARE YOU INSANE!?” Was the yell. “What part of you thought that was a good idea!? A middle schooler, Izuku!? Seriously! What are you thinking!?” 

Izuku frowns. First name. Not good. 

“Well, I’m obviously training him to help shape him up. But he has a heroic spirit. That Sludge Monster you might have seen on the news? The second kid rushed into the scene, saving the victim, giving him very vital air? Does that ring a bell? This is the same kid.” 

“Train- Izuku! What on earth are you doing? That act, while heroic, was reckless and borderline stupid. It could have very easily gone wrong!” 

“And yet, the boy would have died without it!” Izuku snaps back, feeling incensed on behalf of the kid. “The boy has heart, and the determination to back it up! He has a goal he intends to see through!” 

“Lofty aspirations won’t save him if he can’t control it!” 

“You followed my aspirations.” Izuku shoots out. 

“And look where that got you!” Was the venom spouted back. 

Izuku feels pain rack through him, the chronic pain always present, even when he ignored it for the sake of Hero Work.
“That..That’s a low blow.” He hissed out, his arms feeling so cold and foreign. 

But Mirai has never been the sort to apologise when he is convinced he is right. “What even is the boy’s Quirk?” He sighed. 

“He’s Quirkless.” He wants to take it back even when he says it. 

“He’s what!? Izuku-!” Nighteye hissed. “You are kidding me. Please tell me you somehow gained the ability to tell a joke.” 

Izuku can feel anger boil underneath him, in a way it’s never done before. What is that supposed to mean!? 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” 

“How can you expect him to control a Quirk as powerful as One For All when he doesn’t have one!? How can you possibly think he’s wort-!” 

Izuku’s voice is eerily calm. 

And far too similar to the growl of his voice modulator. 

“Let me stop you right there.” He glares down at the phone, his emerald eyes practically glowing with fury. “Because I wouldn’t want you to say something you would regret. Or I would regret.” 

“Izuku-!” 

“No.” He growled out. His grip is tight on the phone. “No..” He says a little calmer. “Clearly, this is something we’re not going to agree on. But last time I checked, One For All is my Quirk. Not yours. Who I give it to, is not up to you. For now…I’m going to hang up. If you want more details about the kid, ask Nedzu, he’s aware of his existence. In fact I demand you do before you go spouting off anymore shit about a kid you haven’t even met. Don’t bother coming to my apartment- the kid is staying in my guest room. Don’t bother getting into touch.” 

“Midori-!” 

“Bye”. 

Izuku hangs up, clutching his phone tightly in his hand. Drops fall down onto the stone wall, making him all too aware of the hot tears streaming down his face. He lowers his head, hoping the kid didn’t see it. Some kind of Mentor I am, crying like a baby. 

You watch from the distance as your Mentor’s head lowers. Even from where you stood, you could recognise the look of someone crying intimately. 

You could see a blond-haired woman, crying as she held a letter confirming something. You spot two children also crying, and you don’t know why everyone is upset but you feel it too. 

You blink, looking away before he catches you. You felt angry, because it’s clear your Mentor was hurting, and yet you were useless to help. What could I do? 

Your Mentor has been kind enough to allow you a place to stay, to have faith in you. You needed to pay him back in some way. 

As you clean the beach, your muscles aching, you spot something. It was a tiny thing, barely seeable under all the gunk and junk. But you take a moment to drop the tire you were carrying, and dig into the gritty sand. You grin as you pull it close, your touch gentle. 

”That even if you can’t do much for them, still reaching out shows you’re there for them.” 

A man with long black hair stands in front of you, smiling faintly at you. He cleans up your bruises and small wounds. “Sometimes I find if I can’t find the words, a little act of kindness can be just as good. I can’t make it go away.” He reaches up to his head, pulling out a sunflower that was growing in his locks. “But I can show I’m here.” 

You approach him, gently placing the object near him. 

“Hmm?” He raises his head, quickly plastering on a smile as he wipes away his tears. “Oh, sorry Hibiki! I-I didn’t mean to…I, well, I’ve always been a bit of a crybaby…” He trails off, noting your intense look as you show him what you found. “What’s this?” 

The object in question is a large piece of sea glass you have found. It was a forest green, the light of the sun catching it that made the frosted glass shine. 

“It’s sea glass!” You say. “See, when people throw things like bottles into the sea, the sea breaks it down, creating these chunks. And then it goes through this tumbling process, that makes it all frosted like this! And you can trace how old it is depending on colour and location!”

You point to the sea glass. “I’m surprised I managed to find one so large, and one like this…” You pause, feeling heat rise in your cheeks slightly. “But well…It kind of reminds me of you. Because you’re green…” 

This is so stupid what was I thinking!? You inwardly screech, tugging on a bang. 

It starts off slow, but it grows louder as you hear it. Laughter. Pure, freeing laughter as your Mentor smiles widely. You blink, stunned for a moment. 

“I…heh..Thank you.” He says. 

You smile back, rubbing your neck. “No problem.” 

He takes the sea glass in hand, and holds it like it’s precious. 

“I’ll keep this safe.” He smirks a little, raising a finger at you. “Don’t think this gets you out of work.” 

You grin back. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Sir.” 

You jump right back into it, keeping your eyes peeled for more.

Chapter Text

Soon enough, time passed. 

6 months of it, to be exact. And you could see how you changed, muscles growing on you at a fast rate. You keep having to do a double take whenever you spot a mirror. Seeing yourself with dyed black hair and muscles was new, but it felt…fitting. You weren’t seeing a ghost. Not now. 

”Remember, you need to hide. He doesn’t make things easy. You are dead. So run and hide, ghost boy.” 

Either way, it’s nice to have a warm place to sleep. Your Mentor, outside his more confident Hero persona, was quite the dork. He mumbled his thoughts and theories, as if he didn’t expect people to hear him. He was quite meek, quick to apologise for even daring to bother someone, and tripped over his words often. For someone who could bench press a fridge even with prosthetics, he certainly looked rather harmless. You figure that was the advantage of his appearance, even if some part of you wanted to strangle any stranger who sneered at his prosthetics- or simply stared like he was a type of alien. 

It also became rather clear, he was lonely. 

You never saw him talk to many that wasn’t to do with work. You had heard him speak to someone named “Tsukachi” a couple of times, but it was typically business. You had yet to meet the detective. He talked to himself often, though he would clam up when you mentioned it. You know that whoever he talked to at the beach that day had upset him. His neighbours were polite but there was a pitying distance they kept from the older man, whispering words that were left unsaid. It was enough to enrage you, but you still didn’t say anything, only quietly helping when the days were hard. 

And there were plenty that were hard. 

You awoke early at 6:00 AM, an early bird by nature. You had gotten yourself out of bed, doing the early morning routine of studying. An hour of study of whatever subject you need to do, is enough to wake you up. 7:00 AM is normally the time your Mentor gets up. 

But when you step outside your room, you find the kitchen empty. You grab a couple of energy bars to eat, wondering briefly if he’s on patrol. Or called away on a mission. Checking your phone, you find that it’s devoid of any messages warning him. Strange…Normally he at leasts lets me know when he’s out. 

It was something he was very particular about, especially since the last time he left so urgently, you had experienced a blip that caused the trash mountains on the beach to collapse on top of you. It had scared him, even though you were fine and Why was he so worried anyway-! Either way, he had given you a phone to call him with. So you do. 

The ringing confused you. 

You followed it to his bedroom, ending the call as you do. In the months since the Jade Rabbit has let you into his own house, you have been careful to respect his space. You have always cleaned up after yourself, and haven’t even dared fooled yourself into thinking this is permanent. Even with the new clothes he bought you, you knew it was only because of the fact he can’t have a teen running around in ill fitting clothes. 

He’s probably still asleep. You tell yourself. And yet…

You press your ear to the door, listening out. For a moment, you were quite content in just simply continuing the routine alone, hoping that you would get answers later till you hear it. 

A cough. 

And not a small cough, it’s one of those big shuddering chest ridden coughs. The gross kind full of mucus and regret. It was bad enough to have you make the choice to reach out and open the damned door. Poking his head in, you are confronted with a dark room. The curtains were drawn, but you could vaguely make out the shape of the room. 

“Mr Midoriya?” You call out, swallowing slightly. This is silly, why am I so nervous? 

A groan was heard, as you stepped closer to the bed. You find a lamp on a nightstand, switching it on. 

Oh that’s bad. You wince. Izuku Midoriya might as well be a strawberry with how flushed his face was. His body shook, like he was cold even though he had quite the thick duvet on him. 

“Sir?” You call out again, gently placing a hand on his forehead. You hiss as heat causes you to pull away. “Oh that’s bad…” 

“Kid…?” Green foggy eyes meet yours. “What…you doing here?” 

“You’re sick.” You bluntly state, frowning. “Is there something I can do to help?” 

“No, no…Don’t..Don’t worry about it.” Well you couldn’t help it when your Mentor’s words were slurred, as he attempted to sit up. “Happens all the time…I’m…I’m good. Just…gotta…Walk it off.” 

You push him down. “You’re sick!” 

“I’m fine…” He insists. “You…Don’t worry about me. I gotta work.” 

“Fuck that!” You huff out, pushing him back down again. “You need rest! What example are you setting for me, huh? You telling me I should work when sick?” 

Your Mentor pouts, shaking his head. “No…No..doing that. Do as I say…Not do.” 

You simply raise an eyebrow. He deflates.

“I’m supposed to be taking care of you…Not the other way round..” 

“Consider this, me merely returning the favour.” You say, as you pull back the covers, ignoring the guilt of seeing your Mentor shiver. You give him a thinner blanket, one that was grabbed by the couch. You try to cool him down by giving him a cool rag to put over his head, and some water with medicine to drink. 

“Thanks…” Your Mentor slurred out, still looking dazed. “You’re…You’re a good kid.”

“Thank you.” You simply say, feeling your stomach twist at the words. 

You barely miss him mumble “Wish you were my kid, sometimes.”

You spot his phone lighting up. Right. I have to tell someone he’s sick… 

As your Mentor mumbles dazedly, you grab his phone. His lockscreen seemed to show a fairly recent picture of him and an older woman with grey streaked green hair. 

“Is this your mother?” You question. 

“Yeah! Miss her…” He mumbles. You pass the phone to him. 

“You need to tell your agency you’re sick.” You gently say, hoping it won’t be too bad. 

“Kay…” 

“I’ll be in my room, studying for a bit. Okay?” 

“Kay…” He gave you a thumbs up, and a grin. 

It didn’t fill you with confidence. And maybe if you stuck around, you would realise after his phone call with his agency, he called another number.

Chapter Text

When they say, you never stop being a parent, Inko never imagined how literal that can be. 

She is old, with grey streaks in her hair. Her hands tremble slightly, with plenty of wrinkles decorating her skin. Her bones creaked with movement, and quite frankly, she is content with this. She has lived a fair life, one with ups and downs, but nothing she would take back. 

Especially not her son. 

Not Izuku. 

Even if her son was pushing his 50s now, Inko couldn’t be more proud of her boy. Number 1 Hero, a trusted figure in the lives of so many, having done so much good for her community. It still doesn’t stop her worry for him though. She knows that part of the reason he became a Hero was to help protect the smiles of the people around him. Growing up in a time where you could be killed from a villain attack at any moment was frightening, something that often shot her nerves, especially when her boy was Quirkless. 

Yet, he never backed down. 

Even to this day, she knows Izuku keeps a lot from her. All out of concern for her safety, she knows. Her telekinetic Quirk wasn’t much, and she very much preferred the life of a civilian. She knows there are precautions to take when interacting with her son, whose identity is guarded closely. 

But when her son, who is clearly sick over the phone, is calling her. She responds. 

Oh Izuku. She bemoans in her mind. What am I going to do with you? 

She’s rather glad that Izuku moved to Mustufar, which makes the commute easier. She carries in her arms, some supplies, things she knows her son would need. Cause knowing him, he would have forgotten a thing or two, as he is often prone to do. And she knows better than to leave her son alone while sick. 

So imagine to her surprise when she goes to enter the apartment with her copy of the key, only to find someone opening the door for her. 

He was a tall young man, with jet black hair. It was accompanied by the brightest blue eyes she has ever laid eyes upon, enough to give her pause. Tanned skin showed developing muscles as the kid was putting on his outdoor shoes. She jumps a little, moving back, suspicion on high alert. 

“Now who would you be, young man?” She questions, frowning. 

The boy perks up, making a small sound. “Oh!” He points at her. “You’re Mr Midoriya’s mother right?” 

“Yes…” She says slowly. “Are you a neighbour of his?” 

The boy (and she is fairly sure he is a boy, a young teen at that) gives a sheepish chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. “Kind of…?” He points to her bags. “Um, how about I take those off you, and you go see him? I-I tried my best to keep him cool, I was actually going to get some more medicine for him.”

“No need. I got them.” She says, noting how the boy toes out of his shoes to slippers that have been added into the entry way. She leaves the boy to carry the bags as she goes to his room. 

She passes by the guest room, the door slightly ajar. She spots a bed that has a dark blue cover on it, with a desk that is clearly used for a young boy’s study place. Books for middle school sit on them, with an open wardrobe full of clothes. The room was rather sparse otherwise, but Inko did spot a couple of Hero figurines and some cartoon ones. Her eyes widen, as she glances back at the boy in the kitchen, easily sorting out the things she brought. He’s been here for a while. Is the realisation she comes to. 

She steps into her son’s room, and already she can tell the boy was speaking the truth about doing his best. A thin crocheted blanket she had made for Izuku was on him, with a damp rag on his flushed face. A glass sat on his nightstand, with the correct medicine bottles Izuku uses for his illness on the stand. A bowl sat there, empty but ready for emergency use. 

“Izuku, honey?” She calls out, slowly approaching. 

“Mom?” Her boy groans, and she readily fusses. 

“Oh baby!” She says, her hand easily sinking into his curls as those foggy green eyes look up at her. 

“When…?” 

“Do you not remember?” She worries. “You called me?” 

“Did I…?” He says, confused. Inko reaches into her bag, the one bag she didn’t allow the boy to take- the others had been simple groceries. She takes out a thermometer, placing it on him. She winces as she sees the high number. 

“Oh honey. Did you push yourself again?” She checks the rag, easily slipping into his ensuite bathroom to pour cool water into the rag again. 

“No…Just…Shitty…illness.” 

She hums, appearing at his side again. “There’s a boy here. Do you know him?” She asks, her tone light. She knows that it might be slightly underhanded to ask when he clearly wasn’t all together- but how else would she know? 

“Hmm…Yeah…Nice kid…Great kid.” She pauses, hearing her son praise the boy. There was something familiar about it. 

“Yeah?” 

“He’s…kind…Really kind.” Her boy praises, gesturing vaguely with his hands as he mumbles. “And pretty…Pretty smart too…He self studies a lot, even when training…” 

Training? She thinks of the muscles the boy had, the room with books, the extra slippers. 

“Training, huh? That sounds nice dear.” She states, hoping he says more. 

“Just…wish I could…help him…” 

“How so?” 

“He…got….issues with…his..perception..Thinks he’s dead, and is someone else…Had to buy hair dye and everything…Gave him the name Hibiki. You should meet him, mom, you would love him.” Izuku says, dazedly grinning up at her. It takes all she can to not giggle at the silly, youthful look on his face. 

“I have no doubt about it.” She humours him. Though she keeps note of what he says. “Sounds like you really care about him.” 

“I do….He…Makes me feel…not alone.” Izuku mumbles sleepily, his eyelids drooping. “He’s gonna be…a great Hero…” 

Inko smiles softly. She can now see what that familiar praise meant. She had done it herself with Izuku many times. She had seen Nana Shimura speak of Izuku highly, care in her eyes as she asked Inko for permission to teach her son. Seen how the two had gotten close, knowing the Hero had given her heart to her son. Had seen it plenty of times in the voices of parents bragging about their kids. 

Izuku Midoriya has found a child to love. 

She kisses her boy’s forehead.
“What’s his name?” She asks.
“Hibiki…” Izuku mumbled. 

“Any last name, I should know?” 

Izuku shakes his head. “Too dangerous…to use his real name…Dead…They think he’s dead.” He whispers as if it’s a secret. Which it was, but for more than one reason Inko figures. 

“I see…” She nods her head, her mind made up. “Don’t worry your head about, Izu…I’ll handle it for you.” She smiles. “Now just rest, you need sleep.” 

Izuku mumbles softly. “Thanks mom…” 

It doesn’t take much for him to drop off into restful sleep. She easily slips out of the room, closing it slightly. She turns back to the boy (Hibiki was it?) and sees the poor dear pacing in the living room, tugging on his bangs. It's an endearing trait that reminds her so much of Izuku’s nervous ticks. 

Well, this isn’t how I expected getting a grandchild, but I can hardly complain. She’ll have to take care of the paperwork, but it wouldn’t be too hard. It would save everyone time, besides what better lie than one built on truth. But for now, I better calm the poor boy down before he wears a hole in the floor.