Chapter Text
Zen Shigaraki - or as he’s known to most of his… work friends: All For One, is having a relatively peaceful day. What he was dealing with now was a family of french diplomats, and their quirkless son.
The Good Doctor managed to get into contact with them, as it turns out they really didn’t like the idea of a quirkless child, and he promised them an ‘experimental treatment’.
Hence his current situation, a quirk active to amplify his demonic presence. He sees the three in front of him. The child and both parents quiver in fear before him. Smiling, he speaks in his business tone - a cold, deep thing - “So, it's agreed then, I will gift little Yuga here a quirk out of my collection.” Pausing to think as both parents stammer out an agreement. “Considering the quirks of both parents… yes this will do nicely, come forward little Yuga.”
The blond boy stumbles forwards, kneeling before him at his say so. All For One calls upon his quirk of Identical name as well as another quirk: Naval Laser. Something that he picked up at the dawn of quirks, back when those with quirks, or meta-abilities as they were called, were slaughtered by the droves.
That man’s family practically begged him to rid their child of their ‘Unholy curse’. Ironic really, so fearing their gods wrath they chose to make a deal with the Devil to try to avoid it.
This whole situation really makes him nostalgic for the good old days of the dawn of quirks.
Red sparks and energy flow into the young boy, who is now screaming in pain. But in time, the torture stops, and Yuga collaspes.
(All For One didn’t have to be that… rough with his quirk, but he wanted to be dramatic damn it.)
“As for payment… how about you just remember me in my time of need, yes?”
The Demon Lord internally chuckles at the stammering thanks that both parents give.
~~~
After that meeting concludes he looks at his messages, oh Another one from the Doctor.
To: Lord_Of_Evil
From: Kyudai_Garaki
Subject: Improved AFO project - Child's quirk status.
Today the mother of the child brought it in to test for his quirk factor as planned.
However, no quirk factor was present - other than some basic vestigial mutations. Namely increased construction for multiple quirks.
(Images of several tests for one Izuku Midoriya, that All for One skims through.)
Compared to Midoriya Inko, who should only be able to handle about 2-3 additional quirks before reaching her quirk factors limit. Roughly in the average range for quirked persons.
Young Izuku, however, can most likely fit anywhere between 8-13 new quirks. Considering his other mutations, I've compiled a list of viable quirk types and combinations should you wish to make use of the boy in the Nomu project, or something separate.
(A link to a document, and an ending to the message.)
All For One reads the message thoroughly in 0.09 seconds with Fast Reader x2 plus Mental Boost x6.
The Improved All For One project was born out of inspiration from the current Number 2 hero, Endeavor’s quirk marriage. Not even the first public figure to do so so brazenly and get away with it for so long, but this time, it hit the century old demon Lord with a spark of inspiration!
He's used quirk eugenics before to get his hands on specific, hard to acquire quirks before. For example the self destruct quirks he likes to give untrusted underlings didn't exactly come naturally.
However what the underworld's King hadn't done is use himself as one of the participants, so he came up with an idea.
His quirk for all its power had a few flaws, most of which could be theoretically fixed with a Quirk he himself could use. The blowback of larger quirk combinations can be negated by appropriate use of defensive and regeneration quirks. The migraines from overusing his quirks has its own counters, though that is probably the most annoying part, particularly the almost sickening effect of using his base quirk too much in short succession.
The quirk cap is another thing, though he can keep roughly 500 quirks on him at one time, and thanks to the Doctor's ‘Quirk-in-a-bottle’ method he can store many, many more. So eugenics wouldn't be needed to fix that.
Then it hit him - his quirk is touch based.
Well, technically it's not. His quirk works through the small holes in his hand, within a range of a couple centimeters. But for all intents and purposes, it's touch based. And All For One doesn't mix with the quirks inside it, otherwise The quirk thief could just find a telekinetic or magnetism Quirk to fit the bill.
And in that he found his idea. Find a person with a theoretically viable quirk (man or woman, doesn't matter, All For One has ways around such simple concepts as ‘biological sex’)
Eventually he found a female (really much preferable to a male, it's unlikely that they’d be into Mpreg, therefore All For One would’ve likely been forced to be a girl for several years potentially.) with a Quirk called ‘Attraction of small objects.’
Its mechanics, whilst weak, are perfect for what he was looking for - in theory a perfect combination of their quirks, a Quirk that pulls other quirks towards it.
It didn't take long for the woman to be ‘bagged’ as the kids say, after their first meeting. A couple quirks go a long way in the seduction game.
(Romance is just a bunch of dumb chemical reactions, All For One never really got the fuss.)
From there he just had to play the part of ‘supportive but busy husband and father’. Away on business most of the time, being almost literally Satan is hard work and it is really hard to find time off, particularly with One For All being a bigger thorn in his side than ever.
Oh but look at how long he's been reminiscing on old times. He really has been getting nostalgic these days.
… Though on the topic of the old days, Izuku has always reminded the world's greatest evil of his little brother in a sense.
Stubbornly obsessed with heroism and its associated ‘morals’ (Yuck), Remarkably kind, hell their eyes are even a similar shade of green. And of course, both are quirkless, Baselines, powerless.
Now, All For One has lived through the dawn of quirks, so he completely understands that a well trained quirkless combatant can be very powerful. And hell, back in the day a baseline vigilante managed to fire a well placed arrow directly in his knee, and it hurt, really badly.
But even still… A meta-less relative of the demon lord…
Preposterous then and preposterous now.
But what quirks to give the boy? Perhaps a collection of strength quirks - he’s always had a fascination with the Eighth One For All… Of course there’s always the more traditional route, giving him quirks that suit his parents, so Telekinesis and Pyrokinesis, going by the fire breath quirk ‘Hisashi’ has.
…Or on second (Third?) thought, Doctor Garaki has that theory about planting All For One (the quirk) into a vessel for All For One (the person) to effectively possess. With his quirk cloning method he could make a version of All For One, but between the cloning and the boy being generally unequipped to deal with loads upon loads of quirks he doesn’t have to worry about a second him running around…
Yes.
Young Tomura and Young Izuku, the two Demon Princes directly serving under the Demon Lord.
Chuckling darkly to himself, he sends the idea to Garaki, then commands Kurogiri to prepare a room for Izuku.
But first he needs to have a ‘talk’ with Inko.
~~~
It's only been a week since the doctors appointment where he was diagnosed quirkless and Izuku Midoriya is already sick of it.
Firstly, between Dr. Tsubasa and Mama (That’s not what I needed to hear Mama, can't you see that you’re hurting me?)
Secondly, Kacchan, hearing the news of Izuku’s quirklessness decided that it was more proof that he was just a worthless Deku. (And it hurts, so so much, weren't we brothers Kacchan? Didn't we promise to be Heroes together?)
And thirdly - what would soon become the worst thing about this week, he woke up today in an unfamiliar room, sure it looks nearly identical to his real bedroom, All Might and all. But with one very noticeable exception.
The window was gone.
Once he calmed from his panic he noticed that some other things were off, several vents for airflow, the bed itself is different, much more comfortable than the real one, like something of luxury.
It was then he heard voices in the other room. Both male, but he only recognized one, his Father, though it lacked the over-the-phone filter he had gotten so used to from the mysterious man.
“Yes Tomura will be introduced to Izuku soon- oh speak of the devil! You’re awake!”
In front of Izuku, both sitting down in what seems to be a facsimile of his and Mama's apartment living room, are two men. The one that shares a voice with his father has white hair in the same style as his dad in the singular photo his mom had in the living room. Though this is Izuku's first time seeing his father's open eyes that have no pupils. He's suited up as the respectable overseas businessman he is.
The other man was made entirely of black most, fading purple near the ends of his ‘body’. Where his eyes would be are glowing yellow lines, and he is dressed in traditional butler attire. The only thing he notices that is out of place on his body is the metal brace around his neck.
Izuku blinks and rubs his eyes, “F-father? Why do you look… different? Why- why am I here?” he asked, extremely confused.
All For One smiles, something that is meant to come off as fatherly, and begins regurgitating the explanation he had prepared for his future Prince. “Well, Inko was in… an accident last night, I was asked to take care of you, since she won't be able to. Kurogiri moved you here in your sleep, along with most of your room.”
All For One waits a moment, expecting to see the Midoriya tears (They’ll need to do something about that, can't have a sobbing demon prince after can we? Hopefully he'll grow out of it, otherwise…) but to his pleasant surprise he just looked shocked. Like something didn't compute.
“Wha- wha- What happened to M-mama?” The boy managed to mumble. “Can I- can we- can we see her? P-please?” He stutters.
That and the tears, I'll have to fix that so I can have my perfect prince of villains.
The demon Lord wore a sympathetic frown as he moved to hug his newest toy. “I'm sorry, my little prince, it's too late for her. We’ll be attending her funeral tomorrow.”
And just like that, Izuku shattered.
~~~
The next day, Izuku got dressed in silence. Kurogiri - The Butler with the really interesting teleportation Quirk that the greenette would really like to dig into soon - was waiting outside with his father. He thinks of his father's quirk, the ability to give and take quirks, apparently he got an immortality quirk from pretty early into his twenties, so he was from the era when quirks were new.
He apparently was using a different quirk to change his looks when he met Mama, because some older enemies of his were increasing activities again and he needed to ‘lay low’ for a while.
That's so cool! The ability to take quirks, to gift them to others! That could be the coolest, most heroicest quirk ever! (and he could stop Kacchan from being so mean)
And Dad promised to give him a Quirk soon! Apparently there were some things he needed to sort out with a doctor first? But then he’d give me a new quirk! and maybe Kacchan will stop hurting me
But for now…
He steps out of his new room to ask for dads help with his tie, and soon they depart, to the funeral.
~~~
It was an insultingly sunny day out, even though it feels like Izuku's whole world is falling apart he watches as the box his mother is in is slowly, agonizingly lowered to the ground.
He didn't even see her body. Apparently what was found of her wasn't a sight for young eyes.
He still wants to see her again…
Auntie is hugging both him and Kacchan in one big hug. He's still mad at Kacchan, but he's too despondent to care.
… The hug is nothing like his mom's. But it still gives him a spark of joy.
It hurts, because he wants her back.
He still remembers that he was upset with his mom.
That feels so childish now.
He wants to cry.
Why can't he cry?
And as the burial continues, he finds himself once again glaring at the sun.
Why did it have to be so bright today? Like nothing in the world is broken?
His father and auntie say bye to each other, uncle pulling out a promise for Izuku to visit sometime soon. And all Izuku can truly think of is how the Sun is so unendingly trying to impose its positivity on him.
As he stews over his dislike of the sun, and laments over how much he hates himself for not clearing things up with his mom. He forgets to enjoy what he has.
Even though he doesn't like the sun now, he wishes he appreciated it for all it's done for him.
For by the time he next sees the sky, he will be unrecognizable in the eyes of the light.