Chapter Text
Chapter 1:
Shouta Aizawa watched his newest class of students run the 50 yard dash and already knew who would be going home.
Sure some of them were on the edge but there was one student in particular who was the standout as someone who shouldn't be here.
Izuku Midoriya didn't have the worst scores In the class, almost half of them didn't have quirks to help them anyways and he was comparatively physically capable. Nor did he have a quirk that he'd have to fight hard to find a use for.
After all, he'd been at the entrance exam. Not a single robotic-villain had rumbled into range that wasn't left in pieces by the time the greenette had gotten done with them.
Midoriya finished the short race with an admirable time for someone without a quirk to help them along.
But that didn't mean he wasn't totally and irreparably blind
He slowed to a stop a few meters past where he might normally, as he’d only known to stop when his time was announced.
The headset he never took off beeped similar information. It was a massive innovation in Ai tech, and it was a wonder how he'd gotten his hands on it.
The thing, according to the file he'd been given, could recognize objects or people that had been added to its database and inform the greenette verbally what was before him.
Even now they could hear it telling the teen that Uraraka was the one approaching him.
But despite his good fortune and impressive control over his quirk, there was no place for him at UA.
The ball throw would not change things, so long as he didn’t throw the wrong way.
The greenette stepped up to the plate and felt the ball in his hands, testing its weight and feel.
He moved to stop the teen, willing to offer him an out now as opposed to when the scores came out.
But the second his capture scarf moved to catch the teens wrist it was suddenly gone.
The greenette turned to face him, somehow knowing exactly where he was despite there being no way for him to know. Shouta’s scarf was dangling from one of his hands, the ends brushing the ground.
The mangled scarred place where his eyes might have been stared at the man.
“Eraserhead, underground hero, noticeable features capture scarf, yellow goggles, shoulder length black hair.” the teen recited. “I was waiting to hear if you had your scarf.”
How the hell-
“I really like heroes.” the teen continued, “All heroes, even the underground ones. I know a lot and I have dozens of notebooks about them, so yes I knew exactly who you were. Every staff member at this school is already programmed into my visor.”
He felt the scarf and found one of the wider sections in the center. He wrapped the ball in it, and began spinning the whole contraption like a sling. After gaining what he must have deemed enough momentum, he released.
The tracker beeped, not bad- not bad at all, certainly farther than he'd have been able to make before.
Izuku Midoriya did not go home that day after all.
+x+
He found All Might watching his class, truthfully he'd been aware that someone had been watching for a while but it was only now he realized exactly who.
“You're full of it.” The blonde said plainly. “You expelled an entire class last year. What on earth would stop you doing it this year?”
“No one's going home yet.” He emphasized the final word, flipping through the files again.
Izuku Midoriya- 14
Quirk- Thief: Midoriya can steal anything he's aware of and summon it into the palm of his hand. No size or weight limits so long as he understands the scale.
Medical Note- Eyes damaged beyond repair at age 8. Requires Mobility Aid.
Right, just because he could steal it didn't mean he could carry it.
The zero pointer- Midoriya was stumbling towards the giant robot, following Uraraka's cries for help.
When she'd explained the rubble crushing her, Midoriya had used his quirk to steal most of it off her, but had crushed his arm and foot when he couldn't drop it fast enough.
Uraraka had managed to pull him free and both got away safely.
It had earned both a large amount of rescue points. The only two students who didn't try to save their own skins if it meant another person was in danger.
“You were planning to drop Young Midoriya before he caught you off guard.” All Might continued. “So you do see his potential too then?”
He narrowed his eyes at the man.
“Kind of early to be playing favorites don't ya think?”
And then, that grin he usually hated so much faded to a grimace. And the man's shadowed eyes stared at the dirt as the number one hero hung his head.
It was unnatural, seeing All Might of all people looking this melancholic.
“It's less about favorites, more about a debt I need to repay.”
Before Shouta could ask what the hell that meant, All Might turned on his heel and ran off. Literally ran away from the topic.
Oh, Shouta was so grilling him for information later! What the fuck did that mean? What debt?
“Mr. Aizawa?” speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Midoriya was standing there, his long white cane stretched out before him. “I wanted to thank you.”
Shouta paused, turning to fully face the boy. “For what exactly?”
The greenette smiled, he smiled a lot actually. Not the All Might style smile that bordered on baring his teeth at times. Not even the Togata kind of smile where no matter who you were, you had the feeling that getting your ass beat might be on the horizon.
Midoriya’s smile was pure and simple contentedness at- everything.
“For not sending me home, I knew you were thinking about it.” He said cheery as ever despite talking about his near-expulsion. “I've wanted to be a hero for- well, forever and I trained so hard to overcome my uh- shortcomings. I won't let you down!”
Later that day Shouta thought of scars that replaced eyes as he got an earful from the she-demon in PR that he better come up with a better reason to kick the kid out than his disability. Otherwise no one would be pulling his ass out of the fire should the boy's mom, a notable lawyer with a grudge against dirty heroes, sue.
Chapter 2:
Tsuyu had never felt so hopeless but she tried to keep that from showing.
Truth was, there was a very slim chance of them all getting out of here.
She could jump to the shore- or at least get close enough to swim out before the villains got them.
Heck! Mineta was small and light so she could probably carry him with her.
No- the problem lied with her other classmate.
Midoriya was shaking out the bulky headpiece she'd never seen him take off before.
“Needs rice.” The boy declared tucking the dented and cracked contraption onto the belt of his teal-green, cream, and orange patched pants. The sheer blindfold over his eyes- or where his eyes would be- felt all the more noticeable with him like this.
Tsuyu knew, she was fairly certain she could make it to the other side, and take Mineta with her. But that would mean leaving Midoriya alone and truly blind.
“Asyui?” the other greenette was still smiling pleasantly. “Could you be my eyes for a moment?”
She choked down her fears and crawled over to the edge of the boat.
“Call me Tsu.”
+x+
It was a miracle they made it out- well no not a miracle. Because ‘miracle’ implied fate and not Midoriya somehow getting their asses out of dodge.
“Deep Breath!” Midoriya had said, smiling merrily as they all jumped. Mineta screaming the whole way down.
At that very moment, Midoriya stole most of the water from the dead center of the lake.
Asyui felt the abruptly formed water fall on her back before they hit the pool and the massive wave that pushed them to the edge.
A whirlpool had formed in the center and Mineta started throwing the orbs on his head. Clumping the villains together as they all fell in like rubber ducks when you pull the bath plug.
She broke the surface before Midoriya, who swayed slightly as he chuckled and nearly toppled again.
Okay seriously- how the fuck was he so calm?!?
“Let’s go!” She urgently dragged both boys out of the shipwreck zone.
“Hold on-” And suddenly she was dry, not just her clothes but her hair and face were back to dry. Mineta was much the same as Midoriya jumped back from the puddle he’d made. “So we make less noise.”
“Is there anything you can't steal?” Mineta asked quietly, as they began sneaking back towards the entrance.
“I can only steal things that physically exist.” the boy explained. “So I can't steal thoughts, or feelings, or voices. All though I could steal the things that make those technically.”
Both looked at each other from either side of the greenette who was trusting them implicitly to lead him.
Neither wanted to think of that implication.
“And I need to know what something is of course, and where.” He said. “Hey- do you think-”
He stopped walking.
“Can you guys help me back to the fountain?”
“Are you crazy?!?” Mineta hissed urgently. “We barely got past those villains in the water and now you want to go pick a fight with more?”
“I want to help Mr. Aizawa.” The boy clarified. “Some of those villains are bound to have equipment and stuff right? If I can trip them up it’ll create more openings!”
And- it wasn't the worst plan. Midoriya’s quirk didn't require him to be particularly close so long as he could tell where it was and they could describe it. Heck they could probably stay as far back as the water-
“If I help you back over there the second I tell you too, we run.” Asyui said firmly. “Mineta your gonna have to watch out backs here-”
The shorter boy looked close to tears, but silently nodded. Clearly he was more scared of being caught alone than if they stayed together.
Midoriya moved quietly and let himself be led, head occasionally turning as if listening.
“Shh, they’re talking.” Midoriya said as they settled at the very edge of the shipwreck zone they’d just escaped.
She could only assume what people said about depriving your senses to strengthen the others was true, because if Midoriya could hear what they were saying- his face scrunched unhappily and a moment later she could tell why.
The lead villain had actually managed to hit Mr. Aizawa. Not just hit- hurt if the now raw and bleeding patch on his arm was anything to go by.
“What’s the main guy look like?”
Mineta was the one to speak up, “Super creepy, got all these weird hand things on his face and wrists. Covering his face too.”
“And the big one?” Midoriya said while Asyui struggled to speak as the bird-guy squared off against their teacher.
“He’s- his head it’s- it looks like his brain is poking out of his skull Midoriya.” Before she could continue, her voice failed as their teacher got caught.
“Who is that?” He hissed. “Tsu, Mineta, talk to me.”
“Mr Aizawa- he’s losing.”
+x+
Ominous note I left this one on but Aizawa was fine.
The rough Idea for this fic wat that Izuku has a quirk that lets him steal/swap things, a combination of his parent's quirks. he's not technically stealing anything so much as he's replacing it with air giving the appearance of plain theft. But Izuku rarely uses it in any way to make that obvious. After AFO lost his fight with All Might he tracked down his Ex-wife and son and forced Izuku to use his quirk on him to "Steal" or more accurately "Trade" his injuries. Starting with his eyes. It worked, and AFO got Izuku's eyes but they were super damaged from the process. They eyes themselves are there now, but the nerves, tissue, and stalks are all still damaged. So he can see but it's painful and blurry. He still relies heavily on quirks to just differentiate light and dark.
Izuku was in so much pain from the abrupt removal of his eyeballs that he couldn't continue and fainted. AFO was also in a shit ton of pain and ran off because Inko would definitely kill him, especially in his weakened stat. Inko said screw consequences of being involved with a notorious super villain and called All Might (who was still in the hospital) to tell him AFO was alive and also mutilated her baby. Yeah, that did not do good thinks for Yagi's metal state, and he blames himself for indirectly causing Izuku's suffering. He calls David Shield and begs him to make something to help Izuku, which is what his visor is.
He also stays in contact with Izuku and agrees to train him to be a hero. Because anyone who can suffer that and still be polite and friendly and want to help people is more than hero material. Izuku knows about All Mights guilt, he doesn't blame him but will leverage it for training and for his hero to come to his birthday parties. Izuku knows All Might is Injured but pretends he doesn't for Yagi's sake.
Once he gets to UA, Izuku continues to prove he's more than his disability. He doesn't have OFA, he actually might kill Yagi if he tried to give it to him. Uraraka and IIda are still his friends with Tsu and Todoroki completing the set. I don't think I had him in a relationship in this one, if it's not plot relevant I usually don't, but if it's anyone it's probably Tsu. Todoroki meanwhile is super embarrassed he complained about his father to Izuku, but our boy insists that his suffering doesn't mean Shoto suffered any less. They both just have shit-head fathers.
After Kamino Ward Izuku shows up at the villain hospital to see his dad and takes his eyes back, cause FUCK AFO. He's still mostly blind, he can kinda see color now but it's much the same for how it worked with AFO and Izuku doesn't have the quirks to compensate for it. But his physical eyes are back, and all of his friends agree that green eyes suit him much more than they did his father.
Only other thing of note would be Nighteye recognizes Izuku because they met post All Might injury. Izuku looks enough like his father that he make Nighteye wildly uncomfortable but he tries to be nice- as nice as nighteye is with strange children. Now as a teen he just refuses to look at Izuku while talking but treats him like any other intern otherwise, at least as far as Izuku can tell.
The wrap up of the story would be Izuku explaining to Eri how he lost and regains his eyes, how he was more than his trauma and that letting your abuser define you is just giving them more power. Continuing to be kind and living despite them is kind of the perfect revenge in his, literal and metaphorical, eyes.