Chapter Text
Midoriya Izuku trudged home from school with yet another burn mark on his face. He was glad his mother worked late so she wouldn’t have to see this. It was just another day. This was his normal. Nothing about coming home from school with a burn mark from someone who was supposed to be his friend was odd. And it never crossed his mind that this wasn’t normal.
He thought he deserved it, for pulling the shortest stick in the genepool. It was his fault that he was born this way. Everyone else was just showing him how worthless he was. It was nothing more than that.
When he says “being born this way,” he means being quirkless. In a world where people can be or do anything the mind can imagine he just didn’t have that gift. He was an unevolved human. Worth less than a penny.
Izuku walked into his apartment complex and went straight to his apartment. The minute he walked in his door he dropped his backpack and went right to the bathroom to get some burn cream.
He looked in the bathroom mirror, Kacchan hadn't been very merciful that day and the burn was right on his cheek, making it harder to keep his mom from noticing. But he’ll manage, he’s had to sense he was four.
He opened the cabinet mirror and grabbed the burn cream on the top shelf. Placed there so his mom didn’t notice he had it. He unscrewed the top and placed two fingers in the remaining cream. There wasn’t much left, he’ll have to buy some later. He took his cream covered fingers and carefully rubbed it on the burn. It wasn’t too bad, Kacchan had done worse before. He rubbed all the cream he could on his burnt skin before he washed the rest of it off. The jar was now completely empty so he threw it in the garbage under the bathroom sink and left the room.
He grabbed his backpack from the front door and grabbed his homework for today and his analysis book. He’ll do his homework while watching some hero fights and analyze them when he’s done.
When he was about half way done with the crazy amount of homework his teachers gave him he felt the buzz of a notification on his phone. He picked it up from his pocket to see he was from his mom.
“I’ll be working late tonight. I'll be home at about ten. Sorry honey!” the text read.
“It’s okay mom, have a good night.” He texted back. This will at least give him an opportunity to buy more burn cream.
He put down the phone and continued with his homework.
After Izuku finished all his homework and another page in his analyst book, he decided it was about time he ate. He picked up his phone to check the time. It was eight thirty six, no wonder he was so hungry. He stood up and walked to the cabinet. There was still some instant ramen left so he’ll have that then go buy some burn cream.
He took the instant ramen and pulled off the lid, poured in some tap water, put in the bag of flavouring, and put it in the microwave for three minutes.
Why was time the slowest when your food was heating in the microwave? Why was it when the instant ramen was heating up the hunger pains are more obvious? Why does he always have a crisis in moments like these? Life questions that will never be answered.
The harsh beeping of the microwave pulled him out of his head. He opened the microwave door and took out the ramen. But he wasn’t being careful enough and split about half of it. He sucked in a deep breath through his nose, he wasn’t going to cry over some split ramen.
Despite what he told himself, tears leaked from his eyes. He was crying over split ramen, great. He was going to put the rest of his ramen on the counter and get a cloth to clean up his mess but life wanted to fuck him over today. He slipped on his ramen mess and split the rest of it.
So there he was, on the floor, clothes soaked in ruined ramen, crying like it was the end of the world.
He could hear as his classmates laughed at him for being such a weakling, so stupid and clumsy. He could feel Kacchans hands pull him up by the collar and tell him how useless he was. He could feel the drop of his spit splash on his face from Kacchans aggressive talking. He could feel the tears down his face. But at least the tears were real. He knew that this scene in front of him wasn’t real and used his tears to ground himself back to reality. And so there he was again. Laying in a pool of ramen, not that this was any better from his imagination.
He forced himself up on his feet. He’ll simply clean up his mess and make another cup of ramen. He walked carefully so he wouldn't fall again to where the cloth was on the counter top. He grabbed the cloth then threw it on the ground as he cleaned the ramen mess with his foot. Only actually using his hands when he was picking up the wasted noodles and throwing them in the garbage.
He walked back over to the cabinet to get himself more ramen. To find that the one he split was the last one they had. Izuku started at the ramen-less cabinet. Now that was a bit of a problem. He walked over to the front door without closing the cabinet door. He’ll just buy a few more boxes of it and get some burn cream. It was the perfect plan. He put on his iconic, a bit too big, red shoes and grabbed some money that his mom always left there in case he needed it, then left.
It was a bit dark outside, not that it really made a difference other than the fact that it was cold and the store was a twenty minute walk away. But he sucked it up and kept walking, he was used to suffering anyway.
The walk was boring, but quiet. And Izuku would take any quiet the world gave him. So he sucked in a deep breath and tried to smile. It was peaceful out, he’ll go get some ramen and burn cream then he’ll go home in the nice weather and watch some more hero fights. It was simple but Izuku was looking forward to it.
The wind started picking up when he was about a minute away from the store, it looked like it was going to rain. There goes all hope of walking home in nice weather. He didn't bring an umbrella either. He sighed, he’ll just have to be quick and beat the weather. He picked up his pace and was at the store in no time. He wasted no time and went right over to the foods section to find boxes of ramen then the burn cream right after that. He looked at the money he had to see if he had enough. He didn’t. So he had to put one box of ramen back and waste more time. If there was a god out there, Izuku was confident he hated him.
With one box of ramen and his burn cream in hand he went to the tills to pay. Since it was late only one was open and already had a few people in it. Sigh sighed and went to wait in line.
While waiting he looked out the window to see how the weather was fairing. It had already started to rain, great. He would just go buy himself an umbrella but he doesn't have the money.
“I guess I'm walking home in the rain.” He mumbled to himself.
After paying for his things he walked out of the store to be met with cold rain. It was expected but still upsetting. Now he really wished he brought a coat. But he had to get home and the sooner he did the better.
Walking down the same streets that he, a few minutes ago, found pleasant, wasn’t very pleasant anymore in the rain. He was soaked and cold and honestly didn’t know if his day could get any worse. That was a lie, he knew how it could. But still.
After only a few minutes of walking a shade went over his head and the rain stopped hitting him. When he looked to see there was a stranger holding an umbrella over his head.
“It’s a little cold in the rain isn't it?” the stranger said. Izuku only stuttered in response. He was shocked. A random person helping him? This was really a once in a lifetime moment. And he was ruining it with his stuttering per usual.
“Y-Yeah it is. I just didn’t bring an umbrella.” He managed to sutter out.
“Well I'll help out with that.” the stranger was odd, if Izuku was being blunt. He had scraggly light blue hair, his face was extremely dry and chapped, and he was holding the umbrella with all fingers except for his pinky.
The stranger didn't seem like he was leaving and he wasn’t when Izuku started walking back home and the stranger followed him to keep him dry. It was a little stressful, no scratch that, really stressful for Izuku.
But the stranger insisted on keeping a conversation going. “I don't mean to pry but why does someone your age need burn cream?” He asked, pointing at the jar.
“O-Oh um!” Izuku stuttered. He needed to think of an excuse, and now! “A-A friend of mine has an explosion quirk but he has a r-really tough time controlling it so me and my other friends sometimes get b-burns.”
“Ah I see.” The stranger said, not really sounding very convinced. But he didn’t push the issue any longer so Izuku took that as a win.
The stranger didn’t ask anymore questions after that but it was still very awkward. So Izuku used all his strength in him to start up a conversation.
“So I-I noticed that you're holding the umbrella weirdly, any r-reason for that?” He said while internally cringing at his attempt to be social.
“Ah, I have a five point contact quirk. Don't want to ruin the umbrella y’know.”
“Oh yeah. I suppose.”
The two strangers walked to Izuku's home without saying another word.
That wasn't the first time Izuku met the stranger.
The next time was about a month later, and he had almost forgotten about the weird interaction.
Izuku was about to walk home before he was stopped by Kacchans lackeys.
“I learnt this new trick and I want to try it on you.” The lackey that Kacchan called “fingers” said with a malicious smile. Fingers jammed one of his fingers into Izuku's stomach, causing him to fall back a bit. Then he used his quirk to extend his finger. Izuku felt as it went through his shirt and a few too many layers of skin. He yelled in pain.
Fingers removed his finger and repeated this stabbing process, laughing while doing so. Izuku just stood there and took it. He’d get in more trouble if he tried to run.
At this point Izuku has been giving at least five decently deep wounds and more less deep ones. He could feel blood soaking into his shirt. And of course Kacchans lackeys looked like they were having the time of their life.
This would’ve gone on longer if it weren’t for a slightly familiar voice calling out. “Hey, stop!”
All of the boys turned to use who it was. It took Izuku a little bit to remember who it was but then it clicked in his mind. The kind stranger!
It was light outside so Izuku could see his face better. Glowing red eyes were now visible to him and just how bad the stranger's face was. Izuku thought he should really use some moisturizer.
“And why should we?” “Wings” asked.
The stranger just smiled. It was a creepy sadistic smile. All of the boys felt shivers in their bones. “Why?” The stanger said a bit too sadistically for Izukus liking. “Because all of you could be reduced to nothing but dust in less than a minute if you piss me off.” He stopped smiling. “And you’re really pissing me off.”
Kacchans lackeys backed off a bit and Fingers let Izuku go.
“This guys weird, let's get out of here.” Wings said. The others nodded and they scurried off.
Izuku wanted to thank the stranger but the pains in his stomach prevented him from doing so. He held his stomach and hissed in pain.
“Are you,,, alright?” The stranger asked.
“I’ll manage.” Izuku said, forcing out a smile. “I always do.”
“Sure you do.” He grumbled. “Can I see how bad it is though.”
“O-Oh, umm okay.” Izuku stuttered, lifting his shirt. The wounds were pretty bad, all of them would probably need stitches to heal properly.
“Yeah.” He said after looking for a good minute. “You should go to a doctor.”
“I can’t!” Izuku replied immediately.
“Why the hell not.”
“I can’t let my mom know this is happening! It will stress her out too much!” Izuku said a little too desperately.
“You’ll refuse to go to a hospital because it’ll stress out your mom? Jeez kid, you're selfless.”
“She’s trying so hard to raise a kid like me! I can’t make it worse, she doesn’t deserve that!” Izuku tried to explain.
The stranger grumbled. “How about this, i have a friend who’s decent at medical care. I’ll take you to him, fix you up at least a bit, then you go home and your mom won't know a thing.”
Izuku knew that going with a stranger wasn’t a very smart idea. But he had already helped him twice and although he does seem sketchy he does really seem to want to help. Or at least that's what it looks like. Besides, it's not like Izuku has a whole lot to lose. “Sure... ”
“Then follow me.” The stranger turned around and started to walk away, Izuku followed him.
The two walked in silence. Izuku watched as the scenery around him got sketchier and sketchier until they stopped at a bar.
“We’re here.”
“A bar? Why are we at a bar?” Izuku asked.
“Because we are getting a drink. Why do you think we’re here? This is where my friends works.” the stranger grumbled.
Izuku didn't know what to say after that. So he stayed quiet.
The stranger opened the door to the bar and walked in, Izuku followed.
“Ah Tomura you’re back.” The bartender said. He seemed to be made of mist? It was very cool to Izuku. “Oh, and who's that you got there?” The misty bartender asked, bringing attention to Izuku.
“The kid’s pretty badly injured and he refuses to go to the hospital. So I was wondering if you could help.” The stranger (Tomura?) said.
The bartender put down the plate he was drying. “Oh of course, I’ll go get the first aid kit.” Then he went into a back room.
Only about a minute later the bartender returned.
“I suppose I should introduce myself.” The bartender started. “I am Kurogiri.”
“Hello, I’m Izuku Midoriya.” Izuku responded.
“May I see the injuries?” Kurogiri asked.
“Oh, yeah.” Izuku said, lifting up his shirt, revealing the wounds.
Kurogiri was a little taken aback by the wounds. The blood was mostly dry but you could still see how deep they were.
Kurogiri inched closer to the injuries. “I will most likely have to give you stitches. Are you comfortable with me giving you stitches even though I've only done them a few times and I'm not a professional?” Kurogiri asked. Izuku was surprised by his kindness and his actual concern for Izukus consent. It wasn’t something Izuku had gotten in a long time, possibly ever.
“Y-Yeah it's fine.” Izuku answered.
“Perfect.” Kurogiri said. He opened into the first aid kit and grabbed what he needed. “So I'm going to stitch these to the best of my ability and then wrap them with bandages, alright?” Kurogiri said. Izuku wondered if an actual doctor cared this much about their patients' comfort.
Kurogiri held his supplies carefully and began to work. It was obvious he was trying very hard not to hurt Izuku. Izuku felt so cared for, this stranger was helping with his wounds even though he in no way had too and trying his best to make sure Izuku was comfortable and not in pain. Not to mention before Tomura scared away his bullies! Today was really a good day.
A little while later Kurogiri was finished stitching Izuku up and brought out the bandages to wrap him.
“Now you should be careful not to mess around with your stomach area too much. You could break the stitches and that would be a little bit of a problem.” Kurogiri instructed. Izuku nodded. “And if you don't mind me asking.” Kurogiri continued. “How did you even get injuries such as these? They're so deep and the shape is rather abnormal…”
Izuku didn’t know if he wanted to answer. He didn’t really want to bother another stranger with his problems.
But Izuku wasn’t given much of a choice for Tomura answered for him. “Some stupid kid was stabbing him with his quirk.”
“That's horrible.” Kurogiri responded. “Well you should be good to go now, Midoriya-kun.”
“Thank you Kurogiri-san.”
He gave the two a small wave when he exited the building and made his way home.
Over the next few months both Tomura, whose full name is actually Tomura Shigaraki, and Kurogiri helped him with things here and there. Izuku was very grateful, though he felt like he didn’t deserve it. The topic of his quirk, or lack of, never came up. So he felt like he was tricking them into thinking they were helping a normal person when in reality he was a quirkless, useless, Deku.
Now, Izuku is a third year in middle school. And he was nearing the end of april. So he should’ve been expecting this. He really should’ve. But like always he was useless and forgot.
Career picking.
His teacher started the last class of the day by saying how they were in their third years and how they should all be seriously thinking about their futures. He made a comment about all their great quirks, and though he wasn’t actually called out, Izuku could feel the poison from his voice as he knew he was excluded in that group.
His teacher handed out sheets for top three high school choices. Although for most of his life Izuku was told that he couldn’t be a hero, he hadn’t given up. Not yet. So he put down U.A., his dream school, for his first and only choice. He held the sheet tight to his chest so no one would see. If Kacchan or his lackeys saw this he would surely be put in his place for even thinking of going to a hero school, nevermind U.A., Kacchans dream school.
But of course he was called out anyway.
It was the end of class and Izuku was just trying to turn in his sheet when Kacchan snatched the paper right from his hand.
“Haaahhh.” Kacchan said, looking at the paper. “I thought I told you not to even think about trying to go to U.A! A useless Deku like you shouldn’t even be allowed to try! It just insults everyone else if you think they’re on the same level as you!” He started backing Izuku into the wall at the back of the classroom.
Izuku backed up, and a foot tripped him. He landed right on his butt but didn’t even stop moving back in wince in the slight pain. “I-I’m sorry Kacchan! I’ll change it!” He begged.
“Like hell you will!” Kacchan spat back. “What's this?” He asked, looking right at his notebook in his hand. Kacchan snapped the book right out of hand. “Hero analysis for the future #13?”
Izuku watched in horror as Kacchan flipped through the book with a blank face. When Kacchan got to the end of the book he finally spoke up. “You’re such a creepy stalker Deku! Watching heros all the time, you’re such a loser! Wake up, you’ll never be able to be a hero!” and with that Kacchan used his Quirk to blow up the book, then he threw it out of the window of the classroom. “If you want to be a hero so badly just pray you’ll have a quirk in your next life and take a swan dive off a building!”
Tears welled in Izuku's eyes. He had been told to kill himself before, but never by Kacchan. Never by Kacchan. It felt so different when it came out of his mouth. Izuku's head fell down as he started to cry.
“Tsk, such a crybaby. Let's go.” Kacchan told his group of lackeys. They followed and they all exited the room. One taking the time to spit at Izuku.
It took Izuku a few minutes but he finally got up from the ground. He looked out the classroom window to see his notebook floating in the school's pond, a koi fish nomming on it. He made his way down the stars and to the pond to retrieve the book.
“That's not fish food.” he said to the koi while taking his notebook back. He shook the book in an attempt to dry it. There was very little success.
Izuku sighed as he looked up at the school roof, it was only three floors so it wasn't the highest building, there would still be a chance of survival if he tried from there.
Izuku realized what he was thinking and vigorously shook his head, and even smacked it a few times. “I can't do that! My mom could never handle it! And I'll never see Shigaraki-san and Kurogiri-san again and I could never be a hero!”
With the wet notebook in hand he began to walk home. The streets were pretty empty for school just letting out. He walked under a bridge, checking the extent of damage his notebook took.
While doing so he seemed to miss the sounds coming from the drain below him.
The next thing he felt was goop climbing up his body at rapid rates then immediately attacking his mouth. Izuku couldn’t breathe. He scratched at the attackers liquid body as an escape attempt, with no avail. The goop person was saying things but he was too overwhelmed with fear to hear him.
The world started blurring around him.
Was he dying?
Was he going to die?
He didn’t want to die.
Black splotches filled his vision as he felt his consonance fade.
He was dying.
It felt unreal. Just today he was told to kill himself by Kacchan for the first time. And now he was actually dying.
Maybe this was some sort of sign.
Izuku stopped struggling, then passed out only a few moments later. But he could’ve sworn he heard a familiar voice.
Izuku felt a slight tapping on his cheek as he gained consciousness. He was alive? A booming voice made its way into his ears as he opened his eyes. He was greeted with the symbol of peace himself.
“Ah ha! You’re awake! I was scared I lost you for a second there!” All Might said.
Izuku opened his eyes wide in shock. He was just saved by All Might! Izuku grabbed his notebook to get All Might to sign it but it had already been signed.
“You already signed it!” He exclaimed at the sight of his signed notebook.
“Of course my boy! But I'm afraid that I must go now!” All Might said, preparing for take off.
“Wait!” Izuku yelled as he latched onto All Might's leg. He still needed to ask him something. He needed to know.
All Might jumped up into the air, unwillingly taking Izuku with him. “I need to ask you something!” Izuku yelled, face distorted by the air flow.
“I will need to land but please keep your eyes and mouth closed for now!” All Might told him. Izuku obeyed and shut his eyes and mouth.
After a few seconds of high speed flying, the two landed on a random tall building. Izuku took a second to catch his breath and bring himself back to reality.
“That was a very dangerous thing to do.” All Might scolded him.
“I know and I'm sorry but I really couldn’t let you leave until I asked one thing!” Izuku exclaimed.
“Well make it quick my boy, i don't have much time left.”
Izuku inhaled. “Can I become a hero without a quirk? Is it possible for someone like me,,, to be someone like you?”
“Without a quirk..?” all might said before choking up.
“Because I don't have a quirk, people make fun of me all the time. And I just really think that it's really cool to save people.” Izuku continued. “I n- want to become a hero like you, a hero that saves people with a fearless smil-” Izuku looked up at All Might before screaming. “HUH!? you thinned out? Or no, you can be all might! You have to be some sort of impostor!”
“I am All Might.” He said with blood flowing out of his mouth.
“I don't believe you!!!”
“Quiet down kid, it's just part of my quirk. I ran out of time, simple as that.” All Might said. “Also dont go telling your friends about this form, it's supposed to be a secret.” Izuku nodded at the request. It wasn't hard to do, considering he didn't really have any friends.
“And for your question.” All Might started. “No you can not. Even I, the symbol of peace, has almost died in a villian attack. If someone without a quirk were to try they would surely die. Sorry kid.”
“I see…” Izuku looked down and tried to hold back the flood of tears wheeling in his eyes.
“If you really want to save people, try being a policeman.” All Might said, walking to the door. “It's not bad to dream, but you gotta be realistic, kid.” And then he left without even looking back at Izuku.
Izuku started holes into the door that All Might left from, the tears in his eyes, escaping. The words repeated in his head.
“No you can not.”
“If someone without a quirk were to try they would surely die.”
“You gotta be realistic, kid.”
“be realistic.”
“be realistic."
He's been told that all his life. Why did it take him so long to listen?
Deku felt as any and all life left in him drained out.
He's never felt so empty before.
He's not in pain.
He probably should be.
But instead it's nothing.
But yet he's still crying.
Kacchans words make their way into his mind again.
“If you want to be a hero so badly just pray you’ll have a quirk in your next life and take a swan dive off a building!”
All of a sudden, it wasn't such a bad idea. He has spent all his life dreaming of being a hero, that's what kept him alive for so long. What left does he even have? His Mom would be devastated but he only made her life worse to begin with. And Shigaraki-san and Kurogiri-san would get over it eventually.
He let his backpack fall from his shoulders as he walked towards the edge, the wind picking up. When he got to the railing of the building he just sat down. A pitiful smile was on his face as his tears flowed down. He looked down. It was a very high building, with no chance of survival.
He lived so long as Izuku, a boy with a dream that no one believed he could achieve. It was about time he died as Deku, a boy who gave up on everything.
“Kid.” a familiar voice called out from behind him. Deku looked back, it was Shigaraki-san.
“How did you..?”
“It's not everyday you see a green haired kid flying with All Might.” Shigaraki-san said. “I heard everything he said too.”
This was it. Shigaraki-san, one of the only people who showed him kindness, knew he was quirkless. He was going to tell him to give up and jump just like everyone else.
Deku didn't say a word. He didn’t want to be told more things he already knew.
“Do you know what I am?” Shigarki-san asked out of no-where. Deku looked up at him. “I’m a villain with the goal of killing All Might.”
“I kinda figured.” Deku said with his now emotionless voice. “You never seemed like a very law abiding person, your hate of heroes didn’t exactly help your case either.”
“So you knew, but yet you still associate with me?”
“How could I not? You were the first person other than my own mother to show me kindness since I was four. I could never throw away something like that, even if you are a villain.” Deku explained.
“So you don't care about who cares for you, you just want to be helped?”
“Beggars can't be choosers.”
“Interesting…” Shigaraki said, starting to think. “What if I were to give you an offer?”
“What kind of offer?” Izuku asked.
“Come with me. Live in the bar with me and Kurogiri. Never have to worry about anything again, not bullies, not school, not your mom, not the future, nothing. Be able to live completely in the present and never feel this way again.” Shigaraki held out his hand. “All I ask in exchange is to be my friend and support.”
Deku looked at him in shock. This was too good to be true. Have all his problems just,,, disappear? Never have to worry again? It sounded like a dream. But…
“Wouldn’t your sensei get annoyed at me for being there?” Deku asked.
“Sensei said I could do with life as I wish, so if I want to keep you it's my right.” Shigaraki explained.
“Are you sure?” Deku asked.
“Yes.”
Deku did not hesitate to speed-walk over to him. Sure what he was offering could all be a lie and he could be used in the worst ways possible. But it's not like Deku has anything to lose, he was just about to kill himself anyway.
Deku grabbed his hand, forgetting about his quirk. But Shigaraki-san was more careful and kept at least two of his fingers off of him just to be careful.
“Kurogiri open a portal to the bar.” Shigaraki-san demanded to Kurogiri, who was apparently in the building the entire time. Kurogiri did as he was told and opened a portal that Shigarki-san brought him in.
“Thank you Shigaraki-san.” Deku said.
“Tomuras fine.” Sh- Tomura said.
Deku, no, Izuku smiled.