Chapter Text
Izuku Midoriya wanted to be a hero more than anyone else. He really did. He had the heart, the will, the smarts, the natural genius and talent. But there was one problem, however:He was quirkless. And thus, people would tend to overlook his hidden talents and untapped potential.
But nonetheless, he was determined to not let his condition get in his way and define him. Even if he was scorned, shunned away, bullied, mocked, ridiculed, put down and pushed around for his heroic dream, Izuku would grit his teeth and face forward. He would be relentless in the pursuit of his heroic dream, carrying on a willful spirit. But like any other spirit, if you beat it down long and hard enough, they too...canbreak.
And to say that Izuku Midoriya had a bad life would be anunderstatement. Ever since he was quirkless, it appeared that everything good in his life that made him safe, happy and welcome took a big nose dive. His dad left him, his mother basically stopped caring for him, friends started turning into enemies, and his childhood friend turned into his bully and tormentor for the rest of his life after Izuku turned four years old. It's as if god himself said 'Yep, those 4 years of your life would be the only time that you'd be happy. Now enjoy hell for the rest of your life!'
But Izuku wasn't going to let that happen. Hewillbe going to be a hero, hewillfulfill his dreams and ambitions, and hewillbe actually happy! He was determined to findsomekind of meaningful purpose for his life. Hewillprove his worth! He will!...right?
As Izuku Midoriya sat in his homeroom class at Aldera Junior High, the noise around him was deafening. Quirk use, loud and disruptive behavior were the norm in the classroom, and the teacher didn't care one bit. Flames crackled from one student's hands, another's skin hardened like stone, and a third grew extra limbs, all adding to the cacophony. Izuku kept his head down, scribbling in his notebook, trying to focus on anything other than the chaos around him.
His notebook was his sanctuary, filled with detailed notes on quirks, hero strategies, and even rough sketches of inventions he'd dreamt up. Though he knew he'd never use a quirk himself, he couldn't help but analyze the ones he saw, jotting down weaknesses and potential counters. His inventive mind was always at work, even in the most distracting environments.
But as he wrote, a flicker of doubt crossed his mind.What's the point?he wondered, staring at the page.No one cares about what I can do.The notebook had become a testament to his loneliness, filled with thoughts and ideas he'd never get to share.
Eventually, when the teacher entered and pulled out the career forms, the buzz died down.
"Now then! You're all third years, so it's time for you all to start thinking seriously about your futures!" The teacher announced, looking through the forms in his hand. "Normally, I would hand out these career forms. However..." He then threw the papers in the air with a flourish. "I know you all want to be heroes!"
There was a great uproar from the rest of the class. Flamethrower arms were lit, skins were hardening, muscles were growing eyeballs, and fingers and necks were extending. In the midst of the chaos sat a spiky-haired blonde with a co*cksure grin, lounging lazily in his chair with his feet kicked up on his desk.
"Come on, teach! Don't lump me in with the rest of these extras!" Katsuki Bakugou arrogantly bragged, hands in his pockets. The rest of the class turned its ire on him, but he responded with equal disdain. He then went on a flaunting tirade about how he was going to be the number one hero, surpassing even All Might.
Izuku clenched his pencil tighter, his hand trembling slightly. His eyes flicked from his notebook to Bakugou, and then back again.Kacchan,he thought, his chest tightening. Once, they had been friends-Izuku had admired him, even looked up to him. But now, Bakugou was just another reminder of everything Izuku wasn't and could never be.
The teacher chuckled at Bakugou's bravado, not bothering to rein in the chaos. "Yes, yes, Bakugou, you've certainly got the talent. But remember, it takes more than just a strong quirk to be a hero."
Izuku felt a pang of bitterness.What about those of us without a quirk?he thought. But he didn't say it out loud. He never did. Instead, he lowered his head further, hoping to disappear into his notebook, his mind whirring with ideas that would never see the light of day.
The class's chaos quickly silenced when the teacher offhandedly mentioned, "Oh yes, Midoriya. You applied for U.A as well, didn't you?"
Everyone immediately froze, their eyes zeroing in on the nervous green-haired boy who flinched at the unwanted attention.
"Pfft! HAHAHAHAHA!!!"
"HAHAHAHA!"
"Midoriya?! Ha! You're kidding, right? There's no way he's getting into the hero course without a Quirk!"
The entire classroom burst into ridiculing, disbelieving laughter. Izuku, trying to muster some courage, stammered, "Actually! They got rid of that rule! I could be the first one!"
His words were met with more laughter, and Bakugou exploded his desk, throwing Izuku to the floor.
"Still?! After all this time, you're still trying to compete with me? Wake up and realize how worthless you are, Deku!" Bakugou growled, approaching him with eyes blazing in fury. Izuku began crawling back to the wall behind him in fear, pitifully trying to calm the angrier boy.
"Listen up, Deku! You're even worse than the rest of these damn rejects, you Quirkless wannabe!" Bakugou snarled, his hands sparking with his Quirk. The school bell rang, preventing things from escalating further, and the teacher finally decided to step in and try to calm the class down.
"Alright, class. Settle down, the bell just rang. And Midoriya, clean up your desk afterward," the teacher ordered, not caring that Izuku had just been attacked. Izuku, his head hung low, replied in a monotone voice, "Yes, sir."
His hands shook slightly from how hard he was clenching them. As he got up, he tried his best to hide his anger and frustration at the unfair treatment he received every day.
The school day went on... normally, if that was what one could call Izuku's life situation. Being a social pariah was not a pleasant experience. But Izuku's determination to fulfill his dream remained steadfast. While everyone else began packing up their things and leaving after the school day had ended, Izuku stayed behind. He was discreetly making some final touches on his very first invention inside his bag: hisfreeze ray, something he had been building since he was seven. If going to the hero course through the normal exam didn't work, then he would do so from the support course.
From the corner of his eye, Izuku saw Bakugou and his lackeys approaching. Quickly, he zipped up his bag and began acting like he was about to leave. Unfortunately, they caught up to him first. Aside from Bakugou, Izuku hadn't bothered to learn the names of his two 'extras' that were always by his side. So, Izuku opted to just call them 'Minion #1' and 'Minion #2'.
"Hey, Midoriya. What's the rush?" Minion #1 called out. "Yeah. It's not like you have anyone to hang out with," Minion #2 followed up.
Izuku stuttered, trying to explain himself and get out of this situation. "I-I was just-"
But before he could finish, Bakugou quickly snatched Izuku's notebook from his hands and read it out loud, "'Hero Quirk Analysis no. 13'? Why do you even have this sh*t? You should know by now that a Quirkless bastard like you could never be a hero!" The arrogant blonde sneered, watching Izuku flail in a desperate attempt to get his notebook back.
"I-I can still be a hero! Now give it back!" Izuku pleaded, his voice shaky but determined.
"You can't get accepted into the hero course just by studying, Midoriya," Minion #2 said bluntly as Minion #1 laughed at the absurd idea of Izuku applying for the hero course. Eventually, Bakugou lowered his arm and pretended to hand Izuku his notebook back.
"Fine. You want it so bad? Here you go."
Izuku almost looked hopeful. However, as he reached out to grab his notebook, Bakugou used his explosive Quirk to fry the notebook, sending a wave of fear through Izuku. The charred remains of the notebook were then thrown out the window. Bakugou placed a hand on Izuku's shoulder, smoke emanating from his palm and lightly burning the green-haired boy.
"Listen here and listen closely: Don't even think about applying to U.A., Deku," Bakugou threatened, his voice low and menacing. Izuku could do nothing but meekly nod in fear.
After ensuring the threat was understood, Bakugou and his minions turned to leave. But not before Bakugou delivered one final blow. "You know, if you want to be a hero that badly, here's an advice: Why don't you take a swan dive off a roof and pray for a Quirk in your next life!"
Bakugou and his two minions laughed cruelly as they exited the classroom. Izuku stood motionlessly, his eyes darkening and his fists clenched tightly. There was a certain glimmer in his eyes after Bakugou's parting words. He snapped his head around, expecting Bakugou and his two minions to still be standing by the door, but they had already left.
Izuku was incredibly tempted to use his freeze ray on him right then and there. To freeze him for eternity and make him suffer for everything he had done to him or use him as his lab rat to test his many other deadly inventions on. In fact, Izuku was already thinking about building an invention that would take away Bakugou's Quirkpermanentlysince he loved it so much. A small, devious smile subconsciously formed upon his lips.Should he?
The thought was intoxicating. The idea of making Bakugou powerless, of showing him what it felt like to be stripped of everything, made Izuku's heart race. To be the one on the other end of the stick for once! But then, he caught his reflection in the window. The dark look in his eyes, the twisted smile-it wasn't him. It wasn't the hero he aspired to be.
He shook his head and unclenched his fists, forcing himself to calm down. 'Alright, calm down, Izuku. Heroes don't think about revenge,' he reminded himself, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves. He couldn't let thoughts like that consume him, not when he still had a dream to chase.
Izuku gathered his things and left the classroom, the weight of Bakugou's words still pressing heavily on his mind. After retrieving his fried notebook from a fish pond, Izuku began to walk home from school in a dampened mood. He was having a bad, bad day, but he tried to keep his spirits up. To smile through the pain and through any situation, no matter how bad, like his idol All Might would do.
As he walks out the school gates, he wonders where to go. He sighs as he really doesn't want to go home knowing that his mother is most likely there. Neither people would be too happy to see each other at all. Their interactions as well as their relationship had become strained ever since Izuku was conditioned quirkless, and he wasn't looking forward to any confrontation with her. Lost in his thoughts, he nearly missed the familiar trio of small, yellow figures wearing blue overalls that bounded up to him, their vibrant energy a stark contrast to his gloomy state.
"Hey!"
"Big boss!"
"Eyoooo!"
Their cheerful calls and energetic greetings cut through the heavy atmosphere, drawing a reluctant smile from Izuku. The absurdity of their unyielding optimism was a small but welcome distraction. Despite his somber mood, he couldn't help but be slightly uplifted by their presence.
"Ah, hey. It's you guys again!" Izuku greeted the small trio with genuine enthusiasm as he approached them. The minions, as they called themselves, had become a curious, interesting and unexpected part of his life.
Izuku remembered their first encounter vividly. It all began a week ago when he had sneaked into an abandoned building to test out his gadgets and inventions. The building was deserted, so he hoped that it didn't count as trespassing. Inside, he had set up a makeshift lab to experiment with his support items and weapons-everything from grenades and unique blasters to tear gas, knockout gas, easy but complex handcuffs, and, of course, his prized Freeze Ray. His goal was to see how these tools could be used to capture villains when he tries for the U.A support course exam.
However, when testing them out, he decided to have some fun with it by acting like hero by performing grandiose dramatics, attempting to imitate All Might's bravado when he fights villains. Or even trying to copy both Bakugou and All Might by saying things like 'EVERYONE BEWARE, FOR I AM HERE!', or DIE!!' And even trying to laugh like All Might.
He had accidently made himself look like a villain instead. And he supposes that the minions had watched him the whole time and that was what had drawn the minions to him as theyreallywant to serve a villain and want him to be a villain for whatever reason. Izuku doesn't know how to break it down to them that he intends to be a hero...
Izuku had initially thought the minions were merely bizarre-looking mutants, speaking in a foreign language that even he couldn't decipher. Their strange appearances and peculiar behavior had made him see them as oddities rather than anything more.
When he returned to the abandoned building, he was utterly astonished to find not just the trio but an entire damnsocietyof minions. The building, which he had thought was abandoned, was teeming with these yellow creatures. It was like stumbling upon a hidden army, all of them working in unison, already making their way to fix the building.
The realization that there was a whole society of these minions, each with their own personalities and specialties, was both overwhelming and intriguing. So, yeah, that's how they met and ever since then, the minions had stuck to his side like unbreakable glue.
"Izuku! Po aca!"
"Pem yacub to!"
The trio of minions, whom Izuku's learned their names to be Kevin, Stuart, and Bob, began to surround him and basically began to fanboy and coddle over him while also babbling excitedly in their own language. Izuku himself finds it a bit uncomfortable, but he appreciates the sentiment nonetheless. "Thanks, guys! Missed you too." He said as his mood actually started to lighten up, especially after having a hard day today.
Suddenly, the tallest minion, Kevin, spoke up. "Izuku! We kaylay a Ta da nunu to! Surprise!" he said eagerly, with Stuart and Bob nodding enthusiastically beside him. "Si! Si!" they chimed in, their excitement contagious.
Izuku, still struggling to understand their language, recognized the English word "surprise." "Surprise? You have a surprise for me?" he asked, a bit puzzled but curious.
The trio nodded vigorously, and before he knew it, they were dragging him by the hand. "What the-!? Whoa!" Izuku exclaimed as the smallest minion, Bob, pulled on his arm with surprising strength. "Kome, kome!" they urged, their excitement only growing.
They led him to a secluded alleyway, and when they finally stopped, Izuku's eyes widened in shock at what he saw.
"TA-DA~!" Kevin, Stuart, and Bob chorused, revealing a heavily modified and upgraded armored motorbike. The bike had a sleek, sharp design with a massive thruster at the back, giving it an almost futuristic look. It had an on-the-nose design, with sleek lines and a black, grey and neon green color scheme that screamed 'cool.'
"Whoa...!" Izuku breathed out, his eyes gleaming with amazement. The bike looked like something out of a high-tech action movie, and it was metal as all hell.
"W-what...?" Izuku stammered, still trying to process the sight before him.
"Nunu to!" Kevin declared proudly.
"Wha-?! For me?! I-I can't drive that! I'mwaytoo young to drive!" Izuku protested, his mind racing with a mix of excitement and panic but mostly panic.
Stuart, the one with a single eye, blew a raspberry. "Pffft! Ben kares?!" he exclaimed, waving off Izuku's concern with a casual hand gesture. Izuku may not understand much of their minionese language, but he was pretty sure Stuart had just said, 'Who cares?!'
Izuku continued to stare at the motorbike with widened eyes, unsure of what to do. He was about to protest further until Kevin nudged him with his elbow. "C'mon! To cono to quer tu~!" Kevin urged with a mischievous grin.
"Mmmmh...!" Izuku made a noise as if he was someone trying to hold back on his temptations or addictions. Until...
---
"AHHH!HAHHAHAHA!"
"WOO-HOOO!"
"YEAAAAAH!"
Izuku was now speeding through the empty streets, riding his new motorbike alongside the minions, all of them having the time of their lives. He made sure to put the big thruster in the back to good use, giving them a huge boost and making them go as fast as they could, leaving nothing but a trail of smoke behind. Now Izukureallyhoped that U.A. didn't do background checks...!
Izuku continued speeding down the empty streets until he looked ahead and spotted a tunnel under a bridge. His eyes widened at the sight emerging from a manhole-a massive, liquid body of slime?!
"What isthat?!" Izuku yelled, pulling back on the throttle, trying to slow down. The sludge villain, who was in the middle of escaping from All Might, turned his eyes around, curious about the noise and racket coming from behind him.
"Hm? What the hell is-? Huh?!" The villain's eyes bulged in shock as he saw Izuku and his minions speeding directly toward him.
"AHHHH!!!" "AHHHHHH!!!"
They all screamed in unison as Izuku crashed right into the body of the villain. The impact caused the villain's slime-like body to splatter apart all over the tunnel, while Izuku's motorbike skidded and crashed, sending him and the minions tumbling.
Izuku and the minions eventually got up, dazed but thankfully unharmed. Izuku, who had been wearing a helmet, managed to avoid serious injury. The minions, somehow unscathed as usual, seemed as invincible as ever-something Izuku had already come to suspect after witnessing one of them take a flamethrower blast to the face without a scratch. Still, their well-being was always a concern for him.
"Ugh... You guys alright?" Izuku asked with a groan, removing his helmet. Stuart, slumped over the crashed bike, groaned and raised a weak thumbs up. "Yaaa..." he mumbled.
Just as Izuku was about to get up and check on the others, an angry voice caught their attention. The sludge villain, who had reassembled his body after being splattered, loomed over them, his expression furious.
"Oi, brat! What the hell was that?! Do you have any idea who you just messed with?!" the villain ranted, his gooey form shifting menacingly. Izuku's heart raced as he quickly assessed the situation, realizing he was in serious trouble.
"I-I'm so sorry, sir! I didn't mean to-!" Izuku tried to apologize, but the villain wasn't interested in hearing excuses. His slimy arm extended, rushing toward Izuku with malicious intent. Panic surged through Izuku as he scrambled to think of a solution.
In a flash, he reached into his bag beside him and grabbed the freeze ray he'd been working on. Without hesitation, he aimed and fired at the villain, the ray emitting a bright, cold beam that instantly froze the villain's hand, stopping him in his tracks. The sudden halt caused the villain to stumble back in surprise.
But Izuku didn't stop there. He fired again, this time freezing a larger portion of the villain's body. The sludge villain let out an enraged roar as the ice spread across his form, solidifying and immobilizing him further.
Izuku, breathing heavily, took a step back, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn't believe it-his invention had actually worked! But the moment of triumph was brief as he realized the danger still wasn't completely over.
The villain eventually just disembodied the parts of his body that had been frozen and continuing to charge at the boy, enraged. Izuku continued to freeze him on the spot continuously, slowing him down while his mind raced as he tried to think of a different tactic. He used his other hand to pat his body and pockets all over, hoping to find another gadget or weapon of some sort.
Unfortunately, he was too late as the sludge villain had gotten hold of the boy as well as the minions who tried to escape his grasp and began suffocating all of them. Izuku gasped for air as the sludge villain tightened his grip, the suffocating pressure making his vision blur. The minions struggled as well, their usual cheerful demeanor replaced with fear as they tried to wriggle free. Izuku's mind raced, panic taking over as he realized he was running out of options.
The villain's laughter echoed in his ears, drowning out the pounding of his heart. "Don't worry, kid. I'm going to makesurethis hurts!" the villain taunted, his slime continuing to further surround Izuku and the minions.
Desperation fueled Izuku's actions as he clawed at the sludge, trying to find any purchase, but it was no use. He could feel his strength waning, the world around him growing darker. Was this it? Was this how it was going to end?
But just as the darkness began to close in, a powerful gust of wind swept through the tunnel, followed by a booming voice that shook the very ground.
"NEVER FEAR! FOR I AM HERE!"
Izuku's eyes widened in shock as he recognized the voice. All Might, the Symbol of Peace, had arrived! In one swift motion, All Might punched the sludge villain with such force that the villain's body was blown apart, freeing Izuku and the minions from his suffocating grasp. The sheer power of the punch caused the air to ripple, and the tunnel walls trembled under the might of the hero.
Izuku and the minions were finally released, but All Might's punch had been so powerful that it knocked everyone out. When Izuku awoke, he found himself face-to-face with his lifelong idol, the number one hero, All Might...who was gently but rapidly slapping his cheek, urging him to wake up.
Any other time, Izuku would have been over the moon, fanboying over the fact that he was meeting the one and only All Might. But as soon as he came to his senses, his first thought was about the minions. "Kevin?! Stuart?! Bob?! Are you guys-?!" he started, his voice full of panic.
He was cut off by the sound of All Might's hearty laughter. "HAHAHAHAHA! FEAR NOT, YOUNG MAN! YOUR... uh, SMALL FRIENDS ARE SAFE AS WELL!" All Might reassured him, stepping aside to reveal the trio of minions rushing toward Izuku from behind his leg.
"Izuku! To're alright!" Bob exclaimed in relief, his goggles shining with concern as he clung to Izuku's leg.
Izuku breathed a sigh of relief, his heart finally settling as he patted Bob's head. "Thank goodness..." he muttered, still a bit dazed but overwhelmingly relieved.
Kevin and Stuart joined Bob, their usual grins back in place as they stood beside their leader. Despite everything that had just happened, seeing All Might and the minions safe and sound brought Izuku a sense of comfort that he hadn't felt all day.
All Might extended a hand to help Izuku to his feet. "You did well, young man! And quite the peculiar companions you have," he said with a chuckle, watching as the minions began to jump around him, clearly impressed by the hero's power.
"T-thank you, All Might! I-I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't shown up..." Izuku stammered, still in awe.
All Might gave a hearty laugh, his presence radiating reassurance. "It was no trouble at all! Just doing my duty as the Symbol of Peace! But tell me, are you hurt?"
Izuku shook his head, still feeling a bit sore but otherwise okay. "No, I'm fine, thanks to you."
The minions, now satisfied that Izuku was alright, began mimicking All Might's famous poses, much to the hero's amusem*nt.
"You've got some lively friends here!" All Might said, crouching down to get a better look at the minions. "It's not every day I meet such unique little fellows."
Izuku smiled, a warmth spreading through his chest. Despite the chaos, the day had taken an unexpectedly positive turn. Meeting All Might and knowing that the minions were safe filled him with hope and determination.
"Thank you, All Might," Izuku said, his voice full of sincerity. "I'll never forget this."
"VERY WELL THEN! I MUST LEAVE! CRIME WAITS FOR NO ONE! HAVE A GOOD DAY, YOUNG CITIZEN!" All Might bellowed, preparing to take his leave. But as he got ready to jump, Izuku's eyes widened in distress. There was one question he desperately needed to ask.
Before he could process what was happening, All Might leaped into the air, taking Izuku with him. The minions called out to him in alarm, but Izuku was too focused to notice. His heart raced as he clung to his idol, his mind set on asking the most important question of his life.
They landed on the roof of a building, and All Might immediately scolded the young man for his reckless action. "You should be more careful! Jumping like that could've gotten you seriously hurt!" All Might instructed Izuku to take the stairs down while he moved toward the edge of the roof.
But Izuku couldn't let him go without an answer. Ignoring the reprimand, he followed All Might, words running through his mind like echoes-echoes of all the people who had discouraged him over the years. Summoning his courage, he finally blurted out, "All Might... can someone like me, someone who doesn't have a quirk, still be a hero like you?!"
All Might stopped in his tracks and turned to face the boy, his eyes meeting Izuku's, who was yearning for an answer. But before he could respond, All Might suddenly gave a painful grunt, clutching his side as he hunched over. Izuku, oblivious to what was happening, continued to speak, his voice filled with desperation. He talked about being teased for being quirkless, yet still wanting to save people with a smile.
It wasn't until the steam cleared that Izuku looked up, his words catching in his throat. His eyes widened in shock as he saw the frail, skeletal figure standing where All Might should have been.
"What... what happened to you?!" Izuku stammered, completely freaked out by the transformation.
The skeletal man, still bleeding slightly from the mouth, tried to explain, "This is my true form. I am All Might... or at least what's left of him." He wiped his mouth, the blood smearing across his hand.
Izuku could hardly process what he was seeing. All Might went on to explain that this form was similar to someone flexing to show off. "But you always save people with a smile," Izuku said, his voice trembling, which caught the hero's attention.
All Might mused on the line before sitting down heavily on the rooftop, his posture weary. "This is what happens when you fight battles that are too big for you. Five years ago, I took an injury that left me like this. I've lost parts of my organs, and after repeated surgeries, I can only maintain my hero form for a few hours a day."
Izuku looked absolutely disturbed, unable to tear his eyes away from the injury. All Might continued, "The battle that caused this... it was kept out of public knowledge. I requested it myself, to keep my image intact. That's what my smile is-it's a symbol, not just for hope, but for the burdens we carry as heroes."
All Might then looked at the boy seriously. "Kid, there's something I need you to understand... heroes put their lives on the line every day. They face dangers you can't even begin to imagine. That's why... I can't tell you that you can be a hero without some kind of power."
Izuku's heart sank as his eyes widen in despair. He saw where this was going and he couldn't believe it! He could feel the weight of All Might's words bearing down on him, crushing his hopes. All Might then looked at Izuku with a mix of pity and seriousness. "I'm sorry, kid. But without a quirk, I don't think you can be a hero. You should look for a more realistic dream." He said as he finally exited the building with the bottle'd up villain in-tact, leaving Izuku utterly alone.
Izuku felt like the ground had been pulled out from under him. His vision blurred with tears as All Might's words echoed in his mind. The very dream he had clung to for so long now felt like it was slipping through his fingers.
He was absolutely devastated.
The voices and memories of all the bullying, the constant demeaning, and everyone putting him down for his desire to be a hero rushed back to him like a flood. Bakugou's cruel 'advice' played on a loop in his head, mocking him. And now this. The number one hero, his life-long idol, the one who had always told people, "You can be a hero, too!"...had just rejected him.
Izuku clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as sadness and rage began to consume him. His body trembled with the overwhelming mix of emotions, the pain of a shattered dream twisting inside him.
He truly was having a bad, bad day.
---
Izuku walked home in a daze, his feet moving on autopilot as his mind swirled in a void of emptiness. The usual hustle and bustle of the city around him seemed distant, muffled, like he was trapped behind a thick wall of glass. He felt nothing-no anger, no sadness, no frustration. Just a cold, hollow numbness that spread through his chest and made it hard to breathe.
His phone dinged, and he saw Kevin's concerned message asking where he was and expressing worry. Izuku replied with a terse "I'm fine" and instructed them to return to their building base. Despite his reassurance, he knew it did little to ease their concern.
When he arrived at the front door of his apartment, he tensed up. The anticipation of facing his home, and by extension his mother, made his heart heavy. This was the part he dreaded the most. The anxiety he'd been trying to suppress bubbled up again, mingling with the numbness he felt. This was the place he had tried so hard to avoid after the painful encounter with All Might. The anticipation of seeing his mother, with their strained relationship, only made his heart heavy.
Taking a deep breath, he unlocked the door with a shaking hand. The creak of the hinges as he pushed it open seemed unusually loud, echoing in the quiet hallway. His mother hadn't come to berate him. That was good. He was in no mood to be dealing with his mother's bullsh*t today.
Izuku closed the door behind him, the silence of the apartment pressing in on him. His mother, Inko, was nowhere to be seen. He trudged to his room, hoping to escape into his thoughts and avoid any interaction. Unfortunately, he just couldn't look at his room the same way again. His room filled with All Might and hero merchandise now seemed like that even they are laughing at him. So he opted to just go outside. But as he passed the kitchen, he saw his mother standing there, back turned, clearly lost in her own world.
Inko's voice broke the silence, sharp and unforgiving. "You're home late," she said, though her tone carried no real concern. She didn't turn around to look at him.
Izuku, feeling the weight of the day crushing him, tried to ignore her. "Yeah," he mumbled, heading towards his room. He didn't have the energy to deal with her now.
But Inko's voice followed him, rising in irritation. "You're always out, running around like a delinquent. Where the hell were you?"
Izuku stopped, feeling a familiar sting. He turned back, his voice strained. "Nowhere...I just had a really bad day."
Inko's shoulders tensed, her annoyance palpable. "A bad day? You always have excuses. You know, sometimes I wonder if you even care about how much you frustrate me."
Izuku felt a familiar surge of anger and hurt. "Can't you just leave me alone? I don't need this right now."
Inko turned to face him, her face twisted in frustration. "Oh, so now you're too good for me? You're always running off, always shirking your responsibilities. How do you thinkIfeel, dealing with you-"
It was at this point where Izuku finally snapped. All the anger, all the frustration he had been bottling up the whole day had just come flooding out. "AaaAARH! WHY?!? WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LEAVE ME THE f*ck ALONE FOR JUST ONE MOMENT?!? WHY CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT I'M ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH SOME sh*t?!? WHY IS IT ALWAYS ABOUTYOU?!?! WHAT DO YOU KNOW?!?"
Izuku's outburst hung in the air like a thick, suffocating cloud. His voice had erupted with a ferocity he hadn't even realized he possessed, years of pent-up frustration and anger finally exploding to the surface. The impact was visible-Inko had flinched, a rare show of vulnerability from the woman who seemed to wield her words like a weapon. But she quickly recovered, her face contorting in fury, unwilling to let her son get the last word.
"What do I know? I KNOW THAT YOU COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO CARRY A BURDEN! I KNOW THAT YOU COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE ME!" she spat back, her voice rising to match his, every word laced with venom.
Izuku stared at her, incredulous, his chest heaving with the force of his emotions. "Oh my god, YOU'RE STILL TALKING ABOUTYOURSELF!!!WHY?!?!" His voice cracked, raw with the intensity of his feelings. "I'M STANDING HERE, TRYING TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH I'VE BEEN HURTING FOR SO MANY f*ckING YEARS, AND ALL YOU CAN STILL THINK ABOUT IS YOURSELF?!"
Inko's eyes narrowed, her anger reaching a boiling point. "YOU THINK YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO'S HURTING?! YOU THINK YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WITH PROBLEMS!? YOU'RESELFISH, IZUKU! YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN SELFISH! THINKING THE WORLD REVOLVES AROUND YOU AND YOURSTUPIDDREAM!"
"SELFISH?!I'MSELFISH FOR WANTING TO BE SOMETHING MORE, FOR WANTING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?! ALL I EVER WANTED WAS FOR YOU TO BE PROUD OF ME! IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK??! TO SEE ME! TO LOVE ME! TOACCEPTME! BUT NO, IT'S NEVER ENOUGH, IS IT?! I'M NEVER ENOUGH FOR YOU!!!" Izuku's voice wavered, the pain of his words evident.
Inko took a step closer, her expression hardening. "Maybe it's because you've never been enough. Maybe it's because you've always been a disappointment. I've wasted so much of my life on you-do you think that's fair to me?! It's all because ofyouHisashi left!"
The words cut through Izuku like a knife. His vision blurred with unshed tears, his hands trembling at his sides. He could feel himself unraveling, the tenuous thread holding him together fraying with each passing second.
And then, Inko said the words that shattered him completely.
"I wish you were never born!"
Silence fell, heavy and suffocating. The world seemed to stop spinning, the air sucked out of the room. Izuku's heart plummeted, the final piece of his already fragile spirit crumbling to dust.
For a moment, he just stood there, staring at her with wide, disbelieving eyes. The person who was supposed to love him unconditionally, who was supposed to be his refuge, had just destroyed whatever remnants of hope he had left.
Without another word, Izuku turned on his heel and bolted out of the apartment, his vision swimming with unshed tears. The door slammed shut behind him with a deafening bang, but he didn't care. He just needed to get away-away from her, away from the pain, away fromeverything.
His feet pounded against the pavement as he ran through the darkened streets, the world around him a blur. He didn't know where he was going, didn't care. He just needed to escape, to outrun the suffocating weight of his mother's words that now echoed in his mind like a cruel, endless mantra. The cold air slapped against his face, but he didn't stop. He kept running with heavy rain hitting his face as he fled from the apartment and the cruel words that echoed in his mind.
Izuku sat in the dark, empty alleyway, his body curled up tightly against the cold, unforgiving wall. His breaths came in ragged, shuddering gasps as he fought to keep himself together, his chest rising and falling with the effort. His hands clutched desperately at his hair, pulling at the roots in a futile attempt to silence the voices and memories that crashed through his mind like a relentless storm.
Each word, each cruel taunt, echoed in his head, growing louder and more overwhelming with every passing second.
I wish you were never born.
Why don't you take a swan dive off a roof and pray for a Quirk in your next life!
I'm sorry, kid. But without a quirk, I don't think you can be a hero.
You're selfish!
You'll never amount to anything!
He's such a crybaby!
Worthless deku!
It's all because of you!
Izuku's body began to tremble uncontrollably, his muscles tensing as the weight of every insult, every rejection, pressed down on him like a crushing burden. He could feel himself breaking, the fragile walls he had built around his heart crumbling into nothingness.
And then...there was silence.
The world around him seemed to fade away, leaving only the deafening quiet of his own despair. The dam holding back his emotions, the one he had tried so hard to maintain, finally shattered under the pressure.
A choked sob escaped his lips, followed by another, and then another, until the floodgates opened completely. Izuku buried his face in his hands, his body shaking violently as he cried-no longer able to hold back the tidal wave of grief, pain, and hopelessness that had been building inside him for so long.
The tears came in an unstoppable torrent, soaking his hands and dripping onto the cold pavement below as the rain continued to pour. The water mixed with his tears, turning the ground beneath him into a small, swirling pool of despair. His sobs echoed through the empty alley, raw and agonized, the sound of a heart that had been broken too many times to mend.
Why?he thought, the question reverberating in his mind like a haunting melody.Why had this world been so cruel to him?
All he had ever wanted was to help-to be someone who could save others, who could bring a smile to their faces, just like his idol All Might. But every step of the way, life had thrown obstacle after obstacle in his path, tearing down his dreams, shattering his hopes, and leaving him alone in the darkness.
Why is it always like this?His thoughts spiraled, each one sinking him deeper into the abyss of his despair. He had tried so hard, had given everything he had, only to be met with rejection, ridicule, and pain.
All I wanted was to be a hero...The words echoed in his mind, a desperate plea to a world that seemed determined to crush him under its weight. But no one had listened, no one had cared. Not his classmates, not his teachers, not even his own mother. And now, even the one person he had always looked up to, the one who had inspired him to dream in the first place, had turned him away.
Why am I not good enough?The question burned in his mind, searing his soul with its relentless agony.What did I do wrong?
But there were no answers, only the unrelenting rain, the cold pavement beneath him, and the echo of his own broken heart. The world had been so cruel to him, and for what? What had he done to deserve this?
He had only wanted to help.
(A/N: Okay, I didn't expect nor mean for this sh*t to be so angsty when I started writing this💀but bare with me please.)
As Izuku cried, his sobs mingling with the patter of rain, a soft voice suddenly broke through the storm of his despair. "Ya, palatu. Papoy."
Izuku sniffed, his tear-streaked face lifting just enough to see the small figure standing in front of him. He blinked through the blur of his tears, and his eyes widened in surprise as he recognized the familiar face.
"Huh? Bob?" he murmured, his voice hoarse from crying. There, standing right in front of him, was Bob, the small minion holding out his cherished toy teddy bear with a gentle smile. Behind Bob stood Kevin and Stuart, both of them looking at Izuku with genuine concern etched on their yellow faces.
Bob took a step closer, his tiny hands extending the teddy bear towards Izuku. "Teddy oso papoy," he repeated, his voice soft and comforting.
Izuku stared at the toy, a lump forming in his throat as the warmth of the gesture began to seep into his broken heart. He didn't bother to wipe away his tears as he reached out with trembling hands, accepting the teddy bear. The softness of the plush toy was a stark contrast to the cold, hard reality he had been drowning in.
"Bob... Kevin, Stuart..." Izuku whispered, his voice trembling. The concern in their eyes was so genuine, so pure, that it made the tears flow even harder. These small, strange creatures-the minions-were the only ones who had come to find him, who had cared enough to stay by his side in his darkest moment.
He hugged the teddy bear close, his chest heaving with the weight of his emotions. "Thank you," he whispered, though the words felt inadequate. The minions had done more for him in this moment than anyone else had. They had found him when he felt lost, offered him comfort when he felt abandoned.
Kevin and Stuart moved closer, placing their hands on his shoulders in a gesture of support. They didn't speak, but their presence was enough. They were there for him, and in that moment, it was all Izuku needed.
As Izuku's tears dried and his spirits began to lift, he looked up at the bright moon hanging in the night sky. The soft, silvery light bathed him in a sense of calm as he contemplated his next move. His dream of becoming a hero was gone, shattered by the harsh realities of the world. But as he stood there with the minions by his side, a new determination began to flicker inside him.
He realized that he didn't have to follow the path laid out by others. If being a hero wasn't in the cards for him, then he would find another way to make his mark on the world. Izuku thought about All Might's suggestion of becoming a police officer, but dismissed it. He knew deep down that the same barriers that kept him from being a hero would likely keep him from being accepted as a police officer too.
But then, his thoughts turned to the minions-these strange, loyal creatures who had shown him more support than anyone else. A new fire lit in his eyes as an idea began to take shape in his mind. If he couldn't be a hero, he would carve out his own path, one where he could still make a difference, even if it wasn't in the way he had originally dreamed!
Standing tall with renewed purpose, Izuku turned to the minions, his voice steady and determined. "Kevin, Stuart, Bob. Where's my motorbike?"
The trio looked at each other, confused by the sudden change in Izuku's demeanor. But Stuart pointed to the street outside the alleyway, where they had left the bike. "Fino bada. Po ka?" he asked, curious about what Izuku was planning.
For the first time in what felt like forever, a confident smile spread across Izuku's face. "Follow me," he said, the words carrying a sense of resolve.
When they reached the motorbike, Izuku noticed that it was slightly damaged from the earlier crash with the slime villain. The front was a bit scuffed, and the handlebars were a little bent, but it was still usable. He grabbed his helmet and slid it on, feeling the cool weight of it settle over his head. Then, he swung his leg over the bike and sat down.
"C'mon, get on, guys!" Izuku urged the minions, who were now buzzing with excitement and curiosity. They scrambled onto the bike, finding spots to hold on as Izuku revved the engine. The sound roared to life, echoing off the walls of the alleyway.
With a determined glint in his eyes, Izuku revved the engine of his motorbike.Vroom! Vroom!The sound roared through the quiet night as he clicked the button that activated the thruster. In an instant, they were off, speeding into the darkness like a blur of motion and light. Izuku made sure his helmet was securely in place, covering his face so no one could recognize him driving underage. But that was the least of his concerns. The thrill of the ride, the wind whipping past him, and the minions clinging on behind him made his heart race with exhilaration.
He expertly maneuvered through the late-night traffic, weaving between cars and leaving them in the dust. The streets were mercifully clear at this hour, allowing Izuku to push the bike to its limits without much worry. The city lights blurred into streaks of color as they raced toward their destination.
---
Izuku arrived at the once-abandoned building where he had first encountered the minions, and his jaw nearly dropped in surprise. The place looked completely different from what he remembered. It was no longer the dilapidated structure he had expected to see; instead, it now looked like a totally normal, unassuming building that blended in perfectly with its surroundings.
'They've done this that fast?! It's only been a week!'Izuku thought, unable to hide his amazement. The minions had somehow managed to renovate the entire place in record time, disguising it so well that no one would ever suspect it housed anything unusual.
As he stared at the building, a mix of pride and disbelief washed over him. The minions had not only built a base-they had created the perfect cover for whatever plans he might have in the future. "This is... impressive," he muttered to himself, realizing just how resourceful and efficient his new companions were.
Izuku entered the building with Bob, Kevin, and Stuart by his side. The interior was just as remarkable as the exterior-clean, organized, and humming with energy. He felt a sense of determination building inside him, something he hadn't felt in a long time. He was surprised to see them still working or chilling this late at night.
He walked over to the speaker system near the entrance, his heart pounding with anticipation. Taking a deep breath, he pressed the button and spoke into the microphone. "All minions, please assemble in the assembly room. I have an important announcement to make."
His voice echoed through the building, and within moments, the sound of hurried footsteps filled the halls as minions scurried to gather. Izuku turned to the trio beside him, giving them a nod of thanks for standing by him. Every minion inside the building began to go ecstatic as they day that they actually serve a new, evil boss might just come true!
As he made his way to the assembly room, he could feel a new sense of purpose beginning to take root. This was it-the start of something new. Something that would allow him to carve out his own path in a world that had tried to crush him. When he entered the assembly room, he was met with the sight of a sea of minions already cheering for him, their eyes full of anticipation and excitement.
As Izuku stood before the sea of eager minion faces, his heart raced. The sheer number of them, all focused intently on him, was overwhelming. His palms were sweaty, his knees weak and arms are heavy. Public speaking had never been his strong suit, and the weight of this moment only made it more daunting. But as he looked into their wide, hopeful eyes, something inside him steadied.
Taking a deep breath, he tried again, his voice a bit stronger this time. "I... I'm not used to this, so bear with me. But I need to say this. Today... today is the beginning of something new. I know I haven't been the best leader, and I know I'm still figuring things out, but together...together, I think we can accomplish something amazing!"
The minions cheered, their excitement palpable, and it bolstered Izuku's confidence. He began to feel a spark, the fire of determination that had been ignited earlier now growing into a blaze. Izuku stood there, letting the minions' cheers wash over him. For the first time, he felt like he truly belonged somewhere. As he looked out at the sea of yellow faces, a deep realization settled in his heart. All his life, he had been rejected-by his school, by the hero society, by his own mother, and by the world at large. No one had believed in him, no one had given him a chance, no one had accepted him for who he was.
Except forthem.
The minions, strange and chaotic as they were, had accepted him without hesitation. They didn't care that he was quirkless, or that he was a failure in the eyes of the world. They didn't judge him or put him down. All they wanted was to serve an evil boss, and they had chosen him.
Izuku's heart swelled with a mix of gratitude and resolve. If this was the role he was meant to play, then he would play it well. Who was he to let them down? The world might have turned its back on him, but he wouldn't turn his back on them. He would be the leader they deserved, and together, they would carve their own path-a path that would show the world that he was far from finished!
Izuku's grip on the microphone tightened as his resolve solidified. "You all chose me," he said, his voice steady and filled with newfound conviction. "And I'm not going to let you down. I've heard your words. I know that you all want me to be evil. And, well...if it's an evil boss you want, then that's exactly what you'll get!"
"YEAAAAH!!!"
"WOO-HOOOO!!!"
The minions erupted into a thunderous cheer, their loyalty and excitement evident. The day had come where they finally would serve an evil boss! Izuku smiled, a confident and almost wicked grin spreading across his face. This was it-his moment, his destiny. He wasn't just going to exist in this world; he was going to make his mark on it, and he was going to do it with them by his side!
"Are you all ready to show this world what we're made of?!" he declared, his voice filled with dramatic flair and conviction. The fire in his eyes was unmistakable, a burning determination that had been ignited by years of rejection and scorn.
The minions responded with an explosive roar, their excitement and enthusiasm palpable. Their cheers reverberated off the walls, creating a powerful, electrifying atmosphere. Izuku felt a surge of adrenaline, his earlier pain and despair now transformed into a fierce resolve.
"Good! Because from this point on, this world will know the might and power of the greatest villain of all time...DEKU!" Izuku's voice rang with defiant pride as he embraced the name that had once been used to belittle him. He would turn it into a symbol of his power, a name that would strike fear into the hearts of those who had doubted him.
The minions erupted into a frenzied chant, their voices rising in a unified chorus of "DEKU! DEKU! DEKU! DEKU! DEKU!" The chant grew louder and more intense, their loyalty and excitement fueling the momentum. The room was filled with an almost tangible energy, the minions' fervor reflecting Izuku's newfound determination.
As the chant continued, Izuku's smile grew wider, his confidence soaring. This was his moment, his chance to prove himself and make his mark on the world. With the minions by his side, he was ready to embrace his destiny and show everyone what the name 'DEKU' truly meant.
Izuku Midoriya anow has a new goal, a new dream.
No longer will he strive to be a hero. No, he will strive be the greatest supervillain this world has ever seen!
He will be...Despicable!
