AN
So this fic is Izuku and Inko-centric. It switches between their POVs (and the occasional gossiping) with no pattern, so look out! This is also being co-posted on AO3 under my penname, GrayWorld!
Chapter One – "See you Later"
Izuku loved his Mama. That was an undisputed fact. When he saw her feeling lonely, he tried to stay close to her and keep her company. When she was sad, he would try to make her laugh. When she was feeling empty, he would tell her how much he loved her ("as big as the universe!").
Even though he was quite content with their little family, he could tell that she wasn't. She was always calling for 'Hisashi'. (He later found out when Katsuki's family came to pick him up. Apparently, his family was missing a 'father.' Who knew?)
"Hey, hey, have you heard?"
"Heard what?"
"About the Midoriya family!"
"What about them?"
"Well I heard that the father stood her up."
"Eh? I heard that she was a slut and slept around. She doesn't even know who the father is."
Inko had gotten used to the lonely nights. She had to have been, it's been four years since Hisashi had came home. It was just that there were some nights were the loneliness became overbearing; and it seems like today was one of those days.
"Mom?" Izuku asked, rubbing his eyes tiredly. "Why are you crying?" He approached her. "Did I do anything wrong? Did I make you sad?"
"Oh Izuku…" Inko sobbed, pulling Izuku into a tight hug. She can do this, she told herself. She has to be strong for Izuku. It's only another missed anniversary to add to the growing list. She can deal with it.
They both fell asleep like that until the next morning.
"I wanna be a hero like All Might!" Izuku squealed, watching All Might swoop in to rescue victims on the news. "I'll save everyone, just like All Might!"
"You'll be a great hero, Izuku." Inko said with a slightly strained smile. She knew how dangerous hero work was. The amount of heroes that die every year… a selfish part of her hoped that he wouldn't become one so that she wouldn't have to hear the news of his death.
"After all, you're already my little hero." Inko said with a grin, ruffling Izuku's hair.
Izuku laughed in joy. "That's right! I'll be Mom's number one!" Izuku flashed her a huge grin and Inko felt her heart simultaneously rise in elation and sink in remembrance of Hisashi's grin ('Izuku looks exactly like him when he grins.' She couldn't help but miss him).
"I'm sorry to say this, but it doesn't look like you son has a quirk." The doctor bluntly told them when they went for a check up after Izuku's fourth birthday.
"A-are your sure?" Inko asked. "M-maybe he's just a late bloomer?"
"Unfortunately," the doctor began, shaking his head, "if your son was a late bloomer, it should've appeared by now. We are now into the seventh month after his fourth birthday, and from what everyone in my field says, it is highly unlikely for someone to develop a quirk as they get older from this point onwards."
"No. No, no, no." Izuku said quietly, tears forming in his eyes. Inko felt her heart pound as dread sunk in her stomach.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Midoriya, but it appears to be that your son is quirkless." He said.
"Did you hear the latest news about the Midoriya family?"
"Yeah, I did! I heard that the boy was outed as being quirkless. Is that true?"
"From what I heard, yeah."
"Do you think this is why the father never stuck around? Maybe he knew his son would turn out quirkless!"
"But isn't his quirk to breathe fire?"
"None of us actually ever saw him, so we can't say if that is true or not."
"Thank God my child isn't quirkless. It would be such a pain to handle."
"It would, wouldn't it?"
Izuku felt his dreams shatter the day he was told he was quirkless. Useless. Even his (ex-)childhood friend realised that he was useless.
Izuku lost many things that day. He felt his dreams shatter. He lost his friends when they found out he was quirkless. His hopes for the future deteriorated. Kids and adults alike had begun to disregard and overlook him because he was quirkless. Because, if one didn't have a quirk, they were useless. A Deku.
But that was fine. He didn't care what other thought about him (he did). He had his mother with him every step of the way. His mother, who never failed to tell him how much she loves him and how helpful he is. As long as he had his mother with him, he can do anything.
Who ever said a quirkless couldn't be a hero?
Inko had wondered if she had jinxed herself, when she hoped that Izuku wouldn't, couldn't, become a hero. She wondered if her prayer had somehow been answered, which resulted in Izuku's quirklessness.
She felt bad that he couldn't achieve his dream anymore, but at the same time she felt relieved because he would be forced to choose a safer occupation. She wouldn't have to worry about him getting hurt or wondering if he'll come back home or if he is still alive.
It might be a little harsh, but who can blame her? She's a single working mother raising a quirkless child. She wants her child to be safe, even if it meant crushing his dreams (as long as she wasn't the one who had to do the crushing).
So, she was glad the doctor told them Izuku was quirkless, sue her. Perhaps that would cause his idolism for heroes to dwindle a bit. The Hero merch Izuku wants was expensive anyways. She wasn't too sure how much more she would be able to buy without having to look to get another job.
After the doctor's revelation, Inko felt like things were finally (somewhat) going down the right path. At least, that was until Izuku asked her an important question.
"Mom… can I still become a hero, even though I'm quirkless?"
Inko's heart broke and she was torn. On one side, she wanted to assure him that 'yes, he can. As long as he puts in the effort for it.' On the other side, she wanted to scream and crush that budding dream before it can flower.
Why was the world always trying to take away the people she loves the most from her?
"Of course you can, Izuku."
… maybe she wasn't cut out for this after all.
Inko wasn't stupid. Nor was she blind or deaf.
She knew what people were saying about her and her family behind her back. She knew what they thought about them and had heard all of those hurtful rumours.
But she pretended she didn't know. That everything was sunshine and rainbows. That nothing could bring her down. Ignorance was bliss, after all.
She had to be her best for Izuku, because she was all that he had, just like he was all that she had. She would raise him to be the best, and get people to acknowledge how wonderful her son was. She'll get them to look past his 'quirklessness' and see him for who he is.
At least, that's what she had thought she would be doing. She had been struggling and persevering her way through raising Izuku. She had given it her all, but her best wasn't enough.
She had endured an absentee husband. Had worked while raising a child on her own. Had ignored the rumors flying around their neighbourhood about their family. And now she has to deal with the stress of her precious son's impossible dream, wondering if it even is possible for him in the first place?
She couldn't. Just couldn't.
She couldn't take it anymore.
Izuku toss and turned in bed, unable to get sleep. He was just so happy that his mind couldn't shut off. His conscious was finally free from the depressed state it had been in, with him wondering if he could still become a hero.
It had been a week since Izuku had asked his Mom that question, and to his elation, she was in full support of his dream! He'll become the first ever quirkless hero and save everyone! He'll be his Mom's number one hero!
Izuku paused in bed, staring up at his ceiling. Had he ever thanked his Mom for supporting him? He knew that he fell asleep after hearing her answer due to the mental stress he was under, but he couldn't remember thanking her afterwards. He'd just have to thank her in the morning, he doesn't think she'd appreciate him waking her up in the middle of the night to thank her.
Izuku had only begun to nod off when he heard footsteps outside his room. Curiosity getting the best of him, he got out of bed to see what was going on.
Opening the door, he was greeted to the sight of his mother dressed up to go outside.
"Mom?" Izuku called out. "Where are you going?"
Inko froze like a deer caught in headlights.
"Izuku, darling… what are you doing up this late?" She asked gently.
"I couldn't fall asleep." Izuku said, yawning at the end.
Inko giggled a little hysterically. "Looks like you're feeling sleepy now, honey. Why don't you go back to bed now and get some shut eye?"
"I will." Izuku said. "But… where are you going?"
Inko felt her heart pound loudly in her chest. "I-I'm just going on a business trip." She said as casually as she could muster. "I'll only be gone for a day or two."
"Oh… ok." Izuku said. "Should I pack too?"
"No!" Inko yelled, startling Izuku. "No, honey." She said, looking at him apologetically for scaring him. "I already asked the neighbour to look out for you until I return. It makes no sense for you to be skipping school."
Izuku hesitantly nodded.
"Be a good boy, alright Izuku? Mama will be right back."
"Un. Stay safe, Mom." Izuku said as he watched his mother step out the door.
"You too, Izuku." She said, closing the door behind her.
Izuku headed back to his room and laid there on his bed. As he was dosing off, his last thoughts were about how he forgot to thank his Mom again. He just would have to make sure to remember to express his gratitude when she comes back.
A day has passed, and then another, but there was no sign of Midoriya Inko returning.
AN
This was my first attempt at writing a BNHA fanfic! How is it so far? I accept constructive criticism, so tell me what y'all think! Also, I'm thinking of writing a story about Izuku becoming a hero despite his parents' absence and how he struggles with life living on his own... should I?