Toxicity

Chapter One

He couldn't remember what happened, all he remember was feeling as if he was drowning. Gasping for breath like a thirst he couldn't quench, clawing at his throat as if more openings would allow easier passage of oxygen. Though as he withered and writhed on the cold ground, he didn't notice a glowing green cloud releasing from his mouth, curling and licking at the air as nails dug harsher into a pale throat, blood gathering under each harsh scratch.

Was he dying?

No, he couldn't! He was going to become a hero! He was going to best All Might!

As his own blood coated his thin fingers, relief rushed over his form as if he had suddenly emerged from the depths of the ocean gasping for breath. His hands trembled as he removed them from his throat, crimson as thick as paint had coated his fingers as his emerald eyes widened in horror. His trembling hands pressed to his throat as he looked around the alleyway he had stumbled into, slowly pushing himself to his feet as he kept his head down and ran home.

The dark sky was faintly decorated with white dots that glowed dimly as he opened the front door to his house quietly, breathing heavily as he trudged to the bathroom. Grabbing a cloth and wetting it as he wiped his hands and cleaned away the drying blood on his throat and clothing. A pain shot through his chest as he unknowingly held his breath, brows scrunched together as he shakily breathed in. His eyes fluttered open, having not realised that he had closed them, emerald eyes meeting his own in the mirror as he marveled at the faint wisps of green escaping his lips.

Momentarily forgetting to clean his throat as his fingers gently touched his lips, the wisps curling around his fingers before disappearing. He had a quirk. He wasn't useless. He could be a hero.

His chest fluttered with hope as he quickly rummaged around in the bathroom draws for bandage before wrapping them securely around his throat. He had to tell Kacchan, maybe he wouldn't think so little of him now. Maybe everyone wouldn't think so little of him. He could do this, he could prove everyone wrong.

That he's not a quirkless dreamer.

He packed up the items he got out and went to his room, quietly shutting the door he stripped down and changed into a loose shirt and boxers. Sliding under the covers of his bed as the posters, figurines and other All Might related items scattered around the room, inspired him with a greater spark that fueled his hope for becoming a hero. His eyelids grew heavy and fluttered shut, clutching onto his pillow as he let himself succumb to unconsciousness.

He woke to the blaring of an alarm in his ear as he begrudgingly sat up and turned off the alarm, rubbing his eye as a yawn parted his lips. He flicked off his covers, stretching his arms above his head and hearing a satisfying pop from his joints. He pushed himself to his feet as he let his feet drag him to the bathroom for a quick shower before school, though he'd probably need one later that day.

After showering, Izuku dried his hair and quickly dressed in his school uniform, packing his bag before running down the steps and out the door, waving to his mother as he began his trek to school. On the way there his fingers gently brushed over the bandages around his throat, stomach twisting in uneasiness that he shrugged it off as he steps through the school gates. His gaze stuck to the ground as he hurried to class, sitting in his seat as he rests his arms on the dirty desk, head on his arms as he watched as other's chatted to their friends.

Friends. Friend.

He hadn't had one in a long time.

How many years had it been?

It didn't matter.

He flinched as he was hit in the head as a boy walked past, laughing with his friends as the bell rang. The teacher came into the room as he droned on about something and he couldn't focus on the words that were being spouted as he heard the faint whispers of his classmates.

'Why's the quirkless got bandages on his neck?'

'Maybe he tried to slit his throat open.'

'Or he was attacked. Stupid helpless freak.'

'Na, he probably did it to himself.'

'He should've done a better job if he was trying to kill himself.'

Their voices just echoed in his head like a screaming child's wails. The air was becoming thin as he struggled to breath in the oxygen he so desperately craved, he was going under again. The air around him had become water, filling his lungs as his chest burned like acid bubbling beneath the skin. His fingers twitched as they reached towards his throat like a hand was firmly clasped around his slender neck and that he had to claw it away.

A green mist began to pour from his mouth like fog as it spread rapidly like smoke from a roaring fire. His eyes were scrunched tightly together as he heard choking, unsure if it was his own or not. Tears began to roll down his cheeks like a river as the burn was replaced with an uncomfortable pressure as if he had rocks sitting on his chest. He gasped for air, his lungs relishing in the free flow as he cracked open emerald eyes only for them to widen in horror.

Bodies.

They were littered across the classroom hidden in a green mist that steadily flowed from his mouth. His entire body trembled as he pushed himself from his desk, backing away from the limp figures as he stumbled on the bodies of his classmates. Their chests still, not a sound or twitch could be seen from their forms.

They were dead.

He stumbled to the ground as he tripped on a body, choking on sobs that began to pour from his mouth. He quickly scrambled back to his feet as he ran. He ran knowing that what he had done could never be forgiven. Could never redeem himself. Could never give him the chance for him to be a hero.

He didn't know where he was going until he tripped and stumbled into a damp dark alleyway that hid the suns rays. His legs and chest burned as tears still flowed freely as he didn't bother with getting up. The trash and broken bottles that lay scattered caused very little discomfort to him as he let his agony and despair warp the air around him.

Choking on his sobs as he pushed himself into a sitting position, hands covering his mouth as small wisps of green curled through his fingers. The faint taps of shoes went unnoticed by the green haired boy as a hand rest on his shoulder, a smooth voice sending a shiver down his spine, "Now... Why does a child such as yourself weep?"

Hiccups tore through the boy's sore throat as he rubbed his reddened eyes, glancing up at the figure bathed in shadows with curiosity that was underlined with fear. Hands still firmly clasped around his mouth as he sniffled, his voice raspy and quiet, "I-I.. I did something b-bad... I didn't m-m-mean to."

"Now, what might a boy like you have done, hmm?" The figure was intrigued by the boy on the ground, he crouched down to be on the same level as the boy scooted away from him. His small figure curling into himself as he let his hands fall from his mouth, the green wisps curled and licked at the air like smoke as bit into his lip, "I... I... I breathed... and they stopped..."

A chuckle broke the silence that had settled over the two, emerald eyes looking at the other with confusion as his head tilted to the side. The figure held a black-gloved hand, his deep voice soothing him as he moved closer, "So? Did they ever treat you badly? If so, didn't they deserve it? Didn't they deserve to suffer? To die?"

Izuku's eyes widened, his thoughts racing through his head as he stared at the hand that was outstretched. Did they deserve what they got? They had bullied, beaten and broke him countless times and just because he was weak. He's not weak. If he were weak they would have been able to prevent their own downfall. His hands clenched into fists as these thoughts continued to race through him until he came to a conclusion.

They deserved it.

They wanted him to stop breathing, to die, so it was only fitting they did.

They deserved that fate.

His slender fingers uncurled as he reached towards the hand, hesitating slightly before grasping it. No one helped him, no one believed in him and no one cared for him. He was already dead to them before he was able to mumble a simple 'hello'.

Just because he was supposedly quirkless.

No one will treat him like that, again.

He'll show all of them.

Every last person will know him.

They won't doubt him ever again.

As the man helped him to his feet, a dark purple shroud appeared behind him, twisting in a spiral of black and purple. Two golden eyes piercing the darkness as they narrowed slightly at the sight of him, judging him as they disappeared and the taller figure gently tugged him towards the abyss.

They emerge on the other side of the warp gate to see a dimly lit bar, a figure cloaked in the same purple and black mist stood behind the bar cleaning a glass.

Izuku looked towards the figure next to him as his hand fell back to his side, the hood on the other falling to reveal pale blue tainted hair and red eyes that had dark bag beneath them. The figure gave an unsettling smile as he placed a hand on his chest, his voice changing to become airy and raspy, "I'm Shigaraki and that's Kurogiri."

"M-Midoriya... Midoriya Izuku." His voice trembled slightly as he took a step back, mostly due to the green mist thickening as it fell from his lips. Shigaraki chuckled as he leaned on the bar, tapping two fingers on the stool next to him for Izuku to sit down. The boy hesitantly climbed onto the chair with a little bit of difficulty because he was short, sighing only to cover his mouth quickly as a cloud was released into the air.

"Shigaraki, I don't doubt you but why is he here?" The purple mist figure sat the glass he was cleaning down, his eyes narrowing as he leaned on the bar, looming over Izuku.

"Well… I thought he could be useful… He also just accidentally wiped out his entire class. I thought we could teach him to hide in the shadows and let him create a name from himself in the world we live in." Shigaraki scratched at his throat as he spoke, Midoriya subconsciously rubbed at his own bandaged throat as he watched the two converse, "However, the choice is up to Midoriya. So what do you say, wanna join the League of Villains?"