Thump! Thunk! Bam!
Deku was training. He had been training under Stain, or, as he knew him, Sensei, for seven years. Stain always had wanted Deku to just call him by his name, Akaguro, but Deku always found it too disrespectful.
It was one of the most important days in the year, well, at least for Deku and Stain. The anniversary of when Stain had found him. Since that fateful day, Stain had taught Deku very much. Aside from battle training and working on his actual schooling, he had taught Deku his philosophy as well. How many heroes were unworthy, and those who truly were heroes did what was right. Not because they wanted compensation, but because they were good people.
Deku had never truly believed that many heroes were actually bad, though there always were a select few that no one people really thought were good people. HE never shared this with Stain. He did, however, believe that villains should be stopped, and that he would become the greatest hero ever.
Usually he and Stain travelled from place to place. At the moment, they were staying in an abandoned warehouse. Stain always would leave Deku alone at night. Deku didn't know exactly what he did, but he assumed that he fought villains. He used to ask Stain why he didn't just become an official hero instead of hiding in the shadows, but he always got the same answer. Some rant about how he had made some mistakes in his life. All Deku got from it was that Stain had broken the law at some point. Eventually, he stopped asking.
Despite being quirkless, Deku had become quite good at fighting. He could eve hold off Stain, but whenever they sparred he could only do it for a few minutes. Maybe if I could learn to counter his spinning blade attack I could do better. I could- Deku's thoughts were interrupted as he heard a door open.
"Hello Sensei!" Deku called cheerfully. He paused his attack against the punching bag to turn his gaze towards Stain.
"Hello Izuku." Stain replied, sounding tired. "You're up early." He observed.
"It's six in the morning. That's pretty late for me." Deku pointed out. "You were out for a while. What held you up?"
"Nothing much. Hey! Did you see the news? There's a new hero around here." Stain replied. Deku frowned, knowing he was dodging the question. He didn't press it though, knowing that Sensei never told him much about his nighttime wanderings anyway.
Deku shook his head. "What're they like?" He asked.
"Oh, you know, just the typical rookie. Name's Starlight or somethin. her quirk lets her make floating barriers. They get stronger when there's stars out."
"Oh, cool!" Deku replied.
The two talked for a bit. Mainly about the usual morning banter, talking about new heroes and villains, world events, stuff like that. Eventually Sensei interrupted the normal flow of conversation to ask Deku, "You do realize what day it is?"
"Uhh, Thursday?"
"Well, exactly seven years ago, I brought you into an abandoned gas station with me."
"Oh! So it's THAT day!" Deku said, surprised he forgot about it. "Completely slipped my mind."
"I have something for you, my pupil." Stain continued. He lifted up a small box. It was pretty plain, just a dirty old cardboard box, but something rattled within it when he moved it. He placed it in front of Deku.
"You got something for me? You really shouldn't have, I'm not worth the effort. Honestly I don't need-"
"Oh, shut your yapping." Stain grumbled. "Just take the gift."
Deku smiled and lifted the lid off of the box. Inside of it was a kitsune mask. It was dark black, with silver detailing. "It's.. beautiful. How did you even-"
"I've had it for a while. Back when I first began fighting crime as a vigilante, I debated wearing it as my mask. I ended up not using it though, and it's been gathering dust ever since, so I thought it was time someone put it to good use."
"Th-Thank you Sensei!" Deku beamed. He marveled at the mask, which was elegantly crafted. It was light, but felt durable, and allowed for a good amount of visibility. The coloring was incredible. Jet black that seemed to swallow up any light that came towards it, and pure silver that shone like a star among the night sky.
"Try it on." Stain urged. Deku nodded, delicately picking up the mask. He put it on his face, carefully tying the ribbon that kept it on. Then, he lifted the hood to the sweatshirt he was wearing and threw it over his head. The hoodie was jet black, with a misty grey detailing on the bottom of it that made it look as if it was on fire. Deku was wearing midnight black jeans, that blended well with the sweatshirt.
"I've also got a belt and some knives. Those should come in handy." Stain said, handing Deku five knives and a belt that could hold them.
Deku blinked, glancing at Stain. Stain smiled, "You look like a real hero, kid." Deku blushed at the praise. "Thank you Sensei, but I haven't done any hero work at all. You know this.."
"Well, then it's about time that you did some, isn't it?" Stain asked, shooting Deku a encouraging smile
"Wait.. does that mean-"
"Exactly. Tonight you're coming with me and fighting some crime." Stain smirked. "Hope you like your first taste of blood, kid."
Deku ignored Stain's strange wording. Of course Sensei would cut his enemies, after all, it was needed for his quirk to work. And of course he would taste the blood, because, after all, it was Sensei, and he needed it for his quirk to work.
"Tonight. Be ready kid." Stain said. Deku nodded excitedly, his brain on overdrive as he tried to figure out good strategies against certain quirks.
Stain turned and walked away from Deku, leaving him to train on his own. "Be ready for your first kill." He muttered to himself.
"Kid? Kid! Hey, kid!" Stain shouted into the warehouse. He was currently searching out the kid for his mission that night.
Deku snickered quietly. He was sitting on a large storage container, hidden by his dark clothing. He always was pretty good at stealth. Hopping down from the container, he called out, "Right here, Sensei!"
"It's time." Stain replied. Deku's heart leaped into his throat as a mixture of fear and excitement warred in his mind. "Let's go!" He yelped squeakily.
Stain nodded. He exited the warehouse, closely followed by his smaller shadow. Deku was muttering to himself, as he often did. "I wonder what my vigilante name will be. Hmm, probably something mysterious. Maybe.. Mystic Ninja! No, that's stupid. The Silver Rabbit! Wait, my costume doesn't look like a rabbit. Ooh! Maybe I could be-"
"Kid, shut your yap. We gotta be stealthy for this mission. I'm tracking a villain as we speak, and if they hear you they will try to kill you."
"Oh! Sorry Sensei!" Deku apologized.
"Yeah, yeah. Just keep quiet."
A few minutes passed of Deku following Stain, each crouching under shadows and fluidly traveling under the darkness of the night. Suddenly, Stain grabbed Deku's shoulder and gestured to a man. He was wearing armor, and a mask. They seemed to be made up of metal, and there were what seemed to be pipes coming out of the suits elbows. Deku recognized him immediately. The turbo hero: Ingenium! He thought quickly.
They both were on top of a building, looking down on Ingenium. "Okay kid, jump down on my signal." Stain hissed quietly. Deku nodded absentmindedly, but it suddenly occurred to him to wonder why they were jumping down next to a hero.
Before he had time to ask, Stain had dropped silently behind Ingenium. He took his blade and swiftly sliced it across Ingenium's leg. Stain licked the knife, causing Ingenium to freeze in place. Then he turned his gaze to Deku and nodded.
Deku was stunned, but obeyed nonetheless. The minute he hit the ground he began to whisper hysterically. "Why are you attacking a hero?! Ingenium isn't a bad hero! He's a good person and-"
"Kid. Shut up. Ingenium is a fake hero that saves lives only for money. He comes from a wealthy family that doesn't care for human life. They only care about themselves and their fortune. Fake heroes like that deserve to die!"
"B-But Sensei... this doesn't make sense! Even if they deserve it, it is not your place to decide whether or not they die! Much less to murder them! He is saving lives every day, and even if he accepts money for it, he probably has a family to support or- or.." Deku's mind was whirling. Why would he kill a hero? Why would he kill anyone?!
"I thought I taught you better than this, Izuku." Stain growled. He shook his head disapprovingly. "Perhaps you aren't ready yet. Nonetheless, it still must be done. Izuku, kill Ingenium."
Deku was stunned. His whole view of his mentor spiraling back and forth, between monster and hero. "I can't kill someone! It's against all of my morals and ethics, and I just- I just can't! It's wrong! Why would you even want me to-" Suddenly, Deku paused. His brow narrowed and he glared accusingly at Stain. "Wait... those heroes going missing lately... and then their bodies found dead... you didn't- did you? But... that doesn't-"
"Kid. What has to be done, has to be done. Now, kill this fake hero!" Stain roared, growing impatient with his pupil.
"No!" Deku screamed. "I would never stoop as low as to take a human life. You of all people should know that! You- Your just as bad as a villain!"
"I don't have time for this.." Stain grumbled under his breath. He raised his blade and prepared to give a final blow to Ingenium's neck. As he brought it downwards, he felt something block it.
Deku glared at Stain, a rage burning in his eyes. He was holding a knife against Stain's blade, stopping it inches away from Ingenium's neck. "I'm sorry Sensei, but I cannot follow as your pupil anymore." He growled, teeth clenches as tears filled his vision. "And I cannot stand idly by as you kill an innocent man."
At that last sentence, Deku grabbed Ingenium. He darted out of the alleyway, closely followed by Stain. Stain was gaining, with his superior speed and Ingenium weighing Deku down, he would catch up to him in a matter of seconds. C'mon! Think Deku! Think! He told himself.
"Police! Police! Help! There's a hero killer! Hero killer!" Deku shouted at the top of his lungs. He saw lights flickering on out of the corner of his eye. Distressed shouts met Deku's ears, when suddenly he felt a hand grab him by the neck.
Deku released Ingenium as Stain's grip tightened on his neck. "My faithful pupil. Betraying me and going right back to the fake heroes." He spat. "I shouldn't have brought you with me. You weren't ready."
"I had to do it, Sensei!" Deku choked out. His vision was getting blurry, and the edges of his sight darkened as if fog was coming towards him. "Sensei... please." He mumbled, pain sparking up his throat.
"Do not worry, my student. No harm shall come to you. I must immobilize you before you do anything too hasty." Stain replied. He grabbed his blade with his free hand and sliced a small cut on Deku's ankle. Lifting the blade to his mouth, Stain stuck out his tongue to lick the blood when something hit him on the back of his head, knocking Deku and the blade out of his hands.
Deku skidded to the side and hit a wall. He turned his gaze back to Stain, who was fighting with Ingenium. 'Ingenium just saved me!' He thought, feeling stunned. But it was clear that Ingenium could not take on this villain, who had more training, strength, and knowledge of Ingenium's quirk, while Ingenium knew almost nothing about Stain. Ingenium's leg wound was doing him no good either.
How can I help him?! Should I even help him? Deku hesitated for only a moment before screaming, "Police! Police! Hero! Someone, anyone! Ingenium is in trouble!" Out of no where, flames suddenly leapt past Deku's head. They hit Stain, forcing him to stop fighting Ingenium in order to dodge the flames. Deku searched for the person who had just saved Ingenium, and his gaze was met by... Endeavor!
Endeavor's eyes locked with Deku's for only a moment. Suspicion flashed in his eyes, but he ignored Deku as Ingenium shouted for help. Together, the two heroes began to fight Stain. It suddenly occurred to Deku that he was an orphan, most likely presumed dead, who was an accomplice of someone who had attempted to kill Ingenium, and had possibly killed many more heroes. This looked pretty bad. Assuming the two pro heroes could handle Stain, Deku snuck back to the small alleyway and climbed the buildings. From the roof he could see the three fighting.
Stain was now at the disadvantage. He tried split his attention between the two heroes, but Ingenium was so fast that he had to be watched at all times. Whenever Stain was distracted by Ingenium, Endeavor would shoot a blast of flames at him, pushing him closer and close to the wall of apartments behind him.
Just as Stain was pushed completely against the wall, he glared in Deku's direction, then jumped and grabbed the nearest window. He swiftly climbed the apartments, and onto the roof of them. He now stared at his pupil, and his pupil stared back. They were only separated by a street, being on different rooves, but a different kind of barrier was now tearing them apart. A permanent one.
With the last stare, Stain ran away into the night. Deku laid low for a while, and eventually snuck away. He had no where to go, no one to trust, and most likely some police after him, but for some reason, Deku felt more free than he had ever felt before.
