Izuku couldn't tell for certain what the Hero Killer wanted with him, though he could hazard several good guesses. Most likely, it had something to do with the young hero being All Might's successor. Or perhaps he wanted to make an example of this current generation and get his point across, his own twisted way of bringing about a new Golden Age of heroics. He only had one question though.
"How did he get out of Tartarus? There is no way in hell he should have been able to do so." He pondered out loud.
Iida stepped in taking charge from Bakugou temporarily. "Authorities are investigating it. The guards are currently being questioned. It is believed there was at least one accomplice who freed Stain, but we don't know much more than that currently."
"Thanks, four eyes. Saved me the breath." Bakugou stated blankly.
Bakugou took a drag of his cigarette and exhaled the smoke through his nose. He had taken to smoking outside of classes in their second year. Bakugou had come back from a trip recently, like the one Izuku took prior. It's where he developed a taste for Lucky Strike. He had a girl to thank for that.
"Did you get those from Becky?" Izuku asked. He remembered her smoking that brand when he first met her in London. He had a feeling Bakugou had a run in with his English acquaintance as well
"HI BECKY!"Mina called out, as if the phone would respond.
"Who's Becky?" Todoroki raised an eyebrow. This was an interesting bit of info.
"Nobody's fucking business. Can we fucking focus on stain? This isn't fucking High School anymore."
Given the explosive hero's reaction, Mina started to get some ideas. She smirked to herself. She might just have some questions about this mystery lady of Bakugou's.
"Agreed, Bakugou, san. We have pressing matters…. I know the last time I faced Stain. I let my emotions and thoughts of vengeance cloud my judgement. Others could have suffered for that. I will make no such mistake this time." Ida had spoken up. He had steeled himself for what was to come. However, Izuku shook his head.
"I understand what you guys must be thinking, but he is apparently looking for me and me alone. It might be best if you stand by. Worse comes to worse,
Everyone looked concerned by Izuku's suggestion. It was reckless and they didn't want to see him hurt. Bakugou was the exception. He scoffed. "You're two for two, Deku. You just keep showing how ballsy you are."
"He may be a murderer, he may go too far, but he at least has goals in mind and some kind of code. Besides, he once said the only one who has a right to the mantle of a hero is Al Might. Right now, I'm closest to that. S-sorry if that comes off as rude."
Shouto shrugged. The hot-and-cold hero took no offence. "Understandable."
Iida, fully adorned in his Ingenium armor, raised his hand in agreement. "I agree, but I advise you move with caution. Regardless of how strong your quirk is, we should all know how dangerous Stain is."
Izuku nodded. "I doubt he'll be here in the daylight, but I'm going to go down now, just in case." Izuku prepared to leap down and investigate. He was stopped however.
"Hold up, Izu. Don't be reckless. I hear what you are saying, but going alone might not be a wise course of action. Even if you do give him the benefit of the doubt." Mina spoke convincingly. She knew he could handle himself, especially with 70% of One-For-All and the advantage of daylight on his side (It had nothing to do with Stain's quirk. It was just genre savviness not to confront a murderer in a darkened alleyway at night without backup. Mina knew how this stuff worked). Besides, Izuku was a strong, capable hero, but even after nearly 5 years, he could be reckless in his selflessness. He had certainly learned since then, but she didn't want to see him get hurt.
Izuku knew and held her hand. "I understand. Even with most of my power, Stain isn't an easy enemy. He wouldn't have been in Tartarus if he was. I should find out what he wants though. If anything happens, I know my partner will back me up." Izuku smiled that soft smile of his, the one that made Mina just want to scoop him up and skate away with him in her arms.
She sighed and relented before punching him in the arm. "I trust your judgement, Izu. Just remember, we're here if you need us." She smiled and gave a thumbs-up.
Izuku kissed her softly and headed for the alleyway where he had first encountered stain years prior, standing over Iida's helpless body, ready to deliver the killing blow. It seemed like the appropriate meeting place to Izuku, and he wasn't alone. Stain stepped out of the shadows, knife in hand. Nearby, further shrouded underneath a stack of refuse, another figure watched, patiently and curiously.
"I-I heard you wanted to talk to me alone. I told my friends to give us privacy." Izuku peered into the shadows cast by the buildings. It was daytime, and yet if there was one man who could find a way to bleed into shadow, even in the light of day, Stain could find a way.
"You're the boy from four and a half years ago. The boy who showed promise as a true hero. You're All Might's replacement now?" Stain croaked.
Izuku had come a long way in 4 and a half years. He had faced countless threats, learned so much, spent a summer traveling the globe to learn from the world's best heroes, all with the goal of becoming the symbol of peace, not just for Japan, but for the entire world. He wanted to be the best he could for those who were powerless, like he had been. For those he loved, even those he didn't even know. He would do it for them, for All Might, for himself, and now, for Eri and Kota. He would strive towards peace and work towards a word all could be proud of.
And yet, Stain still sent shivers down his spine. This was a man who envisioned a similar world, a new glorious dawn of heroics, but he had steeped himself in blood and darkness to do so, murdering those he saw as guilty of perverting what heroics really meant. Between his conviction, his quirk, and the way he carried himself with a sort of savage charisma, Izuku couldn't help but shake and stutter. However, he wasn't going to back down. Not now.
"Yes. I am the hero known as Deku." Izuku stated shakily, trying to compose himself. As scary as Stain was, Izuku had fought him before alongside Iida and Shouto. Izuku had grown a lot since then and could probably subdue the villain on his own. Izuku also caught himself muttering if anti-hero fit better as a term but rebuked himself.
Stain was puzzled by this. The boy showed promise, the self-sacrificing nature that he believed a real hero should have. And yet he carried a name that meant "worthless.". The hero killer payed this no mind. It was trivial. What mattered now was the work. Blood was to be shed tonight. There was work to be done for that future he dreamed of. The age of fake heroes would crumble. Since that initial encounter with the young Deku, the seed of Endeavor, and Ingenium's brother, Stain had learned from Prison that he had inspired copy cats, some who emulated his methods but embodied a villainy he despised just as much as self-interested "heroes" and those who genuinely held his same vision steadfastly.
"W-what is it you want, Stain?" Izuku steadied himself and got right to the point.
"There was only one I truly counted as worthy of being a hero. When everyone was so obsessed with wealth, status and power, he was the only beacon. The only genuine hero. The only one I would allow to end my life" the masked man croaked, knife in hand as he skulked towards Izuku.
"All Might." Izuku looked down. His mentor, his idol, his dear friend. The man was lie a father-figure to Izuku. He still missed him and wanted to keep his spirit alive, though he knew he had to be his own man. His own hero. Tears started welling up, but Izuku held them back. Now was not the time. He looked up. "S-so you wish to continue onward, killing everyone else since All Might is gone? You wish to murder for your ideal world" Izuku's voice was stern. It was a side the awkward young man didn't show often, but you knew he was serious when he did. Mina looked on. She couldn't hear what was going on, but she knew things were going to be intense.
"You misunderstand me, boy. I still see the corruption there. It is still like a cancer in this society, but I am seeing hope now. I have found a successor. One who is worthy. One who sees the world as I do."
"Dabi… We've met" Izuku knew who it was instantly.
"What's more, "Deku", I have seen true heroes arise. Ones who put others before themselves. The world I hated is dying in its own filth and the one I desired is being born." To Izuku's shock (and to the surprise of his friends watching nearby with binoculars), Stain knelt to the ground.
"I believe I have found that in you. You are the heir apparent to All Might. The job remains, but my work is done."
Izuku wasn't sure if he should feel honored or weirded out by a known murderer giving Izuku his blessing. He decided on a mix. It was disconcerting to see this mass murderer bowing to Izuku like he was some sort of boy king. And yet here he was, offering his life for his cause to one he deemed worthy of doing so.
"I…I won't kill you. I can't. Even if you have done vile things and taken innocent lives, just because you saw them as unfit" Izuku thought of Iida's brother, of people who weren't as lucky to escape with their lives. He thought of Mina and the kids. He thought of his friends. He shook his head. This was not the path to take.
"They were far from innocent. I would never have killed them if they were. I am not a good man, but I do what is necessary." Stain rose, feeling slight disappointment that this young man would defend those he deemed unworthy. Disappointment that this young man would not step up and kill a villain who stood in his way.
"That's not our place to judge who lives and dies. We are not gods, Stain. We are servants. We save people because it's right. We apprehend villains because it is just. And if there is a problem, we fix it. We are servants of the greater good. If we must change the current system of heroics to better reflect that, I will. We will. "Izuku was shaken by how vocal he was being. How steadfast he was, and most of all, how he smiled the entire time. "I have a duty" Izuku just felt it flow. He stopped himself before he rambled too much. Izuku stakes his life on the noble causes of his friends and that, while they can do better, heroes are there to help people. It's what he believes and what he stands by. He would fight Stain if he must but he wouldn't be the symbol of peace if he solved everything with violence. He offered a hand to stain, nervously but steadfast.
Here he and stain stood, two individuals of conviction, with a similar vision of a brighter day but vastly different ideas and methods on getting there.
Finally, Stain moved quickly, knife drawn. Izuku stood at the ready, not noticing the quirk user behind him until he felt the heat of nearby flames. Izuku had been careless in letting his guard down and dodged, but he ended up in Stain's grasp. A cut and a lick and the One-For-All user was down. After that, Stain leapt at Dabi and sliced the young man's cheek. Neither Izuku or Dabi could react at the swiftness of the Hero killer's actions. He certainly wasn't expecting the man whose vision he shared to come at him, let alone use his quirk. Stain flicked his tongue hungrily across the blade, lapping it up and incapacitating his would-be successor.
"Dabi. I have kept an eye on you, as much as I could. My work is done. Yours is not. Watch these heroes. Keep them honest. Keep them afraid. Do not let them drift into corruption. Our dream is at hand. DO NOT LET IT SLIP!" He removed his bandana and grasped it in his hand as he delivered his short rally cry.
"And you, hero. You may have proven yourself, but do not grow complacent. You are naïve to think that peace can be achieved without blood being spilled."
With that, Stain turned his knife on himself, slitting his own throat and dropping his knife and Bandana to the ground as he fell. He bled out quickly and soon died, his crazed eyes burning a hole into the wall upon which they fell in death.
Izuku was shocked, eyes wide open as he saw Chizome Akaguro take his own life. It was certainly an image that would stay with the young hero for some time.
Bakugou stays behind as Mina, Iida, and Shouto head to his aid. The explosive hero scoffs.
"Stupid reckless nerd. What kind of hero lets his guard down like that. Fucking idiot." He lights another cigarette and holds it in his mouth, taking a drag before trying that trick he learned that Summer. He made a gun with his pointer finger and thumb and aimed it towards the fallen Dabi, sparks forming at the fingertip. It wasn't his best move but he used it for smaller scale things that required minimal damage. He was working on that at least. He was so tempted to end this hero killer bullshit. He certainly didn't have any love for Frankenstein face or the fucking hero killer, but shitty ass Deku was right. This isn't the way they do things. Bakugou cursed and lowered his hand
"God dammit." Bakugou seethed. He took another puff, threw his Lucky Strike to the ground, and stomped it out before joining the nerd brigade and Racoon eyes. "he tore out his phone as he descended the building.
"Hosu Police, this is the explosive hero, Napalm King. We have a suspect in custody and one who just fucking killed himself. Get down here pronto."
Mina was the first one to Izuku's side, though Stain's death lifted his quirk's influence. Iida and Shouto moved in quick to apprehend Dabi before he had the chance to recover. He had said nothing, staring only at Stain's dead body and the inheritance he left to his successor.
Mina helped her boyfriend up, concerned for him but glad no serious harm ad come to him. Well, nothing physical. She gazed into his beautiful green eyes, and saw he was shaken. He had seen a man die right in front of him, murderer or not.
"You ok, Izu.?" She asked. She knew what was likely on his mind. He knew how dangerous these things were, but he didn't take death lightly.
He shook himself out of it. "Y-yeah. Let's make sure the police get here, then we should go. "
Bakugou broke up the moment.
"Police our on their way, assholes. You can go catch purse snatchers or fuck in the shower or whatever you do. I'll let you losers know if I need you again." he spoke calmly but still with that patented Katsuki Bakugou "charm".
"Hey…. Kacchan. Thanks for the heads up." Izuku spoke, still a bit shaky from not only getting the approval of the Hero Killer, but watching him die and crown a successor. It was a jarring morning so far.
"Whatever Deku. Just don't start inciting me to your tea parties or whatever the fuck you shits do."
"We'll leave that to this mysterious Becky." Mina winked at the notorious hothead.
She could see the veins in his head start to pop, but he didn't even turn. He just stopped, shouted "Fuck off." and jetted away. In the distance, they heard him scream "FUCK, MY SMOKES!"
As jostled as Izuku was, Mina provided him comfort. And the chain reaction she got out of Bakugou sent him barreling into laughter. Composure regained, the two heroes spoke to the police when they arrived. Dabi was taken into custody and Stain's body was taken away. Izuku explained the situation. Iida and Shouto were speaking to the officers as well, offering any further insight they could, as limited as it might be.
"I don't know how he got out of Tartarus, but he came looking for me. He said his role was over but that there was still work to be done. Then he crowned his replacement right over there. To make us toe the line, I guess. At least that's how he saw it…" Izuku spoke gravely, yet still smiled. I was difficult to smile sometimes, but often it was all you had to get through life. And it could go a long way.
"Thank you, Deku. Alien Queen. You seem to be away from your normal area but we appreciate you guys coming out here to help, even if the hero killer, um…" The cop speaking to them was a rookie, not much older than Izuku and Mina. She had short blue hair and bluish-green eyes. The chief came in at that moment, his dog like head now sporting grayer whiskers than it did last time Izuku and he met.
"What officer Hitachi here means, young Deku, is that, even if he committed suicide, any help is appreciated. You and your friends have certainly grown into capable heroes and I am happy to see you make it this far. Woof." He stated as he put a hand on each hero's shoulder in gratitude. Things had come a long way since Izuku, Iida, and Shouto apprehended Stain and had to give the credit to Endeavor for acting outside of the law, to avoid more serious punishment.
No further insight was given into how the Hero Killer escaped so easily and if it served any greater purpose beyond what he had stated. Izuku and Mina thanked the police, Iida, and Shouto, and left the scene.
"Hey Izuku?" Mina asked, skating along on a trail of weak acid as Izuku leapt alongside her.
"Yeah, Mina?"
"Want to stop for some lunch quick?" she smiled.
"Y-yeah. That would hit the spot right now." Izuku smiled back. He was famished and the day was still ahead of them.
"Yuss! There's a café near here. We should stop there." She jumped in the air with her fist pumped before landing back on the ground with a pirouette before continuing to skate along.
Izuku chuckled and sighed. She could be such a show-off sometimes/ He couldn't wait for her birthday.
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to them, they were being followed.
