He's the Hero

Author's Note: Be sure to read the "Ask Briry" section at the bottom for info and story extras!

Chapter 9: The Hero's Shadow

Stain stared at the two new opponents lined up. So many distractions… he was already annoyed by the girl's participation, and now to have her brother and his friend pairing up against him. The other Pros and the police would be right behind him. He didn't have time for this. Someone's time was gonna be up soon. He needed to end this!

"Your friends came to save you. That's a good line, but I have a duty to kill that boy… naturally if we clash here, the weaker of us will be culled." Stain threatened and had Izuku's blood going cold. He was glad he didn't get here a moment later, or he was certain there wouldn't have been anyone left to save.

No matter what backlash their quirk had, he was glad for the connection he had with his sister, because it led him right to her. He looked back at her now, the look on her face making the rage in him boil and he turned his eyes back to the Hero Killer. No one, and he did me NO ONE messed with his sister.

"Keep your eyes open Todoroki-kun… don't let him get anywhere near them."

"Ah… you be careful, this guy has to be fast if he took Izumi down." He whispered.

Izuku nodded, and he launched forward, getting in close to avoid the long reach of his opponent. As he got in, he recalled Valkyrie's lesson on cornering villains.

"It doesn't matter what space you're in you must always use it to the best of your ability. If they have the advantage, then turn it around and make it your own."

He caught sight of the blades, and using his smaller demeanor he went in low jetting between Stain's legs and whipping around to punch him in the back. He narrowly avoided the next swing, jumping in the air, he could feel the powerful swish of the blade pass under him. Todoroki set loose flames causing Stain to back off and away giving Midoriya time to regain his feet and attack again.

"His movement's have improved…" Izumi whispered as she watched the fight. "I've always been the better dodger… but he's gotten better at reacting to his opponent's actions."

He'd changed, grown far stronger in the last few days than she had in months. Her eyes shut tight and she shook, wishing she could stand. She didn't just want to lie here, she didn't want to feel pathetic and useless… and needing to prove herself.

Izuku let out a cry as he was sent colliding into a group of trash cans, his arm cut and turning his uniform sleeve red.

"Izuku!" She struggled more. Then gasped as her fingers wiggled. "I can move?"

Stain, having immobilized Izuku now went for Todoroki, Todoroki pushing out ice barriers trying to block his path and keep him away, but he cut them up in a blur of movements.

"Creating a barrier blocking your view from an opponent that's faster than you… rookie mistake!" Stain shouted at Todoroki, as if teaching him.

"We'll see about that! MMNNG!" Todoroki grit his teeth as pain shot up his left arm. Two daggers stabbed through, blood dripping down it. He didn't have time to bring up an attack to keep him away. "Look out!" He shouted at Native, and gasped as Izumi came barrelling in her leg kicking straight into the Killer's face and keeping him away from Native. "Izumi?!"

"I don't know why," she said as she landed, her body electrifying with her quirk as she rushed forward and grabbed her brother from the garbage pile. "I could just suddenly move."

"A time limit?" Todoroki wondered.

"No, that girl should have been the last one affected." Native said, his voice trembling as he still struggled to move. "We're still unable to move."

"I have three theories." Izuku said as Izumi jumped over and set him down beside Iida. "It could be less effective with more people. The amount ingested could affect how long it works, or it could depend on the blood type."

"Blood Type, Mine's B..." Native said.

"I'm A…" Iida followed.

"... and I'm O…" Izumi murmured and her lips suddenly curved as she knew Izuku was as well.

"So you've guessed it… well done." Stain nodded his head. For a bunch of kids they were pretty good.

"Shoto… how long before you think the Pros get here?" Izumi whispered and held up her fists.

"Soon, I contacted my father shortly before we got here. He's sending his sidekicks right now and handling the situation in town before he joins them." He whispered back holding his injured arm.

"I was only paralyzed for two minutes… Izuku's won't last very long and the other two Shouldn't be far behind. He seems to have a harder time the more people that are attacking him. We just gotta keep him busy."

"Izumi, you're trembling." He murmured to her.

"I'd be a fool if I wasn't scared." She told him but lifted her fists up. Despite her words, she wasn't scared, the fear had long subsided. What she was, was angry. Angry and upset that even for a few moments she'd felt inferior to those around her, that she'd been helpless, and had to rely on her brother. "It doesn't matter though… I don't care if I'm scared, I don't care if this creep thinks I don't have what it takes to be a hero. I'm not just gonna lie on the ground and let you boys protect me! I'm gonna fight!"

"Izumi-chan…" Iida stared up at her, his eyes tearing and spilling over. She launched into action zipping across the playing field using her speed to distract and disorient stain while Todoroki supported her from behind. Why… why were they all doing this? Why did he feel so pathetic beside them.

I'll kill you!

Shouldn't you worry about saving this guy?

The villain had been right. It burned him to know that despite his villainous behavior, his beliefs and morales on the hero code reflected on him. He'd been so busy worrying about his brother's honor, and revenge that he didn't see the big picture… didn't see that there was someone in need of rescue. He should have told Manual what was going on the minute he'd been aware of the Hero Killer's movements. He should have run away with Native the moment he'd stopped Hero Killer's attack. He should have done what these guys were doing.

"No more…"

Izumi immediately noticed the way he was fighting had changed. He was becoming rigorous, and reckless, attacking with fervor and almost wild abandon. Something had changed. She quickly ducked out of the way as she was nearly slice in half by the blade. Fire shot between them keeping him at a distance.

"Izumi!" Todoroki shouted in worry. "Are you alright?!"

"I'm fine! I'm not down yet!"

"I still can't move," Izuku grunted then looked down a Iida as he twitched and cried. "Iida-kun."

"Please… stop…" Iida begged, unable to watch anymore. He shut his eyes. Could he feel anymore pathetic? "I'm… already finished."

"Tch! If you want us to stop then STAND!" Todoroki shouted at him. He could understand Iida's frustration, had seen the resentment and pride he had once carried as he had carried as a shell around him. It had been Izuku and Izumi who'd broken that shell, and set him free. Just a few small words, a few kind actions, had changed his outlook in life. The only thing he could say and offer to Iida... "Look properly at what you want to be!"

Iida tensed up, Todoroki's words hitting their mark… he thought of his actions, of what his senselessness had done. His friends having to protect him, bleed for them.

"Shoto!" Izumi rushed in front of Todoroki blocking Stain's attack by taking the hit herself, her side gushing blood.

"Izumi!" He pulled her out of the way and set loose a blockade of ice before kneeling to her. "Izumi are you alright."

"Don't worry about me! Look out!" Izumi shoved him out of the way in time her hand stabbed through by a Katana and she screamed in pain.

"Stay away from her!" Todoroki shouted blasting fire in Stain's face. The guy dodged but was still singed and he backed away laughing, his tongue hanging out. Only one left… and he'd already spotted his weakness. He flicked his tongue over the blade with Izumi's blood on it, incapacitating her.

Iida could no longer sit by and watch… he needed to stand up… he needed to protect his friends and do what he came to do. He came to defeat the Hero Killer. He won't do that by laying on the ground. His fingers twitched, and he could finally moved. Though his body was stiff he clenched his fists and stood up.

"Todoroki on your right!" Izuku shouted trying to help from his vantage point. He glanced over, saw Iida standing, and his smile slowly spread. "That a way, Iida."

"Recipro… BURST!"

Iida launched forward, stopping the attack that would have cut Todoroki in half. He then continued by kicking Stain away from his friends and he stood beside them standing strong despite his injuries. Izumi smiled brightly, her eyes showing sweet relief.

"Iida!"

"Izumi-chan, Midoriya-kun, Todoroki-kun. Forgive me… This has nothing to do with you."

"You're still saying that?" Izumi grunted, her frustration with him immediately returning.

"That's why… I can't allow you three to bleed for me anymore." He continued.

Izuku and Izumi shared smiles as they looked at each other nodding in approval at Iida's words. Izuku could feel the binding on himself began to loosen, but stayed where he was turning his eyes on stain and keeping alert.

"It's no use trying to be reformed for appearance's sake. A person's essence doesn't change so easily." Stain rationalized. "You will never be anything but a fake who prioritizes his own selfish desires!"

"And you're an anachronistic fundamentalist." Todoroki retorted. "Iida don't listen to a word this guy says."

"No… he's right." Iida said with shame. "I have no right to call myself a hero."

Izumi looked at Iida in shock. Her own heart wavering some as she remembered Stain's words to her and she grit her teeth. "Iida…"

"However… if I give up here… then the name Ingenium will die. I cannot let that happen."

"Out of the question!" Stain's eyes nearly went white as his pupils shrunk. His determination monsterous as he launched. Todoroki immediately pushed Iida back shoving fire out in a massive blast. Izuku moved now jetting over to his sister and holding her upright.

"Izumi, are you alright?"

"Mnng, I'm fine… Izuku…" She gripped a hand into his uniform. "Stain… he's right isn't he?"

"What?" Izuku pressed a hand to her side feeling the heavy blood flow and he tore off one of his sleeves to press the material to it. "Are you delirious?"

"He is right though…" she felt the tears. "We talked about it last night… how there are people who shine brighter because they're true heroes. You… and Shoto… the two of you shine so bright you're blinding. Iida and I… we're just shadows trying to stand beside you, and bask a little in that light."

"Todoroki-kun!" Izuku held Izumi upright, he saw her face going pale, she was losing too much blood and was now talking nonsense. "Izumi needs an ambulance. I'm getting her out of here!"

"Go!" Shoto shouted back at him, glancing only briefly to see Izumi's pale face. "Hurry!"

"No!" Izumi shook her head "You can't leave them alone… they need your help, Izuku." She grabbed Izuku's face making him look at the situation behind him. "Look at Stain… look at the way he's fighting. He's becoming desperate… his actions are too unpredictable. The only way to overpower him is with numbers."

"Todoroki can you regulate temperature?" Iida asked Todoroki suddenly, his Recipro used up.

"I'm not yet used to it with my left, why?"

"Freeze my legs, without plugging up the exhaust." His eyes caught movement and he rushed forward blocking a throwing knife from hitting Shoto. It caught his shoulder, blood oozing out.

"Iida!?"

"Hurry!"

"Just leave me!" Izumi shouted at Izuku one last time and shoved him away. "Go! Help them!"

Izuku hesitated, but nodded and stood up. He powered up One for All and rushed in to help. While Iida lay on the ground, his legs recuperating Izuku leapt atop the ice Todoroki had made, using it to push himself higher. He faced Stain head on his eyes lit with temper and determination. Below him Iida got to his feet, his legs recovered and bursting with a new power that sent him soaring upward like a rocket.

"Go!" Izumi whispered with a smile and felt Todoroki's arm lift her up bringing her to her feet. She held onto him, her cheek pressed into his chest as she watched her brother and Iida take down the villain together.

~Elsewhere~

Valkyrie brought her sword down upon the Nomu before it had a chance to attack a couple running across the street.

"Damn!" She winced as she tried to stretch her wings out, but found it broken. "I guess I overdid it." She'd have to go on foot from here. Her breath went heavy and her body tensed up seeing the creature was still moving and twitching trying to get free. "The hell are you made of?"

"Out of the way!" She heard a voice call out and quickly dodged out of the way as a wave of flame encompassed the villain and roasted him on her sword like a kabob. Her head jerked to the side and a brow raised.

"Ah Endeavor… I'd forgotten you were in Hosu." She removed her sword from the roasted villain and sheathed it.

"Valkyrie… i'm surprised to see you here." He stepped to her.

"As I you… but things happen. Where are your interns?"

"More than likely with yours. It appears the Midoriya Girl ran into a villain and Shoto went to find her. I've sent my sidekicks to go find them and assess the situation."

"I should rest easy then, as your sidekicks are some of the best in the business… and besides we've more important concerns." She looked up ahead at the roaring fire. "That's the epicenter over there. Whatever's causing all this chaos is located in that square."

"No, I'll handle things from here. Restain what's left of this guy and go find your intern." He rattled off an address to her. "That was their last location."

"Can I really trust you can handle these monsters on your own?" Valkyrie said frowning at him. "These monsters appear to have more than just one quirk, and there's more than one of them running loose."

"Humph," he smirked over his shoulder at her. "Just who do you think you're talking to?"

She grinned at him and saluted.

"Suit yourself then… Number 2."

~Back with the students~

Todoroki finished tying the unconscious Stain up, thankful he found all that he needed in a nearby trash bin. Izuku collected all the weapons they'd taken off Stain and set them on a large cloth.

"Owowowow…" Izuku winced as he set the last one down and rubbed his arm and leg. "Damn I really overdid it in the end there. My whole body hurts."

"Shut up," Izumi told him leaning against a wall and holding her side. "Out of the lot of us you've the least amount of injuries."

"I've got you princess." Now able to move again Native plucked Izumi up princess style and had her grunting in embarrassment.

"You're pretty injured yourself, Native, should you really be carrying me?" She complained.

"Not to worry, my wounds are only minor in comparison to yours." He told her with a smile.

"It's just a scratch…" she murmured and looked over his shoulder at Todoroki. "Shoto, can you handle him alone?"

"Yeah, no worries, Midoriya, Iida, walk ahead, I'll bring up the rear."

"Todoroki-kun," Iida stepped forward. "Please allow me to-"

"Your arms are injured aren't they? Don't worry about it, Iida. Go on." he motioned him forward then followed just slightly behind him.

"Well I've had enough excitement for one night…" Izuku said aloud letting out a long sigh. "Oh, Izumi I found your phone!" He waved it in his free hand. "You should be more careful with it."

"I panicked… believe me it won't happen again." She took it from him and flipped it open, thankful it wasn't broken.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't exactly much help was I? Even though I'm a pro."

"It couldn't be helped… with his quirk it's impossible to take him on one by one" Izuku told him. "He's too strong."

"We fought him four to one, with the guy making mistakes himself and still barely won." Todoroki agreed and eyed Izumi. She was pale, and her eyes had lost some of the fire he'd seen when she'd been fighting. "Izumi?"

"I'm fine… just tired." She assured him. "My wounds aren't as bad as you're all making it out to be."

"Well, at the very least we should call an ambulance, and get this guy to the police." Native told them, and glanced over just as Valkyrie suddenly rounded a corner

"Deku-kun!" She rushed over. "So this is where you've been. What the hell were you thinking running off like that?"

"Who's this?" Todoroki asked.

"Valkyrie, whom I've been interning with. I'm so sorry, Lady Valkyrie." He bowed apologetically.

"Well so long as you're all right that's what matters." She glanced over her shoulder hearing Endeavor's and Manual's sidekicks arrived. "About time you guys showed up. What were you dragging your feet?"

"Endeavor told us of someone needing help around Normal Hero's agency, but he didn't give clear directions…" one sidekick explained.

"Izumi-chan! Iida-kun!" Jacko rushed over lifting his goggles from his eyes. "What happened? You're all wounded!" He picked up his phone dialing 911… but then saw the hero killer and gasped. "Is that… The Hero Killer!?"

"What?!" Valkyrie glanced down gasping as well. Her hand suddenly came up and swiped Izuku over the head. "Baka! Why the hell didn't you call me!?"

"Owowowow! I'm sorry I was in a hurry and I panicked!"

Izumi laughed as she was set down. Leave it to Izuku to choose a teacher who had the same methods as their grandfather.

"Izumi-chan, Midoriya-kun, Todoroki-kun…" Iida stepped forward and bowed apologetically to them. The tears finally free to fall. "I'm so sorry. You were all injured because of me… I'm truly sorry! I was completely blinded. I couldn't see anything through my anger."

"I'm sorry too Iida." Izuku turned and the three of them all faced Iida together creating a circle. "I knew you were suffering, but I didn't know how to help you. I was terrible friend."

"Same here… I was so caught up in my own problems I neglected to help my friend who needed support." Izumi apologized.

Iida kept himself bowed, just crying and listening to his friends, his good and true friends forgive him so easily.

"Pull yourself together…" Todoroki told him, feeling a bit uncomfortable. "You're a man aren't yah?"

"Yeah," he wiped his tears on his sleeve and slowly stood up, the lot of them sharing a smile.

Izumi's attention diverted when she heard the gust of wings above. What she saw had her eyes slitting and her heart racing with adrenaline again.

"Tomura…"

Iida's head jerked in her direction and he gasped as Izumi broke from the group and ran to the middle of the street before jumping up and meeting the beastly villain head on.

"No! Izumi-chan!"

"A villain!?" Valkyrie stretched her wings out, wincing and remembering she could fly. "Damn it!"

Izumi ignored her wounds, ignored the cries of her brother and friends. All she saw was the villain, and the creature that she knew was meant for her.

"You want me, Tomura? Well come and get me!" Her arm lit and she thrust it forward. "SMASH!"

Her fist met with the beast, she put a full 100% behind it, felt her bones snap and break but the full force of her power connected… and the head of the villain popped like a balloon. She and what remained of the creature dropped to the ground. She barely managed to land on her feet, and stared with smug satisfaction as the body of the beast landed with a satisfying crunch.

"I-Izumi-chan?" Iida had gone blue at the sight as did those around her.

"She didn't hesitate… she just-" One of the sidekicks murmured, feeling a bit sick at the gory sight.

"Izumi-chan…" Valkyrie, barely able to get her voice she turned and narrowed her eyes. "Do you realize what you just did?"

"Yes…" she said with a serious stare and tone. "I killed a monster." She held out her hands welcoming the blacklash. "Go ahead, punish me… I know what I did was against the rules. I'm still a student and I'm not licensed. However…" she pointed to the corpse. "This thing was sent here to either kidnap me or my brother… and I'll be damned if I'm going to put our lives into society's clumsy hands."

"Izumi…" Todoroki stared at her in shock. Where the hell had this come from? What was she talking about?

"Heh, heh, heh, HAHAHAHA!" Stain's dark laughter startled them all, and the group dispersed as the villain stood up, his ropes cut and his beat up body wobbled as he walked towards Izumi. "That a way, child of All Might. You know the truth of this world. You know what needs to be done."

"You shut up!" Izumi stood against him, no longer afraid. "I've had enough of your nonsensical logic. You can keep your opinions and your beliefs in the trash where they belong!"

"You call my beliefs and opinions trash and yet they're the same beliefs in your own mind." He points accusingly at her with his knife while his free hand tapped his temple. "You stand there, blood on your hands, murder in your eyes, and yet you call me the villain? Heh, you're no better than I am."

Izumi choked, and looked down at her gloves. She saw the blood, felt the rage in her die down when reality came rushing at her. She immediately turned white as a sheet.

"Don't fear it… embrace it." He told Izumi with a laugh. "You're different from these fakes, you show true promise, true strength, and knowledge of the corruption in the world. This world, overrun with fake heroes, and criminals who wave their powers around idly. You can change it by purging it of its filth as you did just now."

"I...I just…" Izumi's fire suddenly died and she stepped back and away. She ripped her gloves off and tucked her hands around her shaking like a leaf. "I just wanted to protect my family."

"What are you all standing around for? The villain should have-" Endeavor's voice cut through the tense air and all eyes went to him. He and the Hero Killer's eyes met, and the focus changed.

"Endeavor…"

"Hero Killer, I've found you at last!" He raised his fist and Valkyrie gasped and held out her hand.

"No, Endeavor wait!"

Endeavor halted his attack, seeing now what Valkyrie did. The guy was barely holding himself upright… and yet he stared him and the others down with red blood eyes, his mask falling off revealing the scars and damage from his previous encounters.

"You fakes…" he whispered in a wheezy breath. "I must make things right. Someone must be dyed in blood. I must take back what it means to be a hero!" He stepped towards them, one foot then another, bodies frozen, eyes wide, and blood chilling. "Come… try and get me you fakes!" He said, egging them on, smiling sinisterly as his aura of intimidation rose even higher. "The only one I will allow to kill me is the true hero… All Might!"

When his dagger clattered to the ground, the moment snapped like a twig… people falling to their knees and on their butts too afraid to move. The only person that remained standing was the unconscious Hero Killer.

Izumi stared at him from behind. She'd long fallen to her knees, staring with eyes wide… not in fear but in awe of what he had done. He completely incapacitated the group without the use of his quirk, but instead by sheer intimidation.

You're no Hero...You're no better than I am.

"I'm not..." She whispered and covered her face with her hands. "I'm not like you..."

Why... when she said it aloud like that... did it sound like a big fat lie?

~Ask Briry~

Briry: *Rubs her arms up and down* Whew this part of the anime always gives me goosebumps. I don't think you all are aware of what I go through for a good review. I sometimes watch the same part of the anime over and over so I get the details right. *Shudder* I'm gonna have nightmares after this, I just know it!

Next Chapter: All for One