Disclaimer: I do not own Boku No Hero Academia.
CHAPTER X – BETRAYAL
All Might knew that it wouldn't be easy to get an official permission for Midoriya to enter Tartarus, but he hadn't imagined it being that difficult.
After his last visit, the guards had talked to him about what they had heard through the microphones, informing him that they wouldn't let a hero-in-training know the exact location of Tartarus, let alone just so he could visit Shigaraki, a villain who had only caused them problems. But All Might wasn't going to give up because of them.
The day after, he first talked to Aizawa after class, who next to All Might knew Midoriya's ability best and who was objective enough to evaluate the situation. All Might didn't reveal any information about Tomura or Tartarus, just presented his own perspective and how the visit could help Tomura and Midoriya in bettering themselves. To that, Aizawa said that he didn't care as long All Might was sure that the student was one-hundred percent safe. Mirdoriya wasn't going into the cell alone, all would be fine, All Might promised.
After that, it was Principal Nezu who signed the approval, but only after All Might agreed to share a cup of tea with him. Principal Nezu often seemed lonely – an animal with a quirk still was a very rare being, even in a society in which almost everyone had at least on quirk, so to mouse appreciated every visit. He was a curious being, asking all kinds of things about Tomura, about how he was doing and what he was like. Unfortunately, All Might wasn't allowed to share most things (unfortunate indeed, he really wanted to talk about the young with someone other than the guards) but what he was allowed to speak about, where his own feelings towards the villain.
All Might told him that he liked Tomura a lot, that he believed in him and that Tomura had a kind heart but had been misguided for most of his life. Luckily, the principal didn't try to convince him about how Tomura 'was a murderer', he just listened and accepted.
A few days later, All Might visited Midoriya Inko, the kid's mother, at the place of their home and asked for her permission. Like the case with Midoriya staying at U.A. after the whole Bakugou kidnapping affair, she was against it. Her son however, who had been part of the conversation as well, eventually managed to convince her to approve and to sign the authorization letter. All Might was convinced none of the people he asked for permission would regret it.
Tomura is not like he was before.
At the end of the week, All Might visited his notary, who was responsible for the rest; the man set up a letter and sent All Might's request together with Midoriya Inko's, Aizawa's and President Nezu's approval to the appropriate authority.
Now, it was a matter of waiting and All Might was aware that they would take their time in granting – or in the worst case, denying – his request. So the first week passed, followed by the second without anything particular happening and soon, All Might found himself on his way back to Tartarus.
Tomura.
How would he react at seeing Midoriya?
All Might was almost on the island, only a few minutes before he would get to see the kid again. He was already late to begin with, so he accelerated, racing towards his destination.
Unfortunately, he wasn't going to see Tomura that day.
Father.
Father usually hurt him when he drank and he drank a lot – most of the time actually.
But Tenko still forgave him, Tenko still loved him.
There were days however, when Shimura wasn't drunk, when he wasn't abusive towards his child, at least not in a physical way. On the very rare of occasion, Tenko's father would hug him and ruffle his head, telling him how sorry he was and that he had not been himself; that he would do better in future and Tenko, well Tenko forgave him again.
He forgave him every time, because all he wanted was the man's love and attention.
Tenko was not a stupid child: He knew that life had not been kind to their family. They didn't have any money and Tenko knew the feeling of hunger well – though not only because of the lack of money, but also because his father would often lock him up in his bedroom for hours on end without water or anything else. He remembered wetting himself a lot when he was locked up, which infuriated his father even more.
Shimura would often grab his hair or head and throw him to the ground.
One day all of this would get better, wouldn't it? Maybe his mother would then return too: His mother who had left him, because he was cursed, a demon child.
The next memory was from one of the times his father had taken him with him. He remembered them being at Kannai Station and taking the Negishi Line to Yokohama. His father had not been drunk that day, but not any less angry with him, slapping him across the head multiple times while they had waited for the train to arrive. Of course, none of the bystanders would say anything to him, telling him to stop abusing his son. To them, he was just a child being scolded for misbehaving.
At their destination, his father had met up with some guy he owed money too and that small child had watched how someone had beaten his only family into a bloody pulp.
"Daddy, get up!"
Shimura did have a job, but as a drinker, the money just didn't last long enough. Tomura couldn't imagine the huge amounts of debts he would have inherited if he had kept the Shimura name to this day.
Father.
He remembered his past so well, yet his father's face seemed to have disappeared out of his mind.
Tomura closed his eyes and tried to think about his father's appearance, but it just wouldn't show. Instead, his father's frame turned into All for One when he still looked handsome, then into All for One with a black mask and finally into a skinny All Might.
It didn't make him feel as uncomfortable and disgusted as he would have liked.
Today, thinking about his past for once didn't cause any panic attacks. Maybe because he was feeling good. Why? Was it his inner clock telling him that it was the day All Might was visiting?
I shouldn't be happy about this.
"This is all for you, Shigaraki Tomura.", he repeated Sensei's words in his mind, but with every day, they meant less and less to him. He was changing and it was all due to All Might.
I want to get out of here. He didn't want to admit it but he missed the League. He missed how Toga Himiko talked about feeling good when she was with them or when she swooned over Midoriya Izuku. He missed Twice, his split personality and even that simple costume he always wore, making him look like straight out of an American comic and he missed Mr. Compress with his magic tricks and.. he hated to say it but he even missed Dabi, always acting so arrogant and like a know it all. But most of all, he missed Kurogiri, who had always been so patient with him.
How long until All Might would get here? Tomura wanted to speak to someone, to listen to someone and to have company.
"You can call me Toshinori." Should he? No, he didn't want the man to call him Tenko either.
For a different reason though. Shimura Tenko is dead.
Shimura.
Shimura.
Shimura Nana.
Tomura shook his head. What did his grandmother mean to him? Nothing, he didn't know her and he didn't want to, but how ironic was it that his own life was so intertwined with All Might and this from the very beginning, from the day he was born?
Tomura wondered if All Might would bring the student with him today, but something told him that this special visit was going to be another time. It was kind of obvious he was going to bring Midoriya but know that didn't serve any purpose.
He waited.
Seconds turned into minutes, minutes into hours with Tomura waiting impatiently for All Might to arrive. Had his body's instinct been wrong on the time? Had it not been exactly two weeks?
I did stop counting the days. I really could be wrong. But he was sure that he wasn't.
All Might however, did not come that day.
And Tomura, former leader of the League of Villains, successor to All for One and one of the most dangerous villains of Japan,..
..felt like a child left alone.
...
Tomura pulled his legs up to his chest and buried his face in his knees. Was it really so important that All Might came here? When had he started to miss his sworn enemy? He wanted to be angry, to feel the raw hatred towards the man that had –– What had All Might done to him?
He brought me shoes.
He brought me books.
He visited me at the hospital, after I went back on my promise to behave.
"Hello Shigaraki."
Tomura startled and lifted his head to stare at whoever had spoken.
"All..Might?", he asked, his voice timid.
There he stood, a skinny blonde figure in front of him, in the middle of the cell. When had he entered? Was Tomura hallucinating? Was he dreaming? Had he just not noticed? And why did he call him 'Shigaraki'?
"Are you supposed to be dangerous? Don't make me laugh, you look weak." Those words hit Tomura like a wall and he found himself surprised that he would get hurt by them so much. Why would he say that?
Why do you care so much, Tomura?
"What the hell is wrong with you?", he asked and All Might grinned.
"Don't you get it, Shigaraki? You don't mean anything to me, or to anyone else. I've been using you all along, making you addicted to me and now that you're looking forwards the see me, I'm going to let you fall. They should have just killed you. ", All Might crossed his arms and there was something so evil glimmering in those sunken in eyes, it made the whole League of Villains look like a group of kindergarten children.
"You don't mean anything to me, or to anyone else." Tomura bit his lips. He already knew that!
But if he knew, why did it hurt so much hearing it from him?
Tomura lowered his head and hid behind his hair. This was not happening, this was not real!
"You don't sound like All Might. What kind of trick is this?"
All Might grinned.
"Haha..you got me.", his voice suddenly changed as did his appearance. The skinny limbs became thicker and the white shirt and the green pants All Might usually wore, turned into a black suit. Only a few seconds later, there where All Might had been standing, now stood the man who had saved Tomura all these years ago, his face concealed by a black mask.
"Sensei.", Tomura couldn't believe his eyes. How could this be? All for One was locked up here in Tartarus as well! Was this another quirk his master had never told him about? And was he the only one who could see him? No guards were storming the cell so it must have been like this, right?
"But..how?"
"Is this so important, Tomura? The only thing that matters is that I am here.", his Sensei's voice was calm and only now did Tomura realize how much he had missed it.
"Do you want to get out, Tomura?", was that guy mocking him? Who on earth wouldn't want to get out of his damned cell?
"Yes.", Tomura answered, concealing that he thought this was a stupid question.
"Then answer me one thing, my apprentice. Why are you betraying me?", All for One then asked and pulled the ground away beneath Tomura feet. The younger one couldn't believe what he was hearing!
"What?"
"Don't make me repeat myself, Shigaraki Tomura.", All for One's amused voice turned into something strict, "I thought you were better than this, I trusted you. Why then, have you decided to betray me?"
"I am not betraying you, Sensei!", Tomura shouted to his defence and hated how pathetic his voice sounded while he did. Whenever did he become so small and weak? Why was his master so angry with him? He didn't do anything wrong, did he?
"You have lost your goal, Shigaraki Tomura. All Might is your enemy, yet you are still here, waiting for him to visit you like a dog."
His masters disappointment was like someone punched his gut over and over.
All Might is my enemy! I know this, I should know this!
...
Then why does my heart say differently?
All these years, all of his life, he only wanted to kill All Might, to fight this society and its fake morals and ethics and all for what? The bring justice to those like him but.. Tomura felt as if he had wasted all of his time marching towards a goal that wasn't his.
"Don't you have anything to say to that, Tomura?", All for One's voice became soft again and he stepped towards Tomura, waved with his hand telling the younger man to stand up. The apprentice did, though slowly as not to hurt his still healing wounds and stepped up to the even taller man, who raised his hand to caress Tomura's head.
Unlike with All Might, Tomura wasn't ashamed to lean into this touch and for a moment, it felt like they were back at the apartment with All for One making him breakfast and him sitting at the table, playing some game on a handheld console. His own fingers had been so tiny that they couldn't reach all the buttons.
All for One's hand went down to his cheek, caressing the dry and scarred skin around his eyes, his thumb brushing the scar across his lips as it went down to his jaw.
"Tomura, my little Tomura."
All for One's hand then closed around his neck, successfully stopping any further supply of oxygen down to his lungs.
"Sen..sei.", Tomura breathed whatever was left out and reached for the hand suffocating him, but didn't have the courage to pull it away. Was this his punishment for being so fucking weak?
"Please..", Tomura begged but his vision already began to show black spots. Then, All for One let go before of him and the youth fell to his knees, coughing and grasping for air.
"Tomura,", All for One started again when Tomura was done, "If you are truly to be my successor, you have to redeem yourself in my eyes."
"Redeem?"
"Shigaraki Tomura,", All for One's voice was mighty, "If you bring me the head of All Might's student, I will forgive you and get you out of here."
Tomura looked up and frowned: "The student?"
Had All for One been listening in on their conversations?
How many times had he seen Tomura showing his weaknesses to the enemy? How many times had he seen Tomura laying there like a bag of potatoes because he was full of drugs?
The blood in his veins froze.
How many times had his Sensei seen his beloved apprentice fraternizing with the enemy?
"I want you to hurt him first, and then you can kill him. Can you do that for me?" Tomura lowered his head, his heart beating in his ears and his stomach felt like after a night at the bar. Could he do what his Sensei wanted?
"I have tried that..it didn't work.", he admitted. All for One kneeled down and wiped away one of the tears that had formed in the corners of Tomura's eyes because of his coughing.
"I will help you, my apprentice. Will you do it?"
Who was more important to him at this point? The man who had saved him all these years ago or the man who claimed to be saving him now?
"You don't have to hide from me, Tomura."
"I'm sorry I couldn't be to you what you needed me to be back then."
"It's alright now, I am here."
"But if you ever need someone to be a father to you, a father that won't hurt you.."
Why am I not able to forget these words?
It's too late for me – All Might, you can't save me from the path I have chosen!
"I ask you again, Shigaraki Tomura: Will you redeem yourself to me?"
There was no escape from All for One, you either chose him or death.
Can I kill All Might? Can I still do it? Tomura closed his eyes and in the darkness of his mind a child awaited him.
It was Tenko, little Shimura Tenko, who cried for his mother, for his father, for any kind of love.
Love that All for One denied him when he didn't to as told.
Love that All Might gave him even if he was a murderer.
He missed Father's hand on his face, he wanted to hide from this reality. He just needed more time to think!
What do I want?
Kill All Might, kill the symbol of peace..
Kill him, Tomura.
Kill the symbol of peace.
KILL HIM!
...
...
...
"I'll be there."
I can't do it...but I have to. There was no other way to survive this.
"I will, Sensei.", he answered and hid the scarlet eyes behind his bangs.
"Oh..they noticed.", All for One then suddenly said before disappearing and the second after he did, guards stormed the cell but abruptly stopped when they saw no one but a quiet Tomura sitting against the wall with his face hidden. He didn't startle this time and he didn't look up.
They wouldn't let him in. No matter how hard he tried, the way to Tartarus was closed for that day. Whatever was happening in the high security prison, no one would inform him about anything. Thanks to Tsukauchi, who was standing outside in front of his police car, he at least knew that there had been no break-out, but even the police officer wasn't allowed to tell him anything more. All Might just assumed that it was All for One who was giving them trouble again.
"At this rate, there will be no death penalty for him before he breaks out again.", All Might said and Tsukauchi nodded sadly.
"I agree, but there's nothing we can do to speed it up. It's not in our hands anymore."
"Unfortunately."
I'm sorry Tomura, I hope you're not angry with me.
End note: puh, this took longer to finish than I anticipated.
Answer to Galaxy diamond (user): Always a pleasure to get review from you, thank you : )
Answer to HankFlamion18 (user): I feel so honoured! Thank you : ) Your fic is on my to-do-list!
Answer to Guest (guest): I am so happy you love it! Thank you for reviewing!
Answer to TheStarsBurnedMySoul (user): Thank YOU for leaving this beautiful review! I already knew this story wouldn't gather a lot of readers, also because it doesn't have any ships. There are not a lot of Shigaraki-centered fics out there, so I figured I would have to write it myself and it makes me so happy to see you enjoy it : )
Also, thank you to everyone who has added this story to their favourites/alert subscription (in the meantime and in general)!