For A More Just Society.

A Shadow Looms.

Blood and Roses.

Nemuri shifted next to me, her eyes squeezing her lids as she yawned loudly. It was a dark morning, the clouds heavy with rain and thunder rumbled in the sky above. It was almost like there was something waiting.

I sat up, Nemuri grabbing me with her arms, "Noo… No, not yet…" She mumbled. I sighed and laid back down, "Good boy…" she yawned. The storm went on, but I still felt like there was something wrong.

Eri normally came in around this time. I knew she would because she'd basically dive bomb me and Nemuri in the mornings. But there was something terribly off about that. I forced Nemuri to let go and in moments I was going towards her room, bashing the door in. Everything seemed normal, but… was she here? Eri would usually ball herself under the covers with her little stingray in her arms. I reached out towards the sheets, throwing them aside and Eri whined a little.

I was just worried over nothing; I guess… She sat up, her little red eyes looking up at me. Eri looked a little sleepy and confused, "D… Daddy Why're you… hah…" she wiggled back under the covers and I knelt by her bed. Something was wrong, I could feel it, almost as if me grabbing my sword and one of my knives was just sheer instinct. Eri looked at me worriedly. Her little face was full of it. I just patted her head with a grin.

"Go back to sleep, Eri, Daddy's just worried about those bad guys after you," I sighed heavily, sitting on her bed and just watching her fall asleep, why was she so important to that crow masked group? Then it hit me. Her quirk must be a really powerful one. I calmly ran my fingers through her hair, with her scooching into my lap. She snuggled against me, eyes closed and her little stingray in her arms.

"You're the best Daddy in the universe…" she muttered. I smiled and hugged her tightly. I knew that she'd be okay, as long Nemuri, me, Eraser, and Chizome were around… I closed my eyes.

Stain slunk through the dark alleyways, slick with rain and metal clinking as he walked. He thought about what the little snot would like for her birthday, he grew… oddly attached to her. Always playing with his scarf or tugging on his bandage. Of course he couldn't be mad at her, she was more used to his brother not covering his face. Still, Stain had been watching her going to and from school as promised but… why did he take that goddamn deal in the first place?

One night, after he killed yet another hero, an odd young man in a crow mask with golden eyes emerged from the shadows, flanked by men on either side of him. Stain cleaned his blade but still kept it out.

"What the hell do you want? he snarled, get out of my way or you'll be purged like that false hero,"

The young man didn't look threatened, "How barbaric, but I can work with that. I admire your work, Stain, but I'm searching for something," he said, golden eyes shining.

"I don't run errands, I don't do favors, I do as I wish, now get out of my way,"

The young man laughed, "Now now! Calm down, Hero Killer, let me illuminate you," he smiled and Stain growled.

"What if I told you in my new world there would be no fakes Only real heroes, extraordinary beings like you and those vigilantes that gamble their lives to do the right thing?" he said, "And now, all I need you to do is find this girl and lead me to where she is,"

Stain looked impassively down at the picture of little Eri before her hair got long, an imitation of her mother, something Stain didn't exactly approve of. His brother was finally at peace in his life. But something urged him to take the deal. Stain gritted his teeth, remembering the girl that ruined him, remembering everything that led him down this path, his brother being brutally beaten up for just wanting to be a hero, seeing the rot in society. Seeing his brother try and fail at UAs exam despite the physical prowess on display.

For a more just society, he'd do anything to see the fakes fall. And if he could, he'd fight for it till the bitterest end he could imagine. But he also knew that his brother would never forgive him.

"Fine. But know that you asked for it," he snarled, leading them to the old love hotel repurposed into a house, it was still raining and early in the morning. Chizome took a deep breath and went to the door, knowing that Eri would come running if she saw him.

He didn't get why, but he almost wanted to just turn on that man and those bastards just to keep her safe. He shut his eyes, "Forgive me, Eri…" he mumbled softly, "Forgive me, brother…"

I heard the doorbell, and Nemuri shuffled out of the bedroom. I grabbed her and Eri. Keeping my sword nearby. Not unsheathed, but about to be. Nemuri confusedly looked at me before knowing I was dead serious.

Nemuri grabbed her whip, and Eri clung to me tightly. I didn't know what was happening, but the minute the doorbell rang I crept down the hallway, blade poised to go. I closed my eyes and then the door slammed open, Chizome dashing right at me, blazing crimson eyes and sword clashing with mine, sending me back.

"What the hell's your problem?" I asked, breaking the clash viciously. Exchanging blows, feeling myself losing ground against him. Vicious and forceful, the blades sparking and Nemuri was handling Eri, her whip holding the crow masked guys back, some of them passing out. Chizome made me taste my blood, thick and metallic. Running down my chin and wounded, in seconds everything went straight to hell. There were too many, but seeing the man who was after my daughter wearing a crow mask lined with gold, cold golden eyes and short brown hair.

"Well, she was right under our noses in the house of the heroic Stendhal and the foolish Killer Queen!" he said, "All this time, all this time you thought you could play house with my asset," he smiled, walking towards Nemuri and Eri, with Eri clinging to her tightly.

"Stain, thank you so much for your help. Now then, Eri. You want nothing bad to happen to Mommy and Daddy, right?"

"Eri… Eri, hey, don't… don't do it," I growled, getting struck on the back of the head, Eri screamed.

"Don't hurt Daddy!" she sobbed, her fists ramming into Nemuri's chest, "Let my Daddy go! Don't hurt my Mommy!" She fought her way out of Nemuri's arms and ran towards the crow masked guy, beating her fists into his stomach.

"Huhn… feisty. Much too feisty," the man commented, "Now then, since my family is whole again, I'll see you both later," he dragged Eri out with him but Nemuri couldn't take it anymore, blue eyes shooting daggers into the man, her whip viciously tearing at him. The man sidestepped and Nemuri closed in before I could stop her, hand slashing out and gouging out a man who got in the way's eyes. Sheer hatred fueled her as she thrashed. Her eyes wide and her face twisted into sheer rage.

"GIVE HER BACK! GIVE ME BACK MY BABY!" She screamed, the others leaving and Chizome letting me go and walking out. Nemuri shook, lips quivering and crying. I pulled her into my arms, holding her and the numbness of not being able to do anything set in.

"G-give… give her back…" Nemuri sniffled, hugging me, I hugged her back. She hugged me tightly and her tears stained my shirt, breaking down in a flood. Her grip tight and her claws tearing my shirt a little.

Days turned into weeks, weeks into months. Nemuri stayed in bed for a while after that, sleeping day and night, becoming more and more of a wreck. Hair, a dark purple rats' nest, eyes ringed with sleeplessness, she lost her vibrancy and all that. She wasn't the Nemuri I remembered. Another sleepless night of us being vigilantes. My Stendhal mask is dirty and cracking. Nemuri mostly stayed in her Killer Queen gear from eight o'clock to eight o clock the next morning. Becoming more and more vicious and angry.

But that was nothing compared to how useless I felt. Nemuri just went into Eri's room a lot and just cried. Sobbing and moaning into her pillows and holding her little stingray. Uselessness bled into rage, rage bled into action. So here I was, the two of us ready to go, Nemuri looked at me and I hugged her tightly. She sighed and put her hand on her stomach.

"I know you're thinking about her, babe," I sighed, "She was like our baby,"

"She is, Sosuke. Eri's our baby," She sighed.

"And she Will see her baby sibling," I said, "Get in the bath and just relax, honey. It's not good for Baby Kitten," Nemuri hesitated but kissed me. She smiled weakly and hugged me, warm and smelling like roses.

"Sweetie, just… get our baby back before Baby Kitten gets here," she sighed. I smiled and kissed her lightly on the cheek. She just turned around and shuffled back into the house, leaving me to patrol. Little did I know that I'd meet a boy that'd change my life forever.

A slow day, a slow day ending in nothing. The Crow Man vanished completely from anywhere. I was wearing civvy clothes so I could blend in better. The afternoon sun bathed everything in amber. Walking by a certain school, the one Eri would go to when she's old enough, I noticed a boy laying on the ground, beaten up and even burnt with another boy looming over him.

Red eyes glared into green, "You little shitty Deku… you'll never be a hero like All Might! All you'll be is a quirkless nobody!" The blond kid with red eyes sat on Deku, the poor kid was shaking and barely able to stand.

"Kacchan… you… you should've left...left that kid alone!" He squeaked, rising and slinking towards me. The other kid scoffed and stormed off. Leaving the kid leaning against the wall. I smiled, and the kid spotted me.

"Yo, that's a bully, right?" I asked.

"Uh… uhm… yeah," the kid mumbled. I smirked and knelt to his level. His big green eyes and messy green hair made him look innocent, but he looked at me closely. Then…

"OH MY GOD! You're Stendhal!" He screeched, blushing and bowing, "SO sorry for distracting you!" I snickered and grinned.

"Aw, it's nice to see such a young fan of mine! So, you wanna be a hero, yeah?" I asked, seeing him nod eagerly but lose that fire.

"But… what about… me being quirkless, can I be a hero if im quirkless?" he asked, the heartbroken face of the younger me asking my Dad and Mom the same question years ago, but it was replaced by Bloodcurdle stared right back at me.

"No. You can't be a hero."

I smiled, "What's your name, kid" I asked.

"I… Izuku Midoriya, sir!" He exclaimed and I rose.

"Izuku Midoriya, for showing the determination to get what you want and for never giving up, even when faced with a strong emitter quirk… even in the face of injury you stood up, you said you could take him on by doing that, and… Izuku Midoriya, you can become a hero," I said, holding out my hand.

He fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face, his voice quivered, "Thank you! Thank you!"

"Now quit your crying, Midoriya! Tomorrow, bright and early, come to this address! Knock on the door and wait outside! Training begins tomorrow!" I barked, "NO STUDENT OF MINE IS TARDY!" I yelled.

Izuku darted to his feet, bowing again and again, "Yes! Stendhal! I'll be there!" He yelled. Watching him go I was kinda excited to see how he'd do. I smiled and walked down the sidewalk, feeling good.

"Sosuke! Hey, Sosuke!" Nemuri called from inside as I jury-rigged a small dojo. I needed it for my little student. I dug out the old stuff from Dad's old joint. Working on it all and knowing it was gonna be used all the time, even planning out what he eats and all that stuff.

"Baby~! I have good news about Baby Kitten!" she exclaimed, laying on my back and licking at my sweat gently, "I know I shouldn't forget about Eri, but… buuuuuutttt! I scheduled the ultrasound and everything! We'll know if we have one kitten or a litter! Yay!" She looked so overjoyed, and I couldn't just discount her for that. Nemuri smiled for the first time in a few months once she heard she was pregnant, which meant no Killer Queen or no working. Because of the media shitstorm sure to brew if she did. I earned enough to keep us afloat.

"When is it, honey?" I asked.

"Tomorrow!" She exclaimed joyfully, "I wanna let my husband see our kittens, so… I found out about that kid you're gonna train and moved it to the day after,"

"Wait, how did you…"

"His mom and I bump into each other every now and again and she told me about how he came home all excited and nearly taking out an heirloom vase," she said, "He's a huge fan of you and All Might, so much so that he got into Kendo because of you,"

"Heh, yeah… he… reminds me of me…" I grew distant. Remembering the day I struck out on my own…

Long ago…

"Ow! Hey! Quit it! Lemme go!" I screamed, fighting back against my bullies, I was smaller and shorter than most guys and I couldn't bite them hard enough to draw blood. So they could wreck me however they wanted. Beaten and broken, I dragged myself back on my feet; they laughed.

"Ha ha! Look! He wants more of a beating!"

"Yeah! Only masochists like those!"

I gritted my teeth, tears streaming down my cheeks, "Don't… don't you dare…"

"Mr. Akaguro, your son is out of control! Not only did he fight back, but he almost killed them!" The fat, old man principal at my old school boomed, shaking me to my core, "That's why I called you and your wife in here! Not only is Chizome a disruption, but runs in the family!"

Blood was in my mouth and Dad looked at me. His tired red eyes and midnight blue hair made him look murky and haggard, "Chizome, Sosuke, are you two disruptive?"

"Hell yeah, old man! Of course I am!" Chizome exclaimed, sticking his tongue out and wagging it with Mom still dabbing at her eyes. She always cried when we got in trouble.

"But Sosuke is normally so quiet," Dad said.

"Well, I should say his grades are excellent, he should be able to enter UA's General…"

"Ffft… Ffffffftttt! HAHAHAHAHA! General Studies! That's too funny!" Chizome laughed, "I'm one foot out the door so I might just dump the tea here, Sosuke wants to be a hero,"

And at that moment, Chizome ruined my entire high school life. I hated myself and who I was. I almost took my own life multiple times. It was dreary the day I lost them. Heavy and hot, a storm was rolling in and I had to get home to study. Standing over them, smeared with red and holding two combat knives, was my brother. Smiling and red eyes small and bloodshot, rain making the pavement steam. Blood everywhere. Their bodies mangled beyond recognition.

Slowly, everything was lethargic as I just tore at Chizome, "WHY! WHY! WHY DID YOU DO IT!" Slamming my fist into his face so hard my knuckles bled. He just grinned and gently hugged me.

"They were weak, that's all there is to it,"

I never felt more powerless in that moment. Not until Eri ran into that man's arms.

I was useless…

I am useless.

Back to now…

Hot and heavy, I hugged Nemuri tightly; it overwhelmed me. It was too much to take. I just faded and sobbed into her shoulder, my little girl. My Eri, she's gone. She'll never come back the same bright, sunshiny girl we raised her to be. She'll never smile, or laugh, or even feel like she could sleep. Hot and heavy like that day, I got my future shattered.