(A/N: As you have probably guessed, this is another Stain meeting. I wanted this meeting to be all in one chapter but it got too long to be one single chapter. So, I've got a special treat for you. A double update! Enjoy! :D )
...
This time Izuku was ready. Mentally prepared for the now seemingly routine occurrence of the man known as the Hero Killer coming to pay him a visit. It seemed that after any major event, starting that fateful day, Akaguro came to see him. After the rejection from All Might, the completion of the cleaning of the beach, the attack at the USJ, and now him having won the Sports Festival against all odds. Or so he suspected.
The greenette passed the time on his phone. He made sure to text Mei, Hitoshi, and Shouto that the sleepover was a go. The pinkette sent an excited response full of emojis, the insomniac a simple 'cool' paired with a picture of a cat burrito-ed in blankets, and the tactile stoic a short 'ok' followed by a bid good night and a sentiment of looking forward to tomorrow.
I hope his visit with his mother goes well.
Izuku also messaged Iida saying he had heard of his family emergency, offered his well wishes, and let him know he was there for him if he needed anything. Izuku could empathize with his friend and what he must be going through. He had experienced something similar when his father had been hurt so bad that they had almost lost him five years ago. He didn't expect an answer right away, but Iida being prompt as ever, responded relatively quickly considering the circumstances.
His friend thanked him for his concern and told him that his older brother, Tensei, had been attacked by a Villain while on patrol. But he assured him that he was going to be alright as an ambulance had been sent to the scene almost immediately after it had occurred. The wound on his back had been severe but his spinal cord was intact. It was close. If the wound had been any deeper, he could have been paralyzed. Thankfully it wasn't. Tensei would be out of commission for a while but would make a full recovery and be able to continue his Hero work with enough rest and physical therapy.
Izuku was relieved to hear that. It would have been so unfortunate for a Hero like Ingenium to have to retire so soon into his career. He asked Iida who had attacked him but the other boy either didn't know or couldn't say which is understandable as the attack was now part of an ongoing investigation. The greenette understood and merely sent his condolences and offered to help Iida with anything if he needed it. To which his friend had thanked him again before bidding goodbye to tend to his brother.
I wonder who attacked him.
He was about to look to see if there was any news coverage yet when he was distracted by a flash of movement he caught in the corner of his eye. Slowly he turned to his window to see the dark silhouette of a wide-eyed Stain. The shocked look on his face almost made Izuku giggle as the man probably expected him to be asleep like the last two times.
Is it weird that I'm no longer surprised to see a murderer outside my window? Izuku thought, as the man shook out of his stupor and then gestured towards the roof in silent question.
Giving an affirming nod to the Hero Killer, Izuku got out of bed as the man jumped away. Grabbing his phone, keys, and a jacket, he made his way to the front door quietly. Not bothering to bring the frying pan same as last time though a more conscious decision this time, he put on his shoes and headed towards the roof.
The greenette walked the now strangely familiar path up, reflecting on the two previous times he had done this exact same thing. More or less. The first time, after he had finished cleaning the beach, he had been terrified. Full of fear as he was clutching a frying pan as a sort of kitchen ware safety blanket. But the Villain had made no move to hurt him and merely wanted to discuss his altruistic actions.
The second, after the USJ attack, he hadn't really thought about it, ambling up while still in a half-asleep daze. His tired mind hadn't even thought of bringing any form of protection as he had forgotten the frying pan he had brought before. Bringing only his phone and keys to his meeting with a Villain.
This time marked the third roof top meeting at his apartment building and the fourth time he'd ever met the man. At this point he knew there wasn't really any danger though he still would remain cautious. The man was still a Villain even if he had shown no intention to hurt him. Had even ruffled his hair last time. Twice. A gesture Izuku still wasn't sure what to make of to tell the truth.
From day one the Villain, the man, had been kind to him. Listened to him, sat with him, had always treated him as if they were on the same level. Had seen passed the Quirkless label like no one had before and saw the person within. Saw the hopes and dreams. The potential. Believed in him and his dream to be a Hero. Declared that he, Midoriya Izuku the Quirkless boy, could indeed become a Hero.
Akaguro was a Villain, yes, but he had been the first one outside of his family to treat Izuku like a person. Anyone else had stopped as soon as they learned his Quirk status. Only seeing the term Quirkless and writing him off immediately. But not Akaguro. He saw him. Saw Izuku for who he was and could see the potential of what he desired to become. He believed when no one else had.
To think that out of anyone in the world to encourage me to be a Hero, it would be a Villain. The Hero Killer Stain no less. Self-proclaimed cleanser of the Hero ranks. A man of conviction. And a murderer.
That thought sent a shiver down the greenette's spine. Never had he thought he would ever be on amicable terms with a Villain. One who has killed people multiple times before. The thought of someone taking another's life sickened him. It was just…wrong. Life was precious and short. Something that should be protected. Yet there are people out there that had no issue in ending another's life before their time.
As he reached the door to the roof, Izuku paused. Here he was working to become a Hero and yet meeting a Villain in secret. One he had met more than once but hadn't ever reported it. Hadn't even thought to. Green eyes glanced down at the phone in his hand. Last time Izuku hadn't thought about possibly recording their meeting until after Akaguro had already left. Hadn't even been sure if it would have been a good idea in the first place.
I-I could always d-delete it, he thought, so nervous he found himself even stuttering in his mind.
He'd have to be careful. There's no telling what the Villain would do if he found out he was being recorded. Being cautious, Izuku made sure to completely silence his phone of any noises. Even turned off the vibrate alert in case he got a notification during their talk. Then he pulled up a recording app on his phone and took a deep breath before pressing start. The numbers of the time elapsed shifted and grew confirming the recording had begun. Taking one more steadying breath, Izuku placed his phone in his pocket and then opened the door.
As he stepped out onto the roof, Izuku found Akaguro already there sitting near the edge of the building. His legs were outstretched while he leaned back on his arms looking more relaxed than Izuku had ever seen him. The teen walked over to the man and sat down cross legged next to him, only a few inches apart. He still found the closeness unnerving but was confident enough that the man wouldn't hurt him. Plus, the closer he was the clearer the recording would be. The pair sat there, side by side, for a few moments looking out over the city before Stain broke the silence.
"So…first place in the Sports Festival," Akaguro commented, side glancing at the teen with a smirk. "Not bad, Little Hero."
"Heh, thanks, Akaguro-san," Izuku said, letting out a nervous chuckle.
"Call me Chizome, kid," the man said suddenly.
Eh?
Seeing the greenette's confused look, he continued, "You're the one person I've talked the most with for many many years. Even if it was only four times counting now and even these have been brief. But I feel like you've earned the right. Not many get the chance. Plus, I'd like to hear my name coming from a true Hero."
He already considers me a Hero?
"O-oh…uh, ok, Ch-Chizome-san," Izuku said, shocked that the man would ask this of him.
Calling someone by their first name was a privilege. A sign of closeness and familiarity. Of a bond. Like the ones Izuku shared with Mei, Hitoshi, and Ochako. It was a bit different with Tsuyu as she had insisted on the first name basis right off the bat though they had their own bond having survived the USJ attack together. Then there was Shouto and their gentle touches. That bond was special to him.
He wants me to call him Chizome, Izuku thought, feeling an odd warm feeling from receiving yet another gesture from the man marking them as equals. Should I extend the same courtesy? Is he expecting it? Would it come off as rude to him? Would he change his mind? Would he be offended if I didn't?
"You don't have to push yourself, Little Hero," Aka-Chizome said, letting out a chuckle. Izuku blushed as he realized he had said that all out loud. "You don't have to force yourself just to be polite. I am a Villain and anyone would be apprehensive for a Villain to speak their given name."
The man was a Villain, yes, but he had shown the Quirkless teen more respect than anyone else he had met growing up. Treated him as an equal instead of a genetic dead end. A freak of nature with no future in sight. Others may believe that, but not him. Not Chizome. It was because of that that led to Izuku answering as he did.
"I…you…um…you can c-call me Izuku if you want," the greenette answered, nervous but sure of his decision. "You w-were the first person to ever b-believe in my dream. You gave me the courage t-to keep pushing for it w-with just your words alone. And you kept believing in a-and encouraging me. I-I think you've earned the right t-to call me that."
This time it was Chizome's turn to look surprised, not having expected the boy to actually reciprocate. Then a slightly creepy but still warm smile grew on his face. The man's hand reached up and ruffled Izuku's green curls without hesitation. As if it was the new normal between them. If you could call anything about this normal.
"You really are something else…Izuku," Chizome said before removing his hand. "Now that you've won the Sports Festival, what comes next? Last time you mentioned the possibility of transferring."
"Well, the ball is in the school's court now," Izuku answered, smiling slightly at the affectionate touch even if it still made him internally cringe slightly. It was a hand that had drawn another's blood before after all. "I've gone through with my plan. I trained, I studied Support, I fought my way into first place. All I can do now is wait and see what the principal will do."
"And if they don't transfer you?" the man asked with a quirked brow. "If that school proves to be as foolish as those idiots who berated you in the crowd?"
The man scowled at the memory of the people who had been cheering for the boy as he rose in the ranks, only to turn on him merely because he didn't have a Quirk. Showing the corrupted views of society when it comes to those who hold the power and prestige of the social hierarchy.
"Then I'll just try again next year," Izuku replied, eyes filled with determination. "I'll ignore those that don't believe in me as I always have. I won't give up on my dream. No matter what, I will be a Hero. I will keep fighting to prove that I have what it takes. That the Quirk doesn't decide who gets to be a Hero. That anyone, Quirked or Quirkless alike, have the right to follow their dreams and become anything they want to be."
...
Color Chizome impressed. The unsure boy he had met a year ago had grown to be a resolved young man. Willing to keep persevering until his dream of becoming a Hero turned into reality. Fighting his way to the top, wanting recognition, not because of egotism, but as proof that he was worthy.
"The principal would be a fool to not transfer you," Chizome said, mussing the teen's hair again briefly. "You've worked hard, using your conviction to push yourself ever forward. I'm proud of you, Izuku."
Tears started to build in the greenette's eyes at his words. Without thinking, the teen lurched forward and wrapped his arms around the man in a hug, burying his face in the other's armored chest. It was…awkward to say the least. The boy's arms had to maneuver around sheathed knives while the man looked down at the mop of green hair in confusion.
It had been a long time since Chizome had any kind of contact like this with another person. So long that he had no idea what to do with his arms. They stuck out in an unsure manner before he slowly wrapped them around the boy that clung to him.
"Thank you," Izuku mumbled into his chest. "For your words that day. I…I don't think I would have made it this far without them."
"Little Hero…" Chizome sighed, resigning himself to the hug as he ran his hand through green locks to soothe the boy. "My words were just that…words. I'm sure that even without them, you would have found a way to follow your dream."
"You're wrong, Chizome-san," the boy said, sniffling as he pulled away slightly with one of the man's hands ending up on his shoulder while the other remained in his green hair. Izuku wiped a few tears from his eyes as he looked up to meet the man's gaze. "Your words that day mean more to me than you will ever know. I-I know you're a Villain, but you were my Hero that day."
Chizome couldn't help the warm feeling in his heart as those green eyes looked at him full of admiration.
He thinks of me as his Hero? I haven't been even an inkling of a Hero since…
Forcing himself out of that line of thought, the man's hand gave one last affectionate ruffle to the green locks before letting go of the boy. Making sure there was a comfortable distance between them as they returned to their previous positions. They sat there in silence for a short while, unsure what to do now. Unsure what to say after that strangely intimate moment they had just shared.
...
I can't believe I just did that!
Izuku was internally screaming in embarrassment. He seriously couldn't believe he just did that. Just hugged him like that. Hugged Chizome. Hugged a Villain. Who does that? Me, apparently, that's who. Ugh, why was he like this? Why did he have to be impulsive like that at times when emotions were high? He'd blame it on being a Midoriya, but would his mother ever hug a Villain? Would his father?
Nope. Just me. Awkward Izuku at it again.
The greenette never thought he would ever hug, let alone be this close to, a Villain. Not in this familial sort of way. Where a Villain and a Hero-hopeful sat side by side, talking casually. Though not right now because awkward. How does one move past an awkward situation like this? Usually, Izuku would just talk about Heroes though he wasn't sure what that topic would lead to when being discussed with the Hero Killer himself.
Well, if not about Heroes, what about Villains? Izuku thought, his mind offering up a change of subject. Any would do. He recalled the questions he had asked himself before meeting Chizome last time. Perhaps now was his opportunity to possibly get some answers.
"Chizome-san, why did you become a Villain?" Izuku asked to break the silence, glancing up at the man who looked at him in return with a quirked brow. "I-I did some research on you. You were enrolled in a private high school for Heroes wh-when you were younger. But you dropped out a-and started giving public speeches asking for a 'hero revival'. Only to then disappear for ten years and then c-come back under your Villain name."
"How do you know all that?" Chizome asked with wide red eyes, stunned at what the boy knew.
"I have a lot o-of experience researching things," Izuku explained, though didn't reveal it was from analyzing Quirks. The Villain beside him would be one of those 'wrong hands' he wanted to keep his analysis away from. "It was difficult at first but i-it was easier after you gave me your name."
"You researched me?" the man asked, astonished as he looked at the boy next to him. And perhaps a bit scared that he had found even that much with only his name. "Why?"
"I-I wanted to learn more about you," the boy answered, casting his eyes down to his lap rather than look at the man. "Try to u-understand you better. Understand the person wh-who put their faith and belief in me."
"…huh," the elder uttered simply.
"You were studying t-to be a Hero," Izuku said, fidgeting with his fingers. "But you dropped out suddenly to start p-preaching in the streets instead. Why?"
...
Chizome sat there for a moment considering the simple one-word question that the answer to was filled with so much grief and history. No one had ever asked him that before. But then again, he hadn't exactly given anyone the chance after he realized his advocations had no effect. Not until he met the Little Hero. But what to say to the boy? One who apparently holds his words most dear even though that's all they were. Just words.
"I…," the man started but paused, unsure where to start. Perhaps the beginning is best. He took a steadying breath. "You were inspired to be a Hero because of All Might, correct?"
The boy quietly nodded beside him.
"Well, I too took inspiration from him when I first started down this path," he continued as the boy's green eyes were set wide with awe. "When I was born, All Might had already made his debut during a major disaster. As I grew up, his efforts that day left a deep impression on me and awoke my aspirations to be a Hero."
"Really?! Me too!" the boy chirped with his eyes full of stars. "I've watched this video of it thousands of times! He saved over a hundred people in less than ten minutes! The area was a disaster but he just kept going back for more! It was the first time he used his catchphrase!"
Chizome watched in amusement as Izuku schooled his features into a scarily accurate All Might impression as he uttered the Hero's signature words.
"That he did, Little Hero," he chuckled as the boy blushed but smiled bashfully all the same. "He jumped into action and saved so many lives. His actions inspired me to pursue the Hero path as well. However…"
The man's tone changed from one of admiration to one full of bitterness as Izuku looked at him in concern.
"…rather than being taught to be a true Hero like All Might, that sham of a school's version of Heroics was a far cry to what it truly means to be a Hero. There was no focus on protecting and helping others. Only appearance and popularity. How to make a brand of yourself rather than what it actually takes to serve society as a Hero."
The boy appeared disapproving of that which Chizome was pleased though not entirely surprised to see. He had cleaned an entire beach practically by himself and made no move to take the credit once someone actually noticed it. The boy had no need for the media attention, satisfied enough that others could enjoy the fruits of his hard labor.
"Which is why I left as that was not the kind of Hero I wanted to be," the man continued as he gazed out at the city skyline. "As you said, I tried to spread my views by addressing the public directly. Lectured on the streets trying to teach the masses that our current view of Heroes had become corrupt. No longer adhering to what Heroes truly are and instead becoming more commercial. A far cry to what being a Hero once was and being reduced to a fabrication. As if the role of a Hero was not to fight and protect, but rather be more reminiscent to a role in a play."
Actors on a stage.
"It was then I learned that words had no power," Chizome stated, turning back to the teen. "That alone they were lacking."
"But you were wrong, Chizome-san," Izuku said, speaking up for the first during his 'speech'. "I'm proof of that."
The man let out a laugh.
"You are the exception, Little Hero," Chizome said, messing up his green hair as the boy bravely enough tried to playfully bat his hand away. "Others do not take my words to heart as much as you do."
The boy rolled his eyes at him before asking, "So, is that when you disappeared for ten years? What were you doing?"
"At first, training," Chizome replied looking out at the city again. "I wasn't sure what my path was once I had realized my views of Heroes and society's differed too much for my liking. So, I trained. Trained and trained some more. Feeling for a time lost as to what to do next. Then I had an idea."
Green eyes looked up at him in curiosity.
"Tell me, Little Hero," the man said, peering down at the boy. "What do you know of Vigilantes?"
A contemplative expression appeared on the greenette's face as his hand rose to hold his chin in thought.
"To be honest, I don't really know much about Vigilantes," Izuku answered, looking up at him as he lowered his hand. "I always wanted to be a Hero and would research their fights to learn how to become a Hero myself. I've come across Vigilantes from time to time when they would cross a Hero's path, but I didn't put much effort into studying them as much. Because I wanted to be a Hero, not a Vigilante."
"If you had, you would have made a great Vigilante," Chizome declared with a smirk. "Might not have been even charged with Vigilantism as the laws only take into account the unlawful use of Quirks to perform the duties typically done by Pro Heroes."
"I guess that would technically be true," the teen conceded, his hand back to his chin in thought. "Though I could have still been charged with physical assault."
"Not if it was self-defense," the man insisted with the same sly smile.
"Are you trying to argue in support of my could-have-been Vigilante years?" Izuku asked with an amused expression. "I am going to UA and may or may not be offered a transfer to the Hero Course tomorrow."
"Merely bringing up a possible alternative," Chizome replied with a shrug.
"Is that what you did, Chizome-san?" the boy asked, looking at him curiously. "Become a Vigilante?"
"Indeed, I did, Little Hero," he answered with a smirk. "As I refused to become a Hero in this corrupt society, I decided to pursue a life of Vigilantism instead. In a sense, I became an unlawful Hero of sorts that stood for what it truly means to be one. A symbol of judgement to strike down those who were unjust."
"What was your Vigilante name?" the teen asked.
"I went by the name of Stendhal," Chizome answered with a reminiscing expression. "Hid my face behind a different mask, becoming something more than human. Without it, Akaguro Chizome was merely a man of conviction. Working towards the ideals of true Heroism. But with the mask, Stendhal was judgement personified. He was the one who cleaved the divide between the red of life and the black of death with a single slash."
"D-did you…," Izuku stuttered out but stopped. He took a deep breath before trying again. "Did you s-still kill people? E-even back then?"
"I did," the man answered without hesitation. The boy paled next to him and shifted away from him, seeming to want to run as far away as possible. "I assure you I will not harm you, Izuku. Remember as I said last time. Not only do you have a true Hero's heart but you are also a child. Children do not fall under the purview of my judgement."
Green eyes searched red, looking for any hint of a lie. But there was none for the boy to find as Chizome spoke true. He would not hurt Izuku for those reasons as well as also because he was not here on this roof acting as Stain, but as Akaguro Chizome. Stain was the one to pass judgement while Akaguro Chizome was merely an ordinary man.
Only one with more blood on his hands.
Finding no hint of falsehood, the boy let out a shaky breath and relaxed as much as one could seated next to a murderer. The man took no offense against the remaining tension left in his posture. The greenette was still pale but nodded his head to show his understanding. Chizome's hand itched to reach up to ruffle his hair but held himself back knowing the touch would not be welcomed at this time.
"It's true that I performed such morbid tasks," the man pushed forward in hopes of moving past that moment. "Though back then, I went after those who were Villainous rather than false Heroes. Those that were tainting society with their existence."
"D-did you ever try talking to them?" the boy asked. "Giving them the ch-chance to change?"
"I did not as I didn't see the point of doing so," Chizome answered with a shake of his head. "Words had never worked for me before. Therefore, I preferred to use my actions to send a message. My mission was to cleanse this world by eradicating those that infected it with their Villainy. Cut them out of the whole as one would with anything gangrenous."
"But, Chizome-san, i-if you kill them then you take away their chance t-to grow," Izuku pressed. "To learn from their mistakes a-and change their ways. To become better th-than they were before."
"People do not change so easily, Izuku," the man insisted with a frown.
"B-but if they're dead then they won't learn anything!" the boy pleaded. "Wouldn't have the chance to change. To improve themselves."
"You put too much faith in people, child," Chizome sighed as he stood up.
"Everyone has the potential to be better though," Izuku asserted, watching as the other started to pace. "If you kill them then that takes that chance to change away from them. But if you let them live then they would be able to become better!"
"NO, THEY WOULDN'T!" the man yelled as he turned to the boy.
...
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Notes extension: post/645207152793993216/chapter-58-red-of-life