A/N: As you can probably guess, this is an AU fic. It will most likely stray from some canon plot points while sticking to others. For the most part, I will try to keep the story consistent with itself, but there will probably be mistakes along the way. Either way, I hope you enjoy.
I do not own MHA.
BTW I'm copying this from my Wattpad account and making a few changes, as my Wattpad and Fanfiction styles differed a bit as of starting this work.
Hope you enjoy!
Today had not been a good day, to say the least. The school day had come and gone as usual; filled with bullying and taunting from his classmates and cold shoulders from his teachers. To make matters worse, the only person he had remotely considered to be a friend literally told him to commit suicide.
"If you think you'll have a quirk in your next life...go take a swan dive off the roof.".
That's right, Izuku Midoriya was one of the 20% that was born quirkless nowadays. His lifetime dream was all but shattered before he reached six years old. That alone had been bad enough, but the utter torment that came with being powerless in a superpowered world was like salt, vinegar, and hot water in an open wound. When he first found out he hoped Katsuki Bakugo, or "Kacchan" as he called him, would be at least supportive despite his shortcomings. Alas, that obviously was not to be, if his last statement was any indication.
That single sentence rang through Midoriya's head all the way to the fishpond where his burnt and now soaked notebook was floating. He gave a sad sigh at the sight of his hard work figuratively tossed in the trash but literally thrown out the window.
As he flipped through the pages, he was allowed to feel relief at the surprising lack of damage. Just the cover was scorched, and almost all of his written notes were still legible.
Now, Midoriya was not suicidal by any means, but as the days went by parts of him were slowly chipped away. Each "quirkless" and "freak" thrown his way etched deeper than anyone knew, and enough etches could bring down even the largest statues. And every now and then he found himself wondering if anyone, besides his mom, would actually care if he took Bakugo's words to heart.
In his depressed state of mind, he failed to notice the mass of sludge bulleting right towards him. That is, until it was too late. Before he could register what was happening, ooze and slime was all over him, cutting off his movements and shoving itself down his throat with disgusting ease.
Fighting was useless, and no one was around to hear him in the underpass. "Calm down, it'll only hurt for about 45 seconds." a sickening voice said. Despite his fear-driven attempts, not a scratch or grab hurt the attacker.
His vision was darkening, and his strength was diminishing by the second. The painful choking sensations were burning his throat and lungs more, yet everything seemed to be going numb. A few tears welled up in his eyes, hopelessness once again filling the young boy.
The last thought that went through his mind was, "I'm dying." If he had managed to stay conscious for just a few more seconds, he would have known that today was not his day to die.
Darkness. That's all he saw, and whatever he heard was fuzzy. He could barely make out a man's voice, and started wondering if he was entering the afterlife. Maybe Katsuki was right. If there was another life, he might get a quirk this time around. Slowly, everything began to clear, except the situation itself.
"Hey kid, get up!" the voice commanded. With a grunt, Midoriya forced himself into an upright sitting position. A few blinks, then more than a few later cleared his vision. Who saved him? There weren't many heroes that stick around this area. Maybe a passerby with a useful quirk.
Izuku risked a glance at his savior and almost wishes he hadn't.
The infamous "Stain". The "Hero Killer". The last person he ever would have guessed had been the one to come to his rescue. Instincts took over, and Izuku found himself backpedaling into a wall.
(A/N: Now that he's been introduced, I want to mention that Stain will be somewhat OOC in this story)
"Calm down, I'm not here to kill you. And no, that doesn't mean I'll hurt you either." the man, or whatever he should be classified as, offered.
"Wh...why did you save me?" Midoriya sputtered, fear once again becoming the focus in his brain.
"Because despite my reputation, I'm not one for letting innocents die. You're not one of those fake heroes. You're just a child. If anything, you deserve a chance to prove yourself worthy. Or unworthy.". While he spoke, a few pages flipped in his hands. For the first time, Midoriya saw Stain was reading his notes on heroes. He wanted to say something, to take the book back and run, but nothing in his body would let him move.
"You've got a quite a brain in that skull of yours kid. You looking to be a hero? And think carefully before you answer." Stain warned, sending more than a few chills down the kid's spine.
"I-I want to. But I can't." he replied, which seemed to grab Stain's attention.
"Oh, and why's that?" he responded almost amusedly while holding the notebook out to its owner. Cautiously, Midoriya reached for the book and pulled it into his chest.
"Because I don't have a quirk." was his reply, and tears welled up again as he remembered every time he was told he was worthless. Every time he was called a freak and a quirkless nobody. The time his own mother apologized for his misfortune.
"Maybe that's true. But let me ask you a question. Does everyone that does have a quirk become a hero? Or even put it to good use?" the psychopath questioned.
"Well, no. There are civilians, and villains, like you." Midoriya said and quickly covered his mouth at the last bit. Either Stain didn't care or was willing to let it slide, because he continued regardless.
"Got that right kid. Not everyone uses their quirks for the benefit of others. Hell, most of them don't. Here's a follow up question; does a quirk make a hero?".
The answer was obvious to the point of feeling like a trick.
"No. It's like the last question. Not everyone with a quirk becomes a hero. They make that choice for themselves.".
"Exactly. So who's making the choice for you?" Stain asked.
"I...I am?" Midoriya responded, finally grasping where the Hero Killer was going with his questions.
"And that's your problem." he said while standing up. "You don't have what it takes to back up your dreams.".
At his words, Midoriya once again felt wetness filling his eyes. He was on the verge crying, but Stain cut that off for him.
"...yet. I can train you to be someone powerful. From there, it's your choice. Meet me here at eleven tonight. I've already been in one place too long. Do not tell anyone."
Without giving the sad child a chance to reply, the villain known as Stain disappeared with frightening grace and agility. Not a sound escaped the underpass, except for Midoriya's breathing.
How long did he stay there? A minute? Ten minutes? An hour? Truthfully, he had no idea. All he knew is that whatever happened, shouldn't have.
He shouldn't have let himself be grabbed by the slime monster, which he just now realized had disappeared without a trace, barring the awful memories and the lingering taste in his mouth.
He shouldn't have answered the Hero Killer in the first place; should have let him leave thinking he was mute or too scared to reply.
All he knew he should do is call the police. He quickly pulled his phone from his pocket when two different conversations replayed in his mind.
"If you think you'll have a quirk in your next life...go take a swan dive off the roof.".
"I can train you to be someone powerful. From there, it's your choice.".
This was wrong. This was nothing but wrong. But his phone was soon back in his pocket, having made no calls that day as he ran back home.
Streets and sidewalks blurred past him as he ran. He hadn't called the police, but he still had no idea where to go from that point. The one and only Stain told him he could be a hero, yet was he the best person to take career advice from?
Even by the time he walked into the apartment he and his mother shared, an answer eluded him.
The moment he entered and called, "I'm home," his mother enveloped him in the biggest hug she could muster. Not a very big one for those wondering, but big enough to get the job done.
"Oh Izuku! I was worried! Are you okay? Are these rips in your clothes?".
"I'm fine. And I...". No good excuses came to mind, until he looked at the television. The news program was showing footage from a recent villain attack. Kamui Woods, Mt. Lady, Death Arms, and a few other heroes were facing a very familiar slime villain, who had captured yet another teenage boy.
Only this time...this time was different.
"Kacchan?" the green haired boy asked no one in particular as he walked to the television. Soon enough, the firefighter styled hero known as "Backdraft" used his hoses to wash away the sludge villain into a makeshift container Death Arms created with large chunks of rubble. All that was left was Bakugo coughing up greenish ooze as the villain was surrounded by the heroes.
Once Midoriya was able to tear his eyes away from the scene, he somewhat somberly made his way to his room.
"I have homework to do. Call me when dinner's ready please.". His mom gave a comforting "okay." and Izuku closed the door to his bedroom.
Instead of homework, he worked on packing up whatever might be necessary for the trip later tonight. He kept telling himself he should be doing the exact opposite of whatever he's planning, but the idea of being trained was admittedly tempting, and seeing what happened to Kacchan only made him want to get stronger. Katsuki not only managed to stay conscious the entire time, but he even managed to attempt at fighting back.
His backpack was soon filled with clothes, snacks he could gather, money, some of his notebooks, and a few basic necessities. Several rough drafts and crumpled papers later, a not-so-happy note was composed and stored in his desk. About halfway through his homework, his mother called.
"Honey! Food!".
Inko had put together a delicious meal, which the two ate in silence with the occasional small talk. Midoriya did the dishes and Inko turned on the news, hoping not to see another one of her son's classmates under attack.
"Thanks Mom. I have a little more homework to do." he offered before returning to his room. He really had no idea what to expect from Stain. Maybe he'd tell Midoriya it was all a joke and things will proceed like the two never met. Maybe he'd take the boy as an apprentice. Maybe he wouldn't show up at all. Maybe the entire conversation was some sort of near-death experience hallucination.
Even once his homework was finished, there was still an hour and a half before he would even head out to meet the man. The only consolation was his mother goes to bed earlier than he would leave, so he can get out and return without her knowing.
To kill time, he logged into his computer and opened YourTube and watched the video of All Might a few times before switching over to Markiplyer.
At 9 o'clock his mother wished a goodnight from outside the room, and the apartment went quiet. The minutes ticked by, but Izuku was, strangely enough, not feeling any sort of "I can't do this" feeling in his gut. Maybe the years of torment and degradation finally got to him.
Time passed slowly, until it's just over half an hour before eleven. Midoriya slung the backpack over his shoulder and grabbed the note from his desk so his mother can find it. He took one more reread to make sure he didn't leave anything out.
Dear Mom,
I'm sorry, but I had to leave. I do not know when I'll be back.
I was offered a chance to be a hero, and I want to take it. I know I'm being selfish by leaving, but they always say 'follow your dreams,' so I'm following mine.
I can promise I'll miss you and think of you more often than anything else. Please do not worry about me; I'll be in good hands.
You can do whatever you see fit with my room.
Your little hero,
Izuku Midoriya
A sad sigh came from his lips as he placed the note on his pillow. As he made his way down the hall, he took extra time to take one last look around the place. Things he had gotten so used to seemed to be brand new, like the photos of him and his mother and his drawings of All Might.
Before he realized, he was out the front door and quietly locking it. By the light of the streetlamps he walked to the underpass where he almost died earlier that day. When he got there, an understandable reluctance to pass through gripped him like a vice.
But he forced himself to go, because the best chance he had at becoming something was waiting for him.
"I was wondering if you would actually show up." a familiar voice rang from the shadows. Izuku swallowed whatever had gathered in his throat and pushed forward. The man who saved his life stepped forward and emerged from a shadow.
"I want to be a hero. And despite your...career, you're probably the best bet at getting me anywhere close to that." Midoriya bravely stated. Stain smiled. Not an overly sinister smile, but a scary yet happy smile.
"I'm not the best bet kid, but I'm the only one willing to give you a chance. Isn't that right?".
Midoriya shakily nodded, and Stain continued speaking.
"Which is why I feel it necessary to give you a warning. If you so much as act suspicious, like you're calling the cops or a hero, I won't hesitate to kill you. And just so you know, the only reason I'm giving you a chance is because I see potential in you. If you turn out to be just another fake hero, I'll treat you like I do any other fake hero. Understand?". Stain loomed over Midoriya by the time he asked the one word question, and the utterly terrifying aura Stain gave off was more than enough to convince Izuku to agree.
"Good. Now come along. Your new life starts now. I'll take you to where we'll be hiding out and training." the villain stated, then ran from the underpass and through the streets. How he had yet to be caught is something Midoriya might ponder later.
When they finally arrived at an abandoned building on the outskirts of town Midoriya was about ready to collapse. His breathing was hard and heavy, which matched the feelings of his legs.
"Well, no wonder no one thinks you can be anything. Look at you." Stain coldly spat out. "Did you really think you would be so much better if you had a quirk?" he asked, but clearly rhetorically.
Midoriya couldn't even answer, which only really proved Stain's point. The taste of blood was slowly receding from his mouth, but he still needed to spit a few times.
"Before we can even begin training, I need to whip you into shape. But for now, come with me."
He led Midoriya into the structure, which looked slightly better on the inside. There wasn't much, but he saw a few files on heroes and a lot of gear.
"If I may, how did you get those without a printer?" Midoriya asked with a point at the papers.
"I have my ways." he "answered". "Get some sleep. We begin tomorrow." he explained before heading back out. "If you're not here when I get back, I'll assume you went to get a hero and I'll be gone without a second's hesitation. The mattress is mine. Understand?"
"Yes sir." Midoriya offered, and Stain left to do who know what. Probably something unpleasant.
There was nothing to sleep on besides the mattress, so Izuku called dibs on the floor. It was hard and uncomfortable, but toughening up would be necessary, so he toughed it out and thought of his mom. She wasn't going to find out about his disappearance until the morning, but he wished there had been an easier way to let her know.
Slowly, the exhaustion from the day caught up and Izuku was asleep on the floor. He didn't wake up when Stain returned. He didn't wake up when the villain went through his stuff and greedily read the notebooks.
"You're gonna go far kid." he muttered to himself before laying down on the mattress. Hopefully he won't have to kill him in the future.
A/N: Hey all! Again, I know this isn't an original idea, but I wanted to give it a try anyway. I hope you enjoyed the first chapter! I'll be updating again soon; just need to proofread here and there!
