I don't know what compelled me to write this concept, but getting some experience with this genre of writing is always a bonus.
'I'm sorry my boy - you can't be a hero.'
Izuku heard those words on repeat.
He couldn't hear anything outside of his idol's words.
He heard the same phrase worded differently over the years, but they lacked the impact that they did today.
All Might left him on that rooftop where his dreams were crushed. He wasn't sure how long it had been since then.
He couldn't hear the explosions in the distance - they were minor compared to storm brewing in his mind.
He was useless.
He couldn't help anyone.
He couldn't be a hero.
Only when the sun started to set did Izuku burrow his way out of his mind, heading down the stairs through the thankfully unlocked door.
He wasn't even sure if he was heading home - his legs were on autopilot.
His mum didn't need him desperately anyway - he was useless after all. She would understand if he was a little late home. He just needed time to get his head straight.
Before he knew it, it was dark, and he was running through the lonely streets.
He didn't know where he was, and if there were enough people around to witness him, they'd definitely think he was insane. What kind of kid runs in a roughed up school uniform this late?
Though right now he couldn't bring himself to care. There was something oddly soothing about Japan at night.
The cold air nipping at any exposed skin.
The wind running through his wild hair.
The girl down the alleyway covered in blood-
Wait - that wasn't soothing.
After running past the alley's entrance, Izuku backtracked slowly and was met with a horrific sight.
A blonde haired girl in a blood drenched hoodie with a knife in her hands kneeling next to the corpse of an older man.
Izuku couldn't stop his breath hitching audibily, causing the girl to stiffen.
He could run. Unless she had a speed quirk, he was fairly certain he could get pretty far on adrenaline alone, despite being out of breath. At the very least, he could run into a hero on patrol and get them to sort this out.
That was the right thing to do - leave it to the heroes.
As he was about to turn around and take his chances escaping, the blonde's head slowly turned towards him, revealing her face.
He wasn't sure he'd ever witnessed such a shocking sight.
While her blood soaked mouth was hitched up in a smile, all he could see in her glowing golden eyes was somebody pleading for help.
In that moment, all his thoughts of escaping were thrown away.
His body moved on its own.
Choosing to keep his distance as to not startle her, he kneeled to her level with a smile and asked the first question that came to mind.
"Are you okay?"
Himiko's day started the same as any other.
Wake up, take her medication and get ready for school.
School in itself was just as average.
Her mind was a little cloudy from the drugs, but that didn't matter.
People liked her when she was taking them, so she would endure it.
Once she got home, she completed her homework, watched the news and found out some kid got killed by slime.
He didn't matter though - she didn't know him.
Once it hit 11 and her medication wore off completely, she snuck out of her house with her boxcutter.
She had to undergo her nightly routine.
All she needed to do was find a cute kitty, or a small bird and cut it a little bit before setting it free.
If nobody found out, everyone would still like her, and she could see a little blood in the process.
She'd done it hundreds of times before - today wouldn't be any different.
That was until some drunk tried to hit on her.
She tried being patient with him, politely asking him to let her pass through the alley.
Then he kept pressing forward, invading her personal space.
In the moment he was practically pressed against her, she could see his jugular pulsing - his blood itching to be let out.
She didn't get to see any cute kittens because of him - surely he wouldn't mind being the replacement?
Just a little cut wouldn't do any harm.
Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out her boxcutter and dug it into the bulging vein, watching in fascination as the blood sprayed out over her.
Her mouth was open in awe, with splashes of blood landing on her tongue and allowing her to taste the crimson nectar.
She saw his body drop to the floor as the man gripped his neck, his eyes wide and staring into her own.
What was the problem?
Why did he look so scared?
Did he want to see some more blood too?
Surely that was it.
He just didn't bleed enough.
Kneeling next to his downed body, she stabbed into his thigh with her blade, causing him to tense.
She observed his face for his reaction, seeing his previously widened eyes shut and his teeth grit.
Who knew humans would show so much more than animals did?
Ripping her blade from his thigh, she dug it into his abdomen, watching intently as his shirt was stained red and his face was beginning to slacken.
This wasn't right.
Her animals would keep making different faces whenever she cut them.
They wouldn't relax until she let them go free.
Maybe that cut just wasn't good enough?
Pulling her knife out, she dug it back into his shoulder blade, watching his body twitch slightly, but his expression remaining the same.
His eyes still staring aimlessly into the sky with a hand clutching his neck.
This wasn't right.
He was supposed to be making different faces.
She pulled the boxcutter out once more and kept stabbing him all over - attempting to elicit a reaction.
Instead, the body just laid there cushioning the punishment.
Pulling her knife out for the final time, she raised her free hand to his cheek, poking it gently.
"Mr?" She gulped. "Are you okay?"
She didn't get a response.
Maybe he was sleeping?
It was late at night. He was probably tired after drinking. He must've went to sleep.
Then she took in his open eyes and slack body.
People sleeping didn't look like this.
People sleeping weren't covered in all this blood.
Where did the blood come from?
The floor was soaked in it, and her hoodie was drenched. Her parents would have so many questions.
But that wasn't important.
The man in front of her wasn't asleep.
But if he wasn't responding, what else could it be?
Was he...dead?
At that moment, the memories of everything she did to him came flooding back into her mind.
She cut him too much.
She killed him.
She ended this man's life.
...
So why was she smiling?
She could feel tears trailing down her cheeks, but the smile wouldn't go away.
She knew this was wrong.
Her parents called her a monster when she killed that poor bird as a child.
She was bigger now - and this time she killed a person on purpose.
Wasn't that illegal?
Would everyone know she was a monster?
What was she meant to do now?
She couldn't go back like this - waking up the next morning to take her meds like nothing happened.
This was different - this ruined everything her drugs built up for her.
So why was she smiling?
She couldn't bear it.
Her parents would leave her this time.
She'd be locked up this time.
What kind of creature starts smiling after killing somebody?
She was brought out of her thoughts by the sound of breath hitching behind her.
Her back stiffened.
This was it.
Whoever it was, they'd see her for the monster she really was.
Maybe it was a hero - here to beat the bad bloody villain and avenge the poor victim.
Turning her head around, she found herself faced with a cute boy.
She remembered being just as cute before she devolved into this.
Now she was the smiling demon staring at the innocent teenager.
What she didn't expect was his initially shocked expression to turn neutral.
The boy kneeled in front of her, perfectly calm despite the fact that he should've been running away.
Instead of doing just that, he simply smiled at her and asked a simple question.
"Are you okay?"
Himiko didn't know what was happening.
She killed somebody.
She wasn't the victim here, yet this boy asked if she was okay.
He looked so kind, kneeling there and asking about her welfare. She didn't think anyone would talk to her again after what she did, but she was just proven wrong.
His smile looked so reassuring.
…
It would look so much nicer if he just bled a little.
Rushing forward with her blade in hand, she dug it into his abdomen, watching the blood flow out.
Then she looked back up.
He was still smiling.
His face was strained, and she could see the tears welling up, but it was a smile nonetheless.
She had to make sure he wouldn't stop when she took the knife out.
Withdrawing it, she watched his eyes light up in brief panic, but the smile remained.
He looked so damn perfect like this.
He looked so beautiful.
She could spend the rest of her life just watching him.
Even when he slumped over, clutching his side, his smile remained.
Then everything hit her.
She did it again, but this person was innocent.
She was a monster.
She had to get out before it happened again.
As she stood up to leave, she caught a glimpse of her newest victim's face, and saw the smile in place.
"It's..okay." He assured through the agony. "Wh—what's your name?"
Himiko found herself stunned in place, looking down at the bleeding teenager.
Why was he still talking to her? Didn't he know what she did to him?
She was a monster.
That was her name.
Monstermonstermonstermonster—
"Hey, you're—ugh…not a monster, alright?" He managed between pained grunts, his smile on still resting on his face. "What's…your name?"
"Himiko." She breathed out, dropping to her knees next to the teenager. "You're so…" Hurt. Bloody. Agonised. "beautiful."
She didn't know why she chose to say that now of all times, but apparently it had an effect on him.
"Ha." He began a chuckle, before stiffening and tightening his hold on his wound. "First time…I've ever heard that."
She could feel the smile dropping from her face as she stared at him for longer.
He didn't deserve this.
Why couldn't she be the one bleeding out on the floor?
"Oi, don't stop…smiling Himiko." He lightly scolded.
Her name sounded so nice coming out of his mouth.
Following his instructions, she tried putting the grin back in place and rubbed away at her tear stained cheeks with her bloody hands.
"I—is that better?" She asked between sniffles, receiving an almost imperceptible nod in return. "What's your name?"
"Izuku."
"Why are you doing this?" She inquired, her voice threatening to break under the emotion. "I'm evil. I just hurt you. I'm good for nothing, so why are you still smiling at me?"
"It's the right thing to do, right?" He pondered, before coughing roughly. "It's always better to smile when you're hurt."
Was that why she could find it so easy to smile while killing somebody? Because she was hurting?
Himiko wasn't sure what to think about that, but she was certain of one thing.
She knew how she felt, and she wanted him to know.
"Izuku, I love you."
"Hah." He laughed slightly, his smile straining further under the extra stress placed on his wound. "I didn't think I'd…ever hear those words, y'know?"
No, she didn't know.
He was beautiful, kind, (bleeding) and amazing.
He was perfect.
"Tell me a bit about yourself…before you start—argh—start ringing any wedding bells, okay?"
"Mhm." She nodded, ignoring the ache in her heart and retelling her life story.
She told him about manifesting his quirk.
She told him about her parents.
She told him about school.
Throughout it all, Izuku simply laid there, and aside from the occasional wince, he smiled.
I'd been a while since he winced, now that she thought about it.
As she ended her story, she looked down towards him, finding him with his eyes closed and that peaceful smile remaining on his face.
Was he…dead?
She killed him.
She almost forgot while she was stuck retelling her past.
She was evil, and Izuku wasn't here any more to tell her otherwise.
Everyone she knew would leave her behind, and nobody would love—
"Himiko."
She looked down towards Izuku in shock as he whispered his final words.
"I guess...I love you."
Hope you enjoyed!