A.N.
Thank you to everyone who reads this, follows and like, overall gives a shit about my story, it means a ton to me since this is the first thing I ever really published anywhere
And a really big thank you to everyone who leaves reviews, reading them really makes my day and inspires me to keep writing this! (Looking at you, SuperSonic2654)
Anyway that's about it, cya
Chapter 2
It was never meant to be.
Those were the words Izuku Midoriya used to console himself as he walked home, having long since left both the rooftop and Symbol of Peace far behind him. His mind was still processing everything that had happened, the scale of the situation only just beginning to sink in.
There was nothing left to be said. Not really.
The world's top hero, the very best of the best, had told him to give up on his dream. Well, he supposed, now, that to call it a `dream` or `ambition`might have been a generous stretch of the imagination even at the best of times. It had only ever been little more than a fantasy, and he knew it. Not that any of it mattered anymore. Whatever it was, it was quickly fading now. Izuku dragged his feet along the pavement, idly listening to the crunch of gravel under his shoes, and wondered what he should, or indeed could do now.
Surely, there must be other jobs that appealed to him? Becoming a law-enforcing officer, maybe? It scarcely bothered him that they were more often mocked than appreciated, their efforts almost entirely eclipsed by their flashier hero counterparts. No, the fact of the matter was that they were almost useless in dangerous situations. There was, after all, a reason heroes had become such popular agents of the law. The power of quirks was undeniable, and in fact almost unrivaled.
A man in a blue suit jostled him, evidently in a great hurry. The suit was not unlike the one professors at Izuku's school wore, and seeing it sparked a thought in his mind. A teacher, perhaps? The prospect almost brightened his spirits. He could help train the next generation of heroes! But, his demeanor dulled again, without a quirk.. Izuku knew there was no chance that students would ever respect him.
He threw his head back with a sigh, fighting back the tears that threatened to pool in his eyes. There was nothing. He had no future, no career to look forward to, not a single aspiration left untrampled. Nothing.
Another adult bumped his shoulder, knocking him roughly to the ground and scattering the contents of his backpack. Mind distant, Izuku crawled over and began gathering his books, vaguely aware of a commotion not far down the street from him.
A bitter smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Maybe this was it. He would spend his life pushed from place to place. A rock under other people's shoe. A mother ran past, clutching her child by the hand.
A violent tremor shook the ground, pulling Izuku from his distant state and snapping him to attention. What the..
What had he been missing?
His situational awareness now in full focus, Izuku stood and took in his surroundings. People ran this way and that, sounds of panic filling the air as explosions rang in the distance, columns of smoke rising from where a crowd of civilians were gathered. Shoveling the rest of his books into the yellow backpack, he swung it over his shoulder and took off running to see what was causing such an uproar.
As he neared the crowd, Izuku saw firefighters blocking passage to a side street from where the smoke was coming, a handful of buildings visibly in flames. Another explosion echoed from directly beyond the crowd, and the ground under his feet vibrated with the force of it. Pushing his way through people craning their necks to see and others frantically going the opposite direction, it took Izuku a moment to reach the front row of onlookers, and another moment to piece together the sight before him.
Firefighters, police officers and heroes alike were on the scene. The concrete paving the street was cracked and scorched in many places, and a handful of buildings were being extinguished by a hero with hoses for arms, urgently calling out for backup. Across the street, a collapsing wall threatened to bury two middle-aged men before another masked hero wound branches around the two and pulled them to safety, even as a goliath with arms ringed in concrete yelled for more people to assist with the fire.
"Backdraft, Kamui Woods, Death Arms", Izuku's brain rattled mechanically, remembering his entries in the small, crumpled notebook in which he enjoyed collecting information about pro heroes and their quirks.
Kamui Woods in particular had recently made his debut before soaring to popularity, and it was no surprise to see him already on the crime scene. Under any other circumstances, Izuku would have surely been thrilled to see so many pros in one place. Now, however-
Another ringing explosion drew his attention to the center of the street, where he saw two heroes attempting to engage a morphing.. green..
Horror bloomed, warm and crimson in his chest.
That's not possible.
It coiled and slithered, as it engaged the heroes, their attacks meeting nothing but runny liquid before being smashed back into the pavement.
B-But All Might defeated him!
"Our attacks do nothing to it!" cried out one of the heroes in frustration, wincing as they clutched an arm that dripped blood.
How could it have..
"RRAAAAAAGGGHHHH! WHAT POWER!" The hairs on Izuku's neck stood up as he reckognized the voice. There was no room for doubt left.
"I'VE REALLY HIT THE JACKPOT!" Jackpot?.. Izuku's brain raced to find at the implications of the statement as a sickening dread settled over him. Another explosion's shockwave blasted waves of searing air against the entire crowd.
Wait, explosion? A horrible, dreadful thought began taking shape in Izuku's mind as he scanned the villain, his eyes finally landing on a tousled head of messy blonde hair, almost entirely submerged in writhing green muck.
It's Kacchan! H-He's really got Kacchan! Izuku's heart was racing at the memory of the reeking sludge pressing down his throat, into his ears, his nose-
I have to help him!
Instinctively and without thinking, he dove under the yellow striped tape, mentally preparing to make a dash for it, and froze.
"Without power.. if you can become a hero?"
His stomach sank as he recalled All Might's words.
"I should say not."
His eyes clouded again at the memory. The sadness in the All Might's voice as he said them. The finality. Maybe there was no point in trying to help now..
Maybe I would only make things worse.
Another explosion like dynamite, and the wall of a building crumbled to rubble like a sand castle. And there, there was Katsuki. Haggard eyes bulging in their sockets, fierce like an animal's, always unyielding. Seething, unfathomable anger in them. And desperation. Wrapped in slimy, reeking filth, screaming his lungs out as he fought against the creature's control with every muscle in his body.
Izuku felt something inside him snap.
Even if it's the only heroic thing I ever do.
His joints exploded into action.
If I can only save him now.
A hero tried to grab his arm, shouting caution. Izuku jerked free.
It will all have been worth it.
His backpack was still slung over his shoulder. He yanked it free as his shoes pounded harshly against the pavement. The slime grinned, its' disgusting likeness of an eye peering directly at him.
"You're dead."
He drew a wide, high arc through the air as he hurled the bag at the wriggling creature, his books scattering as they splashed into what passed for its' body moments before Izuku himself slammed into it.
Katsuki's eyes widened in recognition as Izuku scratched and grabbed at his captor, the thick liquid only seeping through his fingers.
"You! WHY!?"
Why?
A huge, dripping, hand-like form rose menacingly above Izuku's head. His mind raced. Why had he?
I don't know. My legs just moved on their own.
You..
You-
The answer came without thinking.
"YOU LOOKED LIKE YOU NEEDED SAVING!"
Katsuki's eyes widened, an indecipherable emotion etched into them. A roar from above them both.
"Stop getting in my way!"
The giant hand hurtled toward him. He braced, gripping Katsuki's sleeve tightly as he gave a final, desperate pull. As he squeezed his eyes shut in anticipation of the blow to come, he thought he saw a flash of golden hair. Heard a familiar voice in his ear.
"I really should practice what I preach."
The blow Izuku expected never came. His wrist was gripped by a strong hand.
"A Hero should always be ready to risk his life."
And just as Izuku finally placed the voice, the world shook.
"DETROIT SMASH!"
Relief washed over him as a gust of wind blasted through the street, and he heard the villain screech in rage as it was blown apart.
In the silence that followed after, an incredulous awe reigning over the crowd, a drop of rain fell. Then another, followed by more.
The drizzle soon gave way to a light rain. A whoop went up from the crowd.
Light rain turned to heavy downpour. Applause turned to a rumble of acclamation.
And there, center of all attention, stood All Might.
Relief.
Izuku smiled.
.
.
.
The sun had begun to paint the sky in varying shades of violet by the time Izuku reached familiar ground on his treck home, and he sighed in relief when he came within several blocks of his neighbourhood.
After the incident, he had slipped away quietly among the commotion following All Might's rescue. Nobody had really noticed. The pro heroes had all been occupied with damage control, or fawning over a battered Katsuki.
Katsuki.. he had probably been the only one to notice Izuku as he left. The memory of his seething glare was still fresh in his mind. Izuku smiled a little at the memory.
"How does Kacchan manage to be mad all the time?" he chuckled to himself.
There wasn't much left of his backpack to speak of, but he had gathered up his books all the same. His mother wouldn't have the money to replace them, so he would find a way to make do. He would probably have to dry them all with the hairdryer in the bathroom drawer.
Hopefully that sludge doesn't stick the pages together, he frowned.
A prickling feeling on the back of his neck prompted him to slacken his pace. He paused, turning to survey the empty street he had just come from. It was empty, unusually so even. Although he couldn't quite place the feeling, he hadn't been able to shake the thought that someone, or something might be following him. Given the events of the day, it was an altogether unpleasant prospect. He continued his walk, suddenly acutely aware of how deserted his surroundings were and how alone he would find himself should more misfortune befall him.
Some alleys he passed were almost totally dark, lit only by flickering neon bulbs placed at obscure and unusual angles. Occasionally, he would glimpse something under those pale lights, a fleeting shadow or a scurrying figure.
He would hunch his shoulders and quicken his pace.
Nothing did happen though, much to his relief, and soon Izuku heard the distant noise of a busy street, the sounds of cars and the thud of footsteps drifting on the breeze.
His attention was caught by a cat then, an orange-brown ball of fur that hopped off a fence across the street and sauntered lazily towards him, ears perked.
Smiling softly, Izuku crouched slowly and held out a hand. The pretty calico sniffed at it for a moment before nuzzling it with a petulant meow, purring in gratification as Izuku scratched its' ears.
His own ears, though, scarcely registered the heavy footsteps behind him before his hand tensed, the prickling feeling returning with paralytic intensity.
Behind me.
When he looked down at the cat he saw it's behavior mirror his own. Stiff, back arched, eyes reduced to slits as it peered warily past him. It stood frozen, a low, drawn-out yowl rising in its' throat, before turning abruptly and skittling got away into the growing shadows.
I have to turn around.
His hand was shaking and his skin felt clammy.
Izuku felt the hairs on his neck bristle as he slowly turned his head.
A tall silhouette towered over his still-crouching figure.
It was several moments before either of them spoke, but it was the stranger who broke the silence in a dry, gravelly voice.
"A word."