Few things
ALL MIGHTS THOUGHTS AND DIALOGUE ARE LIKE THIS IN MUSCLE FORM.
If something is written like this, it's a flashback.
The rain pattered against the window, the droplets rolling down the glass, before trickling down to the ground, soaking the soil.
On the opposing side of the window, sat a young boy, his eyes drawn to the pattering of the rain, the noise bringing him a soothing calm.
The boy turned to look at his bed, before leaving his desk to lay on said bed. He crawled under the covers, wrapping himself tightly in them.
He did not know how long he stayed like that, not that he really cared. All he wanted was to have his pain taken away.
He heard his door open, the sounds of footsteps alerting him to a new presence. He did not move; he knew who it was.
A hand gently grabbed hold of his covers, pulling them back, exposing the small child.
"Izuku….."
The woman was beautiful, her long, green hair falling down to her waist, her face kind and warm.
Izuku said nothing, only holding his head down in silence. He felt a hand reach under his chin, gently pulling it up. Her eyes were filled with love, her face slowly morphing as tears began to run down her face.
Her hand brushed against something on his face, only making him sadder.
He did not know that he had been crying.
He found himself pulled into a hug, one that fully enveloped him. He was silent for a moment, unable to form a response.
Inko began to stroke his hair, "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, Izuku!" She spoke, her voice broken as she began to sob.
That was all it took for Izuku to grip onto his mother's shirt, before wailing into her, his tiny voice filled with more pain than a child should have.
They stayed like that for a long while, before Inko took the blanket, wrapping the two of them up in it.
She held her baby boy to her tightly, Izuku holding her just as fierce. He buried his head into her shoulder, breathing deeply. Inko had one hand in his hair, stroking it softly, the other hand wrapped around his back.
"I love you, always and forever," Inko spoke.
Izuku said nothing, only nuzzling his cheek against her shoulder, before falling asleep, his mother following not long after.
On the floor laid several papers, on them were written the most devastating words Izuku Midorya had ever seen.
Quirkless.
"LOOK OUT!"
Civilians screamed as several large chunks of debris crashed onto the ground.
A massive figure emerged, the giant resembling some kind of animal.
"STAY BACK!" The figure screamed.
Police officers arrived on the scene moments later, securing the civilians to safety.
The villain snarled its teeth at the police, "I SAID, STAY AWAY!" the villain yelled before throwing a crane at the police. Most of the crane crashed into the bridge, but parts of the crane made it over the bridge. The civilians screamed in terror as the twisted chunks of metal was almost too them.
"NOT TODAY!"
A blue figure ran in front of the civilians, grabbing on to the crane.
"ITS DEATH ARMS, THE PUNCHING HERO!"
Death Arms grit his teeth as he set the crane down. He checked the civilians before turning to the villain.
A stream of water shot out, separating the civilians from Death Arms.
"ITS WATER HOSE, THE RESCUE HEROINE!"
By that point, a large crowd had gathered, everyone eager to see the confrontation. A brown and blue blur dashed by the civilians, the figure's arms spreading and becoming fork-liked.
"IT THE NEW HERO, KAMINA WOODS!"
A boy with messy green hair made his way through the crowd, a notebook, and a pen in his hands, and a joyful expression on his face. He wrote furiously in his notebook, his words coming out in loud mumbles. If you were to look into his eyes, you would see unmatched enthusiasm, one that only a child could possess.
Kamina Woods prepared for the final assault, his arms creating her signature ultimate attack. The sky darkened, and a massive voice yelled, "CANYON CANNON!" before a gigantic foot kicked into the villain, knocking him out cold.
"IT'S MT. LADY!"
"HEY THERE!" Mt. Lady said flirtatiously. Most of the men present began ogling her, taking as many photos as they could. Kamina Woods looked at Mt. Lady as the press surrounded her.
'It's understandable why he feels that way.' Izuku thought to himself.
Izuku put his notebook away as the crowd began to dissipate, leaving Izuku and an elderly man alone.
"I know that look." The old man spoke, "It's the look of a fanboy. You want to be a hero, don't ya?"
Izuku stared blankly at the man, before a small, sad smile grew on his face, "Yes sir, more than anything." Izuku bowed to the man, before resuming his walk to school. After 15 minutes, he had finally arrived at the front steps of his school.
"Look who it is!" A loud voice spoke. Izuku found himself grabbed by a pair of large hands, before being thrust against a wall. Across from him were three of his classmates, one of them was a dark-haired girl, her hands red and her nails were sharp as claws. The one behind her had a pair of red, scaly wings, her eyes golden. The last was a boy, his skin covered in white dust.
"If it isn't little Izuku! The token quirkless boy!" The bully spat, her grip becoming tighter.
Izuku began to sweat, "P-P-PLEASE S-STOP!" He spoke, desperate to keep from crying, only for the bully to slap him across the face. The bully laughed, "Awww, is little Izuku going to cry for his mommy? Is he not man enough to take care of himself?"
The bully tightened her grip on his shirt, before pulling her right arm back, ready to strike. Izuku closed his eyes as he braced for the impact.
Only it never came.
Izuku opened his eyes after a few seconds, only to find the three bullies' bodies were now singed, the one holding him dropped Izuku, before she collapsed groaning, her 'friends' following suit.
"What would you do without me?" A snarky voice spoke up. Izuku turned to the sound before a smile spread across his face. "Katchan!"
Standing in front of Izuku was a tall, blonde girl. Her spike hair was tied into a ponytail, a smirk plastered across her face. She stretched her hand out to Izuku, who gladly accepted. She pulled him to his feet, before a serious expression crossed her face.
"They didn't hurt you, did they?"
Izuku remained silent as he turned his head to try and hide his face. Bakugou's right hand reached out and gently turned his face back to her, before brushing his hair out of the way.
She ground her teeth at the red mark, her eyes shooting daggers at the bullies.
"It's fine Katchan, it's not too bad," Izuku spoke honestly.
Bakugou's face softened as she brought her hand off Izuku's face. "C'mon then, let's get too class."
Bakugou grabbed Izuku's hand and proceeded to walk to class, Izuku following behind her, praying that she wouldn't turn around and see his blushing features.
"Alright! Settle down please!"
The teacher sighed as his class began to finally calm down. He reached into his desk, as he spoke, "Today you will be filling out career aptitude tests. These tests are merely seeing what you might want, and most likely to enjoy." The students groaned as the teacher pulled out the papers. "But you already know what you want to be, don't you?" The teacher threw the tests into the air, "YOU ALL WANT TO BE HEROES!" The students screamed in affirmation, each happy at the prospect of being a hero.
Only two of the students remained calm, one had his head held down, the other kept a stern, annoyed look on her face.
"In all honesty, you will all need to take this test seriously." The teacher spoke, grabbing the papers before passing them out. "Hero schools are all colleges, which puts you all a few years from being able to enter, and I need you all to realize, you most likely will not be a hero." The teacher spoke solemnly.
A loud silence descended upon the room, each and every student aware of the teacher meaning.
"Less than ten percent of people are accepted into hero academies, and even less can become pro-heroes, it's hard to hear, and even harder to accept, but most of you will not be heroes."
"At least most of us have SOME chance." A girl spoke mockingly, several students laughing. Izuku held his head lower, wishing more than ever he had an invisibility quirk.
"HEY, TEACH!" Bakugou shouted, "DON'T BAG ME WITH THEM, IM GOING TO GET INTO HERO SCHOOL! IN FACT, IM GOING TO GET INTO U.A!" The class stared with hatred at Bakugou, who could care little about what they thought. "YOU'LL SEE! I'LL BE EVEN BETTER THAN ALL-MIGHT!"
The students began to laugh, "Alright, that's enough. Bakugou, you are not the only one applying to U.A, Midoriya?"
All eyes turned to Izuku, his expression matching a deer when caught in headlights.
"You are also applying to U.A, yes?"
The class exploded into laughter, Izuku hiding his head in his arms. "At least we have SOME chance! You have the lowest chances of all, you pathetic moron!" A student yelled.
Bakugou slammed her hand on the girl's desk, an explosion breaking straight through. The now terrified bully turned to Bakugou. Bakugous's eyes were surprisingly calm before she spoke, "He would be a better hero than you, unlike you, he acts like one." Bakugou spoke venomously.
The bell rang suddenly, all but Izuku and Bakuogou fleeing the room. Bakugou sighed as she picked up her backpack, before turning to Izuku. He slowly packed his things into his bag, his face expressionless. Bakugou walked to him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Don't let what they say get to you." Izuku looked at his friend, giving her a small smile. "Thanks, Katchan."
Bakugou punched his shoulder softly, "Want to head over to my house? Mom is making Katsudon." Izuku smiled, "Thanks, but I need to run some errands for mom." Bakugou smiled before pulling him into a hug, "I'll see you tomorrow then, don't do anything stupid now." She gave him a quick hug before leaving the class. A frown grew on her face once she left, sad thoughts occupying her mind.
'At least he will be safe.'
"MOMMY MOMMY! ITS VIDEO TIME!"
Inko looked down at the small child running circles around her legs, her laugh only overshadowed by the laughter of her child. She reached down and lifted him up, kissing his forehead before taking him to the computer. She set him in the chair before pulling up his favorite video.
Izuku kissed his mother's cheek as he waited eagerly for his favorite part of the day. He did not have to wait long, as the video soon got to his favorite part.
"FEAR NOT CITIZENS! HOPE HAS ARRIVED!"
The massive form ascended from the rubble, his face carrying a trademark smile.
"BECAUSE I AM HERE!"
Izuku squealed as he leaped off his chair. "HE'S THE COOLEST IN THE UNIVERSE! AND ONE I GET MY QUIRK, I'M GONNA BE JUST LIKE HIM!"
(The next day)
"We are here!"
Two small children ran through the apartment of the Midoriya's, little red capes flapping behind them as they ran, jumped, and rolled all through the living room.
Inko laughed as she sipped her tea, joy filling her heart as she watched her son and her friends ran through the living room.
Bakugou leaped onto the couch, "I am…explosi!" Izuku leaped right next to her, "And I am….ALL MIGHT!" Bakugou turned to Deku, "You can't be All Might!" Izuku thought for a moment, "I am…ALL MIGHT Jr!"
Inko laughed as the two continued their crime-fighting adventure. The two finally calmed down after a few hours of hero work, the two sitting at the table, eating the wonderful Inko had prepared for them. "Katchan…" Izuku spoke up quietly. "Will…..will we be a hero team? When we grow older, will…will we?" Bakugou laughed, "OF COURSE! Why would you even question that?" Izuku's face brightened, before the two ran to the couch, putting on the latest cartoon.
That was the day before Izukus world shattered.
"What do you mean, quirkless?" Inko asked. The doctor removed his glasses, cleaning them as he spoke. "When quirks first emerged, they were random. Each quirk was radically different. The only thing that unified quirks, was that both men and women developed them. In the last thirty years, that has changed."
The doctor pulled up some files, each showing different studies. "For some unknown reason, the balance started to shift. Roughly fifty years ago, the number of men who possessed quirks began to decline. Countless studies were done to no avail, no one could figure out why. Now, there are men with quirks, but the women outnumber them. Men make up forty percent of people with quirks, and even less of the number of Pro-Heroes. Just look at the top 10, only two of them are men."
Izuku heard nothing, not the doctor, not his mother, not even the sounds of his sniffling. The only thing racking through his mind was the fact he did not have a quirk.
(THE NEXT DAY)
Inko walked to the door, opening it to find young Katskui and her mother.
"I thought Izuku would want a friend to see…"
Inko smiled as she hugged her friend, she then looked at Katskui, "Izuku is in his room sweetie."
Izuku laid on his bed, his eyes bloodshot from the endless tears that fell. He heard the door open, expecting to see his mother. Only to find a quite Katsumi.
"Hey….Deku." Bakuogu spoke quietly.
Izuku blinked, before turning his back, furiously wiping away his tears. "H-Hey Katchan."
Bakugou walked up to him, noticing him trying to hide his crying.
She took his hands into her, his face turning to hers. He gasped quietly as he saw tears slowly leaking from her eyes.
"It's okay to cry." She spoke quietly.
Izuku was silent for a moment before leaning into her embrace, the two friends comforting themselves.
The kids at school found out the following week. Most were shocked, those who weren't decided to have fun with him.
"It's the quirk-less kid!"
"How does it feel being a looser?!"
"Betcha, he cries himself to sleep at night!"
One of the kids walked up to Izuku as he played with an All Might action figure. The kid took the figure from Izuku. Izuku looked at him, the kid just smirking.
"What are you going to do about it? C'mon, use your quirk, take it away from me!" The boy was suddenly punched straight in the face, knocking him back.
"Leave my friend alone."
Izuku turned to his friend, a smile on her face as she returned his prized figure to him.
'That was so long ago…'
Izuku continued to walk down the street, his mind reflecting to times of the past. ("I owe her so much.")
Izuku walked down a tunnel, lost in thought as he read through his journal. He was so caught up in what he had written, he didn't notice the sounds of sludge moving until it was right on him.
"GOTCHA!"
Izuku's eyes widened, before he found himself enveloped in the sludge. He wrestled desperately against the sludge; his body being pulled deeper into the sludge.
"Thanks, kid, with you as a skin suit, no way they'll find me! You're a real 'hero!'" the villain cackled.
Izuku continued to fight, his efforts in vain as the villain pulled him deeper and deeper into the sludge.
'Goodbye mom, Katchan!'
Both the villain and Izuku failed to hear the sound of a manhole shooting off the ground. A large figure emerging.
A booming voice spoke out, "THOUGHT YOU LOST ME DIDN'T YOU?!" The sludge villain turned to the voice, its eyes shooting wide in terror.
"TEXAS SMAAAAAAAAAAASH!"
A mighty wind shot forward, blowing into the villain. The villain tried to keep its form but was unable to overcome the powerful winds. It broke apart, Izuku flying to the ground, the last thing he saw before falling unconscious was the large figure approaching him.
"HEY, ARE YOU OKAY? HELLO?"
Izuku was awoken by a repeated tapping against his forehead. He struggled to open his eyes, coming face to face with the last person he imagined he would see.
"A-A-ALL MIGHT?!"
Standing in front of Izuku was the symbol of peace himself. Izuku began to nerd out, his mumbling reaching new peaks.
"ALLMIGHT!ICANTBELIEVEALLMIGHTISSTANDINGINFRONTOFME!OHMYGOSHOHYMYGOSHOHMYGOSH!THISISAMAZING!"
All Might laughed a hearty laugh, "SLOW DOWN! YOU TOOK QUITE A FALL, SORRY ABOUT THAT. I SOMETIMES FORGET MY OWN STRENGTH."
Izuku could hardly care that All Might had unintentionally knocked him out, only caring that his hero was standing before him. "Wait, what happened to the villain?" All Might laughed as he pulled two bottles out of his pocket. "NEVER FEAR! I HAVE THE VILLAIN TRAPPED IN THESE BOTTLES OF JUSTICE! THE ONLY PLACE HE'LL BE GOING IS TO THE POLICE STATION!"
Izuku stared in awe. "Can I get your autograph! I have my notebook somewhere." Izuku searched for his book. He found it, opening to see that All Might had already signed it. "I MUST BE GOING NOW, BETTER STAND BACK!" All Might crouched, before taking to the skies.
He flew through the air before feeling something on his leg. He turned, only to see the boy holding onto his legs for dear life. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! YOU NEED TO LET GO!"
Izuku screamed, "I CAN'T! I'LL DIE IF I FALL FROM THIS HIGH!"
All Might remembered that they were in the air, the ground far beneath them. "OH. RIGHT."
All Might felt blood trickle out of his mouth before steam started to emit from his body. 'S***!'
All Might landed on the closest building, Izuku falling on the roof. "LOOK, I LOVE MY FANS, BUT IT'S NEVER OKAY TO GRAB ONTO A HERO, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT COULD HAPPEN. THE DOOR THERE WILL TAKE YOU TO THE GROUND LEVEL, I HAVE TO GO NOW!"
"ALL MIGHT, WAIT!" All Might was going to leap until he heard Izuku's question.
"Is it possible to be a hero without a quirk?"
'WITHOUT A QUIRK?' All Might thought.
"My whole life, all I've ever wanted to be was a hero. I've always wanted to help people, to be a symbol of hope."
Izuku failed to notice large amounts of steam emit from All Might's body. ("NO!")
"My whole life, people told me that I can't be a hero. That without a quirk, I won't amount to anything. I want to know, is it possible to be a hero without a quirk?"
"You can't catch me!" Bakugou yelled. Izuku smiled as he chased after his friend, the two playing in the park. Bakuogu used an explosion to shoot up a tree, landing on the tallest branches.
Izuku smirked as he began to climb the tree. He made it halfway up, before the branch broke underneath his foot. He fell, landing on the ground with a thud.
"IZUKU!" Inko screamed.
Bakugou leaped off the tree, scrambling to check on her friend. Izuku groaned, leaning up slightly. Inko began to look over Izuku,
"Izuku! Are you okay, sweetie?! Did you break any bones?!" Izuku struggled against his mothers doting. "I'm fine mom, really." Izuku stood to his feet, only for his mother to take his hand, pulling him towards the bench.
"I don't want you to play like that, you could have been seriously hurt!" Izuku struggled, "I'm fine, mom!"
"You don't know that! You need to be more careful!" Izuku was beginning to become frustrated, "It's normal for a boy to play like this!"
Inko turned to her son, tears in her eyes, "YOU'RE NOT LIKE NORMAL BO—" She stopped as she realized what she said as she covered her mouth, tears filling her eyes. Izuku froze, his expression becoming one of anguish.
"Izuku I didn't mea—" Inko reached out to her son, only for Izuku to lean away, before running away from his mother. Inko screamed as Izuku ran away, Izuku unable to hear his mother's words over the pain he was feeling.
Izuku eventually stopped running, coming to rest in front of a storefront. He leaned against the window, his hands rubbing his arms. Tears continued to fall from his face before he turned to the window. The store was an electronics store, the window filled with TVs. The TV's showed Izuku's favorite video.
"FEAR NOT CITIZEN! HOPE HAS ARRIVED! BECAUSE I AM HERE!"
Izuku saw his huge smile. Even in such a horrific area, he kept his smile, the smile that brought hope to the hopeless.
He found his reflection in the mirror, his tear-stricken face reflecting from the glass. He stared at his face before using his fingers to stretch his lips into a smile.
'He's always smiling, even when its seems impossible.'
Izuku held the smile, determined to always smile.
He called his mother, letting her know where he was. She arrived shortly after he hung up. She wrapped him in her arms as they both cried onto each other.
"I'm sorry, sweetie! I'm so, so sorry, sweetie! I didn't mean it!" she cried onto him. Izuku held his mother, "I know mom, I'm sorry for running.
Izuku paused as the memory vanished, "I NEED TO KNOW! IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE A HERO WITHOUT A QUIRK?!" Izuku shouted, his eyes shut tight. After a few moments of silence, Izuku opened his eyes, only for his jaw to drop.
Standing in All Might's place was a bone-thin man, his eyes were sunken, his hair frayed and in disarray. Izuku screamed loudly. "W-W-WHERE IS A-A-ALL MIGHT?!" The man shushed Izuku, "Guess my secret is out. Listen, kid, I need you to keep a secret." Izuku's eyes widened as he heard the voice of the man, 'ITS REALLY ALL MIGHT! WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?!'
All Might dropped the ground, before pulling his shirt up slightly, exposing his chest. Izuku gasped as he saw All Might's chest.
His chest was scarred, several large cracks connecting to a large, red wound.
"I GOT THIS ABOUT FIVE YEARS BACK, A VILLIAN MESSED ME UP PRETTY BAD, I CAN ONLY OPERATE AS 'ALL MIGHT' FOR ABOUT THREE HOURS A DAY."
Izuku thought for a moment, "Five years ago? Was it Toxic Chainsaw?"
All Might's eyes widened slightly, "YOU REALLY NOW YOUR STUFF DON'T YOU? NO, A PUNK LIKE HIM COULD'NT HURT ME LIKE THIS. NO, THIS BATTLE IS ONE THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT."
All Might lowered his shirt. "HONESTLY, THE SMILE I WEAR IS MOSLTY TO HIDE MY FEAR. EVERYDAY PRO'S PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE, SOME DON'T MAKE IT HOME. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION…."
All Might closed his eyes, regret filling him at what he was about to say.
"NO. NO, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN BE A HERO WITHOUT A QUIRK."
Izuku wasn't sure what it was, but he felt something shatter within him at the words from his hero.
All Might rose to his feet, slowly walking to the door, before looking back at Izuku.
"THERE ARE PLENTY OF JOBS OUT THERE THAT PROTECT PEOPLE. POLICE GET A BAD RAP, BUT THEY DO AN HONEST JOB. IT'S IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS, JUST MAKE SURE YOUR DREAMS ARE ATTAINABLE."
All Might walked through the door, a grimace on his face, regret filling his being. He sighed, before reaching to his pocket. "Now then, let's get you to the police." He felt his pocket, only to find nothing there.
'Wait, where is—'
All Might thought back to when he realized Izuku had latched onto him.
'He must have fallen when I was in the air!'
Several loud explosions appeared in the center of the city. All Might turned to the window as large plume of smoke rose to the sky.
'Oh no.'
(Minutes earlier)
"ROW ROW FIGHT THE POWER!" Bakugou smirked as she walked down the street, turning up the volume on her headphones. She turned the corner, walking down the alleyway.
'Ugggghhhh. What happened?'
The sludge villain moved slightly as its body slowly began to reform.
'All Might…he hit me.'
The villain realized that he was no longer trapped in the bottle. He slowly moved out, a toothy grin growing on his face as he witnessed a blonde-haired girl, walking alone with headphones on. The sludge villain leaped into the air,
"Thanks for the help, kid!"
Izuku walked slowly down the street, his hands by his side, his head held low.
"I DON'T THINK YOU CAN BE A HERO WITHOUT A QUIRK."
The words of his idol played in his mind on repeat, his heart sinking with every step.
A loud explosion shoot Izuku from his thoughts. He turned to see smoke rising to the sky, the sky becoming red as fire.
He knew he shouldn't go towards it, but something in his mind, some small voice urged him to go towards it.
He morphed his walk to a run as he changed directions to where the smoke was rising from. He arrived at the scene a few minutes later, his eyes wide in shock and horror at the scene before him.
"STAY BAAAAAAAAAACK!" a monstrous voice roared.
Izuku looked on in horror at the scene before him. A green, sludge-like villain was in the middle of the road, fires all around him. The heroes were forced onto the defense, most working on keeping the fire from spreading. Izuku stared at the villain before something in his mind clicked.
'That's the sludge villain…the one that attacked me?! How did he escape?!'
Izuku flashed back to when he was airborne, gripping to All Might for dear life.
'He must have dropped him…. because he was too busy dealing with me….'
Izuku clutched his chest, an overwhelming pain now boiling him from within.
'This is my fault! All of this is my fault!'
He fell to his knees, tears threatening to burst. The words of fellow bystanders brought Izuku from his thoughts.
"Why can't the heroes stop him?!"
"He has a hostage, some girl with blonde hair."
Izuku's head shot up, his eyes searching the monster for the hostage. The villain turned, and Izuku's heart stopped beating.
In the mass of the monster, was Katsumi Bakugou, fighting desperately against the villains hold on her.
"HEHE, WITH YOUR POWER, NOTHING CAN STOP ME!" The villain cackled.
Bakugou was pulled deeper and deeper into the villain until only her eyes could be seen, she opened them.
Izuku covered his mouth as he saw pure terror in her eyes.
He had seen that terror, that fear before.
The fear you feel when you know you will never live your life the way you dreamed you would.
He saw it in the mirror every day.
Something snapped inside Izuku, something primal.
A need, an urge, but above all else, an instinct.
In less than a millisecond, he was running, his legs no longer under his control.
The heroes and police yelled at him, their voices falling on deaf ears as he ran with all his might.
'WHAT AM I DOING?!'
The villain shock lasted for only a moment, before rising to attack Izuku. Izuku threw his backpack, aimed to hit the villains' large eye.
The backpack hit its target, causing the villain to howl in pain. Izuku started to rip chunks of the sludge off from Bakugou, freeing most of her face.
"DEKU?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Izuku smiled helplessly, "I couldn't stand by and do nothing Katchan…."
The moment was interrupted as the villain grabbed Izuku, "YOU'RE GOING TO DIE FOR THAT!"
Izuku braced himself, ready for the end as a large tendril of slime was prepared to hit him. After a few seconds, a voice spoke.
"I REALLY AM PATHETIC AREN'T I?"
Izuku's eyes opened, his mouth falling slack at the man standing above him, his hand holding the tendril, blood trickling out of his mouth.
"I TOLD YOU WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A HERO, AND YET I WASN'T LIVING UP TO WHAT I PREACHED."
All Might threw the tendril, the monster snarling as it readied another.
"PRO'S ARE ALWAYS PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE, THAT'S THE TRUE TEST OF A HERO!"
"D*** YOU ALL MIGHT!" The villain roared.
All Might pulled back his fist before an invisible aura shifted over his arm.
"DETROIT SMAAAAAAAAAAAASH!"
All Might's fist slammed into the villain's stomach, said villains'eyes turning white for a moment before a massive explosive force rocked the city.
The heroes present protected the civilians and law officers as the mighty gusts of wind rocked by. A tornado formed from the impact, reaching to the heavens.
The world was silent, everyone in awe at what they bore witness too. The clouds began to change before heavy rain fell.
"He…. He changed the weather…." Death Arms whispered.
"With just one punch…..." Water Hose replied in a hushed tone.
Izuku stared at All Might, before remembering his friend. He turned to Bakugou, only to be tackled into a hug.
Bakugou wrapped a hand into his hair, the other around his back as she cried.
"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?! YOU COULD'VE GOTTEN YOURSELF KILLED!" She screamed as she held onto him desperately.
Izuku was stunned for a moment, before returning her embrace.
In the aftermath of the attack, Izuku was reprimanded, while Bakugou was praised. Izuku left while the heroes were busy trying to scout her, eager for her as a sidekick when she entered college.
Izuku resumed his walk home, his head held low.
"Guess I should resume giving up on my dreams."
"I AM HERE!"
Izuku screamed as the hulking figure of All Might appeared in front of him suddenly.
"A-A-All. Might?! What are you doing here? I thought you were dealing with the press, how did you—"
"HAHA! NO AMOUNT OF NEWS HOUNDS CAN KEEP ME DO—"
All Might shot from his muscle to skinny form in an instant, blood shooting from his mouth. Izuku began flailing his arms as his idol spat blood. "I-I'm really sorry for getting in your way, I must have been a distr—"
"Young man, I owe you an apology."
Izuku looked at his idol, shock spread across his features.
"When you told me, you were quirkless, I couldn't believe it when I saw you run, to save the life of another, without powers, while those with powers did nothing. It reminded me why I became a hero, it remined me why I continue to be a hero.
Izuku felt his knees grow weak, falling as he didn't dare believe what he heard as he fell to his knees.
"There is an instinct, one that overrides all others. You move without thinking, no matter the circumstances, because there is something in your heart that drives you."
Izuku crossed his arms and clutched his chest as he was in disbelief at what he was hearing.
"I told you what it took to be a pro, but you showed what it means to be a hero."
Tears began to fall from Izuku's face in streams as his head dropped to the ground beneath him.
'You never told me, you never told me, mom, the words I needed to hear most.'
"Young man, you too can become a hero."
Izuku sobbed loudly, and for the first time in his life, it was not from of sadness, or pity.
All Might watched as the boy wept before he spoke the words that would change the world, whether it wanted to or not.
"I deem you worthy of my quirk, my power is yours."
Izuku raised his head, his face full of confusion.
"What?"