Chapter seventeen - A serenade of Hades
Aizawa was in the teacher's lounge looking through some work schedules, he finishes briskly. He had been working double his usual pace because he was quite eager to learn about Faceless. Aizawa had noticed that during the Hosu incident, Naomasa and All Might seemed to know a lot about Faceless' identity and his background in general. They seemed to be calling out for him to 'come back', as if they had some form of responsibility over him. Aizawa didn't like getting left in the dark about these kind of things.
So, he texted All Might to get to the lounge quickly and to bring Naomasa with him.
"They better not hide anything from me.." thought Aizawa as he impatiently tapped his foot on the floor. He had disapproved of villains from the start of his hero career and he still did hate them. But something about Faceless was different. He knew it, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
"A-Aizawa.. You called us.." said All Might. He looked depressed, like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.
"You look like shit. What happened to you?" replied Aizawa, in a bland tone. He certainly wasn't used to All Might looking this sad or negative. His entire character was happy-go-lucky.
"I'm assuming it's about Faceless, right?" Naomasa said, Aizawa nodded. "I can assure you that you will understand why All Might is like this, when we tell you about Faceless." All Might just looked to the ground and gulped in anxiety. Aizawa emitted a concerned hum and narrowed his eyes.
"I don't like where this is going. It must be serious." thought Aizawa. The two of them then proceeded to telling Aizawa everything they knew about Faceless. His past, his identity, his murders, his appearance before and after he turned into a villain and All Might's encounter. Everything. They even told Aizawa their theories about Izuku and how they think he became a villain in the first place. Naomasa and All Might were not sure as to why they spilled all their information to Aizawa when they weren't even friends. Maybe they just felt he could be trusted. By the time they had told them absolutely everything, Aizawa was speechless. He felt as though he had been punched in the gut and had his soul ripped out of him. He places his hand over his mouth slowly and had his eyes wide with anguish. Why had it affected him so badly? He didn't know anything about Izuku, nor should he care. Izuku was just another measly, misfit villain, right? So, why?
Aizawa tried to croak out an answer, a response, some guidance, some advice..just..something! But he couldn't speak. Maybe it was that he wouldn't speak. Perhaps he shouldn't speak.
"I..Wow..That was..a lot to take in at once.." Aizawa's eyes darted across the room to look for some scapegoat or red herring.
All Might and Naomasa looked to the ground with their faces twisted in sadness.
Aizawa gave a dejected laugh and a bewildered, crooked smile and said, "Well, fuck! I mean..shit, wow. That's messed up. Where do I even begin...ugh.." Aizawa rubbed his forehead in confusion and oppression.
"That is way too much..way too fucking much for a damn fifteen year old boy to go through. Seriously. My students are his age, damnit. The world is really going to shit." thought Aizawa. He now sympathised with the boy but didn't forget he was a villain.
Aizawa retained his composure again.
"First of all, you." Aizawa pointed to All Might. "Why the devil would you tell an innocent kid he couldn't be a hero? You truly believe that's what he needed to hear? To think you are the symbol of peace..well, in your defence, it can't be helped. You're still human at the end of the day but really?"
"Yes, I know. I want to apologise to him. I wish I could've saved him..I really do. God..I'm such a stupid excuse for a hero." replied All Might, who was filled to the bone with gloom. Aizawa just sighed.
"So, Faceless killed three grown men with dangerous quirks? Are you sure, Detective? Doesn't seem realistic to me." said Aizawa, looking at Naomasa.
"Tell me, Aizawa. Do you believe a certified detective, such as myself, would wake up one morning and think to falsely accuse a minor of triple murder? Do you?" replied Naomasa with a deadpan expression.
"Fair enough. Well..he seems like a problem child to me. I don't deal well with problem children, plus, I have a class to teach in ten minutes." Aizawa got up and exhaled heavily. "Thank you for the information, Detective. You too, All Might. See you." WIth that, Aizawa left to teach a different class and that left Naomasa and All Might alone in the lounge. They felt as though they let out all the air, motivation and life within them. Nevertheless, they had to go back to their own designated jobs. All Might got bulkier and put on a smile while Naomasa went back to the police station to document on some trivial criminals.
Little did they know, Principal Nezu was behind the door the whole time. While many wouldn't see it on his face, he was in the middle of a collision of emotions.
"Faceless, you learnt too early of the ugliness in this world." thought Nezu, as he walked back into his office. He then drank tea to ease his mind.
What All Might, Naomasa, Nezu and Aizawa had heard about Izuku wasn't even half of what he went through. You can never know the true extent of one's pain and suffering.
Tenya Iida aggressively mopped the floor in deep thought, despite some students looking at him.
"I-Iida, are you okay? You know..after yesterday. You look a bit pale." asked Uraraka. She was very worried for Iida's well being. They mightn't known each other long, but their friendship was as sturdy as an old church. Iida just nodded and continued cleaning. Tsuyu beckoned Uraraka towards their next class, despite her also feeling upset for Iida. He was in fact thinking about what Izuku said to him and what he did to Stain back in Hosu. Iida then leaned on the stick of the mop.
"Faceless wanted me to learn from my mistakes. He spared me and didn't kill Stain and did not even touch Native. He did this all, despite being a villain. I don't get it at all! Wait.." he rubbed his chin. "Maybe I do..maybe Faceless isn't so bad..! I mean, what does he gain from helping me, a random student? Nothing. Maybe he isn't so bad. If not for him, I wouldn't be alive right now." Iida had then continued to mop quite happily, as he had optimistic thoughts about the villain. He liked to see the best in people without dismissing their wrongs. He wasn't necessarily angry about his punishment because he was well aware he deserved it.
Tezobi stomped into Izuku's room.
"Bra- Oh.." She was about to scream in his face about getting up and telling him not to be lazy. But, he had already been awake. Tezobi looked at Izuku's face, and saw it was soft and relaxed. He was reading a book on his bed.
"Tezobi? What is it?" asked Izuku, with an unchanging expression.
"I want to take you somewhere. Somewhere that is 'hell' incarnate." she replied with a serious face.
Izuku moved the book form his face and stared at Tezobi with a cold eyes.
"What have I done to deserve this punishment?"
Tezobi unfolded her arms and plopped herself on his bed. Izuku was quite startled by this. He was confused, but not scared. She was really getting softer everyday.
"Brat. I'm taking you to a place called Hades." she looked towards the ground. "It is truly a place for those who don't even deserve the mercy of death. I'm doing this to make you stronger. You can't stay cooped up in the arms of the League's protection all the time. The real world is a scary place. One that a kid like you wouldn't be able to handle. I want you to experience the worst of the worst. Believe it or not, it is for the best. However, it is absolutely vile and infernal, so I am not forcing you to go with me. You can choose whether or not to come." Izuku was quite afraid of the place she described but was equally intrigued. He had seen Sensei before, what else could scare him? But the way Tezobi gave him a choice whether to go or not. It meant Hades was serious.
It truly was gullible to think that way.
Izuku got up and changed into his villain costume and gulped.
"I'll go. Take me to Hades." he was curious about the place but he was terrified.
"Are you sure? What you will see there will scar you for the rest of your life. I'm serious, Izuku." asked Tezobi. Her voice was packed full of concern. She cared for Izuku like she was his big sister. She wouldn't show it on the surface, but the few times she slipped up and showed it, she was serious.
"She called me by my first name. My name for the first time. Hades must be worse than she described, for her to do that. But it's too late to turn back." Izuku thought.
"I am sure." he replied to her. Tezobi nodded and opened the door for them to walk out to the bar. They needed Kurogiri to get there and Kurogiri to get back. If they didn't have a way of getting back, they were not getting out of Hades alive.
"Tezobi, what are you doing here? To piss me off?" asked Tomura. He was in a sulky mood for a reason nobody knew why. "Of course you came to piss me off. You brought Samurai shit with you."
"Kurogiri. I'm taking the brat to Hades." said Tezobi. The minute those words left her mouth, the red light started flashing on the monitor. Tomura's sulky mood vanished and turned to one of anger and confusion. Kurogiri was asking himself whether his ears had deceived him.
"Pardon?" asked Kurogiri.
"You've finally lost it, Tezobi. Are you out of your mind- you know what, you probably are, to send the brat to Hades. A fucking suicide mission. God help you, is all I can say." Tomura replied shaking his head and lying down on the couch.
"Tezobi, I'm sure you're aware, but I'm not fond of these kind of jokes. What did you really come here for?" asked Kurogiri.
"I'm serious. I'm taking him there and bringing him back. On that, I swear." Tezobi said folding her arms. She wasn't going to get the brat killed by some maniac. Izuku was panicking. Was Hades so bad that Kurogiri and Tomura themselves were unsure? He was crazy to agree to this.
"Tezobi." said Sensei from the monitor. Tezobi immediately turned to face it. "If you get Midoriya killed, you will be killed by my hands. I'll make sure to it. Bring him back, or else. That is all." The red light stopped flashing. Sensei's voice was calm as always but had a stern and frightening hint to it. Izuku wasn't liking this at all, but kept a strong demeanor. He had to see to it. He had to get stronger.
Tomura laughed in a mocking way.
"And you, Samurai bastard, you are just standing there like it's normal to just walk into Hades. Only a few people get out of there alive, you know. Make sure you get out of there in one piece." was all Tomura said before walking out and scratching his neck lightly.
"Is Tomura.. Showing concern...for me? Jesus.." thought Izuku. He was really in for it.
"Make sure the boy comes back in one piece. Tezobi, I'm serious." Kurogiri whispered to Tezobi before getting a portal ready. Kurogiri places to small dots on their fingers that were buttons to activate Kurogiri's quirk and send them back. If they lost it, they were going to die in Hades. Tezobi nodded lazily before getting in front of Izuku. They stepped into the portal and were gone.
Once they stepped in, a flood of complete disaster were greeting them. The walls, which were once white, were slightly peeling and had crimson ribbons of death splattered across them. The penetrating screams of terror ran throughout the whole building, due to the acoustics being so prominent. The grotesque 'faces' of the villains walking around people who were being shot, stabbed and injected complemented the look of the fire behind them, which was burning someone alive. It was intentional. The assortment of plaguing, perilous, portentous auras and quirks surrounding Izuku and Tezobi could easily send a man to their maker. There were peelings of dead people's skin and the smell of burning fuels and flesh intertwining. It was revolting. Words could not describe the horror that was Hades. Izuku threw up in his mouth a little and almost fainted at the brutal sight he was seeing. He was lucky he was wearing his white mask, or he'd be beaten to the ground just for being weak. Tezobi held a strong face on the outside because she had already been to Hades before. She was just worried for Izuku. Izuku went pale in the face and staggered a little but not enough to make him collapse or be noticed by those around him. Tezobi slowed down her pace to tell Izuku something.
"Faceless." she whispered. "Don't do anymore than you have to. Look strong or they will kill you, no questions asked. Only press that button on your finger when I tell you to. Defend yourself. You will be walked up to at least twice today. Kill, if necessary. Understood?"
"U-Understood.." he swallowed his sick and kept walking.
"This truly is a hell. I have to get out here alive and in one piece." thought Izuku. He watched people fight, kill, steal, rape, commit suicide and other things he wished he had never even seen. It was absolutely horrific, disgusting, hellish. Mortifying, if you will. Nobody should have to see what Izuku saw.
Then, Izuku was encountered by two men. One who had a nasty blemish on the right side of his face, the other had crooked black teeth and a grey goatee.
"Hey, Kyousuke!" the one with the blemish said to the man with black teeth. "I found a pretty little girl..we'll use her then kill her. She doesn't look very mature but she has some muscles.."
"Heh? What the fuck is this?" Kyousuke asked in disappointment. "Kuro, I told you not to play around when it came to the women. What am I supposed to do with this..thing? She has no meat on her bones. Well, we could make use of her somehow.."
Tezobi knew that Izuku could handle this alone, but kept near to them regardless. Izuku was about to be grabbed by Kyousuke but then Izuku sliced open Kyousuke's throat, only to be met with bullet coming out of it.
"What the fuck? God damnit. It's his quirk." thought Izuku. He dodged the bullets, they were pretty slow. Maybe it was because Kyousuke was dying? It didn't matter, he didn't have time to analyse. Izuku saw Kyousuke limp, despite being cut in the throat, he took out his teeth and shot them extremely quickly at Izuku's chest. Izuku jumped up to doge it. He dodged it from his chest, but not from his leg. His leg bled from the bullet and Kyousuke died on the floor. The people walking around didn't seem to care. Tezobi glared at Kuro, waiting to see what he might do. Kuro opened up the blemish in his eye, and showed a blinding light towards Izuku's eyes. They rays were so bright that it would able to kill someone, because of how the brightness affected the nerves in the brain. A couple of thugs and villains around Izuku died but Izuku shut his eyes before it was shone.
"Gotcha!" snarled Kuro.
"Hmph.." was all Izuku replied with calmly, as he swiftly and adroitly ran towards Kuro and stabbed him in the heart, killing him instantly. With Tezobi's training, he could fight in the dark and with his eyes closed. While people were blinded, he quickly ran towards Tezobi so they could quickly end the trip.
"The brat's seen more than enough for a day." thought Tezobi. They made their way somewhere more vacant.
"This should be fin-" Izuku was cut off, when he heard footsteps behind him. Izuku turned around and got into a defensive stance. But he then dropped to one knee due to the heavy, demanding aura of the man in front of him. Izuku held onto the handle of his unsheathed sword but stayed on one knee. He found that he couldn't get up. Tezobi turned to face the man as well. When she turned to face him, he was tall, had piercing dark eyes and even darker hair. He looked a bit older than Tomura. His face was handsome and profound while he wore a black V-Neck sweatshirt with a long-sleeved white shirt underneath. He wore grey jeans and casual black sneakers. Izuku found it hard to breathe with all this excessive tension. Izuku didn't know who this man was, but Tezobi did.
"You've got to be shitting me..Tragedy. It's you. On a fucking day like this. Faceless, get behind me."
Izuku, however, could not. So, Tezobi slapped him to wake him up from whatever untimely daze he was in.
"Faceless, huh. You two see fairly close. Introduce me to him, Tezobi." asked Tragedy, tilting his head to the side with a wide, mischievous grin. Tezobi glared at Tragedy with deadly, cold eyes.
"Do not make me force you, Tragedy." she said in a low voice. Izuku had never heard Tezobi sound so serious and..scary? She was usually in some hormonal, annoying, nagging mood but she was quite different now.
"I guess people change when it counts, huh." thought Izuku.
"How cold of you, Tezobi. However, I'm more interested in this child you've brought here. Hmm.." Tragedy walked in small circles around the two in a childish, callous and innocent fashion while tapping his index finger on his lower lip. "..I want him to fight in the Colosseum..!"
"Tragedy, no. He will not. Move." Tezobi tried to leave the corner that her and Izuku were driven into but Tragedy simply blocked them.
"Shall I kill the boy, Tezobi?"
Tezobi wasn't stupid. She knew what Tragedy was capable of. He could kill the both of them at that second, had he wanted to. But he didn't. He'd toy with Izuku first.
"Faceless, was it? My quirk is called 'Asphyxia'. I can basically take away all the oxygen in your body just by looking at you. I can do this as long as you're in my field of vision. You basically don't have a choice. Tezobi will show you to the Colosseum in five minutes. Prepare, or whatever. Until then..." Tragedy started to walk off but stopped, with his back facing Izuku and Tezobi.
Tragedy spread a sadistic smirk across his face.
"Oh, yeah, I'm the owner of Hades. Don't screw with me." and with that, he walked away.