Midori the Phoenix

by BriRy18

The final Arc of the FemDeku Villain AU. After announcing her pregnancy, Izumi puts her Phoenix alias back on and goes into hiding with Touya, Kota, and Eri. In Japan, a supporter of All for One comes out of the shadows to claim revenge for his fallen master.

14. Troubled Youth

Midori the Phoenix

Chapter 14: Troubled youth

"DAMN IT!" Dabi slammed his fist into the wall, using overhaul to satisfy his need for destruction. The wall blew open like a door, wood chips flying on the opposite side, startling Twice who narrowly dodged. He held a rubber ducky, a towel around his naked waist, and had put a showercap on despite still having his face mask on.

"GAH! Rude!" He pointed and squeezed the rubber duck for emphasis. "Can't you knock, Dabi?"

"Shove it, two face!" He snarled and whirled on Shigaraki. "How the fuck did we not see this? Of all the places the heroes could have hid her they chose UA, and we were stupid not to think of it!"

"Calm down, Dabi." Shigaraki said with uncharacteristic patience. "We don't know for sure."

"The king is right, Touya. Eri tried to soothe from the couch. "Maybe it's not her, maybe the child is-"

"No… it's too big of a coincidence. We find out Karma's alive, find out she's been reduced to a toddler, and then all of a sudden a child with a fire-based quirk sets fire to the dorms. This is a sign! Karma was telling us where she is!"

"Was," Compress corrected. "The heroes probably thought the same thing when the building went up, which is why they're moving her, to keep her hidden and keep the students at UA quote unquote safe."

"Which opens up numerous possibilities of where they could be hiding her now." Shigaraki rubbed his chin. "We've been careful these past few years not to get caught, especially since that annoying Liberation Front has been searching high and low for us. We can't afford to make any mistakes."

"May I interject, your highness…" David Shield's face popped up on the TV screen. The doctor's lab humming with the usual buzz and beeps from the experiments and machines.

"What is it, David?"

"I know, I'm not an official member of the league… frankly I consider myself more a hostage but… I'd like to put in my two cents." He adjusted his collar. "Is it really necessary for you all to find Karma now? I realize she's an important part of your group, but she's not the Karma you all remember. She's a child now, and may not have the same abilities, or mind set that you remember."

"The hostage makes a valid point…" Kota cracked his knuckles, his body still getting used to the new quirk. He found himself itching to move and stretch out his abilities and often struggled to maintain a calm composure. "Karma's no good to us if we can't find a way to bring her back to normal."

"It's also not gonna be a simple matter of erasing my quirk's affects either," Eri put in, swallowing hard as eyes turned to her. "Th-that man… Chisaki… he was working on a reverse serum to remove my quirk's affect… but I overheard him say that it was proving to be difficult. You can't just rewind a rewind."

"You instead have to fast forward." Doctor Bennet interjected, his mask in place and his hands behind his back. "Which I'm sure Doctor Tsubasa can assist you all with."

"Hah?" Shigaraki raised a brow at the newbie. "Since when have you been in contact with Tsubasa?"

"I'm also a doctor, or did you forget? I've done my own research, and once I knew who your current physician was I did a little research. He's currently involved in a project that may suit Karma's case. He's assisting in the testing of a genetic bypass to help counter the effects of dangerous quirks."

"Plain Japanese, if you please, or English if it's more convenient." Dabi said irritably.

"From what I've read of Tsubasa's research, the newer generation's quirks are growing more and more powerful. Some are becoming impossible to control at the age of four when they manifest due to the lack of proper body or mind development. So he's working with a team of experts to create a form of accelerated growth. It's done a little at a time as the body is not meant to age so rapidly, but it's a technique that accelerates a person's age and it's proven successful thus far."

"Just how much of an acceleration are we talking?" Shigaraki questioned.

"The process is painful of done too quickly, but they can age a person by a year within a month."

"So if Karma is physically four right now. She'd need about a year and four months in order to grow to her proper age." Compress did the math.

"That's perfect!" Dabi grinned and looked to Shield. "Where's Tsubasa? I want him to get started right away on-"

"He left some time ago and he hasn't been back." David responded, swallowing hard. "He's left some left security measures to prevent me from leaving… but he says he has urgent matters to attend to."

"Just what the hell could be so damn important!?"

~JDC Underground Lab~

"Ah, Dr. Tsubasa! Thank you so much for responding favorably to my request!"

"Of course, Tarkin." Tsubasa shook hands with the skinny man. The two of them had known each other since med-school and often collaborated on projects. Tarkin was one of the few people he knew who supported all his theories and discoveries about the complexities of quirk growth. "I couldn't possibly turn down the chance of seeing the Queen of Villains in the flesh."

"I knew you couldn't pass up this opportunity my friend." Tarkin continued to boast as Tsubasa walked toward the two-way mirror. On the other side Midori sat in an empty white room, with nothing and no one around.

"Ah… Karma… At last you are where you belong." He rubbed his mustache. "So, what is it that you need of me?"

"The police are still trying to locate the league of villains. Karma here is there only lead, but she's no good to them so long as she's in this child-like state. You're the expert on quirks and repercussions, so I thought you would best know how we should go about bringing back the real Karma.

"I thought as much, and have done a little poking and prodding. Recovery Girl's hypothesis is that Midori here is just an innocent shield for Karma to hide behind, and I agree with her." Which was why he had made every move possible to put her exactly where he wanted her. Tsubasa's lips twitched in a wicked smile. "If the child truly is just a shield, then our best option is to crash right through it while it's still weak."

"I see…" Tarkin walked up beside him. "You want us to try and force Karma out of hiding."

"Precisely… from what I understand, Izumi Midoriya is unlike most villains. Her quirk is nothing compared to her strong and intelligent mind. She absorbed information like a sponge, maintained a strong and controlled composure, and used tactical prowess like a general leading an army. She was just a teenager, and yet she managed to outsmart and outwit every opponent she came across because of it."

"I see…" Tarkin pressed a hand on the glass as he followed Tsubasa's thought process. "Then the only way to truly break Karma…"

"...is to break her mind." Tsubasa finished and pat his associate on the back.

"Brilliant as always, my friend. I have just the thing." He turned to his assistants. "Prep the sedatives, and get me the strongest hallucinogen we've got in stock."

~Midori~

Midori's head jerked up when the doors to the room opened. Tarkin, his assistants, and two security guards came in with a cart of equipment and the syringe's he'd requested. At the sight of the needle's, Midori's heart rate increased exponentially.

"What are those for?" Midori cowered back but one of the security guards took her by the arm to keep her still. "What's going on?"

"Shhhh, it's alright child." Tarkin knelt down in front of her. "I told you before, that we're gonna run some tests to see how best to help you." He took one of the syringe's. "I know it looks scary, but all it's going to do is put you to sleep for a little while. Then the other doctor's and I are gonna take a little peek inside your head."

"NO! Don't let him do it!"

"No!" Midori kicked his hand away and struggled against the guards. "You're lying! Why would you need to look inside my head for my quirk?"

"Now, now, Midori, there's no need to be hostile. I assure you we're doing this for your own good." He nodded to the guard who forced her arm out and Tarkin moistened it with an alcohol patch.

"Stop it!" Crying now she continued to kick even as the needle sank into her flesh. Immediately she began to feel woozy and nauseous and her body became harder to move and control. "Mnnng… why are you… doing this?"

"I told you… we're gonna take a peek inside your head." Tarkin stroked her temples then opened her eyes shining a light in them. "Hmmm looks like the halloucegin is taking effect. Time for a nap now, Young Midori. Time for all of us to take a trip into your mind, and see what's hiding."

"Fight it! You gotta fight it Midori! MIDORI!"

"K-Karma?" Midori groaned as the world went black.

~Dreamworld~

Midori groaned as the drugs did their job. Trapped in a hallucinating dream, she stood up in the familiar surroundings of her bedroom back on the UA campus. Everything was just as she remembered, the bedding, the shelves of books, the bedside table with an All Might lamp and the picture she'd taken with Bakugo, Shoto, and the rest of Class 1A.

She stretched her fingers out, touching the frame and pulling it up into view. Though she knew where she was… everything had a haze about it… as if the room was filled with smoke. In reaction she coughed and walked to the door. Opening it, the haze was still there… and she could hear the echoes of the previous four years of her life.

"MIDORI! GET BACK HERE YOU DAMN BRAT!"

"She's just a kid, Katsuki"

"Just a kid, my ass!"

"Be sure to stay sweet, and remember us, okay?"

"Why you cry, I like when you smile!"

"Uwahh MIdori-chan!"

"There's no way the principal would let a villain kid join U.A., especially Karma's kid."

"LOOK WHAT YOU DID TO THE DORM YOU LITTLE TWERP!"

"You don't belong here at U.A. so why don't you do us all a favor and get lost!"

"Get lost…" Midori held her head and started coughing again as the smoke increased. "I should get lost." She looked to the double doors that would lead to the outside. She remembered so many times as a kid running towards the doors, knowing there was something out there… waiting for her.

"I…" She walked to it, her fingers stretching out as tears filled her eyes. "I don't belong here." She put her hand on the door handle prying it open. What welcomed her was the shocking sounds of screams… maniacal laughter… and the distinct scent of ash and blood.

"STOP!" Karma grabbed Midori's wrist and she slammed the door shut and sealed it with her quirk. Sweat pooled down from her temples and there was a madness behind her eyes. "You can't go out there!"

"What?" Midori wobbled and looked up at the blurry image above her. In her mind's eye Karma still had no shape, no distinct face… but she loomed over her like a shadow, all black and dark, her trench billowing out like bird wings. "Why? What's out there?"

"My past…" Karma panted, doing her best to keep focus and not lose control. "Everything that made me who I am. The pain, the hatred, everything that's twisted and corrupted, it all led me down a path of villainy. You can't see it!"

"Why not? Isn't this what you want? Don't you want to be free?" Midori could still hear the choking screams, and echoes of the past she got a taste of before Karma pulled her away. She'd seen flashes of it in her dreams, but never enough to truly grasp what had happened.

"I do, but not like this, Midori. Not when those ass hats are forcing you to relive it before you're ready. There are things in there that you're just not ready to see." Karma wrapped her arms around Midori holding her tight. "Until you're ready to face it, until your ready to accept the consequences, I have to protect you from it. That's why I was so desperate to get free… I know you can't handle it on your own yet."

"You're with me now, aren't you?" Midori hugged Karma back and closed her eyes. "Why can't I see it with you?"

"You're too young yet to understand. You're the only part of me left that is still innocent, pure, and likeable." Tears fell down her cheeks and she shook from it. "The only part of myself that Kacchan, Shoto, and the others care about."

"Karma…"

"If I let the past corrupt you... Then there really is no turning back." She sobbed. "You'll have to face the past all over again… and you're not strong enough to handle it. It'll break you, and destroy what little good is left in me. I can't have that!"

"What am I supposed to do then?" Midori sobbed with her now. "Takeru is right… I don't belong at UA… I don't belong anywhere."

"You're not alone feeling that way, Midori." Karma hushed her and cradled the child to her. "There are others out there, friends I've made who feel the same way. They'll welcome you with open arms and a smile… but in order to see them you have to get stronger."

"How… how do I get stronger?"

"Hmmm" Karma pulled back and she tapped her head. "Quirks aren't the only source of power, Midori. Strengthen your mind, as well as your body… and don't worry," Her voice and image began to fade. "I'll always be here if you need me."

"Karma?" Midori rubbed her eyes as the image of her faded. "Where are you going? What's happening?"

"The drugs are wearing off… we've passed the first hurdle… but I won't be able to help you every time. You need to get stronger, gather allies so you don't have fight alone, and most importantly you need to be smart." She pressed a finger to her lips and melted into the dark as the shape of the UA dorms also warped and started to vanish. ".. and don't forget, mum's the word."

~End of Dream~

Midori gasped as she jerked awake from sleep and found herself lying on the floor of the white room she'd been taken in. She looked around, and was surprised to see damage inflicted on the walls and equipment around her. She glanced down, saw that the quirk restraints were smoking and had melted a little.

"What happened to me?"

"A slight miscalculation on our part, Midori." Tarkin explained, tending a cut to his forehead. "It would seem your uh… quirk… is far more powerful than we anticipated. The intense heat building in your body caused the cuffs to malfunction, and well you can see the repercussions of it."

He nodded to the damage and sighed heavily. He knelt down and replaced the damaged quirk restraints with new ones.

"Until we can find a better way to handle your powerful quirk, I can promise you we won't be trying that technique again. Starting tomorrow you'll be joining the other children for recreational activities and physical education."

"I'm sorry…" Midori apologized, catching Tarkin off guard. "Did I hurt you? I was just really scared."

"I… mmmmm…." Tarkin struggled to maintain a cool composure and he forced a smile on his face. "I'm fine, Midori. Don't you worry. Now then it's time you returned to your room. Get some rest."

"Okay…" She stood up, and was escorted out by security. Tarkin set his teeth and looked up at Tsubasa and crossed his arms. "Well that didn't go exactly as we'd planned."

"No it didn't… heh." From behind the two-way mirror Tsubasa was rubbing his hands together and trying his damndest not to laugh. The kid was an absolute gem of a find; A once in a lifetime opportunity for him to study such a unique case and improve his thesis. "It went even better."

~The Following Day~

Midori decided to take Karma's advice to heart. In order to escape this place, and find Karma's family, Midori had to grow stronger on her own. In order to do that she needed to train her body, sharpen her mind…

...and make some friends.

The first two would be easy, and she already had a plan on how to accomplish it… but the third not so much. She hadn't really gotten along with anyone outside of the people Karma had influenced, and the friends she thought she had at UA turned their backs on her. She wasn't sure how to go about making friends with other kids, but there was no harm in trying.

The cafeteria inside the JDC was packed with kids split up into various packs and cliques. She could tell by some of their personalities and demeanor on how long the individuals had been here. Most of the older generations were grouped together looking sober and battleworn.

The younger generations were sporadic in their behavior with some preteens who flocked to the older kids like puppies to their owners, some gathered in smaller groups holding conversations with each other. Then there was her generation, ages 5-10, who were the most rowdy and belligerent to the rules.

"Uhmm not really my social group." Midori decided as she ducked a flying pudding cup. Deciding she'd go for some older and mature kids she took a seat next to some preteens and offered a smile. "Hi."

"You lost shrimp?" The teen turned in his seat and glared down at her.

"Hmmm?" She bit into a piece of bread and looked around. "I don't think so. This is the cafeteria, right?"

"Cute, but does this look like the kiddy table to you?" He stood up and pulled her chair out and away from the table then kicked it back. Midori scrambled and leaned forward to keep the chair from tipping forward.

"Ooof! Hey!" She glared back and grunted when her lunch tray was shoved back in her lap.

"Get lost, and come back when you get a little taller. You shrimp."

"Rude…" Midori muttered under her breath and got to her feet. "Well that was a bust. How am I supposed to make friends when everyone here is so unapproachable."

"Ignore the ignorants. They're just intimidated by you." Karma put in, but Midori shook her off.

"Intimidated by what? I'm a four year old with a large vocabulary who talks to herself." She complained openly and found an empty table to sit at. She placed her tray on it, sat, and sighed heavily. "Let's face it, Karma…" She picked up the fork and stirred the potato mixture with the corn, frowning at how unappetizing everything looked. "I'm no good at making friends."

"You're friends with Kacchan and the other 3A students, weren't you?"

"That's different…" She leaned her face into her knuckles. "They all thought I was your daughter. They'd probably avoid me like the plague if they knew we were the same person."

"Hush, Midori. Don't say shit like that out loud."

"Huh?" Her eyes glanced around, kids rushing by the table without even giving her a second look. "What do you mean?"

"We're being watched, remember? There's cameras everywhere, and guards posted at every exit. Glance up to the second level. There're mirrors all across the far right wall, and I can guarantee you that they're two-way. Scientists, doctors, security, and whatever other quacks are studying the entire body of kids… probably researching behavior patterns."

Midori did glance up at the mirrors and her eyes darted around spotting the guards and even locating up to six different cameras that covered the entire lunch area. Her body suddenly went tense and she had a hard time swallowing down the piece of bread she just bit into.

"All of these kids… us included… are being treated like lab rats. That test they performed on us yesterday was just the tip of the iceberg. I'm sure of it."

"There's gonna be more tests like that?" She bowed her head so that no one could tell she was talking to herself. The grip on her fork tightened and she could feel herself shaking. "Oh god, I can't do this..."

"Calm down… don't freak out."

"I don't wanna be here…" her voice was shaky and she shoved her food away. She pulled her legs to her chest and began to rock in her seat. She could feel her body getting hot again, her quirk trying to activate, but the quirk restraints were preventing the nodules from opening completely. She scratched at them, her breathing getting heavier. "Karma please… get me out of here."

"Hey!" Midori's head shot up at the scratching boyish voice. A boy, probably around 8 years old, slammed his palm on the table across from her then sat backwards in the chair. "You gonna eat that?"

"Huh?" Midori looked at her lunch and her bottom lip trembled. She shook her head. "No… I'm not hungry."

"Great, because I'm starving. These stupid adults think that a single portion is enough to feed me." He pulled the tray closer to him and shoveled the food in his mouth. While he chewed Midori couldn't help but stare. She completely forgot about her freak out, and focused on taking in all his unique attributes. His black hair was a wild tangle of black that went just past his ears. His teeth had sharpened canines on both the top and bottom rows. He wore no shirt, and for a kid he already had some meat and muscle to his build.

The sound of him sniffing snapped her out of her analysis and she looked back up to his face to see his intense blue eyes staring at her.

"I don't recognize your scent. Are you new here?" He asked before shoveling more food in his mouth.

"Uh… yeah…" She hugged her legs tighter to her. "I just got here."

"I figured. You looked ready to bolt for the door before I came over. I should warn you that you're better off staying put and sticking it out." He told her, his mouth still filled with food.

"Why do you say that?"

"I've been here for a year, not nearly as long as some of these other kids, but I know when to put up a fight and when not to." He burped and slid the now empty tray away. "Name's Yuuichi." He held his hand out to her. Midori glanced at it, then back at his face clasping it in hers.

"Midori."

"Heh," he shot her a confident grin as his hand squeezed hers. "Don't let these adults scare you, Midori." He let go and stood up putting his arms casually behind his head. "They're way more scared of you then you are of them."

He strolled away with such arrogance and confidence that it made Midori have flashbacks of Bakugo. She glanced down at her hand, rubbing her fingers together and then eyeing the quirk restraints.

"They're more afraid of me than I'm of them…" her lips suddenly curved into a wicked smile. "Hey Karma."

"Yes, Midori?"

"I think I just made my first friend."

~Ask Briry~

Woooot! Done! Check that off my to do list for the weekend. Hope you guys are enjoying the ride so far!

Next Chapter: A Mother's Love