AN: I don't own My hero academia

Can I be a hero?

Kock knock…

"Izuku," Natsuo called. "Come on out. It's been like a week."

No response.

"We have katsudon," Fuyumi sang invitingly. "Your favourite. You can have as much as you want if you just come out."

No response.

"I'll let you play that game you've like to watch me play," Natsuo tried his hand in persuasion. "We can do teams. You and me."

Still no response.

Touya tired his luck. He placed his forehead at the door fame and called out softly. "Izuku. I know you can hear me. It's not the end of the world. You can still have a normal fulling life even without a quirk."

That's when Natsuo jumped in next to him. "Yeah, me and Fuyumi's quirks are so weak we're practically quirkless too. So, don't be too sad about it."

Not a word left the other side of the door.

Sadly, Fuyumi thought it was time to admit defeat. She placed a hand over both of her brothers. "I don't think he's coming out today either." It was hard to admit she was right. There was nothing else they could do. Fuyumi placed a plate by the door. "The plate's outside," she called out. After that the siblings left their adoptive brother be.

The siblings returned to the kitchen looking as glum as they have been this past week. The bitter taste of new and constantly defeat in their mouths.

Their mother was seated alone at the dinner table. Her hands locked in prayer while her forehead leaned against them. Her head popped up when she heard her children come in. "Has he not come out today either?"

With hanged heads the children shook their heads.

Rei had no idea how to comfort her beloved children. So, she kept encouraging them of a soft yet weak smile. "It will be fine. Izuku will come out eventually." She wanted to allow the boy to come out on his own terms instead of forcefully taking him out. That might cause more harm. If the child wanted to be alone then they should respect that. Now since nearly a week as past she began to worry. Just how long will that child stubbornly trap himself in his room. Was he even eating well? They've been regularly taking up food for him and they usually find the plates mostly clean afterwards. Still, it was both impressive and concerning that the child was able to keep it up for this long.

Touya's eyes thinned while glaring at his mother. He almost looked like their father with those stern heated eyes. "You know things would have been fine if you kept your mouth shut. Izuku's only acting like this because of you," he snapped with a tone eerily like his father. It made Rei's eyes pop out in shock. Even a little fear.

His sister grabbed his arm. "Touya. Please. None of this today," she begged him softly.

Natsuo even joined. "Yeah, it's not mom's fault. She was just stress or something." He weakly defended. He loved his mother. As the only real parent that has taken care of him, he had to. Even so, he couldn't deny he felt uneasy around her since her outburst.

All throughout the weak tension among the family never lessened. Touya was the source of most of it. He's been avoiding his mother since that day and can't even look at her without glaring. Of course, there was also their father. He remained silently stern throughout the week. Fuyumi acted as peacekeeper. Dispelling arguments before they from by distracting with other conversations or taking out one of the parties form the room. Natsuo has been trying to speak up for their mother. Comfort her if he could, but either of them could stop Touya.

"I've ignored and tolerated this long enough but when has mom ever acted like a mom to Izuku." He argued at his siblings. "You can't expect me to believe what she did and what she been doing was right."

Hearing her eldest son's harsh words was like an arrow to the heart. Rei felt she had no choice but to shamefully bow her head. "I'm sorry. I'm not sure what came over me," she claimed. For so long she was fixated on one hope. One dastardly wish. Izuku would be weak and would be forgotten. Her husband could finally show that affection he had for Izuku to their children. At the very least Touya. That boy was the only reason she has yet to be marked as a failure. He was her only hope. The only reason her husband would even look at her. Then she began to cry. The stress of this pass week and the sadness that been burning her whole married life was brought to the surface. "I just though. If Izuku was weak then your father would lose interest in him. Then he would finally look at you and love you as much as he should have."

Touya's harsh words were stuck in his throat. 'Love' was not a word thrown carelessly in this family. Especially by their father. Looking back, he couldn't remember a time the man as ever said that word aloud to anyone. Neither to his siblings or his mother. It slowed his resolve for a moment. "Father…looks at me."

Then Endeavour entered the room. The tension spiked 10 times as high. Before Izuku entered their lives the family felt like they had to walk around eggshell with the hero dominating aura. One crack and a fight may break. After years with Izuku there to ease the tension they have forgotten just how suffocating the air around the hero was. The hero took a quick surveillance scan at his family. It was easy to spot one of them was missing. "Izuku as yet to come out of his room?" The dropped heads of his present family members where enough of a tell. Well, if the child will not go out on his own then he'll have to take a more aggressive approach. He's given the child long enough to cry. Too long might he add. "I'll go get Izuku," he said before turning way.

Touya was quick to action. He dashed in front of his father with his arm wide completely blocking the doorway. Trembling, he glared up at his father. "You will do no such thing!" He yelled. "Izuku is really sensitive right now. I'm sure he'll come out on his own if we just give me more time."

"I've given him enough time," The hero stated firmly. Despite being in casual attire he still looked menacing. Especially with his flame features flickering out aggressively. The warning in his eyes didn't help either. He looked at his child as if he would punch him out of the why if they didn't move. "You're in the way Touya. Move," He demanded. The sharpness in his tone was an extra warning.

The rest of the family was too scared to move. The younger Todoroki siblings held on to their mother for comfort which she happily gave. Touya on the other hand stood firm. Despite his trembling the boy fully intended to get in his father's way. If that meant he could protect his youngest sibling he's do anything. "Whatever you're thinking of doing drop it, father. I won't let hurt Izuku."

Surprisingly, Endeavour laughed. "Hurt him? What kind of man do you take me for? Now move!" Lacking patience, he forceful gipped his son's shoulders and flicked him to his mother's awaiting arms. The child groaned and held his pained shoulder. All while glaring at his father. It was unsuccessful. Nothing would stop this man. "If you continue to dance around this issue like you have been Izuku will never come out." Then he turned away from his family. "At times like these. Force is necessary."

Izuku willingly stayed in the darkness of his room. He barely moved since he decided to lock himself inside. Too ashamed to face his family. What was he supposed to do? Act like everything was alright. Everything was not alright. No matter what his siblings say he couldn't help but feel insecure. A blemish on his family perfect image. They were not even his real family. He was never meant to be a part of this family. The fact he looked so different was a warning. Now he's quirkless too. He didn't belong to beside such amazing people.

Natsuo can be mean but Izuku knew he means well. The boy would pick fights with bigger kids that liked to tease Fuyumi. The fact he braved a blizzard to get back his precious plushie was enough to convince him they were a real Todoroki. Fuyumi was smart as she was beautiful. Gaining much of her best assets from her mother. In fact, she was more of a mother figure to him than their actual adoptive mother at times. Even then Izuku couldn't deny the woman was perfect to be Endeavour's wife. She was beautiful as she was powerful. Although he has only seen glimpses of Rei's ice, he could tell it was invincibility strong. Then there was his oldest brother. The destine successor to the family name. It was obvious why he was chosen. His strong fire quirk made him the only real contender. No one could deny it. Of course, there was the man himself. The hero Endeavour. Izuku always admired heroes. How they go about their days saving other people. Living under the roof of one only made his admiration grow. Endeavour was vicious as he was efficient. Rarely ever stops to answer the questions of the media. Always takes down the villain in the end. It was clear to see why he has held the number 2 title for so long. He dreamed to be someone like him. A hero who could save lives. His father. No. The entire Todoroki family was just amazing.

Then there was him. He had nothing. He was nothing. Just a simple Deku. A doll with no limbs or in this case no quirk. Izuku couldn't help but wonder about the child he was a replacement for. He doubted they would be quirkless like him. If they had lived, they would have been a better fit for this family. Anyone would have been a better fit than him. He was useless. What can he offer to this family? To anyone? Can he even still hope to be a hero?

These thoughts dwelled in his mind for days. He forgotten how to count them. All he did was think, cry, and held on to Mini Endver in the hope it could ease the pain in his chest. They were his only source of comfort while he allowed himself trapped in darkness. He snuggled under the blankets. Hiding himself more to the world. Maybe he should just stay here. Alone with his thoughts. Not a bother to anyone. He was too useless to bother with anyway.

Suddenly, there as a knock on his door again. A familiar stern voice called form beyond it. "Izuku, it's me. It's time to come out. You've been sulking long enough."

Hearing his voice, Izuku hid his face under his blankets more. They were the last person he wanted to see like this. So, he stayed silent.

The knocking become more aggressive. There was a clear attempted to slide the door open, but the lock kept it in place. "Izuku. Unlock this door and come out this instant," Endeavour demanded. "Or else I'll have to use drastic measures."

Izuku said nothing.

There was a heavy beyond the door. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

Smash!

A fist broke through Izuku's door. Not like it was that hard to begin with. Since this was a traditional Japanese home most of the doors were simple paper and frames of wood. Still, it was a horrifying scene to watch for little Izuku. He screamed in terror as he watched his poor door get torn to cinders. With each new hole new beams of light poured into the dark shadows of his room. Since he's been in there for so long Izuku squirted at the sheer brightness. Then again Endeavour was always bright to him. Like the sun incarnate in flesh. The man never needed his flames to shine blindingly bight.

Once the door was gone, Endeavour stepped into the room. He strolled his way to the child curled up and mostly hidden in blankets. He flicked the blanket that covered the child's head down and stared at him. The boy's eyes were puffed red. It's a surprise to see that they still had liquid in them. After readjusting his eyes Izuku looked up at his father with uncharacteristic fear. No fear wasn't the right word. Nervousness was more like it. Still, it was a look Endeavour rarely saw on the boy. This child ever since they entered his home always had this unbending fearlessness towards the hero. He was fully aware of his other children's uncomfortableness around him. Even Touya had to take time to get use to him during the early stages of their training. But this one. This one always looked at him with such awe. The small child would causally run up to him with a smile. He'd hold him with little hesitation. Talk. Boy could this child talk. Endlessly with the brightest smile on his face. Yet this shaking little boy bared little resemblance to the one he watched grow up. He looked so much dimmer. The fire in his eyes were gone. Replayed by green dull orbs. It wasn't a good look for him.

"It's time to come out," the hero repeated. He turned away from the child assuming he would follow like all the other times. "Let's go."

"I…" Izuku started meekly. The sound of the boy's voice caused the hero to cast a stern gaze over his shoulder. The boy shivered when their eyes made connect again. He hid half his face behind his plushie before saying another word. "I…I…have a question."

"What is it?"

Maybe. Just maybe there was still hope for him. He just needed to hear it. Even the slightest bit of hope. That was all he wanted. His dulled eyes had a bit of shimmer return to them. He stared up at his father clenching his plushie tight. "Can I be a hero like you? Even if I'm quirkless," he asked. His voice was shaky there was still a semblance of hope in his tone. He just wanted one answer. This one answer was all he needed. It would mean the world to him if it could come from the man he admired most. Then he could walk out of his room his head held high.

Endeavour stared at the young boy. He noticed the change in his eyes. The spec of hope in them. He knew what the boy was looking for. What he wanted to hear. He could easily give it to him. Give him the hope he desperately yearned for. He could do that. But he won't. "No" he stated firmly. "If there are people in this world who have quirks and aren't cut out for heroism. What makes you believe someone without a quirk can? No matter how you look at it. It's simply impossible."

The light in the boy's eyes instantly disappeared. They dulled out looking heart broken. Then again was he really expecting any other answer. "I see. So, I am useless," he whispered while putting on a sadden smile. Soon tears welled up from his eyes. He thought he was done with them but more just kept pouring out. Shamefully, he dropped his head and whispered an apology: "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry you ended up with a useless child like me. Your real child is probably better than me. I'm sorry."

The more the boy cried the more Endeavour got annoyed. His endless apologies just didn't sit well with him. This boy so stubborn by nature. Willing to get up when he trips. Willing to learn the same word until he gets it right. Willing to stubbornly push himself on to the hero. It was hard to ignore him. No, it was impossible. That stubbornness. That fire was what piqued his curiosity to begin with. He wanted to see just how far this child's stubbornness would take him. Was this child giving up so easily because of a minor inconvenience really one and the same. "Stop apologising! It's pointless," Endeavour snapped with rage.

Izuku flinched at the voice. He heard the man get angry before but it rare that anger would be directed at him. Even in the rare occurrence that it did happen it never sounded this hash. No that isn't the write word. The hero sounded disappointed. Meekly he looked up at the man. A set of stern turquoise eyes meet his. They were burning into him.

Endeavour huffed at the eye connect and crossed his arms with deep frown. "Who says anything about you being useless. If I recall being a hero isn't the only job description in the world. If you can't be a hero, then be something else."

The thought was completely foreign to young Izuku. Be something else other than a hero. Ever since he could remember he was so hyper focused on become a hero just like Endeavour and eventually Touya. He never humoured the idea of becoming anything else. Can he be something else despite being quirkless? The idea was logical yet so outrageous to his little young mind. "Like what?"

"That's something you'll have to figure out on your own." Endeavour couldn't give the boy an answer. Finding ones true calling in life can't be handed to him. Like what he had to do at his age he will find a way. The child was still young after all. He had time to think and choose. But he will give him this once piece of advice he wished someone bestowed upon him when he was that young. "You said you wanted to be usefully. Then fine a profession that works with your strengths. Instead of focusing on what you can't do. Figure out what you can and perfect it. Refine your skills, learn more, until you are the best in your craft. That is how you can be useful."

Izuku tilted his head. "But I don't know how to do that," he admitted sadly.

Then Endeavour dropped to one knee and met the boy at eye level. He placed a hand on his curled and swiped some of them down. "Then I'll help you."

That spark in the boy's eyes returned. "You will?" He asked hopefully.

Endeavour puffed up his chest with a frown. Thinking the question was ridiculous. "Of course. I'm your father. It's a part of my duty to help guide you."

That spark grew more and more. Boldly he leaned closer to the hero never once loosen his grip on his Endeavour plushie. "You're still my father? You won't throw me away?"

At this point Endeavour wanted to laugh. What a silly question the child asked. It was all too amusing, but the hero manged to keep his professional personal. That didn't stop his face from unconsciously cracking a small smile. "Of course not, foolish child. Why would I ever do that?"

"Because I'm quirkless. Maybe that's why my parents threw me away. They knew. I'm useless without a quirk!"

Endeavour clicked his tongue and shoot back up to his feet. He looked down at Izuku. His shadow towered over him. "Quit this useless talk nonsense already. Need I remain you. You are a Todoroki. The son of the hero Endeavour. I'd be damned if any of my children grew up useless." He yelled with a roar. His stern eyes turned sly while his mouth grew smug. Perhaps small push can bring the Izuku he's grown fond of back. "Unless that's what you want? Do you want to give up just like that without even trying? Is that is, Izuku?"

"No of course not," Izuku yelled back. He jumped off his bed and stood tall. The protection of his blankets slipped away from his shoulders. He didn't need it to hide anymore. He even unconsciously dropped his beloved Endeavour plushie. The child didn't need to hang on to it for comfort. Not when the real one as staring right at him. The dullness of his eyes was gone. What was left behind were reignited flames of determination. Proudly, he stood up before his father and made his declaration: "I want to be useful. I will be useful. I'll prove I'm good enough to be called your son."

At this point, that small smile the hero had on his face grew into a wild grin. Excitement flared through him with ever confident word that came out of the child's mouth. Finally, the boy was looking more like himself again. "Now there's that fire. For second that I thought you lost it." He gave the boy a firm slap on the shoulder. It surprised him a little, but he recovered quickly. The child looked up at him with the brightest of smiles. This was the boy he knew. He was glad to have him back. "I look forward to see what you will become. Do not disappoint me."

"I won't. I'll just have to work twice as hard," Izuku swore while balling his hand into fists. He was looking like he was ready to take on any other obstacles that would stand in his way. The image was far too perfect for him.

"HA! Now you're talking like a Todoroki," Endeavour chuckled proudly. With this whole ordeal done Endeavour guided the boy out of the room he trapped himself in. They had to tip toe around the broken splinters of wood, but it was a relatively simple task. He just needed to make a mental note to fix Izuku's door eventually.

Once he was finally out of the room, Izuku couldn't stop smiling. The light shining on his skin also helped brighten his mood. He walked alongside his father with pride. Each step he took was a skip. Although, what his father said may not have been what he wanted to hear. Perhaps it's what he needed to hear.

AN: And so, Endeavour has done the one thing Inko was too much of a softy to say. 'No'. Before any of you fight me on this you can't deny it fit his character. Manga readers especially with what happened to Touya. Endeavour is a man that prides on strength there was no way he would allow Izuku to go into the hero industry quirkless. But the fact he cares changes things. If he didn't care he would have treated Izuku like Natsuo, and Fuyumi. Failures he pays little attention but will still give minimal care. Here he cares too much to ever dismiss him like that, so he offered the next best thing. Be something else. A similar thing happens in canon with All Might, but things are a little different. Endeavour is more than just an idol to Izuku. He's his farther. A man he truly cares and respects. He's also young. He hasn't had those several years of dreaming just for it all to get crushed by his idol. Sure, it hurts but he can recover. Especially when Endeavour says he will support him in any career path he chooses unlike All Might who make a couple of half-hearted suggestions and walks away. Endeavour can't and won't do that.

In other news someone volunteered to be a beta reader for this project. Hopefully, they can help me iron out my many errors. So, I'd like to thank MODdenial for donating their time for this. Hope I'm not causing you too much trouble. I'm not kidding when I say this will be long.

Funny-Little-Cute White Fox – Is a week soon enough?

Dreamer-Sara – yes and now it's partly over. All that's left is the aftermath.

A friendly dude – no I do not but I am curious about it. Still, I don't have the time to play or the equipment. I'm sticking to Guardian Tales. Also, I've caught up now and all I have to say is: THANK YOU SERA! Still have mix feelings on John. Boy needs a chill pill.

Intrasted dude – I was talking about your username. I assumed you meant 'interested dude' but if you want 'Interested dude' then I am at fault here.

Knightwalker405 – things are once again awkward for the Todoroki family. Great change is coming. As for Shouto and Bakugo I think I already said it to someone else, but they'll be frenemies. More so enemies. Shouto needs to keep the impression he's good friends with our explosion boy.

Persephone-Gaia - sounds like you jinxed yourself.

fencer29 – yeah but that useless comment is going to stick for a while. And I mean awhile. Questions on how Izuku really got here will be postpone of another plot point down the line.

Regulus Nemea – Sad to say neither of those things will happen. Endeavour didn't devoice her after she burned Shout. Also, Endeavour saying yes would be too out of character. Sorry Izuku.

Liziliza – wow I've really made a lot of you emotional last chapter. Don't worry Endeavour got this…for now.

Mr ChubbySnorlax619 – technically she already has lost it slightly. Also don't forget his siblings. They all love him in some shape and form. I won't say much on anything else.

Middernacht – if you're like this for that event makes me wonder about future events.

Alpha Therapy – I thought I made things clear that Rei is not completely sane anymore. Izuku's path as been mapped. I'll be throwing in a wild card to help him. Please don't hurt me when I introduce them.

NoahRed – today. I update weakly-ish.

TrisJacksonTodoroki15 – nope boy's quirkless and will remain quirkless for most of his young life.

Guest – wish granted. Although looking at the next event. Semi debatable.

TrisJacksonTodoroki15 – stick around to fine out.

Yinasuka – it's been an emotional roller coaster. And it's not over yet. Glad you're enjoying it thought.

Hope you guys enjoy this one. It's been in the works for a while and I'm kind of proud of it. Although the next event kind of…you know what you'll see.