A/N: A fourth person learns of OFA in this chapter...

...Because I literally cannot resist writing a fic centered on Izuku without bringing up the infamous "It's your power" line, now can I?

All jokes aside, I hope you enjoy.

"Good morning, Izuku," Tamon greeted warmly as the office door shut behind the boy. "Go on, take a seat. I'm very eager to get caught up today."

The teenager obeyed and sat on the couch opposite his desk, folding his hands in his lap.

"So!" Clapping his hands together, the therapist leaned back with a smile. "How have things been at home?"

"Things are getting better," Izuku replied. "I'm able to be around Tomura and my father more now without getting anxious. Tomura is… better, I guess."

"Good, good, that's excellent." Tamon nodded enthusiastically. "And how have you been?"

At this, the boy hesitated.

The soft, steady humming of the overhead lights and his own bones creaking filled the silence that followed in his voice's absence.

Finally, he admitted, "I'm… okay."

"Your self-image hasn't improved?"

"I… I don't think it has," he agreed with a soft sigh.

"That's too bad." The therapist frowned, resting his chin atop his interlaced fingers. "Well, time heals all wounds as they say. The you of today won't necessarily be the same you tomorrow. As long as you're working on coming to love yourself, that's enough."

Nodding silently, he tapped his toes against the tile for several long moments.

Even now, the secret weighed heavily on his mind.

Revealing Nana to his mother, Hisashi, and Tomura had been incredibly difficult, both for himself and the Vestiges. The others had gotten into a heated argument for quite a while afterwards, to his guilt - and he dreaded asking them for permission again.

It was worth it when Yagi-san got to see Nana again, wasn't it? His mind prodded. If you tell him, maybe it will relieve some of your anxiety.

No, absolutely not, a voice not unlike that of the stoic Second User's retorted almost immediately. One For All is not to be revealed to any not privy to that scourge and his boons. Remember what happened last time you attempted to open up?

He did remember. He still carried the emotional scars from Yuuei, scars that would likely never fully heal.

Yet his therapist's kind demeanor and encouraging words called out to him, tugging at his wary heart. He was everything Aizawa had never been - soft, kind, gentle - though his former teacher had had his moments of kindness to them, it was hidden beneath a gruff and uncaring facade.

Swallowing, he clenched his hands together. This secret is killing me.

Revealing it will kill you faster.

Will it?

Defiantly, he moved to speak. "Annei-san, may I ask… what is your policy on patient confidentiality?"

"Whatever you wish me not to report, I won't." He paused thoughtfully. "This, of course, doesn't cover things I'm mandated to report - abuse of any kind from a parent or another adult, for example."

Nodding thoughtfully, Izuku pondered for a moment more.

"Is there something weighing on your mind?" Tamon asked gently.

Taking a deep breath, he nodded. There was no going back.

"Annei-san…" swallowing, he continued, "How… how much do you know about my Quirk?"

Humming, the man tapped his pen against the desk. "I know enough. Your mother was very gracious to have given me as many details as she knew herself."

"So you don't know the whole story, then…" a breath escaped him then, something born of relief and hysterical irony. "Have you ever… judged a client? From what you knew?"

At this, Tamon blinked and leaned back. "What?"

"Say you had a client who had a horrible Quirk," Izuku explained. "It causes them nothing but misery, or it makes them act awfully, or… do illegal things. Have you ever judged a client based on that?"

Tamon's surprise bled into contemplation and concern.

Several long seconds of silence followed, seconds that ticked away anxiously for the boy.

"Well," he finally answered, "I cannot lie - there have been clients of mine that have had… concerning, shall we say, Quirks. But their situations are not worth derision. I have had truly nasty clients. I've had people cuss me out, tell me that I'm wrong, that I'm an idiot for taking them as clients, but… I cannot bring myself to despise them."

Heaving a sigh, he gave the boy a sad smile. "Life is very hard, Izuku. I'm sure you've already become well acquainted with that fact. It's hard for everyone, whether or not we realize it at first. I would be a hypocrite if I allowed personal biases to color how I treat my clients."

Nodding again, Izuku closed his eyes and leaned forward, covering his face with his hands.

"If you were to learn… the truth, about someone's Quirk…" he spoke slowly, deliberately, "... would you report it?"

"I'm sworn to secrecy."

Taking a breath, he finally blurted, "My Quirk isn't just a strength-based one."

The therapist straightened up, eyes wide, as he continued to speak. "Actually, it's a lot at once - strength is just the core aspect of it. My Quirk is… well, it's old. Centuries old. Anyone who carries it stockpiles their strength as well as that of their predecessors, as well as a piece of their soul. Since I manifested it, I've been able to tap into that power, as well as the Quirks of its previous users. I can see and hear them, too."

"You can… see them…?"

"It's like they're ghosts," he explained tensely. "But only I can see them and only in my mind. They're capable of possessing me if I give them permission… or if one of them gets so angry their will overrides my own."

Tamon took a very long moment to process, blinking blankly.

"Please don't tell anyone," Izuku begged. "I'm already taking a huge risk by telling someone else about this. If word got out about it…"

"I won't tell a soul," the older man's voice was quiet, yet firm. "I promise you, Izuku - your secret is safe."

Relief flooded into his body, and he had a hard time quelling the emotion manifesting itself as tears as he sagged against the back of the couch.

"But," the therapist speaking again made him freeze, "might I be able to ask… could I speak to one of them?"

"You… you want to talk to them?" The boy questioned warily.

"Just one, whomever you choose." Tamon tried to smile, but even now it was forced. "This is quite a lot to take in. I feel it would be easier if I could speak to one of the ghosts you see."

Izuku paused. Could he do that?

He could already picture the argument to be had if he told them - or worse, if they saw everything. Grimacing back into the couch, he nodded. Who to ask?

Ryuji and Kenzou were soundly out. Nana was kind enough that she would be a good pick, and so would Yoichi. Daigoro would be too boisterous for the small office, Yagi's shade was simply that: a shade, nothing but a shadow. And En…

As calm and poised as he often was, he really didn't think the vestige would take kindly to the situation at all.

So that left Nana and Yoichi.

Let me, a voice whispered, and a familiar feeling brushed along his consciousness. It was the soothing tones of the First, and all at once he felt a gentle prod at his mind.

Okay.

"Okay," he said, echoing his own thoughts. "Um… here goes."

Closing his eyes, he let out a drawn-out breath.

He could feel his body grow limp against his control, and as he sagged against the back of the couch he could hear the therapist make a noise of concern.

All too soon he was pushed out of his own head, and he felt himself draw back in the in-between, just barely in the fringes of the room.

Yoichi opened his eyes, and smiled kindly. "You wanted to speak to us?"

"Yes," Tamon answered, a little cautiously. "Am I correct in assuming you're one of the… 'ghosts' that Midoriya-kun can see?"

A warm chuckle rumbled through the young man's chest. "I suppose I could be called that. Really, though, I'm not a ghost, rather I'm a piece of a spirit lost to time."

"And can Midoriya-kun…?"

"He can presently hear and see everything, yes." Yoichi bowed his head slightly. "I was hoping that our secret wouldn't be revealed so soon, but, well, I'm afraid the boy needs support. A lot more than he's presently getting."

"Then we have common ground." The older man relaxed a bit and rested his chin atop his interlaced fingers. "I have had concerns about his support network at home. Would you say you're well-acquainted with his, er… parents?"

"You could say that, yes." The vestige shrugged loosely. "I have had personal ties to his father, and I have met his mother."

"And they're… welcoming of you?"

"They have to grant me a level of hospitality, I suppose. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon." Green eyes flashed. "I don't believe his mother bears any ill will towards us. It's his father I'm worried about."

"Is he… abusive?" Tamon's honey eyes seemed to harden minutely.

Memories flashed, unbidden, through the boy's mind. Yoichi hummed contemplatively. "Not presently so."

"Do you believe Midoriya-kun has ever been abused by him?"

"No." Yoichi shook his head. "I regret to admit it, but his father has changed as a person. I don't believe he would put his hands on Izuku unless in specific circumstances."

Tamon laughed mirthlessly. "I hope you know this doesn't make me feel any more relieved."

"I'm aware. I wish I could say more, but… this situation is already so delicate, and revealing more than I ought to will get us - and Izuku - in a lot of trouble." Yoichi managed a sympathetic smile. "Nothing illegal, mind you - this Quirk is quite powerful, and I would hate for a ne'er-do-well to take advantage of our host's age and status to attempt to take control."

Nodding, the therapist tapped his nails against the polished wood. "That's understandable. I would not ask you to explain more than you wish."

"You seem to be of a better heart than most civilians we've encountered," the vestige noted with another smile, pressing his hands together. "I must thank you for that. Given our host's last experiences, I cannot say I had much hope for a therapist beforehand."

"Therapy is still an underutilized part of society, I'm afraid. I'm just doing my part to better the future for people who need it."

"A noble dream indeed…" Yoichi murmured, mostly to himself. "Tell me, Annei-san, when did you decide this is what you wanted?"

Tamon paused, then, and a brief flash of pain went through his eyes.

A crying girl with uneven, choppy black hair went through his mind's eye, another pang of righteous anger at her disheveled appearance making him take a breath.

"Annei-kun," her voice trembled, making him clench his hands together. "I… I hate it here… why am I always the one they bully? What's… so wrong with me…?"

"...it was a good friend of mine," he finally answered once he was able to push the memory from his mind. "I see a lot of her in Midoriya-kun. I wasn't able to help her then… so I'm doing all I can to help who I can now."

Several long moments passed between them. The clock continued to softly tick from its spot on the wall, and Yoichi studied him with an intense gaze.

Finally, the vestige nodded slowly. "I see."

Straightening up his posture, Yoichi bowed his head. "Well. It feels as if we've discussed enough for now."

"Thank you for agreeing to speak with me," Tamon quietly replied. "I think I've got a clearer picture now."

"Please continue to treat our boy well. If you ever need to speak with us again, I will be here." The young man flashed him a smile before closing his eyes.

The boy's body went limp again, and after a second his fingers twitched. His whole body seemed to shiver, and as his eyes opened again Tamon could see a marked change in his whole demeanor.

Izuku blinked, before turning to look up at the adult.

Tamon smiled warmly back. "Welcome back, Izuku."

"It never gets any easier," the boy sighed mostly to himself, before folding his hands together. "So… now what?"

"Well," said the therapist, "What do you want?"

Izuku fidgeted with his hands for another moment. "You… aren't weirded out? Scared? Uh… anything?"

"Why would I be?" The adult laughed gently, waving a hand. "I've seen so many unconventional Quirks that nothing surprises me anymore. You're totally fine."

"But… I… there's… so much I can't tell you."

"Yet you've been nothing but honest, haven't you?"

Izuku closed his mouth in surprise.

"That's all I ask, is that you're honest with me." Tamon leaned forward on his elbows, a kind twinkle in his eyes. "It's not my place to judge, nor is it to treat you differently because of who you are and what you've been through. In fact, I think yours is a wonderful Quirk."

The boy sat there in silence as he continued to speak. "I still believe you can become a wonderful hero. Your dream is not reliant on your circumstances, but moreso by how hard you work to achieve it. Are you a fan of comics?"

"Sort of…" He scratched the back of his neck. "That's more Yoichi's thing."

"Well, there's a comic that I've loved since I was a child - it's called The Amazing Spider-Man. It takes you through the life of Peter Parker after he's bitten by a radioactive spider and given superpowers - or, in present terms, a Quirk ."

"Oh, I think I remember that one." Izuku nodded enthusiastically. "I think they labeled him a Mutant."

"And, on the opposite end of the spectrum, there was a comic around the same time period of a Quirkless billionaire who became a hero through his own wits and equipment. I think they called him… Batman?"

"I think I remember that too," the boy added. "We used to talk a lot about old comic book heroes in elementary school. The other kids used to laugh about the prospect of having a Quirkless hero."

"Well then, if a Quirkless man can become a hero everyone can rely on, why can't you?" Tamon asked mildly. "You remind me a lot of those old heroes, actually. I must admit, I've always been a fan of underdogs."

"Superman wasn't an underdog," Izuku pointed out.

"No, but he made sure to use his powers for good." Tamon chortled. "Would you say you share the same goals? To better the lives of the people with your Quirk?"

"Of course." It wasn't even a question.

"If people hundreds of years ago were writing about and inspiring people to give more good to the world, I'd say humanity isn't evil at its core. Greed, hatred, selfishness - those corrupt - but I don't think humans are born evil. What do you believe?"

"I think so too," he answered thoughtfully. "If Quirks can be used for good or evil, then the people using them have a choice to use them for good or evil. Villains aren't always irredeemable, but it would take a lot of care to reform even one."

"That's where you and I come in." Tamon placed a hand on his chest. "I've been a licensed therapist for nearly a decade - and while I've had my fair share of failures, I like to think the people I help treat leave my office better off than they were before. Sometimes all a person needs is someone to listen."

"Be that someone, Izuku. As hackneyed as it is, love truly does overcome apathy. If all it takes is to be there for one person, the world will become even a little better than it was before.

Izuku nodded, discreetly swiping at his watering eyes.

"You say your Quirk is a burden, but all I see is a gift." Honey eyes softened towards the teenager. "I want you to be a hero, Izuku. Not your Quirk - you. Only you have the power to decide your future."

"I… I've hardly ever… heard anyone say that to me before," the boy quietly admitted, a stray tear trickling down his cheek.

"Well, you deserve to hear it. And I want you to say it to yourself whenever you begin to doubt your own prowess. You can do it, Izuku. Not One For All. You."