23/01/2022

Thank you to everyone who reviewed! You are the greatest! AFO couldn't have just taken more blood to change back to his 'healed' from last time. The instant he went back to normal, regeneration took care of the cut. He could have bitten his tongue or something like that but when you are genuinely choking, rational thought isn't really front of mind.

Sorry for delay, unavoidable personal issue.

The Emperor's Dragon
Fledgling 41

"How did this happen?"

Garaki was used to loaded questions from All For One but when his son asked, it was somehow worse. Izuku was almost inhumanly calm. In one way that was good, it was keeping Gigantomachia in check. In another it was bad.

Sensei was quick to rage, but also quick to settle. That Izuku was calm probably meant he would hold on to his rage. It would stew and brew and erupt when it was least expected. It also meant that when something happened which truly made him see red, he would most likely act swiftly, and with a level of brutality most would never conceive of. Kyudai hoped he never saw it.

The teen was currently looking up at the tank he had All For One in.

Kurogiri had found Sensei, collapsed on the floor and had immediately warped him here. He'd connected oxygen and injected a swath of drugs. Monitors were stuck to his skin and there was a face mask and his trachea tube attached. Kyudai had put Sensei in a harness in the tank so there were straps under his arms holding him steady in the nutrient liquid.

"I believe he experimented with a new quirk," the Doctor told the teen.

He really hoped that Izuku couldn't see his friend's quirk in the mix that belonged to his Father. That would lead to some awkward questions. He was confident that they could keep Izuku calm by telling him that they had just copied the quirk rather than taken it from the girl but… He would be angry that he had not been allowed to contact her.

It was a risk he had to take because, while he could claim that All For One had had a relapse, he was sure Izuku would want to know why. Going with the truth was the best option.

"What do the sensors say?" Izuku asked after a moment.

Garaki was thankful that Izuku didn't ask about the quirk but he was't so naive to believe that it had been forgotten. At least this question was simple to answer. While Sensei usually had oxygen feed to him he was not completely reliant on it. That was the saving grace here. He could survive for a short period of time without the oxygen and it appeared that Kurogiri had found him in time.

"Brain activity is stable," the Doctor reported. "Blood oxygen level is good, as are blood sugars. He will wake up," he reassured the teen.

Izuku gave him a look. It said without words that it needed to be quick.

"Izuku, this is unexpected but he will recover. Your father is very strong."

"He is still weakened," Izuku countered.

Garaki sighed audibly. "He is," he agreed because there was no point in even attempting to argue that fact. "But he will recover from this. It is a setback but it is only temporary."

Izuku said nothing. He just looked up at his father. Kyudai could see the way he was clenching his teeth. He was no doubt remembering the last time he'd seen Sensei like this.

"Tell me about the quirk," Izuku demanded.

"I don't know what one it was," Kyudai said. He hoped that would be the only lie he'd have to tell. Thankfully Izuku didn't know his tells the way Sensei did. "Yakuni has collected several for your father, and they have proven to be quite useful. But some have not behaved as expected."

"He's looking for something to heal him?"

Garaki nodded. He saw the way Izuku closed his eyes as he thought.

"I'm staying here today," the teen announced.

"You are welcome to," Kyudai indicated and they stood in silence for a few moments, just looking up at the tube.

Sensei would heal. This time.

Garaki only hoped there would not be a next time.

-ted-

The instant he saw his hand, All For One knew where he was. He shouldn't be able to see his hand. Everything was white around him. He sighed. He knew what happened now.

All For One turned. He watched the mist but he still missed when his brother appeared from it.

"Brother." There was no feeling with the greeting.

"We could just pretend we did it this time," All For One offered, remembering the last time this had happened.

That actually broke the pattern. His brother laughed. It was genuinely happy. How long had it been since he'd heard his brother laugh happily? The sound didn't echo here, instead it streamed away but he was still… He wasn't sure what he felt at hearing it.

"I think we might be able to do that," Yoichi agreed. "My nephew has made a difference," he added.

All For One looked at his brother sharply. He wasn't expecting that answer. He was expecting to hear 'You could be everything they want'.

"Izuku is-" he wasn't sure what to say about his son.

"A blessing?" Yoichi offered the words.

'A blessing," he agreed. "He is dedicated in a way you were not," he said, ignoring the implications of the sentence. He wanted his brother to stand with him. He'd wanted that so badly but- He knew what had happened.

All For One watched as Yoichi shook his head. He didn't like the smile that graced Yoichi's features. "Are you sure?" he asked softly.

"What do you mean?" All For One demanded.

Yoichi smiled at him again. "I mean, are you sure?" he asked. "You've told Izuku what you want but have you ever asked him what he wants?"

The question hung between them. There were implications there. Implications All For One did not like. "He is dedicated," he repeated.

Yoichi looked up at the sky, except there was no sky here. It was simply white. He chuckled. "In the way I was not," he repeated. It was a mockery. "I was very dedicated."

"To the wrong thing," All For One retorted.

"That depends on your point of view, brother," Yoichi replied sagely. "This isn't about us now though, is it?" He asked, sighing before All For One could reply..

He wanted to argue but knew he shouldn't. This was time with his brother and they weren't fighting. Not really. Discussion, even if arguing in that discussion was not a true fight. That was to be appreciated.

"Izuku is dedicated," he said again. He had seen it in the way his son trained. He had seen it in the ideas his son put forward. Izuku would stand with him when he changed the world.

"You have told Izuku what you want, what you expect," Yoichi told him. "But has he ever had a choice?"

"There is always a choice." It felt odd for him to be the one saying that.

Yoichi seemed to appreciate that as well and chuckled. "You've carefully educated him. You've controlled what he learned and when. You controlled everything he knows. So is there really a choice?"

"You are saying I want control," All For One said, referencing their previous conversations.

"In this case, are you sure it's a good thing?" Yoichi understood his reference. He shook his head slightly. "Society is defined by control but relationships aren't," he varied the dialogue.

All For One was silent. Yoichi's words struck him in a place he didn't want to admit existed. He had- No. He was sure of Izuku. He knew his son. His son would not betray him. He was dedicated.

Yoichi laughed. It was again the fully amused and happy laugh. "I've never seen you at a loss for words, brother. It appears my nephew has changed things but I wonder now if you will let that be for the best… or not."

All For One jerked his head at his brother but there was no one standing there. He was again alone in the white nothingness.

He trembled and then took several deep breaths, drawing air into lungs through his nose in a way he could not do in reality. He reached up and ran one hand through his hair, appreciating the sensation.

Was his brother right? Did he control Izuku? He had, of course, controlled Izuku's education but that was simply what a good parent did. He had picked his son's schools so that he would experience the truth of the world, not the sugar coated fantasy most believed. What was wrong with that?

And besides, he didn't want control over Izuku. Not really. He wanted his son to stand at his side because it was his choi-

All For One snorted. It was a single bark of self deprecating laughter and before he could think of anything further, the white world faded and for a while, he knew nothing more.

-ted-

Wakefulness came, as always, all at once for All For One. The sound was wrong. He immediately recognised that. Where usually he woke to the sound of oxygen hissing, now, he could hear bubbling, and there was pressure against him. He was floating.

All For One forced himself to remain relaxed. He could feel a mask on his face, and there was something under each shoulder, holding him steady. His skin felt tight at a variety of points on his body. He activated his sight quirk. He was in one of Garaki's tanks. The good thing about radar vision was that he didn't have to move his head to see around him.

The Doctor was in his chair where he assumed the front of the tube was. Near him was Izuku and Gigantomachia was standing behind his son.

What had happened?

All For One cast his mind back and he took in other sensations. His limbs felt strangely heavy but it was the heaviness of old exhaustion that was now rested. He had been in his room, preparing to rest and he had…

His memories returned. He had tried Izuku's friend's quirk. It had gone well but…

He was exhausted after using it, though he wasn't sure exactly why. He would have to try it at least once more to find out though perhaps, it would be within a slightly more controlled environment. If all he could do was change shape then the quirk had only limited usefulness but it would still have some utility, though it would be disappointing that he couldn't use quirks.

Maybe if the girl's quirk was Awakened?

That was something he would have to think about but not yet.

It was difficult to sigh in the nutrient fluid and with the continuous pump of the air but he managed it as he moved one hand forward to tap on the glass of the tank wall. He cocked his head slightly as if to ask when they would let him out.

Izuku immediately jumped up. He couldn't see an expression but he knew his son was happy. Garaki moved and tapped a series of commands. The liquid bubbled more and he could feel it flowing past him as it drained out. The pressure on his arm pits intensified before it disappeared when the straps were released. His feet touched the bottom of the tube and the liquid drained away completely before there was a hiss as the seals were released.

As the tank had been draining, Gigantomachia had moved away but he was back now, and as the tank opened, he held out something. A towel, he realised, when he accepted it. It was cool and he quickly dried. A robe was provided next and he put it on. The instant it was tied in place, Izuku wrapped his arms around him, hugging tight.

"Don't do that," he whispered.

"I am fine, my Little Dragon," All For One reassured his son.

"What happened?" Izuku demanded as soon as he knew he was okay.

All For One moved to sit in his usual position. He could see the way Gigantomachia was listening. His bodyguard wanted to know what had happened as well. Several options for explanation ran through his mind but he decided there was no point in a fabrication this time. Maybe a small one if it was needed.

"I tried a new quirk," he told his son.

He saw Izuku nod thoughtfully. "That's what the Doctor said. But a quirk shouldn't do that," Izuku added.

"The quirk was to change my appearance," All For One explained. "While baring a further development, I am healed. The amount of scarring is detrimental to several activities, and this quirk was to give me the appearance of full health."

"Did it… work?" Izuku asked.

"Only partially," he replied. "My appearance was altered but I could not use any of my quirks," he explained. "And when it wore off, it was overly exhausting. I was not expecting that reaction," he added. "Which is why I collapsed."

Garaki gave him a look. Izuku didn't notice.

His Little Dragon looked thoughtful. "I can still use other quirks when I have changed my hair colour, but I guess you were using something more complicated, and so it has a restriction."

"I can usually combine quirks," All For One said. "Therefore it came as a surprise. I believe because the quirk I was using could not handle the extra energy of the other quirks."

"Is the quirk illusionary or an actual change?" Izuku asked.

"Actual change, my Little Dragon."

"Oh! Like Himiko's!"

"Very like your little friend's quirk," he agreed. "But because the quirk holds the new appearance, the quirk can't handle the extra throughput of energy required to use other quirks. Most quirks couldn't since they do not interact with other quirks."

Izuku nodded thoughtfully at that. "Would an illusionary one be better?"

"It would, My Little Dragon, but this one became available first," he explained.

Izuku looked down. "I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry for?"

"I know it's not your fault. It's All Might's but I know I've been uncomfortable around you," Izuku admitted.

It was probably true, but given that All For One could not see his son, he hadn't noticed that much. He felt inexplicably annoyed and upset. He should have experienced that reaction from his son. All Might… it was a familiar thought and easily pushed to accompany the others that the hero owed him for.

"My Little Dragon, I have been uncomfortable around me," All For One joked slightly. He was pleased that Izuku hadn't asked about how he got the quirk. He rather thought Izuku was aware that he sometimes gained quirks from those who did not wish to give them up, but was not quite ready to confront that truth, so he was simply overlooking it.

At least, that is what he hoped. He didn't want to push at the moment.

Izuku came forward and leaned over to hug him again.

All For One lifted one hand and patted his son's shoulder.

"Don't do it again?" Izuku whispered.

He lifted his hand higher to ruffle Izuku's hair. "I'll try," he promised. He would do no such thing, but Izuku needed to hear that, and it was the easiest answer.

Izuku sighed. It was one of relief and relaxation and while All For One knew his son was still worried, he was reassured that he was calm.

That was enough for now.

-ted-

AFO knows it's all about what he doesn't say when he's talking about quirks. :D

And as for Yoichi… well, you can decide if AFO is talking to his brother, or an imaginary version of him, or his conscience in a form that he understands, or someone with an odd quirk connecting to him when he's unconscious or... well whatever you want really! I'll eventually get around to saying what it is. The discussion though solidified something AFO had been thinking and now it's gonna bug him.

My discord is on this code: ZX2R5h2cEm FFN will remove links but you should be able to figure that out.

-ted-

Loved it? Hated it? Found a spelling mistake? Let me know please!