Chapter 4

Matters of Blood

Izuku tightens the last strap and rolls his left shoulder to test his flexibility with this new equipment. Apparently, Power Loader's been eager to see this one tested. His shoulder is now equipped with a tight yet flexible black pauldron, armored with carbon microfiber mesh and a dense polymer, lightweight but bulletproof. The one weak point though is also the most critical part of the design: A pad in the front designed to safely inject genetic samples into the axillary vein for quick indirect access to his heart, hastening the activation of his quirk.

He takes in his reflection with this new prototype in place, through the cracked sideview mirror of a car abandoned on this ruined beach. It looks…

…like it just belongs there.

He barely notices Power Loader standing behind him in his reflection, a gentle grin across his face. He's seen that look so many times. The moment a kid gets the tool that makes them feel like they're really on track to being a hero. Something that feels like it's as much a part of them as their quirk is. He's seen it time and time again, and it never gets old. "Well, how about it? You gonna give this thing a try?" He holds up a belt with slots containing a few vials with samples for him to use.

Vlad King huffs off to the side. "Try it, but don't forget that any power that requires putting anything in your body isn't to be used lightly." He shrugs the shoulder his own blood-accessing gear is plugged into. "It can be pretty damn distracting, having something plugged into you like that long-term, especially right into a vessel. In my case, there's no risk if it's ripped out, since I control my blood well enough to not have to worry about losing it unless I lose consciousness. You aren't exactly leaving a vessel wide open, but your blood pressure and pulse are faster than most, so injecting when you're in danger and jostling the needle could leave you bleeding pretty badly." He drags a finger across his throat. "And a wound like that can spell disaster in a good number of fights, especially if your opponent has a quick that takes advantage of wounds and blood. There's some villains I've had to steer clear of because my blood quirk was more of a detriment than a boost."

Izuku nods. "Like when you had to withdraw from a fight with The Miasmaniac because he gave you blood poisoning when you withdrew the supply you weaponized."

He grumbles and looks away. "Damnit, I hate just recalling that fight. Gives me chills just thinking about how it felt accidentally pulling that slop back into me."

Power Loader shakes his head. "A wonderful point, but I think the kid's more than smart enough to get that." He pulls a sheet of paper from his left pocket. "This kid practically designed this device himself, already knew which vein to target and everything." He lowers the diagram and eyes up Izuku. "So come on kid, take the belt and show us what you've got."

Izuku's eyes lock onto the vials and the determination in his eyes is barely matched by his toothy grin. Power Loader is almost taken aback by that look. It's reminds him so much of young All Might, when he was just starting, but had all the same energy and enthusiasm. Maybe even more so.

And that comparison only grows soon after Izuku's locked the belt into place. He picks out a familiar sample, one he just knows he has to use first, in honor of who got him this far. The capsule is a striking blend of red, blue, and gold, with a gold M emblazoned on the front. A quick press on the top with his thumb activates and agitates the solution, and a thrust into the pad in his left shoulder injects it. He barely has time to brace himself for the results with the more efficient intake.

His organic suit bursts from his skin and envelops him near instantly, with only the shoulder pad and belt remaining outside it. His helmet seals into place last, and his blood boils. Plasma flows through the veins of the suit, bringing a prismatic shine where the suit's own arteries have developed.

Power Loader takes note of this plasma flow for his own next prototype.

Finally, the horns on his helmet grow taller, taking the distinct shape of All Might's iconic rising locks, as lightning sparks between them. The muscle mass of the suit bulks up, and he flexes his artificial muscles. They compact down and shine a bit less as steam pours from rips in the suit, but he's soon got it under control.

Vlad sits up to take a better look. "Well I'll be damned. Now you look like a real hero, kid!"

Izuku pauses for a moment, then without a word, he hefts two steel lockers over his shoulders. "Well, I best get used to working with this new gear on, right?" He takes off in a jog to drop off his payload, leaving the two professionals to discuss Izuku.

"Kid's got drive." Vlad hums. "And brains. Have yet to see skill, but that's what schooling's for. Seems promising though, if he can manage to get enough volunteer samples to work with."

Power Loader pulls out his phone and taps through a few menus. "Well, I've already got a few options down. Some people who wanna come here to see what the kid's got for themselves, since All Might was rambling about him for hours."

"Kid's got something if All Might's got that much energy over him, in his shape." Vlad crosses his arms. "I'm not the only one feelin like I'm lookin at the icon of the next generation, am I?"

"Far from it." Loader puts his phone away as Izuku returns and starts hefting a boiler towards the stairs. "Things are looking promising. I'm sure you've looked over the kids who got in on recommendation already. And the mock test students. Not to mention some prominent families getting their kids into the business now too."

"Speaking of, you see Tensei recently? He say anything about his brother comin our way?"

"Yeah, only comment he had for me was the kid takes professionalism a bit too seriously."

Vlad huffs. "Great, so another Night Eye."

"Eh, he'll loosen up."

"You kidding?" Vlad raises an eyebrow at Loader. "You forget because you're locked up in that lab all day. I swear heroes are more eccentric than the villains we fight half the time."

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All Might wanders through the sterile halls of Tartarus, hero form active, with Tsukauchi by his side. As he passes some rooms, cries of rage and indignation ring out, and he has to resist chuckling to himself as he recalls the villains attached to each voice, and how he personally put them here. At one point he swears he hears Toxic Chainsaw growling like he's trying to rev up.

But, soon, they come to a stop in a small indoor recreational area where some of the more mild-mannered detainees are gathered. Some of them back away the moment the door opens to show the Symbol of Peace, clearly wanting nothing to do with fighting the man who already beat them thoroughly enough to end up here.

One in particular doesn't move an inch, though. A man wearing a series of black bands on his arms and legs meant to suppress various kinds of quirks, with overgrown green hair and stubble. His smile is sharp and fanged, but inviting. He's been in a wonderful mood for weeks now, more compliant than ever according to the staff. "All Might! Wonderful to see you. Come right in, take a seat."

"I gladly would, Hisashi," He sighs. "but we need you in one of the more secure rooms for this discussion."

"That so? Well, alright." He pushes himself up and stretches his back, getting a few loud pops. "So, how's my boy doing?" He follows the pair out with a smile. "Also, good to see you again, Tsukauchi. Hope the beat's not been too tough on you lately."

Tsukauchi shrugs. "It's about the same as always. This case is more interesting, though."

All Might chuckles and shakes his head. "Interesting is an understatement. As for Izuku, he's doing wonderfully. The boy's flourishing right now, I'll have to see if I can get permission to bring you some footage next time." He opens the door to a small interrogation room and shuts the door behind them all. A series of heavy magnetic locks and the hissing of a hydraulic seal follow, and the room is completely soundproofed. "Your son is going to be a remarkable hero, Hisashi."

Hisashi grins ear to ear and leans across the table. "You already chose him, didn't you?"

All Might pauses and slowly peeks back over his shoulder. "… I have indeed. But if you already know about that, then…"

He sighs and sits back. "Yeah, yeah. I'm sure after seeing my son's quirk in action, you already suspect it. My old man's exactly who ya think he is."

Tsukauchi huffs and shakes his head. "To think that man would have a child and remotely raise them… and find a woman crazy enough."

"Oh, yeah, that's the kicker." He snaps his fingers and points. "I don't like talking about family much, but I've brought her up in these interviews before. I'm sure you guys don't have much evidence of her actually existing yet."

All Might takes his seat finally and drums his fingers on the table. "… Echydna. So she's really out there, and it was her quirk's influence that resulted in your Monster Mash quirk?"

He nods and slumps a bit. "And my quirk running amok in public the day you brought me in. Why else do ya think I'm happy in here? Spent my whole life running from the two of them. Moment she found me living a happy life without her, she just had to get back at me by making me public enemy numero uno."

Tsukauchi hunches over the table, fingers laced together and propping his head up. "I see… There's a been a few other prisoners reporting someone with a quirk causing those with monstrous heteromorphic and transformative quirks to lose control of themselves. But nobody's ever been able to prove it, so that was brushed under as falsified. But knowing one of your supposed parents most definitely exists…"

"Then suffice to say the other does too, and there's a good number of innocent prisoners scared shitless of someone nobody's ever been able to pin down."

All Might sighs and runs his fingers through his hair. "Well, this is a whole new headache, but certainly good to know. And explains your son's power quite well."

Hisashi nods, and his smile widens again. "So, that slime incident really convinced you he's worthy?"

After a few moments of silence, the room brightens with All Might's smile. "Hisashi, your son is the most worthy person I've ever met. He'll be the greatest hero the world has ever seen."

.

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Izuku finishes with his notes for the day and starts packing everything away to head home, as the usual rabble of classmates rings in his ears. Just as he's about to stand, Katsuki slams a hand on his desk. When Izuku looks up, Katuski's not looking back. His gaze is towards the door and into empty space. "Five minutes. Rooftop." He walks off without another word, leaving Izuku to question his old friend's motives. He's been quiet for weeks, light on berating him, and even setting off his usual explosions to shut others up when they start talking down about him. Ever since the slime incident, he's been almost completely different, and Izuku still can't figure it out.

Five minutes later, Izuku's waiting on the roof when Katsuki arrives alone. "Um… h-hey, Kacchan. Why the five minutes? I-It only took one to get up here…"

"I had to piss, why else?" He huffs and walks towards the ledge as Izuku facepalms. "… Your quirk… you said you almost died when you first used it. What happened?"

Izuku's stunned for a moment. He never expected Katsuki to be so curious about it. He walks over to the ledge and leans on it, peering out over the street. "… We were out shopping. It was just a bag snatcher, but he had one hell of a temper. He had no problems taking hostages for something as petty as that." He huffs. "He must have been desperate. He was about to stab mom with his scorpion tail, and… I just jumped in the way. It was a curved hit, and his stinger popped back out on my side instead of staying in me. So I thankfully got the minimal amount of poison, and my quirk's blood focus helped burn what I did get poisoned with away. He… He slapped my mom with that tail after. I've never been so mad, before or since."

Katsuki growls. "If I ever meet the bastard who slapped auntie Inko I swear to god I'm gonna blow them the fuck up."

"For once, I agree." He sighs. "… Moments later, I got my first Suit Up. I got his tail and everything, and I got a lucky shot in while he was looking the other way and confused. That stalled him long enough for some heroes to show up, and get me to the hospital before my suit wore off and the hole he punched in me opened back up."

Katsuki grumbles and closes his eyes. "… So you just need samples to copy to make that quirk work?"

"U-Um…" He pauses as he considers All Might's theory. Will he be able to use a suit without samples once he gets One for All? "W-Well, um… I'm training a lot right now and I think eventually I might be able to bring out a basic suit with some extra defensive and shock-absorbent properties without a sample, but that's about all."

"Still something, though. Well…" He shocked his hands deep in his pockets and starts wandering towards the stairwell. "Just don't slack and make an ass of yourself. If you're still gonna do this shit, do it right. And when you're ready…" He glares over his shoulder, but it's a softer glare than usual. "I'll be there to destroy you and prove you're still nothing compared to me."

As Katsuki disappears down the stairs, Izuku slowly smiles and finds himself… determined. Of course Kacchan would keep looking down on him, but he sees him as an actual threat now instead of a joke or a target. He still insists he'll be the best, and that'll never change, but Izuku's almost giddy at the thought of being recognized as a potential hero. Finally, even Katsuki doesn't see him as Deku. He's someone now, and he'll be someone huge someday.

He rushes to the stairs and calls down. "I'll be there! The moment I'm ready, let's spar and show exactly what we're made of!"

Katsuki was only one flight down, still in view and now side-eying Izuku from below. After a few moments, he leans sideways, blasts towards the floor, and vaults up to land on the railing beside Deku and hunch over him with wild eyes and a rabid grin. "All you'll be showing me is how to become a stain in my path! Now get back to your fucking training!" He jumps back to where he'd been and continues his descent, grumbling incoherently.

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A.N.: Well, how's that for a cast expansion? I really love working with power sets in worlds and coming up with crazy shit that's within reason. End result: The Midoriya lineage on display here. You guys like how I named Hisashi's quirk?

As for how Suit Up will evolve, well, I have plenty of ideas, and every one of them is inspired by henshin hero tropes and mechanics across the ages, so there's plenty to work with. And I hope you all love reading it as much as I love writing it!

So for now, comment, favorite, spread it around, throw me up on some recommendation threads, and if ya wanna help me do this more frequently, hit up my P8treon, linked in my youtube channel of the same username! I'm starting playthroughs for Celeste and Diablo III on there soon, and Bloodstained is just about done!