Mendax Virtus

"All Might, do you think that I can be a hero even though I don't have a quirk?"

What had led me to this moment? Standing on a roof with a small child. What had led me to this point? Someone that was arguably even far less than even the innocent young teen? A failure of a man, burdened by his sins of the past, his hubris, and arrogance alike.

Turning to look into his eyes, I saw his tears, his expression was so fragile, as if one tiny hand could crush his entire being. And I knew that whatever I said could make or break the boy.

Because to him, I was the number one hero. He had no idea of the truth of course; no one did.

All I could do was continue to stand up as All Might, to give people hope while looking for someone truly worthy.

Worthy of the true legacy of All Might. Worthy of One For All.

"Young Midorya," I spoke quietly, my words barely carrying over the faint wind, "Why do you want to be a hero?"

As I spoke, the broken shell I inhabited slid down the fence, taking a seat across from him.

"I want to help people, to make people smile like you do! To be there and let them know everything is okay." Tears started rolling down his cheeks and I felt my own emotions well up within me.

What an honest answer. Pure and kind-

But the boy wasn't done.

"So that no one has to be hurt again! So I can keep them safe!"

"That's a lofty goal young man." Looking over the city, I spoke again.

"Most heroes don't feel the same way anymore. It's all marketing, something to be consumed and to entertain people. Can you keep your heart even when people look at you as entertainment?"

"...How people look at me…" Midorya's voice shook and I looked at him again as he continued to cry softly.

"It's not all sunshine and rainbows being a hero, young Midorya. Do you have the heart to keep going even when no one else believes in you? When the world tells you 'no', when heroes tell you 'no'? Would you give up your dreams because I told you 'no'?"

Midorya shook, his tiny fists rising in front of him as tears continued to roll down his face.

"Because if anyone can shake your faith, then the answer is no, you can't be a hero." Pushing this broken body off the ground, I directed it to grab the railing and stood.

"Without a quirk the world's going to try to beat you down. And when you get back up again, it'll beat you down again a thousand more times," I looked at his scorched uniform, "You know that already don't you?"

Meekly, he nodded as his head dropped to focus on the floor beneath his feet, still sobbing quietly. I waited for several moments before continuing.

"But…" Midorya's head snapped up, "If a quirkless nobody has the strength of character to keep getting back up, no matter how many times he's pushed down, no matter who tells him he can't, no matter when reason and logic says he can't… If he's willing to push himself to the absolute limits and go beyond it. To train his mind and body and go plus ultra… Then maybe… Just maybe… That quirkless nobody would be able to be a hero. That boy would have to be smart. He'd have to know the difference between when to sacrifice and when to preserve himself. He'd have to know when to let his body rest to recover so he could get up again. He'd have to work a million times harder than everyone else, but maybe… That boy could become a hero. He may not be known as the best. He may not even be recognized outside of the fact that he's a hero, but that boy would have done something impossible." Turning to him, I pulled this body's lips upwards in a faint smile.

"I wonder if you're the one to finally do it. Do you think you can?" I asked him before heading for the door.

"All Might!" He shouted as I turned the handle, causing me to turn.

Tears were still on his cheeks but he looked at me with a resolution I had hoped to see.

"I'll do it! Just watch me!"

The smile formed unbidden and the ghost of what had once been rose within.

"If you really want to do that, then meet me at the Dagobah beach tomorrow morning at Four A.M." If he really meant it then perhaps…

And tomorrow was a Saturday so he wouldn't interfere with the boy's schooling. Midorya nodded quickly.

"I will!"

Thus the hands of fate had been changed once more.

Just a little Drabble that I may or may not have more logged in the back for. My hand had to be sliced open so instead of working on Mark of Man for now, I figured I'd get a recovery fic. One that Has it's own big surprises. Assuming people actually like this little thing.