Mendax Virtus
"An alarm is here! An alarm is here!" I opened blurry, weary eyes of a battered body that would never feel like my own.
Getting out of the bed with a destroyed lung and damaged stomach always proved difficult but as per usual I managed to force this broken corpse of a body up.
And once more I felt guilt. It wasn't something that could have been avoided but…
It put All Might's time, and mine on a very short timetable.
3:45 AM I had fifteen minutes to get ready and make it to the beach. Thankfully, that wasn't hard and I soon rolled to the parking lot that had once been a place for tourists who were headed to the beach to park and stopped the tiny truck.
Getting out I unwillingly let out a tiny yawn and headed over to the stairs that led to the waste dump of the beachhead itself.
"All Might!" A tiny boy called out to me and I allowed a brief smile to form before turning to face the child who addressed me.
"You made it. I wasn't sure if you would."
The boy nodded quickly, his tiny hands formed into equally tiny fists.
"Of course I did! Being a hero is the one thing I want to do with my life, above anything else!" His body shook with barely contained emotions and One-For-All felt warm within me.
I'd miss it. I'd miss the guidance and wisdom of the ancient quirk when it was time to let it go but… While I had it… I'd continue to treasure my time with it.
"So, if you want to be a hero… The UA Hero Course exams are in ten months. You proved that you had the right heart for being a hero when you rushed out and encountered that villain a second time so I won't question your heart, and that is the most important thing in being a hero." Izuku smiled weakly at me.
However, that smile faded as he noticed the deep frown from his new mentor.
"However, your body is far from ready when it comes to being a hero. Yes, you'll have to rely on your mind above all else, but if your body is this fragile how are you supposed to pull people to safety or climb into a position to scout out villains? Or how do you arrest them when they resist?" My voice was solemn and I looked at the pale-faced child as he realized what I was getting at.
His body was incredibly weak.
"I've put together a training plan to get your body into shape so you can be on a more even playing field with the other applicants. Eight months of brutal, push yourself to the limit training that were you to overdo it would set you back weeks. What's more, I won't be encouraging you to keep coming back during this training. If you want to be a hero, you're going to face adversity and struggles that feel almost impossible. I'm not going to try to dissuade you either though. If you can overcome the challenge I set in front of you, it's because you did it with your own two hands!" Midorya's face remained pale but he smiled at me weakly.
We'd have to work on that confidence too wouldn't we….
"If you can last the eight months of brutal training, we'll move onto phase two." Perhaps if he could manage this I'd have found a true successor.
Not just a boy with the potential to be one. But I needed to see his resolve before I'd even consider letting him know of the possibility. No… I'd let him focus on being a hero that had to be the underdog for now. If he could win as the 'loser'... Then he could be a truly great hero. Plus, ten months was only barely enough to not have him explode if he spent it all training his body. No… That was too dangerous even if I might have been inspired and tempted to do so. It'd be idiocy to go that far that quickly. Plus… It'd show him the true colors of his classmates. How would they respond to the quirkless hero Izuku Midorya? Would they br true or would they show themselves poorly?
"Sixty percent!" I suddenly spoke, startling the boy who looked like he'd jump out of his skin.
"Sixty… P-percent of what All Might sir…?
A calloused and worn hand gestured over the beach.
"That's how much of the beach you'll be cleaning up in eight months."
His eyes widened in horror.
"Is that too much for you? I told you the training was going to be tailored to your limits exactly. If you want to quit, this is the time."
Izuku shook his head.
"You told me that the world would try to kick me down a thousand times right? If I wanna be a hero I'll have to keep standing back up."
"You're right. Even those with amazing powers and quirks are kicked down from time to time, we all have to taste defeat sometimes. But when you're at the disadvantage it's going to happen far more frequently." I shook this broken corpse's head.
"So I'll go further! I'll be able to stand up no matter what!" Confidence burned in Midorya's voice for the first time and I felt hope.
"Start with the smaller trash and load it up in the bags in the bed of my truck. Once you get stronger you'll start carrying heavier and heavier things."
The next weeks were brutal and I had to continue to hope that my push-to-limits then brief rests wouldn't be too much for the boy.
Thankfully, it wasn't and as the eighth month rolled around, I slipped out of the truck again, looking directly at the boy who was slumped against the beach wall, panting tiredly.
He'd done it. Good.
Sitting next to him, knees bending up to chest, I spoke after laying a hand on his shoulder.
"Well done young Midorya. You're now at a peak of physical strength. This is about where your heroic classmates will be in terms of strength. But the odds are still stacked against you my boy." I'd intentionally kept myself distant during the training, so that his support structure wouldn't be changed because of me during this trial.
But now? With two months to go and the mission I'd laid before him completed?
Obviously he wasn't quite at a point One-For-All could be given to him. Two more months of this? Maybe. But it'd be at the very edge of what his body could handle.
And it'd risk breaking him.
No.
I wasn't going to risk him like that. Even with the upcoming challenges in front of us both. I'd announced that I'd be taking a break to prepare for a big announcement and so All Might's hero work was currently on hold but it was letting me rest and regain a bit of my strength.
Maybe I'd be able to get back up to three and a half hours with rest…
"I...Even after all this I'm not strong enough…? He sounded broken so a worn hand rested on his shoulder.
"Young Midorya, even if you get to the peak of human condition it isn't enough to completely close the gap between you and their advantage. So if your body isn't enough, and you have no quirk to get on equal footing, and yet I said you can be a hero, how can you even the odds and even surpass them? What are strengths that you have in abundance that are so great that even quirks can't tip the playing field against you anymore? I know of at least two, my boy. Think for a moment. Why would I not train you all this time and not the add the last two months to it?" Midorya looked up at me and his eyes widened.
"...My… Mind? Is that it?" I laughed quietly and the weathered hand on his shoulder gave him a small squeeze.
"That and your heart." He looked at me in wonder.
"You'll never be the same kind of hero I am, because you're you and I'm me. How you fight, how you rescue and how you present yourself will need to be you, not All Might. So where I might just jump in, you'll need to use your mind as you jump in. Plan on the spot! Use your entire body, use the terrain and environment! Use the aid of your fellow heroes! Use your cunning and wit instead of just throwing punches!"
My mind went back to a few months ago…
I had just finished training Izuku for the day and was driving back in my truck when I realized that despite my misgivings I'd have to contact him.
Reluctantly I dug the battered phone out of the drab olive green pants' cargo pocket.
I had just pulled into traffic as the man I had called picked up.
All Might… Is it really you?
He sounded surprised, and hurt. Not that I entirely blamed him. I had taken the path that would lead to death after all…
"Yeah. It's me. I'm glad we could speak to each other again."
Have you changed your mind about what I saw?
I let out a sigh.
"Not entirely. I've still got a lot to do. Despite my announcement of something big, and taking it a little easier to brace for the last act, at the end of the day we both know I'd just wither away if I couldn't help people. But.. I didn't call to argue about that point right now. If you still that strongly about things, I'll let you state your case fully and even work with you to try to reach a middle ground. I'm… Tired of this fighting between us. I handled it poorly and both of us got too upset to think clearly. So… I'd like to start over on that. Especially as you were right about a successor." The silence became oppressive as he tried to comprehend what I was saying.
You're actually serious. Sir, I have a the perfect prospect for you. If you're serious you should meet him.
"I plan on dropping by your agency in a couple months if that's alright. It'll be as Yagi, not All Might since I'm trying to keep what I've got for now… Until it's time anyway."
You're dropping by? That's perfectly fine.
"I'll meet with your 'LeMillion' and see what he's like. Considering your judgment I'm sure he'd be worthy. But the reason I'll be dropping by is so you can see a young prospective hero as well. I think he and your pupil are the two prospectives worthy of One-For-All."
You found one too? Nighteye's voice turned cold in his disappointment.
"Potentially. I haven't decided when or who yet. It's the biggest choice of my life and the one that's going to end…" I trailed off, and despite myself I felt a sharp spike of pain.
...Sorry, you're right of course. This isn't going to be easy on you and while I do wish you'd trust me fully on this since I don't think there could be a better choice I'll try to respect your needs and wants.
"...Thanks. Now the reason I'll bring him over is because I've been training him to be a hero for the past five and a half months with the most grueling program I could come up with. I wanted to see if he'd give up. I haven't even told him about the fact I'm considering him. He's also completely quirkless."
Nighteye's lack of an immediate reply spoke volumes.
You're considering a quirkless boy to be next? Have you lost your mind?
I chuckled.
"That's after I told him that the world was going to push him down again and again. He accepted that challenge. He's scared, emotionally unstable, and I suspect has had a hard life thanks to his quirklessness. But despite that, his passion to be a hero, even when he's the underdog and totally outclassed with impossible odds thrown against him he keeps getting up and trying to protect people. So… Even if I choose your candidate as the one to inherit… This boy… He's going to be a hero."
You've already decided. Nighteye sounded accusatory.
"No. I haven't. Am I leaning towards him? Yes, but it'd be unfair to make that choice without meeting young Togata."
I'm going to hold you to that.
"In exchange, I want you to give him a chance too. I'll bring young Midorya to the agency and while I speak with Lemillion, I want you to train and test him. Push him but be fair about it, or at least mostly fair. I don't mind if you make it hard, in fact I'd rather you did. He's at a major disadvantage without a quirk so he's going to have to be innovative to even the odds."
If you decide to choose Togata, what will it matter?
"Because he's a hero, quirk or no and if he ends up quirkless because I chose yours I'll still train him. If that happens, he'll be special as not a holder, but as the first quirkless hero."
...I can tell you care for him but the fact you're at least trying to give Mirio a chance means a lot.
Turning to bring the truck to a stop near the apartment I was renting, I let out a breath.
"And the same for me. It isn't fair for either to make judgements on the kids before we meet them right? They're not us."
Stepping out of the truck I headed upstairs to the small apartment three floors up.
I get it. Alright I'll give the brat a chance.
A soft laugh escaped my guard.
"Give him a week and he'll probably have your heart in his hand too."
Too…?
"...He really is that special." I left it at that, "I'll see you in a couple months, with the boy."
"All Might? Sir?" Midorya's voice brought me back to the present and I focused on him again.
Thanks to the setting sun, his hair cast faint shadows over his cheeks.
"Sorry my boy. I've just been thinking about this. I'm going to introduce you to a very remarkable hero to help hone your mind to new heights. Starting tomorrow, you'll be meeting with Nighteye."
Midorya's eyes widened again in amazement.
"Y-you asked Sir Nighteye to help me?! He's an amazing hero too! Do you think I could get his autograph?! Maybe ask him about his precognition? Or would that be too much…" Midorya started to mutter, causing another laugh to escape me.
He blushed furiously and the weathered hand I relied on fell on top of his head.
"Also… I think it's time I tell your mother."
Midorya's muttering stopped instantly and he looked worried.
"Why don't you give her a call and let her know that I am coming to speak to her?" I let the inflection weigh heavily on I.
He gave a serious nod before pausing.
"I uh… Don't actually bring my phone anywhere in case of it getting broken." I groaned quietly and that weathered hand patted his head again.
"Mom's not super rich so if it broke I'd be unable to replace it!" A hair ruffle was my first response before I spoke again.
"Well, we can't have that. Considering everything, I'll make you a deal. From now on, if you promise to take your phone with you everywhere and do everything reasonable to keep it safe, I'll buy you a new one if it gets broken. You should have a way to get in contact with people you trust just in case. You might be on the path to becoming a hero but you're still a boy." I said gently before pushing an aged and broken frame up.
Once standing a hand fished out the cell phone I'd used to call Nighteye and handed it to him.
Ten minutes later we were in the tiny blue truck I had borrowed for Izuku's training and we drove over to his apartment.
Not long after, he led me upstairs to his and his mother's apartment and after reaching the door I spoke.
"She needs to see both forms."
"A-are you sure sir?" I let out another brief chuckle.
"Yeah, especially since I'll normally show up like this."
He gave a serious nod before opening the door and letting his hero in. Once the door clicked shut behind me, I took a look around and saw a very confused Inko. I didn't speak to her immediately and instead took a second to take in their home.
It wasn't cluttered or messy, but it was… Homey for a lack of a better word, unless maybe lived in? The furniture was worn down by years of use, the television was far from new and the teapot on the dining room table suggested that Inko had hastily made a tea as a way to prepare for me.
I smiled at the woman using a dead man's lips while I ignored One-For-All's quiet protests.
Then, I let All Might emerge with a bold smile.
"Thank you for meeting me Mrs. Midorya!" There was really no way to make this easier and Izuku had explained on the phone but her gasp and near fall were so quick I barely had time to reach out and stabilize her.
"Careful. I'm going to switch back to my other form alright?" I said after she was steady and I let All Might fade again.
"You're… really teaching my son how to be a hero….?" She asked, her voice wavering.
Despite the wound in this emaciated and broken body aching horribly I responded.
"That's right. Despite your son lacking a quirk he has the potential to be a truly great hero. His spirit burns so brightly even I felt it. Your son helped reignite my own heart. That's how much of a hero he is. Now… All that remains is getting him to be known as one officially. Because being a hero isn't a card or a title that others give you. You're either a hero or you aren't. And this soft, gentle boy is very much a hero." I let the right hand fall on Izuku's head, smiling faintly as I did.
"Over the past eight months I've pushed him as hard as I can without letting him get hurt. This was to help him prepare to be a hero yes, but also to make sure he had the heart to keep going. I didn't let myself encourage him during that time since as a hero your son will face greater trials still. But now? I'm willing to invest everything I am into seeing him become the hero he's meant to be. I'll invest my time, effort and heart into helping him become a true hero." Coughing faintly blood splattered over aged lips and I mentally curse.
"All Might?!" They both cried out in horror.
I ignored the protests and attempted medical aid before continuing.
"Young Midorya knows the story behind that. But it doesn't matter right now." I pushed their protests to the side.
"At any rate, your son has the mind, heart and body to become a great hero. Perhaps one that will change how we look at heroes forever. He's an underdog, make no mistake but the purity of his spirit is far too great to ignore." I spoke warmly and let the hand on Izuku's head ruffle his hair again.
Inko pulled Izuku away from me and wrapped her arms around him, crying softly as she did.
To give them at least the illusion of privacy, I turned to face the door till they were done. It was such a long time that I could have sworn I had memorized the wood's lines…
Over the next half hour or so I outlined what I planned for Izuku and then, at the end of it, I let another smile form but it faded quickly.
"Young Midorya. I once asked you why you want to be a hero. But now, I have another serious question for you. What's the difference between villain, hero, victim, bystander, and civilian?"
No one could say I didn't ask the tough questions.
Midorya looked uncertain, his emerald eyes bouncing between me, his mother and the floor as I intently ignored the teapot to focus entirely on Izuku.
"I… I guess a hero is someone who saves people and beats back villains. A villain is someone who uses their power for self gain or to put others down… To hurt them…" A simple nod from his idol was enough for him to start continuing again.
"A bystander just watches while a villain hurts people, a victim is the one that a villian hurts." His shoulders shook thinking about the people being hurt and he gripped his pants legs with balled fists before his mother hugged him.
"Wouldn't bullies be villains too then?" I asked gently.
The two greenettes looked at me sharply. One with a mix of horror and worry, the other with an expression of begging me not to say anything.
"Are you suggesting…?" I let this withered head shake to Izuku's relief.
If he wasn't ready to talk about it, I understood. I had been training him, not mentoring him.
But he needed to know.
"It's important to think about what roughhousing and bullying is Young Midorya. Every hero needs to be pick up on abuse and discern the difference. That's why I pointed it out. What's more, abused and bullied people learn helplessness so even if they meet someone that can help them they might not accept it." The hand that had rested on Midorya's head earlier retook it's spot.
"So a hero has to be able to identify learned helplessness. In some situations, it means acting immediately, in others it means to let them know you're here for them, that they can rely on you." My voice softened as I focused on Izuku's eyes.
Izuku looked up through his curly hair, eyes shadowed by his bangs and the hand pressing down on his head.
"How often have you seen that?" His voice was hushed and Inko's face paled.
She now likely understood despite my earlier misdirection.
"Far too often, and the times I did nothing, mostly because I couldn't were the worst. Trust your instincts as a hero when it comes to abuse and bullying. They likely won't steer you wrong but you can miss cases. Learn from them when they happen."
I moved to focus on Inko again, letting a small smile form.
"If you'll let me I'd like to continue to aid your son, to move from a trainer to mentor role. To be someone he can rely on too as he becomes a hero."
She gave a robotic nod in amazement at what I had said, as if it hadn't fully sunk in. I let a brief chuckle pass before continuing by patting Izuku's head again.
"If you'll be there for my son… Then please… I'd be grateful. Thank you for seeing just how wonderful my baby really is."
The smile came unbidden as did the warmth deep from within One-For-All.
"I'll protect him with all that I am and help him become the greatest man he can be."
For he could become a hero far greater than I. Did I have reservations? Absolutely, but with the correct love and care, Izuku Midorya had the potential to outstrip everything All Might had been. To outstrip all that he had ever been.
If he had the love, care, support, and understanding. And despite my knowing better, I found myself somewhat attached to the green haired boy. I was in borrowed time in a life that should have never been mine.
One-For-All sent a tendril of emotion, as if it was miffed at me.
You know as well as I do I'm not worthy of your power. And Nana knows better than anyone just how true that is.
For those who have read my other works, this is likely one that feels very strange. This is intentional and I'm trying a new form of writing that's intentionally a bit more disconnected. Don't be surprised if time ebbs and flows differently in this fic. Don't be surprised if later we jump back to All Might's time, in fact, you should probably expect it once the bombshells start really dropping. Yes, I have surprises and I'm going to keep hinting at said surprises until either A: someone catches on and I confirm it in an AN or B: the bombshell drops and everyone goes "WHAT"... Or something. Assuming I keep this up. The fact that I have such a fun idea for a key character in MHA is really exciting even if MHA wasn't something I thought I'd ever write. But, the idea worked way too well with All Might/Toshinori.