guide:
"Normal"
"Spoken in foreign language"(in this case English)
'Thoughts'
Flashbacks
Chapter 4- A Choice
"W-When did I-..." Izuku couldn't finish his sentence before Merlin spoke up again. "We found that on you when we encountered you before."
"We've met before?"
Merlin nodded
"Then..why don't I remember?"
"We had to do what we thought was best for you. To protect you and those around you." Her answer didn't satisfy him.
"W-What d-do you m-mean?" His question sounded desperate. His worry was kicking in, and the fact that he was not in the right mental state wasn't helping ease his overthinking mind.
Merlin sighed and gazed down on the floor. Her eyes were filed with an emotion he couldn't read. She looked back at Izuku and serious expression was on her face.
'He deserves to know' she thought to herself before finally speaking. She felt heavy, a feeling of guilt creeped it's way into her heart as she knew too well that her next words will be the ones to change this boy's fate if that hadn't already been decided. She took a deep breath and chose her next words carefully
"The man who was searching for you, who attacked you, he wasn't wrong about your power."
...
"W-What?"
"The power you possessed was overwhelming and it was too dangerous for a child to utilize, especially in the state of mind you were in back then. It was all too much for you. I was the one who decided to take your power away and to erase your memories of that day."
Izuku was silent. He didn't know what to say, what to believe after what had been revealed. He had a quirk? One that was too dangerous for him to have? What?
"What are you saying? It's impossible to take away a quirk! I was born quirkless! It's not making any sense. Merlin-san...w-what exactly is your quirk?" The boy said, various emotions erupting from deep within his heart. Frustration and confusion being the most prominent.
His eyes were shaky and he grit his teeth at the frustration he was feeling. Frustration at what? At all that has happened to him? At potentially being lied to and tricked? Or at hoping for something he always wanted only to be denied again by the cruel world?
"4 years ago, your power awoke when you were attacked by the same man who was after you yesterday causing an earthquake that shook the city. When we arrived there, we had to knock you out before you completely lost control. That power didn't belong in this world but you did and you could wield it just long enough for you to eliminate your attacker. That power is that of a demon prince in the possession of a boy no older than ten. Since then, we've been watching you."Merlin flinched but did her best to hide it as for the boy not to notice. "Last night however, we lost track of you and you vanished for a few minutes. That's when we rushed to you...but we were too late." There were some details she left out believing it'd be better if he found out in a later time.
Izuku was shocked by this revelation. His power , the power of a demon prince as she called it, caused an earthquake 4 years ago. 4 years ago...around the same time when his best friend had been killed by one. Could it be that...he was the one who was responsible for her death? Why was he even believing this woman's words so openly? Maybe because her words were so sincere.
"Izuku..." She stepped closer to him grabbing his shoulders making him pause his thoughts."I truly apologize for the years of hardship you had to endure. I should have watched over you better. Allow me to atone for my mistake by letting us help you. I wish to give you the chance to be the person you were meant to be. A hero."
...
She wanted to help him? Him? Someone who no one believed in. Someone who no longer believed in himself?
...
He wanted to say yes. To finally grab the opportunity he had been waiting for all his life, so why couldn't he? Why couldn't he say yes?
'You're just a useless Deku!' Oh, that's right. If this power of his was too dangerous, then can he of all people be truly the one destined to have it? What has he ever done to prove himself worthy of being a hero. He was just a failure, a hopeless and pitiful child whose mother paid the price for. Not even a powerful quirk could change that.
Moments passed and Izuku finally answered in a gravelly voice full of sadness.
"Merlin-s-san, I-I can't do it...I'm just a failure, even if I have that power, you took it because it was too dangerous, right? What if I can't control it? What if I just end up just hurting those around me like you said. 'This is the smarter choice. You can't be a hero, be realistic.' "A h-hero is someone who can protect everyone, and I... I couldn't protect anything! I don't even know if what your saying is true at all."
He was letting it all out for what was like the third time in just a few hours.
"I want to...I want to believe what you say but I just don't know." His eyes were shut, and he placed a a hand over his heart. Years of being put down and the events of yesterday were finally showing their results. Self-doubt was always something he had and right now, it was the strongest he had ever felt it be, bringing him to his knees as his thoughts all concluded to one thing, 'You can't do it.'
The white void they were once surrounded in dispersed and they were back at the table. Izuku, however, didn't notice the change of scenery, too busy with his internal conflict to even notice that there were now 6 other people behind him, 5 if you don't count the pig.
"If that is what you are worried about then you have nothing to fear." The voice of Gowther called out form behind him.
"I know losing someone you love is hard, believe me. It's like losing a part of yourself, losing your path. I know how it feels to be powerless to stop the worst from happening, the pain, the regret, the heartbreak, but I've been able to overcome those with the help of friends." He said, a reminiscent smile never leaving his lips. " And I know you can too."
"Oi, kid." The blonde man, Lancelot was next to speak. "It's natural to lose things, that's what life does. It takes more than it gives. But you know what? No matter how many times the world takes from you, you got no other choice but to keep living. You've always got something left to protect."
"Sorry I'm not really good with Japanese like I said but...I think you are a boy with a good heart. All you need is the right help. We can help you regain and control your power as we did with me." Gawain let his voice be known.
These people, they really want to help him don't they? His tears were pricking at his eyes again. A warm feeling bloomed in his chest, something he hadn't felt in a long time.
"I think it's too early for me to be siding with you, but since we're all giving words of encouragement...I think you need to stop with the waterworks there, a hero doesn't cry." The floating boy with the orange hotdog pillow said.
"Oh don't be like that." Scolded the other girl. "I think heroes cry too, just not that much, but if all of you guys think he can do it then, I don't have a reason to deny. Plus it'd be fun to have someone new around here." She said cheerfully.
Izuku took in the words of these people. Their words were genuine, they wished to help him. For what reason? He does not know. After hearing them, the words he had awaited to hear for so long, how can he say no? Maybe it was desperation taking over him that made him do what he did next.
He turned back to Merlin. The woman was standing right in front of him, her left arm outstretched to him.
"What do you say, Izuku?"
He took her hand.
"Hai!" He managed to say in between his sobs.
This was it. This was his chance to become a hero. To save the dream he had failed to protect. At the very least, he could have that. Was he a fool for trusting these people by just their words? Maybe. Besides, where else could he go? He has no family left. His home was a permanently ruined by his emotional trauma. His dream is unreachable if he continues to chase it all alone.
The woman smiled a warm smile before hugging the boy surprising everyone especially said boy. His face was a bit red from embarrassment, not used to acts of affection but didn't deny it. He reciprocated the embrace of the scarred woman
"Welcome to our family. You are now officially a member of The Seven Deadly Sins. Dragon's Sin of Wrath, Izuku Midoriya."
'That has a ring to it.'
~End of chapter~
