The wounds he had sustained while fighting Gran Torino still stung. How could an old man hit that hard? Even dad could have learned a thing or two from him. But Dabi didn't have time to sit still despite what Kurogiri said. He barged into Toga's room in the new hideout without knocking. Toga was lying on her bed looking unusually worn-out and staring at her phone.
"Wassup, Dabi?" Toga said without taking her eyes off the phone-screen.
"Is it true?" Dabi said.
"Yeah. Black ain't your color."
"Look at me when I'm talking to you!" Dabi shouted and tore the phone off Toga's hand. Then he fell silent and stared at the screen.
"… is that a butt?"
"Yeah. Ain't Izuku-Izuku's bubble-butt cute? We traded pics. Izuku-Izuku likes butts."
Dabi tossed the phone on the bed and wiped his hand in his pants.
"Toga. I heard about Nighteye's… vision."
Toga perked up and flashed him her usual grin.
"Awesome ain't it?"
"… awesome?"
"Yeah. It will make Izuku-Izuku such a great hero."
Dabi was silent for a moment.
"Oh God. You're actually crazy." He finally said.
"Naw. I'm in love. I'll sacrifice everything for love and in return Izuku-Izuku has to keep me as his number one. Forever. Sweet plan, right?"
"You're crazy… and stupid if you think I'll let you do this."
"Ya'll stop me?" Toga said and laughed: "Ya couldn't even stop yer daddy. What chances do ya have with me?"
Toga's words were sharper than her knives.
"Don't you regret it? Even a bit?" Dabi asked.
Suddenly Toga stood in front of him a knife in hand.
"I never regret. That's yer job. I don't need lectures from ya."
Dabi backed away and left Toga alone. He walked into the bathroom and washed his face. Looking in the mirror had been more and more painful as the years passed until he saw father staring back at him from every reflection. At least he didn't have to worry about that anymore, but… he was still Daisuke Todoroki. The weakling. And now history was repeating itself. Stain had used him like father had and now Toga was going to… It was mom all over again.
No!
He wasn't running away this time. He'd failed mom and Shouto. He wouldn't fail Toga. He wouldn't let that Midoriya bastard destroy what was left of his family like dad had. He'd find a way even if Toga ended up hating him.
Dabi's phone started ringing and Kurogiri's number flashed on the screen.
"What?" Dabi said.
"Mr. Dabi. Master wishes to speak with you." Kurogiri said.
Dabi hung up and headed to All for One's office. When he got in, All for One was playing his guitar. How could someone make something so innocuous look sinister?
"What do you want?" Dabi said.
"Do I need a reason to talk with you? Maybe I just enjoy your company." All for One said.
"I'm not in the mood, old man." Dabi said.
"And here I thought we got rid of all the assholes with Stain. How are you holding up by the way?" All for One said.
"Worse by the second." Dabi said.
"Should I tell you a story? Would that make you feel better?"
"Good bye." Dabi said and got ready to leave.
"One more step and I'll kill you, boy."
Time stopped. Even dad hadn't made him feel so small and scared. He turned to face All for One again and could swear that the old monster could see him even without his eyes. Dabi forced his voice to stay even.
"… yes. I'd love to hear a story."
A deceptive smile returned to All for One's lips.
"Good. Kurogiri went to such lengths to dig this one out. About seventeen years ago a man who could breathe fire and a lady with weak telekinesis met in an office party. Both had had enough to drink that they thought boning in the filing cabinet was a good idea. You follow me so far?"
"Yes. It's just… is there a point to this?"
"We'll see. Well the… what I'm forced to assume was very disappointing sex had some unfortunate consequences. Before the baby bump started showing there was a shotgun wedding. Now both the man and woman were cattle with weak Quirks, but the kid… Oh boy. When fire-breathing and weak telekinesis came together, the result was some mighty strong pyrokinesis."
Green fire started dancing in All for One's hands.
"This bad boy rivals even your daddy's Hellfire. Naturally I had to have it. Luckily, I have some doctors on my payroll. One of them tipped me off and some mind-fuckery later there was one more Quirkless kid in the world."
Dabi looked at the green fire and then at All for One. His smile made Dabi's stomach turn.
"The family… what happened to them?" Dabi said.
All for One smiled like a shark.
"The dad didn't like it that his kid was a retard and bailed. The mom was made of sterner stuff and stuck around. As for the boy… well, use your imagination. This is not a nice place to be Quirkless."
The green fire disappeared.
"It would amuse me endlessly if you could murder Izuku Midoriya with this Quirk. I can give it to you."
Dabi swallowed.
"The Noumu… have more than one Quirk." Dabi said.
"Clever boy. This might turn you into a Noumu, but it can also make you stronger than ever before. Even stronger than Endeavor. So, the question is do you have the balls?"
Dabi stood still and thought it over. Stronger than dad? He'd failed mom and Shouto. He wouldn't fail Toga.
"Do your worst, old man."
"Gladly." All for One said and cut his hand with a small knife. Blood started dripping on the desk: "Drink this."
"… huh?"
"You have to ingest some of my DNA. Normally I'd pull out a hair, but… you know. Don't have any."
After some hesitation Dabi kneeled and let All for One's blood drip into his mouth. It tasted of iron and salt.
"How do you feel?" All for One said.
"No different." Dabi said.
"It will pass. Try not to hate me when the pain starts."
"What?"
Then the pain started. His muscles were convulsing like they were trying to tear themselves off his bones. Someone was pouring molten steel into his eyes and it started to fill his head. He couldn't even scream. Somewhere far away All for One was laughing.
"How about now? Kurogiri. Take him to one of the cells. Keep him there and wait if he becomes a Noumu. Or something better."
Black mist swallowed him, and he fell into a white cell. Through the bars he could see Noumu in the other cells. They were staring at him with blank eyes. They were welcoming their new brother.
No!
He wouldn't fail again. He thought what would happen if he did. Toga dead and Midoriya hailed as a hero. He thought about mom and the day dad's abuse became too much for her. He'd been too slow, and the scalding hot water had… Shouto. He had screamed. His baby brother had screamed. He could still hear it. Never again! It would not happen again! Ever! He'd endure. He'd come out of this stronger.
I'm coming for you Izuku Midoriya, Dabi thought.
Izuku laid in his bed and tried to sleep. He'd been trying to sleep for days. If he could only sleep, he would wake up and find that this had all been a nightmare. Himiko wasn't a villain. She hadn't attacked Todoroki and Bakugou. She would still be here.
"Himiko… Toga…"
Toga was gone. He was alone.
Aizawa-sensei had told him to take as much time off as he needed. He was exempted from the end of term exams. Not as a punishment but as a chance to get better. U.A could wait.
His phone started humming to let him know that a message had arrived. Asui, Shinsou and Tokoyami had been bombing him with messages for days. Kouichi and Mr. Oguro too. He couldn't muster the strength to answer any of them. He was so tired. He'd rather be Deku again than feel like this. Even Bakugou had been kinder to him than Toga.
"Rough day, huh?"
One for All was sitting on his desk and his hard face had softened into something that could be mistaken for sympathy.
"… go away." Izuku said.
"You shouldn't be alone. And you shouldn't be so hard on yourself. You were thinking with your dick. It can happen to the best of us."
"… don't."
One for All got up and even though it was just an illusion his leg brace squeaked when he placed weight on his bad leg.
"I was wrong about you, young successor. I think we can understand each other now. We've both been betrayed by someone we loved."
Izuku buried his face in his hands.
"… please. Just… take it back. I don't want it anymore. I… don't want anything."
"No. Not when you have finally become something usable."
Somewhere far away Izuku could hear All Might and Nana calling his name. One for All just smiled.
"Quiet. Both of you. You had your chance. Look where that got him."
"… what do you want?" Izuku asked.
"Same as you. Revenge. And we know you'll get it. Sir Nighteye is never wrong. Until that girl is dead you are unstoppable. You could even kill my brother."
"… your brother's dead."
"You're a fool if you think that. Plus, it's the only thing that will make you feel better."
Better? He'd do anything to feel better. Go any distance. Face any foe. Just to make it end. Pain like this shouldn't be allowed to exist. He couldn't take much more.
"… what do I have to do?"
"For starters, get your ass into gear and go to school." One for All said.
It wasn't easy, but Izuku managed to get up and put on his uniform. Mom turned pale when she saw him. He could do this. He'd lied to mom for years that everything was okay. No matter how bad the bullying got he'd managed to fool mom. He could do it again.
"Izuku?" Mom said.
"I'm… going back to school."
"… are you sure? You can take more time."
It hurt. It hurt more than anything but Izuku managed to smile.
"… I can't mope around all day. The dorms will be a good… change."
Mom hugged him.
"If it gets too much come home. If you need anything just ask it." Mom said.
"… thanks, mom."
After stepping out Izuku had to sit down and rest on the stairs. That had taken more than he'd expected. He was so tired. Why couldn't he sleep? Just one night of sleep.
"Get going." One for All said.
He didn't remember how he got to school. He didn't even remember what he said to the woman at the reception, but he got it right enough to get a key to his new room. After everything that happened the school had decided to move the students into dorms for their own safety.
A near empty room with just bare necessities was welcomed. Everything in his old room reminded him of his old life. And his old life reminded him of Toga. Had she been secretly laughing at him all that time? Mocking him? Looking down on him? What had that monster gotten out of it?
There was a knock on the door.
"Crazy kid?" Shinsou said: "I know you're there. Open up."
Shinsou waited for a moment and then knocked again.
"Come on, crazy kid. We're your friends. Let us help. Don't shut us out." Shinsou said and then started banging at the door: "Izuku! Open the goddamn door!"
"Shinsou." Tokoyami said: "He… needs more time."
"Izuku?" Asui said: "We… we'll be here when you need us. We'll bring Todoroki next time as well."
Then they were gone, and the blessed silence returned.
"You have good friends. They'll make good recruits." One for All said.
"… recruits?"
"That's why we're here. To build an army and we'll start with Todoroki."
"… he doesn't want to see me. Not after what… Toga did."
"You give him too little credit. Nothing unites people like a common enemy and he might be the only person who hates Toga more than you."
Hate? Did he hate Toga? He did. Right? He had to. Anything else would be… insane. Izuku laid in his new bed and tried not to think about Toga. Why couldn't he sleep? He looked at his watch. Half past eight. He just had to work out and he'd be able to fall asleep. That was it. He headed to the empty school gym. Thank God, he had it all to himself. He started hitting the closest punching bag and tried to imagine it was Toga's face. If he went on long enough the exhaustion should over-power the pain.
"… Izuku?"
Asui… Tsu was standing at the gym door looking worried. He had to look like death warmed over. He couldn't remember the last time he had slept. Or even when he had last showered. Tsu approached him slowly like he was a small animal that would run at the sight of any sudden movements.
"… I wanted to know if you were hungry and you weren't in your room. It's… good to see you out." Tsu said.
Izuku tried to think of something to say but nothing came.
"We were worried about you How… are you holding up?" Tsu said and then laughed nervously: "That has to be a stupid question. Is there anything… I can do for you?"
Had Tsu always been this cute? How hadn't he noticed sooner? Because Toga. He hadn't noticed anything because of her. Maybe it was as simple as that. Just… starting over. Everyone had… bad relationships. People learned from them and… avoided making old mistakes. Tsu wanted to be a hero. Right? She wouldn't…
Izuku took hold of Tsu's hand and pulled her closer wishing he'd showered first. Tsu didn't pull away and met him half-way. She even kissed him first. Her mouth wasn't sweet like Toga's but salty. It felt different. Thank God. Anything different was good. Anything that helped him forget was welcome.
They fell on the tatami.
Tsu put her hand under his shirt and Izuku followed suit. All the swimming had made her sinewy and Izuku could feel the faint outline of an eight pack on her stomach.
Please don't let this end, Izuku thought.
If it went on forever he didn't have to think about anything else. Not about Toga. Not how much thinking about her hurt. If Toga saw them now, would it hurt her? Would she feel betrayed? He hoped so.
"… Himiko."
Tsu pushed him off immediately and… the look on her face broke Izuku's heart all over again. She ran but not fast enough for Izuku to miss the tears in her eyes. Izuku stumbled on his feet and wiped tears out of his own eyes. He leaned on the punching bag for support and hit it. Then he hit it again. Harder. Before he realized it, he had activated One for All and his fist went through the bag. Sand blew all over the gym.
"… I'm sorry, Tsu. I'm so sorry." Izuku said and started crying.
It was close to midnight when he finished cleaning the sand. He'd never been so tired but when he finally got back to his room he could only stare at the ceiling and count the seconds until the sun came up. He'd finally reached the point where he wasn't fully awake but neither asleep. When he was able to concentrate he realized he wasn't in his room anymore but in class. Aizawa-sensei marked him present without asking. When he looked around everyone turned away. Tsu looked… miserable. Shinsou and Tokoyami didn't know what to do and Todoroki… pretended he wasn't there.
"She'll get over it. Just don't blurt out the wrong name next time. Women hate that." One for All said.
Izuku tried his best to follow the lecture but he couldn't make out a word Aizawa-sensei was saying. Was he even speaking Japanese? Had he taken over English lessons from Present Mic? Everyone else could follow him just fine. What was he doing wrong?
Then he realized that he was no longer in the classroom. Somehow, he had found his way to the hallway and someone was calling his name. Bakugou was standing in front of him and blocking his way. He was saying something. No. He was yelling something.
"Deku! Don't you fucking ignore me!" Bakugou shouted.
Was he going to burn his notes again? Telling him he was never going to U.A? Telling him to kill himself? What… had happened to his eye? When had they gotten new uniforms? Another student with red-hair he didn't know was trying to pull Bakugou away. Who was he? No one told Bakugou no.
"You going to let this little shit talk to you like that?" A strange man with long hair and scraggy beard said.
Izuku tried to push Bakugou away… and sent him flying. When had he become so strong? Bakugou was even more surprised then him. The red-haired student looked at him shocked and all Izuku could do was offer him a confused smile. His guess was as good as Izuku's. He had to be alone. He needed time to think. Bakugou or the red-haired student didn't try to stop him from leaving.
Izuku locked himself in the first bathroom he saw and tried to breathe. So tired. If he could only sleep.
A phone started ringing. The name on the screen said it was mom. Could mom come and pick him up? He didn't feel so good. Was he coming down with something?
"… mom?"
It wasn't mom and suddenly Izuku was fully awake.
"I'm not your mom, Midoriya."
A cold hand stabbed through Izuku's stomach and pulled out his guts.
"… who is this?"
"We haven't been formally introduced, have we? I'm Dabi from the League of Villains. Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Izuku Midoriya. Want to guess where I'm calling from?"
"… what have you done to mom?"
"She's safe. If you want to keep it that way, this is what you'll do. Make an excuse to leave school and get your ass home. If I even suspect you told anyone, well… Guess. Call me back when you've left the school."
Izuku stumbled back into the classroom where Aizawa-sensei was preparing for the next lecture.
"Leaving already?" Aizawa-sensei said.
"… sick." Izuku muttered.
Aizawa-sensei just nodded and let him go without another word. One for All appeared next to him smiling like a shark.
"So, they've declared war. I trust you know what to do this time. Not repeating the mistake, you made with Tomura?"
Izuku bared his teeth.
"…no."
When he got out of school Izuku activated One for All and started running.
Toshinori had gone through any lead he could find and pushed his powers and time limit to the extremes to do it. The pain in his gut was almost unbearable but he had to fight through it. Sooner he found Toga the faster Izuku and Inko could regain some peace of mind. The quicker he'd be able to return to them. There had to be a clue that would take him to Toga. He just had to find it.
His phone started ringing and showed a private number.
"Hello?" Toshinori said.
"Wassup, All Might? It's yer girl Toga."
Toshinori stopped.
"… how did you get my number?"
"The same way I got yer blood. Listen, I ain't got much time. Ya gotta help Izuku-Izuku. Dabi is cooking up something. Don't know what, but it can't be good. Gotta go."
"Toga! Wait!"
Toshinori gnashed his teeth when the call was cut. First, he tried to call Inko but got no reply. Then he dialed Aizawa's number as fast as he could.
"I'm in the middle of class." Aizawa said annoyed.
"Is Izuku there?"
The worry in Aizawa's voice said it all.
"What's happened?" Aizawa said.
"Find him and send reinforcements to his house. I'm heading there now." Toshinori said.
Aizawa was a professional and didn't waste time with questions or good-byes. He just cut the call and got to it. Toshinori leaped from roof to roof and took the fastest route to Inko's house. He wouldn't be too late this time. He wouldn't fail today like he had failed Nana.
"I'm here." Izuku said to his phone when he got to his house.
"Good boy. Come up." Dabi said.
Where the hell were all the pro-heroes that were supposed to be watching their home? Had Dabi…?
What would Izuku do if he had pyrokinesis? And when his opponent had super strength? Close combat was off the table. Giving the enemy even a chance to retaliate was suicidal. So… the smartest thing to do would be just blast him with fire the moment he stepped through the door.
Izuku stood in front of his home… and made up his mind. He knocked. He waited for a moment and when he was sure he heard the floor boards creak he activated One for All and threw himself at the door. The door was torn off the hinges and he heard a surprised gasp. Flames hit him, but the door shielded him from the worst of the heat. Using the door as battering-ram Izuku drove Dabi into a wall. And then through it.
Before Dabi had time to get up and fight back Izuku ran into the living room. He didn't smell any burned flesh, so mom had to still be…
Mom was laying on the couch bound and gagged but otherwise unharmed. Izuku lifted her up and jumped back-first through the closest window. When the breaking glass tore his back open and left a deep cut in his cheek he saw the living room burst into flame. Green fire peppered with black. Why… did it look so familiar?
The fall should have left him paralyzed but with One for All the impact just made his feet numb. Green and black fire obliterated the living room wall and Dabi stepped out of the fire like a demon from hell. He jumped down nimbly like an acrobat and used the balcony railings to slow down his fall. Ring of green fire surrounded Izuku and trapped him and mom with Dabi. He tried to extinguish them with an open palm strike like he had with Todoroki but Dabi's flames were stronger than Todoroki's. Much stronger.
"You can't run from me, you goddamn psycho." Dabi said.
Izuku stood between Dabi and mom.
"… did Toga send you?"
Dabi just snorted.
"That crazy bitch is ecstatic that you're the one who'll kill her. So, I guess I'll just have to kill you first." Dabi said and then looked at mom: "But first… your mom can leave. I don't have a beef with her."
A small path opened amongst the flames.
"I'm doing this as a courtesy. I have a mother too. But if you try to run, I'll fry the both of you." Dabi said.
Years of bullying had taught Izuku to recognize liars who acted nice just to back-stab him later. Dabi seemed to be sincere. Izuku tore off the bindings from mom's legs. She was shaking her head and pleading with her eyes. Forget about me. Run. Save yourself.
Izuku tried to smile like All Might did. Reassuringly. Then he pushed mom out of harms way. The path closed again and Izuku turned to face Dabi. The green fire rose, and the heat became unbearable. The air was hot enough to singe his throat and make his skin crack. Any second his hair would catch fire.
"Don't fight it. It will be over soon." Dabi said.
Izuku smiled. Being a smug dick had to run in the family. Did Dabi really believe he was just going to roll over and die? After facing Todoroki, he had wondered what the best way was to deal with fire-users. The solution he had come up with was savage but effective. He scooped up some concrete and crushed it in his hands into pebbles. Then he threw it. When the throw was powered up by One for All the pebbles turned into shotgun shrapnel. He nailed Dabi in the leg.
Dabi howled like a wild animal whose paw was caught in a bear-trap.
All Quirks needed concentration to work and pain was poison for concentration. The green flames subsided, and a path opened before Izuku. He could hear One for All laughing.
"Good! Excellent! Kill him. Show everyone what happens when they mess with you."
There was still some fight left in Dabi and he managed to throw a punch. Next to Kouichi or Gran Torino, Dabi might as well have been moving under water. Izuku caught Dabi fist and squeezed. He could crush it so easily. Make him scream and beg. The bastard had broken into his house, threatened his mother and tried to kill him. Then he'd burned his home down! He'd scream. He'd beg. And then he would die.
"Izuku."
Mom was standing on the darkened pavement and… Izuku could see his own reflection in her eyes. The same monster that lived in Endeavor and Bakugou had come out and now it was trying to swallow him.
"Don't do this, Izuku. Don't do this to yourself." Mom said.
"Do it! Don't you dare back-down now, you coward! Kill him!" One for All screamed.
Izuku glanced at Dabi and didn't see a villain. Just a scarred, desperate man driven half-mad by God knew whatever abuse Endeavor had piled up on him. Was he worthy of forgiveness? Maybe. Maybe not. But he did deserve pity. And he didn't deserve what One for All had in store for him. When One for All tried to take over his body, Izuku pushed him away. He was so weak. Just some old-man who had lived too long and hated too much. All that fire and fury in him could no longer hide how weak he was. Izuku should have noticed it sooner.
Izuku let go of Dabi's hand and opened his clenched fist.
"… mom. You should call the cops… and an ambulance."
It didn't take long for him to hear the sirens. He held vigil over Dabi and was ready to smack him back down until the cops took him away. He was so tired, but he couldn't sleep until they pulled all the glass out of his back and stitched up the wounds on his cheek and back. Then came the questions from Tsukauchi. It was torture, but he answered them the best he could. Finally, they showed him to a hospital bed and told him to sleep.
If he could only sleep.
"Izuku." Mom said from his bedside.
When had she gotten there? Had she always been there, and he hadn't noticed?
"Can you stay awake for a moment? There is something you should hear." Mom said.
Izuku nodded.
"I know how you feel. A little bit at least. When you were… diagnosed Quirkless and your father left… it broke me. I realized I had married a stranger. I… had to send you to live with your grandmother for a while so… I could rest. Put myself back together."
Mom held his hand.
"Izuku… don't let it destroy you. I love you. Don't bottle it up. Just… let it all out. I'm here for you."
Tears welled in his eyes.
"… it hurts, mom. It hurts so bad. I… I don't know what to do." Izuku said and then he couldn't speak though the tears.
Mom hugged him.
"I know, honey. I know. It will hurt, and you'll feel terrible. Worse than ever. It's okay. Let it hurt. When the worst has passed, you can start feeling better."
Izuku wiped his eyes and nodded.
"… I think I could sleep now."
"I'll be here when you wake up."
Izuku smiled. Then he slept.
