A/N Ah, I hope this turned out ok. I don't really like the ending, but I'd probably never post this if I waited for one I did like.

I started out with it being more light-hearted and then I lost that.


Things really started for Izuku when he got One for All. It was the first real hint towards his not-so-real quirklessness.

"Did anything more than gaining immense strength happen to you when you got One for All?"

"No, nothing. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, I was just curious how the experience went for you."

"Well, let me tell you about it, my boy!"

It was like having an extra sense. He didn't quite know what it was, but he could kind of tell where people were. He could tell what someone's quirk was at a glance. It wasn't noticeable at first, the entrance exam being what it was, but as he walked home, he could tell that this new sense wouldn't go away.

"Have you heard of a quirk that can take quirks?"

"Y-young Midoriya? Why do you ask?"

"Well, if One for All is a quirk that can be passed down, a quirk that can be given, then there could be a quirk that takes as well, right?"

"I wasn't sure if I should talk about it, since the man is dead now… Let me tell you about One for All and All for One."

He had ignored the urge to pull. If it were anything like the rest of the quirk, it'd just break him to use anyway. He didn't know what would happen, but if it meant saving a trip to Recovery Girl, he'd just wait to find out. It was a moment of desperation, a mindless need to do anything to save, during the attack at USJ.

"Did they find anything out about the monster, that 'Noumu'?"

"That's classified, kid."

Shock Absorption. Isn't that what that villain said the 'Noumu' had? Thinking back on it, after he had pulled, and All Might started his onslaught, it sure didn't seem to have that. Or was that simply a result of All Might's power? It even showed to have some form of regeneration, so was the villain just being misleading on the nature of its quirk or quirks?

"Wow, Midoriya! You don't even look like you've taken any hits."

"It must be because of all the training I've been doing!"

It wasn't until after the adrenaline high went down that Izuku noticed something within him. It wasn't until later that he realized what he had pulled was actually Shock Absorption, and he was now subconsciously using it.

"I won't use his power. I will win without it."

"It's your power, isn't it!?"

Having thought he was quirkless all his life, seeing Todoroki-kun not even trying to use his full quirk just didn't sit right with Izuku. He understood Todoroki-kun's reasoning, but he had to understand there were better ways to spite the man, right? Though, the saying did resonate with Izuku a bit. That quirk was his power, wasn't it? Surely he could find a way to use it to help?

"…. Quirkless cases in the area have been steadily on the rise…"

"… where have their quirks gone? Is it a disease or…?"

He didn't make a habit of pulling quirks, really. If he just happened to come across a crime and stepped in to help, well, who would know he took the criminal's quirk too? As long as he wore a mask and hoodie and didn't speak much, no one should be able to identify him.

"…new vigilante in the area…."

"…vigilante may be related to quirkless cases…"

Ok, maybe a connection was being made, but not to Izuku. Just between the sudden quirklessness to what is, apparently, now his vigilante self. He didn't even want to be a vigilante! Or would they start calling him a villain? He had learned by now that he didn't need to physically touch to pull.

"As someone invested in protecting the peace… I can thank you."

An unexpected development: he could actually pinpoint quirks familiar to him if they were in range. It's part of how he found Iida-kun so quickly. He had seen the reports of where Stain made most of his attacks, but being able to feel where his classmate was really helpful. It also helped to know that Todoroki-kun was on his way. Izuku was only just now figuring out how to use One for All completely effectively, so having the backup and knowing it was actually coming let him not be too reckless.

"Everyone in Class A and Class B! In the name of Pro Hero Eraserhead, you have permission to engage in combat!"

He felt them before he saw them. He just wishes he could have gotten out a warning, maybe it wouldn't have gone as bad as it did. Heck, he wishes he could have used that quirk of his. He was able to use it to help locate his friends, especially Kacchan, but he couldn't concentrate enough to take anything without suspicion. And he regrets it. So much potential to help and he messed it all up anyway.

"Next, it's your turn."

Izuku and a few of his classmates had gone to find Kacchan. When they got there, he knew that Kacchan wasn't there. However, he could feel all the Noumu there. And wasn't that just scary? Then, another appeared, and while there were also many quirks in this being, Izuku could tell something was different. Then the building exploded, and, oh my gosh, is this All for One!? Then even more people appeared, and this time, Kacchan was with them. Izuku's glad they could save him, despite everything against them.

"So, I'm now meant to fight that big bad guy from Kamino, All for One. Or, well, his successor, apparently."

"What the fuck."

"Yeah…. Not just that, but when I got One for All, I learned that I might not have been quirkless after all? And like, I have a quirk similar to All for One? And I accidentally became a vigilante when I stopped a crime once, and I took the guy's quirk and kept it, and then I kept doing it and people started calling me a vigilante and- "

"What. The. Fuck. "

Ok, so he told Kacchan. About everything. Maybe it wasn't the smartest choice, but who else did he have to tell? And after the fight at Kamino… Izuku needed to tell someone. He couldn't be a 'vigilante' anymore! All for One is terrifying! He needed to know if he was in the right… He still wants to be a hero. And Kacchan is the only one who's known him all his life, the only one he's comfortable discussing this with, especially now that they have started to clear the air between them.

"Ohmygosh-ohmygosh-ohmygosh- "

"Yeah, yeah, I know my quirk is fucking amazing. Now give it back, nerd."

"But Kacchan! It's one thing to see a quirk up close. It's a whole different thing to use it myself . It's not like you've told me much, anyway. Like, I guessed that you were just creating sparks in your palms that ignited the nitroglycerin, but now I know , and this is just so amazing and I really want to keep testing with it and updating my notes and-"

"You have about two seconds to give it back before I- "

Kacchan wanted to test it out. Of course, he framed it as Izuku finally knowing what "an actually strong quirk" was like. Izuku hadn't tried giving a quirk before, but he didn't think of that until after he had already taken Kacchan's quirk. It's a good thing he didn't tell the boy, and that he could, in fact, give the quirk back. What Kacchan didn't know couldn't hurt him.

"Oi, Deku. I've been thinking, and… When's the last time you saw your old man, or even heard from the bastard?"

"Don't call him that… I don't know, it's been, what, five or six years? It was really sudden, I think, too. Which is weird, since the only major thing I can think of that happened then was- Oh ."

"Yeah, that's what I thought. What do you want to do now, nerd?"

"I- I don't- Let's- Let's just leave it be for now. I'm still trying to come to terms with the quirk thing, and I really don't want to be taken to Tartarus just because my dad is a supervillain…"

It's a wonder Izuku hadn't made the connection already. Though, since he wasn't really surprised, maybe he already knew by now and had simply ignored it. What could he do with the information, anyway? Tell someone? Ha. He's had enough experience with adults to know they couldn't really be trusted. Kacchan was still the only one who knew everything, and Izuku wanted it to stay that way for the foreseeable future.

"I- I can't use my quirk!"

"Me neither! What's going on!?"

" Due to an emergency, the exam is being put on hold for the moment. Please remain where you are until a member of the staff comes to you. "

"Oh no ."

There was an incident at the Provisional Exams. Izuku hadn't meant to do that. It was just, that girl's quirk seemed familiar and brought back some very bad memories. Izuku couldn't quite remember where he had felt that quirk before, but the chills it gave him told him this person needed to be stopped. He had tried to grab her quirk, but in his panic seemed to grab many quirks, at a distance, inconveniently missing the one quirk he had actually wanted. At least he learned more about his quirk and quirks in general, though it's getting much harder to cover up.

"Nerd, you probably should tell someone other than me."

"I can't do that! All Might would never look at me the same! Anyone else would only see that monster in me!"

"If they can't see past that quirk then they weren't worth anything to begin with! Deku, I didn't pass. It pisses me off, but I will catch up to you. But right now, I won't be there to help you cover this up anymore. You need someone."

"Kacchan, no. I have more control now that I know more about it. I'm not going to accidentally reveal myself to Nighteye, and no one else is going to know from me."

Kacchan was uncharacteristically worried for Izuku. He might have had a point, but Izuku just couldn't do that. At this point, he'd been lying for a long time. Who would believe him now if he said he had this quirk but didn't know anything about it nor his father before UA? Besides, he didn't plan on using it anymore. It just didn't sit right with Izuku, knowing what All for One had used it for. He did agree, however, to tell All Might that he told Kacchan about One for All, which led to All Might filling in the blanks of the story for them both.

"D-don't go…"

The next time Deku sees Chisaki Kai, he thinks he'll have a new quirk by the end of the encounter. If Lemillion hadn't been there, Deku wouldn't have hesitated. He won't make that mistake again.

"You took another quirk!?"

"I had no choice."

Yes, Izuku took another quirk. He had promised not to, but there was no way around this. Overhaul did not deserve his quirk, after what he had done. He could have (should have) taken more quirks (even the League had been there!), but Izuku knew Sir Nighteye could have used Foresight on him at any time and wanted to make sure that taking Overhaul would go flawlessly, with no suspicion on him as to what really happened. He seems to have gotten away with it, at least for now. As long as Eri-chan was safe and could grow to be happy, he didn't care. His only regret? Not being able to save Nighteye from death, nor Lemillion from the quirk-erasing bullet.

"Surprise!"

"It's even sweeter!"

Ah, it was all worth it to see her smile. It wasn't the easiest of days, especially with the hiccup that Gentle Criminal and La Brava caused, but Izuku would do everything again to keep that smile on Eri-chan 's face. He told Eri-chan her quirk was a blessing. And maybe, just maybe, he could his own as one too. He still needed to be careful, but if he could use it for good, shouldn't he do so?

"That power isn't something you can use without thinking anymore!"

The previous users… Are living within One for All?

"You'll have six more quirks manifest in you. You're the one who will complete One for All!"

Izuku did not expect this at all. He hadn't even thought to look at One for All within him. He'll have to be extra careful what quirks he uses now. Lariat did take the time to explain that none of them are angry about his lineage, at least. They've seen how he uses his quirk, and while they don't always see eye-to-eye on it, they don't condemn him for it. He hasn't turned into All for One, after all. Izuku just hopes Kacchan and All Might can help him figure out what other quirks he's going to get, because he can't just keep pulling stunts like this with Black Whip. Someone might get seriously hurt!

"…Quirkless cases seem to be healed?..."

"…What was previously thought to be the doing of a vigilante may have simply been a disease going around…"

It's strange, really. The stories the media can come up with. Why did they decide suddenly that it wasn't related to the vigilante at all, but rather a disease? Well, see, Izuku returned the quirks. He was keeping Overhaul, not that he could have gotten close to Tartarus to do anything about anyway, but the petty criminals weren't like Chisaki Kai, so he made to return their quirks. It was difficult to get by without getting caught, but he made it work. And, somehow, this was proof that the vigilante didn't do anything? Izuku doesn't get it, but he's happy. Though, it appears he has some explaining to do for Kacchan again. Oops.

"Hey, I've been thinking-"

"There's a surprise."

"This is important! Do you... do you think this quirk is bad?"

"... Nerd. Wouldn't you be the first one to say no quirk is bad? Isn't it all about how you use it? I've only ever seen you be a hero with it, even if you're shitty at it. Don't start overthinking now, damn nerd."

He had explained everything to Kacchan. Izuku had been thinking better of his quirk, ever since he helped Eri-chan . But after Black Whip manifested, not only was he seeing the past holders of One for All, he was also now seeing those who owned the quirks he had taken. It made him feel guilty. And even though he had already given most of the quirks back, it once again ruined the image he had of the quirk. Which is why he asked for Kacchan's opinion. He never lied. And Kacchan told Izuku that it was ok.

"Sensei."

"Midoriya? Bakugou?"

"We- no, I have something I need to tell you."

Izuku decided that telling Aizawa-sensei was the first step to figuring this quirk thing out. He couldn't bring himself to tell All Might the truth quite yet, fearing he might think Izuku deceived him or might no longer trust him to hold onto One for All. Aizawa-sensei was, understandably, a bit sceptical at first, but with Kacchan's help, Izuku was able to prove the story to the best of his ability. He explained about One for All, his quirk and perceived lineage, and what he's done since his own discoveries. Izuku didn't leave anything out, and Kacchan helped tell the parts he couldn't. He explained how he needed help to train the quirk, since he didn't want another Provisional Licensing Exam, and how he thought maybe Aizawa-sensei could help him learn to disguise it as some erasing quirk. He agreed, though told Izuku they would have to discuss how to explain the quirk to everyone else.

"So, what are you wanting to accomplish?"

"Recently, a new aspect of my quirk, called Black Whip, came about and I want to be able to use it naturally."

Izuku, Kacchan, and Todoroki-kun all joined Endeavor for the internships this time around. While Izuku wanted to work on his quirk, he knew that he should also focus a bit more on One for All, which included Black Whip and learning what other quirks he should prepare for. All Might was working on researching what he could about the previous users and figuring out how they can train for these different quirks.

"A transcendent one is coming."

Everyone was called away to help in a large-scale mission. Izuku was helping with local evacuation when things started going downhill. There really isn't much of a warning before things literally start to disintegrate before him. Something went wrong. Shigaraki was awake. And looking for him. Izuku needed to leave, now.

You look like you need saving!

A lot happened. Suddenly Float and Danger Sense awaken, Shigaraki is being controlled by All for One, Dabi reveals himself as Todoroki Touya, and many, many people are injured or killed. As the villains all escaped once more, all Izuku can think about is saving Shigaraki and defeating All for One. Now, he's thinking of how to do that and keep all his friends safe. One for All won't be a secret anymore, and he supposes now's the time to also reveal his own quirk. Plus Ultra, right?

"I know you probably want to go it alone, right? But have you thought that maybe having us along would be better?"

"I don't want you guys getting hurt!"

"Do you really think it would matter if you were with us or not? I know you want it done fast, too, but you can help us train, help us be better. There's nineteen of us ready to drop everything for you. Don't leave us."

As much as Izuku wanted to go alone, with just some help from the pro heroes to start, he knew Kacchan wouldn't leave this alone. None of them would. If he left, they'd follow and look for him anyway. And training them could be interesting. If he came clean about his quirk, he could potentially show them new things directly, if they were willing. He was just going to leave letters, but now?

"All Might. Everyone. Kacchan and Aizawa-sensei already know this, but there's things that everyone should hear."

"You can tell us anything, Deku-kun! We're all your friends and will support you."

Izuku knew he could trust them all. All his worrying about what All Might would think was for nothing. The man told him that he was nothing like the one who fathered him, and he didn't regret his choice in successor. His friends, while shocked, were ready to help him with his quest. Many were appalled when Kacchan explained that Izuku was originally going to just leave.

With Aizawa-sensei and All Might, all of Class 1-A trained while also gathering information. None of them would let Izuku go it alone. While the future may be uncertain, it could only be bright if they all worked together.