A/n: This is a really rough chapter. TW's for blood, violence, murder, minor character death, psychological manipulation, etc. If you need to skip the gore, stop reading the chapter at the line break after Sensei stops talking. The chapter ends directly after the death.

Apprehension made Izuku tremble as he stepped out of the warp gate into Sensei's study. Kurogiri followed but stayed back, not offering any encouragement this time. The greenette felt cold despite the overly warm room. It took all of his resolve to approach the desk, knees alternately weak and wanting to lock up.

This time around there was a palpable aura of malice surrounding the man. It was as if without Tomura there he didn't have to act. Just like Hisashi. The pleasant smile was still in place on the man's sightless face, but the mask was thin.

"Izuku, it's good to see you again. How have you been getting along with Tomura?"

Fighting not to fidget or shake too badly, he adopted the habits he'd built around his father at his mom's house. Keeping his eyes on the ground, he bowed slightly. "T-Tomura has h-helped me a-alot, sir. I-I hope he t-teaches me t-to fight soon."

The man chuckled, sounding pleased. "So polite. It's refreshing to see in younger generations. But there's no need for such formality, my boy. Call me Sensei." He reached down and glided back from the desk. "I trust Kurogiri informed you why you're here?"

Izuku was shocked to realize he was in a wheelchair. At the words, he straightened up but kept his gaze on the floor. "Ah, y-yes, Sensei."

A pleased hum escaped the man as he maneuvered around the desk and stopped by the greenette. "You've done a fantastic job on analyzing the heroes. I think it's finally time you took the next step. A simple task to solidify your place here."

Sensei reached out a hand towards Kurogiri and black tendrils erupted from his body to spear the shadowy man. A sharp cry of pain left him as his quirk activated, a portal opening in front of Izuku and Sensei. With a sense of dread, the boy realized Kurogiri's quirk had been forcibly triggered.

"Come. I have such fascinating things to show you." A hand on his back guided Izuku through the gate. He couldn't refuse even if he wanted to.

The portal let out into a stark white hallway. It wouldn't look out of place in a hospital, if it weren't for the unnatural silence. The only visible doors were straight ahead, where Sensei was leading him. He noticed that Kurogiri didn't come with them.

The double doors swung open automatically when they approached, opening into what looked like a laboratory. Counters along two walls held science equipment like microscopes and centrifuges. In the center of the room was a metal table that looked like it belonged in a morgue. Near it sat a long desk that held multiple computer monitors and a switch board.

The thing that caught Izuku's attention was along the two remaining walls. His stomach dropped and he felt nauseous as he processed what he was seeing. Massive tubes, five per wall, were set up. Green liquid flooded the containers, suspending grotesque creatures in various forms. Some were noticeably human, but with obvious unnatural mutations like half formed beaks and disproportionate limbs. Others were clearly "complete", with hulking muscles, sharp claws, and multiple eyes. All had their brains exposed, electrodes attached.

Sensei observed his reaction with a smirk. "These are called nomu. The perfect anti-hero creations. They're almost ready for field testing. But of course, we always need new subjects to improve the design."

The threat and warning was crystal clear to Izuku. Succeed in whatever test Sensei had concocted, or end up in a test tube. There was no other reason to show the monsters to a recruit. Having Tomura decay him was sounding more and more appealing by the minute.

The man turned and exited the lab. The boy had no other choice but to follow. The facility was a maze of twists and turns that Izuku quickly lost track of. There were no windows and seemingly no other people present. The atmosphere was oppressive.

Eventually they turned into a hallway lined with heavy metal doors. All of them were bolted from the outside. They were prison cells. Quiet noises of pain and distress emanated from some of them as they passed. Trepidation filled him as they stopped in front of one of them.

"While it's desirable to have living test subjects, sometimes dead will do." As Sensei talked he reached into a hidden pocket in his suit and withdrew a hunting knife. "Kill the person behind this door and your loyalty will be unquestioned."

Fear lanced down Izuku's spine and his hand shook as he took the blade. This was it. No going back now. Was it a hero? Was that why Sensei had Izuku choose just one to report on at first? Only one way to find out.

Drawing in a deep breath to steady his nerves, he stepped forward to pull the lock back. He then hesitantly opened the door. It was heavy and took all his weight to budge it.

The cell was just as blindingly white as the rest of the building. The floor was concrete instead of tile, with a drain in the floor in one corner. Not even a futon was provided. In the center of the room was a metal chair bolted to the ground, chains ending in manacles held wrists and ankles in place. And in the chair sat - "M-mom?!"

The familiar figure stirred and it took all of Izuku's willpower to keep the knife from slipping out of numb fingers. Green eyes opened, then widened in shock when they landed on the boy. His mother tensed and strained against the bonds, face twisting in fear.

"Izuku? Baby! W-what's going on?" Tears gathered in her eyes and the boy had to look away.

Behind him, Sensei spoke up with a disappointed tone. "Not even asking if your son is alright? Not urging him to escape? Though of course I wouldn't expect much from the woman who knowingly allowed her husband to abuse their son. Who turned a blind eye to years of bullying. Who kicked him to the street without remorse simply because of who he might fall in love with. For being quirkless. You haven't even reported him missing."

With each word, Izuku knew he was being manipulated. It angered him as much as it hurt, because it was all true. He'd still gone to school, she could have tracked him down there. No doubt they notified her of his absences. That meant she'd probably lied to them. If she'd told the school he was missing or had run away they would have said something. Just like over the years she hadn't asked any questions about the wounds he acquired.

The anger was slowly out pacing the horror he felt at what he had to do. A mental image of the nomu solidified his resolution. He took a step forward. Inko seemed to finally notice the knife because she started struggling even harder against the restraints, sobbing and pleading.

The wheelchair bound man talked over the woman - Izuku struggled to mentally distance himself from her - to offer encouragement, voice coaxing and kind. "With this, you'll be a precious member of our family. Tomura has been so much happier since you came to us. We will never abandon you. Simply break free from the shackles of your old life and start over cleansed of toxic ties."

The rage boiled over, as much at Sensei as his mother. Had he twisted Tomura with his silver tongue like he was trying with Izuku? He was furious at himself for finding them tempting. Closing his eyes, he let the boiling emotion take over. His vision flashed white as he lunged forward, weapon extended.

There was no resistance as the blade pierced Inko's skin but his arm jarred as it glanced off bone. Pulling the blade free as she screamed in pain, he tried again. Cold numbness enveloped his mind and his body seemed to move on its own. He watched, detached as the knife plunged into her chest over and over again until she finally went silent and still. After one last stab he left the blade protruding out of her.

"I'm proud of you, Izuku. Your life can finally begin." The grin was clear in Sensei's voice.