This time, to Izuku's displeasure, they stepped out of Kurogiri's warp gate and into a pristine white lab. Not the lab he'd been subject to before but probably the same facility. This one seemed to be an office of some type, with an area that looked disturbingly like a surgery studio on one side.
The office portion housed a wall of monitors situated above a desk. The desk held a switch board, PA microphone, some text books, and unidentifiable things floating in jars. Sensei and another man were conversing too quietly to hear. They stopped when the little group got close enough.
Shock jolted up Izuku's spine when the other man looked up. Short and portly, with a thick moustache and round spectacles. It was the doctor who diagnosed him quirkless when he was 4. The name escaped him but the man's face was inscribed in his memory for his caustic words and dismissive attitude when breaking the news. Now he guessed he knew why, if he was working for Sensei.
The two men smiled with faux warmth as they nodded in greeting. Sensei spoke up first. "I'm sure you all remember Dr. Garaki. Or as Izuku knew him, Dr. Tsubasa."
Tomura shot him a confused glance. Before he could explain, the Doctor butted in. "Oh, yes. The quirkless one. You were quite fascinating but ultimately useless. Do you know that you're only one of three I've ever seen outside of the older generations? And I've been around a long time!" The man chuckled like he'd just told a joke.
The casual insult didn't phase the greenette. Though, curiously, it made him angry rather than the usual apathy he felt when he'd heard it from his father, Katsuki, and other bullies. It was funny how being treated like a human being for six months improved his self-worth. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Tomura's hand curl into a white knuckled first, though his face remained impassive. Warmth washed away the anger.
"Now, now, Garaki. There's no need to be crude. Izuku has proven his importance to our cause." Sensei turned to the greenette and he felt like he was being appraised.
"Though you would be even more so with a quirk. I could fix that for you. With an intelligence quirk on top of your natural gifts, you could be unstoppable. Or perhaps a physical ability for defence? You seem to be struggling with Tomura's training." The last comment was presented in an amused tone.
Once again, the ugly suspicion of Sensei's involvement in the assault came to mind. Though it was overshadowed as he processed the rest. "... What do you mean you can give me a quirk?" It sounded too good to be true. Months ago he would have jumped on the offer without question, now he was just wary.
The man hummed quietly. "Exactly as I said. I can give you a quirk. You see, it's my own power. I can transfer them from one person to another. Although, your situation makes it difficult." Sensei gestured towards the Doctor, who vibrated in place with excitement.
"Your body can't handle the strain of a quirk. You lack the proper genes and mutations necessary for one to manifest and present. Quite frankly you'd die in agony." He sounded a bit too enthusiastic about that. "But! I am a geneticist! With proper manipulation I could give you the right genetics to successfully hold one."
The nomu flashed to mind and a spark of fear lanced through his gut. Some tell must have given away the thought because Sensei leveled a smirk at him. "Not like the nomu, dear boy. That process requires quirks."
But if he went through with it, then he could be turned into one of those grotesque monsters. That added little to the appeal. Not that he wanted a quirk anymore to begin with. Despite the jab about his physical abilities, he knew he was improving. That man in the alleyway was able to manipulate his muscles to augment his strength and endurance. Very few people, even with quirks, would be able to beat him.
Thinking quickly, Izuku adopted a thoughtful expression. He glanced at Tomura, as if seeking guidance, before peering back to Sensei. "Can I think about it? It's a big decision. I need to figure out the best quirk."
The Doctor looked disappointed, opening his mouth to argue. Sensei cut him off. "Of course. Talk it over with Tomura. He'll be able to say what would be most useful to us."
"Of course, Sensei." The pale man finally spoke. "I'll help him sort it out."
The leader nodded. "Good. Now, there was something else to discuss. It has come to my attention that All-Might will be teaching at UA in the coming year. One of the nomu is ready for field testing and it would be the perfect opportunity. I want you to figure out his schedule and plan an attack."
Some manic eagerness crept into Tomura's face. "Gladly! With the nomu he won't stand a chance!"
"Let me know the final details and the Doctor will program one to follow you. You may go now."
As soon as they were back in the apartment and the portal closed, Izuku finally allowed himself to tremble. Everything hurt again from holding himself so tense during the meeting. Kurogiri entered the kitchen and returned a few minutes later with tea and painkillers for him, while Tomura guided him to sit on the couch. They both looked grim.
"It's another t-test, isn't it?" To his shame, his voice wobbled. "I don't wa-want a quirk. But I'm worthless without one."
Before he could spiral into a panic attack Tomura flicked his forehead. "I don't care what the Doctor thinks and neither should you." Distaste was clear in his voice. He clearly didn't like Garaki.
"But even Sensei agreed." Izuku wrapped his arms around himself. He'd thought he was proving his worth with the analyses but apparently not. He'd even shown his willingness to kill, but it still wasn't enough. In this world the only thing that mattered was quirks. Bitterness laced his thoughts.
An arm wrapped around his waist and hauled him against Tomura's side. The man's lips were in a nasty sneer. "Am I useless?" His eyes were squinted in anger.
The question shocked Izuku. Shaking his head frantically, he curled up tight against the man. "No!"
"Have I wasted months of my precious time on a lost cause?"
Izuku meekly shook his head. "No."
The man pinched his side painfully. "Then you're not useless. I'll tell Sensei you don't need one. It's insulting that my work with you would be rendered worthless and wasted for the sake of elitist pride. If you needed a quirk I wouldn't have bothered. I'd have let you jump."
The proclamation rendered Izuku mute. Tears welled up and spilled over. The man huffed in disgust but hauled him into his lap to squeeze him in a hug with a muttered "cry baby". Izuku wrapped his arms around his shoulders and hid his face in Tomura's neck.
The pale man had commented similarly before. But hearing it stated in such terms made it more real and immutable. It didn't magically cure his internal thoughts but for now they were blessedly silent.
A knock on the door interrupted the moment. Tomura shoved Izuku off his lap and pressed the cup of tea into his hands while Kurogiri went to see who it was. Dabi's voice filtered in. "I've got the rent for next month."
"Ah, thank you. Would you like to come in? There was a matter we wished to discuss with you."
The scarred man stepped in, raising an eyebrow when he caught sight of Izuku's red blotchy face. The greenette ducked his head in embarrassment and busied himself drinking the tea before it could go cold. Dabi invited himself to sit in one of the chairs. The misty man joined them on the couch a moment later.
It was Tomura who spoke up. "I overheard your conversation with Izuku. We want you to join us in reshaping society. Heroes have become too powerful, too self-important, and absorbed in appeasing their fans more than doing their jobs. It makes them ignore the people who truly need them. Like me, like Izuku, and I suspect you, just because it's not glamorous or high profile. We want to change that."
The speech surprised Izuku. He'd talked to Tomura about his own ideals a few times but never realized he'd actually listened to them. Did he actually believe in it, or was he just trying to appeal to Dabi? He'd ask later. He was also thankful the man didn't throw him under the bus by telling Dabi that Izuku told him about their talks.
A few minutes of silence reigned as the scarred man pondered the offer. Finally he tilted his head. "Would that involve killing Endeavor?"
Both Izuku and Tomura nodded their heads resolutely. A dark grin crept across Dabi's lips. "Then, I'm in."