3 hours. That's all he had left now to save lives. Even though it had been this way for 5 years, he hadn't grown to accept it. Toshinori clenched his teeth in anger as his form shrunk from the perfect symbol into image of weakness.
He had been lucky enough to find an abandoned alley to hide in. Once shrunk, he took his costume and pulled out a bag, hiding away his pride. Walking out into the fading sunlight, no one paid him any mind, save a few who regarded him with discomfort.
It almost made him smirk. He almost wished he could be among them, ignorant of the responsibility. But in the end, this path was the right one and only he could do it. No one needed to know. Except…..
The sounds of yelling and crying echoed from a nearby park. Looking over, he saw 5 kids. 3 with active quirks and the other two…
He blinked. They didn't have any quirks activated. One cowered in fear while the other stood his ground, his eyes teary and his legs shaking.
"Look at him," one kid jeered. "Maybe he has a vibrating quirk."
"Not much help!" another laughed, his hand becoming rocky.
Anger flared up in him. How kid little kids treat each other so cruelly? He almost activated one for all, give these kids a stern talking to from a position of inspiration. But his chest tightened and his breathing stalled. Gasping for air, he stopped and settled for a more practical approach.
"Hey!" he yelled, raising a fist. "Leave those kids alone!"
They looked over at him. One pointed at him and screamed "Oh God! A Zombie! Run!"
The bullies fled. After a moment, the two kids looked at him and ran off too. Though the one who had stood against the bullies looked back and nodded before disappearing out of sight.
After a moment, he kept walking. As he approached his home, he thought on what had happened. Those kids were quirkless. Those bullies were abusing their powers. That concept made him feel anger few things can were capable of. Despite the odds, that kid had stood up to them, despite being quirkless. Admirable, but in this world, how could anyone without a quirk hope to protect?
Can I be a hero without a quirk?
He stopped just as he reached his home, his hand hanging inches from the doorknob, There was that kid. It had been 2 months ago and nothing had come of it. But he couldn't shake that conversation out of his head. His honesty was harsh, but there wasn't anything else he could've done that wouldn't have been crueler.
Without a quirk, no one can be hero. That was that. At least that's what he told himself. By this point, it wasn't enough. The image of the tall, thin blonde kid standing before her.
"I want to make a world where everyone can laugh and treat each other fairly. All with a smile on their faces." His hands had been shaking with excitement. His quirkless hands.
He lay there, hours later as the night dragged on. Finally, he grabbed his phone and dialed a number. After a few rings, someone picked up.
"Hello?" a high pitched voice said.
"Hello Sir," he responded. "Sorry to bother you."
"Ah no worries. I'm still up working on papers. How can I help you?"
"Umm…" he wasn't sure why he called honestly. Something he couldn't explain.
"What's the lineup of people trying out for this year?" Maybe one could be a successor. He hadn't found one yet.
"They're still coming in. A few thousand is speculated. But a few have been entered thanks to recommendations. One of them is Endeavour's sone, Shoto."
He had promise, but he didn't know much of his character though.
"I suspect there's something else you're calling about." He wondered if his quirk was mind reading instead of high spec.
"It's just…..," he started, "this will sound sudden, but what are your thoughts on people who are quirkless?"
There was silence for a moment. "They're people. In many ways, they're relics of the old world that should be treated with respect."
"I know," he said. "But I mean….if they can be heroes?"
"Hmmmm." He could almost hear the cogs in that mouse's head turning. "An odd concept. I don't know of any cases of a quirkless individual being a hero. But if a mouse can, shouldn't they?"
He almost smiled at the humor. But the advice made him feel worse than before.
"Why do you ask?"
"Ah, it's nothing. Just a random thought, having trouble sleeping."
"Alright," he could hear the unconvinced tone his voice."Well, call if you need anything."
"I will, thank you." He hung up, letting the silence back in.
The image of that kid, Izuku Midoriya, flashed in his mind. The vibrant joy in his face at meeting the symbol of peace. The uncertainty when asking the question of his future. It was the look of shock and despair when he told him that his hopes were pointless that hit him. That was bad timing, the coincidental words of a bitter man.
Hypocritical even. Though the circumstances were….
Don't think about that. About her. That was a different time. Things were more clear then.
He sighed and turned over, trying in vain to sleep. He wondered where that boy was now. Had he taken his words to heart and tried a different path? Or maybe he ignored his advice and still fought to be a hero, like that kid in the park earlier.
Regardless, he couldn't worry about that. What harm could one statement do?
Izuku heard a knock at his door. Opening it, he saw his mentor standing there.
"Master wants to speak with you. Suit up and let's go."
Nodding, he threw on his dark hoodie and red shoes. He wondered what the master wanted from him. Maybe he wanted to see how much he was worth. Or to tell him that they don't need him and….
He shook his head. Shigaraki wouldn't have put that much effort into training him for nothing.
He hurried out the door and followed Tomura towards the bar where Kurogiri.
"You ready?" he asked.
"I hope so," he said nervously.
Kurogiri appeared in front of them and began his teleportation. Izuku felt his stomach churn and spin as the black substance enveloped them. After a moment, his vision cleared and they were in a different place.
It appeared to be a lab, with vials, blinking devices and vats of strange liquid. One of which, to his shock, had a large, black form inside. Before he could inspect it, he heard a voice call out to him.
"Hello, Izuku." It was the master's voice, but it sounded clearer. Turning, he saw a figure sitting in a chair, partially obscured by shadows. What little he could see however, sent chills down his spine. IV tubes wove into scarred, warped flesh that made up his face. Whatever damage there was lay hidden under a business suit.
"S-Sir," he said nervously.
"My apologies for my appearance, as well as the sudden call." He gestured to a man next to him, almost as obscured. "The doctor wouldn't permit me to leave in my condition." The tone in his voice leaked sarcasm.
Izuku nodded. What kind of damage did he take? Whatever quirk it was must have been horrifying. More amazing was the fact that he was still alive.
"You're probably wondering why I brought you here," he continued.
"Well yes," Izuku said slowly, his nervousness rising. "I a-assume you wanted to check on progress and….where I stand?"
He smiled warmly, though the scars made it anything but. "Along those lines yes. You see, Izuku, you've been with us for a few months now. In that time, you've grown strong and close to my student. Yet, you don't know what we want nor what you want."
Izuku was silent. It was true. Despite all they had given him and how much Shigaraki had trained and made him strong, he still wasn't sure what he wanted. He had felt something momentarily during that conversation he and his mentor, but he couldn't make sense of it.
"I don't want to go back to my old life," he started, hardening his voice. "There's nothing worth going back for. But I'm not sure if I should stay and help with….whatever you're doing." He glanced at the dark figure in the tank.
"You can see that it's a work in progress," Shigaraki said, scratching his neck irritably.
"Now, now, Tomura," the master chided. "Despite his experience in the past few months, he is still but a child. Perhaps we can now give him some insight into who we are and what we want."
There something in his voice that made him feel uncomfortable. This was further added to by the sensation of his mentor standing behind him and placing his four fingered grip on his shoulders. The message was clear. If you want to know, your answer is either yes or death….
"His thoughts drifted back to his mom. To what she would want. But the image of her was faded and hard to discern. For the first time, he was on his own.
He took a deep breath. "Okay. What are you after?"
"It's not so much what, but who," the master said. He gestured to a small tv screen and an image flicked on. Before them was a familiar, large figure with flashy blonde hair and a blinding smile. As others in the screen smiled and felt hope, Izuku felt his lip curl and anger boil within him.
"The so-called symbol of peace, All Might," Shigaraki sneered, his grip on his shoulders less threatening, but in his voice only increased. As they watched, a group of villians were attacking a public area. Everyone, even those with more than formidable quirks cowered and ran, all becuase they weren't 'heroes'. Then the symbol himself swooped in and took down the villains with a few quick blows and peace was restored.
He remembered what Shigaraki had said about quirks and the danger each one had. When he saw those people running instead of fighting, his contempt spread from All Might to them. How could they be so helpless when they had the power to fight back when he didn't?
"You see it, don't you?" The master's voice drew him out of his anger. "That image blinds the world to it's own weakness. They look up to him and expect him to solve everything."
"Rather than looking at themselves and solving their own problems." His mentor's voice had a trace of a quiver.
Izuku looked up at him and saw, through the fingers of his mask, eyes full of pain and anger that made him feel pitiful in comparison.
"The world forgets about the shadows of this world, the kind that can shake it to it's foundations," the master continued, his voice growing loud and bold, almost like a preacher fortelling the end times. "From their dream of peace, we will wake them up and remind them." With that he gestured to the figure in the tank, which Izuku could have sworn had gotten bigger in the past few minutes.
Taking in those words and looking at that thing, Izuku put together what they were doing. The thought brought up feelings of horror and, for the boldness of such a task, admiration.
"You're going to kill him," he said quietly. The master grinned, no warmth being used to mask his perverted desire.
"Do you not like that?" his mentor said. He didn't respond right away. It wasn't surprising that these villains wanted to kill All Might. What villain wouldn't want him dead? But the confidence and anger in their declaration made the idea of it happening more possible. Izuku moved away and towards the figure. Placing his hand on the tank, he looked into that darkness beyond. He hated All Might. He hated how weak he made people. But to kill him? For a moment, he saw his own reflection. His face had a few scars from his attempt. The most noticeable changes were in his hair and eyes. Whatever the master's quirk had done to his cells obviously wasn't perfect. Mutations in the cells had turned his hair dark, almost black. His right eye, once vibrant green, was now white and haunted.
His appearance reignited his anger and cast away any doubt. All Might had done this. How many others would suffer in the lie he made?
Izuku, a voice called weakly. He shook his head and turned to face them. Shigaraki stood with his arms crossed, one hand scratching his neck. Kurogiri stood behind, his glowing eyes unknowable. The master sat in darkness, his eyes(if he had any), boring into him.
"I'll help you," he said. "However I can."
Shigaraki chuckled and clapped. "Well done kid! We'll show that bastard what-"
"But I have a few terms." Shigaraki stopped. He glanced at the master, who gestured with a hand for Izuku to continued.
"I want a share of anything this group gets. Money, weapons, etc."
They nodded.
"I want intel on any missions pertaining to this."
They nodded, albeit more reluctantly.
"I'll help fight and get whatever you need. But I won't kill anyone. Not other heroes or civilians."
"You're helping us kill the symbol of peace," Tomura said coldly. "You'll be guilty by default."
Izuku felt a lump in his throat as he tried to counter. "Killing him is one way of beating. I know another way."
The master moved, sitting forward. All eyes turned to him in shock. "Do tell, young Izuku." his voice carried a message of knowing.
Izuku told them what he saw and learned the day he met All Might, his weakened state and limit.
As he talked, he saw the look in Tomura's eyes change from anger to something unknowable.
After he finished, there was silence. Then…
"You want to destroy his image," the master said.
Izuku nodded. "Killing could be a last resort."
Tomura made a sound of annoyance and looked to his master. "Killing him would be easier. Wipe the bastard out for good. Even you want him dead."
The master chuckled. "True. But as I have tried to teach you, Tomura. This society is much like the hydra of legend. Cut off a head, more will take it's place. Killing All Might, while a heavy blow, will pave the way for another. We must sever the head and burn the stump. Break that pillar he has built."
He turned to Izuku. "And you will be a part of this. You're information is essential. It appears that we'll have to make modifications to Nomu." He nodded to the thing behind Izuku.
"What is it?"
"An artificial creature designed to destroy All Might," Kurogiri said.
"The final Boss of this game," Tomura said, walking up next to him.
"How?"
"The creature is imbued with multiple quirks." Izuku blinked. Multiple quirks?
"How is that possible?"
The master held up a hand and the air whipped and turned in his palm. In the other a ball of light appeared. "I possess the power to take and give quirks. The one I used to save you I found years ago. Sadly, my current condition prevented me from controlling the side effects, as you have noticed."
He nodded. "But how is that possible. I've heard of quirks that affect other quirks but nothing to that extent. How many are you able to hold and use at once? Is it even possible to use several at once? I don't know how…"
He went on mumbling for a while before a hand smacked his head.
"Ow!"
"Moving on," Shigaraki said, adjusting his glove. "You have a mental manual of people's quirks, right? You know their strengths and weaknesses."
Izuku nodded, remembering the journal Kacchan had burned and threw away.
"That knowledge can be of great use to Nomu's development," Kurogiri added.
Looking at the being that they promised would bring an end to All Might, he cast away any thoughts on the ethical side of it and looked only to the goal.
"All right," he said, walking back to the tank. "Where do we start?"