I do not own BNHA or its characters.

Enjoy Chapter Three of "Canvas"

Cowritten and proofread by aoimikans on Tumblr.


Sound of Silence

Izuku trained every morning at 6AM. When All Might moved into the Class 1A dorm, he joined Izuku on the field, a welcome addition to Izuku's mornings. The transition was seamless and natural. It was as it had been for those ten months of hell, before All Might passed One for All to him. Before U.A. Before Kamino.

When the field was empty that morning, Izuku hadn't thought much of All Might's absence at first. The retired hero was still healing from his fight with All for One and usually appeared on the sidelines of the training field while Izuku was still warming up, a steaming thermos of tea in hand and huddled in his long coat against the morning chill. Some days he contented himself with watching Izuku train, allowing the boy to think through his own movements. Other days he got up, walked onto the field, and gave Izuku small tips and advice lightly disguised with casual jokes. All Might's raspy laugh and praise echoed loudly across the field in those early morning hours. But not today.

Izuku gripped his cell phone tight, All Might's voicemail repeating from the speaker. Izuku hung up and bit his lip. An uneasy feeling coiled in his gut and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. All Might always called back on the rare occasions he couldn't answer right away, but it had been hours since Izuku's first call.

Where are you? Izuku nervously bounced his leg, glancing outside. The overcast sky was far too dark for midday. The clouds hung ominously low, still heavy with rain. Early fall winds blew through the cracked window and sent a chill into the room. It smelled like rain.

Izuku almost launched off his bed when his cell phone rang loudly.

"FOR A PHONE CALL IS HERE!" All Might's boisterous voice called from the phone's speaker.

Izuku scrambled to answer, forgetting in his rush to check the ID.

"H-hello?" Izuku answered, patting his chest lightly to calm his pounding heart.

"Ah, is this Izuku Midoriya? This is Detective Tsukauchi," said the man on the other line.

"Oh. Oh! G-good afternoon," Izuku stuttered, "Did you-"

"I'm heading to U.A. now to speak with Principal Nedzu." Detective Tsukauchi interrupted briskly. Then he paused and took a steadying breath, "It would be best if you were there as well, Midoriya."

Izuku's brow furrowed in confusion but he nodded.

"O-okay?"

"I'm about ten minutes away. Principal Nedzu knows I'm coming. I'll meet you in his office." The wind howled on the other end before the line was cut.

Izuku let his hand drop into his lap and glanced out the window again. Darker clouds were rolling in and a raindrop tapped against the glass pane. A storm was brewing.

Izuku's grip tightened around his phone.

Thunder rumbled distantly.

Where are you, All Might?


Izuku sat on the couch in the principal's office and fidgeted nervously. He glanced between Principal Nedzu and Detective Tsukauchi who sat across from them. He jumped slightly when the Principal patted his back with a soft paw.

"Tea?" the mouse-dog-bear-like principal held out a small teacup.

"Ah! Um, thank you," Izuku said quietly, taking the cup in hand.

"Some for you as well, Detective?"

"No, thank you," Tsukauchi politely declined the offered cup and folded his hands together. He sighed grimly, "As you both know, All Might defeated All for One at the Kamino Ward and we were able to take him into custody." He paused, "Two nights ago, it is believed someone working in the highest security ward cut all surveillance and aided in All for One's escape. His location is unknown."

Izuku's teacup fell from his hands.

"Wh… What?" a shudder involuntarily ran through him, "After everything All Might…" Izuku's shoulders shook and he pressed a hand over his mouth. The terror of that day roared back. All for One's raw power and callous treatment of life. All Might bleeding and beaten down, True Form revealed to the world, and using the very last of One for All to defeat him. Tears welled in Izuku's eyes. "No…"

Principal Nedzu placed the dropped teacup on the coffee table and lightly patted Izuku's knee.

"Thank you for telling us this," Nedzu said, turning back to the detective, "I assume this hasn't been made public yet."

"No," Tsukauchi answered, "Not yet. I imagine there will be a press conference soon. Those leading the investigation will want to control the flow of information to avoid public speculation and panic as much as possible."

Izuku's phone buzzed lightly and he quickly pulled it from his pocket. His shoulders slumped. It was a hero spotting notification for Kamui Woods. Still nothing from All Might.

"Something wrong, Midoriya?" Principal Nedzu asked.

Detective Tsukauchi spoke up, "That's… another reason I came. This morning I was called to the Tantive Company to aid in investigating the death of Hibiki Genji."

"That name's familiar," Nedzu nodded, "One of our drivers?"

"He was Toshinori's - ah - All Might's driver." Tsukauchi said. He bent forward, brows furrowed and shoulders heavy. "All Might was with me until just after 9PM before he called from a ride back to U.A. Well after Hibiki's estimated time of death. Neither I nor young Midoriya have been in contact with him since."

Principal Nedzu frowned grimly, "I see."

Izuku stared down at his fists trembling in his lap. Horror stirred in his gut, slow and heavy. He felt sick.

Izuku felt a hand on his shoulder and he looked up, meeting Detective Tsukauchi's gaze. The detective squeezed Izuku's shoulder lightly and tried to smile, but it fell short. Worry and guilt flashed behind Tsukauchi's eyes and he pulled away.

"You think there is some connection between All for One's escape and -"

"I want to try calling him again!" Izuku blurted, interrupting the principal without thinking. "M-maybe he's just having a bad day. He goes back to his apartment when he feels sick or hurting because he doesn't want us to worry at the dorms and he thinks we don't notice -"

"Midoriya," Tsukauchi ran his hand through his hair before sighing, "His apartment was the first place I checked."

"O-oh…" Izuku faltered.

"Go ahead," Principal Nedzu said calmly, taking a small sip of his tea. "No harm in trying."

Izuku blinked owlishly at the principal in surprise then hastily nodded, dialing All Might. It went to voicemail as it had all morning.

Detective Tsukauchi frowned slightly but said nothing.

"Maybe…" Izuku dialed again. It rang and rang.

"This is Toshinori Yagi. I can't come to the phone. Please leave a message."

The knot of dread in Izuku's gut tightened.

"Please answer All Might," he whispered and dialed again.

It rang once… twice … a third time … a forth. It abruptly stopped. No voicemail, only silence.

"All Might?" Izuku tentatively called out. His voice faintly echoed back through the speaker.

Something rustled, the heavy sound of metal against metal.

"All Might," Izuku's voice trembled uncertainly, the dread coiling dangerously around his lungs, "Are you there?"

"Midoriya, my boy!" All Might's voice rang out sharply.

The call dropped.

The office was silent until Principal Nedzu crawled off the couch and walked over to his desk. He picked up the phone and dialed.

"Midnight, if you would gather the faculty. Teacher's meeting in my office." He paused, "Yes, discreetly please. Thank you."

Nedzu returned to the couch but did not take a seat. "Detective Tsukauchi, how soon can you can you file a missing person report?"

"Given the circumstances, I will as soon as I get back to the station," Tsukauchi said.

Izuku barely heard them. He clutched his phone in shaking hands. All Might's voice reverberated faintly in his skull. He sounded… scared… desperate. All Might never sounded like that. He'd always smiled to -

A hand on Izuku's shoulder jolted him from his thoughts.

Detective Tsukauchi knelt down in front of him, understanding in his voice when he said, "All Might is going to be okay." Tsukauchi smiled and it reached his eyes, "He's All Might. We just have to have faith in him. Alright?"

Izuku gaped at him - hadn't he heard? - then nodded. He pocketed his phone and curled his hands into fists.

That's right, Izuku reassured himself, He's All Might. He's All Might.

"I'll have the teachers form search parties when they are on patrol. At the very least we can begin to canvas the area." Principal Nedzu said, spreading a map over the coffee table, "You said you saw him leaving your home last?"

"Yes," Tsukauchi answered, pointing to his address on the map, "And the car left going west."

"How can I help?" Izuku asked, popping up off the couch, and was rewarded with uncertain glances.

"You have classes to attend," Principal Nedzu said as if it were the most obvious answer.

"But-!"

"All Might would want you to focus on your studies. He is your teacher after all," Nedzu continued, "How would he feel if you fell behind?"

Izuku struggled to find an argument, but Tsukauchi gently pulled him aside.

"Leave this to us, Midoriya," the detective said softly, "With your teachers and myself working together, we're bound to find All Might in no time." He gave Izuku's shoulder a small squeeze, "It's fantastic that you want to help. All Might would be so proud of you, but he would want you safe and busy with your studies first."

Izuku's gaze fell to the floor, his vision blurring. He wiped away the tears before they could fall, "I know."

"Good boy," Tsukauchi smiled, "Can you make it back to the dorms on your own?"

"Y-yeah," Izuku nodded.

"Come on then," Tsukauchi shook Izuku's shoulder lightly, "Smile and straighten those shoulders. We'll bring him home."

Izuku straightened marginally and forced a small smile.

"That's it!" the detective patted Izuku's back a little forcefully and Izuku couldn't help wincing and smiling genuinely. "Off you go."

Izuku left the principal's office, passing a few curious teachers as they went into the impromptu meeting.

Finally alone wandering the halls of the empty school, Izuku let the smile drop. He couldn't shake the dread. Instead, it curled deeper in his gut, hidden and coiled tightly.

One for All stirred just under his skin and Izuku shuddered at the sudden, jittery rush, the strong urge to just do something. But Principal Nedzu and Detective Tsukauchi said to let them and the other teachers handle it. So he would.

Izuku sped up to a jog, One for All flaring up and sending him flying down the halls and out onto the school grounds, toward the training field. He needed to do something, so he would train. It's what All Might would want.

Right?


Toshinori woke with a start when the door unlocked with a loud click! He blinked at the bright light and rolled his painfully stiff neck. Had he nodded off sitting up? He watched as the young nurse pushed the door open with his foot, a tray of food in hand. When Isamu glanced his way, the nurse managed a small smile.

"I was a little worried it wouldn't fit," Isamu said, looking over the plain hospital gown Toshinori wore. His smile fell and he turned his back on Toshinori, setting the tray down on the counter by the door, "I'm really sorry about your shirt and … all this."

Toshinori hummed neutrally.

Isamu jumped a little and faced Toshinori, brows furrowed slightly.

"You can still..?" he shuffled slightly, "Can you still talk?"

Toshinori coughed and rubbed his throat with a shrug. The last time he attempted speaking, his words were drowned out by a painful gurgling noise that sent him into a coughing fit.

Isamu looked a little disappointed, "But you can still understand everything?"

Toshinori snorted, tapping his temple and grinning cheekily. He glanced at the clipboard hanging by the door and gestured for the pen and paper.

Isamu followed his gaze and, quick on the uptake, unhooked the clipboard from the wall. He paused then, clipboard in hand. A look of uncertainty and fear flashed across his face, and he glanced back at the door.

"She'll notice if paper goes missing," Isamu muttered, nervously clutching the clipboard tighter.

Toshinori huffed in frustration but nodded in understanding.

"I'm sorry," Isamu mumbled, returning the clipboard to its hook. He gestured to the food on the counter, "I brought dinner."

Toshinori's head jerked up, and he locked eyes with the young nurse. He brought up his arm and tapped on the shackle around his wrist.

How long? What time is it?

Isamu pulled up the sleeve of his scrubs then froze. He winced and avoided Toshinori's gaze.

"I'm not supposed to say. I shouldn't have said dinner," he clutched his shaking hands together, "I shouldn't have - that was stupid."

Toshinori rapidly clapped his hands twice.

Isamu jolted.

Toshinori gave the young man a pitying smile and a thumbs up. It's alright.

"It's not okay," Isamu shook his head, "It really isn't."

Toshinori sighed, leaned against the wall, and patted the spot beside him.

Take a seat.

Isamu paused, pulling his sleeve over his watch, then hastily grabbed the food tray. He walked over and lowered himself to the floor, just out of Toshinori's reach, and slid the food across to Toshinori.

It's a start, Toshinori thought wryly.

"I, um," Isamu gestured to the canned green tea, "I heard you liked tea and there's a vending machine…" he trailed off awkwardly.

A small smile tugged at the edge of Toshinori's lips as he reached for the can. The chains scraped against the floor loudly, and he caught the way the nurse tensed at the sound. He lifted the can, spinning it around. The brand was common, one that Toshinori had before.

Toshinori cracked open the can and took a slow sip. It was still cold and soothed his sore throat. He set the can down and looked over the rest of the food. He couldn't help but grimace at the hospital broth and jello pack.

"Oh," Isamu winced, grabbing Toshinori's attention. "I should have known you wouldn't like it, considering your…" he gestured to Toshinori's covered abdomen. Isamu furrowed his brow, "That looked pretty bad."

What an understatement! Toshinori laughed, loud and barking as it had always been. Something suddenly caught in his chest and he tasted iron. He hastily raised his fist to his mouth, riding out the coughing fit.

"Ah!" Isamu scrambled forward, grabbing at the stethoscope around his neck, but Toshinori held up a hand. Isamu froze, still leaning forward indecisively.

Toshinori huffed, a little breathless, and wiped the blood from his chin.

Don't worry about it, he waved his hand dismissively. He gently tapped at the left side of his chest and shrugged. He took another swig of tea to wash the metallic taste from his mouth.

"I should … I should still check," Isamu said, scooting closer and sliding the food tray to the side, "You really shouldn't shrug something like that off."

Toshinori shook his head but sat up straighter as the nurse popped in his stethoscope earpieces.

Isamu pressed the chestpiece to the right side of Toshinori's chest, listening as Toshinori took as deep a breath as he could. He frowned at the faint, wet rattling and moved the chestpiece to Toshinori's back. Then he moved it to the left side of his chest. He furrowed his brow and moved the chestpiece slightly.

Toshinori patted the nurse's wrist and Isamu jerked away. He held his hand over the place where his lung had been and tried to laugh it off, but Isamu's stricken expression didn't fade.

Isamu sat back, eyes raking over Toshinori's skeletal form.

"Why are you here?" Isamu asked. "You-you should be resting! You're retired! You don't have a lung! Why-?" the nurse ran his hand through his short dark hair.

Toshinori gave Isamu a quizzical smile. He pointed to himself and flexed, his skinny bicep trembling slightly at his effort.

I'm All Might.

Isamu shook his head in disbelief.

"How long have you been like this?" the young man asked, his voice quiet.

Toshinori blinked in surprise.

"That scar was old," Isamu continued, staring at the spot in a daze.

Toshinori sighed and held up six fingers.

"Six?" Isamu's eyes widened, "Wait, years? Six years?"

Toshinori shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck, tensing slightly when his fingers ran through the ridge of hair.

"Did he do that? That man?"

Toshinori's hackles raised and he brushed them down, pinning the floor with a dark glare.

"He's the villain you beat at the Kamino Ward, isn't he?" Isamu asked. "I saw that fight on TV. He looks like him. He even has the helmet."

Before Toshinori could answer, the pager on Isamu's belt buzzed.

The nurse looked at his watch and paled.

"I have to go," Isamu blurted, abruptly standing and rushing to the door, "I already stayed too long." He paused at the door and briefly glanced back at Toshinori, "I'll bring a notebook next time." Then he left, locking the door behind him.


The hospital broth and jello had no substance and settled oddly in Toshinori's gut. He sipped at the little remaining tea left in the can, wincing at the growing burning ache in his chest. While the full body ache and exhaustion had faded, eating anything gave him heartburn without fail.

I'm surprised it isn't worse, Toshinori thought with a frown, recalling the warped wastebin and the chemical burns on his shirt. He absently rubbed his abdomen. What's the extent of the changes?

He raised the can to his lips again, and grunted in annoyance when he found nothing left. He huffed and crushed the empty can between his hands. Tapping it idly against his palm, Toshinori closed his eyes.

The meal had been a dinner according to the young nurse, so it was evening or night. Given the number of meals since his arrival, Toshinori estimated he had been here two or three days. That was assuming the meals were spaced evenly, which wasn't likely if All for One was hoping to disorient him. The fear in Isamu's voice implied as much.

Poor kid, Toshinori sighed and chewed thoughtfully. People like Isamu did not follow All for One by choice. That woman, Tetsumi, she was more the type: cold, calculating, and lacking empathy. All for One likely appreciated that and found her useful. From what Toshinori had seen, Tetsumi was charged with keeping an eye on Isamu.

Toshinori swallowed and sighed in relief when the empty, burning ache in his gut settled. He bit down again, savoring the crunch as he chewed and swallowed.

Crunch?

Toshinori furrowed his brow. None of the food …

His jaw clenched and his hand closed tightly around the empty aluminum can. A jagged, torn piece cut into his palm.

Shit!

"Hhk!" Toshinori cursed through grit teeth and ran his free hand over his face. He wished he felt nauseous, but he didn't. The burning in his chest had already subsided. He chucked the half-eaten can across the room. It hit the door with a loud, tinny tap and skittered across the white tile floor.

Toshinori put a hand over where his stomach had been, gripping the hospital gown. He let his head fall back against the wall and he took a deep breath.

So, that's what changed.


Toshinori adjusted the chain wrapped around his arm and tugged again, pressing his feet against the wall and putting his back into it. The chain protested, metal links grinding against each other, but did not budge.

What I wouldn't give for a little of my old strength!

"Hhng!" Toshinori grunted and fell, the chain roughly unravelling from his arm. He lay on his back, panting, and cringed when his shoulder popped back into place, the healing quirk quick to activate.

Overdid it. Shit.

A wave of exhaustion overtook him and he shuddered. The ceiling spun and he had to close his eyes for a moment. He let a slow groan escape him and rubbed his sore shoulder.

"Adjusting well?"

Fuck!

Toshinori's eyes shot open and he tensed, adrenaline rushing and preparing to fight.

All for One stood in the center of the room, still and calm.

Toshinori glared at the masked villain as he slowly shifted off his back and pushed himself up. Pain shot from his shoulder, radiating down his arm and across his back. His arm shook.

All for One said nothing, but there was a smug air about him that made Toshinori's hackles bristle.

Toshinori rose to his feet and stood tall, eyes flashing with stubborn pride.

All for One had his arms folded behind his back in an easy, relaxed manner. He turned slightly, pretending to look around the small, bare room.

"I'm surprised this place is to your liking," he said as he continued to turn until his back was to Toshinori.

Bastard, Toshinori thought bitterly as he glared daggers at the back of All for One's head. Glare was all he could do and the bastard knew it. Damn you.

"I can only assume that it must be since you haven't left," All for One continued, turning back to face Toshinori. "After all, the door is right there. Surely chains aren't enough to hold you back." He tilted his head, "Where's that strength you so desperately clung to? You used to be so eager to show it off."

Toshinori's fingers twitched, itching to curl into fists. He couldn't let him know - couldn't let the villain get a rise out of him. The acidic burning ache flared angrily in his chest but he kept his expression firm. His bristling hackles betrayed him.

All for One hummed neutrally and brought his arms to his front, fiddling with something in his hands.

Toshinori couldn't stop his grimace when he realized what it was. It was the can, crushed and missing chunks.

"I am particularly fascinated by the quirk Devour," All for One said in a relaxed, matter-of-fact tone. He turned the can around in his hands, tracing the sharp edges of the missing chunks with his fingertips. "Its main trait is the production of corrosive digestive fluids that can, given time, break down just about anything, even refuse as you found out so quickly."

The acidic pain bubbled higher in Toshinori's chest and he swallowed roughly. Another wave of exhaustion rushed through him and the pain lessened marginally.

"You lack so much," All for One gestured to Toshinori's torso, "I thought perhaps that would create some complication, but it appears to have assimilated well. I am curious how it adapted without the stomach." He lifted the half-eaten can higher, "It may explain your … cravings."

All for One strolled forward, still fiddling with the half-eaten can.

Toshinori tensed and slowly moved to the side, circling around to the left and keeping his eyes firmly on All for One.

All for One placed the can on the low wall by the toilet, then looked up.

"Ah," the masked villain's back was still to Toshinori, "Are you confident you have enough room for that maneuver?"

Toshinori frowned and glanced at the chains -

All for One slammed his hand against Toshinori's face, pinning him against the wall in a single movement.

Fuck! Toshinori grunted in pain, blood and bile bubbling up his throat and into his mouth. He grabbed at All for One's arm, pushing away. His arms shook with the effort, but he only managed to bunch up All for One's sleeve. He readjusted his grip against the villain's bare wrist. His skin was clammy and unyielding. Holy shit! Get off! Damn it!

"Are you done?" All for One asked, his voice patronizing.

Toshinori held the villain's arm in a white-knuckled grip, a frustrated noise erupted from the back of Toshinori's throat and he coughed. Pain flared in his sinuses and blood dripped from his nose. His eyes burned a furious blue.

"All bark…" All for One sighed, the sound almost metallic behind his mask.

All for One easily turned Toshinori's head up and to the side, his thumb sliding from the sunken cheek to the jawbone.

"Devour has another interesting trait," All for One said.

Toshinori grit his teeth as the hand squeezed and pressed against his mouth.

Shit! Shit! Shit! He pushed at All for One's arm with renewed vigor, fingers clawing at the skin, but to no avail.

"With Devour, the jaw develops the capability to unhinge," All for One continued easily, prying Toshinori's jaw open and pressing down, "which you will need to do if you don't want it to break - Ah, like that."

Toshinori panted and glared, his jaw pressed wide open. A strange feeling of painless dislocation pulled at the back of his jawbone.

All for One hummed in satisfaction. He raised his other hand. His forefinger extended as he prepared his Quirk Activation ability.

"It also strengthens the bite."

Toshinori tensed and snarled against the hand press between his teeth, the noise muffled and feral.

All for One brought the finger to the side of his jaw -

Don't! Goddamnit!

- and pressed.

Toshinori's jaw snapped shut. Bone snapped between his teeth and blood seeped around his tongue.

Fuck! Goddamn you!

Toshinori tried to loosen his bite but his jaw wouldn't budge. His tongue pressed against the back of his mouth, trying to keep the damned blood from his throat, and held his breath.

All for One tilted his head curiously, his forefinger still pressed to Toshinori's jaw. He leaned in closer. Toshinori could see his own harried reflection in the man's mask.

"Your stamina is commendable, but I have the upper hand here."

The edges of Toshinori's vision grew spotty. His diaphragm heaved painfully, and he inhaled sharply through his nose. The second he drew that first breath, All for One withdrew his forefinger and returned control to his jaw.

Toshinori choked and spluttered. He couldn't prevent blood from seeping down his throat. His eyes burned with hate.

Damn it all!

Lips curled in a snarl, Toshinori mentally threw every curse he knew at his enemy, unable to truly voice them. His shoulders heaved as he wheezed, and he wiped the blood from his face and spat.

All for One stepped away, examining his mangled hand.

"Usually when I create a noumu, their minds shatter after the first additional quirk. But you… What a fascinating specimen you are. I expected as much, but to see it confirmed," All for One straightened his rumpled sleeve, "Could it be your contact with the quirk I fathered or your quirkless nature?"

All for One chuckled darkly, "I suppose, I could test that on one other."

Izuku's smiling face flashed in Toshinori's mind, and he lunged forward. Stay away from him!

All for One turned his back on Toshinori once again, picked up the half-eaten can from the lower wall. He turned it over in his hand, brushing the jagged edge with the tip of his thumb. He paced to the center of the room and placed it down on the ground.

All for One made his way toward the door and called back, "Perhaps this next quirk will tame you."

Toshinori glowered, his face flushed and breath ragged. He ground his teeth as the door shut.

It won't.


Thank you for reading! Send me a review or PM if you have any questions or comments.