Chapter 47: Oh My God-I Just Cried The Entire Time I Was In The Shower

Hitoshi grimaced as the screams started again. He glanced over at the blonde tied up next to him and the boy seemed to be in as much pain hearing them as himself.

It had been hours and they were still torturing Izuku, or whatever they were doing. That scarred villain, Dabi leaned against the wall. He was quiet, had been ever since dragging them to that room despite Shigaraki ordering that they be kept apart. He didn't do much of anything really, except brood against the wall and grimace occasionally when Izuku's screams sounded extra painful.

After a while, the screams stopped, and Hitoshi couldn't help the thoughts in his head running wild with what could've possibly happened.

He was brought out of his thoughts when the villain's phone rang, and he picked it up. "What?" Hitoshi couldn't hear the other line, so he made extra sure to pay attention to what Dabi was saying. "The girl is what? That bastard…how could he do that to a…I know. Yeah, they're fine, no trouble whatsoever. I-yeah, we all heard…Me too." And then he hung up.

Shinso groaned mentally. Could that conversation have been any more vague and impossible for him to piece together? What girl was he talking about and why did he get so angry when talking about her? And then he seemed to get sad…ugh, villains suck soooo much. He wished Izuku were here.

"I am All For One."

Izuku managed to push himself to his knees as he took in what was in front of him. The man was tall and dressed in a suit that didn't seem to have a single wrinkle or speck of dust on it. He was sitting in a large chair that sat in the middle of the room and he was hooked up to what looked to be a life-support machine. He noted one other detail and he looked over the man with tired eyes…he didn't have a face.

"All…For…You're the master Shigaraki was talking about…"

The man let out a deep laugh, "Indeed. You are quite perceptive Serpentine. I have to say, it is quite difficult to impress me, but you have managed to do it on multiple occasions. It's a shame you have no intention of joining us."

He paused, as if giving Izuku the chance to change his mind, but if he thought he would fold just like that, then the guy obviously wasn't as smart as he thought he was.

"Pity." His voice hadn't changed, but somehow Izuku just knew that with that one word, he has sealed whatever fate this man intended to bring upon him. "You would've been so great by Tomura's side…alas, despite the disappointment of your refusal, I cannot simply let a quirk such as yours go to waste. That is why you are here."

What was he talking about? His quirk? Was that why those people had run so many tests on it? But what-

"You know my master…he really loves quirks. You could call him a bit of a collector."

The man cleared his throat, "Tell me Serpentine, are you familiar with the legend of All For One?"

"Seems pretty selfish to name a legend after yourself." Izuku muttered under his breath, his brain not knowing any other way of dealing with what was going on.

"Young boy, I did not create the legend. The people of this place back when quirks had just manifested told stories about my power and influence for decades. It died out after a while, the idea of being able to steal and give away quirks seemingly nothing but a fantasy, but I assure you that it is very much real."

Steal and give away quirks? What was he on about? That was impossible. There wasn't a quirk like that, and even if there was, they would've known about it. It was too dangerous to keep under wraps…right?

Decades…the dawn of quirks…

"I have been around for a very long time, and I have never come across a power quite like yours. The years have not been kind to me and I'm afraid that I am not as strong as I once was. That is why I raised Tomura to be my successor, but now…" The man stood up from his chair and removed some of the tubes that were under his sleeve before taking slow steps towards Izuku.

He was frozen. All For One approached the boy and Izuku could do nothing but stare at him as his frame began to shake in frightened anticipation of what was about to happen.

The villain stopped just before him and knelt down to Izuku's level. His featureless face staring directly into Izuku's wide terrified eyes. He stayed like that for a moment before the only distinguishable part of his face curled into a smirk and he brought his hand up to graze the side of Izuku's face.

"Oh child…you have no idea. No idea of the blessing your quirk is. Such a shame you were unable to see it. Don't worry, soon you'll be able to fulfill what you long for most. I'll make sure of it."

Even without eyes, Izuku could somehow feel the villain looking down at him as he remained frozen, his limbs shaking in fear, his heart beating out of his chest, sweat trickling down his back, and his throat feeling like it was beginning to close up.

"I'm grateful actually, I was going to take that girl's quirk, a quirk that can reverse like that could restore me to my former glory but yours…" The man caressed the side of Izuku's face, "There is no reason to fear, it'll all be over soon. That's what you want, isn't it? What you've been trying to do since the beginning? I am here to simply grant your wish as I have done for countless before you."

Izuku's breath hitched as the man brought his other hand to the other side of his face and held him in place. He took a breath in, and suddenly a pain erupted from deep within the boy.

He gasped as the pain steadily grew and the air around Izuku began to glow as All For One's hands began to feel hot against his skin. The boy tried to fight, to get out of the man's grip, but he could barely stay upright due to the drawback of dying so many times.

The pain grew more and more as Izuku began gasping for breath that never seemed to be enough. If he had to describe it, he would say it was as if he was being torn from the inside, as if a part of him was being ripped from him.

He whimpered out protests against the man as tears began to sting his eyes and he saw All For One grimace. "Stop…fighting…me!" He growled out as the pain doubled and Izuku lurched forward as he felt whatever was inside him being pried away from him. "This is what you wanted! Don't you want to see your mother again? Don't you want to leave and not have to deal with this world anymore? I'm trying to help you!"

Izuku tried to cling to his quirk as it seemed to slip through his fingers. "Please…" Izuku whispered before it was gone. All For One let out a breath and as immediately dropped Izuku's head and the boy collapsed to the ground.

He twitched on the ground, his body trying to understand the sudden feeling of emptiness. His breaths came out raggedly as he tried to calm himself down.

As much as he had gone through…all of the pain he had endured up until that point…it didn't compare, to the pure agony he felt in that moment.

All For One began to laugh from above Izuku and the boy tilted his head to look at the man.

"I can feel it…this invulnerability…this security…no wonder you were such a good vigilante, I feel as if I can do anything."

"What did…you do?"

The man chuckled darkly, "Oh poor boy…I gave you what you always wanted. Now you'll be able to die properly as you tried to do all those months ago. I'll even do it myself, think of it as a thank you for your quirk."

He flexed his hands before beginning to kneel down to Izuku with his hand outstretched but stopped suddenly. His head whipped to the side as he stared at virtually nothing before the wall exploded and the man flew away from the boy.

Izuku closed his eyes to protect himself from the debris and smoke, but his body was too weak to move or even wince. What could've happened? Maybe it was Shigaraki? No, because All For One seemed caught off guard, so-

"Have no fear…for I AM HERE!" A loud voice filled the room as All Might's gigantic frame stood at the blown-out entrance as the smoke cleared. Izuku coughed some dust from his lungs and stared at the man with wide eyes.

What was he doing here? How did he find him? What happened to AFO?

The last question was answered as a low laugh echoed from the other side of the room and All Might's winning smile faltered slightly. "All Might…" The man called out, his voice nothing short of amused by the number one hero's arrival. "I have to say I'm disappointed, it took you thirty seconds to get from the bar to here. You're getting weaker."

"Oh yeah? How's your life support holding up?"

"You know I've never been a fan of conventional methods."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Why don't you ask young Izuku here? Oh, my apologies, I meant Serpentine."

All Might looked down at the child who looked dead on the floor. He was riddled with scars, his skin was as pale as snow, and his eyes were rolling to the back of his head. "What did you do to him you villain?" The hero's way too loud voice boomed from above Izuku.

"Nothing he didn't want, I assure you."

"You…son of a-" Izuku choked out weakly before his voice died off as a fresh wave of exhaustion overtook him. "I didn't-"

"Well, All Might, as much as I want to destroy you, I must dispose of this one first. Thank you for your help young Serpentine, you have been invaluable to me, but now you have outlived your usefulness. Say hello to Inko for me."

Izuku's eyes shot open at the mention of his mother. How dare he…How dare he say her name as if he knew her-as if he knew him? "Take her name…out of your god* mouth." The boy sent a glare so cold to the man that AFO was almost tempted to flinch, but instead his mouth curled into a smirk as he watched the weak boy push himself to his hands and knees. So weak…so useless…as he's always been. From dust back to dust as they say, he supposed.

All For One outstretched his hand to Izuku and the boy's heart lurched.

Wait-this was what he wanted, right? Mission accomplished or whatever. So why did he feel like this? Why did the deep feeling of dread not go away as he looked at the man as if staring down the barrel of a gun?

He wanted to die…he wanted to leave and go be with his mother…right?

But if he left, what would that do to Hitoshi? The boy was his best friend, his brother, and he knew…every time Izuku would joke about dying or talk to the boy about his past he saw the sadness in his eyes no matter how much he tried to hide it.

And what about Eraser? He promised…he had promised him that he would stay alive…

He stared wide-eyed at the man who wore a sadistic smirk as if he were simply about to squash a bug under his shoe. But Izuku wasn't a bug, he was a person and he deserved to live. He…he wanted to live.

The boy looked up, his body burning with a newfound fury directed at the thumb standing over him, and he chilled his glare at the man's sadistic smirk. "Try it. I dare you-"

It all happened in the blink of an eye. Izuku was blown back from air that came from the man's hand and crashed through the wall of the building, landing on the rocky ground outside. He wheezed as he tried to take in the breath that was knocked out of him, but before he could even move, a black tendril had come from the building and raced towards the boy.

It impaled itself into his side. Luckily, he was able to roll so that it hopefully missed anything major, but it still hurt like a bit*. He let out a cry as blood splattered from the wound and then he let out another strangled cry when he was lifted off the ground and two more tendrils embedded themselves into Izuku's body. One in his left shoulder and one in his right thigh.

A low laugh echoed through the air as Izuku watched the villain slowly emerge from the building they had been in, his smile prevalent on his face and two more black tendrils protruding from his back. "What was that? I couldn't quite hear you." He yelled out with another laugh.

"You son of a-" All Might shot from the building, crashing into AFO which resulted in the tendrils detaching themselves from Izuku and retreating back to their host. With nothing else holding him up, the boy dropped to the ground, wheezing as he rolled over onto his back and tried to focus on the pain shooting through him and not the overwhelming desire to just stop fighting and let go.

No. He couldn't do that, he promised Eraser…and Izuku wasn't one to break promises.

The fight between the two men was intense. Even from as far away as Izuku was, he was still being affected by the sheer power of it. Wind whipped around and blew rocks and debris at the boy who did his best to ignore it and roll back onto his back after being blown back and crashing into a large bolder.

It began to become harder to breath as the boy felt warm liquid enter his lungs slowly and he coughed and coughed to try to get it out, only resulting in more entering.

Footsteps sounded behind him, but he couldn't bring himself to worry about it until a short old man in a cape and mask stood over him with a solum expression.

"I'm so sorry my boy, you never should've been a part of this fight." He looked over his shoulder at the two men still duking it out and let out a shaky breath. "And I'm sorry Toshinori, but I have to get him to safety. Don't you dare lose." He turned back to Izuku and knelt down to pick the boy up.

Adjusting him so that the hero's arms were supporting him under his legs and behind his back, he stood up straight and went to take off, but was blown back, dropping Izuku as the boy crashed and rolled on the ground.

"Sh*t! Don't you dare give up on me boy! I thought you were supposed to be strong!" The hero picked him up again and took off, leaving the fight far behind them.

He brought Izuku to the outside of a building filled with heroes and tied up Nomus. He touched down, stumbling a bit as he did, and called out for help.

Heroes and paramedics alike raced towards him and snatched Izuku out of the man's arms before he dropped him. "Help him, he's hurt, coughing up blood, multiple puncture wounds…"

"We've got him Gran Torino, don't worry." One of the heroes assured the old man as two paramedics looked Izuku over.

"Young man, are you okay? Can you tell us your name?"

"All Might…All For-wait." Izuku coughed violently before looking around frantically. "Eraser…I need-"

"What kid? What do you need?"

Izuku began to take quick short breaths as a very familiar feeling crawled up his spine. He knew that feeling all too well, that feeling that your time was up…but he couldn't, he needed- "My da-where's Eraser? I need Eraser!"

"Calm down, we've got to get you taken care of first, okay? Tell me your name."

No, no, they didn't-he was running out of-WHY WEREN'T THEY HELPING HIM?!

"No, you don't understand! I need him, he's-I need my dad, get me Eraserhead!" Izuku tried to fight the hands that held him down as they transferred him into an ambulance. "Please…" Tears began to race down his face as his breaths got shorter and shorter, "I need to tell him…I promised…"

The paramedics began to work on the boy, hooking him up to machines and checking his vitals, but he knew it was too late. Tears gathered in his eyes as he thought about how angry Eraser was going to be, but one of the paramedics pulled him from his thoughts, "Hey, it's going to be okay. You're going to be-"

"Kid?!" A low voice called out turning every head towards it. It sounded weaker than usual, almost like it did that day in the car, but when Izuku looked up and saw him, everything washed away leaving him to let everything he was holding back out. "Kid!"

Eraser began to run towards where the boy was, knocking anyone in his way aside until he got there and leaned down over him. He ran his hand over Izuku's forehead and into his hair as his other hand found the boy's free one.

"Eraser…I-I'm sorry. He took it-I'm so sor-"

"Hey-hey, don't apologize. None of this is your fault, okay?"

Izuku tried to fight back a sob as he watched the man above him slowly break down, "No I-I promised and…"

"You haven't broken it yet, and I'll be damned if I'm going to let you, do you hear me?"

"No Eraser, he took it…I can-I can feel-"

"Don't you dare talk like that. You're going to be okay, alright? You're going to be fine; Hitoshi would kill you if you weren't."

The boy's breath hitched at the mention of his friend, and he tried to get out the words that seemed to stick to the back of his throat. Eraser saw his panic and quickly shushed him.

"He's fine. We were able to save him and Bakugou."

Izuku breathed out a breath of relief before a fresh wave of tears overcame him. He took in a sharp breath, every one of them hurting now it seemed, "Eraser?" His voice broke slightly as he fought down the sob that threatened to escape. "I…I don't want to die. Please don't let me die…" He choked out a breath and reached his hand up to grab at his chest that was starting to physically hurt from his crying.

"Izuku-"

"Did I um, did I ever tell you that you're like a father to me? N-not like the crappy biological one I've got, but like the one I used to dream about as a kid…I-I don't think I've ever told you that."

The hero shook his head as he tried to fight back his own sobs, "Stop it. Don't you dare talk like that-"

"That's pretty embarrassing right?" Izuku let out a pained laugh, "Admitting that I actually care…You know, I forced myself to act like I didn't care about anything or anyone. Guess that plan sorta went out the window when I met you and everyone else, huh? Kinda hard not to care when people care so much about you…"

"We do!" Eraser choked out, "We care so much about you so please-"

The boy let out a sigh as he leaned his head back with closed eyes before looking back at the pro's tear-stained face. "I'm glad I got to say that. You deserved to hear it after all the crap I put you through."

Eraser let out a small scoff before smiling slightly down at the boy, "Yeah…but I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I told you I wasn't alone when we first met, but I don't think I understood what it meant to truly care for someone so unconditionally until you came into my life problem child."

"Ugh, you're so sappy."

"Shut up."

The two of them let out small laughs as they looked at each other, mutually basking in the walls that had been broken down, but also sitting in the morning that both of them were silently doing.

Izuku took a breath in, ignoring the blurriness of his tear-filled eyes, "Eraser I really am sor-"

"Do not." Eraser glared at the boy, "You are going to be fine."

"Eraser…I can feel-"

"I don't care! We are going to get you out of here and you are going to be fine, just like you promised, got it?"

"We've got to get him out of here now! He's lost too much blood!" One of the paramedics called out as Izuku simply focused on breathing and on the feeling of Eraser rubbing circles on the back of his hand to comfort him.

He wasn't going to win this, Izuku knew that. Even though he knew his time was up and he could feel himself being taken, he knew that Eraser was more stubborn than that and would gladly fight the universe or whatever if it meant he could keep his problem child with him.

And for once…Izuku was fine with that.