"I will not stand down while you go out there." Aizawa's voice cut through the room. A dangerous edge to his tone that suggested that he wasn't going to change his mind anytime soon.
They were in the middle of a meeting. Nedzu, detective Tsukauchi, and All Might were discussing their plans. They wanted to check out the location they got from a witness while Aizawa distracted and mislead the villains with a press conference.
"Aizawa, you need to understand that even if you'll be doing the press conference, you'll be a crucial part of the plan." Nedzu countered him calmly, having expected the latter's outburst.
"I don't care!" The underground hero slammed his fist on the table, the objects laying on it rattling with the resulting tremors. "Izuku is out there right now! My son is out there! He might be dead for all we know and I will not stay here and do nothing if I can be out there helping with his rescue!" The room's occupants all showed various signs of shock. After all, it was the first time they'd seen Aizawa be so worked up. Usually, the man didn't show any emotions, his feelings hidden behind a carefully crafted blank facade.
All Might's clenched his fists in frustration, knuckles white, blood trickled to the ground as his nails pierced his palm.
He was useless, his successor was fighting for his life while he did absolutely nothing. His guilt was eating away at him. He couldn't imagine what Aizawa was going through. The underground hero was there, after all.
"What do you suggest we do then, we need someone at that press conference. How are we going to explain the absence of Class 1-A's own homeroom teacher?" Tsukauchi asked in retort.
"They don't know what I look like. For all they know, Eraserhead could be anyone." Aizawa responded calmly, his features contorting back to their natural blankness. "I need to be there!"
He couldn't just stay here, knowing that he could help Izuku. It was his own shortcomings that allowed the boy to be taken. He once swore to keep his kid safe no matter what and he failed once again. He wasn't going to make that mistake another time.
"Very well, you may go with All might to the raid. However, your role will be solely focused on the rescue. I don't trust you to hold back if you got your hands on any of the league's members." The rat relented, he knew that the hero wasn't going to back down anytime soon. Time was running out, they couldn't afford to wait anymore.
After all, Izuku Midoriya's life was on the line.
The world spun as consciousness slowly seeped back into him. He found himself back in the holding cell. He wasn't chained like last time though; his knees were touching the ground this time. A great relief to his abused shoulders.
The grey walls trapping him were a strange, yet welcomed change from the constant darkness he was previously held in.
He didn't know at which point he passed out. It was most likely after the seventh time All for one banished him to the dark orb. The last time, they let him stay there for what felt like an eternity.
His body involuntarily shuddered at the mere memory. The darkness, that void, made him wish for any kind of escape. He'd stand there, bathed in complete utter obscurity, crying, begging for any force out there to just make it stop. The pain, the despair, putting an end to it all!
These dark thoughts haunted his mind through it all, the sweet pull and luring invitation of relief tempting him to give in. Yet, he didn't. He stood his ground, steeling himself and enduring the agonizing experience. He needed to hold on, he needed to persist and bear the suffering. The heroes would come, right? They'd come and save him… Right? Some part of him whispered that they weren't coming. That he will die here, all alone.
The cell door opened, the creaking and hissing sound ominous. Izuku gulped in anticipation, hoping with every inch of his life that it wouldn't be Compress who would step through the threshold.
To his confusion and slight relief. It was Spinner. The lizard villain entered the cell hesitantly, a deep scowl adorning his features as he inched closer. His frown deepening as his eyes took in Izuku's beaten and battered form.
"Boss wants you back at the bar." The villain seemed to be avoiding his gaze now. His eyes focused on removing the chains from Izuku's hands. "But first…" Spinner pauses for a moment, digging up something from his pocket. The needle gleams under the light. Was this the quirk suppressants they were giving him?
To his surprise, the villain didn't inject him with it. Instead, the man opted to just empty the syringe on the floor. "Stain deemed you worthy. If you really are a true hero, prove yourself kid. Don't give in and fight!"
Soon enough, the chains were discarded and his body was being lifted up. His weight leaning on the scaled man.
He wanted desperately to thank the man but their journey was cut short. The bar's door appearing in his line of sight as Spinner ushered him into the room.
"Ah, Young Midoriya. It's nice to have you back in the land of the living." All for One chuckled darkly. "Your mother is growing impatient, you know?" His voice took on a serious tone again. "And so am I." Despite the screen that was separating them, Izuku could feel the man's piercing gaze.
"Izuku-kun" His mother was next to speak up. "This is your last chance darling." The label made his skin crawl. "Give it up, this struggle you're putting up is useless." She practically spat the words out, disgust and anger evident in her tone.
"Listen to your mother brat" Shigaraki's voice sounded from behind him. Startling him as he didn't notice the man's presence.
Shigaraki proceeded to put his hand on Izuku's shoulder. His pinky just barely hovering over his exposed skin. His shirt long ago shredded beyond repair. "You won't like the alternative!" The man whispered into his ear. His breath making his entire body shudder in disgust.
Steeling himself and gathering whatever strengths he had left, he spoke up. Knowing full well the inevitable pain he was about to suffer. "D-don't H-hold your breath!"
Despite having expected it, he was in no way ready for the pain that came next. Shigaraki's finger settled on his shoulder and within seconds blinding pain erupted through his body. The intensity instantly bringing him to his knees.
He bit his tongue, willing himself no to let out the shrill scream that was threatening to escape his throat. He could feel his nerves burning as they were slowly being disintegrated. His vision turned white and his senses were accosted by the heavy sent of dead flesh and gore.
Shigaraki removed his hand but the pain was still as strong as ever. The open wound on his shoulder pulsing and aching. Blood trickled down his torso, a great contrast to his already white pale skin. Although, the bruises and scars painting his body like a canvas made it as though the blood wasn't really out of place.
"Playing tough guy, are we now?" Shigaraki hissed under his breath as he inched closer to the fallen boy. "Fucking. BRAT!" Each word was accompanied by a kick to the back and stomach. The blows were hard enough to leave him sprawled on the ground, clutching his abused limbs tightly. He was just so tired. The torture he suffered during the last days drained his body from its energy and strengths.
His senses were overwhelmed by the onslaught of pain he was feeling, yet, a new feeling was starting to burn in his veins. He couldn't help but smile as he felt the familiar sensation of One for all burning through his veins once again. Spinner didn't give him the quirk suppressants and the last dose was finally wearing off.
This was his chance. He couldn't afford to waste it.
Shigaraki retracted his leg for another blow…. It never landed. Izuku blocked it at the last second, quickly swinging his leg and tripping Shigaraki in the process.
The villain cursed loudly as he flailed on the ground, hands outstretched and ready to disintegrate the hero in training at any given moment. However, Izuku wasn't going to stand there and take it idly. Using the room's occupant's surprise to his advantage, he summoned as much of One for All as his body could handle right now and made a run for it.
He doesn't know if it's the adrenaline scorching through his veins or pure determination but he somehow made it out of the room. He found himself back in the corridor, running blindly through the hall, cursing himself for not memorizing the pass beforehand. He didn't care though, he kept running, his feet pounding on the wooden floor tiles, the sound rhythmic and constant despite his erratic heartbeat.
He could hear the other's behind him catch up, he couldn't run forever. For all he knew, he was running straight back into his cell. He needed a plan, he needed a way to get out of here.
He ducked into another pass and yelped as his body was pulled into a corner. He kicked and struggled, the actions useless against the stronghold his captor had on him.
"KID, kid you need to calm down. I'm not here to hurt you." The man holding him spoke, his voice unfamiliar. He felt the stranger's hold slack and quickly turned around to face him. To his disbelief and immense confusion, the man in front of him was none other than Dabi.
"What- why are you- "
"We don't have time. You need to trust me, I didn't know what they were going to do to you. I thought they wanted to recruit you. Not fucking torture, you!"
"Why should I trust you? You were the one that kidnapped me!" Izuku couldn't help but ask. Why was this villain helping him?
"I may be a villain but I do not condone child abuse. That mother of yours is worse than my own bastard of a father." Before Izuku could ask any other question, Dabi continued. "Go this way than go left. There's a door that will lead you outside from here." They could hear rattling coming from behind them. Time was running out.
Izuku studied the other's features for a moment. Looking for any sign of deceit. He found none.
Giving a quick nod as thanks, Izuku ran. He could feel his body giving up on him. His limbs aching for rest and his wound throbbing with each move he made. He kept running though, he had people who were counting on him to make it out alive.
Stay alive Izuku repeats like a mantra as he forces his feet to move forward.
He finally sees the exit after following Dabi's instructions. His hand grips the handle like a lifeline as he opens the door. Relief floods his system as he finds himself outside. The fresh air a huge contrast to the restricted and omnipresent smell of rot and flesh.
It was short-lived. The sweet sense of relief was abruptly morphed into a deep sense of dread as his vision turned dark and he found himself warped back into the bar.
How could he forget about Kurogiri?
The first thing he was greeted with was a punch to the guts. The hit made him tumble to the ground, wheezing for breath.
"YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD ESCAPE YOU INSOLENT BRAT!" Shigaraki wailed, fury and rage dripping from every syllable.
His arm stung and he looked up to see Kurogiri shooting him with another dose of quirk suppressants. "It seems one dose isn't enough." The man stated calmly.
"If we can't have your power, you are of no use to us. You'll die here Izuku Midoriya." All for One's spoke calmly. Unperturbed by the tantrum Shigaraki was currently throwing. "It's time Tomura!"
Shigaraki approached him menacingly, his hand stretched barely a few inches from Izuku's face.
A knock interrupted his movement.
"Kamino Pizza delivery!"
"Who the hell ordered- "
With that, the world dissolved into utter and complete chaos. The bar entrance blew up in a display of debris and smoke. From the smoldering dust emerged the hulking figure of the symbol of peace. A pure and unadulterated sense of safety washed over Izuku as he caught sight of his mentor.
Multiple heroes trickled into the bar next. Izuku recognized Kamui Woods and Gran Torino amongst them. Swiftly the heroes restrained most of the villains present. Izuku's breath catches in his throat as his eyes land on the last hero to enter.
His guardian enters the bar, a murderous look adorning his features as his eyes drift across the room.
Aizawa enters the bar, praying with every inch of his being that his kid is still alive and safe.
His eyes flit through the room, taking in his surroundings. Finally, his eyes land on a tuft of green hair. It's not Izuku's.
With a sense of deep anger and disgust, he realizes that Inko Midoriya joined the league of villains. Worry and dread fill his guts as the implications sink in. Izuku has been trapped for days with his mother and the villains.
He ignores her for the moment, his job is solely focused on rescuing his kid. Inko Midoriya's fate can wait.
Relief floods his system as he sees Izuku from across the room. However, his heart sinks as he takes in the beaten and battered form of his kid. Izuku's face is covered in blood and soot, his body is worst though. He sees old and poorly wrapped bandages on the kid's arms and notices the way all of his uncovered skin appears to be black and purple. Not to mention the blood and gore appearing on his shoulder where the skin is supposed to be. The kid looks bad. Really bad. As if a small gust of wind can blow him to pieces.
Their eyes meet for merely a second and it's all it took to get him moving.
He races across the room, intent to get to him as soon as possible.
Izuku's gaze meets Aizawa's. He sees the worry and fear in his guardian's eyes. He's about to call out to him. However, a suffocating sensation erupts in his throat. It feels like he's drowning from the inside out. He can't breathe and his vision slowly turns dark.
Aizawa is a couple of steps away from Izuku now, his outstretched hand falters as he takes note of the muddy substance oozing from his ward's throat. He sees Izuku cough up that liquid and watches helplessly as the substance covers his body rapidly. He lounges at the boy, his hands grasping at the liquid and coming up empty. The substance incases the kid completely and just like that… Izuku is gone.
Aizawa crumbles to the ground, the material slipping between his fingers. Just like his chance at getting Izuku back.