Izuku and Eri were sitting on the couch licking their ice cream. Well Eri was licking the ice cream, Izuku swallowed his whole. He misses tasting food. Specifically anything his mother makes. It is what it is, he can't really change it. When Eri finishes her ice cream she thanks him and heads to her room to play games on her computer. He's raising a neet. Maybe he should do something about that. Introduce her to sports maybe? Maybe take her fishing or something? Hunting? He'll think about it later. For now he has a little more work to do before he can retire. He's heading over to Giran's office.
"Yo." says Izuku as he walks through the door, making way for Giran's clients that are on their way out.
"Hey kid. What's up?" asks Giran.
"I ran it by Eraser and he'll stop chasing me, provided I keep in contact with him." says Izuku.
"Good. And you're still sure that you want to go to U.A.?" asks Giran.
"Truthfully? No, I'm not. But I figure I'll try it to see if I like it. It'll be nice to have some friends my age I hope. I never did relate to people my age." says Izuku.
"Sure." says Giran.
"Anyway. I won't be around for too much longer. I'm gonna buy the cabin and move the family there so if you wanted to call in any favors now would be the time. Any debts you need collected. Cars you need repoed. " says Izuku.
"Well there is one thing actually." says Giran.
"I'll take care of it." says Izuku.
"Enjoy your retirement." says Giran.
Izuku laughs at that, "I will and I'll try to visit."
"Good. Now I hate to do this but-" starts Giran.
"If you have somewhere to be I'll go." says Izuku.
"I do." says Giran.
"Don't even worry about it. I'll catch you later." says Izuku, truthfully he wishes he could spend more time with the man. Giran is a rat bastard but he's special to Izuku. He taught him how to drive and how to tie a tie. He taught him to shoot and sort of taught him how to fight. He doesn't exactly look at him like a father but… well he might actually.
Now comes the hard part of his day. It's not enough for him to just slip away with his family. He needs to keep his men safe, what's left of them that is. Victor and Speed Demon are in a bad position because of him and the only person he can think of who could protect them from the remainder of the syndicate is All For One. So he's off to Kurogiri's bar. He's gonna try not to come off as desperate but he wouldn't be asking him if he weren't. Somehow he always ends up back here. Like a moth to a flame. He's gonna try not to pull an icarus and fly too close.
He parks by the bar. It doesn't really have good parking because it's tucked into an alley so he just parks on the street and walks in. The bar is empty. Mainly because it's noon. Kurogiri isn't behind the bar which is unusual but Shirgaraki is at one of the tables with his whole PC set up and he's playing something.
He waves, "Hey Raki."
Tomura doesn't look up but takes his headphones off his left ear, "Hey. Why are you here?"
"I Wanna talk to your boss." says Izuku.
"He's busy." replies Shigaraki.
Izuku sits next to Shigaraki, "Is Kurogiri busy too."
"Yeah. Fucking pieice of shit how wasn't that a headshot." says Tomura.
"Looked like one to me." says Izuku.
"Right?" asks Shigaraki.
"Wanna hang out and wait for them to come back?" asks Izuku.
"Sure whatever." says Shigaraki.
"Cool." replies Izuku.
"You drink much?" asks Izuku after a brief silence.
"Sometimes." replies Shigaraki.
"What do you drink?" asks Izuku.
"Whatever Kurogiri offers." replies Shigaraki.
Izuku gets up, "I'll go for something nice."
He grabs a bottle of sake from behind the bar and writes it down on a napkin so Kurogiri can charge him when he gets back.
"Lock the door while you're up. The bar is supposed to be closed when Kurogiri is gone." says Shigraraki.
Izuku doesn't respond, he just does it. Then he sits back down next to Shigaraki and pours them both a glass.
"Do you play down here often?" asks Izuku.
"Nah. I'm only down here because my room is trashed." replies Shigaraki.
"What happened?" asks Izuku.
"I trashed my room." replies Shigaraki.
A puff of air escapes Izuku's nose as he tries not to laugh. He can tell Shigaraki noticed because he slightly turned to him. Izuku thinks Shigaraki isn't aware of how socially inept he is. That conversation played out like a skit but Shigaraki wasn't aware he said something funny. How often does Shigaraki talk to people? How often does he go outside? Does he go outside? Is this what he's raising with Eri? He really should get her a friend her age.
Shigaraki seems somewhat miffed at him for thinking he's funny.
"What secondary and melee are you using?" asks Izuku.
"This and this." says Shigaraki as he shows Izuku.
"Oh, for the crits?" asks Izuku.
"Do you play this game?" asks Shigaraki.
"Not often, but my daughter does and I try to stay involved and interested." says Izuku.
"What else does she play?" asks Shigaraki.
"I don't know what all she plays. She's got some Nintendo games." says Izuku.
Tomura just kind of hums. He clearly wanted a better answer.
From there the conversation bounces topics with Izuku doing most of the talking or talking shit to whoever Tomura is playing against, but mostly they just talk. Tomura doesn't take well to most of it but being the people pleaser he is Izuku picks up on what he does like to talk about. That being incredible violence. So Izuku tells stories of the things he's done to those he's captured. From feeding them to sharks to straight up torture. Decapitations, broken bones, bullet holes and some of the other ways he's killed people. He even slid one dude all the way down a flag pole. Like he threw him onto the pole, it went through his stomach and he slid all the way down. Tomura really liked that one.
"I think you and I are a lot alike." says Tomura.
Izuku doesn't share that sentiment at all. He can't help but wonder how Tomura came to that conclusion.
"How do you mean?" asks Izuku.
"We hate people. We kill what we hate." Shigaraki says like it's the simplest thing in the world.
"Hmm. I don't necessarily know if I hate people. I'm pretty social I guess. I got lots of friends. Well used to at least. There are lots of people I hate though." says Izuku, "Most of my hate comes from a sense of justice or something similar. Although, I used to avoid killing people, even if I hated them. Maybe I just think they deserve it… but I know that I like doing it. I wouldn't have told you any of that if I didn't like it."
"So what do you think it is? If you had to pick one." asks Shigaraki.
"I'll say it's situational because some people I've met absolutely deserved it. Some though. I just did it to do it. Well not just to do it I was gonna hurt them either way but I killed them because I wanted to." says Izuku.
"You should join me. Kill whoever you please." says Shigaraki.
Izuku sighs, "Oh… I'm not interested right now. Maybe in the future… maybe. Right now though all I want is to get away from people and retire. That's what I want your boss's help with."
Shigaraki … growls maybe? Izuku's not sure what that noise is. Shigaraki Is clearly upset though.
"I thought you said you didn't hate people?" asks Shigaraki.
Izuku laughs at that, he's been tearing through the sake. "Maybe you know me better than I do, Raki."
Shigaraki's about to say something but Izuku interrupts him, "I know a mercenary that I might send your way. Gotta wait for some things to calm down a bit though. I think the two of you would work well together. Plus I know your goals align a fair bit. Not completely but it's close."
"Is he any good?" asks Shigaraki.
"One of the best. Honestly he could probably kill me if he ever wanted to." says Izuku.
Shigaraki just hums at that and keeps playing. Izuku grabs another bottle of a different sake. The conversation lulls but Izuku thinks Shigaraki wants to say something. Eventually he does. "Earlier you mentioned a sense of justice-" starts Shigaraki.
"If I remember correctly I said 'a sense of justice or something." Says Izuku.
"I don't believe in justice." says Shigaraki, "It's an empty promise."
"Justice is subjective I think." Izuku's words are a little slurred at this point, " Like you think it means nothing. To me it's people getting what they deserve. To heroes it's stopping people from being wronged in the first place."
"The heroes are wrong. You might be onto something but the heroes are wrong. They don't stop much of anything." says Shigaraki.
"Hmm. Well a lot of heroes say things they don't mean. They talk about justice so people like them but they don't care about people at all. I knew this dude who was always talking about being a hero and how good of a hero he'd be but he didn't care about anyone. Not his friends, maybe not even his family but I'm not entirely sure about that." says Izuku.
"He sounds like the type of person I'd kill." says Shigaraki.
"He's an old friend but I'd be lying if I said the thought hasn't crossed my mind. I'm pretty sure I'm stronger than he is now. I could show him he's not as strong as he thinks he is." Izuku frowns then shakes his head, "But I won't."
That seems to piss shigaraki off, "Why not?"
"I'm close with people who care about him." Replies Izuku, "If you wanted to kill someone but sensei told you not to, would you?"
"Probably not." says Shigaraki he seems to get what Izuku is saying but he still doesn't like it.
Kurogiri finally opens a portal in the bar and steps through.
"Hey Kurogiri." says Izuku.
"Oh, Midoriya. I didn't expect you to be here." replies Kurogiri.
"Sorry to drop by without warning but I gotta talk to your boss." says Izuku.
Kurogiri seems disappointed maybe? He's hard to read given the lack of face.
"He is busy at the moment. Could you leave a message?" asks Kurogiri.
The TV tucked into the corner of the room flickers and says, "It's fine Kurogiri. Send him over, maybe he can help" before flickering back off.
Kurogiri shrugs and opens a portal in the middle of the room.
Izuku turns to the TV, "Hold on a moment gotta pay for the drinks."
Naturally he pays what he owes and then heads to the portal.
"Hey." says Shigaraki.
"What's up man?" asks Izuku.
"Are we friends?" asks Shigaraki.
Izuku shrugs, "... Yeah man. I don't know what else we'd be" before walking into the portal.
It's like he remembers it. Dark and scary. Like a set from a horror movie. Just a dark room with one chair in the middle, that and the test tubes. Softly illuminated, almost no light given.
"Midoriya." All For One greets.
"You said you needed help with something?" asks Midoriya.
"Wanted, not needed. What are you here for?" asks All For One.
"Protection. For the last two of my people." says Izuku.
"That's a lot of work." replies All For One.
"What do you need?" asks Izuku.
"Are you still willing to kill?" asks All For One.
"Depends on the person." Replies Izuku.
"I can guarantee you'll enjoy this one." says All For One.
"Who?"
"Look behind me." All For One, " Tell me what you see."
"Your lab monsters." says Izuku, "I can't help but notice an empty tube."
"It's not supposed to be empty." replies All For One.
"I'm supposed to hunt what was in there?" asks Izuku flatly.
"That's right." answers All For One.
"And you'll keep me and my men safe?" asks Izuku.
"I will. I'd prefer you join Tomura's league of villains but as long as I get at least this out of you It's fine." answers All For One.
"Kill or capture?" asks Izuku.
"Kill" replies All For One.
"Really?" asks Izuku, "You never struck me as the type to waste resources."
"Believe me when I say it's more trouble than it was worth." replies All For One.
"Tell me about it." demands Izuku, "How is it made? How does it fight? How do I kill it, stuff like that."
"I take a person and kill them or I simply take a corpse. I bring the corpse to my Doctor and his team and they remold the body with pieces from other bodies to make it stronger, more resilient or just specialized for the quirks I plan on giving it."
"Don't be like that. If we're going to work together, tell me what you really know about how it's made." says Izuku.
"I'm not doing that." replies All For One bluntly.
"Fine. What are its quirks?" asks Izuku.
"It has four. The base had a mutation that gave him four arms. From there I gave it enhanced strength. Not as strong as you but it is still strong. I gave it claws. Non retractable. Lastly I gave it a quirk called grafting. It can graft body parts onto itself." says All For One.
"How much did you give it?" asks Izuku.
"Well I didn't give it any." replies All For One.
"... how much did it take?" asks Izuku.
"The entire team I had working on it except for my doctor. That comes out to roughly twenty people. Twelve men and nine women." answers All For One, "I assume the actual Nomu, that's what we call them, is somewhere in the middle of all that flesh."
"... This doesn't seem like a very good matchup for me. Hell Shigaraki sounds like a better matchup. Or maybe my friend the arsonist." says Izuku, "Why me?"
"You recall my partnership with Giaguaro." says All For One, "Originally I planned to make them all vampires. It's how we kept them alive after death at first. They were too… vampiric. They didn't listen. They attacked indiscriminately and all they really wanted was blood. Interestingly enough only a vampire's blood could keep them alive. We honestly have no idea what we did to them to cause that. After Giaguaro died they began to starve. None of the original batch are left… well except one but that one was always different. We never made that one a vampire."
"Kurogiri?" asks Izuku.
Despite All For One not having eyes he gives a very pointed look.
"I can feel more than one soul in there. Just like with your monsters." says Izuku.
"Well you're right but know that Kurogiri is a bit more than a monster. He was our first successful Nomu. He can think for himself and still remains loyal." says All For One.
"Does he know?" asks Izuku.
"Of course he knows." replies All For One.
"The one I'm gonna hunt, how smart is it?" asks Izuku.
"Smarter than an animal. It wouldn't have gotten out otherwise. You don't have to worry though, it's certainly not human anymore." says All For One.
"Who was he?" asks Izuku.
"Some no name hero, but like I said don't worry. He's been dead for some time." answers All For One.
"Hmm. Did you ever answer, why me?" asks Izuku.
"Oh. Giaguaro was around when we were working on it and I believe it would recognize a vampire if it saw one. It should be quite scared of you. It always reacted strongly when it saw him." says All For One.
"How did it get out anyway?" asks Izuku.
"Tomura brushed the device that kept it asleep." replies All For One.
"That's why he trashed his room?" asks Izuku
"I believe so." replies All For One.
"Hmm." Izuku hums thinking to himself.
"Any more questions? I have other things I need to be doing." asks All For One.
"Do we know where it is?" asks Izuku.
"We have a tracker but it's underground and we can't find it. As soon as it comes up you'll know" replies All For One.
A portal opens behind Izuku.
"You know I'll hold up my end. You had better hold up yours." says Izuku.
All For One extends a hand but doesn't say a word. Izuku looks at him briefly before shaking it and heading back out through the portal.
Authors Note
I'm finally back after so long. I want to say that I'll be getting chapters out more frequently now that I'm getting back into it but I've said that a few times so I won't say it. I will try tho. I'm not going to respond to the comments on last chapter just because it's been like half a year since then and it probably won't mean anything. My Bad. I hope this was worth the wait (it wasn't).