Announcement: This probably won't be updated anytime soon, just wanted to get it back up. Still don't know why I decided to take it down earlier. I guess I didn't want too many in-progress works on my page.
Either way, hope you enjoy (if you haven't already read before.)
A/N: Alright folks, here we are with another BNHA/MHA story!
Before I even begin, I want to admit that parts of this may be similar to Io of Nine's "Deku the quirkless villain" and Demongem013's AU. Admittedly, I have and will use bits and pieces of their works for inspiration, but I will try to keep this unique in its own way. If I, or others, feel that too much is just copying with minimal changes, I will delete this so as to prevent any copyright issues between me and the respectful owners of original ideas.
As per usual, any important notes will be added in the Author's Notes that appear before and after each chapter.
I hope you enjoy as we once again embark on an adventure!
TW: Character suicide towards the end of this chapter.
It was raining out. The lukewarm droplets of moisture collected in tufts of green hair before sliding down and falling to the ground.
"Why?" the boy asked himself. "Why can't I do anything right?"
No matter how hard he tried, he always got the same result.
Nothing
Failure
Maybe a few more burns or bruises
Looking down from the top of the building, the green-haired teen started thinking.
How long would the fall be? Would he end up changing his mind once it was too late? Would it be painful, or would it be quick and easy?
"If you think you'll have a quirk in your next life, go take a swan dive off the school roof."
His supposedly best friend's words echoed through his head for the umpteenth time since hearing them.
"Listen kid, if you keep getting in the way, you're going to get hurt. From now on, let those of us with quirks deal with the villains."
Death Arms, a so-called "hero", had been less than friendly even when he himself had been to scared to take action.
"I'm sorry, but you can't be a hero without a quirk."
All Might, the very Symbol of Peace, the person he looked up to more than anyone, had told him to give up on is dream.
"Mom, can I be a hero?"
"I'm so sorry, Izuku!" Sobbing, both his own and his mother's, played in his head.
No one believed in him. To everyone, he was just a quirkless nothing. He wasn't good enough to do anything, except maybe get in the way. For so long he held strong, telling himself that someday, something would happen and he'd be more than he ever expected. He fed himself lies. Lies that pushed him though the day, and lies that put his mind at ease. But lies could only go so far.
And now, even he had given up on himself. If he could give up on him, then who would bother?
No one, plain and simple.
Izuku Midoriya took off his shoes and pulled out an envelope. After reading the letter, he sealed the package and used his shoes to weigh it down.
Once more he peered over the edge. It wasn't the school building, but it would more than do.
"I'm sorry, Mom," he muttered.
Before he finally went through with it, the young boy opened his mouth, took a deep breath, and shouted.
"Why? What's so wrong with having a dream? Even if it's a silly little fantasy, it's still a harmless dream!"
He took another breath.
"Is it just that bad to be quirkless? Can't weak, useless, defenseless nothings have their own hopes?"
His cries, so powerful in his ears, only faded in the distance.
"I'm sorry, child."
Izuku whipped around and looked for the source. Mere feet behind him stood a large man in an oversized black mask that covered more than just his face. He was dressed in a formal suit and even had a dress shirt underneath.
He gave off a dangerous aura, yet Izuku just didn't feel threatened for some reason.
"But you are right. This society places so much emphasis on quirks that it's sickening. You, a fine young man, are constantly rejected just because you fail to meet the atrocious status quo. To think that you've gone through so much that you're willing to end it all is saddening."
The man slowly approached Izuku and gently placed his left hand on the boy's shoulder. It was so smooth that he didn't even realize it was happening until he felt the weight on his arm.
"But, I see you for what you truly are; a hardworking, enthusiastic boy who's been failed by his idols, rejected by his peers, and cast away by society." The hand left his shoulder and dropped to the man's side.
A strong wind breezed by, forcing Izuku to step back a few paces as it pushed past him. The back of his foot slipped of the ledge, and his instincts took over. He flailed and reached for the man, a pole, anything to prevent his fall. His hands found the man's jacket and latched on.
He was seemingly unbothered by the development. In fact, Izuku could have sworn he heard the masked man chuckle lightly. With a careful grip, he wrapped his fingers around Izuku's wrist and pulled him back onto the slick rooftop.
"What if I told you that I could make you something more? How far would you go to gain my favor? To receive a quirk?"
His voice, so calm and collected, sent a chill down Izuku's spine. He took a few steps away from the ledge and let go of the man's jacket before looking up to where the eyes would have been.
"I...I don't know. Is it possible for someone like me to be...something? Anything?"
"Can someone like me be a hero like you?" That is what he asked All Might just a few days ago. And that is the question that led to his dream being shattered like glass. This man, whoever he was, seemed different. But why should this time be any different? Why should he answer differently than All Might, even if the question was more vague and open for interpretation?
"Yes. I know you can. Because I can make it happen."
Izuku, for the first time in a while, allowed himself to feel true hope. Not the false hope he had been feeling for years at a time, but genuine, honest hope.
"But like I asked, how far would you be willing to go?"
"I'd...I'd do anything." Izuku's voice was strong and determined, much unlike the voice he had when the man first appeared.
"Then, you must jump."
Izuku's heart froze in his chest. Was he wrong again? Was this man just playing with him?
"I know it's scary, but it's all part of a plan. If you truly want to become more than you are now, then you will jump, and I will take care of the rest."
Would this really work? Was it a ruse? What could this man gain from pushing someone who had already been ready to end it all?
The green-haired boy turned back to face the drop and slowly, carefully walked to the edge.
"Are-are you sure?" he asked.
The masked man nodded.
"Do not worry. You will be fine."
Izuku swallowed the lump in his throat and stared. He had already taken several looks to the ground far below, but each time it seemed to be a bit farther away than the last.
One foot placed itself right at the edge, than the other.
Izuku spread his arms like wings and let himself fall forward. The wind blew his hair and clothes. He was afraid, but he wasn't at the same time. The ground came closer and closer.
Izuku closed his eyes and pretended he was flying. Flying away from the pain. Flying away from the life he had lived for too long. Flying away to freedom.
For just a brief moment he could hear people screaming, then nothing.
Up above, the man smiled underneath his mask. The boy was devoted, and that's what he had counted on. Now it was time to fulfil his part of the bargain.
On the ground, some people screamed when they saw the lifeless body on the ground. Some quickly called first responders about a suicide. Others covered their children's eyes and urged them to move along.
The commotion was the perfect opportunity for the masked man. The bloodied body's open mouth spewed a thick, dark gray sludge that wrapped around and covered the form before disappearing altogether. The onlookers stared in puzzlement and fright where the dead body once was. A few gave their reports to the police, and about an hour later, everyone who had been present was going about their days.
The deceased body which had disappeared reappeared on top of the building in front of the man who had told him to jump.
"You are a brave one, and you shall be rewarded," he declared. He placed his hand on the boy's head and remained still when red streaks lit up the air between the two.
Slowly but clearly, the broken body stitched itself back together. Dislocated joints and shattered bones righted themselves themselves before the flesh and skin regrew over them. Within minutes the body was as good as new, but the host was not conscious. He was alive, if barely. The regeneration only worked on the physical level; the boy would need to wake himself.
Once again the dark gray fog spewed from the boy's mouth. This time, it leaked from underneath the large man's mask as well, and both disappeared, leaving the high rooftop abandoned.
A/N: Well, I hope you enjoyed! This is just a prologue, so it's a bit short. The later chapters will be longer, but it'll be quite some time, as I still have 2.5 other stories I'm working on. If you liked this, leave a review. Have a great day!