Not all men are created equal is a lesson that Izuku Midoriya has been learning for 14 years of his life. It began at the age of 4. "I'm sorry" were the two words that broke Izuku. "Your son seems to be quirkless. The extra joint in his pinky toe right here shows it despite the vestigial mutations he has." Bit by bit his dream of becoming a hero cracked and shattered. The appointment ended, and the silence in the car during the drive home was deafening. The clicking of the doorknob from the opening of the door were the quietest most suspenseful moments of his life.
The door opened and they walked in. The lights were low and Hisashi was absent as usual. Still overseas working for the family. Izuku remembered the appointment and those words echoed through his head. There was only one question that rang through to Izuku. "Can I be a hero mom?". As tears fell from both parties, Inko apologized profusely to her baby boy all Izuku could think was 'Akatani could've been a hero?…'.
Before Izuku was born he would've been a twin. But as fate would have it Akatani would be still born and only Izuku survived. The poor boy learned this when he was 3 after seeing the other child in his baby photos and overhearing his mom.
While reflecting on the painful realization of his quirklessness Izuku hobbled up to his room and laid there on his bed. And for the first time in his life Izuku felt hopeless.
As Izuku's quirkless status became known the bullying began and they even began to call him "Deku" to remind him of how useless he was. The worst part was that Bakugo Katsuki of all people was at the head of his torment.
As time went on the bullying became more physical and he became a punching bag. The girls of the school started nasty rumors about him and the boys just beat him. He slowly began to stop talking unless talked to. He put up walls to protect himself and became a very guarded kid.
All of this began to turn Izuku into a clever shut-in when he wasn't at school and only went outside when he needed to. He began to play more video games and analyze more heroes to pass the time and even picked up guitar because he found talent for it. He rarely interacted with people besides his mother and when he did he was a stuttering mess (especially with girls). Slowly over a long and painful decade Izuku lost his smile that his mother lived so much.
And then there was today. It was Izuku's last school year and he was almost out of Aldara High school. He kept his head down as usual and even made it to his last class of the day unnoticed. Things were going good…too good. Izuku knew that his shitty luck was going to catch up with him at some point and the anxiety twisted his stomach into knots.
Finally making it into the room for his last class of the day, Izuku quickly retreated to his seat and kept his head down on his desk to make himself as small as possible to hopefully postpone whatever was coming.
"Today I have to pass out your career aptitude tests to see what you would be most suited for in the future." the teacher droned. "But…" and without warning the teacher threw all the papers in the air and said "I know you all want to be heroes!".
The class erupted into cheers and showed off their quirks except for Bakugo and Izuku. "Calm down and no quirk usage in school got it?" the teacher reprimanded the class. "Hey, teach!" a loud and gruff voice sounded off which was of course Bakugo. "Don't lump me in with these bunch o' losers. They'd be lucky to get picked up by some busted D lister.". And with that angry murmurs began to spark through the class demeaning Katsuki for his brashness. "Oh that's right Katsuki, you're trying for U.A. university aren't you." the teacher stated matter of factly as he began to flip through the papers he had on his desk. The class's demeaning comments quickly shifted into awe as they admired Bakugo for trying out for U.A. "Hell yeah I am because U.A. is the only school good enough for me. I aced the mock exam and the practical is gonna be a piece of cake. I'm gonna be the best damn hero you've ever seen.".
"Oh and Midoriya is trying for U.A. as well.". Izuku flinched hard at those words and through the death stares the class was giving him he swore he could see a manic cheshire grin on the teacher's face.
"YOU WHAT DEKU!?" Bakugo practically screamed as he rocketed over to Izuku and knocked that filthy Deku out of his chair. "You're so much worse than the rest of these extras because you don't even have a quirk. "Ok settle down you two and get back into your seats." the teacher scolded and the two boys got back into their seats and finished class.
After class let out, Izuku was just about done packing up when he heard three pairs of footsteps approaching and the knot in his gut tightened. The school day was over and Izuku had packed up everything except for his hero notebook for the future No. 14 and opted to just zip up his bag and take his notebook in his hands. As he turned around about to leave his worst fears were confirmed.
"Hey Deku! I need to have a word with you." Bakugo growled out as he walked up and put his hand onto Deku's shoulder singeing his uniform With his two flunkies behind him. A kid with a finger stretching quirk and a fat kid with wings.
"So Deku I heard you were gonna try out for the entrance exam eh?" Bakugo practically spat "Well don't because that would mess up my heroic origin story. The kid with a powerful explosion quirk that came from a nobody school is the only one to get into the prestigious U.A. and becomes the greatest hero of all time. Isn't that just a wonderful backstory? We wouldn't want to ruin it with a quirkless fuck up would we? So I suggest that you give up on U.A. entirely. And you won't be needing this stupid book either.". As Bakugo said that he snatched Izuku's hero notebook, blew it up, and threw it out of the window.
This shook Izuku to his core and he reached for his notebook. "Kaachan my notebook!" Izuku screamed. He looked up at Bakugo with surprise but the blonde still had that sadistic grin on his face. "You know Deku, there might just be a way you could be a hero.". Bakugo softened his tone and waited for that little bit of hope Deku still had to shine in his eyes. And that's when he struck. "Walk up to the roof, take your best swan dove off it and hope for a quirk in your next life.". The grin that crossed his face as Deku registered his words was the biggest he had all day.
As the second shoe dropped Izuku felt rage stir inside of him. How could a future hero tell someone to kill themselves!? Izuku glared death at Bakugo for a few seconds unnerving the blonde but the blonde popped his hands challenging Deku if he even dared to take a step.
But after a few more seconds his eyes dimmed and dropped before he stared up out of the window. "Could I be a hero if I had a quirk?" were Izuku's last thoughts before Bakugo and his cronies blew past him like their final insults.
Izuku walked home in a daze with a blank stare after retrieving his hero notebook. Should he just give up? Was it better if he wasn't around? Would Akatani have done better?
These questions blurred through his mind as he walked through the underpass he took to get back home. The blurring thoughts blinded him to the manhole cover that was rattling right behind him. And then Izuku heard a clanking and decided to turn around to see what it was. He wished he hadn't as he came face to face with a sludge person with nothing but mania in his eyes.
Izuku immediately tried to run but he was grabbed by the sentient sludge monster. "Ah-ha little boy! I need you to escape from a hero that's been chasing me. Just be a good little kid and give up and this will hurt a lot less.". Izuku began to panic as the sludge entered his mouth and nose. The poor boy struggled and clawed at the sludge villain but to no avail as he was solid and the villain was liquid. He tried to close his mouth but it was forced open and there was nothing he could do.
As he fought he heard the villain's slimy voice gurgle out "Thanks kid you're my hero.". Which only made him fight harder but it was already too late. As he began to fade he saw what seemed to be a purple kid his age panicking which made sense if he was caught up in all of this mess. Before Izuku fully lost consciousness he heard "TEXAS SMASH!".
Izuku awoke from his improvised slumber with some light slaps to his face. He began to stir and sat up. "Ha ha ha young man I thought you were a goner for a second there!". The large man who could be mistaken for no one else but All Might bellowed. "Oh, thanks All Might I was…wait ALL MIGHT!? Howdidyoufindmehowdidyoubeatthatsludgevilliancanihaveyourautograph?" Izuku chattered out at supersonic speeds but once he saw how confused All Might was he managed to tone it back.
"I'm sorry All Might I didn't mean to overwhelm you. I think faster than I talk and that's what comes out most of the time.". "It is quite alright young man but please start again slower this time.". "Ok first I wanted to ask about that purple kid that was here when I was getting attacked." was the first coherent sentence from the boy. "What purple child, young man? The only person here was you when I got here.".
"Oh, well then I guess he got away safe, that's good. Well then, my next question is where is the villain?". "Oh he is right here." The behemoth of a legend patted his cargo pockets and showed Izuku the two soda bottles that were now full of sludge and each one contained one eye.
"Ok good." Izuku sighed in relief but he noticed something coming off of the symbol of peace. "Hey All Might? Is that steam?" The boy asked right before the symbol of peace began sweating hard. "So my boy I autographed your notebook and I must be getting this villain to the police so thank you for your continued support and goodbye!" All Might rushed and was about to leap away but there was one question that Izuku needed to ask. One that the boy needed to be answered. So as he stuffed his hero notebook into one of his larger pockets he ran and grabbed onto the symbol of peace.
All Might jumped but quickly realized that he was heavier than he should've been and looked back. "I appreciate your fanaticism but this is too much. Please let go of me." All Might shouted over the howling winds. "But if I let go I'll die." Retorted the green haired boy as he clung onto the symbol of peace for dear life. "You make a good point. Let me find a safe place for us to land."
And seconds later All Might and Izuku were on top of a roof. And immediately after landing there was a small stream of blood then a large puff of smoke erupted from the gargantuan man. "*cough* *cough* *cough*" Was all Izuku could cough out as he swatted at the smoke. Once the smoke cleared Izuku looked up and saw a far cry from the legendary man he was originally staring at. What remained in the spot All Might was just standing in was a skeleton of a man who's entire demeanor was downcast. "…All Might?".
As Izuku's brain tried to comprehend the situation that was currently falling apart in front of him he came to one conclusion "You're an imposter!". All Might was initially surprised by this but quickly began to explain his "Small might" form for lack of a better term.
"So kid lemme explain to you why I currently look the way I do and just to clarify I am the real All Might. I had a big fight 5 years ago.". "Was it the fight with Toxic Chainsaw?" was Izuku's immediate mutter response before he covered his mouth with his hands.
All Might gave an amused raise of his eyebrows but continued "No, he was strong but he wasn't powerful enough to put me down this hard. I kept this fight under wraps so as not to cause nationwide panic. But as a parting gift when I beat him he gave me or should I say took this." All Might grimly chuckled before lifting his shirt revealing the hell that was wrecked on his side.
Izuku was lucky that he was so used to seeing his own injuries that he only gasped because otherwise he thought he might've passed out from how gruesome the scar looked. It was like the quirk of whoever All Might fought was still trying to cripple him to this day. As All Might lowered his shirt again he muttered "He took most of my stomach and left lung the bastard.".
But he quickly snapped back to the conversation and asked the green teen "So why did you piggy back up here? There has to be a good reason.". And that was the moment where Izuku's brain caught up with reality and he began to stutter "w-we-well I-I-I was about t-to a-a-ask y-you s-some-th-thing r-r-r-really i-i-im-portant." the greenette managed to stutter out before he realized that he had become a stuttering mess again and composed himself.
"I…I need to know. Can a quirkless person be a hero?". There was so much pain and sorrow in that statement but also so much hope. All Might felt terrible for having to crush it.
"Kid, I need you to listen to me." the massive man started out "if a person can do this to me..." referencing his scar "then what chance does a quirkless person have at being a hero. It's good to dream kid but keep those dreams achievable. Maybe try being a police officer. They aren't praised like heroes but they do good work.". With this the number one hero buffed up again and jumped off the roof.
That was the last thing that Izuku processed before he spiraled. His hero, his idol; his everything told him to give up. He had no idea where to go from here. What was he supposed to do as his entire world view and what kept him going shattered in front of him?
But luckily a huge explosion rattled him out of his stupor and he looked in the direction of the explosion. 'That's near the local arcade' were Izuku's first thoughts as he slowly drifted towards the railing he briefly contemplated if Bakugo was right about the swan dive but quickly shoved those thoughts to the back of his mind.
With his resolve crushed he headed for the ever so slightly ajar roof door and walked down the stairs. He readopted the distracted thoughts that he was milling over before he was attacked and wandered. After a while of walking he noticed that he had wandered right into the disaster.
On his accidental arrival he saw small might in the crowd but paid him little mind as he was focused on the catastrophe that was unfolding. There were 4 pro heroes trying to remedy the situation but they were postponing it at best. Death Arms was trying to rescue trapped civilians, Kamui Woods was holding off the sludge villain while trying to assist Death Arms, Backdraft was keeping the growing infernos at bay, and Mount lady couldn't help much because of her quirk.
He put the dots together and realized 'Oh god this is my fault. If I hadn't grabbed All Might then the villain would be in his pockets right now! I'm so sorry! I'm sure that there will be a hero to save whoever is caught. You just have to endure it a little longer.'
But then Izuku looked at the villain and his heart stopped. He locked eyes with Bakugo only heard two crystal clear words "Save me". Izuku took off running. The heroes warned him that it wasn't safe but he didn't care. He couldn't even hear them. All he saw was someone that needed saving and for once in his life he was determined to be a hero. Once he was about three quarters of the way to his destination he realized what he was doing. 'What is happening!? Why am I bolting straight for the villain that almost killed me!?' were Izuku's first thoughts but he soon realized. 'Oh, that's right. I'm running…BECAUSE BAKUGO NEEDS A HERO!'.
Once Izuku was sure he was close enough he shouted "HEY!". The villain moved his furious eyes just into range which was a big mistake against a determined Izuku. "EAT THIS" Izuku shouted as he flung his open backpack with immaculate aim into the villain's face. And only later on the news would a choice few people notice the small green glow that surrounded and made trails behind each flying object. But what everyone did notice was the slimy monstrosity reeling back in pain and cursing under his breath.
This was enough time for Izuku to make it to Bakugo but that was sadly when Izuku's calm demeanor shifted back to nerdy and shy. "Kaachan I'll get you out of here!". Izuku promised as instead of clawing at the sludge he grabbed Bakugo and yanked. Now normally this wouldn't have worked but the green light from earlier thought otherwise as it coated Izuku's arms. Izuku though didn't notice because his eyes were closed in exertion. But with this power boost he managed to free his bully and screamed "BLOW HIM AWAY!".
Bakugo Katsuki needed no one to tell him twice as he whipped around and unleashed the largest explosion he had ever let off. But since it was the largest explosion that Bakugo had ever let off and it was easily 10 times what he had ever been able to do before. Despite the power boost the blonde quickly fell limp after erasing that direction.
Luckily for the two boys Bakugo hit his mark and splattered the villain all over the road. Izuku dragged Bakugo towards the crowd and sat him down against a wall after making sure the blonde was going to be ok. After making sure that Kaachan was fine Izuku scrounged up his school supplies off the road.
After finding all the important stuff he began to head home but the heroes stopped him. They chided him on his reckless behavior, endangerment of himself, and obstruction of justice. He of course took it on the chin as he always did while Bakugo was praised for his flashy and powerful quirk. As the commotion settled down Izuku managed to slip away and began his walk home feeling a little bit better knowing he the quirkless kid saved someone.
A few minutes onto his short walk home he heard a heavy pair of footsteps that were unmistakably Bakugo's. He turned to see the blonde scowling at him as seeing the usual venom in his demeanor. "I didn't need your help, nerd.". Izuku couldn't believe the gall of Bakugo to say that after he just saved his bacon. "Yeah, especially when he was 6 inches down your throat." was Izuku's eloquent and automatic muttered reply. Realizing what he just uttered, Izuku stifled a giggle at his own comment (the fear of Bakugo didn't make it hard) as Bakugo sputtered in embarrassment for a moment. It didn't take him long to fix himself and retort. "Well don't think that this makes you better than me because it doesn't. But…". Bakugo was getting quieter with every word. "You'll always be a weak Deku." were the last words that he mumbled out. "What'd you say?" Izuku questioned. "I said fuck you damn it." Bakugo yelled as he then turned around and walked off.
Izuku's day just kept getting weirder but at least that knot in his stomach was gone. "Young man! Ha ha ha ha!". "ALL MIGHT!?". "Yes, it is I young man and I have come to ask you something.". Izuku blanked for a moment wondering what the symbol of peace wanted with someone like him but quickly recovered with an answer "O-oh m-me? W-what w-would y-y-you want t-to know?". The symbol of peace looked around for a couple seconds but he deflated and coughed up blood before he could finish his scan of the area.
Luckily the streets were scarce of people this late into the day. "All Might! Are you okay?" was the greenette's first concern as he rushed up to the skeletal man. He was quickly shushed by All Might and reassured that the symbol of peace was fine. "My boy I am fine but back to my point, why did you run into such danger knowing of your powerlessness?" The skeletal man inquired. "Well, when I saw Bakugo there and the fear in his eyes I only heard two words. Save me. And before I knew what was happening I was already almost there. So I just tried to save him.".
The symbol of peace smiled and said "And that my boy is just what I wanted to hear.". Izuku looked up at the man's bloody smile with hope. "That my boy is the mark of a true hero!" The greenette began to tear up. "I want to apologize for our first interaction. I was wrong about you." Izuku's tears started to leak from his eyes. And with an outstretched fist All Might said "YOU MY BOY CAN BE A HERO!" and like that the dam shattered. All the pain and suffering was finally being rewarded. And through the boy's tears All Might proclaimed "I WANT YOU TO BE MY SUCCESSOR!".
End of chapter 1
Author's note:
Ello ladies, gents, and all inbetween! First time writing a story so bear with me pls (still not set on the title but tell me what you think). I know I suck but please be nice about it. So please tell me what you think. While I loved to make this story it took me a long time. Like 3 months. Just for this. So updates are gonna be sparce. I will update the story but probably not regularly. Well that's all from me for now!