The Fool

by AssassinMeed

He would do anything to be a hero, even if it meant breaking the law and leaving everything he's ever known. Coming back home after nearly 8 years, Izuku Midoriya must come face-to-face with his past, and show the world that he's deserving of the title 'hero', even if he is a fool for trying.

Chapter 1: Introducing the Fool

Nicknamed the Devil's Armpit by its residents, Blackmouth was known as the roughest neighborhood in London, a place so abandoned by the local government that not even police patrols were sent here, much less one with a pro hero.

'Hopeless' is what I heard a random pro hero call this place when they thought no one was listening, and perhaps they weren't wrong.

The streets of Blackmouth were a bleak and foreboding place, where the air was thick with the scent of decay and the sound of distant sirens echoed through the air. The buildings were old and crumbling, their brick facades stained with years of neglect and grime. The few streetlights that dotted the area flickered weakly, casting dim pools of light on the cracked and potholed pavement.

Everywhere I looked, I saw signs of danger and desperation. Dark alleys yawned between the buildings like hungry beasts waiting to pounce on unsuspecting prey. Groups of shady figures lurked in doorways and on street corners, casting furtive glances at anyone who passed by.

The residents of the neighborhood seemed to move with a sense of wariness and suspicion, as if constantly on guard against some unseen threat. I could see the fear in their eyes as they glanced my way, as if wondering whether I was friend or foe.

The distant sound of laughing street gangs echoed through the night, mingling with the hum of traffic and the occasional shriek of a siren. It was a place where danger lurked around every corner, and where only the most desperate and foolhardy ventured out after dark.

But despite the palpable sense of danger that hung over the neighborhood, I knew that I had to press on. Somewhere in these dark and shadowy streets laid my target for the night, and I intend to get to them no matter the cost.

I walked down the dark street, my footsteps echoing softly in the night. The street lights flickered overhead, casting eerie shadows along the pavement. The docks loomed in the distance, and I knew that I was getting close.

As I approached a dark alley, I slipped into the shadows, making sure no one was watching. With a quick glance around, I started to scale the wall, my fingers gripping the rough bricks as I pulled myself upwards.

Once I reached the top of the building, I paused to catch my breath. I could see the harbor in the distance, its lights twinkling like stars on the water. It was a beautiful sight, but I had a job to do.

Without hesitation, I leaped across to the next rooftop, my muscles tense and ready for action. The wind whipped past me as I soared through the air, and I landed with a soft thud on the opposite roof.

I continued to leap from rooftop to rooftop, my heart pounding with excitement and adrenaline. The night air rushed past me, and for the first time that night I felt alive.

As I reached the top of a building near the harbor, I paused to catch my breath. I could see the docks below, and I knew that my target was there, waiting for me.

Claiming a perch near the edge of the building, I brought out a pair of binoculars from my bag and pressed to my eyes as I scanned the docks below. For the past several nights, I had been watching the guards and their patrol routes, gathering information that would help me to infiltrate the docks undetected.

There was a great deal that I was able to discern from my constant watch over the past few days, like the patrol schedules of some of the guards, as well as the fact that most of them had quirks that were unsuited for combat, leading to most of them carrying an assortment of different weapons, like pistols and switchblades.

But there was still much of the docks that laid a mystery, like the guard density around my target, or the whether or not there were any villains here that had more combative quirks available to them. While scouting, I was mostly limited to the few buildings with a good vantage point over the docks as I feared that using a drone might notify someone like Electrical Mind, an electronics-based villain who had been known to occasionally work for the local gangs in the area.

Looking briefly around the docks, I was finally able to spot a large red shipping container with the number 104 painted on the side, just where my contact said it'd be.

My mind went into overdrive. I knew that I needed to be smart about my approach, and I began to mentally map out the safest route to the shipping container.

But even as I mapped out a detailed plan, I knew that no plan survives first contact. I had been in enough dangerous situations to know that anything could happen, and that I needed to be prepared for the unexpected.

With this in mind, I made sure to account for potential contingencies in my plan. I looked for potential hazards or obstacles that could trip me up, and considered multiple escape routes in case my original plan didn't work out.

As I continued to watch the guards below, I reminded myself to stay flexible and be ready to adapt to any situation. A surprise could come at any moment, and I needed to be prepared to adjust my plan at a moment's notice.

With a deep breath, I packed up my binoculars and prepared to put my plan into action, ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.

With practiced ease, I made my way down the side of the building overlooking the docks. As I approached the edge of the roof, I scanned the area below, taking in the position of the guards and the shipping containers.

With a quick glance ahead, I located the spot where I needed to be, a narrow alleyway between two rows of shipping containers. Sliding into the shadows, I waited until the patrolling thugs had moved on before silently dropping to the ground and moving quickly to my destination.

Using the patrol routes that I had memorized from previous scouting missions, I moved stealthily from shadow to shadow, always staying one step ahead of the guards. I moved with fluidity and grace, my years of parkour training paying off as I effortlessly vaulted over crates and slid under pipes.

As I neared the shipping container marked with the number 104, I could hear the faint sound of voices in the distance. Peering around the edge of the container, I saw five guards standing watch, their eyes scanning the area for any signs of trouble.

I cursed underneath my breath. This had always been an area that had laid in one of my blind spots, and from what I could tell, they all must have a combative quirk as well, if their weaponless forms told any story.

With them standing guard over the shipping container like that, I knew that there was no way to get past them without starting a fight that'd alert the rest of the thugs around the dock; so I'd have to take them down fast to have any chance of making it through the night.

The fog of war had already crept in, and I suppose no plan survives first contact.

I crouched behind a stack of wooden crates, peering out towards the shipping container where my target was being held. The five men were standing vigilantly at the entrance, not even making a sound as they watched around for signs of danger.

With a deep breath, I took a flashbang grenade out of my bag and threw it towards the entrance. In a sudden flash of light, the men began to stumble and cover their eyes. I sprang from my hiding spot, unsheathing a knife I had kept in my boot and a silenced pistol I had holstered under my left armpit. I shot the nearest man in the chest, but a barrier of green light appeared around him, shielding him the bullet. He was the first charged at me, his muscles bulging, and I was forced to dodge his punches with lightning-fast reflexes.

The second man appeared before me, his quirk allowing him to teleport short distances. He materialized behind me, but I spun around, my knife slicing through the air and piercing his arm. The third man shapeshifted into the form of a massive gorilla-like beast, his strength surpassing that of the first man. I fired my pistol at him, but the bullets barely grazed his thick hide. He slammed into me, sending me crashing to the ground.

As I struggled to stand, the fourth man unleashed a barrage of fireballs, forcing me to duck and weave to avoid being burned alive. The fifth man was using his telekinetic powers to lift crates and other debris, hurling them at me with deadly precision. I was being attacked from all sides, my senses overwhelmed by the chaos.

But I refused to give up. I charged towards the first man, my knife flashing in the moonlight as I slashed at his neck. He stumbled, his shield apparently only appearing should an object come at him fast enough, and I took advantage of his weakness to plunge my knife into his gut and twist it. The teleporter reappeared behind me, but I was ready this time. I spun around, my pistol firing rapidly, hitting him in the chest and causing him to cry out in pain.

The beast-man charged at me again, but this time I saw it coming. I sidestepped his attack, letting him slam into a nearby shipping container, momentarily trapping him as his head got stuck in the hole he punched in the metal surface. The man controlling fire was still hurling flames at me, but I had an idea. As he continued to shoot long bursts of flames from his hands, I ran near to where the beast-man was still stuck, and as the fire-quirk user sprayed, his friend began to inadvertently catch fire.

Quickly, I ran to cover around a nearby shipping container, hot flames still licking at my side as I got to safety. I heard an ungodly roar right after, followed by the sound of metal tearing and a man's body being crushed underneath two large fists. Looking out of cover, I saw the sight of what used to be the fire quirk user's body squashed into red paste, the beast man running to the River Thames as whatever substance that maintained the flames continued to burn his flesh and bones. All I heard next was the distant sound of water splashing and nothing coming back up.

Walking out of cover, I saw that only the telekinetic man remained, and from the look of his face, I knew that he wanted to be anywhere else but here. Looking at me, then to the squished remains of the fire quirk user, then to the disembowelled guts of the barrier-using man, then back to me, he began to run the other direction, and from what I could tell, didn't look back.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I began to catch my breath. It was then that I felt a sharp pain in my side, and from that I knew that one of my ribs must be broken. I staggered my way to the shipping container, my heart pounding in my chest as I rushed to pick the lock of the container. I knew I didn't have much time, as the sound of the fight with the guards would have alerted their comrades. I could hear footsteps getting closer, so I focused all my attention on the lock.

As I picked the lock on the shipping container, I heard soft sobs and whimpering from inside. My heart sank, knowing where those sounds were coming from. I slowly opened the door, knowing that my contact was right as I was met with a group of scared and traumatized children huddled together, their faces stained with tears.

I could feel a lump form in my throat as I looked at them, imagining the terror they must have felt while being held captive. I knew I had to act fast to get them out of there before the guards came back, but I couldn't help feeling overwhelmed by the situation. These children didn't deserve to be put through this kind of horror.

"Hey, it's okay," I said softly, trying to calm them down. "You're safe now. I'm going to get you out of here."

Their eyes widened as they looked up at me, some of them clinging to each other for comfort. I could see the fear in their eyes, and it broke my heart. I reached out a hand, and one by one, they took it, trusting me to lead them to safety.

Walking out, I knew they were scared by what they saw. Corpses of their capturers, all brutalized in one way or another, some of their guts splatter across the floor. I could feel the weight of guilt in my chest knowing that the children had just witnessed me take the lives of their captors. But I couldn't dwell on it for long, as the sound of footsteps grew louder and more frantic.

I quickly explain to the children that they need to run towards the east side of the docks and look for a boat with a digital skull logo on the sail. I tell them that someone will be there to help them, and they'll be safe. I can see the relief in their eyes, but the fear still lingers. I quickly remind them to close their eyes and start running.

As soon as they start running, I draw my pistol and rush towards the sound of approaching footsteps. I needed to take care of the wave of thugs that were coming as the children all ran to safety. I knew that it wouldn't be long before the guards found me.

As the sound of running feet grew closer, I steadied myself, grabbing my knife out of the bodies of one of the villains, and holding my silenced pistol in the other. I could still fear the pain in my side, but thankfully adrenaline was pumping through my veins, dulling the pain, if only a little bit.

As the first group of guards appeared around the corner, I quickly ducked behind a shipping container and waited for them to get closer. As soon as they were within range, I stepped out and opened fire, taking down two of them with well-placed shots. The others quickly scattered, seeking cover and firing back at me.

I ducked and weaved, moving from container to container, trying to get a better angle on them. They were using the cover to their advantage, and I could see that they were slowly advancing on my position. I knew that I had to make a move soon, or I would be overrun.

I took a deep breath and charged towards them, firing my pistol as I went. The element of surprise worked in my favor, and I managed to take out another guard before they even knew what hit them. But they quickly recovered, and soon I was in the midst of a full-blown firefight.

I dodged and weaved, bullets whizzing past me, narrowly missing me. My knife was now in my other hand, and I used it to cut open the throat of a man who was unlucky to be in my path. I could see that the guards were starting to get more aggressive, and I knew that I had to end this quickly.

With the distance between myself and the guards quickly closed, I let out a fierce roar and charged out of cover, my knife held high. The guards hesitated for a split second, and that was all the time I needed. I lunged forward, cutting down one guard and then shooting another in the head. With a final burst of energy, I took down the last of the guards, watching as they fell to the ground. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. It was only then that I noticed the sheer amount of death around me, and the brutality of which they were executed. It was a necessary evil, but it still left a bitter taste in my mouth.

More were still coming, but I knew that they were far enough so that they wouldn't be able to catch up to either me or the children if all went as planned. Running down the path I told the children about, I breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of the boat my contact hired, floating at the harbor with the children on board.

As I reached the boat, I let out a sigh of relief. It was the boat with the digital skull logo that my informant had mentioned, and the man hired was already there, waiting for us. He quickly helped the scared children onto the boat, making sure they were all accounted for. I approached the boat captain, a grizzled man with a no-nonsense attitude.

"We need to leave, now," I said to him urgently. "There are more guards coming."

The captain didn't say anything, but I could tell he was assessing the situation. He had the looks of a seasoned fixer, and he knew the risks involved in getting involved in something like this.

"We can't leave just yet," he said finally. "We need to wait for the tide to turn. If we try to leave now, the sail won't be able to take us far enough, and we'll be sitting ducks."

I cursed under my breath. I suppose this is what I get for not looking into the specifics of this boat, and external circumstances like the tide. It was uncharacteristically sloppy of me, but in my defense, this was a rushed job to begin with.

But the moment I heard that children were being kidnapped and smuggled to God knows where - quirkless children at that - I knew I had to do something.

"Fine," I said, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice. "But we don't have much time."

I took a few deep breaths to calm myself down. The adrenaline was still pumping through my veins, and I knew I needed to stay focused. I scanned the horizon for any signs of the guards, but all I could see was the darkness of the night.

I turned back to the captain. "Can you make sure they're safe?" I asked, gesturing towards the children. "I need to go back and create a distraction for the guards."

The captain nodded solemnly. "I'll keep them safe," he said. "You go take care of business."

I gave him a grateful nod and turned to leave, but not before turning back to the children. "Remember, stay quiet and stay low," I said, trying to sound as reassuring as possible. "You'll all be safe soon."

I could see the fear in their eyes, but I also saw a glimmer of hope. They were going to be okay, and that was all that mattered. I turned to the captain and spoke in a hurried tone, "Listen, what's important is that you get these kids to safety, even if that means leaving me behind."

The captain gave me a puzzled look, "What are you talking about? You need to come with us, how else am I gonna get paid!"

"I can't," I replied with annoyance at the man's priories. "The distraction I'll be making needs to be big enough to make sure those guards don't follow us. I'll catch up with you at the rendezvous point later, but right now, the kids are what matter."

The captain hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Alright, I'll do as you say, but you better stay alive. Corpses can't cough up cash after all."

With final nod of affirmation to the man, I jumped off the boat and onto the dock. As the sailboat slowly began to drift away from port, I turned to face the direction where the guards were coming from. I knew I had to act fast if I wanted to keep them away from the kids, but even as I ran towards the edge of the dock, I couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that lingered in my heart. I had promised to protect those children, and now I was leaving them behind.

But I had to trust that the captain would keep them safe. And I had to believe that I would find a way out of this mess.

As I ran away from the boat, I took off the silencer from my pistol and began firing randomly into the air. The sound of the gunshots echoed throughout the docks, causing the guards to turn their attention towards me.

I could see them approaching in the distance, their forms silhouetted against the dim light of the street lamps. I knew I had to create a distraction big enough to catch the full attention of the thugs, and one that was long enough for the boat to escape.

I reloaded the gun and continued firing, aiming at the ground and walls around me to create enough havoc and chaos. The guards were closing in fast, but I was prepared. I took out a smoke bomb from my bag and threw it towards the approaching guards.

As the smoke bomb exploded, a thick cloud of smoke engulfed the area. I tried to use this to my advantage and quickly darted into an alleyway, disappearing from sight. The guards were disoriented and confused, unable to see their target through the thick smoke.

I could hear them yelling and cursing, trying to locate me to no avail. I knew I couldn't stay hidden for long, so I quickly made his way towards the other side of the docks, shooting what was left of my ammo in the air as I ran away from the boat.

Tossing the gun on the ground, I slipped back inside an open cargo container, as dozens of guards ran past in the direction of where they thought it was headed.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, from a small crack between the cargo container's doors, I could see the lights of the boat slowly fading away in the distance. From that, I could at least tell that the children were safe now, but I couldn't shake off the guilt that I felt for not being able to save them without causing all of this needless death.

I slumped against the wall of the metal container, exhausted and out of breath. I could feel my rib still aching from where I beast-man had hit me, the adrenaline slowly wearing off as my head began to spin. But I couldn't stay here forever. The thugs were going to begin searching shipping containers as soon as they realized that I wasn't on the other side of the docks, and if they found me, I'd be a dead man.

But that's life I suppose, especially when one takes up the mantle of a quirkless vigilante. I guess I never introduced myself, sorry about that. Let's start from the beginning, my name is Izuku Midoriya, codenamed 'The Fool', and this is my story.

...oOo...

Hello! Hope you all liked this chapter. If you liked it, please follow, favorite and review this story, and let me know what you think. Otherwise, hope you all have a good one!