(A/N: There is a, um, particular development this chapter that I am a little worried about readers' reactions. Just remember that I have reasons for everything that will be revealed in time. Take it with a grain of salt if you will. And remember this is all in good fun. :) Let's go!)
...
As soon as Izuku heard cheering, he finally felt safe enough to peek over his shield. He had heard the whole fight but stayed crouched behind his gear for protection. Only when there were sounds of triumph did he dare to look. Green eyes grew wide as soon as he saw All Might standing there big and strong with steam coming off of him in tendrils. He…he did it. All Might beat All For One.
The Villain wasn't moving and the Hero started to look uneven on his feet. Which is why when the police started arriving to help with the rescue efforts of the other Heroes, Izuku picked up his stuff and rushed over to Yagi. The blonde man had released his bigger form and was a skeleton once more.
"Are you alright, All Might?" Izuku asked as soon as he was close enough to the man.
He was already pulling out some first aid supplies from his belt. Not much but it was better than nothing. But the Hero held up a hand telling him to stop. Green eyes stared up at him in confusion and concern as sunken blue seemed to study him.
...
Toshinori finally had a moment to at least start to process all that he had learned. Of Shigaraki and his connection to Nana. Of All For One taking her grandson in just to hurt him personally. Of how this boy, this fledgling Hero in front of him, was the son of the worst Villain ever known. In this moment, the last one was his biggest concern.
The Hero looked, really looked, at the boy staring up at him with green eyes brimming with concern. Who was already trying to help him after the biggest fight he had ever had. Acting as a Hero. Yes, he could still see it. See the Hero within the boy no matter if he was actually All For One's son. That there still was goodness and the heart of a Hero within him that had made All Might offer One For All to him in the first place.
'I know of your offer to the boy. To pass on One For All to him and become your successor. Pity he did not accept.'
All For One knew of his offer. If he hadn't gotten to know the boy more, he would have been worried the Quirkless teen had told the man himself. But this was Midoriya. An aspiring young man with strong convictions to become a Hero. Midoriya was no Villain nor did he think the boy ever could be. It was something many saw with Aizawa and Nezu backing him among others. That this seemingly simple Quirkless boy had the makings of a real Hero.
If only he had agreed to take One For All. Midoriya would have been a worthy successor despite who his father may be. While there was now a small part of him that was relieved that he hadn't or else it would have fallen into All For One's clutches, but then again One For All could not be taken by force. It had to be willingly given by the holder for the transfer to take place.
Would young Midoriya have given it to All For One as his father? Or would he have refused to give such power to a Villain?
"All Might?"
Toshinori blinked at the call of his Hero name. He looked down to see Midoriya still watching him with worry. Guess he had zoned out there a little in his considerations of the boy. So many what-ifs and unknowns having clouded his head. Either that or he was just exhausted which was totally understandable.
"I'm fine, young Midoriya," the Hero assured him, only coughing a little blood from his mouth. The teen did not look convinced. "Okay, I will be fine. What about you? Any injuries?"
"No, sir," Midoriya replied with a shake of his head. "Not from the fight."
His green curls bounced around the goggles that were now propped higher on his head so that he could see the man better. Toshinori himself didn't see any serious injuries on the boy. Perhaps some bumps and bruises from trying to keep away from the Villains, but nothing more. It gave the Hero much relief to know he had not gotten hurt while stuck on such a devastating battlefield.
"I'm glad to hear that," the blonde sighed in relief before coughing up more blood.
"You're hurt, All Might," Midoriya stated, still holding some first aid supplies in hand. "You'll need a hospital but at least let me patch you up a little."
"There is no need to worry," the Hero insisted, waving his offer off. "I'm fi-."
A strange sharp pain suddenly struck him in the chest. It was not from any of his injuries. This was something different coming from where he envisioned his Quirk resided in his core. It was constricting and hard much like the pain one feels from a heart attack. An uncomfortable pressure that felt like One For All was being squeezed. What…what was going on? Toshinori collapsed to his knees with a croak of pain.
"All Might?!" the boy cried out in fear as the Hero fell to the ground.
Midoriya made quick work to move him on his back, bending his knees, and then using his own lap to cushion the man's head. He didn't know what was going on but Recovery Girl had taught him what to do for a heart attack. It was the only thing he could think to do.
"Toshinori!" Gran Torino called out as he suddenly landed next to them. "What happened?"
"I-I don't know!" Midoriya answered, looking down at the Hero with great concern. "He clutched his chest and then collapsed."
The older Hero nodded before turning his attention to Toshinori and asked, "Toshinori, can you tell me what's happening?"
The blonde's eyes were screwed shut in pain unable to answer right away. After a few moments, the pain ebbed to a manageable level for him to open his eyes and look up to his mentor.
"I…I'm not…sure," Toshinori managed to say between gasps of pain. "There is this…strange pain within me. I think it has…something…to do with my Quirk."
"Shit," Torino cursed before casting a glance at the boy not sure he could ask more probing questions.
Midoriya noticed the odd look and said, "I know about One For All, Gran Torino."
The older Hero blinked at him in surprise and then turned to All Might.
"You told him?"
"I did," Toshinori answered with a nod.
"All Might offered me One For All after I won the Sports Festival," Midoriya explained, carefully wiping away some of the blood caked on the Hero's face. "I turned it down though."
This obviously surprised Sorahiko who looked from the boy to him and back. It was then that another twinge of pain sparked in Toshinori's chest.
"Gah," he gasped sharply and wet from his own blood.
The sound pushed Gran Torino to action.
"Stay here with him," the older Hero ordered as he prepared to jet away. "I'll go get the medics so we can remove him safely."
"Yes, sir," Midoriya affirmed with a determined nod.
Toshinori watched his mentor fly away with a blast of air. He knew that he would get back as fast as possible but medical attention was not his biggest concern. Something was happening to One For All and he didn't know what. As time passed it had gradually become increasingly more difficult to pull power from the Quirk as if there were walls forming around it cutting him off. Now this new constricting pain felt like it was closing One For All off from him even more.
There…there wasn't much time.
He didn't know what this would mean concerning One For All. Would he lose access altogether? Would he still be able to transfer it to another if that happened? Or would this Quirk be stuck within himself and its legacy end with him? Ending generations of hard effort to pass on One For All and cultivate its power to one day defeat All For One. Well, with this fight he guessed that goal had been reached. All For One would be going to Tartarus to never see the light of day again.
But Toshinori didn't want the path of One For All to end with him. He still needed to find a worthy successor but how could he with so little time? He…he had to do something. Now. Sunken blue eyes slowly turned to look into concerned and caring green. He had to try.
"Young Midoriya," the Hero breathed, wincing at another spark of pain. "I have a favor I must ask of you."
"What is it, All Might?" Midoriya asked, curious as he still looked down at the Hero in concern.
"I know you wish to become the first Quirkless Hero," Toshinori said, watching the boy carefully and watching his words even more. "Despite my past actions towards you, you have gone above and beyond to prove that possible."
The Quirkless teen gasped and tears already started to bud in his eyes.
"I admit that I was wrong to assume things of you," the Hero went on, reaching a hand up and placed it over the boy's own stilling his doting movements. "You and I are not the same. We may have had similar origins but we are our own individuals with our own goals in life. I followed mine and you must follow yours."
The building tears began to fall knowing that All Might, his childhood idol, finally and truly believed in him. He fruitlessly wiped them away with his free hand as more fell while the man squeezed his other in comfort. Toshinori knew the boy was emotional and let him be.
"Th-thank you, All Might," Midoriya said after a few moments. "You don't know how much that means to me."
"I sincerely mean them, my boy," Toshinori said, truly meaning his words. No matter if All For One was actually his father, he could not sense a single non-heroic bone in his body. "As such, I hope you do not take what I must ask of you the wrong way."
Teary green eyes blinked in confusion before he let out, "W-what do you mean?"
The Hero stared up at the boy for a moment. Took a long look as a final consideration before he asked something of him that was almost too much to bear. But even with the controversial and uncorroborated factor of All For One, he had a gut feeling that what he was about to ask was the right thing to do. Letting out a slow sigh in resolve, he spoke.
"To be honest, I'm afraid, young Midoriya," Toshinori said, looking up at the teen forlornly.
"A-afraid?" Midoriya asked. "Afraid of what?"
"I fear that One For All will fade away and be trapped inside me," the man answered. "My time limit is diminishing by the day and I am afraid that once it is down to zero so will the Quirk itself disappear. After this fight, I can feel the last flickers of One For All threatening to extinguish. I'm afraid that if I don't pass it on now that One For All will be lost forever."
The Quirkless teen breathed in and out shakily unsure what to think. He waited quietly as the Hero continued.
"Young Midoriya, I have asked you before and you said no. I respect that, but you also know that I am still in search of a successor. I know you want to make it as a Quirkless Hero, but my time is running out and I can't let this Quirk die with me. So I ask you if you would take One For All, not as a successor, but as a place holder. Until a time when I'm able to find the one worthy to wield it as the next Symbol of Peace."
...
Izuku felt like his brain short circuited for a moment. All Might wanted him to…what?
"W-what did you…?"
His words trailed off as his mind was still rebooting trying to understand. All Might finally believed he could be a Hero without a Quirk, but then he wants him to take One For All. Just what?
"Please, young Midoriya, I implore you," the man in his lap pleaded. "Please take One For All. You don't have to use it. Only take it. Keep it safe and pass it on when needed to a worthy and willing wielder."
Green eyes blinked blankly as he processed the Hero's request. Okay, so, he wasn't asking Izuku to be his successor. He merely wanted him to take One For All so that it could be passed on to someone else. That wasn't too hard to understand, he guessed, though he had some concerns. How was One For All passed on? What would happen to him if he did take it? But most importantly, should All Might really be giving it to him of all people? The son of the Number One Villain?
The Quirkless teen glanced over at All For One where he laid unconscious a short distance away. It had been terrifying to see the man who had raised him as a doting father firing powerful attacks against the Number One Hero. To think those same hands dealing destruction had once seemed so safe to him as a child. A sanctuary where nothing could go wrong and everything would be alright.
Not anymore.
Hisashi the father was dead. Now only a memory knowing the truth that he had actually been a Villain this whole time. It would be unwise for All Might to give One For All to him. Even in desperation, he should not give One For All to the son of All For One.
"Young Midoriya?"
The sound of his name pulled Izuku out of his head. He shook it a few times in attempts to clear it at least a little. He had to tell him. Had to tell All Might the truth. That out of everyone in the whole world, the Quirkless teen should be his last choice.
"All Might, I can't…you shouldn't…," Izuku tried to explain but fear kept the words from coming out.
He had to know, but what would happen once he did? Would All Might still see him as a Hero? Or would he see him as a Villain just like his father? He wasn't. There was no way Izuku could ever be a Villain like him. Regardless, there was no telling how the Hero would react, but he still needed to know.
"I'm his…"
Green eyes glanced from piercing blue to the unconscious form of All For One and back again.
"He's my…"
But no matter how hard he tried the words would not come out. He…he couldn't say it.
Just spit it out!
But nothing did. The teen growled in frustration as the Hero quietly watched him as he pieced together what the boy was trying so hard to say.
"I see," the blonde man said, allowing the truth of the matter settle within him. "So it's true. He is your…"
All Might also trailed off. Seems Izuku wasn't the only one having trouble voicing the truth. The teen simply nodded with a mournful look. For the father he thought he had only to find out all of it was a lie. For the family they had been but never would be again. And potentially for his future as a Hero and the respect of All Might.
"I…I'm so sorry, All Might," Izuku said sadly. "The things he said…I would never…and you…your small form."
The Hero squeezed the smaller hand in his stopping the boy before he said, "It's alright, young Midoriya."
It certainly didn't feel like it would be alright. All For One knew about All Might's offer of One For All. Now he was offering it again only now Izuku knew he was the son of a Villain.
"I…I promise I would never be like him," the teen said, hoping the Hero looking up at him could see he was speaking the truth. "I…I've only ever wanted to be a Hero. And now he…he forced you to show your true form."
"Again, it's alright," All Might insisted. "My time as the Number One Hero would always eventually end. You told me so yourself."
He meant it as a way to alleviated some of the tension but judging by the boy's grimace it didn't work. Yagi let out a sigh and gave the teen a hopefully reassuring pat.
"W-what will you do now?" Izuku asked, earning a confused noise from the Hero. "Well, I mean, obviously I shouldn't be the one anywhere near One For All. Not when he's my father."
They both glance over at the downed Villain who was thankfully still out. Only the rise and fall of his chest as a sign he was still alive. Hopefully reinforcements would be there soon to make sure he went into custody.
"While you may share lineage," All Might said, turning back to the boy. "It does not change that I am in need of your aid. I still want you to take One For All."
"Wha?" Izuku gasped out in shock. "But why? I'm his…?"
"It doesn't matter," Yagi insisted with a small shake of his head. "I have a gut feeling, no matter your parentage, that you are the next to hold One For All. Even if only as a place holder. Please take it, Izuku. Protect this power."
The greenet sputtered as he protested, "B-but he's my…"
"It doesn't matter who he is," the Hero stressed, reaching up with his other hand. "All that matters is who you are."
"But I…"
All Might gently cupped the boy's chin with his bony hand. There was still blood on it from the fight, but Izuku paid it no mind as he stared down wide-eyed at the man.
"Please, young Midoriya," Yagi pleaded as he stroked a bloody thumb across his face. "Even if for a short time, will you help me keep this power alive to pass on to the next holder. Will you help me…Hero?"
His thumb was so long that it even reached Izuku's lips smearing blood along the way. He reflexively licked his lip and cringed at the coppery taste. Izuku wanted to say no because how could All Might trust him with One For All after learning about All For One. But the Symbol of Peace was looking at him so desperately all battered, bruised, and bloody from the fight, he found he couldn't. The Quirkless teen licked his lips again out of nerves quickly reminded of the blood. He wiped the rest of it off before answering.
"I…okay, I'll do it," Izuku answered with a nod as the Hero still cupped his cheek. "Only for safe keeping, right?"
"Only for safe keeping," All Might assured, giving the boy a small pat before lowering his hand. "Thank you, my boy. Not just as a Hero but as a man. You have saved me. You're my Hero, young Midoriya."
"O-of course, Yagi," Izuku uttered, a blush dusting his dirty cheeks.
The Hero chuckled before saying, "Please, Midoriya. We have been through far too much to be so formal. I think you may call me Toshinori, my boy."
Woah, first name basis with All Might? Holy crap!
"O-okay, Tosh-Toshinori-san," the teen stuttered, old habits of politeness breaking through. "You can call me Izuku if you like."
"Of course, young Izuku," Ya-Toshinori said with a tired but warm smile.
Neither believed the day would come when they would be on a first name basis. Not after Toshinori hurt Izuku so much when he had first offered One For All. While Izuku had agreed to it now, he knew it was only temporary. But this new level of companionship between them, both hoped it would last far longer than the short-lived shared connection they would have through One For All.
Speaking of…
"So how do we…?"
"Toshinori!" a voice suddenly called out.
Izuku had tried to ask how exactly All Might would pass on One For All to him but he was interrupted. Gran Torino had returned and he wasn't alone as rescue teams and paramedics followed him. But that was okay. Toshinori could give him One For All at a later time. He seriously needed medical attention more right now.
Seeing that help was finally here, Izuku sighed in relief and smiled down at the Hero in his lap.
"Let's get you to the hospital, All Might."
...
The paramedics were careful and quick administering aid to the Number One Hero. Gran Torino stood close by keeping watch over Nana's troublemaker of a successor. Kamui, Tiger, Present Mic, and X-Less were hard at work attending to the downed Heroes as well as looking for any survivors trapped in the rubble. While Endeavor was more barking orders than actually helping overseeing the loading of All For One into an awaiting iron maiden. Edgeshot however made a point to check on the boy who had been stuck on the battlefield.
The Ninja Hero, civilian name Kamihara Shinya, wanted to make sure the kid was okay after all of that. But he also had an interest in meeting the boy whose chosen Hero name was so close to his own. The Quirkless teen's story was intriguing. Transferring from Support to the Hero Course after placing first in the Sports Festival. Making a name for himself in Hosu taking down the Hero Killer. Now falling victim to being kidnapped by the League of Villains.
Who are you exactly, young Hero Edge?
The boy was awkwardly sitting off to the side after being checked over by the medics. They had noted the mangled state of his hand but other than some bumps and bruises he was determined fit enough to wait for the hospital. He looked almost like a scared animal though as green eyes flickering around at all the activity happening around him. Because of this, Edgeshot approached the boy cautiously and carefully.
"Are you alright?" the Hero asked, kneeling down to be more on his level. "I'm sure you've been through a lot these past few days."
Green eyes blinked up at him and gasped in awed surprise, "You're the Ninja Hero Edgeshot!"
So the rumors of him being a Hero fanboy are true.
"The one and the same," Shinya chuckled in amusement, his smile hidden by his mask. "Now are you going to answer my question?"
"Oh, right, yeah," the teen babbled, shaking himself out of his fanboy moment. "Um, I think I'm okay right now? I just…I have a lot to think about after all this."
Of course. Kidnapping and violence would be unsettling for anyone. Not to mention the boy's mother was in the hospital as well. For now though, the kid seemed fine physically if in need of a shower. Hopefully mentally as well with time and therapy.
"Good to hear, kid," the Ninja Hero said with a nod of his head. "Would it be okay if I asked you a personal question?"
"Uh, sure?" the boy replied, quirking his head to the side curiously confused.
"Why did you choose your Hero name?" Edgeshot asked, wondering if it was connected to himself or not.
Whether it was or not didn't necessarily matter to him, but it being so close to his made him wonder. Considering the boy was an obvious fan of Heroes, was it possible he looked up to Shinya? Not that he thought highly of himself. Yes, he was the Number Five Hero but he fulfilled his Hero duties with calm focus and always kept a level head. He was a Hero no matter if he had fans or not. Saving lives was his main priority.
"Edge?" the teen asked, getting a nod from the Hero. "Oh, it was inspired by the first person to ever encourage me to follow my dream of becoming a Pro Hero."
"Oh, I see," Edgeshot replied flatly.
He wasn't disappointed but it answered his question. As this was the first time meeting the boy, then Shinya was not the inspiration behind the name and instead it was someone else. Neither here nor there to the Hero but apparently the kid misinterpreted him.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" the boy blurted out flailing his hands. "I didn't mean to impede on your Hero name, Edgeshot, sir! Honest! It's just he said without a Quirk I would need to find an 'edge' to win in a fight and I did. So, I decided to be that edge myself."
Shinya considered the reasoning. Hmm, yes, that was indeed a fine origin for the name. Considering the boy was Quirkless, he would need to learn extra skills and have additional gear to compensate for a lack of Quirk. He himself fought not just with Foldabody but instead combined it with his ninja skills as well as his knowledge of anatomy. While his Quirk did help, even if he didn't have it, he could still have been a Hero just like this boy.
"Hmph, interesting," the Hero said with a nod. "I don't mind your Hero name being close to mine. I was only wondering if it was on purpose or not."
"Oh, um, no, it wasn't, heh," the kid said, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. "Though I can see why you would think that. My friend Red Riot did that with Crimson Riot. He is his idol."
"And I'm not yours?" Shinya said with a teasing tone.
"Oh, you are! Along with a lot of other Heroes too," the boy exclaimed, a glimmer of excitement returning to his eyes. "I've always wanted to be a Hero and took a lot of inspiration from so many of you. Even my tech is based off a number of Heroes' Quirks. The ones I could replicate anyway."
He explained some of his gear to the Hero. Like his Jet shoes being inspired by the retired Hero just across the way. And how some of the others that were based on his own classmates. Even the goggles that he had built based on the ones he had made for Eraserhead that had gotten him into UA. Then there was his fire mask.
"A-and this one…"
His voice trailing off momentarily as he caressed the mask solemnly for some reason.
"…this was inspired by my dad."
The words were soft and sad. Like words spoken at a funeral but Shinya didn't know why. Though he wouldn't pry for it was not his place. Perhaps there was some family drama related to his father that they didn't know. Again, perhaps it will be resolved over time and with a helpful amount of therapy.
"Wow, you really do like Heroes," Shinya quipped in an attempt to lift the mood.
"Yeah, I do," the kid said with a bashful smile as he wiped a budding tear away. "Heroes help people and that's all I've ever wanted to do. In any way I can."
This surprised him. Yes, it was also Shinya's goal as a Hero but now-a-days many were drawn into to Hero work by the ranking system. Perhaps not the best reason to take on such a high-risk job, but it kept the Heroes coming he guessed. However, to hear a kid wanting to be a Hero simply to help people was honestly refreshing. Shinya highly approved.
"That is a noble motivation," the Hero said, reaching out a hand and pausing just above the boy's head. After a nod of permission, he ruffled his soft green hair. "Keep up the good work, Hero Edge."
"I will, Hero Edgeshot," the kid beamed brightly.
Edgeshot chuckled and ruffled his head once more before retreating his hand.
"Kamihara Shinya," the Hero said. "It has been a pleasure to meet you."
If he thought the boy's smile was bright before, now it was almost blinding.
"Midoriya Izuku, sir," the boy, Midoriya, said. "It's nice to meet you too."
Shinya simply nodded in reply as he stood up. All Might was secured on a stretcher so they were ready to go. Edgeshot held out a hand to the kid who stared at it for a moment before taking it. He lifted Midoriya up and escorted him with the other Heroes to the ambulances waiting nearby.
...
Golden eyes smoldered in the night as Kai watched the little bird being led away. The yakuza leader had been furious that the pitiful and diseased League had taken the pure and strong angel that was Midoriya Izuku. Tainting him with their filth and endangering one of the few Quirkless people left in this Quirk infected world. This he could not stand.
Kai had been planning a rescue attempt of his own but the police and insipid Heroes beat him to it. Not by much as he stood there watching from the shadows as the Heroes escorted Midoriya away safe and sound. Though it had been impressive that the boy had managed to keep away from the League during that hellish fight with the help of his Support gear. Defending himself to live and be free of his captors.
He stood there watching until Midoriya was shut out of sight in an ambulance before turning away. Kai had intended to infiltrate the League of Villains and disinfect the world from their sickly presence but again the Heroes had beaten him to it. While the majority of the League had escaped, at the very least the little bird had been saved. Or to be more accurate, Midoriya had saved himself.
As such, there was no reason for Kai to expose himself after their ruckus. That and then there was All For One. Even he had been affected by the Villain's oppressive presence and Kai wasn't an idiot to step out on the field of battle drawing All For One's ire. Not when he could fight fist to face against All Might himself. Well sort of as the Number One Villain had no face and just a mangled mess of scarred flesh.
Disgusting.
As disgusting as all the putrid Heroes fighting against him. Kai wished he could Overhaul them all into nothing. That was his ultimate plan when it came to Quirks. For now though, Midoriya was in, not necessarily good, but better hands that Shigaraki's. Kai would allow the little bird to heal from whatever wounds he obtained while with the League of Villains.
There would be time to finally meet Midoirya once things settled down. For now, he would return to his base and push forward with his plans. The world was disgustingly infected with Quirks and Kai was determined to cure it. Then everyone would be as pure and clean as the Quirkless angel that was Midoriya Izuku. Even Kai would be purified when the time was right.
...
( A/N: PLEASE DON'T HATE IZUKU FOR SAYING YES! Like I said above and say again and again, I have reasons for him doing so. And while he did say yes, I still consider this a quirkless au and you'll see why eventually. So please, please, please be kind in the reviews. We're just adding more spice into the mix. ;) )
...
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