The Quirk of Solitude by ShadowAlchemy
Chapter 11
Quick Author Notes:
Whenever the story mentions Starrk's thoughts, speech. or actions the world around him sees and hears him as Izuku Midoriya.
He eventually WILL come back, this is not a transmigration/reincarnation story I promise you! Thank you for that honest feedback!
I'm having technical difficulties with the email notification on this website.
Please forgive the lateness on this one, I had a chapter ready but when I was proofreading it, I didn't like it so I decided to scrap it and make a completely new one.
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It's dark, but it's warm…Am I flying? Am I swimming? No… It feels like both and neither…I can't even open my eyes…I'm too tired. Nothing but silence over a welcoming sea of darkness.
One Year Later
There were unsettling rumors in the underground networks of the city of Mustafu. Rumors of a young man or some say a teenager had started appearing and left fear and devastation in his wake. Individuals and small operations run by large organized gangs including the Yakuza have been destroyed or forced into submission by a figure in white wearing a terrifying face covering with the image of an open jaw with rows of teeth. Nobody knows his name and the only time this person speaks is only to give an ultimatum that must be obeyed unless you want your body broken, buildings smashed, and the chance no one you know will ever see you again. The only thing the information broker Giran was willing to divulge was that he was an enforcer or better put a harbinger of someone much more powerful than himself and it was in everyone's best interest to cooperate. Even underground heroes were a little wary of the rumors and tried to patch together anything useful to make a villain profile.
This figure was Starrk acting his part of the agreement he made with All for One to save Izuku's life. Although very reluctant he decided to play up his previous role as a villain but made damn sure the kid's face, name, and reputation were kept secret at all costs. He proved to be by far the most useful asset that All for One had ever had and was given certain rewards for his services. Better lodging was provided and the trainer Giran hired had his memory tampered with by All for One so that he would never remember Starrk's name, appearance, or location after their training sessions. Over time Izuku's scrawny body started to thicken with the appearance of toned muscles and Starrk requested the kid's hair dyed black and kept it styled back in a small ponytail.
Admittedly Starrk did prefer an actual bed over a school bus mattress but he never forgot about Izuku or his preferences. He only killed when he absolutely had to and even felt some sense of satisfaction when he ended up saving people by accident. The greatest example was when he freed some captives who were enslaved and going to be trafficked into a sex slave ring. Every day Starrk would try to feel for Izuku's presence but he found nothing. He couldn't even see or feel the inner subconscious plane filled with the moonlit desert. He was alone again so he devoted his attention to improving Izuku's body and completing the tasks he was given. He only found a polite acquaintanceship with Kurogiri but he never let his guard down around him again since he was coerced into service. Even Giran stopped his negotiating games with him and only gave or received serious questions and answers. Tonight another request was given to retrieve some very illegal but very profitable contraband stolen from one of All for One's operations.
Somewhere in a dark corner of an abandoned industrial plant was a small group of individuals standing by a couple wooden crates. They were talking and joking in a good mood and had a feeling of anticipation surrounding them. Inside the crates was a highly profitable shipment of the drug called boost or colloquially known as trigger. The drug made the user incredibly strong but made them go into a berserk state. Repeated users of the drug ended up having blackened tongues due to the nature of the drug messing with the user's bloodstream. Some used it in a pinch to escape a hero but it has been seen used maliciously by forcibly injecting a victim to cause them to go into an unwilling rampage. Unbeknownst to them, they stole the merchandise from the worst person alive and it hadn't gone unnoticed.
The criminals were fantasizing about the riches they were going to have once they found a buyer when a loud noise echoed in their hideout. With a loud rip the air in the center of their building seemed to tear itself open and from the black void stepped out a figure. As the gap sealed itself the group could see him clearly. He appeared to be a young teenager wearing a white and gray lightly armored outfit secured with a black belt. White gauntlets covered his hands and black boots echoed on the floor as he approached the group.
What really caught their attention was the intruder's face. He didn't wear a helmet but covered the bottom half of his face with a piece of equipment that had the printed image of an open jaw of a predator, with its teeth lining the top and bottom. The visitor had distant looking blue eyes and kept his dark hair pulled back in a small ponytail.
People they knew who dealt in the underground called him different names like Shadow Fang or Silent Wolf due the carnivorous looking costume and his terrifying habit of showing up out of nowhere. One rumor in particular said they heard a wolf howling in his presence. Nobody ever got a conversation or a name from him and brokers like Giran wisely chose not to sell any of the information regarding anything about him.
They knew this terror was known to be a high caliber enforcer for someone really powerful. He made his demands clear and if they weren't met then he'd attack with incredible speed and ferocity until you regretted your words. Sometimes people disappeared in the aftermath. Other times they were left as an easy capture for heroes and law enforcement. The group in the warehouse knew they were in trouble and dread creeped up their spines.
"How in the bloody hell did you–" started on of the guys
"Abandon the crates and leave. This is your only warning." The bored and yet serious sounding young voice really caught the thieves off guard.
This was Shadow Fang? A lot of the members internally thought. One guy in the back panicked and immediately left running as fast as he could.
The intruder took another step and gave off a menacing aura. The remaining guys prepared to fight; the chance of cashing in the vast fortune of contraband distorted their logic. Wrong choice.
"Get him!"
BZZT
CRUNCH
Starrk suddenly appeared and had his fist drilled right into the center of the fool who said that, sending him flying back into the wall and slumped over unconscious with a badly broken nose. Without giving time for the others to react he then grabbed the collar of a man with a scar on his face that happened to be closest to him, jumped up and threw him to the ground with a hard SLAM
The newly slammed man groaned in pain as he was dazed from the sudden impact but barely remained conscious. The three remaining converted their fear into desperation and tried to attack him. The first one had an alligator mutant quirk and tried to bite down but only chomped air. Starrk crouched and punched him straight in the gut causing the gator man to fly back a little bit and clutched his very sore stomach.
The second guy had a mohawk and had a wrench in his hand that he used as a melee weapon. He swung multiple times but each swing was lazily dodged by Starrk. After a desperate overhead strike the mohawk guy received a roundhouse kick to the side of his face and went crashing into the ground and was instantly knocked out.
The last guy was a larger man and chugged down a can of beer. Immediately, he got a little bigger and charged. Starrk appeared above him and with his hands clasped together and did a heavy punch that planted into the back of the large man's head. He stumbled stupidly and ungracefully fell flat on his face, also unconscious.
The gator man was using one of the contraband crates as leverage to help himself up. He was glaring at Starrk who wasn't in the slightest fazed by it and began walking towards him.
"You think you can just show up and take this from us!?" demanded the gator man "It's ours! We risked our lives for it to get rich and get out of this shit hole city!"
Starrk was about to sonido and punch the gator man but he had to quickly duck from a wild haymaker thrown by the gruff man with the scarred face who had gotten up. He let the man throw a couple more before sidestepping and threw his own punch into the man's cheek. The scarred man was forced back several feet as blood and a couple teeth were spat from his mouth. During the commotion the gator man had opened one of the crates and pulled out a syringe of trigger. With a victorious grin the gator man injected it into his neck and felt power rush through him.
Starrk stared with careful observation how the gator man grew tremendously in size and so did his jaws and seemed to almost froth with saliva as if he had rabies. The gator man clutched his head as he desperately tried to remain coherent but lost to his inner instinct and became feral. He sniffed the air with his giant nostrils and immediately smelled blood. The scar faced man looked up in horror as his gigantic alligator colleague looked at him with a ferocious and hungry bellow. He pissed his pants as he desperately tried to sprint away but the giant gator man pursued and easily caught him. With a scream and then a grotesque CRUNCH the giant gator munched his former ally's head off and began to feast.
Starrk's initial shock soon turned into deadly seriousness and started to charge a cero in his right hand. He waited for the beast to finish his meal and sniff around for another and then he met Starrk's gaze. With a loud ROAR the giant gator crawled on all fours with his mouth wide open hoping to eat Starrk but it was met with a sudden halt. Starrk had a boot on the lower jaw pinned to the floor and used his left gauntlet to keep the upper jaw from closing. Before the gator started to thrash it felt something incredibly hot near its tongue. Starrk had his right finger pointed right down the center of the beast's maw and said,
"Cero"
Scorching blue light poured into the defenseless throat and the gigantic gator barely got a howl of pain out before the energy quickly dissolved its body from the inside out and still managed to penetrate out the building's outer wall before disappearing into the dawn less morning sky. Starrk let go and moved away as the charred gator corpse collapsed to the floor and bits of it broke off into ash. With a loud sigh, Starrk reached into his pocket and pulled out the burner cell phone and typed a quick message. Within moments a black swirly portal appeared in the building and Kurogiri stepped out. The properly dressed bartender saw the stolen contraband crates and the unconscious thieves. He also gave a quick stare at the ashen smokie corpse of the giant alligator and nodded approvingly.
"You once again have my thanks. Master has plans for anyone stupid enough to steal from him or his businesses but you seem to have given one of them some mercy by killing him." he bowed at Starrk who merely shrugged.
Internally this annoyed Kurogiri at the lack of manners but he let it go. He formed a large portal to suck in the crates and after that portal was closed he began to form individual ones under each unconscious thief and a separate portal absorbed the gator corpse. The doctor didn't particularly need new test subjects but rather All for One wanted them to die screaming…Something the doctor knew very well how to do.
"Will you be stopping by for your usual meal, Starrk?" inquired Kurogiri looking at him who was holding out his hand toward empty space.
"Sure. Got nothing better to do anyways." replied Starrk and a loud ripping noise signaled the appearance of a black void of the garganta.
Kurogiri still couldn't understand how that ability worked or how he used it to navigate to the places he goes, but he was slightly pleased at his invitation being accepted. His master told him to be respectful and friendly with him. Hoping to slowly win his allegiance or at the very least show him they treat him much better than the heroes. Which to be fair, they actually do. The few random heroes that ran into Starrk immediately thought he was a villain and immediately tried to capture him without even giving him the time of day. Kurogiri shook himself out of his thoughts and entered his own portal back to his bar, leaving the place deserted and silent.
Meanwhile several blocks down was the thief that wisely chose to abandon the crates and his colleagues to get to safety was still running as fast as he could. He was still frantically panicked and didn't know how long he had been running but internally he felt it still wasn't enough. Around the next street corner he could see a parked police cruiser with its two officers leaving a shop with fresh coffee and donuts. The thief immediately ran to the cruiser and opened the door, putting himself in the backseat. Both officers were stunned observing this. The thief immediately started to calm down. If the rumors he heard about Shadow Fang making people disappear had any bit of truth to them then prison was a much better and safer choice. The police irritatedly tapped his window and opened his door.
"Do you mind explaining to us why you decided to put yourself in the back of our police cruiser?" asked one of the cops with an annoyed tone.
"I had to get away from Shadow Fang! The others chose to fight but are probably gone by now!" answered the thief as though it was common sense.
Both officers looked at each other with confused expressions. That wasn't a name they were familiar with so for the sake of formality they put handcuffs on the man and announced they were detaining him for questioning.
Mustafu Police Station
Eraserhead was standing behind the one way glass observing an interrogation room. The fresh coffee in his hands did little to improve his mood. Over the last several months he had been trying to pin down any kind of definitive information regarding the mysterious villain dubbed Shadow Fang and what he heard from the thief being interrogated by Naomasa sounded more like a made up story or a drunken fairy tale. Once he speaks to Naomasa afterwards he will see which statements were actually true.
"What do you mean it's all true?" asked a very annoyed Eraserhead to the detective in his office.
"It's like I just said Aizawa. My quirk did not detect a single lie from him." replied Tsukauchi as he was preparing his report to file.
Shota Aizawa, or Eraserhead by most, was completely stumped and gave his signature deadpan expression. The enigma that was causing so much commotion in the underground was a young teen that had some kind of dimensional teleportation quirk…But if that's all he could do, why are people so afraid of him? And what about the other reports of him beating people to a pulp or destroying whole buildings? Aizawa pinched the bridge of his nose remembering the statements given by people who were spared or even rescued by the appearance of Shadow Fang. Nothing added up and he had the gut feeling this was going to be his problem very soon.
"What will you do now, Aizawa?" asked Tsukauchi as he put his finished report in the finished pile.
"Don't know. If I run into him it will probably be by chance and hopefully I can erase his quirk before he gets away." replied a very tired Eraserhead sipping his coffee.
"Do you think we could set a trap for him?" contemplated Tsukauchi out loud folding his hands.
"From what I gather he only appears at illegal operations or gatherings. That seems to be his only pattern but for the life of me I can't seem to grasp his motive. He seems to be a villain in appearance and method but is doing technically heroic work without a shred of care to claim credit. He hasn't even given anonymous tips to heroes or law enforcement and doesn't try to collaborate with other villains. I also really don't think the title vigilante suits him either." stated Aizawa
"Then what is he?"
Kamino Bar
"Primera. Welcome back and well done on your most recent assignment." came the audio voice from the bar's monitor.
The indifferent face of Starrk briefly looked at the direction of the monitor. He knew that bastard toed the line between being sarcastic and serious and it was better not to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. Without saying a word he plopped a seat at his usual bar stool and Kurogiri was already bringing out a breakfast meal to serve him. Trust issues aside, he had to admit the misty bartender was a damn good cook.
"You'll be pleased to know that I do not have any assignments requiring your services so feel free to relax for the next few days. Your efforts have greatly curbed my competition and I am pleased at the fear you've inspired." continued All for One dismissing Starrk's indifference.
Fear, huh. Starrk internally mused with a frown. That really wasn't his style but if it earned him some respite from being a lowly errand man then he'll accept it. It's not like he has much of a choice anyways. A news headline from the morning tv show interrupted his thoughts.
"Today marks the one year anniversary of the tragedy of Mustafu Orphanage. A small ceremony will be conducted later today with the number one hero All Might being present. Guests are asked not to treat this as a meet and greet and do not bring any recording equipment." A background scene revealed a charred building and a memorial stand near the front door.
That was shocking new information because Starrk never knew or cared to know about the fate of the awful place Izuku grew up in.
BADUMP
A loud heartbeat resonated inside Starrk who immediately brought a hand to his head and one over his chest. He felt an incredible sinking emotion that he didn't feel was his own. He felt like he had a hole forming where his hollow hole was over his sternum. Quickly, Starrk checked and was relieved to still feel Izuku's chest was still intact. The heartbeat continued to beat loud a few more times before it quieted down. He calmed his breathing and checked himself over and found nothing unusual. What was that? He looked up and saw Kurogiri staring at him with a confused expression.
"Is everything alright? You looked a little pale and looked like you were in pain."
"I'm fine. It was just a minor headache." replied Starrk but Kurogiri narrowed his glowing yellow eyes in suspicion. A memory resurfaced remembering watching the younger and scrawny kid be really unnerved at the news of the fire at Hosu Orphanage.
"This type of news bothered your host before. If you're getting a reaction like this perhaps visiting the site may trigger a stronger response and it may help reform him. I can't say for sure, it's only a hypothesis."
Starrk strongly considered Kurogiri's advice. Perhaps going to the location of Izuku's hated childhood might trigger and even help him reform.
"Yes…I think I will go and see what happens. I don't want to suddenly show up there with my garganta alerting them with its tearing noise. Could I trouble you to port me there?" said Starrk in a serious tone.
Kurogiri was pleased to be asked for this favor. He nodded but quickly added, "It also would be best not to go in your current attire. There would be a high chance any one who sees you would immediately suspect you as a villain revisiting a crime site."
Good point. Starrk nodded and opened his own garganta to return to his residence to change. The exterior of the building was run down and disheveled but the actual apartment he was given was clean and luxurious. Starrk was a man of simple tastes but he didn't mind the extra comfort. He returned to the bar in normal looking clothes. Neither he or Izuku had a sense of fashion but Kurogiri was more than willing to pick an outfit for him that wasn't a t-shirt with the word 't-shirt' printed on it. When he returned to the bar he saw Kurogiri give him an approving nod and he prepared a misty portal for him to traverse. Exiting the portal, he found himself near the dumpster in the back of the burned out building. He started walking away to get a better view and could see a podium set up near the front door and a small crowd gathering with solemn expressions.
The speaker approached the podium but it wasn't All Might. Instead it was a man with his blonde hair spiked vertically and wearing sunglasses. Around his neck seemed to be a speaker and a memory flashed in Starrk's mind indicating that was the pro hero Present Mic. Standing next to him was All Might and he was holding a beautiful wreath ready to place into the ground. Present Mic surprisingly delivered a calm and heartfelt speech. His usual loud chaotic goofy demeanor was nowhere to be found as he swore peace and justice for the residents who became missing victims in a villainous plot.
Starrk had to give the man some credit. He himself wasn't partial to heroes but he appreciated how the pro hero seemed genuine and the small crowd seemed to be moved by his words. Clearly he was much better at public speaking than All Might and when he finished the public applauded. When the speech concluded something stirred inside Starrk caused him the same pain as he felt in the bar but this time it wasn't subsiding. It was like something inside him was having a nightmare.
The crowd and even All Might had already begun to leave but Present Mic decided to take a glance around and saw Starrk holding his head and chest off to the side away from everybody. He approached him with his normal radio dj persona and opened up with,
"Hey little listener, are you feeling okay? You look like you're in pain."
The pro hero had a look of concern as he saw the eleven year old hunched over gripping himself like that. Starrk didn't feel like he was going to be captured or arrested so he tried to come up with an answer Izuku would to convince the hero. In his best Izuku impression he managed to say,
"I was imagining the misfortune all the innocent kids and caretakers must be enduring. I liked the positive intention in your speech but I'm overwhelmed thinking about the evil behind this situation."
Present Mic gently nodded and crossed his arms and had an empathetic expression. "Little listener, you've got a big heart and you are overburdening it with an unbearable weight." He struck a pose pointing into the sky "You'll drive yourself into a deep dark corner if you only look at the evils of this world. It's always been here and it will always be here but you do not have to let it win." His pose changed to pointing to Starrk with an encouraging smile "Never forget that no matter how great the darkness gets it can never squash out the light. Focus on the positive and already the evil will lose its grip on you!"
Surprisingly enough the warm encouragement greatly helped the unknown turmoil calm down and Starrk was able to release his grip and slowly looked up at the still posed pro hero.
"You have my thanks. I don't have much positivity going for me but your words do help. This place especially brings back bad memories."
Present Mic gave his signature thumbs up. "Anytime little listener. I have to go now but how about I leave with an autograph to start your positive memory collection?" He reached in and brought out one of his radio business cards and a pen. "What is your name, little listener?"
"Izuku Midoriya" Starrk said without thinking. He internally tensed when he realized his mistake.
"Here ya go little Midoriya! Catch my radio show sometime and I bet you'll enjoy it too!" Present Mic handed him a personally addressed autographed card and waved before walking away.
Starrk pocketed it and decided he needed to leave as soon as possible not to draw anymore attention to himself. He got up and made his way back to behind the burnt building before he texted Kurogiri to return him back to the bar.
Meanwhile, Present Mic returned to his UA vehicle and his best friend Eraserhead was lying on the back seat trying to nap.
"What held you up?" asked Aizawa without opening his eyes.
"I saw a little listener off to the side having a really bad headache or something. He told me he was a little overwhelmed thinking about all the bad stuff that might have or is still happening to all of the orphanage residents…So I lifted his spirits up a bit and gave him a personally addressed autograph!" Present Mic answered as he started the vehicle and said the last part was a little too loud for Aizawa's eardrums.
Sighing with his ears ringing, Aizawa desperately tried to resume his nap but a small question came to mind.
"Why was a kid over there by himself? Did you see his parents or get his name by chance?"
"Oh yes I did Shota! I didn't see any adults near him but he told me his name was Izuku Midoriya.
Silence haunted the car briefly before Aizwawa's tired bloodshot eyes exploded open.
"Are you 100% sure that was his name?"
"Yea! What's the big deal Aizawa, do you know him or something?" asked Present Mic with an upturned brow.
"No Mic. It's just he's listed as the missing orphan from that burned down place from over a year ago." Aizawa deadpanned while rubbing the bridge of his nose. He pulled out his cellphone while ignoring the random confused sound effects that Present Mic was giving off.
"Hello detective. Remember the missing Midoriya kid we talked about not too long ago? Apparently Present Mic ran into him at the dedication ceremony five minutes ago….Naomasa please don't shout into the phone. I already have one loud mouth in the car already…Yes I will tell him that you'll be visiting him during our break time during school later today. Later."
Aizawa closed the phone and tried to get in a small nap while completely ignoring the confused Present Mic as he drove them both back to UA.
Unknown Laboratory
A couple of adult voices could be heard pleading for help as they were restrained against their own lab tables. A masked doctor Ujiko entered the room followed by a low level noumu carrying a small case.
"So you have an interest in my version of trigger? Wonderful! You will get to experience first hand what happens when a basic noumu injects it into themselves!" He rhetorically congratulated them as he ignored their increasingly desperate pleas for mercy, When prompted the noumu lowered the case which had a single syringe of trigger in it and the doctor order it to pick it up.
"Do try and survive long enough for me to take copious notes." Ujiko added and ordered the noumu to inject himself with the syringe after he leaves the room. The doctor closing the door behind him started the activation signal and the noumu did inject himself with trigger. The restrained thieves watched in horror as the mutant abomination grew in size and roared with intensity. The noumu immediately went berserk and started rampaging around the room in a disorganized fashion smashing the walls, floor, glass but couldn't break any part of the containment room.
When it got to the mohawk thief on the table it grabbed him and yanked him off leaving his ripped off hands still in the restraints and used the screaming man as a club swinging and hitting everything around it. The other thieves had similar painful grisly ends and Doctor Ujiko watched with a stoic demeanor as the room became filled with blood, organs, and other emaciated body parts. After 5 minutes and after each thief was horribly torn apart the noumu began to convulse as its primitive mind and body could no longer handle the drugs effect and it dropped down dead in an ungraceful manner in the room.
With an evil smile and a full page of notes taken the doctor said "Fascinating!"