Agony. That was all that he felt when the chains were seered into the tissue of his skin, scorching it, carving the skin deep enough to leave a permanent mark. Izuku shrieked, his eyes dilated as he tried to contain the pain.
Izuku fell into the ground, the mark of the chains etched into his very skin. the sensation was excruciating. Smoke rose upwardly from his charred wrists, as he beckoned himself to stand to his feet. The chains loosened themselves, hitting the ground. The men took the chains away, leaving Izuku to tend to himself with his newly acquired scar.
All For One then gestured for him to stand, "Stand up. Take this." He said as he handed Izuku over a bandage. He wrapped it around his wrists, feeling the sting as the tender fabric touched the marred tissue.
Izuku struggled to stand up, his feet faltering as he attempted to push even further. The pain jolted throughout every single one of his nerves, "Was that...necessary...?"
"Believe it or not, it's crucial. I have something in mind that would be useful in your future endeavours," All For One explained, "The chain that bound you integrated nano-particles that would let you use one of our most prized treasures, though I wouldn't want to spoil that one for you just yet."
Izuku simply nodded, not intending to press into the matter even further. Looking at the charred skin of his wrist, he said, "What if anyone sees me in this condition when I go home?"
"Who said anything about going home?" All For One asked.
Izuku's eyes widened. Though, a part of him saw this coming from a mile, another part of him had expected for the villain to be a little generous to him. But perhaps not.
He didn't want to leave his mom to rot all by herself. But if All For One is willing to follow through with his words, then maybe he could at least have the treatment costs covered for her.
"Operating in the shadows takes precedence over your sense of belonging, Midoriya. Going home would only blow your cover away, and by extension, ours," All For One leaned forward, glaring into the boy's eyes, "Fidelity is required in this field, Midoriya. Don't you forget that."
"Then where am I staying? You can't exactly leave me stranded on the streets.." Izuku asked.
"Oh, dear Izuku. Abandon you on the streets? Your living space has been arranged. Of that, I can assure you." All For One then motioned at the cameras, as a fog enveloped the boy, transporting him back to the bar. The hand man greeted him with much animosity, though he didn't speak a word.
"It went well, I take it?" Kurogiri asked, placing his hand softly on the boy's shoulder. But he was unresponsive. His mind trailed off elsewhere.
Kurogiri's expression was unreadable. It was unclear whether he was put off by the silent treatment or if he was just simply being stoic. He shifted closer to the boy, "Don't worry, I will take care of you. For the time being, of course, until you are ready."
Izuku's mind snapped back into place as he heard the voice. It was...familiar. As if it came from a time in the past. He looked at Kurogiri, before asking, "Do we...know each other?"
Kurogiri was idle for a moment, then, he answered, "I'm afraid you are mistaken, Midoriya."
Izuku stared at him for a moment, before exhaling, "Ah. Maybe my mind's just getting a bit crowded right now."
"Which is why you need a resting place to clear them off for a little while." Kurogiri summoned a fog that transported them to the hotel room, much to the boy's confusion.
Izuku raised his brow as he spoke, "Aren't we supposed to go to the receptionist desk first, though...?"
"We've already booked the room for you. No need to worry," Kurogiri tossed the key to the desk besides the bed, "If you need anything, don't hesitate to call this number." He placed a piece of paper containing a phone number on the desk.
"Wait!" Izuku called out after the man before he could go, "When will I hear from you again? There are...things that I need to discuss with your boss before we take things further."
"No need to worry. At exactly nine o'clock, I will be here to take you to the boss. Make sure to sleep early in order to avoid yourself from oversleeping. I wouldn't want you to get in the boss's bad side. Make sure to shower and eat your breakfast properly, lest-"
"Okay, okay!" Izuku chuckled a little at the man's excessive display of concern towards him, "You're being a bit too much, Kurogiri-san."
"I am merely looking out for you." Kurogiri said in a soft tone.
Izuku nodded with a smile. The gesture was nice, but, he didn't know if it came off genuine, or if it was just a mask that he put on in order to make him at ease. At least, for a little while.
He decided to brush the thoughts off, waving at Kurogiri as the fog enveloped him.
He threw himself into the bed, not even bothering to go to the shower to clean after himself. He was too tired. Maybe he'd do it tomorrow. Though he felt a little gross.
He looked at the ceiling, then to the blank screen of the television, as the reflection of himself stared right back at him. His skin was pale. Paler than it had ever been. He only had noticed it just now.
"Huh.." Izuku rubbed the skin of his face, "That's...odd..?"
He decided to pay it no further heed. He leaned against the tender pillow, resting his weary head against it.
One question remained in his head.
Did he make the right choice?
...
Yagi couldn't get the thought of that boy out of his head. That dejected face of his, the desperation that etched into his voice, he wanted to sooth it. But he wasn't the best at consoling people.
"I know that look," Detective Tsukauchi interjected, "We both know that this is a situation out of anyone's control."
"I didn't think it would manifest that fast," Yagi sighed, "Though I suppose I would have the chance to rectify that once the boy comes to."
"You did what you had to."
"Did I? Or was I just...desperate?" Yagi clenched his fists, "I knew of the consequences, but I still followed through with it."
"You're nearing your limit, Toshinori. Anyone in your place would be desperate," Tsukauchi put his hand on Yagi's shoulder, "Don't punish yourself over this."
Yagi closed his eyes, before sighing, "I just hope that boy will forgive me in due time. You know, once I reveal the painful truth to him."
"He will. Eventually. He'll come around." Tsukauchi smiled. But then, his phone rang. He answered it, then...
"Tsukauchi?" Yagi called, shaking the idle detective, "Tsukauchi, what's going on? What happened? Tsukauchi!"
Tsukauchi slowly tilted his head towards Yagi, "Midoriya is missing."
...
Izuku's eyes shot open as the sun's rays gushed through the curtain. Though obscured, the heat of the sun reverbersted ever-so-intensely through his body.
He stretched his hands forward, feeling his bones crack as his muscles contracted themselves. He moved to the edge as his feet dangled. He needed to take a shower. He checked the time, only to see that there was but an hour left until Kurogiri arrives. He quickly rushed to the bathroom, taking a shower. As he wrapped the towel around his waist, he toggled his previous clothes into the nail piercing the wall near the door.
He then realised something. His bandages were nowhere to be seen. Did he lose it when he was taking a shower? He rushed back to the bathroom, only to find nothing.
Dammit, where did I leave that thing?
He couldn't be seen walking around with the chain marks around his wrists. That would only arouse suspicion. As he donned the casual clothings on himself, he searched around the room for the bandages. It was futile. He didn't remember where he put it last.
Suddenly, a warp gate opened in front of him. Kurogiri emerged out of it, "Midoriya. I apologise for coming in earlier than expected, but the boss seems to be insistent on meeting you right now."
"Wait, wait, just wait. I need to find my bandages first." Izuku said, trying to look for it behind the blanket.
"That can wait." Kurogiri firmly gripped the boy's shoulder, "All For One wants to see you immediately."
Izuku looked at him, before nodding, "I suppose I can't convince you otherwise."
"My apologies. I suppose I'll make it up to you by making you your breakfast." Izuku couldn't see it, but he was pretty sure that Kurogiri was smiling behind all those fogs.
And, naturally, he smiled back, "Thanks."
Then, at a moment's notice, Izuku was back to that dreadful place. The place All For One called his 'lair'. He was still sitting on that chair, injected with various cables, his upper skin deformed.
"Midoriya Izuku." The villain said delightfully.
"All...For One." Izuku uttered back, "If you don't mind, there are a few things that I want to discuss-"
"Shhhh, your discussion comes later." All For One cut through his words, his insidious tone cutting through whatever bravery Izuku had mustered earlier.
"Ah. I see. I'm sorry, sir," Izuku tried to maintain his composure as best as he could, "What did you want to discuss, sir?"
All For One then began, "It has come to my attention that you...are not fit to be called an accomplice of mine."
Izuku was about to protest, but All For One lifted his hand up, "Not until you fulfill some of the required qualifications."
"Qualifications?"
"That morality of yours, it still lingers on your mind like a sucking parasite," All For One leaned forward, "I wish to purge you of it."
"I don't-"
All For One intterupted him when he threw a pair of blades and it's chains into the ground, "First things first, wrap those chains around your wrist, then we'll talk business."
Izuku looked at the blades. Fierce as it was, it still maintained it's aesthetic appeal. From the elongated skull carved into the dip of the blade, to the strong brown ink stamped on it's handle. The edge of the blade was surprisingly large, covering about a hefty percent of the object's overall size. The design was exquisite. Though he couldn't help but think of the dreary nature behind this object, of the malevolent purpose that it was made for.
Blades.
They are meant to kill. To instill suffering into others.
Then was he...
"All For One.." Izuku uttered in horror, "Are you insinuating that I should...?"
All For One was silent for a moment, before nodding, "Or at least, learn how to live with it, I suppose. To be indifferent to the suffering you may inflict on others in your servitude towards our cause."
Now Izuku was ready to back out. Sure, being a villain might be at odds with his moral compass, but he didn't think..
That it would reach this point. But why did he expect for it to be that way anyway? Was he a fool?
I'm an idiot..
I..
I shouldn't have...
"I can't." Izuku said, "If this is the price that I have to pay, then I won't follow."
All For One chuckled, "Why not?"
"I'm not a killer. I will help you reach whatever goals you might have, but you're not making me touch even an inch of that damned blade!" Izuku screamed.
All For One gripped the edge of the seat, "Oh, Midoriya, poor hatchling, did I make it sound like you have a choice in the matter?"
"I have a choice-!"
"I'm sure your mother's well being would beg to differ." All For One's tone came stern and threatening. His gaze pierced through Izuku, wavering whatever defiant nature he might have, "Would it?" He asked one last time to emphasize.
Izuku's resolve faltered. He couldn't resist. Not with the life of his mother on the line. Even if he quit and found another line of work that he could use to support his mother..
All For One would still come after her. He would do...unimaginable things to her. He couldn't let that happen. He shouldn't have accepted in the first place.
What was I thinking?
WHAT WAS I FUCKING THINKING?!
I could've asked those two strange men for help. They...
Why...
WHY?!
"I can sense your indignation, you know," All For One mused, "Good. Just a few steps closer to achieving your true self."
Izuku clenched his fists, tears streaming down his face. The prospect of him killing...
...
Mom...Look at All Might. He's so cool. I want to be just like him one day, you know? C- can..can I...be a hero like him someday? Can I?
...
I'm sorry, Izuku! I'm sorry!
...
Izuku struck the ground with his fist, creating a large dent. He wanted to be a hero. But this decision of his, his foolish impulsive nature...
"I can let you off the hook for now. You don't need to wrap that chain immediately." All For One offered.
"Just let me see mom," Izuku said with a raspy voice, tears still trickling down his cheeks, "for one last time."
All For One nodded as he gestured towards the camera. A warp gate transported him into the room where his mom was in.
The room was empty safe for her. He approached her, his eyes yearning for her to wake up, to come to his side, to sooth the volatile emotions that were raging inside him.
He fell to his knees, wrapping his fingers around her limp hand, "Mom.."
He clung to her arm like she was going to disappear if he let go of her. The sorrow was pungent. The regret was eating away at him. He was put in a situation where he couldn't bail. There was no way out.
"What am I going to do..?" He muttered to himself, gripping the fabric of the bed.
Should he give in? Accept the unfortunate predicament that he was in? Waste his innocence away, relinquish himself in the potential bloodshed that he would inevitably involve himself in?
He looked at his mother, and thought about how she wouldn't approve of this decision. How she would come to resent him for ruining her image of the perfect son that she thought she always had.
But he was far from being able to live up to that image at all.
He was...
"A fool." He muttered to himself, blinking his tears away.
He stood up, as he said to his mother, "Goodbye, mom, I'm.. I'm... I'm sorry."
He caressed her hair, kissing her on the forehead, before moving to the edge of the room. A warp gate enveloped him, as he was put back into the accursed place that he had come to detest.
"I assume that your decision is clear?" All For One inquired, his eyes leering curiously, "Or do you need more time-"
Without responding, Izuku wrapped the chains around his wrist, feeling it's incense scorching his skin as the excruciating pain jolted across his nerves. It was injecting itself into his skin, as if it was being pulled inside.
Right.
The 'nano-particles'.
"I see." All For One chuckled.
As Izuku lifted the blades attached to the chains that were wrapped around the wrists, he felt his body stir. As if a surge of energy bursted itself out of it. Flames consumed the blades, blazing outwardly.
With a delightful chuckle, All For One, "From now on, you are Midoriya Izuku no longer. Henceforth, you will be known as..."
Izuku closed his eyes, seemingly accepting his fate.
..
"Κράτος."