-60-

Fighting Fate

Izuku tugged nervously at his bracers as he sat in his chair next to Oliver. He was wearing his newly upgraded hero uniform, provided by Bruce for his first day. Oliver and Black Canary had accompanied Izuku to Sir Nighteye's agency the following day after Izuku had met with him, ready to begin their partnership in earnest. Across the table from them, looking over case files, was Sir Nighteye, Bubble Girl, and Togata. Izuku couldn't suppress the butterflies in his stomach. This was the first time he would actually be doing authorized hero work, and in broad daylight. He was much more adept at working in the shadows, under cover of night. He felt more comfortable there. Bruce had taught him that once the darkness is your ally, the criminals can no longer truly hide.

Oliver, on the other hand, was much more open and flamboyant with his work. He wasn't as feared as Batman, but as a hero he was equally as respected. It was said that his archery skills were so impressive that he could pin a wasp to the wall by it's stinger at five hundred yards, without killing it. This was all the more impressive as he was one of the few heroes in the industry who openly and proudly proclaimed he was without a quirk. Like Bruce, everything that made him who he was he obtained through sheer determination and hard work. It was one of the reasons Izuku respected him so much.

"I understand you want to work with us on the Shie Hassaikai investigation," said Nighteye. "However, why the Justice League wants to assist in taking down a small-time Yakuza gang escapes me. I remember that you were all too focused on global scales to bother yourselves with such trivial matters."

"We missed you too, Sasaki," Said Oliver. "Sure we've taken down some big guns, but you should know by now that no criminal organization is too small to deserve a beatdown from the Justice League."

"We've been keeping an eye on all the Yakuza gangs for a while," Said Black Canary. "They've been lying dormant for years, and now that All Might has retired, we expect they may try to use the power gap to gain a foothold back into the criminal limelight, but so far, only the Hassaikai gang has made any kind of movement."

"Yes," said Nighteye, placing a profile photo of a man in a beak-like doctor mask. "Kai Chisaki, the second-in-command of the Hassaikai. He's been acting strangely. He's been gathering the various Yakuza groups together, for reasons currently unknown to us. He also has recently made contact with the League of Villains, though we don't have solid proof linking him to anything yet."

"So we split into groups and hit the streets," Said Oliver.

"Exactly," Said Nighteye. "Bubble Girl and I will form one group, you and Black Canary will form another, and lastly, Mirio and Midoriya will patrol together."

"Sounds like a plan," Said Oliver, turning to Midoriya. "Be careful if you run into him, kid. He may not look like it, but he's dangerous, and we don't want to tip him off that we're onto him just yet."

"Hey, look, heroes!"

"Isn't that the guy from the UA Sports Festival?"

"No, wait, it's the guy who took down the Hero Killer!"

"Are you serious?! Maybe we should get his autograph?"

Izuku felt himself blushing under the attention he was receiving. He and Mirio had only begun their patrol when he started noticing the whispers all around him. Izuku was still unused to the notoriety he received as a hero, and now more than ever wished he could go back to working under the radar.

"You look tense, Midoriya," Said Togata. "Loosen up. From what Green Arrow tells me you've got a ton of experience already doing hero work, you should be a pro at this."

"It's not that," Said Izuku. "I just forget how easily I'm recognized when going out in public."

"Well, I can't say I blame ya," said Togata. "I mean, I was looking forward to meeting you ever since I saw you on the news after the Hosu incident. It's not every day a highschool student takes down a major villain."

"It wasn't as easy as they made it out to be," said Izuku. "I was almost killed."

"Crazy," said Togata. "Well, try not to worry. Sir and Green Arrow are the ones tailing the target, so don't expect this to be very eventful. Oh!" He added suddenly. "That reminds me, we haven't told each other our hero names."

"Deku," Said Izuku.

"Deku?" Repeated Togata, bemused. "As in 'useless'?"

"It's a long story," Said Izuku.

"Well, I'm Lemillion," said Togata. "It's my dream to one day save a million people. I know I can't save everyone, but I can at least shoot for saving a million."

"An admirable goal," Said Izuku.

"Thanks!" Said Togata. "We better continue our patrol. Don't let your guard down, Deku."

"You got it -" Izuku stopped abruptly. Something bumped hard into his hip, startling him. Looking down, he saw a small girl with grey-white hair with a small horn protruding from the right side of her upper-forehead. She was wearing what looked to be a shabby nightgown with white bandages up and down both her arms and legs.

"Are you all right?" Said Izuku, crouching and extending his hand to help her up. The girl gasped, recoiling as if she was afraid he would strike her. Izuku ran a quick scan with his cowl vision. Her heartbeat and blood pressure was elevated, and she was trembling profusely. It was obvious she was frightened beyond belief. What's more, the cowl picked up scar tissue beneath the bandages on her arms and legs, and several other points on her body. It didn't take a detective to guess that this girl was in trouble.

"You shouldn't run off like that." Izuku looked up towards the voice from the alleyway the girl had just appeared from. Izuku gasped inwardly as Kai Chisaki walked towards them. "We don't want to make trouble for the heroes."

The girl began trembling even harder, all the blood draining from her face at the appearance of Chisaki. Izuku stood swiftly and put himself between her and Chisaki, who blinked in surprise but said nothing.

"I hope you'll forgive my daughter, hero," he said in a cheerful demeanor. "I just don't know what to do with her, always playing rough and bumping into things."

"I'm so sorry about that," Said Togata. "It was our fault, too."

Izuku was glad he was wearing his cowl and hood. Chisaki surprised him, and if he had noticed that, it would have risked Oliver and Sir Nighteye's operation.

"I know that mask," Said Togata, trying to diffuse the situation. "You're from the Hassaikai, right? You guys are pretty famous around here."

"Please don't mind the mask, it keeps out the filth," said Chisaki, putting special emphasis on the last word. "I don't think I've seen you around here before. What agency are you a part of?"

Izuku swallowed. They couldn't risk him finding out who they were or where they were from, or it could blow the investigation. They had to exit the situation quickly. "We're still students," said Togata, as if he was thinking the same thing. "Still too early to claim membership to any agency. We're using our internships to gain experience, and we still have to finish our patrol. Let's go, partner!" He patted Izuku on the shoulder, but stopped when Izuku didn't move. The girl had wrapped her arms around his leg and was holding on tightly. Every instinct he had was telling him to pick up this girl and run to the nearest police station, but that would destroy any chance Oliver and Sir Nighteye had at investigating Chisaki further. He had to play this smart.

"She seems pretty frightened," Said Izuku.

"A response to being scolded," replied Chisaki coolly.

"Not to mention she's covered in bandages," Izuku continued. "All this from 'playing rough?'"

"Eri's an exceptionally clumsy girl," said Chisaki.

"I wonder," said Izuku. "She is frightened and won't let go of me. Does that seem normal to you?"

"It's dangerous to assume what's normal in one's own family," Growled Chisaki.

"That's right, we're all different," Said Togata. What is he doing? He thought internally. If we spook him now, it'll only make it harder for us to follow his activities. We can't make him suspicious, we have to let this go.

"Not good enough," Said Izuku bluntly. "What are you doing to her?"

Togata stared in surprise at Izuku's abruptness. Chisaki's eyes grew dark, but then he sighed. "You heroes really know how to pick up on the smallest things, don't you?" He said. "This situation is embarrassing, so I would prefer if we discuss this where we won't be overheard." Chisaki turned and began walking back down the dark alleyway. Togata and Izuku followed, with the latter keeping a comforting hand on Eri.

"Hard to admit that you can't control your own child," said Chisaki. "But lately Eri defies me no matter what I try."

"Parenting can be tough," Said Togata.

"Yes," Said Chisaki, fidgeting with one of his white gloves. "So determined to do whatever they want that sometimes they just don't listen." Eri seemed to have noticed this motion and quickly ran back towards Chisaki.

"Oh, good," Said Chisaki. "Done with your temper tantrum?

"Are you okay, Eri?" Asked Izuku.

"She's always like this,'' said Chisaki. "Sorry to involve you in our family drama. I'm sure you have better things to be doing. Good luck with your internships."

Izuku wanted to go after her, but the motion he made with his glove was a clear indication that Chisaki was ready to get violent. If they pushed a confrontation now, he would be even harder to catch. He had to let her go for now.

"That was too close," Said Togata. "What were you doing?"

"I got what I needed," Said Izuku.

"What do you mean?"

"It would have been worse if we had just left," said Izuku. "What kind of a hero would leave a frightened child to someone who claimed to be her father without any proof? If we just took his word for it, that would have made him more suspicious. She had to go with him on her own."

"I see," Said Togata.

"What's more, while he was talking, I was gathering all I needed on him," Said Izuku.

"What?" Said Togata, surprised. 'In what way?"

Izuku pulled up his gauntlet computer, showing several images of Eri and Chisaki taken from his cowl vision. "I was able to get a reading on both their vitals," Said Izuku. "When he said she was his daughter, his heartbeat clearly indicated he was lying. Take a look at this," He gestured to his gauntlet, which was displaying several screens, including images and audio of Chisaki as they continued to walk down the alleyway.

"Is this live?" Said Togata.

"Live and in concert," Said Izuku.

"How did you do that?"

"Nanotech," Said Izuku. "Taken from a villain named Virgil Adams and reverse-engineered by Batman. While we were talking I planted a small device on her that can break apart and transform autonomously, blending in with its surroundings. Invisible to the naked eye, but acts as audio and visual receptors to anyone with the right frequencies."

"That's amazing!" Said Togata. "We can see everything Chisaki does. Is this legal?"

"Chisaki lying about his relation to Eri coupled with her injuries and frightened demeanor," Said Izuku. "That's enough probable cause for any judge."

"We got him," Said Togata excitedly. "Let's get this back to Sir and the Arrow!"

"The young people today are sicker than ever," Said Chisaki. "Kurono, prepare the bath. I need to scrub the filth off me."

Chisaki had taken Eri back to the Hassaikai stronghold. Her escape had left him in a sour mood, compounded by the fact that she bumped into two heroes nonetheless. The one in the black armor was too bold, asking questions no sane person would dare ask a mob boss. Not in their prime years, anyway. It was maddening. They were all infected with hero syndrome. But Chisaki would change that soon enough.

"I'm sorry boss!" Said the henchman in charge of watching Eri. "I swear, I only took my eyes off her for a second and she made a break for it -"

All it took was a touch from Overhaul's fingertips to reduce this pathetic worm to a bloodstain on the wall. He hated getting his hands dirty, but this was an offense that could not stand. It required an example.

"Clean that up," he snapped at Kurono.

Eri shut her eyes as tight as she could, but she could hear the sickening splat of the poor guard as he met his demise at the hands of her captor. Once again, someone was hurt because of her. Chisaski was angry and killed someone else because she ran away. He would have done the same to those nice heroes if she hadn't returned when she did. She was always getting people hurt.

"You really need to stop running away, Eri," Said Chisaki. She opened her eyes, but immediately wished that she hadn't. They were back in the room. The horrible room where he hurt her. She could feel tears streaming down her eyes as she stared at the frightening instruments around the surgical chair in the middle, where all her suffering took place.

"You know you're the key to my plans," Chisaki continued. "And you also know how much I hate to get my hands dirty. It's in your best interest, really. So be a good girl from now on, and do as I say."

"Boss!" A small gremlin-like henchman dressed in a black jumpsuit with a white beak-mask hobbled over towards Chisaki, holding a cellphone for him to grab. "It's Shigaraki. He has an answer for you."

"Are you some sort of a danger magnet, kid?" Said Green Arrow. Izuku and Togata caught up with him and Sir Nighteye after their encounter with Chisaki. "I would rather not be the person Batman breaks his no killing rule for if something happened to you."

"Sorry," Said Togata. "It was a total accident."

"I should take responsibility," said Sir Nighteye. "I should have used Foresight on you. Then you would have been prepared for the encounter."

"In any case, I'm glad nothing happened to you," Said Green Arrow. "Things could have gone a lot worse than they did."

"But Sir, we also got lucky!" Said Togata excitedly. "Thanks to Midoriya, we have new intel to give you."

Izuku filled Sir Nighteye and Green Arrow in on all the data he had gathered and was currently gathering on Chisaki. The transmitter he had placed on Eri had unfortunately stopped transmitting, but that led him to believe that they were deep underground somewhere, or in a bunker designed to block radio waves and other transmissions.

"This must mean their stronghold is more heavily fortified than we thought," Said Sir Nighteye. "And then there's this daughter."

"I don't think she was his daughter," Said Izuku. "He was lying when we pressed him about it. She was covered in bandages, and looked terrified. It was clear she was asking for help."

"Don't be so hasty," Said Sir Nighteye. "We can't move too quickly, or Chisaki will be much more likely to escape."

"We've asked other agencies to team up with us on this case," Said Green Arrow. "We're making preparations to face him as we speak. Don't worry, kid," he added, placing a comforting hand on Izuku's shoulder. "We'll stop him."

"If you two are through," Said Sir Nighteye coarsely. "I think you've done enough for today. Green Arrow and I will take it from here."

"Wait!" Said Izuku. "Isn't there more we can do?"

"I told you not to be hasty," said Sir Nighteye. "Your mentor may not have taught you this, but you can't just swoop in where you want when you want. While you're on this investigation, you are to do things by the book, not like some half-cocked vigilante." Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked off.

"Don't take it personally, kid,'' said Green Arrow. "He hasn't removed that stick since he was in the Justice League. But he's right. We have to do this right. Heroes have been on shaky ground with the public ever since the Kamino incident, and we can't afford any more bad press. You kids have done great work today. Go home and get some rest. We'll contact you when it's time for the next move."

Throughout the next few days, Izuku couldn't keep his mind off of Chisaki and the poor little girl, Eri. It burned a hole in his stomach that he couldn't do something for her right then and there. Batman would have already had everything he needed, and would have taken him down in an instant. A stark reminder about how much he had to learn, and how different the professional hero world was compared to the Dark Knight's.

What's more, Izuku was troubled by something. All Might had still not given up One For All. Even after Izuku's refusal of the power, and a ready and worthy successor waiting in the wings, All Might stubbornly held onto the power he could no longer use. In the wake of his retirement, and in light of what Braniac had told him during his incarceration by All For One, the need for a successor was more crucial than ever.

Why didn't he tell him about Togata? Why didn't hadn't he passed it on to him yet? Was it to spite Nighteye? Was he ashamed? Or was he still hoping that Izuku would change his mind and take up his mantle?

He had to talk to him about this.

All Might coughed slightly as he jogged through the forest path outside UA. He was careful not to stray too far from the campus, as he was a sitting duck now without his power. However, after his trip to the Watchtower, Superman had given him a watch that sent out a subsonic frequency to summon him should he ever need help. He was touched by the gesture, but he still felt humbled over the fact that he used to be on-par with Superman when it came to his strength. Still, he supposed he shouldn't be -

A loud explosion erupted from behind him. Turning sharply, All Might saw a small figure rapidly approaching him. Squinting in the evening sunlight, it turned out to be -

"Young Midoriya is here!" Said All Might, half-surprised and half-amused. Izuku landed deftly a few meters away from him. "How did you find me?"

"Why haven't you passed on One For All?" Asked Izuku.

All Might was silent, looking away from Izuku.

"You were so willing to give it to me," Said Izuku. "Even before I got this quirk. Nighteye has practically groomed Togata to inherit the quirk, and you still won't pass it on! Why?"

"I have my reasons," He said finally.

"You knew what I was walking into with Nighteye," Said Izuku. "That's why you didn't want me to go to him. You knew he wanted you to pass it on to Togata, and not me. But what I don't understand is why you haven't done it. He's worthy."

"So are you," Said All Might.

"Is that why?" Said Izuku. "Did you want to make up for what you said to me back on that rooftop? All Might, I've already made peace with that. But what I don't get is -" Izuku paused.

"What?" Said All Might.

"Is what Braniac told me,'' said Izuku.

"What?!" Said All Might, taken aback.

"Back then, in Kamino Ward," Said Izuku. "When All For One probed into my mind. I spoke to him, All Might. I spoke with Braniac."

"What did he say?" Said All Might.

"He told me about the piece of himself that resides within One For All," Izuku explained. "He told me how it refuses to return to him, how it has been corrupted by our sense of Justice, and now fights against him."

All Might was shocked. His mind travelled back to his time in the Justice League, when he had come face-to-face with Braniac himself during their final battle. Clark, Bruce, Diana, and several other heroes and villains alike had fought in the very depths of space to keep him from coming to Earth, only to finally push him back to his stronghold within a small asteroid. He had told All Might about the piece of himself that remained inside of him, and how it was destiny that it was led back to him, to be reclaimed, he was unable to. It was this reason that the heroes were able to turn the tide against the robotic villain and bring him down. Somehow, the piece inside him had fought back, and damaged the original, and allowed him to be defeated.

"I'm sorry you had to find out that way," Said All Might. "I'm sorry that you were taken at all. He took you to get to me."

"That doesn't matter," Said Izuku. "I want to know why you haven't passed it on yet. The world needs a hero like you now more than ever. Why can't you give it up?"

"Because Dox told me not to," Said All Might.

Izuku paused, confused. "Who?"

"Querl Dox," Said All Might. "The Piece of Braniac that resides within me. That is his name."

"He has a name?" Said Izuku.

"Yes," said All Might. "It's a long story."

"I've got time," Said Izuku. "Tell me everything. You owe me that much."

All Might let out a sigh. "All right," he said. "But you may regret this."

"I won't," said Izuku.

"Well, many years ago, after my master had passed One For All to me," Said All Might. "She had passed away during her battle with All For One. I was grieving over the loss of my mentor, when I heard a voice inside my head. I thought I was going crazy, but it was as clear as day. He told me his name was Querl Dox, and that he was the progenitor of my Quirk. He comforted me in my grief, and told me what I needed to do to get stronger: to go to America to seek out the Justice League."

"That's when you met Batman," Said Izuku.

"Pretty much," said All Might. "He was the one who recommended me. I couldn't understand why, since we didn't particularly like each other. But I was accepted without hesitation. Those were some of my best years. I learned so much under the League's guidance, and when I finally returned to Japan for my debut, I used my training to quickly become the Number One Hero. Though I was no longer a full-time member, I still helped the league here and there from time to time.

That's when I met Nighteye," All Might continued. "He had always been a big fan of mine. But it was my policy not to accept sidekicks. However, eventually I relented, and let him be my Number 2. We worked well together, and when the threat of Braniac came to Earth, the League called upon us and we acted without hesitation. It was during that fight I learned about the true nature of Querl Dox."

"Your Braniac," Said Izuku.

"Yes," Said All Might. "Since he was created by the scientists on Krypton, Braniac had already consumed and digitized thousands of worlds. One such world was a planet called Colu. Querl Dox was a young boy living on the planet at the time, and when he was digitized with the rest of his people, his consciousness somehow remained intact, laying dormant inside Braniac's codes. My guess is because his intellect was significantly higher than that of the average Coluan. The paradox that was created by Braniac's destruction caused the piece that contained his consciousness to be sent back in time, where it was recovered and merged with All For One. When he forced the stockpile quirk onto his brother, the small piece that was Dox transferred to him, and had awokeI.

"It was through him that his brother was able to learn from him, and taught him how to use his quirk," Said All Might. "And every time he was passed down through the transference of One For All, the quirk became stronger, and Dox guided each and every one of it's users."

"But you never told Nighteye," Said Izuku. "He knew how All For One works, but you never told him about Querl Dox."

"He didn't need to know," Said All Might. "But after the battle with Braniac, he and I officially resigned from the Justice League to focus on destroying All For One. And our partnership dissolved after my fight with him six years ago because of my injury. We had different values."

"What do you mean?" Asked Izuku.

"He wanted me to retire," Said All Might. "He warned me that if I continued fighting, my injury would get worse, and the world would soon find out the truth, that the Symbol of Peace was secretly broken. What's more, he used his Foresight on me. He foresaw my death."

"How long?" Izuku asked. "How long do you have?"

"Probably a year," said All Might. "Maybe two. But eventually, I'll die by the hands of some villain."

Izuku stared silently at All Might, a loss for words. Ever since he knew about his injury, he knew that All Might couldn't keep up the hero fight forever. And hearing it straight from his former hero's mouth hit him harder than he expected it to. What's more, he still hadn't passed on One For All, and he was running out of time.

"Why won't he let you pass on your quirk?" Said Izuku. "If you die, One For All will die with you!"

"I don't know," said All Might. "But he says it's not the right time yet."

"Then you better stay alive," Said Izuku. "Not just to pass on your quirk, but so you can be there to teach them to use it. Even if you're not who you used to be, you're still the Symbol of Peace. The world has to see that you have chosen your successor for them to accept him. You can't do that if you're dead."

"His Foresight has never been wrong," said All Might.

"That doesn't matter," said Izuku. "Jason was once dead as well. The same with Kacchan. If there's one thing that I've learned, it is that nothing, not even death, is set in stone."

"Young Midoriya," Said All Might. "When I heard about my death, I accepted that as my fate. To be honest, when I fought him at Kamino Ward, I thought my death would be caused by All For One. It would have been the perfect irony. But you were there. You and Bruce. I haven't realized just how much the time I've spent with you two has affected me. So I won't give up. Just like I promised you and your mother, I'll keep on living to guide you, and my successor, whoever that may be. "

"I'll be there too," said Izuku. "I'll help you fight fate."

Author's Note: I know it took a while to get this chapter out, I apologize. I'm currently finishing up my master's degree and have been buried. I will be taking a small hiatus while I finish my degree and then I'll be back. To make up for it, I have posted on Wattpad an illustrated version of chapters 1 and 2. I wasn't able to post it here due to restrictions by . Please head on over there to check it out.

Thank you for reading!