-Speech-
"quoted or custom name of something"
(-Hunt Or Be Hunted-) Time skip or change of prespective
If font is in bold letters it is OFA talking or AFO talking or sound effects, or sometimes some character scream loud enough (Present Mic)
Chapter 8 : Fallen Angels
Izuku Midoriya was standing in attendance of all U.A staff and two commissioners from HPSC. They were standing in the middle of the room, surrounded by polished oak wood. It looked more like a court was taking place, and in some way, it was. The two students were now listening to the arguments of the board and awaiting their final sentence that would turn their lives upside down forever.
-And thus, we cannot allow somebody with psychopathic tendencies and a traumatic background to enter a hero course or any hero course in Japan. Please understand! We are all concerned about public safety and your mental health. Living with such an unsightly quirk or without it must have been tough. During the test, you exhibited many concerning behaviors, so with the agreement of the commission's psychologist, we have reached our verdict... but do not worry! In the meantime, you can undergo rehabilitation under the watchful eyes of our dear friend, Houndog, as an example. And all of this is completely funded by the state!- said the woman commissioner with her plastic smile plastered on her face.
Hound dog let out a low growl and looked at both students with pity, and also a little guilt for his part in this travesty, though unwillingly. The students didn't react; they still had the same expression as when they entered here, none of them making a move, just staring ahead with a thousand-yard stare. After a while of silence, some teachers became worried about the mental health of their students, and Aizawa was ready to tear a new asshole for the rat man, but he was bound to a chair when he wasn't watching by a Powerloader device. He was trashing there like a mad dog.
-It's fine.- Izuku said and all of them looked at him including still dazed Shinso.
After a while somebody meekly tried to say something but it got silenced and Nezu took the lead instead.
-Are you sure young Midoriya? From the notes you presented to us with your costume design you seemed very set on it?- Nezu asked carefuly and due to him part being animal he doesn't understood human emotions well when under stress so he instantly regreted saying that.
-Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming, dreams no mortal ever dared to before...-
After that Izuku has nothing more to say and just left leaving everybody dazed at his choice of words including Nezu who recognized art he was quoting. Wondering even more what would Midoriya do after all of that, it is better to have an eye on him, and maybe if Eraserhead suspicions were right... try to do something.
-Hunt or be Hunted-
After everything happened, Izuku just left the school in a daze, not interested in where he is going right now. He was truly lost and didn't know what to do, so he just walked on instinct. He arrived at the train station and got on a train, not caring where it was going at all. He repeated everything they said to him quietly in his mind, mumbling a little without noticing. Some people stared at him like he was some sort of lunatic or crazy man. One woman even took her child to another place, not wanting her child to be next to this crazed teenager. The rest watched him with pity, probably thinking he was on some drugs or something.
But Izuku was already elsewhere, reminesing, wandering through his memories...
-Hunt or be Hunted-
Couple of months ago...
-All right short stuff, after you got this I will be gone and you will can say that you passed Heroic dream plan.- Says knuckleduster completly suprising greenette with this statement.
-Why... What? Sensei! But I'am not even half as good as you! I'am certainly not ready! I do not know how to jump the walls like you do or use rage as you do it!- Izuku tries to formulate arguments franticaly and knuckleduster just stays silent waiting for him to went out like always.
-No, I cannot simply for both reasons. One, I am a shitty teacher and many things that you learned are not optimal for your posture or tactics as a vigilante. My body is solid and muscular, while you are more slim and lean. I simply rely too much on my fighting style, which is based on brute strength and brutal efficiency. You need someone who will teach you some refinement. I know who I am and I will not hide it. I am as subtle as a club and as elastic as a brick. You need someone who will teach you that, and someone who understands what you are dealing with. Second... I found myself today on the list of the most wanted villains in Japan. Knuckleduster lists his arguments one by one, causing our protagonist to stumble on his feet and bow his head low because those arguments resonate within himself as well. But then he ends with a bombshell, and Izuku jumps like a frog.
-What?! How can you be a villain sensei! I'am certain I never meet in my life more heroic person than you...- Izuku tries in his panic to deny it but knuckleduster raises his palm and Izuku slowly voice dies down in his throat.
- I know I cannot be a villain by definition, similar to you, but think about it, we are criminals, you and me. - Izuku wanted to protest and say that if they won't protect people in dark districts of Japan, nobody would.- Yes, I know, those lazy bums from PD won't do shit about us poor folks like quirkless and with less desirable quirks. That is why those parts of the city exist at all. But still, in the light of the law, we are criminals, which doesn't make us bad. But look at this from the other side, they do not know if I have a quirk or not. You see, it has become so socially normal that somebody has a quirk that you could possibly commit manslaughter in broad daylight and be completely innocent in the eyes of the law in some parts of Japan. - Said Knuckleduster, settling the dispute.
-Soo... what now?- Izuku says and Knuckleduster punches him in the face.
-Now, keep focused.- He says as Izuku gets up on his feet. And they return to the training, but Knuckleduster still seems off so Izuku backs down a little.
-Hey, sensei?-
-What- Grunts out knuckleduster.
-Somethings wrong beside it that you said to me?-
-Damn you brat you are to smart for your own good.- Says knuckleduster exiting his combat stance and clutching his face with his hand. - You see... I' am worried.-
-Worried?-
-Yes worried, that you...- Knuckleduster stops and gives a heavy sigh.- that you will end up like me.-
-huh?- Izuku is completly puzzled by this statement.
-I mean brat... that you will be failed, not by yourself or something else, but by this system... just like me.-
-Oh...-
-Yes. Oh. I just... I just want to to not be as dissapointed when they fuck you over, I'am understood?-
-I will become a hero.- Izuku replies sternly.
-You know you always have place in my organization.-
-I will become a hero.- Izuku repeats.
-Just remember kid that there are always other hero schools.-
-Hunt or be Hunted-
Back to the present...
-Huh, other schools I guess not- Izuku mumbles, still too dazed to even cry his eyes out or do other things. But he is sure that if he doesn't arrive home in time, he will outright collapse on the floor unresponsive or break out crying. He tries to focus himself on something else, so he looks at the window in contemplation. He recognizes this place; the train is just moving next to the place where he and Stain trained before his traditional stunt with Endeavor.
Before him, an abandoned building passed, looking like a dead husk, devoid of life or light. It was just paintless concrete with cracked windows, or sometimes no windows at all. He once asked why the city would leave such a place unoccupied on the edges of the city. They said it was quirkless, which confirmed his speculations. It appears the government doesn't want to fund a place that theoretically doesn't generate any income and only attracts gangs and drugs. But from the other side, what can those poor people do? There are no jobs in Japan that would accept the quirkless. So they gather in those buildings next to carved-out barrels with fire, feeding whatever comes to their hands. Many of those buildings are in danger of collapse, but nobody is interested in this seemingly deserted part of town.
Stain told him many times how this place was supposed to be an I-Island inside of Japan, how many rich corporations and government showered this place with money and built those apartments and malls all around for tourists to see. However, everything got lost because a villain attack polluted the ground all around the place with a significant amount of radiation.
And now, to this day, people in exile live there among those ruins, scraping on leftovers to survive. He still remembers the days when his worries revolved around Bakugo and his school, unaware of the bigger picture, believing that everything had to be this way because it had always been like that. Then he met Knuckleduster, Popstep, Tsukauchi, Stain, and Lurker with his prodigy Mei. He learned why Mustafu and Kamino Ward are such terrible places to live, why the police or heroes never visit those areas, and that he is not the only one. He is not the only Deku in this world.
How did Stain call it? Naivety? He thought he had let go of that after he met Knuckleduster, when he learned about it all for the first time, but then he met Stain and in his training he learned much more. He learned that the dark districts of Japan have their own darker districts, ones like that. He learned that day that you can fall even lower and nobody will be there to help you. He thought he was going to save them all, but it appears he was blindfolded, and actually he was in the same hole as them all this time. Naive... Huh.
-Hunt or be hunted-
Some weeks ago...
-And I'm saying that you are holding it wrong. If you want to strike with full force, you need to take a good swing with a right angle so that the sharp edge of your weapon can penetrate the armor of your enemy.- Stain lectured, sitting on a street lamp with his legs crossed and eating ramen from a cup.
Izuku was standing right below him on a roof of some building, holding a pipe with a sharp edge, trying to pry open the stubborn metal door of the complex. Izuku was covered in sweat and he was a bit stiff from standing there for two hours, trying to open the door from many angles. The door had multiple scratches on it, some even piercing the door in some way.
-Can't I just pick lock it?-
- No. - Stain said watching ramen in his chopsticks as it cools down with the air.- You need to learn how to open the door by force, you will not always have the luxury to picklock everything.-
-Then you maybe stop being a smartass here and show me how it is done?- Izuku says with frustration in his voice and a bit of Knuckleduster sapped into his tone, he truly spend to much time with them all.
Stain took his ramen cup and jumped downwards landing next to Izuku and still eating the ramen and not even watching the door he kicked it in the rusted hinges and it fallen down inside the building tumbling through the stair with loud banging until it stopped.
Izuku just stared for a while and blinked.
- Such naivety. - Stain says and walks next to the edge of the roof to sit on it. - I didn't tell you that you had to use your tool or pry it open with this pipe. I only said you need to open it by force. Now, move to the next one. - Stain says disinterestedly, still eating ramen and points at the door on the other side of the roof, the other roof entrance of this building.
Izuku grumbled and moved up to the door and saw that it looked fresh and new, without any rusted hinges. He almost screamed out in despair, but he stopped himself and thought outside the box, like Stain says. He carefully examined the door; it appeared to be freshly made, with the metal glinting in the dim sunlight. Izuku felt like it was beginning to rain, as clouds were gathering. It would be better to act quickly.
So instead of focusing on the door, he has a different idea. He looks around for a brick or a stone and finds one. He takes it and uses it with his pipe like a chisel, chipping away bricks and cement, leaving the hinges and frame unsupported. After that, he lifts up the door and places it sideways. As he places the door, he hears Stain clapping his hands.
Woah! - Stain says and burps. - I thought you were never going to make it! Looks like you are not unsalvageable, maybe a little less but you are still naive. - He says and jumps from the edge and Izuku grunts in frustration and starts following Stain as he jumps from rooftop to rooftop, getting closer and closer to him. But when he was close to him, he slipped and felt the ground moving from his feet. But as he was about to fall four stories down the building, Stain catches him by the hand and lifts him up.
-Even the best can slip up, I almost did the same as you also.- Stain says suprising Izuku. - It looked stable. But you can never knew, one day you are and the other you aren't.- Stain says with conempletative look.
Izuku is surprised by Stain's attitude. Then, he looks around and sees where they are. Both of them are at the edge of the dark districts. In front of the building is a large valley, and after that valley, there is a view of the whole city with a nearby highway. He is so mesmerized by the view that he sits down and sees the city and its colorful lights. The buzzing sounds give the city a breathtaking look.
Without him knowing Stain sits next to him and looks at the beautiful scene with him as well. He doesn't speak and Stain also doesn't, just peace and sounds of living city all around. Rain pours a little droplet by little droplet but doesn't bothers them at all, in fact it makes it even more memorable.
After a while of staring in silence at the city Stain speaks to him in soft, somber tone, one completly not fitting him in the slightest.
-Remember, kid, that even in the deepest darkness, there is always light. As humans, we cannot live without light, no matter who we are. Even the most despicable villain has something they hold dear or lines they won't cross. Sometimes, when I feel like all hope is lost and we can never reform this rotten society, I come up here to watch. Even in the darkness, light weakly flickers. Before I became who I am now, I came here for a different reason. I believed that even the worst of the worst can change and be a light for everyone else. They just need a spark. When I first met Himiko, I thought she was like all the others who followed me. Another unsavable broken doll produced by this society. But then you arrived and changed what I thought was impossible. And I started to think... maybe... maybe the old me was right... and the me I am now is a fool.- Stain says, and Izuku listens to him closely.
Then Stain reaches behind his back to retrieve a red mask with a cocky smile. - Standhal believed in that, kid if everything didn't play out as it should be you can be this light for the people. - He gives a mask to his hands. - Maybe my dead dream can live through you, if you want you can wear it, I don't need it anymore, not the same man, not the same times as it was before... but maybe you can do what I couldn't. - He finished and walks away leaving Izuku alone on the rooftop staring at the smiling mask of Standhal.
-Hunt or be Hunted-
And now Izuku is staring at the same mask, he unknowingly stored it in his backpack because he uses only two first pockets of his backpack so the last with Standhal mask remained unnoticed by him, until he remembered it now. For a good while he just stared at the mask as the city behind the window go by. But he finally decided what to do, he will not be Stain, he will not let them kill his dream. Even if he has to dig it up from the grave and dead men start walking the world of living again.
Somewhere in a deep underground facitlity with tanks and dead bodies inside them certain doctor with strange googles sneezed.
He will fight through hell and back and become number one hero, after that he will get the hero license out of Witch's throat if she want's it or not.
Or he will die trying. With the emphasis on word dying, cause I'am sure when I pull off that stunt Hunters will be after my head.
With this decided I got up from my seat to look at the stations that are ahead of me on the train's tv.
And it appears I'am not in a Train to my home.
I blink.
-Sometimes really I'm an idiot.- Izuku facepalms and gathers his backpack and stuffs Stendhal mask inside.
It appears that I am about to reach the final station of this line, and it's Naruhata. Perfect. This is just what I needed anyway. The problem starts with where do I find the boss? Pop Step mentioned something about an abandoned factory complex from the pre-quirk era, but there is a problem. Complexes like that are pretty common since the appearance of quirks. Humanity has resigned from doing many things, and many other things have been abandoned.
So I'm seeking basically a 200-year-old factory complex somewhere discreet, probably at the edge of Naruhata. But the problem is that Naruhata is not only a residential zone. As I mentioned, there are factory complexes, and the shut-down part of the town is basically one large factory complex piled next to each other. From one side, it would be easy to go all around, but from the other, it will be extremely dangerous, knowing that one of the disbanded gang 'Gators' headquarters was an abandoned factory of chemicals. So basically, I'm stepping here on thin ice.
After some time train stopped and I finally could stretch my legs for a while, looking around and back at the train more he saw that his part of the train was empty, huh, strange people normaly go to work at this time of the day.
And so Izuku walked the unknown streets of Naruhata looking around at the tall and imposing buildings around, and they say it is undeveloped part of the city, if this is undeveloped in peoples opinion they are going to weep their ass out when they see dark Mustafu or Kamino Ward at night.
Continuing his pointless stroll, he finally arrived at the abandoned part of town. He looked around and saw a giant gate and a wall separating the abandoned factory districts. Although abandoned, heroes still patrolled here with the police in tow. So it wasn't as bad as it could be. Gangs weren't leaving their dens in fear of attracting the attention of heroes, and this is how it was supposed to be. Not the other way around, where ring leaders, also known as Overlords, try to keep order on the streets and help people survive another day.
And the next is pure chaos... but in his mind, even this wasn't enough for him. He would like gangs like those to not exist at all. But knowing the harsher part of life, he didn't really blame gangs and Yakuza for existing. Many of those were composed of people without quirks, with villainous quirks, or with mutant quirks. And he knew with his own eyes that those people, though savage, brutal, and killing each other, are decent people who just try to survive.
Yeah, they survive by selling drugs, but what can they really do? Get a job? Don't even start there. Nobody would want a convicted criminal or someone on the path to becoming one. They label anyone who doesn't fit into their social standards as abnormal for example for lacking any quirks at all. Someone might ask, why don't they start a business? Well, it's quite simple. Government investigations, recent raids for trivial reasons, and safety departments visiting at least once a day, bombarding the struggling business owner with endless paperwork. If they don't comply, they risk losing their business.
That is just a peak of an iceberg that is submerged in deep ocean of corruption.
He walked through the gate and continued to walk on the sidewalk of the road, looking at the factory complexes emerging in my sight one after the other. They were separated from each other by huge, though thin walls made of cement. Those are ideal positions for defense. When he focused his sight and sharpened his senses with Stain's training, he could see someone peeking behind one industrial chimney that came off the factory main building.
From this distance, he couldn't ever see or expect to find someone up there. But he got this feeling that something is there. Even now, he was scanning his surroundings with Knuckleduster techniques. His eyes moved left and right in a practiced manner, flickering for a second when he spotted another scout hidden on another factory roof. So those two belong to a gang, good to know. He can cross them off the list and move deeper into this district.
As he moved around the corner he saw in the distance two cars parked in front of each other.
It was a gang meeting, not wanting to appear suspicious he still moved forward not even batting an eye towards them, but he send glances from time to time to better understand who it might be.
One of the cars was an old classic, though he doesn't knew what car it was it looked very old with all those round shapes and slim build, it also looked extremly expensive as it black paint glinted in the light. He saw also that most of the thugs from that side had a knuckles made of metal, probably steel, wait.
Those are Gators. What the hell are they doing here?! His only guess could be that after Tsukauchi smoked them out of Mustafu they went on an exile and found themselves there. Just as he was about to turn around on the different direction he recognized who was dealing with them on the other side.
The car on the other side was also an ancient car.
It was Ford Mustang Mach 1 from 1969.
He know a person that drived the same car.
He looked carefully at the opposing side and saw a person dressed in a duster with a black bandana worn on the guy's head, and the only thing visible were the person's eyes. He was a mountain of a man with an ever-present confident smirk. He turned his head and saw the other person; it was a woman dressed in skimpy clothing. She had pink hair arranged in twin ponytails and was also holding a baseball bat lazily on her shoulder. She made a balloon out of bubblegum and blew it.
He sighed in relief, but on the other hand, he did not want to stop their important meeting. On the other hand, just standing there would be suspicious and could antagonize Gators. Even his friends could mistake him for a spy. Desperately deciding what to do, I finally shrugged and leaned on the nearby wall, waiting for their meeting to end. I positioned myself not too far away or too close, so as not to appear suspicious. Just waiting.
They continued to talk for a while, and one of the Gators was turned towards me and stared at me as if he wanted to bore holes through my body with his glare. He didn't look like a gang member, just wearing a simple shirt, jeans, and comfortable shoes, with no recognizable tattoos except for steel knuckles in his hand. He had some sort of sight-related quirk because his eyes flashed from time to time.
He didn't wanted to look into them, one brainwashing today was enough, no thanks. He wanted to text his mom about his whereabouts but he needed to wait at least until meeting ended. Again, to not appear suspicious.
After some time the meeting ended and one that bored holes into my body with his eyes came towards his companions entered a car and they all left. After a while of knuckleduster sulking to himself and facepalming he beckoned me to come towards him.
As Izuku approached Knuckleduster and Popstep, Knuckleduster threw a punch at him. However, Izuku anticipated his move and flawlessly dodged it by jumping back slightly. Knuckleduster then threw another punch, followed by another. From the look on Knuckleduster's face, Izuku could tell that he was extremely angry with him for some reason. So, Izuku began dodging more seriously. But after the sixth punch and a second kick, he was unexpectedly hit on the head from behind by Popstep.
-Ouh Popstep wha...- He was grabbed by Knuckleduster on his neck and his eyes shot wide.
-Who the fuck are you, and who send you.- Knuckleduster said.
-Wait! Sensei its me!- And he got punched in the face as an answer.
-Again, Who. The. Fuck. Are. You. - Knuckleduster says gritting his teeth and Izuku swears his soul left his body from how demonic his sensei looks.
-Nocoffeformei!- Izuku squeaks out as fist was again in front of him.
Knuckleduster eyes widen but he still punches him. - What the fuck kid! I thought you were at least six districts away doing your exam or whatever are you doing! - He yells at him standing above him and Izuku honestly feels like a little animal that wants to curl up and die.
Pop step didn't even said a word but facepalmed and sighed. Then dragged him towards the car and they all left the scene.
-So.. what was so important kid that you needed to barge in the middle of our meeting and get your ass kicked in the process.-
For a moment, the car was silent. Knuckleduster, as always, was driving while smoking his cigarette and watching the road. He was angry at him, and Izuku would feel incredibly guilty if he could. In the meantime, as he was trying to answer, Popstep's expression changed from angry to worried. Izuku didn't know why she was looking at him like that until he looked at the car's front in the driver's mirror and saw himself crying. Why is he crying?
-Umm, Izuku, could you tell us what happened?- Pop Step asked. Knuckleduster had an expression as if he was trying to figure something out and was pondering why Izuku had that particular expression.
Izuku didn't knew why but at this moment he felt like he couldn't tell a word, his throat was so tight closed he only managed to release a strangled sob. Then he remembered the past few hours, how entire U.A staff told him he cannot be a hero, ever. How his entire life collapsed under him.
-I.. I g-g-u-ue-s-s I c-can't b-be a h-hero n-now. Do I?- Izuku asked between sobs, and Knuckleduster's eyes widened. He stopped the car suddenly, making Pop step yelp because she, like always, didn't fasten her seat belts. Fortunately, nothing else happened to her. Throughout this whole ordeal, Izuku didn't even react. He was so broken that he could only stare ahead.
-Kid.- Knuckleduster said with unsusual softness in his voice.- Kid look at me.- He said and Izuku looked at his awkwardly rotated stature. -What did they told you, word to word maybe we can..-
-hehehe...- Izuku giggled a little which shuted knuckleduster up and Popstep eyes widened as she saw how someone she considered her nephew have a mental breakdown.
-hheeeh...hehheh..hahhahha...HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAH!- Izuku took a big inhale.
Just to laugh more.
-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...- And it felt like it was like that for hours, knuckleduster and popstep horrified expressions and Izuku laughing like a madman in a way that even Stain would tell him to chill out.
After an half an hour of uncomfortable driving with laughing Izuku at the back Pop step and Knuckleduster looked like a war veterans with severe PTSD. Just when they were about to stop at their hideout Izuku stopped laughing, probably because his throat given up. But he was still wheezing.
-Hunt or be Hunted-
Huh? What where I'am? it is some silly dream or? Not... before Izuku as far as his eyes could see was a dark void. He tried even to look at his feet to find...
Nothing, yeah nothing, in this accursed place makes sense, but he remembers it. It is the same place he was when he first received All Might's quirk. Wait, if he is here, does it mean it was all real? And all of this wasn't just a creation of his sick mind, trying to put him on a pedestal he doesn't deserve? Was he that desperate to be a hero, to imagine himself gaining power from nobody but All Might in person? And his death... it still haunts his dreams. Those lifeless sunken eyes torment him from the past two years of his life.
Maybe he is losing it? Maybe... but what happened today maybe a breaking point or a proof of his insanity. How could he think without a quirk he can measure to someone like them? To those chosen ones that got something he doesn't have, those normal, those human, those superior to him.
-Do not go in this way kid.- Something in the void has said.
Izuku turned back but nobody was there like the last time he was in this place.
-You are so close... it will only be a moment, and we might see eachother again...- Said some male voice that he recognized but he didn't knew where, again voice sounded behind him, but beyond a glimpse of yellow light in the corner of his eye he could not find anything.
-But for now, get ready because hero for all needs a little more time before his debut.- Somebody soothingly said and with a glance of a white glove he drifted off the mindscape plane to found himself on another journey in a world of dreams...
-Hunt or be Hunted-
Izuku woke up from his dream, feeling as if he found himself embraced by something soft. He sniffled a little and recognized the smell, and the strands of blonde hair confirmed the identity of his unidentified hugger. Looking around, he noticed that he was lying on an unpacked mattress, surrounded by bare cement walls that lacked any decoration.
Is he in prison or something?
With that thought he peeled Himiko off himself and looked around the room, he was still wearing the same clothing from entrance exam...
Yeah, yesterday happened, but strangely he didn't feel tears coming to him or any negative feelings, like he was in eerie peace. The feeling of catharsis remained with him for a while, but what now? What would he do? Will he give up just like that? No, he can't give up; otherwise, those who said he was good for nothing, that he was a deku... were right. He has something to prove, to himself and to the world, and his recent catharsis didn't let go of the rising feeling of injustice inside his chest. He needs to do something about it... but what?
He looked around the room and once again the damp, empty cement walls welcomed him. He glanced at the doorframe, which was without a door, and moved towards it. Taking one last look at the peacefully sleeping Himiko, he exited his temporary confinement with a smile on his face. After leaving the room, he found himself inside a massive factory hall. Of course, it was offline - one of those factories mentioned earlier from the pre-quirk era. Why would you need such a large factory to melt metal when someone with a metal-related quirk could simply mold it with their powers?
Who needs huge complexes spanning for miles and miles when you can make one place with a bunch of people with the right quirks? Before, you had scrap and parts, and then bam! You've got a fully functional car! And sometimes, you can even improve the density of the material and make it even better. Or even make floating cars! But that is only in the USA. They have a guy with the right quirk that can make things have an antigravitational pole. What's even funnier is that this guy has been dead for like twenty years, but in his lifetime, he produced so many parts for the company that they still make those cars only for the rich.
Just looking at it is a little saddening, how humanity went backwards with the apperance of quirks, rejecting science for just raw quirk power. Mei rants about it a lot and Lurker even joins sometimes so he heard plenty of that. He looked around and saw coffe machine on one of the rusted steel coils.
-Mission objective spotted.- Izuku said grogilly and stumbled towards coffe machine like it was his last hope and savior.
He took instant coffe and water from the kettle and made himself a coffe.
-Yes... give me that juicy, energetic, sweet amount of caffeine,- he said between sips. He took coffee as soon as it was finished, not even waiting for it to cool off.
He looked from the cup around and saw Knuckleduster and Pop step looking at him incredulously standing here just like that.
-What?- He asked.
-Umm... you know when we meet eachother yesterday you bursted up in laughter...- Popstep said scratching her head. - ... and bascially had a mental breakdown.
-Really?- Izuku asked
-Really..-
-Nah, nope I'am good.-
They both looked stupidified at eachother at which Pop step finally shrugged.
-Guess you finally got your wish, old man,- Izuku said, smiling bitterly. -And you were also right, I can hear you, sensei.- Izuku says. Behind them, there is a silent, almost imperceptible thud, and he turns around to meet Stain's wary gaze. Stain was studying him, probably judging his mental state. Izuku didn't break eye contact for at least a minute.
-At least your spirit isn't broken,- Stain says, turning his eyes away from him. -You truly are something else, kid,- he says, smirking a little. He saw Izuku looking at Knuckleduster with an absent stare, as if he was in the middle of thinking, one of his genius ideas. Stain huffed in amusement but still kept an eye on him in case he did something stupid. He remembers how it was when he was young; there was nobody there to stop him. So for Izuku, he will be that person, at least for a while.
-Iwao Sensei...- Izuku said absently and Knuckleduster looked at him from his seated position on rusted steel coils. - I want to fight.-
-Hunt or be Hunted-
At the beginning, this request shocked me coming from the kid. In truth, I was about to propose it in person. He needs to unload those negative emotions in some way. Well, my best way to do that is to punch something or better someone until you can't anymore. I guess something of me rubbed off on the kid. Good, maybe there will be a sign of recovery. I am not even talking about my talk with Pop Step and Mrs. Midoriya. If we manage to succeed, then maybe we will have less work with that later.
We all arrived at the back of the factory grounds where there was a plain littered with small craters and pots. In the corner stood an excavator that was rusted so much that it had holes in some places. The windows were long gone and one track was missing. He had long been familiarized with this part of the base, but others looked around with wonder, minus Izuku who was determined to kick my ass. Well, I asked for it if it would let him feel better.
-All right kid when do you like to start?- I asked standing at the position, I watched with one eye Pop step talking on the phone probably with kid's mother and Stain crouching on the extended arm of the excavator, just like he likes on the highest point possible.
-Ready- Kid said almost whispering.
-Rea...- Before I could finish, a fist was sent in my direction with the full force of Izuku's body. I narrowly dodged it and tried to slam him into the ground by his extended arm. The key word here is "tried." However, he quickly reacted and bent himself while jumping, simultaneously releasing a kick that I effortlessly blocked. Taking advantage of the fact that Izuku was in the air, I rammed into him. But instead of grabbing him firmly, he jumped behind me and punched me in the back. It didn't hurt, but I definitely felt it. I quickly spun around and released my Spartan kick. Well, I'm not good at kicking unless it's a Spartan kick. On the other hand, this kid's fighting style is all about kicking and punching. Fuck.
In the middle of worrying about kid safety and to not accidentaly harm him I forgot he actually trained those months that I was away hiding, and with nobody else but Stain, and I paid for me foolishness dearly.
He felt his feet sweeped under him and Izuku body slammed into him with elbow.
Knuckleduster grunted and rolled away with his monstrous strenght, but realised Izuku wasn't about to strangle him or make a finishing move, what he is planning then? As he thought that Stain snickered in the distance, that is never a good sign...
He turned his head around to seek Izuku and just as he turned around he got punched full force into the face. He stumbled but his battle instincts allowed him to remain standing and dodging Izuku onslaught of attacks.
Fuck. That is why I hate to fight speedsters and that is not only of my wounded pride of former speedster, I can't believe I'am using O'Clocking so soon.
And with that world slowed down to a crawl, his eyes started shaking from mental strain and he felt like his heart was almost bursting out of his chest. Which means it works, when he had a quirk he could use it constantly, in truth he can only use it because he had it in the first place, anybody else than him would need to train entire life and still it wouldn't be certain he could do it.
In truth when he had a quirk he could use it constantly but now, it only lasted for 3 seconds otherwise his heart will explode literally and figurativley.
As world slow down I could see rapid punches kid was releasing, damn it, Stain taught him good, the last time I was under such an onslaught my enemy at that time lost a nose after that... oh wait... irony.
He ducked under Izuku punches and launched his fist upwards hitting kid under the jaw making him flip.
Knuckleduster was panting after that.- Damn kid... you are... good now... I don't know if that would go that way I could keep up with you anymore.- He was panting and sulking like old man but he was also grinning like the first time he saw him, in front of that memorial. How much he changed, how all of them changed.
-N-no... I need more...- He heard choked response and his eyes widened seeing Izuku still concious after that.
Izuku got up slowly raising his fists and he spit out some blood. - Not until.. one man is left standing... - He was saying while trying to catch some breath and Popstep sighed and grumbled something about having to call Stich again. - I say... the training is not ended until only one is standing...- He said and Knuckleduster grin almost splitting his head in half with a smile, well those were his words of course, that he beated into him through those months of training.
-All right! Let's show some blood!- Knuckleduster shouted, and both of them rushed with renewed vigor. Moments earlier, they looked like they were on their last legs, and now they looked like they could do it all day. Punches started flying left and right with such speed that their fists blurred a little. They exchanged punches, kicks, and bashes, and in the end, they were both bloodied, covered in mud and sweat. However, Izuku and Knuckleduster never stopped. The only worrying thing was the rising expression of pure rage on Izuku's face. Just when Pop Step was about to step in, Stain stopped her and sat next to her.
-Let them fight, he is letting it out just now, it means its working.- Stain answered her calmly.
They both fought on equal footing. Knuckleduster's immovable mountain technique was slowly being pushed backwards, and Izuku's, or rather Stain's, technique of a thousand punches was slowly fading, leaving them both tired and barely standing. Unbeknownst to them, they both moved their fight closer and closer towards the rusted excavator, which made even Stain worried a little. But at this point, interfering could get them both hurt.
Izuku's expression morphed from pure rage to almost feral, like Stain's, but not like it was in the entrance exam. This, this was serious, dangerous. It was like a howling animal fighting for dominance, not just simple battle fury. Knuckleduster also started to recognize it in the fog of his own battle rage, but it was already too late. When Izuku's eyes flashed neon green, his hair started floating like a lion's mane in the wind, crackling with electricity. His muscles bulked up and his height increased, now towering over Knuckleduster. Knuckleduster's eyes widened and he did what he could to dodge.
-UNITED...- Izuku's hair flair up like a unsteady flames...
-STATES OF...- Izuku's face morphs into a vicious scowl nad his eyes whites are cowered in black and his irises shine like a stars.
-SMASHHHHHH!- And a huge explosion occurs ripping air all around shattering sound barrier in an instant. A huge shockwave shaken entire japan.
-Hunt or be Hunted-
Izuku was not feeling... well. He realized this after his standoff with Knuckleduster in the middle of their fight. He cannot place that feeling, but with boiling rage, sadness, and depression, this hollow feeling of emptiness... he wants it to go away, to leave him be. He knew it because he felt it for a good chunk of his life before Knuckleduster saved him and became his hero. With Sitch, Pop step, Stain, Lurker, Mei, and even Spinner, they were his saviors, proof that he meant something in this world, and that there are people besides his mother who consider him worth something.
And he fucking blew it.
And this feeling, this emptiness, it returned, thousand times strong... when he tasted how it feels hope, he couldn't anymore let go of that feeling, but it dispersed like a cloud of smoke leaving only this void, this aching in his chest, this, this makes him mad. Very mad.
With berserker shouting he lunged at the enemy, no matter who he is, in this world there is only him, his fists, and a target of his hate. He wanted to punch away that feeling, to squash it away so it will never return but it was still returning with even more force.
Deku...
Worthless quirkless usless...
Damn stupid nerd...
Keep dreaming!
You can never be a hero...
No...
But I have some advice for you...
No!
...If you want a quirk so badly, you can take a swan dive off the roof and pray for it in the next life!
NO!
CRACK
-Goodbye... All For One...- Some oddly familiar voice calls. He feels like it is coming from his throat. Then he sees in front of himself a smirking devil... He doesn't know who he is, only that this person is the most evil thing he has seen in his life. It also feels familiar for some reason. I see myself getting punched in the left side of my ribs, shattering them slowly. Everything goes in slow motion. The person's smirk grows wider and their eyes shine with sadistic delight.
But it changes and I see my arm bulging with veins that almost seem to pop out.
-UNITED...-
Then I slam my fists into man face taking him by suprise.
-STATES OF...-
And he? I?... takes odd satisfaction from moment of realization on his enemy face.
-SMASHHHHH!-
And a huge powerful wave gets released shattering sound barrier and he sees how he slowly turns man face into imitation of a mush potatos. After a while he stands alone, his enemy beneath him entombed in a crater. Around them all around particles of ruined city are flying in a lazy whirlwind.
He feels satisfaction, fullfilment, dread, emptiness, relief, happiness and...
Pain?
He slowly looks down at his muscular and well-toned body. Just below his breast, there is nothing... scattered fleshy remains ripped apart all around the battlefield. He tries to gag, but blood spurts out of his mouth, and he loses consciousness. The last thing he sees is a short old man in a yellow costume and a serious-looking man with glasses running at him, yelling something... but he cannot hear them.
-Does it really has to be this way? Have he to watch how each of us die or experience other traumas?- Some familiar voice asks in the darkness.
-There is nothing we can do at this point, his link with one for all is strong... stronger than ever before, he is more a quirk than a human at this point, so I don't know Toshinori... I don't know... from one hundred years of life experience I have nothing but uncertanity at this point. I can only hope, like us all, that this world will spare him more of this suffering.-
-Hunt or be Hunted-
-ENOUGH!-
Inside the cramped warehouse, yelling and lively discussion, or rather a quarrel, could be heard. The light inside was significantly dimmed, but it was clear that there were rows upon rows of men inside, prepared for something, wielding various weapons or quirks at the ready.
-Today, my brothers! We will get rid of those fuckers! Those who caused us such pain, such losses! - Somebody yells from an elevated position on a small stage made from crates, and the crowd cheers, lifting their weapons and quirks alike into the air.
- Look at us, long ago we ruled the streets even before dawn of quirks! Now, we cannot even hold one district alive and going! How mighty have fallen!- He intones and others murmor in agreement.
- But that is enough! No longer living on scraps to live by! No longer oppressed by heroes or heroic quirk users, we pride ourselves as Outcasts, we are THE GATORS! - He yells and the crowd increases in volume, cheering and voicing their agreement. - That is why I have a plan! We go today and kill all of those fuckers that messed with us! No more hiding! Not so long ago, we were the most powerful gang on the dark side of Mustafu, and our influence reached beyond Japan... we were living peacefully and money was abundant... but then they came... this nosy detective and their vigilante alliance... and our friends suddenly turned their backs on us! Other organizations backstabbed us with vigilante rings in the lead! Have they forgotten who supplied them when they were merely an idea? Have they forgotten who they bowed to when looking for guidance on how to simply survive on those streets?! Where is our dignity? Our pride?! - The speaker yells and the crowd goes crazy with cheers and bloodlust.
That is when doors of the warehouse open and everybody turns their bodies or heads towards newcomers.
-Hunt or be Hunted-
My name is Itsuki Kitamura and I am the chief of Gators, one of them to be exact, or rather the only one that survived the purge and massacre that happened almost a year ago. In truth, two chiefs survived, but only I endured the pressure and didn't choose a second option. Though it is still available... I looked at the pocket in my elegant jacket tailored specifically for me that had a small one-bullet gun. That is one of the few things that remained after our gang's unfortunate disbandment and dissolution.
I sighed, looking out the window of my limousine. "Nothing lasts forever," that's what my father said. Somewhat, I'm grateful he didn't live to see what happened to our dream. This rotten corpse of an empire is still moving in its death throes, not knowing it is already dead, and nothing will stop it. And all of this began just like it is ending right now... from the beginning, Gators were a community of misfits that didn't have any place in today's society, mainly because of the quirks that they have or don't have. I'm quirkless, mind you.
I tried really hard, but sometimes good intentions and hard work are not enough. I don't have the tactical genius of my late family or the late chiefs that they left behind. So I did everything I could to prevent this from dissolving in a bloody way. Too much blood has already been spilled. It is time to end this. That is the main reason I talked with Knuckleduster. At least some of those boys could find a job in vigilante rings after this is over, and hopefully they won't fall further down this path.
It has to work right?
Right?
I cannot even think what would happen if this won't work.
-Sir, we are already here.- His trusty driver told him and he silently thanked him.
As he exited the car he froze for a while at the scene in front of him, in the meeting place were a lot of people, his people, but he didn't called them.
-Son, just what the hell are you doing?...- He whispered to himself softly.
With rigid steps he came closer towards the crowd flanked by his driver that looked increasingly anxious. As he got closer he saw most of the members were wearing bulletproof vests or other types of armor, some held melee weapons others ranged weapons with large amount of them being tommy guns, he recognized them as the ones from his deep storage that were had to be used only for emergencies, somebody given them password to the bunker. But who? Only people who had acess are dead or...
-No...- He said and moved thorugh warehouse door.
To meet with it being filled to the brim with gang members armored to the teeth chanting like a mad dogs various things. Some of them turn around and look at him going towards the stage with deliberate steps.
-Hunt or be Hunted-
-BLOOD!-
-DEATH TO HEROS! DEATH TO VILLAINS! DEATH TO QUIRKS!- One man shouted and ironically he was using his gun arm quirk shoting the air.
-DEATH! DEATH! DEATH!-
-My brothers! I assure you, I do not intend to stay in your way of righteous vengeance any longer! Because today, we are prepared! Neither I nor you will listen to the old timers anymore, for they are all dead! They were killed by their own kindness! By the detective, no less!- He shouted to the crowd to rile them up even more. Just as he was going to give another speech, he saw a familiar person enter the stage, and he smirked devilishly. - Look who has graced us with his presence! Or may I say... father?-
After situating himself between his father and a microphone stand, and old man was fuming visibly under calm demeanor. -Son, what is the meaning of this?- He asked trough gritted teeth though his face was visbly paling a little, and oh my, this brings a smile on his face too much.
-What do you mean, father? Aren't you going to lead us to a better future as you promised? Didn't you promise us wealth and a Japan without suffering? Or maybe the head of Madame President on a pike? - He asks with a sneer like a dragon. He purposely used his father's promises right after he assumed the chief office, especially for him. On the back monitor at the end of the hall, this exact vow that he gave to all of us, the gators, was playing, and the old man was growing paler by the minute. Others started chanting and screaming their voices of approval.
-Iro, please,- he says in his most begging tone, and it really pisses me off. Is this what the hell he has become? Is this how Gators are perceived now by others?! No wonder we were betrayed if this old fool was doing all of that behind closed doors every time negotiations came up. He really wanted to believe that wasn't the case, but overwhelming fury consumed me from the other side.
Almost unkowingly to "Iro" he moved like a blur forward with his power claw quirk extending and he pireced old man torso like a freaking shish kebab. Some gasped but mostly others screamed like an animals all around him with roars of approval including gang officers, save one who pale as a sheet shaked his head and left with his people probably to warn the others. Iro betrayal was in full swing by now.
But our Revolutionist could only watch with regret at his dead father corpse.
-Uhm... boss?- Somebody asked behind him after a while. He came down from his stupor and raised from his kneeling position in front of his father corpse and looked all around the warehouse and everybody was silent but had determined looks.
-Not now.- He grumbled and raised his power claw so it glinted in the sun rays coming from the warehouse windows. - Now we march to war-
-And one more thing... Please call me Horus.-
And they marched indeed.
-Hunt or be hunted-
