"You might as well give it up."

The words had hit like a sledgehammer, the carelessness and dismissal in his tone, the way he was leant back in his seat, as cool and calm as if he'd just said the weather was nice, or the sky was blue.

"I…I don't understand." his mother whispered, looking as lost as Izuku felt, the beginnings of indignation sprouting up in her eyes, "what do you mean by that."

The doctor gave a long-suffering sigh, "we reviewed the tests we took, blood work, quirk factor, even mental ability; all of it ending in this x-ray." he said, motioning to the x-ray of the foot he'd requested, "if you see here, your son has an extra toe joint. I'm afraid this means your son is quirkless."

"Quirkless?" she gasped, indignation forgotten in the face of the devastating news.

"Yes," he said boredly, "you see, there's a mutation that happens every few generations-or so we've seen so far-that causes a child to be born quirkless. Your son is sadly a part of a 20% minority." He didn't sound very sorry, nor did he seem to care that he'd just thrown this small family into turmoil.

"no..it can't be…" he had whispered to himself, stunned and numb from the revelation.

"I'm afraid it can," the doctor said, "you do have a secondary quirk mutation that gives a resistance to heat in your throat and mouth-something the swabs we did was able to tell us-but without a quirk it's practically useless."

Useless, that word had hit like a physical blow, "But I…but i'm gonna be a hero-"

"-no, you won't, not without power, it's best you give up on such outlandish dreams."

He wanted to scream, he wanted to cry, he wanted to rage and rant about how unfair it was.

He wanted to roar.

Shigaraki couldn't comprehend what was happening as a powerful blast crashed into Nomu and sent it sprawling, arc's of neon electricity zapping across its body as emerald flames seared its flesh.

"What in the-" shigaraki started as Nomu shrieked in pain, writhing on the ground as its body rushed to try and heal the horrible wounds.

"D-Deku?" The blonde Shigaraki had been fighting stuttered out, voice full of disbelief.

"Shigaraki."

The growl was low, full of so much malice and fury that Shigaraki actually felt a cold spike of fear run through him, the pressure that had been solely focused on the Nomu was now turned towards him, and Shigaraki had to take a step back as the wounded hero student limped out of the smoke and haze his attack had produced. Static sparking off of his frame, molten plasma dribbling from the corners of his mouth, his throat a bloody patchwork of burst open lichtenberg figures,

"I know that name," the boy seethed as he planted his feet once again, eyes burning with hate aimed solely at the decay user, "never before did i think i could hate something as much as I do that name." his eyes flashed as his hands balled into fists, dark tendrils slithering out from between the clenched fingers to wrap around the damaged appendages, more static was beginning to build, and the freshly weeping wounds of his throat began to glow. "Your family has taken the life of a Midoriya before, it won't happen again!"

"Nomu!" Shigaraki shouted, panic filling him as he watched the boy in front of him take a deep breath.

And roared.

The blast was a focused beam that seemed to explode into a giant cloud of superheated plasma and flame. The overpressure of the blast shattered and singed the concrete as it passed over, the Nomu shrieked as it threw itself in front of Shigaraki, the smell of burning flesh and ozone filled the air as the temperature spiked, the blonde was buffeted away by the gale force winds that exploded out from the point impact, Shigaraki barely able to keep his feet amidst it all.

"Midoriya!" the call came from somewhere to his right, but he dared not take his eyes off the bastard in front of him as the pressure seemed to flex.

No, not a pressure, a beast, a monster. Something that thought it could step up to his Nomu.

"Nomu, kill this kid!" he ordered as the blast cut off, leaving Nomu to sluggishly heal the blistered and charred skin. The Nomu gave a scream filled with pain in confirmation of his orders before he launched himself at the out of breath Midoriya, who's now supported fist came swinging forward to meet it. Like every other time the two attacks seemed to explode as they connected; only this time, the Nomu went flying back.

"I got you now." Midoriya snarled as he exploded forward, his fists a blur as he riddled the still injured and airborne Nomu with rapid fire punches, each one delivering the fury of the beast that shigaraki had unwittingly unleashed. Nomu was slammed into the ground, punted into the mountain zone, and thrown into the shell of the USJ, with a scream of pain and fury the dark strands that had wrapped tightly around his arms shot forward, wrapping the Nomu up and letting Izuku launch it back into the sky.

Another intake of breath and this time Shigaraki simply dove for the nearest bit of rubble as the world seemed to darken and an earth shattering roar filled the air.

"Shigaraki." The weak, pain-filled voice of Kurogiri had Shigaraki flinching,looking to his caretaker who was staring at the beam of energy that was currently blasting the Nomu into lower orbit in abject fear, a deep dent in his metal brace.

"Get us out of here Kurogiri." Shigaraki back to look at the carnage.

The Midoriya boy was once again out of breath, his chest heaving with each breath. Now blood mixed with the burning plasma that dripped from his lips, the coat he'd been wearing was a tattered mess, as was the rig and jumpsuit he wore underneath.

But he was still standing, and now he was glaring directly at shigaraki.

And despite knowing the boy was far too injured to move-he could even see the weird tendrils of energy that had protected his limbs slowly disperse from the shattered appendages-he couldn't help but feel terrified as the beast seemed to leer at him, static still charged into the air off the boys frame, each one outlining the maw of the monstrous beast.

"Shigaraki." Midoriya hissed again, his voice sounded like gravel crashing against steel, "where do you think you're going?"

The portal opened up behind him, and Shigaraki had to restrain himself from running away in a blind, stumbling panic, "I Came to kill the symbol of peace," he sneered, proud he'd kept the shake out of his voice, his throat itched but he dare not indulge in his anxious tick while this monster stood in front of him, "and now my Nomu is gone, I can't very well kill him without my secret weapon." his hand flexed a bit as he saw Midoriya take a steadying step back, "but you're pretty roughed up-" an explosion reminded Shigaraki they weren't alone.

"DIE!" Bakugo snarled as he dove in, his explosive fist forcing Shigaraki to jump into the portal,narrowly escaping as Midoriya tried to blindside him.

He was a few seconds too slow, his fist shattering the floor where Shigaraki disappeared.

"Damn it…" Izuku snarled out.a final burst of static arcing off of his body before he looked to Bakugo, who had returned to staring at him like he'd grown a second head, "get to the stairs, check on Kirishima," he rasped out, turning away to limp towards the mountain zone, only to stop when he saw Yaoyorozu running towards them, Jirou and Kaminari carrying an unconscious Todoroki on a stretcher.

"Midoriya!" Yaoyorozu cried as she reached him, "you're injured!"

"I'll survive," he said dismissively, coughing harshly and spitting a glob of steaming blood onto the floor, "get Todoroki up to the top of the stairs-" the coughing intensified as he finally began to truly feel the pain of his injuries.

"You stupid Deku."

Izuku turned a glare to Bakugo, who hadn't moved at all, "I gave you an order.' he ground out between the body wracking coughs

"-Shitty hair's already being looked over by the other extras." bakugo said gruffly, "and you're in no condition to be giving anyone orders, you shitty nerd!"

"Vulgarity and juvenile insults aside, he's right." Momo said, ignoring Bakugo's angry 'what was that ponytail!' as she continued, "your arms look like shattered lumps, and that leg doesn't look much better, please, settle down here-"

"-or I'll settle you down myself!" Bakugo took over once again, angrily holding up a fist, "jesus christ you idiot! Did you even think about how Auntie Inko would feel if you kicked it here!"

Whatever indignation Izuku felt at their comments died with Bakugo's final jab. The tension slowly bled out of his shoulders and he felt his legs shake a bit.

"You didn't, did you, you selfish bastard." Bakugo sneered, "how do you think she'll take it if she found out you tried to work through crippling injuries! So sit your ass down before I break your other leg!"

Izuku blinked, then chuckled tiredly, "Can't argue with that logic." he mumbled, almost collapsing against a nearby piece of rubble; Bakugo-surprisingly-helping to slow his descent, he leaned back against the shattered piece of concrete and closed his eyes.

"Kyoka, get Todoroki to the top of the stairs." Momo told her friend as her chest began to glow, "Bakugo, help me carry Midoriya."

"Don't tell me what to do," he grumbled, but helped set up the stretcher Momo created and made sure Izuku was secure on it while Jirou and Kaminarj began rushing Todoroki towards the stairs.

"His throat worries me." Momo muttered, looking over the ruined flesh that dripped with blood and still glowing plasma, bandages starting to spring out of her arms, "I'm gonna do what I can to wrap it up, but he'll need Recovery Girl soon…I didn't know his quirk could do this."

Bakugo scoffed, "I doubt he did either." He grumbled, "dumbass would've used it first instead of getting his ass kicked for five minutes straight."

"I'm still awake, you know." Izuku grated out, cracking an eye open to glare at the unrepentant bakugo.

"I'll call you a dumbass to your face, you shitty nerd." Bakugo griped, Momo sighed wearily and began performing basic first aid as Bakugo continued his tirade, lending his hand whenever Momo needed it-much to her surprise. Soon Izuku's limbs were stabilized and his throat wrapped in clean gauze that was beginning to turn pink as the two hero course students hauled the stretcher up and began the walk towards the front entrance.

They were halfway to the stairs when the entrance burst open and All-Might came sliding in. Whatever proclamation the frowning, furious man was about to shout died in his throat. His students were all by the front door. Some severely injured, others warily watching out for villains.

Only Young Uraraka and Koda looked particularly relieved to see him, both clutching the wounded body of Thirteen and sobbing, Sato looked angry and stood guard at the top of the stairs, throwing worried glanced to Aizawa, Kirishima and todoroki; Toshinori was horrified to see the lacerated and torn flesh that was Kirishima's chest and forearms, the boy's shallow breathing the only thing to reassure him that he was still alive as Young Ashido sobbed over his broken form. Aizawa was barely any better, both arms ragged and lumpy under the torn shreds of his costume and the bandages keeping them stable. Tsuyu and Mineta were crowded around him and a girl he'd just noticed, shifting in and out of visibility. Blood streaked across her barely-there cheek.

Todoroki was sitting up, the right side of his body covered in improvised bandages made from Sero's tape, his arm and leg on that side looked broken, and a small patch had been placed above his right eye. No doubt covering some kind of laceration. "All-Might." the boy droned, his stoic voice tinged with pain.

"Rest easy Young Todoroki." he said, striding forward, "are we missing anyone?" he asked, looking about, Tokoyami shook his head while Koda frantically waved his hands.

"Only Midoriya, but Bakugo and Momo are bringing him up." Shoji said as he simultaneously watched Jirou, Sero and Kaminari work on Kirishima's wounds, and watched the stretcher carrying duo make their way up the steps. "He took out…he took out a villain meant to kill you."
All-Might felt his blood freeze, and could do nothing but watch as the Yaoyorozu Heiress and explosive blonde carried the class president by.

His limbs were worse than Aizawa's, the bandages that had been used to set the multiple breaks were already stained dark with blood, his chest was bare and in a similar state; the only part of him not covered in bloody gauze was his face, scratched and bruised that it was.

"You're late." Bakugo said shortly. Shouldering past the number one hero while the young Yaoyorozu offered him a sad smile in apology as they kept walking.

"Wait…"

The two paused in their stride as Izuku's eyes opened a bit, turning his head slightly to look at All-might.

All-Might had to shift uncomfortably at the stern eyes that glared at him.

"...there's still villains in the facility." the young man finally said, his voice rough and barely audible, "I knocked most of them out, but they'll be coming at any moment."
"I'll take care of them." All-Might promised, placing a featherlight hand on the young man's shoulder, "rest easy, young Midoriya, Rest easy Class 1A! You all performed admirably." with that he took off.

He had some rage to vent.

WVWVW

Shigaraki collapsed onto the floor of the bar, his breathe ragged and panicked, "he didn't follow?" he almost demanded to know as Kurogiri solidified and slumped over himself, "he didn't try and send an attack after us?"

"No…Tomura…" Kurogiri wheezed, his eyes narrow yellow slits, "he was…too injured…I was almost…unable to get us here…"

"Was All-Might in better shape than I thought?" a silky smoothe voice asked. Causing Shigaraki to look up towards a tv that sat in the corner of the room. No video showing on it's glass surface, but the speakers crackled with life as the voice of All For One spoke again, "and I see the Nomu is lost, the doctor rather liked that one; a pity that it wasn't up to the task of killing All-Might."

"All-Might's not the one who stopped Nomu." Shigaraki whispered, his hand shakily coming up to scratch absentmindedly at his throat, "we never even got to the boss room. A miniboss stopped us before we could get to it."

"A miniboss?" he asked, "I didn't think UA had a teacher strong enough-"

"-not a teacher!" Shigaraki cut his master off, for once in his life not terrified to speak out of turn, "no, it was a student…or a pro disguised as a student, i don't know! All I know is I saw the brat level Nomu."

"A first year?" a new voice scoffed from the speakers, full of pomp and self importance, "Impossible! My Nomu was made to stand up against All-Might-"

"Then either your Nomu was shit, or the kid is as strong as All-Might." Shigaraki scoffed, finally standing up fully, his eyes darting about frantically as he remembered the fight, "at first I thought he was cannon fodder, Nomu blasted him into the flood zone; he was dead, I was sure of it…then he came back. And he shattered his arms to keep up with Nomu. Nomu took the advantage again when another student got in the way." he sneered a bit, "a direct hit like that should have killed him, but he came back, and this time…" Shigaraki's voice shook once again, his other hand coming up to drag his other down, trying to keep the shake out of his arms, "this time used a breath attack, fire and lightning that burned Nomu and prevented his hyper regeneration from working. It was over after that. He tore Nomu apart. Like the monster he was."

"Im-impossible! I won't believe it!"

"I don't give a shit what you believe!" shigaraki screeched, "you weren't there! I was, and I won't EVER forget that damn pressure the brat exuded."

"Pressure?"

The question came from his master, quiet and a bit apprehensive.

"It was like standing at the bottom of a lake." Kurogiri rasped, sitting up as he looked to the TV, "crushing and all encompassing-"

"-it was more than that." Tomura said impatiently, waving the man away, "not at first, but when he used that attack…it changed, it was like it was sentient. And it wanted blood…my blood…" the chill his own words gave him had the man sitting back down, back against the bar. "He knew…" he muttered, looking back at the tv, "he recognized my name."

"Impossible…" came the whispered reply from the tv.

"He fucking knew it!" Shigaraki spat, "right after he'd sent Nomu flying with that breath attack! He said it! He said a shigaraki was responsible for the death of one of his family members!"

"He must have been mistaken!" the doctor dismissed, "a different villain with a similar name-"

"-what was this student's name?"

The question was quiet. Void of all emotion. But no less demanding.

"...Midoriya, his family name was Midoriya." Kurogiri finally said.

"I see…this is a problem."

"What does an insignificant brat-"

"Enough, Doctor, begin work on the high end Nomu, i want them ready as soon as possible, Tomura, remember that pressure…that creature well. I don't think I'm mistaken in saying that Young Midoriya is one of All-Might's." With that the tv turned off, and Shigaraki was left with his thoughts.

"Midoriya…' he muttered, shivering despite himself, his hand coming up to scratch his throat, only to stop at the last moment, curling into a fist as he forced the shake out of his body before letting his hand relax and fall limply to his side.

"The next time we meet, ill make you feel the same fear you forced on me."

WVWVW

All For One sat back in his throne, forcing his hands to stop shaking, "have you come back to kill me, My old enemy? Or is this your descendant coming for their generational retribution?" Despite himself he felt a trhill of anticipation,"what resistance will you put up against me, i wonder? And how many more of your friends will I have to kill before you stay down." he grinned, "I must admit, I can't wait to find out."

Wvwvwvw

Izuku wondered how long he'd have to feign sleep before Recovery Girl would let him go home.

The rest of his class was either well on their way home, or were likewise asleep/feigning sleep beside him.

He could tell Todoroki wasn't asleep, his breathing too deliberate and tense to be a true rest. Likewise Kirishima was a bit too fidgety to fool anyone. Only Hagakure was fitfully asleep. Her snores being the only sound in the otherwise quiet infirmary.

Idly he wondered if he should say something, both boys had been injured trying to help him in one way or another; Todoroki trying to avenge him, and Kirishima trying to protect him. The only other two to take the full power of that monster and survive. Surely that was a bonding moment for the three?

But-ultimately-he knew it was better to wait, Todoroki had been staring at his hands with far more emotion than he'd ever seen the half and half boy show in the past week of knowing him. And Kirishima had refused to look at anyone, opting to tightly screw his eyes shut like he was asleep.

Both obviously had other things on their minds, and it wasn't Izuku's job to help them work through it. Especially since he had his own problems glaring at him.

All For One was alive.

His descendant had tried to kill him and his classmates.

This was a declaration of war.

He was surprised when he felt his quirk stir, as if lifting up it's head to taste the air for danger before settling.

That was something else, his quirk was far more reactive than it had been before the USJ. it's always had a degree of willpower of its own, but yesterday it felt as if it'd become something far…more than it once was.

He opened his eyes when he heard the door click open and quick steps rush towards him, for a moment he almost swung his fist, until he realized it was his mother.

"Izuku!" she cried as she gently clutched to him, tears gushing out of her eyes to create a mini river on the floor.

"Jesus woman!"

"Is this a normal reaction?"

"Tch.'

Izuku's glared at the large man who'd scoffed at his mothers reaction, the fact that he was the flame hero Endeavor didn't change much, the white haired girl with red highlights beside the hero was chastising him, offering him an apologetic smile.

"Mom?" Kirishima mumbled as he opened his eyes, staring at the shorter dark haired woman who'd entered before Endeavor as she stepped over the river and went to her son's side, carefully clasping his hand.

"Oh Kiri," she sighed, running her free hand through his hair, "you were off being a hero again, weren't you?" Kirishima smiled sadly at that.

"He was."

Izuku's words had Kirishima stiffening, "he jumped between me and one of the villains, protected me." Kirishima glanced at the boy, who was offering him a friendly smile, "thank you, Kirishima. And you too Todoroki, you both gave your damndest to help me."

Kirishima felt tears welling up in his eyes, "I could've done better," he choked out.

Endeavor scoffed once more, "Tch, take the compliment boy." he growled out.

"Dad!" the girl admonished him.

"No, his class president is praising him for his work, there's no need to dismiss it out of hand." Endeavor growled back, casting a stern glare at the hardening user,"whatever perceived weaknesses can be addressed when you're healed! Not a moment before."

Kirishima blinked, sharing a befuddled look with Izuku and Shoto before bowing his head a bit, "Thank you sir, for the lesson." he said honestly.

Endeavor nodded, "you three did good work today," he rumbled, looking to Shoto, his harsh eyes softening just a degree, "Principal Nezu informed us that the school will be closed until monday, that gives you all four days to heal, no training."

Shoto's eyes widened even further, "but-" he started.

"No buts Shoto," Endeavor growled, turning to Izuku and giving a half bow, "thank you, for protecting my son." With that, Endeavor turned and walked out, "Fuyumi, help Shoto to the car when he's ready." he said as he left.

"R-right!" Fuyumi responded, turning to the other-confused-occupants in the room, "Sorry about that," she chuckled sheepishly, "he's not really good with words."

"That's one way to put it." Shoto muttered, grunting when suddenly his sister was crushing him with a hug.

"Don't ever scare us like that again!" she scolded him, her own tears adding to the new river.

Izuku chuckled, grunting in pain when the action tightened his chest for a moment.

"Are you alright sweetie?" Inko asked worriedly.

"I'm fine," Izuku reassured her, smiling for added effect, "just…sore."

"Are you sure? We can have recovery girl comeback-"

"-it's alright mom," Izuku chuckled, wincing again, she's healed everything anyways, she said rest is the best thing right now."

"Well, she did say we can take you home as soon as you're ready." Inko fretted.

"Your sisters already have the living room ready." Kirishima's mother said to her own son, "all set for a manly night watching movies and braiding your hair."

"And Natsuo's making your favorite," Fuyumi added to Shoto, worrying over the bandages on his right side, "do you need a wheelchair?"

"I can walk." Shoto reassured his sister, though he still looked conflicted as he gently got out of bed, his sister supporting him. "Midoriya." Shoto said as Izuku was likewise standing, though he had opted for the wheelchair, the boy looked over curiously, "I would like to join your extra training in the afternoons…I…I will let you know what I need to work on."

"Just get it to me before monday," Izuku reassured, looking to Kirishima, "you still showing for it as well Kirishima? "

"You know it." the boy said with a far easier grin than either of the other boys could muster, "i gotta get stronger if-" he winced when his mother pulled his ear.

"No talk of training now boys," she chided, sharing a smile with Inko and Fuyumi, "you heard Endeavor, only rest for the next four days."

"But-" Kirishima started, wincing when his mother pulled his ear again, both Izuku and Shoto wisely kept their opinions to themselves.

"Wait, what about Hagakure?" Izuku asked, looking back to his friend, still phasing in and out of view on her bed. She hadn't stirred one bit, still peacefully snoring away.

"Her parents are coming in from Hokkaido," Fuyumi explained, "they'll be here in an hour."

"Then I'll stick around until they get here." Izuku said, leaning back comfortably in his wheelchair, his mother smiling fondly as she wheeled him to her bedside.

"But you don't have to stay." Shoto said in confusion.

"I'm class president," Izuku said in a way of explanation, "I don't go home until everyone else does, besides, I know Ojiro was really worried about her and the way her quirk reacted. Best we keep an eye on her, just in case.

"Super manly Midoriya!" Kirishima praised, limping towards the door, "have a good night man!"

"Same to you two," Izuku waved, gently massaging his throat as he looked as his friend.

He'd been informed she'd been the one to save Aizawa, Tsu and Mineta while he'd been unconscious, a quirk evolution that allowed her to create an invisible barrier if Tsu was to be believed. And Tsu was rarely known to overexaggerate.

His mothers phone ringing shook him from his thoughts.

"Oh, that'll be your father," she said, standing up as she pulled her phone out, "I'll take it outside sweetie.

Izuku nodded, looking back at Hagakure, she hadn't even flinched. "I'm sure you know," he began, looking up at the ceiling, "but you saved a lot of lives today; I'm sorry I didn't get back into the fight in time to help you." he sighed, looking to the window, before looking back to his friend, "hurry up and get better," he muttered, putting his hand over hers for a few seconds, before letting go and settling back into his chair.