Mankind, such a simple word.
A word that can be used for a single race or even an entire species. Of course, in the case of Earth, mankind is one who inhabits this blue jewel in a vast cosmos. A race of people who at one point almost pushed themselves to the brink of total atomic annihilation yet they didn't. Simply because they had the common sense not to.
But that is not all mankind is known for, no. Mankind as of late are now known for something else, something thought to have been in the realms of fiction. Mankind now is known because almost 200 years ago a new power manifested, quirks.
A silly name yes, but one that gives many the ability to do amazing feats only thought of on the pages of comic books. Super speed, flight, super strength, these and many more now shape mankind to what it is today.
However, even with the advent of powers and new laws put in place to stop anyone from abusing their powers, there will always be crime. Those who would use their powers for their own selfish gain or to destabilize society. Villains. It has been an eternal struggle between good and evil. Heroes and Villains.
But what if there was something else that joined in this struggle? A third party. One more darker and more ancient than the idea of heroes and villains? A species that thrives in the dark and thirsts for blood, and has pulled the strings behind society? What if said species was led by a man much older then known society?
Our story begins in the small town of Musutafu, Japan. Where a young boy with bushy green hair and freckles was walking down the street. He hummed to himself before stopping at a TV that showed a large man with blonde hair and a bodybuilding physique smiling to the camera.
This boy was Izuku Midoriya, a simple child with dreams of being a hero like his idol All Might. Of course, with a smile he went back to walking down the street to a small store he always came to for the treats they had which was run by a nice older woman.
"Hello Midoriya. What brings you in today?" The old lady asked as she smiled.
"Hi Ms. Chen!" Midoriya said with a bright smile, "I'm here for my usual bag!"
Ms. Chen smiled as she turned around and began filling a bag with some sweets and even some cherry hard candies before she wrapped it up in a little golden bow. "Here we are, young man, your usual." She said handing the bag towards young Izuku who paid her and right as he was about to leave, she called back, "Oh wait! Can you do me a favor?"
Izuku looked back before walking back to her, "Anything Ms. Chen!"
The older woman pulled out a small envelope which was rather thick and held it out towards Izuku. "Now I need you to take this to a place about five blocks left from here called Vinnie's All Italian to a man named Mister Tepes. I'd go myself but my hip is giving me trouble so could you do this favor for me, young man?"
Izuku took the envelope and nodded, "Of course!"
Ms. Chen smiled, "You're such a good boy, Midoriya. Thank you."
Izuku quickly left and began walking down towards where she directed him.
Looking around, he finally found the place and in hindsight, none could miss it since it was definitely an Italian restaurant with its European design, the bright colors, even down to the smells and music coming from the building. It made the young man think it would be nice for him and his mother to come and have dinner one day.
With a smile, he walked in and was bombarded with an atmosphere that an average Japanese person was not really used to since it was very lively.
It had very low lighting, with very warm colored lights. The carpet was dark green and there were vines growing out of the walls. He looked around before a waiter walked up to him, "Excuse me, young man. Can I help you?"
Izuku jumped up slightly, "Ah! I-I-I have a package here? For a Mr. Tepes?"
The waiter smiled, "From who, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Ms. Chen. She said her hip was giving her problems so I took it for her." Izuku explained with a smile.
The waiter nodded as he motioned with his hand, "Follow me please then." Izuku nodded as he followed the man. Now inside, he looked around and found almost everyone in a suit or some sort of casual clothing but their quirks seemed to be a mutant type or another because he saw many with pale skin, red eyes, those with animal features, even one man who look like he was a Gorilla with how big his body and arms were as he was laughing with another group of guys around him.
Izuku looked around in fascination at the many quirks he saw. The waiter brought him to the back of the restaurant where a man with long silvery white hair and pale skin was reading a book. He had glasses on and the same red eyes as the other men in the restaurant. However, his eyes seemed... Old. Ancient and wise.
"Boss?" The waiter called out. "Little boy here has a package from Ms. Chen."
The man looked up from his book to little Izuku, he quickly dismissed the waiter. "What's your name, little one?" He asked.
The young boy stuttered a bit as he bowed, "Hello sir, my name is Midoriya Izuku and I have a package for you, sir!" He held out the envelope towards the older man who he didn't see have a soft smile on his face.
He took the envelope from him and placed it down, "You've done Ms. Chen a big favor, young Midoriya."
Izuku stood up straight and smiled a bit, "Well, isn't it right to help out our elders when asked?" Looking right into the ruby eyes of the older man, he beamed pure innocence and a small hint of childish wonder.
This caused the older man to smile before he chuckled a bit as he nodded his head slightly, "Yes that is indeed what one should do for their elders."
"Now, for a little reward, I'll have a meal prepared for you to have before you head home." The man smiled as he ruffled the young man's hair.
Izuku shuffled his feet a bit, "Thank you, but… but you don't have to do that."
The man smiled, "It's no trouble at all, you're a growing boy after all. You need to eat." This caused Izuku to nod as he got up into the booth with the man. "If it's not too rude… What… What's your quirk?"
The man chuckled before asking, "Tell me, what do you know about vampires?"
Izuku shifted a bit in his chair, "Well uh… I know that they are a type of mutant quirk that makes up a large percentage of the quirk users and that they hold many of the same powers as those from books and movies, even manga. I know that they are sensitive to sunlight which may be related to those who are born albino which also have allergic reactions to sunlight." He stopped himself as he realized he was mumbling again before he bowed his head towards the older man, "I'm sorry! That was so rude of me!"
The man couldn't help but chuckle at the young man. "It's quite alright dear boy. But yes, you are right. I am one of them. Now, come let's get you something to eat."
A waiter came over and gave him a little menu for what he'd like. The two talked for a bit as Izuku ate some spaghetti and meatballs. The boss of the establishment paid for the meal before Izuku spoke up, "It was really nice meeting you, Mr. Tepes." He bowed before beginning to leave the restaurant.
The older man smiled as he gave a small wave before he said to himself, "Așa cum a fost pentru, mine tânărul." (as it was for me, young one.)
Izuku walked out of the restaurant and began trekking down towards his home. But that's when he heard police sirens.
Izuku turned his head and shrugged as he thought it was probably another villain attack they were heading off to. Of course, when he went to walk again he felt something heavy push against his body that sent him towards the ground.
"Suspect in custody!" A loud voice shouted as his arms were quickly placed behind him and he was handcuffed.
Izuku was in shock as some pro heroes were surrounding him as well, "Don't move kid! and don't think about using your quirk!" Shouted a man who he recognized as Death Arms, an up and coming hero.
The officer conducting the arrest looked down at Izuku's shoes and chuckled a bit, "Don't gotta worry about that. Kid's a damn normie."
"W-What did I do!?" Izuku cried out as the officer hauled him up.
"Don't play dumb with us, kid! You know what you did!" Death Arms snarled at him.
The officer began to drag Izuku away to the car. That's when a large audience was gathered to see what was happening. Among them were the familiar red eyes of a vampire. He quickly ducked back into the crowd to inform someone very important.
Izuku was curled up behind bars with his knees to his chest while his arms were around them. His eyes were red and puffy from crying as he realized his life may have been over. For something he doesn't know what he did.
Of course, his sadness was dashed as the sound of his mother's voice was heard, "WHERE IS MY SON!?
He looked up before shouting, "Mommy!"
"Ma'am, please calm down. Your son is being arrested for carrying illegal substances." An officer reported.
The woman looked at the officer in rage, "I don't care, unless you have proof, you will let him out of that cell right now!"
The officer stood up and snarled, "Ma'am sit down, now!" He ordered only for a deeper voice to speak up, "I don't believe that is how a man should speak to a lady."
The entire office went dead silent when the man walked inside. His piercing red eyes stared him down. "And I don't believe arresting a child without proof will do you any good." He said in a low voice.
The officer stood his ground as he said, "Well that's not for you to say."
The woman soon spoke up again, "And you clearly aren't either considering you haven't been doing your job." The cop looks back at her as he asks with a raised voice "Just who the hell are you!"
The woman shouted much louder as she shouted, "WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!?"
The man stepped forward, "If you do not release that boy right now, I will see to it this entire station is shut down and your record permanently marked to the point you couldn't even find a job as a janitor." His eyes glowed bright red as he glared at him.
Before the man could say anything another officer, this time wearing a captain's rank, stepped up, "Now what's going on here?! Can't you see we're busy trying to get a confession out of this suspect."
The woman crossed her arms as she now stepped up to the desk, "Well that's interesting, because that raises some questions." She said looking at the man who had a shibu head, "Did you contact the boy's lawyer so that they may be present? No. Because I'm his lawyer. Did you contact his parents when you arrested him? No. Because I'm his mother. So officer, don't tell me to wait, don't tell me to sit down, just open that damn cell and let me son out or I'm gonna tie this place up in so much litigation THAT YOUR GRANDKIDS ARE GONNA NEED LAWYERS!" She yelled out at the captain as she stared him dead in the eyes.
The man looked at her with an impressed look before looking back at them. "I would listen to the lady." He said to which the captain growled.
"Let him out." The Captain said.
The other officer looked at him before looking at the woman and sure enough he did as he was told. As soon as the cell door was opened, the young man ran to his mother who held him tightly, "Oh my baby! I'm so happy you're alright."
The man stared down at the police. "Touch this child again, and we will see your lives destroyed." He quickly led the mother and son out of the police station.
Once outside, the mother bowed towards the man, "I am so sorry for what you saw in there, my name is Midoriya Inko."
"It's quite alright, madam. I am Vlad Dracula Tepes. I'm just glad your son wasn't hurt." He bowed back to her.
Once she stood up straight, Inko gave the man a smile, "Well that does raise a question, why were you here? How do you know my son?" She asked.
To which he answered, "Your son brought me something from Miss Chen's who works for me as a distributor for my sweets company."
"I was just trying to help, Mommy." Izuku said in a meek tone.
Inko smiled as she patted her son's head, "And that's good of you to do, but Izuku I'm not mad at you. I'm upset with the police and how they treated you."
"Indeed. I will personally see to it that they regret touching him." Dracula promised her.
"It wasn't just the police..." Izuku said.
Inko looked at him before kneeling down, "Who else, sweetheart?"
"It was Death Arms... He was there." Izuku revealed.
Inko looked shocked, "That upcoming hero? Are you sure, sweetie?"
Izuku just nodded as he also said, "They also called me a… normie."
Upon hearing that, she brought her son into a comforting hug, "Oh sweetie.."
Dracula frowned before looking at her, "Why don't we relocate somewhere a little quieter?" He quickly escorted them away from the building and towards a limo.
Inko looked shocked at the sight of the car before she said, "I… we… we couldn't." Dracula smiled as he motioned to the open door "Please, it's the least I can do for such a stressful night you both have faced."
Inko was hesitant but nodded as the two went inside and Dracula climbed in after them. "Now, where is your place of living?" He asked to which Inko gave him the address.
The limo began to drive down towards their home. Once they pulled up and made their way into the apartment complex, Dracula couldn't help but frown slightly as he asked, "Is this truly where a woman such as you lives? Does your husband not help to provide for your family?" Inko took on a pained look as Izuku looked up at her, "Mommy?"
Inko lightly pushes Izuku towards the door "Why don't you go to your room sweetie? Mommy needs to talk to Mister Tepes alone for a bit." He just nodded before he headed towards his room.
Dracula and Inko sat down at a couch where he quickly connected the dots. "The father left, didn't he?" She nodded sadly.
"When he heard the news that he was Quirkless, he left. Saying he wouldn't acknowledge such a powerless boy as his own flesh and blood. My sweet baby boy... All he wants is to be a hero and yet everyone just tells him he can't. He'd just be a casualty..."
Dracula reached forward and gently held her hand, "Ms. Midoriya, you and that boy deserve better. Your son deserves to go to a school where he will not be targeted, where he can get the education he deserves. And perhaps I can help you out with your job as a lawyer."
Inko looked at Dracula shocked as she shook her head, "You don't have to do that."
With a gentle squeeze of his hand, he added "But it's the least I can do. Please allow me to repay you for the trouble I have caused you by at least helping you and your son." He gave Inko a soft smile as he said, "After all... A child needs a father. So please let me be that father to him that he needs in his life.
Inko looked at him before she let the tears fall and she quickly latched onto Dracula and hugged him. He hugged her back gently. "Shh... Shh... Everything will be alright."
Inko's cries began to die down as she whimpered out, "Thank you..."
Dracula patted her back gently before saying, "I believe first things first, getting out of this terrible apartment and into somewhere nicer."
Inko nodded and in the coming days, things changed for the Midoriya family as both mother and son were brought out of their small apartment and invited into the home of Mister Tepes.
Of course, Izuku was also pulled out of school because in Mister Tepe's words, "A boy deserves a good education." Which was why he was now enrolled in a private school meant for children of ambassadors, models, those of upper society.
Izuku had some trouble adjusting, considering how the rest of the children acted, but Izuku was smart. His analytic skills became better than before because of the proper education given to him. He quickly became one of the best students in the school.
Meanwhile, Dracula was sitting at a desk with a hologram showing three women. One had dark skin with brown hair and bright blue eyes. The other had pale skin, long black hair and emerald green eyes. The final had Auburn hair, orange eyes and pale skin.
"Sisters, good to see you all again." Dracula said to which they bowed their heads.
The one with black hair spoke first, "As it is to you, my Lord."
The orange hair spoke with a light English accent, "How is Japan, I hear the sunrise is wonderful."
The dark skinned woman asked, "What is it you wish to speak with us about?"
"Japan is quite nice, Lenore. Though its occupants leave a lot to be desired. As for your question, Morana, I simply wanted to speak and catch up with you. How is your business going?" Dracula said as he intertwined his fingers together.
Morana sighed, "The families are doing good, however America is still proving to be our biggest problem due to the cartels. Bastards are trying to move into the cities."
"Hmm... Perhaps a hostile takeover will docile them." Dracula said with a small smirk.
Morana nodded, "I'll get in contact with my people and see what pressure we can put on the government first before we try anything south of the border."
The other woman groaned and complained, "Work, work, work is all you do. You never have time for me."
"Striga, I promise you, once this is over, we can go on our month-long vacation." Morana sighed.
Dracula chuckled. "Worry about the pressure later. We have all the time in the world. Go, spend some time together."
Both nodded as Striga reported, "Same as usual here in my homeland, talks of revolution, political unrest, return of the old union. Nothing changed, the military still sells arms to those who have money."
"Hmm, do you believe the return of the old union will hinder your control?" Dracula asked.
Striga laughed, "Nyet, nyet my Lord. These are another bunch of new wave socialist who believe that they can try and bring back the Soviet Union. It's nothing new, all talk no action and even if they did try anything my soldiers will take care of them."
"Very good, Striga. Keep me up to date. Now what of you, Lenore? Anything to report in the United Kingdom?"
Lenore smiled as she reported, "Ireland is still fighting amongst themselves."
Morana chuckled, "Nothing new there."
Lenore continued "The operations here are still going, even with the heroes busting one warehouse, they have not been able to find the rest thanks to our connection to the royal family and of course the current sitting PM."
Dracula smiled, "Well done, Lenore. Now, as for me... Well a hero and police tried to arrest a young child that brought me protection money from a little sweets store. Luckily, his mother arrived, and low and behold, she is a lawyer. I've quickly moved them out and into my home. Aside from that, the heroes and police know when to stay out of my business."
Morana was shocked as Striga looked curious while Lenore smiled and clapped her hands, "That's wonderful my Lord! When will the wedding be, hmm?"
Dracula chuckled, "I see your humor has not escaped you, Lenore. She's a lovely lady, but not quite to my taste. We're simply there to look after the boy."
"And have you found someone to your tastes?" Striga asked curiously.
"You will be the first to know." Dracula smiled. "Now, is there anything else to report?"
They shook their heads and said in unison, "No my Lord."
Morana added, "And I wish you luck on your new son." Before she clicked off to which Striga said in a shocked tone, "MORANA!" Before clicking off herself followed by Lenore who was laughing.
Dracula chuckled before turning off his screen. Leaning back in his chair he couldn't help but smile, "My new son, huh?" He shook his head for in a way he did adopt another son into his life. Maybe it was the fact he had a bright mind, he was a sweet boy, or maybe because he had that innocent nature about him.
Or perhaps it was all of the above.
Dracula just smiled as he went back to doing paperwork, and this was how it was for the coming days. It wasn't until one day that young Izuku who was now sitting at the dinner table with his mother and Dracula eating a lovely french dish spoke up, "Um… Mr. Tepes, is it ok if I ask you something?" Asked a now seven year old Izuku.
"Of course, young man. What do you want to know?" Dracula looked at him.
Izuku looked nervous before he finally asked, "Is it… Is it alright if I call you… Dad?" This caused Inko to stop as even Dracula stopped mid-chew slowly looking at the green haired boy who just looked back at him with those eyes, those innocent eyes that he saw the first time when he brought him that money from Miss Chen a year ago.
Dracula looked at him with shock at the question, but those eyes made him smile back as he answered, "Of course, son."
Inko was on the verge of tears as Izuku smiled back, fighting back his own tears as for once in her son's life he now had a father who wouldn't abandon him or judge him simply because he was quirkless.
Dracula gently placed a hand on his cheek before gently pulling him in for a hug. "How about this, sometime this weekend, we should go fishing. Just the two of us. How does that sound?" He asked.
Izuku nodded as he finally let tears fall all while Inko was also crying tears of joy. It was a very joyous family night to which they'd celebrate with a little game night and snacks after their dinner.
However, later on as Inko and Izuku slumbered, Dracula was off in his office waiting for a call, an important one. When the phone rang he waited a moment before picking it up, "Yes."
A voice on the other spoke in a heavy Brooklyn accent "We found the guy, boss." With a cruel smile Dracula said, "Put the phone to his head."
There was a ruffle of movement before a man's voice was heard, "Please whoever you are, I didn't do anything I swear! Please don't kill me!" The voice he heard was one of a desperate man for whom he had found after a year of searching. The search led him to finding Izuku's deadbeat father hiding his shameful self in New York City of all places.
"Didn't do anything? No no no no, we both know what you did. Did you really think you could get away with what you did, Hasashi?" Dracula asked in a low tone.
The man was silent before Dracula continued, "You know. Where I'm from in the old country. Men are raised with a simple value and moral, that being that if you have sex with a woman and you have a child with that woman then you are to be a man and help raise that child. That's how I was raised in the old country, that's how I raised my son."
"So... To hear that you abandoned your own son... Well, I felt the need to right your wrongs. Your son is now my son, and I will ensure he has the life you were too much of a coward to give him. Boys... Make sure he suffers." Dracula said before there was a brief scream before he hung up.
With a content smile he said to himself, "A coward's death is what you get. When I'm finished, they will never even remember you as nothing more than a sperm donor." He looked over at the adoption papers on his desk and with a smile he saw the name of his new son in black and white as well as his status as both Japanese and Romanian citizenship so that if the authorities tried to harass his son again. Well…
…Politics can be dirty sometimes.