In Dr. Garaki's lab...
Midoriya sat in Dr. Garaki's room, chained up and unable to move. He tried to use One for All to get out of them, but the chains seemed to react to him using it and shocked him. It was strong, and he could barely move after feeling that surge of power. He wanted to keep going, but that electricity was really strong. It felt like it numbed to the point where he couldn't even focus on activating One for All.
He sat there for a while in this quiet room, realizing what he had just found out. His heart skipped a beat, remembering how he felt when Skylar told him the truth.
"I'm part Nomu..."
Midoriya couldn't believe it. Then again, it made so much sense now. Her quirk Power Absorption, the fact that she was super strong even without it, and that familiar feeling that he got when he fought her. Because he had fought a Nomu before during the USJ incident. Now he thought about it some more, that Nomu that AllMight fought had a quirk like hers.
He could hear AllMight's words echo through his head, remembering what he said.
"You told me that this Nomu's quirk was Power Absorption, not nullification! So there is only much that it can take!"
Skylar somehow got a quirk from a Nomu back then. He didn't understand how that made any sense, but didn't question it. He was surprised that this was even happening at all. Whatever had happened with Skylar, clearly she was always a part of this plan. Dr. Garaki got her involved, and he even wondered if she was even his daughter in the first place. He felt sick to his stomach, feeling like he was in a similar situation before.
Midoriya tried to get out of the chains, but they were so heavy. They weren't budging, and it reminded him of when he was captured by Chrysalis. He just hoped that his friends and classmates were planning something soon. Then he realized that his phone wasn't even in his pocket anymore.
For a moment, he thought that Bakugo had it before he got captured. He really hoped that Bakugo wasn't doing anything stupid.
"Kacchan..." Midoriya said under his breath, "Please be okay..."
"I wouldn't be worrying about your friend if I were you."
Midoriya's heart skipped a beat, hearing Skylar talking to him. He looked up to see her looking a bit more intimidating than usual. She stood by the doorway with a bit more of a comfortable look to her. She was leaning on the doorway as if she's been through this before. Midoriya gritted teeth in frustration, hoping that Adrien was okay.
"What did you do with Adrien?" Midoriya asked her, "He's got nothing to do with this."
"What do you mean? Of course he has something to do with this," Skylar said back, "He and I are similar, aren't we?"
Midoriya's eyes widened in shock, hoping that she didn't find out anything about him. Then he realized how right she was, and it made him feel even sicker. He couldn't even look at her, realizing that Adrien could definitely be stuck here longer than him. If they find out about him, they'd make sure that he doesn't get out of here. His face got paler, hoping that Skylar didn't notice.
"You don't know what you're talking about Skylar," Midoriya said back, "He's just been caught up in your mess! You've brought him into this because you feel like you need a friend. You may be similar, but you two are nothing alike."
Skylar's eyes widened in shock, noticing that her eyes glowing for a moment. In a split second, she slammed into the wall. That caused him to get the wind knocked out of him, but he tried to get out of it. Her quirk was getting stronger to the point where he could already feel himself getting tired from her draining his energy. She gritted her teeth in anger, which got through to Midoriya for a moment.
"You and I may have been friends, but me and Adrien are different!" Skylar growled out, "Adrien understands me more than anyone else! I can't let that go! Not when things are..."
Skylar trailed off for a moment, catching Midoriya's attention. Something was bothering her, and he could see it in her eyes. Whatever it was, Skylar looked like she was lost. Midoriya felt her grip loosen and soon let go of him. She dropped him, and he felt that with the chains around his ankles and wrists. Midoriya looked up to see Skylar looking confused about something.
He didn't understand what was so confusing, but clearly she had more going on than he thought.
"Skylar?" Midoriya said to her.
Skylar soon snapped out of it to see Midoriya chained up. She looked at the computer, and Midoriya noticed that it was taking in information about him. He worried that it might pull up something important and tried to use One for All again. The shock went right through him, causing him to let out a yell. Smoke soon appeared above his head, and Skylar went back to the computer. He tried to keep an eye on Skylar, but could barely lift his head.
"Don't resist so much. It'll only hurt more," Skylar said back to him as she read the computer, "Hmm... It doesn't say much about your strengths and weaknesses. That's weird. Maybe it just needs more time."
Midoriya tried to get up, but his head hurt so much from the electric current. His throat still hurt, and his clothes were damp from the rain. That burning sensation never went away and kept getting worse. His fever even felt hotter, which didn't help. Skylar soon went up to him, standing over Midoriya. She soon kneeled down and felt his forehead.
"Hmm... You did have a fever though," Skylar said to him, "Maybe I should get my dad to take a look at you."
Midoriya felt his stomach get sick from that instant comment. He wanted nothing to do with that guy, even if he was across the room. Skylar got up to leave, but Midoriya tried to stop her from leaving.
"Sky-Skylar..." Midoriya said back, "Please... Don't do this... If your dad gets a hold of--"
Midoriya stopped himself, realizing that he had already known about One for All. His eyes widened in shock, not realizing that he knew about it all along. He had given him hints and didn't even realize it. He was even the one that told him about him being quirkless. He felt chills go up and down back, and it didn't go away.
"Skylar... Please trust me on this. You can't let Dr. Garaki do this," Midoriya said back, "He won't care who he hurts if he finds out more about whatever he's planning. He might even hurt you in the process."
Skylar's eyes widened in shock, but that only seemed to make her angrier. She didn't back down as she faced him those glowing blue eyes. They even sparked a little bit. She stepped up to him like she was going to punch him.
"You have no idea what you're talking about," Skylar said to him, "My dad is very smart and would never let these things get in the way of his goals--"
"Yeah. Including you," Midoriya said to her, "You told me that you don't like following his rules all time. How much you wished to do things on your own? To not be our his finger all the time, or did you forget about it?"
That seemed to get through to Skylar for a moment. Her eyes widened in shock, and she couldn't find the words to defense herself. She couldn't come up with anything, and Midoriya noticed. She gripped her fists, ready to do defend herself. Before she could say anything however, Dr. Garaki stepped into the room to interrupt them.
"What's going on in here you two?" Dr. Garaki asked them.
Skylar pulled back like she was afraid of him. Midoriya felt a chill go up his back instantly once he showed his face. His smile didn't help things either, and Midoriya felt One for All activate without realizing it. Before he knew it, the electricity ran through his body from the chains. His eyes widened in shock, not expecting it to do that. Dr. Garaki seemed amused and looked over at Skylar. She didn't say anything, but did pull back from hurting Midoriya.
"Skylar. Leave me with Izuku for a while" Dr. Garaki told her, "I need to make sure he understands what's going here. Maybe even check on the computer, see what's come up."
Skylar didn't even look at Dr. Garaki, but gave Midoriya a look that gave him chills. She looked afraid of her dad. She hesitated for a moment, but gave into his demands.
"Yes sir," Skylar said to him.
Skylar left the room, leaving Dr. Garaki and Midoriya alone. Midoriya felt his throat burning up quite a bit, and he didn't know why. Before he knew it, Dr. Garaki was only mere inches away from him. Midoriya flinched and instinctively moved away from him. Then he squinted his eyes as he placed his hand on his forehead.
"Hmm... You have a fever..." Dr. Garaki said to him, "It must be from those wet clothes. Tell me, is anything else bothering you my boy?"
Midoriya hesitated, but his throat burned so much that he winced. He tried to bite his lip so that he wouldn't say anything. Dr. Garaki's smile bothered him so much, and all he could think about was that day.
The day when he told him that he was quirkless.
He tried to not let it get to him, but something about it felt off. Midoriya felt his throat getting really sore, and he could barely speak up. Whatever this fever was, it was getting worse. Midoriya went to touch his throat without thinking, and Dr. Garaki noticed. His eyes narrowed in on his throat, noticing that he was rubbing it like it hurt a lot.
"Izuku... Does your throat burn at all?" Dr. Garaki asked him, "I can tell that something's wrong. You can tell me, I am a doctor after all."
Midoriya didn't want to say anything, but his throat hurt so much to the point where he could barely speak. It was starting to burn so much that he needed some water.
"...Y-Yes... I-It h-hurts... A-A lot... I-I need... w-water..." Midoriya said through the pain.
As he talked, he could swear that his throat felt like it was on fire. Dr. Garaki surprisingly went to get some water that was right by the computer. There was a sink right nearby and filled a cup of water. Soon Midoriya felt the cup on his lips and gulped it down as Dr. Garaki helped him out. Just the feeling of the water running down his throat felt so good. He let out a gasp, feeling that cooling sensation help him feel better.
Dr. Garaki looked satisfied, and Midoriya could tell that he was up to something. He just hoped that he didn't poison him or something.
"Izuku... How did you get this so called fever of yours? Was it from that rain just now or... something else?" Dr. Garaki asked him.
Midoriya knew that the way he was looking at him that he was up to something. His eyes kept staring at him like he knew that something was going on with him. He then remembered that Dr. Garaki must know about One for All. That meant that he was one step ahead of him and might know more about it at this point.
"W-Why should I... t-tell you... a-anything...?" Midoriya asked him.
Dr. Garaki's smile widened, which made Midoriya flinch in his spot.
"Well Izuku. I know more than you know," Dr. Garaki told him, "It's just the way things are. I know some things that you're not aware of. You see... you could say that I'm one step ahead of you and your friends."
Midoriya felt a chill go up and down his back, feeling intimidated by this guy. He just wanted to understand why his throat hurt so much. Midoriya remembered that it started from a nightmare, but didn't know why or how. Then something clicked, and he got a shiver. He thought about it more and realized that Dr. Garaki was in that dream. He remembered seeing a guy with a bald head and a moustache similar to his. It was just a silhouette, but he could tell that he even had the goggles that he was wearing now.
He couldn't stop staring at him, now realizing that he had something to do with this. Somehow he was connected to what was happening to him. A part of him wondered if he did something to him just now.
"You know... I may not what's going on with you, but I need you answer me this," Dr. Garaki said back, "Did you notice anything off about your quirk? When your fever came up, did anything stir up? Like specific memories?"
Midoriya was confused as to what he was getting at. Whatever was going on, he knew that he was getting somewhere. Midoriya worried that he had a plan for him if he didn't cooperate. Then again, he would just experiment on him if he got his way as well.
Then something clicked with him.
Midoriya remembered feeling like he was a little kid again. It felt like it was that day when his was told that he was quirkless. Something about it felt off, and he felt like something was being taken away from him. As soon as he remembered that feeling, his throat burned up. It made him feel really sore and felt the pain get worse.
"W-What did... di-did you do... t-to me?" Midoriya asked him.
Dr. Garaki went back to the computer and placed the cup back by the sink.
"I didn't do anything. At least, not right now at this very moment," Dr. Garaki said back, "I may have done something to you in the past however. I'll at least say that I don't regret what I did back then."
Midoriya's eyes widened in shock, feeling a sense of urgency. Suddenly One for All surged all over his body on instinct, and he somehow fought through the surge of power. He ran at him so fast, but the chains stopping him from hitting him. He gritted his teeth, feeling that surge of power trying to stop him.
"What did you do to me?! Tell me!" Midoriya cried out, "It was you! You did something to me back then! Tell me now!"
Dr. Garaki was shocked to see Midoriya fight through the chains and surge of power trying to stop him. He was so in awe by how strong willed he was, that it only intrigued even more. Midoriya couldn't reach him, but Dr. Garaki stayed out of his range. Soon enough, the surge of power got through to him, and he collapsed from the shock. Dr. Garaki walked over to the computer and pressed a couple of buttons that caused Midoriya's chains to tighten up.
He could barely flex his hands and feet as the chains suddenly slammed him into the wall. They shortened so much to the point where he was pinned to the wall. He couldn't even activate his quirk from that surge of power, but now it was held up against the wall by the chains that held him down.
He looked at Dr. Garaki, and his teeth gritted so much that it hurt. His piercing glare didn't leave Dr. Garaki as he stared at him, hoping to make him confess.
"Dr. Garaki...!" Midoriya growled at him, "What did you do to me?!"
Dr. Garaki only found it amusing that Midoriya was being held by the chains like this. He kept his distance and played around the keyboard on the computer. He looked at anything that the chains reacted to or any sign of data coming from Midoriya. Midoriya couldn't do anything, and all he could do watch Dr. Garaki look at the computer.
"Hmm... Interesting..." Dr. Garaki said to himself, "No wonder you have a fever... It's all starting to make sense now..."
Midoriya's eyes widened, realizing that he figured it out. Whatever was going on with him, he didn't even know what it was. Dr. Garaki knew about it, and Midoriya couldn't even get that information out of him. He tried to move, but the chains were tight and heavy against the wall.
"What are you talking about?! Tell me!" Midoriya growled at him.
Dr. Garaki looked at him and smiled at how helpless he looked. Midoriya couldn't do anything except watch him. Then he walked up to him with a needle, which got Midoriya's attention. He froze just seeing it, and Dr. Garaki got close to him with it. Midoriya tried to get away with One for All, but the surge of power went through him again. Midoriya suddenly felt Dr. Garaki pull up his sleeve and put the needle into his arm. His eyes widened in shock, feeling the pain of the needle going into his arm. He tried not to yell, but the pain made him wince.
Soon enough, he took it out and took some of his blood for analyzing. Midoriya felt a bit drowsy from him taking blood, but he tried to stay awake. Skylar's quirk, the surge of power and now this needle wasn't helping him stay awake. He felt himself nodding to sleep, trying to get answers out of Dr. Garaki.
"D-Dr... Ga-Garaki... W-What... di-did y-you... t-to me...?" Midoriya asked him, feeling exhausted, "T-Tell me..."
"Oh. Don't worry Izuku," Dr. Garaki said to him, "You'll found out sooner or later. I just have to analyze this blood first. Soon enough, I'll know what's going on. You'll be the first know, I'll promise you that."
Midoriya could barely stay awake, knowing that Dr. Garaki might find a way to take One for All. Before he passed out, he heard Dr. Garaki say something to him. It chills go up and down his back.
"Your quirk is in good hands..."
Another amazing chapter!
I really enjoyed writing this one. Midoriya and Dr. Garaki's connection was always interesting to me. I still can't believe that My Hero Academia never explained anything about Dr. Garaki knowing Midoriya somehow. It's just a thing that's never brought up. That alone could've had so much potential for an interesting twist in the story. It's shocking that it didn't go anywhere. Dr. Garaki clearly did something to him or maybe not. But I do like the thought of what's to come for this story. I don't want to spoil what's to come for Midoriya's, but it can be pretty obvious if you know the show well enough. This fever is more than just a fever it looks like...
What's going to happen next??
More to come soon!