Chapter Text
„No, you can’t be a Hero without a Quirk …”
An Answer to his Question. Nine Words where the Respond to his Hope. Nine Words that shatter his Dream into thousand Pieces.
Izuku Midoriya, a Powerless Individuum in a World where 90% of the Population has Superpowers called “Quirks”. A Quirkless Boy who Society deemed as Worthless. Useless. A waste of Space. A Deku. Someone Weak and Defenseless, an Easy Target for Bullies and likeminded People.
His Mom didn´t believe him. “I´m so sorry Izuku” Echoes in his Mind again and again. Before she slowly abandoned him.
Even All Might, the Number One Hero, didn’t believe that he could archive his Dream. He inspects, the blond man in front of him. His Mouth moves but Izuku can’t Hear a single World, too lost in the Wave of emotions.
Nine Words from his idol, his Hope, created enough Temptation that he wants to Give into the so-called Advice. The Suicide Baiting from Kacchan rings in his ear again.
“Just take a swan dive from the roof and hope for a Quirk in your next live.”
Izuku sits on the roof a long time before he Notice that All Might Left him there. Alone. On a Roof. He sat Himself to the Edge, letting his Legs swing. Watching the City´s Live in the Afternoon, Enjoying the Wind and View. Pondering about his live and what he should do.
“It’s a nice View here.” Says a Voice from his Right side. The Owner sounds Young. So Izuku looks to the source noticing a Boy, maybe 10 Years Old Standing beside Him. He wears a Green Poncho with a Golden Emblem on the Back and a light brown Flat cap.
“Can I sit next to you?” asks the Boy as he lean his head to one side. Izuku just Nod and the Boy Promptly place himself next to him.
“Thank you Mister.” Says the Boy Watching the Distant.
They sat there in Silence, just enjoying the Scenery. Izuku began to analyze the People on the Street, writing it down in his Notebook. Until the Boy offers Izuku his Hand.
“I am Ray Lee by the way.” Ray Smiles at Izuku who accepts his Hand.
“I’m Midoriya Izuku, Nice to Meet you, Ray.” Replies Izuku with a Smile.
“Do you often analyze Quirks?” Asks Ray right away. Izuku sights tired. Apparently, he had Mumbled again.
“Yes … it’s a Hobby from me.” Replies Izuku in a defeated tone.
“Wow, that is awesome... can I see, please.” Okay that wasn´t what Izuku thought it would be. He wordless gives Ray his Notebook which he Happily takes.
“Izuku, that is Amazing. How do you know that stuff?” Asks Ray after some Time.
“I… I …” (Was totally not expecting that kind of Reaction…)” I mostly research about it on the Internet” Answers Izuku honestly after calming himself. Rays Eyes Widens a Lot as his Curiosity gets the better of him”
“Only the Internet … and how do you Guess their Quirks?” Ray Questions Further.
“… well … each Quirk has its own characteristics but they all have some Common Appearance –“
“Really … what kind of Appearances …?” Ray cuts him off.
“What Kind of … oh Mutations or Habits from their Owner for Example a Frog type Mutation would inherit some of the Frogs Habits like the Preferred Temperatures or Some emitter types specially the Mind types tend to get less sleep or have a hard time to socialize another example would be the Contact Quirks like the 5 Finger types …” Izuku goes on and on while Ray listens and ask some Questions here and there.
“… and because of this we can deduct that he could possibly freeze the Air around him in the case that he would need a shield or something like that maybe even create some things with it.” Izuku Finishes his Breakdown of the Quirk from the Pro Hero Manual.
“That is maybe a Possibility of his Quirk.” Agrees Ray before he let his eyes wander to the Sky. Izuku watch as he sights and looks again at him. They both look at each other until Ray breaks the Silence
“Why are you here” asks he Izuku in a sad voice. Izuku on the other side thought about that question.
“Why are you here on the Roof Izuku… Why are you Hurt, injured, why hasn´t somebody called a long time ago asking after you. Why are you here?” After some moments Izuku breaks and he begins to tell Ray, a maybe 10-Year-Old boy, why he was on the Roof, he tells him about the day, the school, about All Might and after some Time About his Quirk or the Lack of it.
Ray Listen closely to him without any Judgment or Pity, He Listen as Izuku Tells him about Kacchan, he Listen as Izuku told him about his Dream, He listen as he Told him about his encounter with All Might and what All Might told him here. He Listen as Izuku cries about his Dream.
Izuku looks away as the Tears came out. But then as he thought that Ray would go just as the Rest he feels two arms around his Waist, “he is so small” Izuku´s thought as Ray hugs him. He Embraces the Hug and lets it all out. After some Time, he calms down, the Sun has sunken down and the night starts to rise. Izuku lessens the Hug. Ray let him. They sit there a little bit awkwardly.
“Are you feeling Better?” Ray asks in a worried tone. Izuku just nods to embarrassed about the situation. Ray on the other hand breaths out and relaxed visible.
“Puh thank god it worked” Ray replies with a smile. Izuku observes the street below their red shoes while thinking about everything. Ray starts Humming beside him. After some time, a though strikes Izuku´s mind.
“Why is Ray here?” Izuku looks beside him at Ray, an apparently 10-Year-old looking boy, sitting beside him on a roof of an old Structure.
“Why are you here?” Izuku asks without giving a second thought.
“Hmm?”
“I mean … do you live nearby?”
“Nope”
“No…?” Izuku asks confused but Ray just confirms his answer with a nod.
“Then … Why…”
“oh I somehow … was drawn here…” Ray puts his Finger on his chin, thinking about the question.
“I saw something like a glowing blue Thread, and it led me here to you.”
“A Glowing blue Thread…?”
“Jep” Izuku looks around before he asks further.
“Is it still here” Ray looks at him as if he just Asks the Stupidest Question ever.
“No … it never stays there after you reach the end of it …” Izuku´s eyes Widens.
“It Never… does this Threat appears often?”
“…Yes…”
“Is …That your Quirk…” Ray began to Giggle which confuses Izuku even more. Ray tries to say something but can’t form a sentence as he evolves in a full laughter, falling on his Back, holding his stomach, and swinging his Leg up.
Izuku doesn’t understand the world anymore as he observes Rays laughter… it would be Cute if it wasn’t also equal Rude in the current situation. Then he notices something … something that could be coincidence but the chances a low. Rays red shoes … are the same Brand that he wore … the one and only Brand for Quirkless People… and they are Expensive so nobody except them wore them.
“You … You are Quirkless like me …” Izuku understands now why Ray Laughs. Hell, he would do the same in his situation if another Quirkless Person assume that he has a Quirk despite wearing this, Shoes. Ray calms down a little bit.
“yeah” Ray replies between his breaths.
“Then how…”
“Don’t know…”
“…”
“Does it happen often?”
“Hmm sometimes more sometimes less …” Ray answers while swinging his legs before he notices something and stops.
“Today seems to be a more day” Murmurs Ray. Izuku follows his gaze and … sees a glowing blue thread out of now were. Leading down the street. It …looks transparent and not existent … like some sort of Hologram … The Thread follows the street levitating just a meter over the ground.
Suddenly a Face with two brown eyes appears in Izuku´s Vision.
“Do you always mumble that fast…?” Ray asks with a curiosity in his Voice as he look directly in Izuku´s Eyes.
“What. Me... I……” Izuku is startle from his thoughts and has some difficulties to form an Answer or even a sentence. Ray stands up and brushes his Pants from the Roof dirt.
“Come it doesn’t stay there forever.” Ray starts moving towards the exit. Izuku follows, after a moment packing his Backpack on the move.
“Where are we going” Asks Izuku which is currently stowing away his Notebooks.
“Don’t know but it won’t be boring:” Ray answers with an excited tone in his voice.
The thread guides them down the stairs, along the street and in some sideways. It seems only visible for them as other People just pass through it. As Izuku tried to touch it his hand also passes through the thread without feeling any sort of resistance. After some time following it, they hear Explosions in the distance which they apparently approaching right now. They sound familiar to Izuku. As they approach a corner of a Building separating them from the scene Izuku notice some orange light and a rising of the Temperature.
More noises, People Murmuring about something. People Fighting and shouting. Something about Damage Control and the right Quirk. And Explosions … where are so many Explosions sounds.
Izuku walks faster leaving Ray behind him as his Walk evolve to a Sprint. Around the Corner he sees a Crowd, typical for a Hero Fight at Day Time but why does he feel anxious?
Then he saw something behind the crowd he gazes the Heroes Fight against something … Green and Liquide?
Izuku´s eyes widen as a thought cross his mind. “The slime Villain that attacked me…but how is that possible … All Might should have taken care of him.”
Slowly he starts moving through the Crowd without looking away from the situation, his experience from Hero Chasing lets him move easily thru them.
Arriving Up front Izuku apprehension confirms that the Villain indeed is the Slime Villain from before but an even more shocking is what a familiar look of the Victim has.
A Body inside the Slime that panicky fights Back with a quirk he hears and feels too often. While the Hero Backdraft uses his Quirk to prevent the Fire from Spreading on the other Buildings.
A face that he sees nearly daily distorted in Panic and Fear. Meanwhile the Hero Kamui Woods sets a Parameter and prevent the crowd from going near the fight while calling for Back up shouting something about waiting for the right Quirk.
Red Eyes met Izuku´s as they scream for Help. The Hero Death Arms tries to grab the Slime Villain but can’t get a hold on him, he backs down and confirms Kamui Woods request for Waiting for a Hero with the right Quirk.
Kacchan, the boy who struggles against the Villain, activates his Quirk again and again. Trying to fend of the Slime that block his Airways but in process of doing that he continuously set the area on fire. Mount Lady stands at the entrance of the alle, complaining about her obvious Weakness which are small Areas… they are not compatible with her Giant Quirk.
Izuku froze as his eye’s lands on the Villian again and his Victim Kacchan who fights for every breath. His mind runs a mile per second thinking, planning and slowly but steady spinning himself in a hole of panic, desperation, and self-beating. Because the Villian ... the Villian that had attacked him was detained by All Might and he ... he distracted him as he had to ask.
"What a shame" speaks a clear voice near him that lets Izuku break out his mind hole. It has a tone that calms him down on a scary level.
"What?" Izuku looks around trying to find the source of the voice.
"It’s a shame that the Heroes limit themselves on just their Quirks" explains the Voice.
Izuku hears the voice clear as a blue sky, but nobody around him seem to speak or hear it.
"I mean and don’t get me wrong you need the right tools for the job but I’m speaking of multiple ones and not just one..." The voice continues while Izuku’s eyes settle back on the Villian.
"For example a good old Bolt spiced with a little bit of Nacrojet would end this situation in ... maybe three seconds or less." the voice continues in a chipper tone.
"Of course you have to hit the right spot, nothing too complicated but you have to know the right area.”
"The right spot ... area…" Izuku thought about it looking at the slime.
"The right spot by a Liquid Person... but..." Izuku looks closer at the situation.
Kacchan is still blasting everything trying to free himself from it, the Heroes watch the scene unfold without any effort to help him.
Izuku´s mind wanders and analyze the scene, Flames inside the buildings or climbing up on them, Trash cans that spilled their load out, stones and other materials from the walls that relate to an explosion.
“Why I am so calm” Izuku question himself as he literally sees that kacchan fight for his life.
A Blast at the ground wind up some trash hitting the slime without any effect most of it just sink into the slime only a single cane bounces off...
"Wait from where..." Izuku looks closer at the directions where the blasts went... one the right ground pulverizing some debris and other trash ... the next to the left side hitting a wall and leaving a crater in it ... Izuku stare at the situation… the alley… the evidence of the destruction, the crater, the Flames and so on. All of it is aimed down to the ground or side but never higher as the Head of the slime it is always away from the slimes upper front ... always down and away it.
"The Eyes... it is protecting his eyes „ Izuku speaks out loud.
"Oho seems that he picket a smart one" comment the Voice with an amused tone.
"Kamui Woods, his eyes, go for his eyes" Izuku shout to the Hero hoping that he hears and listen to him and for a brief moment the Hero Look seems to notice and spots Izuku waving at him frantically but when ... he looks at the villain again, focusing on the given situation.
Izuku couldn’t believe what he witnessed. He stands there shocked.
"Uff that is rough ... maybe the other one will listen" the voice suggest. Izuku looks to Death Arm as he takes a breath to shout to him speaks Death Arm.
"Where is no use, we need a Hero with a better suited Quirk" Death arm look at his colleagues.
"Mr. Wash is on the way ... ETA in 10 minutes." shout Mountain Lady back.
"Ok we have to hold on then." Kamui Woods replies before he continues "But for the Kid-”
"Has to hold out, we can´t risk further Collateral Damage" Death Arms cut him out.
Izuku looks at Kacchan "10 Minutes ... Kacchan doesn’t have that much time"
“You are Right” Speaks the voice this time beside him. A Person, a little bit taller than him with a Cowboy Had, wearing a dust-line Coat stands beside him.
“And … do you have the guts to take the shot” The Man asks him directly while Izuku stares at him.
“The situation is coming to an end, but you could choose how it ends…” The man continues before he looks back at Izuku. His eyes and ears seem metallic … no… Robotic…
“Now isn’t the time to gawk…” the man interrupts this stare duel and take out a Crossbow from… behind his back …?
“Can you, do it?” Izuku asks cautiously.
“Can´t… complicated situation and not the right time” the Man checks the Crossbow and loads a single bolt in a Magazine.
“I will assist you this time” the men look at Izuku again. Izuku didn’t know how to answer this… his eyes wander to Kacchan which is still struggling but with much less force behind it. The lack of air seems to get him. Izuku balls in his hands.
“I do it” Izuku whispers out.
“Perfect. Looks like at least somebody is willing to take the risk” The Man replies with a Smile and hand Izuku the Crossbow over. As Izuku held the Crossbow, feeling the Texture of it, rise a familiar feeling inside of him with this Weapon. Without further delay he shoulders it, Aiming at the head of the Villain. The Man stands beside him correcting his Posture as if it was just a normal Training scene and not a high-risk Hostage situation. Without further explanation he steps out of Izuku´s sight.
“You have to hit him between the Eyes” the Man Speaks inside his Head again.
“Is that part or Problem of his Quirk?” Izuku can´t help but ask that himself before he cast the thought away because something else need the capacity.
“Follow his Movement, Read the Situation, See the next step ahead, predict your Target and be Patient” The Man Murmurs in his Head, but it doesn’t annoy Izuku or distract him. No… it gives him reassurance and it feels so Familiar to himself. As if he analyses a Hero or Quirk.
The world seems to slow down as he Zooms only on his Target, the Slime Villain´s Eyes right above Kacchan´s Head, normally he wouldn´t dare to do what he will do but he feels so confident and he didn´t know why.
So Izuku aims and waits for the perfect situation, the moment then the Target doesn´t suspect anything.
Kacchan´s eyes began to wander exhausted over the crowd, a glimmer of hope inside him that somebody will save him before he dies. Izuku saw that glimmer often enough in the All Might Video´s that he adores so much. The moment then that glimmer flames up because All Might Appears but that won´t happen today.
The Slime Grins Victoriously to the Heroes knowing that he Won and will escape with his Hostage. He smiles over Kacchan´s Face with his Teeth as his Eye´s scan the Heroes for any threats, concentrating himself on them… His fault.
The Heroes Look Frustrated to the Villain knowing that they lost that fight. They could do more if they there willing to take the risk by bashing and dragging Kacchan out this body while restraining him… a Combination of teamwork and distraction could have solved the situation, but they think too small… to self-centered and only with their Quirk leading to this unfavorable Situation.
Kacchan´s eyes wander Backwards as he finally loses his consciousness, the eyes of the Villain widen as he notices the decreasing Resistance, the Heroes stare at the Scene grinding their teeth’s, Izuku smiles as he recognizes this moment and then… something Zinged from the Crowd exactly between the eyes of the Villain grazing the Victim´s Hair. The crowd holds their breath trying to understand what is happening. The Heroes stare at the villain too surprised to even act and the Villain…
The Villain gasps out of surprise as something hit him in the Face, the Shockwave from the impact obscure his Vision. The Villain still shocked from what hit him stands were still.
He recovers from his shock, smiles again as he starts to taunt the Heroes again only to stop mid-sentence, staying still for another moment before he starts to fall over, losing his Form and hold of the Hostage.
The Heroes realize that this is their chance and approach him as fast as possible.
The Slime glides down to the ground forming a Puddle with two Eyeballs, his Teeth, the Hostage and one Bolt. The Heroes secure Kacchan and the villain, but that doesn´t concern Izuku anymore as a small Hand leads him away from the scene. He Follows, too dazed from the moment to realize that he was led away.