Chapter Text
If you asked anyone what they thought of Izuku Midoriya, the responses would vary from indifference, pity and utter disgust. Izuku was considered a trouble-maker by all of the adults in his life- who could blame them, really? A quirkless freak who wanted to be a hero, even though he constantly found himself in fights, distracted his fellow students with insessent muttering and stalker behavior. The only reason the boy didn’t have a criminal record was through the ‘grace’ of the one who was once his best friend- Katsuki Bakugou. Unlike Izuku, he had all the markings of the next top hero- a powerful quirk, the intelligence to match and a tenacity to reach his goal. To anyone else, Bakugou seemed to be the only thing standing between Midoriya and a life doomed to crime and jails- his fierce grin and explosive quirk deemed as enough to keep the boy in line.
And yet, Izuku still longed to be a hero. He wanted to reach out to those in need and keep them safe- safer than he’d felt in a long, long time… he hadn’t felt safe since his father left his mother and him- saying he had a business trip to never return.. Never to save Izuku from his mother’s scorn and anger. She had a life of her own without Izuku in it.. One where she never had a son who never developed a quirk.. He had tried for years to get his loving mother back, tried to get her to care for him again, but nothing he did worked. He knew the only way forward now was to prove them all wrong: to be a hero despite all odds. He’d been trying to train himself, even though most dojos and other gyms wouldn’t let him in.. they knew he was quirkless, and they wouldn’t give him the time of day, making him resort to more… unconventional methods. The beach of trash was perfect for him, really- he helped the community, he got strength and stamina training, a place to go that wasn’t an empty apartment and best of all, no one could try to arrest him for using a quirk he didn’t have. His progress was slow, but it had started to show as he lost his baby fat and his body began to define itself. It wasn’t much, but it was all Izuku had.
It was looking up, even if it was a minuscule amount, for him- even the teacher blatantly ignoring the ‘anonymity’ agreement of the future planning meetings to point out he wanted to get into U.A to everyone else in the class. They laughed at him like normal, and class let out.. It was then he was cornered by Bakugou. It didn’t even phase him as the blonde mouthed off some threats as he used his quirk against Izuku’s shoulder, the searing pain sinking into his skin as the boy’s lackeys laughed. Izuku stood and took it, knowing he had to. Knowing if he lashed out now, he could kiss any hope of U.A goodbye. When he finally looked up from where he stood, he saw Bakugou glaring at him, a cruel smile on his face as he had one last thing to say to him.
“You really want to be a hero, Deku? Start by taking a swan dive off the roof.. Maybe you’ll get a fucking quirk in the next life!”
Izuku wondered distantly where his friend had gone- the one he’d gone bug hunting with as kids.. Because before him he didn’t see that. He just saw some blonde-haired asshole who just told him to kill himself. Izuku stared in silence for what felt like an eternity at the door Bakugou had slammed shut before his body started to move, his eyes fixed to the ground as he moved on autopilot. He’d take the underpass to avoid being seen on his way to the beach- he needed to take his mind off of things by training.. At least he learned to not bring his analysis journals with him a few years ago.. He probably would have lost one in that encounter.. With a sigh he trudged along, trying to ignore the numbness that was setting into his shoulder. He’d need to use burn cream once he got back to the apartment.
Izuku was halfway through the underpass when he felt it- rumbling under his feet. He looked up, his body tensing as he sensed some kind of danger approaching- he thought it would come from in front or behind him.. But instead the sewer grate beneath him sprung upwards, some kind of sludge following it quickly- moving far too fast for Izuku to run or fight. It wrapped around his body and covered his mouth and nose, a raspy chucking coming from the slide- a villain Izuku’s mind supplied.
“A nice medium skin-suit to hide in.. don’t worry kid- it’ll be over soon.. I just need a nice place to hide..”
Izuku couldn’t even call for help- it wasn’t like anyone would come to save him.. No one cared for him; one look at those red shoes and they’d let the Villain win.. They’d pretend to not hear anything and leave him alone.. And he wouldn’t blame them. He knew what people were like- so even as he tried to struggle as this sludge practically engulfed him- the dull throbbing pain of his shoulder paling in comparison to the suffocation he felt now. His vision was growing dark, the pain taking everything from him- his will, his ability to breathe… everything was growing into a constant buzz of pain as his vision swam and his heart was starting to slow. There wasn’t much time left, he could tell. It was almost laughable to Izuku- someone no one cared about destined to die alone in an underpass, suffocated to death by a sludge villain who came from the sewers.. It was a cruel Irony, really. The last thing Izuku knew before darkness took him was a distant, booming voice that was faintly familiar, and a strong hand grabbing him.
Izuku didn’t know what he thought the afterlife would be like, maybe burning pits of fire, sulfur and torture... Or white pearly gates with streets of gold... Those were what he’d always been told or envisioned. So when he opened his eyes he was surprised to find himself in a spacious room, the sound of a radio playing softly as he opened his eyes. The pain he expected wasn’t there, but he didn’t feel perfectly fine either... It was like he was moving under an immense amount of pressure. He’d been laying on a couch- a deep red and soft. The room was well furnished, the upholstery red and the wood stained black. Whatever windows were present were covered by curtains, the lights around the room soft and humming gently... It was almost like Izuku was taken back to some pre-quirk era room... And he felt like he wasn’t alone. Moments passed before a voice, one which Izuku had never heard before, spoke with a cheerful and bright tone. For a moment he thought it was coming through the radio before he turned, seeing the figure entering the room with a tray of what looked to be sandwiches and... Coffee...?
“Ah, good day my young friend! I hoped you would wake up soon- that little spectacle was quite balled up!”
Izuku stared blankly, trying to understand what he was hearing and seeing. The man stood far taller than him, probably nearing 7 feet in height. His skin was pale, almost beige, really- and everything else seemed... Out of place. He didn’t know if those red and black tufts were hair or ears- the smile was big and didn’t seem to falter. He had antlers poking out between locks of hair, or was it fur? And his eyes... They weren’t human.
He wasn't human.
It disturbed Izuku it was unsettling and off-putting and the more Izuku started, the less sense it made, a distant sound like dead-air through a radio ringing in his ears before the figure spoke again, putting the tray down.
“Did your mother ever tell you it was rude to stare, young man?”
“That implies she cares enough to talk to me.”
Izuku’s mouth moved on its own, his voice speaking before his mind could process. His words blunt even to his surprise, like he lost the filter his mind usually provided to avoid problems- to avoid being hurt by others. He wondered if this... Person... Would kill him or get angry... But to his surprise the man just laughed, his own laugh accompanied by what sounded like an old laugh track...
“Ah, you’ve got moxie! I like that about you, young man! In fact, that moxie is exactly why we’re here! I’ve got quite the offer for you! A deal, if you will! You see, my little friend, the world has but one simple, unspoken rule! Men are not created equal! And you... Oh you have been made to be at the bottom of the barrel! The rotten apple! The runt of the litter! The stepping stone for the greatness of others!”
“Gee, thanks for the reminder.”
The man (deer- thing?) laughed again, the smile never faltering as he continued on, pacing back and forth in the parlor room as he spoke.
“See, that! That is what i like to see! The moxie- the stubbornness! The utter will to thrive when the world wants to crush you under foot- struggling to succeed when everything and everyone pushes you down further into the darkest pits of failure! But here’s what I’m offering; you were made to fail... But I can make you succeed... Give you, say, a share of my own power! As kids these days say- a quirk. With my help, you can easily rise through the ranks and be the hero you desire to be!”
Izuku’s head snapped towards the demon, his eyes wide. Did he just say he could give him... A quirk...? But how? Why? He couldn’t feel his heartbeat anymore, but that weight that held him down seemed to lessen for a moment as he looked at the grinning person before him.
“What... but how... Why..? What’s the catch? There’s strings attached, isn’t there? Who even are you?”
The deer-like man grinned- his smile getting even wider if it was possible. He stared Izuku down before he spoke, amusement evident as he spoke. Oh how he loved it when his prey knew there was a catch and they were being manipulated... It made it so much more entertaining!
“Ahaha! Oh I do love it when I find a smart one! You’re quite correct- there is a catch! Two catches, really! Two rather small things, really! The first is simple- I’m bored! Dull- uninspired! I’ve found a side project to work on that has helped... But I'm so terribly unmotivated. You, dear boy, will be my new personal project!”
Izuku narrowed his eyes at that, staring as they continued on.
“And the other catch is, well..” the entity laughed again, his eyes glowing somewhat as he spoke. “ I get your assistance .. There is quite a matter, you see, that I find intriguing! In fact, this matter is quite fitting for a hero-hopeful! There is a man walking the earth who is long overdue for a date with death- the Symbol of Evil as your world calls him! I will give my power and aid to you, and in turn you will help me collect his soul! He has quite the high price placed upon it. ”
Izuku stared blankly at them, his jaw slightly agape… he wanted Izuku.. To kill someone? Why would he kill someone- what if they weren’t as bad as this guy made them seem? What if that was just a lie to get him to agree...
“And… if i say no? What happens then?”
Again the entity laughed, the room growing darker for just a moment as he spoke, almost giddy with his next sentence.
“Then you’ll die!”
Izuku stared in shock, his eyes widening as the entity continued.
“You see young man, you are in my personal Purgatory! Your little soul snatched up in the moments between life and death! Your soul is here, in a domain of my own design. While your body... It remains on earth, hooked into so many of those noisy machines. Your heart still beats because I wanted to give you a deal! Without my deal- without my power- your heart will stop and you will pass on. Sure, your worn down little soul will reach those pearly gates, but you will never be a hero. You will have died as you lived, an anecdote in another’s broadcast... And you’re far too tenacious for that end. What’s one little, evil life in the face of a lifetime of good to come? How many lives could you save with my help? How many beatings would you stop? And all you need to do...”
The man stood tall- somehow growing taller, his face and body distorting as Izuku felt static around him, warping his perception of reality. As he stared upwards, he knew this wasn’t a man. It wasn’t even an angel... This was different... Izuku could feel the demonic power radiating from him as he spoke, his elongated fingers stretching outwards.
“... I̶̮͝s̸͖̉ ̴͔̓ș̸́h̷̳͘à̵̼k̷͎̍e̸̛̟ ̵͉͠m̸͇̄y̸̞̾ ̴͓́h̵͍̓à̷͓n̶̤͘d̷̘̉”
Izuku stared as fear grew, unsure of what to do. He could refuse- protect his eternal soul and let his time come. That would make everyone he knew happy, they wouldn’t have to deal with him anymore... He wouldn’t waste their space or time... But another part of him felt anger. He was pissed off, he wanted to show them all that he was worth staying around. That he could be a hero. He wasn’t just some second thought... That he could save people too.. And if this symbol of evil was as bad as he seemed… if it was just trading one evil life for dozens, maybe hundreds, of innocent ones... And besides, what more did he have to lose? He had no friends, no family... No one cared about a quirkless nobody...
With a deep breath Izuku forced himself to stand, the pressure still dragging him down as he forced himself upwards. The weight was heavy as he looked at the demon before him- Because that's what this was, a deal with a devil, he knew that... And he took their hand, grasping tightly, practically using it to hold himself up.
“I... I accept... Now who the fuck are you?”
The demon laughed, that track of other voices laughing with him as his hand, now almost like a claw, dug into Izuku’s hand, pulling the warmth from him, tying them together. His eyes were like red old fashion radio dials now as he spoke.
“I’m Alastor, the Radio Demon! And you , my friend, won’t regret this... Now Smile my dear boy! You’re never fully dressed without one! Come, eat and regain yourself! My power will take some time to set in... and that poor body of yours simply must adjust to the changes! Not to worry, not to worry! Your dear friend Alastor will keep you company! This will be very entertaining!”
[Back on earth]
Toshinori Yagi looked down at the pale, frail body he’d pulled from the villain. He’d subdued them quickly and put them in a temporary container as fast as possible, but it didn’t make the sight before him any less gut wrenching. He didn’t know- he couldn’t have known that someone would be here... He didn’t think the villain would attack a child of all things... And even as he patted the boy’s back, getting the sludge out of his lungs as fast as he could.. The boy didn’t move, didn’t stir. He knew there was little time... Ha grabbed the boy and the bottled villain, running to a nearby hero. He ignored their surprise and handed off the villain, briefly stating they’d attacked the boy. He’d get more details to them later... He jumped with the boy in his hold, rushing towards a hospital... It was the closest one he could see, and he ran into the Emergency section- attention instantly on him as he spoke, trying to keep his image from falling.
“I AM HERE…With a boy who needs a doctor!”
Being the number one heroes had advantages with things like this- nurses coming towards him and ushering him to the back to place the boy on a gurney, working rather quickly... Though they seemed to slow when they glanced downwards, to the boy’s feet... His shoes. All Might didn’t quite follow as the nurses whispered to one another, an elderly nurse coming to him with a smile as they practically abandoned the boy on the gurney to do other things.
“All Might, we thank you very much for doing your duty... Unfortunately, we don’t have the proper equipment for... This boy... Whatever he may have told you i fear is a lie- he’s quite clearly strung out on something. We are a family hospital, and we cannot take such a case... We’ll discharge him soon after contacting pol-”
Toshinori knew he scared the woman as she stared up at him, her eyes wide with fear as the man- the hero- wasn’t smiling anymore. He stared her down, his voice still contained as he spoke.
“I was told nothing by the boy. I saved him from a villain. Why will you not help someone who needs it?”
The woman sputtered, her eyes wide. She’d never even heard of the hero dropping his smile... It was terrifying, actually...
“W-Well i, he... We… H-He’s a known trouble maker, sir! He.. you.. I-it’s policy sir! We... we don’t take on... His kind.”
The hero stared her down intently, many more nurses and doctors catching his ire as they tried to avoid his gaze, the man looking to see the shoes… Those damned red shoes he once had to wear himself.
“Then i will bear the brunt of the punishment for breaking that ‘policy’. Allow me to clarify, ma’am. You and your staff will help this boy. You will treat him fairly or i will arrest all of you for child abuse and medical neglect. Is. that. Clear?”
“B-But his quirk...-”
“DOESN’T MATTER!”
The hero roared with his anger, his blue eyes flaring with a rage most only saw directed towards villains, if ever.
“It does not matter his quirk! It does not matter his past, whatever it may be! He is a boy, a child, and he needs medical assistance! He is DYING and you think that is okay?! You should be ashamed of yourselves! I am! Now keep the boy from dying and you might keep your medical license. That is an ORDER from a fully licensed hero, do you understand?!”
The room was quiet- save for monitors and whispers from the waiting room.. Finally the nurse spoke, her voice barely above a whisper as she nodded slightly.
“Y-Yes sir, A-All Might...”
The hero watched with an intensity none in the public had seen before, ensuring they didn’t harm the boy more... Soon he was hooked up to machines, his ragged breathing from before now more steady with the aid of machines.. He sat in the boy’s room, his eyes locked to the boy who was growing more and more stable with the passing hours… He’d have to leave soon, preserve his time before coming back in his civilian form... He sighed as he heard a knock at the door, his eyes darting over to see a familiar face.
“You’ve made a bit of a stir, I see.”
The detective looked tired, but like he understood. The hero looked tired and, having known him for some time, upset. The hero looked to the man before he spoke, his voice much quieter now.
“They were trying to turn him away. He was dying in my arms and they wanted to send the boy away because... Because...”
“Because of his quirk status... I saw the shoes. What do you want to do next?”
The detective was a smart man, he knew once Toshinori got invested emotionally it was hard to get him away from something... And a case like this, nearly turned away and dying for their quirk... It hit the hero too close to home for the man to not get invested.
“I’ll make a public exit of the hospital- return to the scene to grab whatever the boy had with him to return to him.. I will return as a civilian... And from there, i will keep visiting to ensure the boy is treated fairly.. If i had only been a little faster..”
The hero felt a hand on his massive shoulder, looking up to see the detective as he offered a look of reassurance.
“It’s not your fault and you know it, Toshinori.. You got him out of the situation and you got him somewhere you thought was safe. You did everything right... Now its time for me to help. Go, show everyone you’re leaving and I’ll stay with the kid. I can do my paperwork in here and keep an eye on things.”
“But what if they try to throw him to the streets while i am gone? Or if you need to step out for a moment?”
The detective smiled slightly as he moved to sit in the seat next to the hero.
“That is why I’m here. I’ll work on this case, keep an eye on him and see if i cant contact a parent or second guardian… I’ll call for some back-up to babysit if I need to go anywhere... Now go, do what you need to.. The kid will be okay.”
The hero looked nervous, but relented, standing slowly, looking down at the boy who was so, so close to death.. He didn’t know anything of his past, but it didn’t matter... He still remembered the pain of being quirkless- it was a hard life to live.. As he stared, he could have sworn he noticed something shift.. A bit of dark red electricity... He frowned as he looked to the detective, the other man noticing the shift too.. The machines near the boy seemed to falter for a moment- the lights pulsing slightly as well… but the boy took another, deeper breath soon after- not awake, but definitely stronger than before.
“Was that..?”
The hero looked at the detective, his eyes wide.. The detective looked concerned as he stepped closer, taking his phone out to test a growing idea- his screen glitching and filling with static like an old video would when it was pointed to the boy.. His frown deepened and he looked to the hero.
“If he was quirkless before... I don’t think he’s quirkless now.”
“But that means... This boy...”
“Yep... Early signs of force manifestation… That turns all of this into a far more complicated issue.. Go, Toshinori, I’ll handle this. As soon as he’s stable enough I’ll make calls and get him into a place that's far more equipped and accommodating to anyone .”
He made sure to emphasize the last word as he noticed shadows approaching, his eyes narrowing as the hero stood, his face grim before he turned to open the door, a dead stare present as he opened the door to a nurse and someone who clearly was damage control.
“Ah, Mr. All Might! I’m so glad i caught you- i heard about the little misunderstanding and i would like to sincerely apol-”
“Don’t.”
The hero cut the man off, his tone even and controlled as he looked down at them.
“There was no misunderstanding. No mistake. And no forced apology will take the damage done back. Detective Tsukauchi will be handling this case and remaining with the boy to ensure no more harm will come to him in his time here. When he is stable enough, he will be moved to an establishment that does not turn away children. I have work to do, so pardon my exit.”
The hero didn’t wait for anything more, ducking past them and walking out the front door, taking a moment to collect himself before he turned and left, going back to that underpass he found the boy at, letting his form fall once he was out of sight… he just hoped, once the boy awoke, he could find it in him to forgive the old hero for being too slow... And part of him hoped the child had at least one caring parent to come for him... If not... He wasn’t certain what he would do or think... He hoped there was at least one person in the boy’s corner, He would need it.