Chapter Text
Rejection.
Truth.
Hurt.
These were the only words that echoed through Izuku’s head as he stared at the wall of a man in front of him.
He could feel the wetness on his cheeks and hear the drops of his pain quietly smacking against the buildings’ roof, as the last embers of his dream flickered away.
“No, I don’t think a quirkless person can be a hero. I’m sorry”
It echoed throughout Izuku’s head and deafened the world around him. It was like a canon, firing in his ears. But he knew that it was the truth.
Then why did it hurt so much to hear?
His teachers, his classmates, his ‘friend', hell even his mother couldn’t tell Izuku that he could be a hero, but he still tried. Even though everything and everyone pointed and said no, he still tried. It is was Izukus' dream.
But when those words left his mouth, that one sentence, it tore apart that conviction in an instant. Those hopes and dreams seemed so far away now, a flickering candle, only a few inches of wicker left, occupying the empty expanse that was his soul.
“But why?” The words left his mouth before he could even process them. Normally he'd panic, who was he to question? What gave him a reason to question what all of society believed?
Though in that moment…he was angry! He wanted to know why!? Why was this being taken away by his HERO? His very inspiration for wanting to help others with a smile that could light up the darkest corners of the world.
‘WHY? Please; help me to understand'
“Can a quirkless person become a hero!?”
Toshinori stood there like a deer in headlights, his mind running a mile a minute.
Can a quirkless person become a hero?
It was a question to himself, more than anything else at that moment. He knew the pain, the loneliness, and the hopelessness of being powerless. He knew the young man’s desire to want to be something more, to help others.
Just not to the extent he should have.
His hidden pain itched in that moment, his darkest secret. That one sensation brought through a cascade of memories. Loneliness, being ostracised by those around, the burning desire to be a symbol regardless of what the world was doing to him. Warmth and joy, a tall dark-haired women giving him the chance to attain his dream.
Then pain again.
Losing his mentor, the one person who believed in him above all others. Watching that MONSTER, rip her away. Rage, fury, a desire for vengeance… and then the phantom feeling of blood on his hand as the mush of a head lay in front him. The emptiness and guilt he felt consume him in that moment. The burning pain from his mangled left side.
In that moment, the fear, of one day turning on the news and seeing those big, sad, green eyes looking at him as the announcer explained his death to the world while he tried to save someone.
I’m so sorry.
"No, I don’t think a quirkless person can be a hero. I’m sorry" The words spilled out of his mouth and the pain and regret he felt in that moment… well not even All For Ones death instilled such a feeling in him. But he couldn’t get the idea of seeing his bloodied corpse out of his head, and so he committed. He committed to one of his biggest mistakes and tried to justify it as he asked, begged him to explain why he was crushing his dreams.
I'm so sorry.
Izuku stared at the mountain of a man as the front of his shirt began to soak, begging for an answer. After what felt like an eternity, he gave a hesitant sigh and began to lift the sleeve on his left arm. “What are you…”
Before he could finish he noticed the small seem that travelled the circumference of his upper bicep, connecting in an almost invisible line. He placed his thumb and fore-finger under his arm and near his shoulder and a mechanical beep echoed across the near empty roof.
His eyes only began to widen and mouth droop open more as his hero, the invincible man, All Might; removed what was his arm! The questions hit him like a train, the only reason he wasn’t a mess of muttering was due to the sheer shock of the situation mixed with his still shattered emotions.
“I received this injury five years ago” he solemnly stated.
Toxic chainsaw?
“Most of the public has never heard of this battle" he continued with an every saddening expression.
Not toxic chainsaw, but a still a villain that could do… THAT!
“So you must understand, if there is a…man that could do this to me, I’m scared to think of what could happen to a quirkless person who has no means of fighting back.” And the truth of it nearly caused him to choke on air right then and there.
“Ok" Were the only words that left Izuku’s mouth as the last remnant of fire died out.
“It's good to have dreams young man, just make sure they are realistic. You could always become a police officer. They get a bad rep due to heroes tackling the tougher villains directly but it’s still an honourable profession. Maybe a paramedic, doctor or firefighter, there are plenty of worth while ways to help people that are safer than hero work. Think about it.” And with that the number one hero attached his prosthetic and jumped away with a whoosh of wind.
“Ok" Izuku repeated without thinking as he disappeared into a dot on the horizon.
Then the flood gates opened.
He crumpled to floor hugging his legs as he bawled his eyes out. Every word, every comment, every insult and threat going through his mind on repeat.
‘Quirkless'
‘Loser'
‘Deku'
‘I’m so sorry'
‘You'll never be anything'
‘Give up before you get yourself killed, Deku'
‘No, I don’t think a quirkless person can become a hero, I’m sorry'
It smashed into him like a tidal wave and the world around Izuku darkened. He didn’t even realise he had traversed down the stairs of the building, or the questioning of the receptionist on how he got there. He only saw the faces of everyone who said otherwise to his dream. Everyone that said no to him. Everyone who told him he was weak and worthless.
And then he heard a groan. Not the tired or annoyed kind he was so used to, but the one of someone in pain. The metallic stench of blood hit his nose and before Izuku could process what was happening, he was shooting down the alley next to the building where his dreams were crushed.
The trash bags and bins lined the walls as he searched for the person in need. He reached halfway down the wide alley when Izuku saw him. Slumped next to a dumpster that had a streak of blood from where he must have fallen against it.
His mind went into overdrive as he assessed the man in front of him. Beanie, long sleeve hoodie with a denim jacket over it, buttons lining the side and something around his wrist. Is that a chain? Questions for later Izuku decided, currently there was a chunk of his left side missing that was scary enough to make Izuku lean over the dumpster and empty what remained of his lunch.
“That bad?” His voice sounded hoarse, yet still filled with sarcasm and an American accent oozing through.
“I’m sorry, I’m just not use to seeing some like…that"
“First time seeing someone missing a chunk of their body huh?” he asked with whatever humour he could muster while pain wracked his body.
“S-second time today actually, but I need to c-call the police and ambulance j-j-just stay still.” Izuku replied fishing his phone out of his bag and hoping that the sludge villain didn’t destroy it. Thankfully the screen flashed on and Izuku began to type in the emergency number.
“Don't!” he shouted with the most serious tone he'd ever heard, next to Izukus' mother. Izuku turned his head back to him and saw the steely gaze he was giving him, leaving no room for argument. To bad he was stubborn when people needed saving.
“W-Why!? You’re going to d-die if I don’t get help?!” he exclaimed, was he trying to kill himself?
“The ‘Man' and I aren't exactly on great terms, besides I usually heal from this kinda stuff.” A small, strained smile on his face.
Does he have a healing quirk? What’s the limit? It must be high if he is this confident in it? Wait… is he a villain?!
“S-sir, a-a-are you a v-v-v-villain?” Slowly taking steps back as sweat began to form on his forehead.
“No, though my chain and fists are rather acquainted with a couple of their faces” he stated with a painful chuckle and then proceedingly coughed up a small portion of blood, “Damn that smarts.”
“Wait, so you’re a v-vigilante?” Izuku asked cautiously, the state he was in briefly slipping his mind in response to the possible implications of his wounds and words. His response was lifting his right arm as best he could and letting the whisper of smoke dance around his knuckles and wrist.
“YOU'RE THE SMOKER!" the revelation of his quirk and profession sparking his vigilante knowledge. “You’re part of the vigilante group, The Conduits. You took down that First Sons group 3 years ago!” he spewed before he had time to think.
He groaned louder than he should, with a look of disappointment written on his face, “I hate that name, everyone else got to choose their codenames but me, nope, I get 'The Smoker', stupid reporter had to be snooping around in the dead of night. Listen kid just call me Delsin." he said with parts disdain and other parts sarcasm before coughing up blood again.
This snapped Izuki out of his stupor, “I’m Izuku Midoriya, and p-please let me help, I d-don’t want to watch you d-d-die when I can do something" he pleaded.
“Listen, give a minute and I’ll be fine, I usually walk away with just a stiff body.” More blood proceeded to spill from the wound and his skin was getting visibly paler, “Ok, maybe this wound is bigger than what I normally deal with.” He replied with and edge of worry creeping in to his speech.
“There m-must be s-someone you can trust that I-I can phone…please l-l-let me help" Izuku said with whatever conviction he still had left, his eyes burning with a desire to do something for the bleeding man. “Stupid puppy dog eyes.” Delsin grumbled under his breath before meeting Izukus green orbs.
“Phone the police station,*cough* …and ask for Detective Tsukauchi. Tell him Delsin Rowe is looking for him.” He yacked out as more blood continued to flow in the now red pool that was soaking his pants and the alley floor. Izuku dialled the number back into his phone, waiting for an answer.
“This is the Musutafu police department, how may I assist you?” Came the smooth voice of the operator. Izuki could immediately feel his nerves settle and his mind was clearer. Is that the operators quirk? No someone needs my help, another time.
“Yes my name is I-Izuku Midoriya, I’m looking for a Detective Tsukauchi. Um, can you tell him Delsin is looking for him please?” he spilled out, his stutter only coming out for a small second. Izuku looked over to the injured Delsin, despite looking even paler he managed a thumbs up in reassurance.
After a ‘hold please’ and audible click, another voice came through, though noticeably more annoyed, “Delsin this better be not be another smoked apartment complex or I swear…” he never got to finish before Izuku rushed out the situation.
“This is I-Izuku M-M-Midoriya, Delsin is h-hurt and needs help!” the line was silent for a second before the reply came through.
“Ok Midoriya, stay calm, tell me how bad it is and where you are.” Tsukauchi replied as calmly as possible, trying not to let the worry come through. Izuku rattled off Delsin’s condition and their location before Tsukauchi told them to sit tight and that paramedics where on their way, before ending the call.
Izuku turned to Delsin who had a… irritated face? Showing amongst all the pain. “D-d-d-did I-I do s-something wrong?” his nervous stutter coming back full force. Delsin glared at him for an extra second before responding, “You didnt wait to make sure it was actually him before rattling of what was happening, *cough* for all you know it could have been, *cough* someone else!” he hacked out between bursts of pain and blood. His vision was already getting dark.
Kid doesn’t need to know that though, he thought to himself, then again this really wasn’t how he expected to die. In a back alley, half his stomach missing and a teenager doing everything in his ability to help a complete stranger, and known vigilante. Fetch is gonna kill me.
Izuku squeaked a list of apologies, faster than Delsin could keep track of, faster than anyone could keep track of really. For someone who is going this far for a vigilante and stranger, he sure is jumpy.
“It's, *cough* fine kid. What’s done, *cough* is done. Besides after all you’re doing for me, cant exactly be mad at my hero.” What Delsin expected was a nervous laugh or embarrassment, what he didn’t expect was the silent stream of tears that formed as he finished that sentence. Yeah, that’s not good.
“What’s wrong? *cough*” he asked with a very clear concern in his eyes despite the pain shooting through his body.
“…Hero?” Izuku was frozen by that one word. The entire days events came crashing down into that one exact word. “I'm you’re hero?” he asked hesitantly, making sure that he misheard him. He wasn’t a hero, he was just a quirkless nobody. All Might himself even said he couldn’t be a hero.
“Yeah kid, you’re helping me out here as best you can. Even though you, *cough* didn’t have to. That’s a hero, *cough* someone who helps other regardless of fame or glory. *cough* They do it cause its the right thing to do" He managed to get out, the only reason he was still talking was cause his regeneration was prolonging the inevitable.
“…Do you mean it?” Everything else around Izuku was invisible compared to the bleeding man in front of hims' words. The tears that streamed down his face and mixed with the blood, turning it into a watery mess of red, didn’t even seem to register. "Can I still be a hero?"
“Yeah kid, *cough* you’re a hero. Now can you quit making me say it, *cough* kinda dying over here.” Delsin replied with even more worry behind his eyes.
“R-right! Sorry, I-I’m s-so sorry!” he rushed out dumping his bag, ripping off his jacket and holding it over the Delsin’s considerable wound, channelling whatever idea of first aid he had from watching heroes on TV.
Silence passed for what felt like hours before Delsin asked the question that had been knawing at his side since the kid started crying, God Zeke would bust a gut if he heard that pun. “Kid, *cough* you know anyone can be, *cough* a hero right? All you need to do, *cough* is help someone.”
Then the root of why the kid was balling minutes ago came out. “But I-I’m q-q-q-quirkless.”
Fuck. Society. It's like no one remembers quirks didn’t exist at one point. Well you wanted to help people Delsin, this is how you do it. Make that last moment count.
“You don’t need a quirk to be a hero." He hacked out another clump of blood, resting a hand on the kids head, his last embers whipping around his fingers - twirling around the strands of green. "You already are.”
“…you already are.” And like that every stigma and doubt was pushed aside. Izuku could be a hero. He already was one to Delsin, he really wished he could cry but Delsin needed him. Still. If Delsin believed in him…then, yeah he could do it, Izuku Midoriya could still be a hero. He will be a hero!
The embers of his conviction roaring into a blazing furnace. He was going to save Delsin and he was going to be a hero.
And then Delsin’s hand went limp... and his body was engulfed in an explosion of black.