Chapter Text
Izuku sighed as he sat up in his fairly worn bed, pulling off his ancient bedsheet. He walked to the bathroom and looked himself over. Dark circles painted his under eyes, and his once-bright eyes now shone a dull green. He splashed cold water on his face and breathed.
'Well, here we go again'. He thought to himself as he looked over his face in indifference and mild disgust.
He walked back to his bedroom to start getting ready for school and checked the time. Upon seeing that it was already 8:50 a.m., he groaned. "Great I'm gonna be late."
He hurriedly threw on his uniform, not bothering to check his appearance before he ran downstairs and past his mother who sat at the counter sipping her coffee. she gave him a nasty glare but he was too preocupied to notice as he swung the door open and begain to run to school, the 'great' alderia high, highschool of promising scholars and future heros.
Arriving 20 minutes late he trudged into class and took a seat near the back with his head down on the desk, seated right in front of his best friend-turned sour, Bakugo Katsuki, or as Izuku would like to call him, 'kacchan'.
The students eyed him with dirty glares and pure hatred but the teacher paid no mind, simply not caring enough to acknowledge his lateness as he began teaching the same primary school level slop that was maths.
Izuku buried his head deeper in his arms, thinking he could use this time to get some much-needed shuteye, considering he couldnt sleep most nights, what with his bed being in tatters. But bakugo had other plans as he swung his foot back and harshly kicked izuku's chair, causing him to jolt up in pain as he was thrust into his desk. Izuku sighed and pushed his chair out again, instead pulling out his hero analysis book to attempt to at least analyse some of his classmates' whimpy quirks while he had the time.
Before he knew it, class had ended.
He started to pack away his things, opting to keep his analysis on the desk as he wanted to note some extra things down after he packed away. Reaching down to put away his pens back into his aged yellow backpack he saw a set of feet walk from behind him.
Bakugo was quick to grab his hero analysis book and izuku shot up immediately trying to get it back.
"Kacchan, give me it back!" he panicked, standing on the tips of his toes reaching for it as bakugo held it just out of reach, clearly enjoying izuku's struggle.
"Nah, I think I'll have a read instead" he grinned and opened it to a random page.
On the open page was a detailed drawing of one of his classmates, surrounded by cramped notes that dissected everything about them—their quirk, their habits, personality traits, faults, even allergies and possible weaknesses.
Bakugo's eyes widened, a flicker of shock and mild horror flashing across his face. He'd thought Deku's notebook was just some dumb collection of sketches and trivia about washed-up heroes, not... whatever stalkerish crap this was.
Before he could flip to the next page, Izuku lunged forward, glitching across the room with sudden speed. He tore the notebook from Bakugo's hands, his features tight with frustration before they twisted into wide-eyed shock... then panic.
Without a word, Izuku bolted. He slammed the door so hard behind him that the hinges gave way, the whole thing collapsing in a metallic crash. Dust shuddered up from the impact, leaving Bakugo rooted in place, staring at the wreckage—and left alone with the secret Izuku had just unwillingly revealed.
"What. The. Fuck..." Bakugo whispered, his voice low, shaking with shock, confusion, and something sharper—betrayal. His mind spun.
'Deku had a quirk this whole fucking time?! He lied to me?! What the hell did I just read in that notebook? He just ripped the goddamn door off its hinges! He told me he was quirkless—he fucking lied! Why would he lie?! He's looking down on me!that's it. That's why. Fucking bastard.'
The thoughts came crashing, colliding until his chest felt tight. Mixed feelings swelled inside him, emotions he thought he'd buried years ago rising like a tidal wave. His eyes widened as another thought struck, unbidden and impossible to ignore.
"W-we can be heroes together again..." he muttered before he could stop himself, the words breaking loose like a secret he never meant to share.
But then, just as quick, his face hardened, fury burning the softness away. 'No. Fuck no. He lied. He fucking lied to me.' Bakugo's hands curled into fists, nails biting into his palms. 'Goddammit—I need to find him.'
Bakugo sprinted in the direction Izuku had bolted, his chest a storm of emotions—rage and betrayal twisting with something rawer, something he refused to name. Desperation, maybe. Or was it hope? He didn't know, didn't care. All he knew was that he had to catch him.
He tore down the hallway, boots pounding against the floor as he sidestepped the splintered remains of the door Izuku had wrecked. His breath came in sharp bursts, heat flaring in his veins as he pushed himself faster, launching down the stairwell two steps at a time.
Bursting out of Aldera High and into the street, his eyes scanned wildly—until there. Just ahead, weaving through the crowd, a flash of messy green hair and the familiar yellow backpack.
"DEKU!" Bakugo roared, his voice cracking with more than just anger as he shoved past pedestrians, his feet hammering against the pavement in pursuit.
"DEKU!! GET THE FUCK BACK HERE, YOU BASTARD!" Bakugo's voice tore through the street as he sprinted, the words burning his throat. His legs pumped harder, chasing, chasing—just like Deku had been chasing after him his whole damn life.
He rounded the corner at full speed—only to skid to a halt. Gone. The street was crowded, but there was no flash of green hair, no yellow backpack. Izuku was gone.
"FUCK!" Bakugo bellowed, shoving a hand through his hair in fury. His chest heaved, frustration clawing at him as his eyes swept the area again and again, refusing to accept it. But there was nothing. Deku had slipped away.
Grinding his teeth, he finally turned back, fists shoved deep into his pockets. 'Deku's not fucking worth it. The lying bastard.'
The thought was bitter, hollow. He knew it wasn't true, knew he was being an idiot—but he clung to it anyway, because the alternative hurt too much.
With that lie weighing heavier than his steps, Bakugo started the long walk home.
____
Meanwhile, Izuku ran blindly, his breaths ragged and uneven, his only thought to put as much distance between himself and Bakugo as possible. His legs carried him without aim, his eyes barely registering the blur of streets and buildings flashing past.
Then—a sharp clang! A nearby manhole cover shot into the air, spinning like a coin tossed skyward before slamming back down. From the darkness below, a foul, bubbling sludge spilled upward, shifting and writhing with an unnatural gleam.
Izuku barely had a second to look up before the heavy cover struck him square in the face. Pain flared white-hot, then nothing—his body crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
"Well, well~ what do we have here?" a slick, gurgling voice cooed. The sludge writhed closer, tendrils curling like greedy fingers. "A perfect little meatsuit... just begging to be filled. Don't mind if I do~."
The ooze slithered over Izuku's limp frame, wrapping him up with chilling ease. He didn't stir—leaving him helpless, an easy prize for the monster's taking.
The sludge seeped into Izuku's body with greedy delight, filling every corner it could find. It reveled in the ease of the takeover, chuckling as its host didn't even twitch in resistance. Bliss—it was pure bliss.
But the ecstasy was short-lived. From the same manhole, a thunderous crash erupted as a towering figure burst forth. Dust scattered, the ground trembling under the impact. The Symbol of Peace himself landed in a flawless, comic-book pose, his smile gleaming like sunlight through a storm.
"I AM HERE!" All Might boomed, his voice shaking the air with power and certainty.
The sludge's grin faltered—yet before All Might could even move, something stirred.
Izuku's limp body convulsed violently, his form glitching in and out of focus like a broken signal. Jagged bursts of energy flickered around him, tearing through the ooze from the inside. The sludge shrieked as its body split into dozens of dripping fragments, splattering against the pavement in minuscule chunks of foul-smelling slop.
Still unconscious, Izuku's body twitched one final time before the strange distortion calmed. He wavered unsteadily on his feet, eyes shut, his breathing ragged. Then, like a puppet with its strings cut, he collapsed forward, utterly spent.
All Might's smile faltered, replaced with wide-eyed shock. "Young man..." he whispered, staring at the boy who had, without even knowing it, obliterated the villain in his sleep.
All Might was quick to catch him, cradling the boy's limp body in his arms before lowering to one knee. He laid Izuku gently on the asphalt and began patting his cheek in quick, careful slaps.
"Ahem! Young boy! Wake up!" he urged, his booming voice tinged with urgency. When that didn't work, he grabbed Izuku by the shoulders and shook lightly.
Suddenly, Izuku jolted awake with a sharp gasp. He immediately curled to the side, body convulsing as he retched, spewing up the foul remnants of the sludge. His sleeve dragged across his mouth, his expression tight with disgust—until his gaze lifted.
And then his whole world stopped.
Towering before him, larger than life, was the man he had worshiped since he could remember. Blonde hair gleaming in the sunlight, that unshakable smile carved with confidence—the Number One Hero himself.
"All Might..." Izuku breathed, his jaw slack in pure awe. His hands trembled as if reaching for proof that this was real.
With a soft laugh, All Might leaned down and gently closed the boy's gaping mouth with one finger.
"You saved me! Thank you so much, All Might!" Izuku burst out, his voice cracking with excitement as a radiant grin stretched across his face.
But All Might only scratched at the back of his neck, his smile carrying a curious edge. "No, actually, young man... you saved yourself." His voice was warm, impressed—but layered with something deeper.
Izuku's grin faltered instantly, dread crawling across his features as his stomach dropped. His hands clenched at his knees, heart hammering in his chest. He saw. He saw everything...
"Now, I really must get going. It was nice meeting you, boy!" All Might boomed, puffing his chest proudly as he crouched to leap away.
But Izuku's heart slammed against his ribs. 'No—I can't let him get away. He needs to know that I-I have to tell him!'
Before he could think it through, his hand shot out, grabbing onto All Might's massive leg. Instinct drove him more than reason, his grip tightening as if his life depended on it.
All Might launched into the air with a thunderous burst of wind. The city shrank below them in an instant, the rooftops blurring into streaks of grey and green.
It wasn't until All Might felt the unexpected weight tugging at him that he glanced down—just in time to hear the bloodcurdling scream.
"AAAAHHH!" Izuku howled, flailing wildly as he dangled from All Might's leg like a terrified ragdoll. His backpack slapped against his side with every gust of wind, his knuckles bone-white from clutching so hard.
All Might's eyes nearly bulged out of his head. "YOUNG MAN?! WHAT THE DEVIL ARE YOU DOING DOWN THERE?!"
"I—DIDN'T—THINK—THIS—THROUGH!!!" Izuku wailed, eyes watering as the city rushed far, far below.
All Might neared a rooftop, his trajectory off, and landed in an alley with a jarring crash that cracked the concrete beneath them. Izuku tumbled, but the hero's arm shielded him from the worst of the impact.
"That was very idiotic, boy. You could've gotten killed. What were you thinking?!" All Might scolded, his booming voice edged with real anger. But then he shook his head, turning away. "Never mind. I need to go."
"No!" Izuku scrambled up, stumbling forward. His quirk flared instinctively—glitching, pulsing with raw strength—as his hand latched onto All Might's arm, holding him firmly in place.
"PLEASE! Please wait, All Might! I need you to promise me something!" Izuku's voice cracked, desperate, his eyes wide with pleading.
All Might froze, glancing down in shock. The boy's grip... the power behind it... he couldnt move. It was real, undeniable strength. His own eyes widened.
Before either could speak further, a sharp hiss broke the silence. Steam poured from All Might's body, searing white, swallowing his massive silhouette. Izuku's breath caught, staring through the cloud, his heart pounding in confusion.
As the mist cleared, his idol's towering frame was gone. Standing in its place was a gaunt, skeletal figure, skin stretched thin over bone, his once-proud clothes now hanging loose like rags. He looked like a ghost of the man he had been only moments before.
Izuku's jaw dropped. His knees nearly buckled. "Wh... what...?" he whispered, unable to believe his eyes.
All Might raised a thin hand, lips tugging into a dry, almost bitter smile. "Surprise, young man. This is... the real me."
Izuku's desperation twisted instantly into alarm, his eyes wide with worry. "A-All Might? Are you okay?!" He rushed forward, panic lacing his voice, but All Might held out a frail hand to stop him.
"I'm okay..." he said softly, though his hollow frame and sunken eyes betrayed the lie. For a moment, he tried to hold the facade, but then he exhaled heavily, shoulders sagging as though the weight of his truth was too much to bear.
Lifting the edge of his shirt, he revealed a terrible scar carved deep across the left side of his torso. The wound looked old, but vicious—like it had never healed right. Izuku's breath caught at the sight, his hands trembling at his sides.
"Actually... I'm not. You see this? My body was devastated by a villain's attack five years ago. Ever since then... my strength has been fading. I can only stay in my hero form for a few hours a day—sometimes less."
He tried to continue, but suddenly doubled over with a hacking cough. A spray of blood splattered into his palm. He clenched his jaw and covered his mouth, but couldn't hide it.
"See?" he rasped, showing Izuku his trembling, bloodied hand. "That villain messed me up good."
He gave a hollow laugh, trying to lighten the weight of his words, but it broke halfway into another cough.
Izuku stood frozen, staring at the fragile man who was supposed to be invincible. His heart ached, his idol unraveling before him. "All Might..." he whispered, voice trembling, unsure whether to cry, apologize, or scream.
Izuku sank to his knees, leveling himself with the frail man before him. His eyes darted over All Might's skeletal frame, filled with worry and sympathy, but then hardened into a glare of fierce determination.
"I don't condone blackmail..." he began, voice trembling but steadying with each word, "but this is important to me. I won't tell a soul about what you've just shown me—as long as you don't tell anyone about my quirk. No one can know. If they find out, the government will be after me, wanting to use me. Can you promise me, All Might?"
His words were raw, his emerald eyes locked fiercely onto the man he idolized. Deep down, Izuku knew he'd never betray All Might's secret, no matter the answer—but still, he needed to hear it.
All Might's features tightened, the faintest shadow crossing his gaunt face. He studied Izuku for a long, quiet moment before sighing. "I won't tell a soul. I wasn't going to regardless."
He lifted his bony hand, thin and frail compared to the mountain of muscle it once was. "A secret for a secret?"
Izuku's heart pounded as he grasped it, shaking firmly. But as soon as their hands parted, his determined glare cracked, and he bowed deeply, words tumbling out in a rush. "I-I'm sorry! I never meant to threaten you, All Might! I would never tell anyone your secret, no matter what you said—I swear it!"
For the first time since transforming, All Might smiled warmly, his tired eyes soft. "You're too innocent for this world, young man," he said gently, the words both fond and heavy.
Once he'd steadied his breath and gathered enough strength, All Might reached for Izuku's battered notebook. With a flourish, he signed his name across a page, the bold letters practically glowing to Izuku's eyes.
"Keep chasing your dream," All Might told him, straightening with effort.
Izuku clutched the notebook to his chest, bowing his head to hide the tears stinging his eyes. "Thank you... All Might."
And with that, they parted ways—All Might leaping off into the distance, and Izuku heading home, their shared secrets binding them closer than either could have imagined.
___
Bakugo stormed down the streets, his fists shoved so deep in his pockets his knuckles hurt. His thoughts churned like wildfire, crackling with anger and something he couldn't shake.
'Fucking Deku. Lied to me all these years. All that time he said he was quirkless, all that time he let me think he was weak, beneath me. And now? Now he's got power enough to smash doors off their hinges like it's nothing. What the hell else has he been hiding?'
His jaw clenched so tight it ached. He wanted to hate him, to write him off as the lying bastard he kept telling himself he was. But under the rage, there was something else, gnawing at him. A flicker of hope he didn't want. 'If he's got power... then maybe... maybe we... He shook his head violently. No. Fuck that. He doesn't get to just waltz back into my life and be my friend after lying to my face.'
He kicked a loose can down the alley, the clatter echoing against the walls. That's when he heard it—a wet, gurgling sound, followed by a sudden crash.
Bakugo turned sharply, and his eyes widened. From a sewer grate, a sickly green sludge surged upward, forming into the writhing mass of a villain he'd never seen before.
"The hell—?" he started, but before he could react, the ooze lunged. In seconds, tendrils wrapped around his arms and legs, slamming him to the ground as the sludge forced its way toward his mouth. Bakugo thrashed, sparks flying from his palms, but the villain's grip only tightened, suffocating him.
⸻
Meanwhile, blocks away, Izuku was trudging home, notebook hugged to his chest, All Might's signature still fresh and burning in his mind. His steps were lighter than they had been in years, his heart hammering with both hope and fear.
But then—
BOOM!
A muffled explosion rattled the street behind him. Shouts rose in the distance, followed by a woman's scream. Izuku froze, his blood running cold. That sound... he knew it. Sparks, fury, chaos.
His stomach dropped. Kacchan.
He broke out in a sprint, his lungs burning but his legs refusing to slow. Each pounding step echoed his frantic thoughts. Please don't let it be him, please...
Izuku swung around the corner only to see-