Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

After the fateful battle at Kamino’s Ward, Izuku watched alongside his friends as the heroes carried evidence out from under the rubble.

Someone shouted excitedly, then all the heroes abandoned whatever else they were doing to carry out the clear tubes with people inside. Or rather, the same person, over and over again: a pale man with delicate features and white hair.

Some of the clones were infants and others looked fully grown. (They must be clones, to all look so perfectly identical.) A dozen tubes already lay in the open air and more were still being hauled out.

An ambulance team rushed over. Once they’d confirmed that all the clones were definitely, irrevocably dead, this ceased to be an urgent rescue situation and turned back into another piece of evidence of All for One’s crimes.

Kirishima nudged Izuku’s shoulder. “Hey, don’t those people in test tubes look uncannily like you?” He pointed at the teenage one. “It’s especially obvious if you look at him. Except for your hair and freckles, you two could be twins.”

Izuku twisted a green curl. “They do look like me,” he mumbled.

Momo noticed his distress and glared at Kirishima. “Have a little tact, will you?” She turned a concerned look on Izuku. “If that’s a relative of yours…you don’t have to talk about it.”

“Yeah, sorry,” Kirishima said, rubbing his neck.

Tenya began, “Whatever your connection to the cloned man, even if perhaps you had a villainous relative, none of us would ever judge—”

“It’s truly just a coincidence,” Izuku said.

He was keenly aware of Katsuki’s eyes boring into his back. But for once, his loudmouthed childhood friend remained silent.

Kacchan didn’t reveal that time during sixth grade swimming lessons when Izuku’s hair dye had partly washed out, showing the white roots.

Later, in private, All Might gave him the complete story. The hidden underground facility had included a wing dedicated to cloning. There had been hundreds of the same man in tubes.

All Might said, “From the records left behind by past One for All users, I identified him. The First user.”

“All for One’s younger brother?” Izuku’s hands tightened on his knees.

“Yes. The motive…appears to have been personal rather than pragmatic. Or so we assume.” All Might looked uncomfortable. “The First user had a rare genetic disease, hence why none of the clones were viable outside the tubes. The research facility was dedicated to trying to produce a living clone.”

“Better than if All for One was deliberately and maliciously killing his little brother over and over again,” Izuku muttered. That terrible thought had crossed his mind.

“We also found this room.” All Might slid a photograph across the table. “It was inside a bank vault, of all the bizarre places. I found it quite unnerving.”

The photo showed a bedroom with floor-to-wall bookshelves full of comic books. Pictures decorated the vault, all showing the same man over and over again at different ages. Belongings from childhood to young adulthood had been preserved in glass cases, like a museum or a shrine. A glass coffin lay on top of the bed. The corpse inside had been preserved in a clear liquid. He might have been asleep, if not for the faint stitches on his neck.

Crawling, icy nails raked down Izuku’s spine.

Izuku gripped his knees even tighter. His whole body shook. Finally, he forced himself to speak. “You must have noticed how much he resembles me.” Perhaps his mentor hadn’t said anything out of courtesy, waiting for him to raise the topic first.

All Might looked up, surprised. “Yes, but it must be a coincidence. Maybe you share a common ancestor from centuries ago. It doesn’t matter. I noticed from the beginning that you also looked like All for One, but you’re nothing like that man. Please set it from your mind.”

So All Might hadn’t reached the same conclusion as him. A very large part of Izuku wanted to drop the subject. But that could be dangerous. If he blinded himself to the truth now, it would come back to haunt him later. That room had clearly proven he couldn’t run or hide.

“Could you arrange a DNA test between myself and the clones?” Izuku asked. “Please. I have to know.”

“If it would set your mind at ease, my boy,” All Might said.

Izuku waited until after dinner to say, “Mom? We need to talk.”

Inko looked up from clearing the dishes. Her eyes examined the serious expression on her son’s face. She nodded and followed him into the living room.

Sitting on the couch, Izuku asked, “Where is my father?”

Over the years, the excuse of a businessman working overseas had run thin. Even the most overworked salaryman would occasionally visit his family. But Izuku had never once seen his father’s face in his entire life.

He’d long ago suspected his mother was covering something up, but he’d allowed her the deception. Only now had the information become urgent and quite probably dangerous.

Inko wrung her hands. “Sweetie…it can be difficult to be a single mother. There’s a lot of stigma, even during this day and age. I…” She took a deep breath. “I don’t know who your father is. You were the product of a one-night stand. I invented Hisashi Midoriya. He never existed. I’m so sorry. I didn’t want you to be bullied at school for not having a father.”

Over the years, Izuku had gotten very good at telling when his mother was lying. She did it infrequently and not particularly well.

She’d been telling the truth about not knowing his father’s identity and about faking her husband’s existence. But when she’d claimed to have had a one-night stand, she’d played with her ponytail in a way that always meant she was lying.

Of course it had to be a lie. Izuku had seen his parents’ marriage license and photos of their supposed wedding. No one went as far as to fake official paperwork just to cover up a small fib to obtain social acceptance.

She’d used the same excuse about not wanting him to be bullied when she’d dyed his hair green and curled it every morning. As a young child, Izuku had been desperate to try anything to fit in. As a teenager, her story didn’t make sense. Rare hair colors had become common in this day and age. Curly green hair was no more or less normal than straight white hair. She’d never even tried to explain why she drew freckles on his cheeks every morning until he was old enough to do it himself.

Izuku teetered on the edge of demanding a full explanation. But he couldn’t quite bring himself to shatter the illusion. Not until the DNA results came back and confirmed it beyond any shred of doubt.

Instead, he asked, “Where does the household money come from?”

He’d believed that to be a relatively safe question, but Inko paled.

“I have savings.” She bit her lip and wouldn’t meet his eye. “There was a time in my life when I did numerous things…things I’m not proud of now. There’s a lot of money left over from that time. I haven’t been able to spend most of it for fear of looking suspicious. I’ve always been afraid…if you knew what I’ve done…that you might…” She looked up at him with watery eyes, begging for forgiveness she didn’t dare ask for out loud.

Izuku’s own eyes welled up with tears too. “Mom, I think family is more than blood. It’s the people who love you and look out for you. I’ve always been happy to be a part of your family. That will never change. No matter what, you’ll always be my mother.”

Mother and son clung to each other and wept.

Sitting on his new bed at the U.A. dorms, Izuku’s hand trembled on his phone. He didn’t dare look at the text from All Might. His breath came out in sporadic, pained gasps.

Finally, he opened one eye.

The DNA results had returned. Izuku’s DNA was a perfect match for the clones and the dead man inside the bank vault. All Might asked him to call immediately.

Izuku knew they needed to talk. His mentor was owed an explanation. They needed to take precautions so All for One would never find out.

But he remembered that perilous day at Kamino’s Ward, when All for One’s nonexistent eyes had locked onto him. Then the villain had redirected his attack away from the bit of wall Izuku had been hiding behind.

He feared it was already too late.

Izuku’s phone buzzed again. Another text from All Might. He moved to reply apologizing for his delay in calling. Then his eyes widened upon reading the message: All for One just broke out of Tartarus. Stay in your dorm room. I’m on my way.

The phone slid from Izuku’s hand and hit the floor with a clatter. Then the wall of his bedroom disintegrated.

All for One floated in the air, still wearing a prison uniform and holding his life support equipment in one hand. His breathing sounded loud through the clear plastic mask over his mouth. Red lightning crackled around him, illuminating the nighttime darkness.

“Yoichi…” All for One whispered.

“My name is Izuku Midoriya.” Standing, Izuku hurled his dresser at the villain’s face.

Izuku didn’t wait to see the impact. He knew it wouldn’t stop the villain for long. Instead, he leapt through the hole in the wall, landing on the bushes below.

Red tendrils shot toward him. Izuku dodged behind a tree, using it as a shield.

Alarms blared across the campus. Half a dozen teachers ran outside, Aizawa among them. As soon as Eraserhead laid eyes on All for One, the villain dropped from the sky like a stone.

All Might shot through the air and landed on the ground between Izuku and All for One. A crack spread out as his fist touched the earth. His blue eyes blazed.

Yet All for One looked straight through his old enemy, staring at Izuku instead. In an oddly cheerful voice, he said, “It appears I can’t take you with me today, baby brother. But next time, you’ll come to me instead.”

All for One dropped a flash bomb on the ground. Blinding light covered the lawn. As soon as Aizawa blinked, the villain sank into black ooze, warping away.

All Might strode toward the other teachers, growling, “He couldn’t have gotten in here without help. It’s certain, now. We have a spy—”

“Wait. Please.” Izuku tugged on All Might’s sleeve. “He said that I would come to him. Surely he wouldn’t have said that without a reason. Do you know what he meant?”

The anger faded from All Might’s face, replaced by exhaustion and concern. He couldn’t meet Izuku’s eyes. He whispered, “Young Midoriya…All for One went to your family home first. We don’t know if he thought you were there or if he planned this all along…but either way, he abducted Inko Midoriya.”

Chapter Text

Yamada took Izuku to U.A.’s safe room, which he’d never seen before. White paint disguised walls made of metal plates. It had a bed, a TV, a couch, and a vending machine.

“Would you like a snack?” Yamada asked. “It’s free, the machine here doesn’t take money—”

“Where’s my mother?” Izuku interrupted.

Yamada winced. “We don’t know yet. The police are working on it. I’ll remain here to guard you.”

Izuku slouched down on the couch. “To guard me or to stop me from leaving?”

Yamada sighed. His eyes filled with sincere sympathy. “This must be so hard on you, Little Listener. I’m sorry. But even if you turned yourself over to All for One, he wouldn’t necessarily give your mother back. The police and the heroes are doing everything possible to rescue her. She wouldn’t want you to get captured, too.”

Izuku knew it was true. He knew none of this was Present Mic’s fault. But since he knew if he spoke then he’d snap at his teacher, he only grunted.

Izuku’s phone buzzed. He glanced down at a text from an unknown number. It gave him an address, followed by: Meet me here within one hour.

No need to guess who had sent that message. Before Izuku could reply, a picture arrived.

The image showed a woman’s severed and bloody finger. The fake wedding ring belonged to Inko Midoriya. The caption read: She loses another finger for every hour that you’re late.

A small cry escaped Izuku’s lips.

Yamada looked over. “What’s wrong?”

Izuku had never before wanted to cry so much in his entire life, but if Yamada saw his phone, the teachers would never let him out of their sight. He bit the inside of his cheek so hard it bled. The pain sharpened his mind.

In a surprisingly normal voice, he said, “I saw a news article blaming U.A. for a student’s mother getting kidnapped. How could they have said such horrible things?” He was only guessing about the media’s reaction, but after what had happened during Katsuki’s kidnapping, he had a strong suspicion.

Yamada sighed. “Don’t let the media get to you. They’re deliberately stirring up controversy.”

“I won’t,” Izuku said. He turned back to his phone. His thoughts had turned oddly sharp and focused. He texted: I can’t leave the school. The teachers are watching me. If you release my mother, then they’ll let me visit her in the hospital.

The response came swiftly. Do you think I’m stupid?

If you’re smart, then you should know I’m telling the truth. U.A.’s security is too high for me to break out. Izuku wasn’t entirely convinced that was true, but he couldn’t get out fast enough to save his mother’s next finger. You don’t need her. You could take any random person off the street hostage, and I’d still come. That was more honest than Izuku cared to admit. But if you kill my mother, then I’ll die rather than let you take me. She’s your best hostage, but also a double-edged sword. Because if she dies, I die too.

Izuku’s hands trembled as he waited for a reply. He thought of a million more arguments he could use, but sounding too desperate would only hurt him

Eventually, All for One texted, Deal. You for her.

From the front of the car, Yamada said, “I knew the police would find your mother!” Even he sounded a bit surprised it had happened so quickly. “I’ve heard…that’s she’s very badly injured…but her life isn’t in danger…”

Izuku knew that Yamada was trying to figure out how to tell him about the missing finger. Pasting on a fake smile, he chirped, “Thank you so much for driving me to the hospital.”

“Of course.” Yamada returned his attention to the road as he stopped at a red light.

Izuku stared at the latest text message. I’ve implanted a small bomb inside Inko Midoriya’s body. I won’t tell you where.

Of course there had always been that option to make the hostage exchange equal. Izuku hadn’t suggested it only because he’d been desperately, futilely hoping All for One wouldn’t think of it. If he hadn’t, then Izuku had been planning to renege on his deal with All for One and tell his teachers everything as soon as his mother was free. But he’d always suspected that it wouldn’t be that easy. This didn’t surprise him—it only left him with a leaden feeling in his stomach.

Quietly, he said, “There’s a bomb in Mom’s body. Tell the doctors to look for it.”

“Huh?” Yamada glanced over his shoulder.

The teacher didn’t react fast enough to stop Izuku from throwing himself out of the car and running down the street.

Izuku heard Present Mic’s enhanced shout behind him, but he didn’t stop. He ran straight into the shadowy portal carrying him to All for One.

Detective Tsukauchi approached the hospital bed with a somber face.

Inko Midoriya turned to look at him, the handcuff on her wrist rattling. It made the police detective wince. He understood it was standard hospital policy for criminals, but she didn’t seem dangerous enough to justify the restraints. Especially not with her hand heavily bandaged and bruises and cuts all over her face. The injuries extended down her neck to her hospital gown. Her eyes had sunken into their sockets from lack of sleep and black roots showed in her green hair. She had heavy bandages over her midsection.

Without preamble, Inko demanded, “What’s the word on my son?”

Tsukauchi took a seat by the bed. “I’m sorry, ma’am. We have no news, but every hero in the city is searching.” His chest clenched. He knew how futile such words sounded. “Anything you can tell us might help.” The words stuck in his throat. In reality, he doubted it, since any information Inko might have on All for One would be decades out of date. But it was his job to interrogate her, and he knew by saying that, she would tell him everything. Turning his usual tricks on an injured, desperate mother still didn’t stick right with him.

As expected, Inko immediately said, “Of course.”

Tsukauchi placed a pencil to his notebook. “What’s your real name?” His investigation had already revealed that Inko Midoriya hadn’t existed before she’d shown up in Musutafu with her infant son.

“Noriyuki Tokunaga.”

Tsukauchi dropped his pencil. “The Noriyuki Tokunaga?” The young scientific prodigy had been made famous across Japan when she’d won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and Medicine for her research into genetic diseases. She’d only been twenty-three years old, the youngest ever winner in that category. Then a year later, she’d vanished. Tsukauchi asked, “Did All for One kidnap you?”

Inko snorted. “I wish I could say yes, but with your quirk, lying to you would be pointless. No. I was young and idealistic. I believed that the ethical restrictions on genetic research were too stringent and prevented me from helping as many people as possible. All for One offered me funding and freedom, as long as I helped him create a clone of his younger brother.” She bit her lip. “For what it’s worth, I had no idea he was a villain. I thought he was just a lonely rich man desperate to resurrect a loved one. I had no family myself, so I understood that.”

Tsukauchi felt a stirring of sympathy again. She’d been so young, to get mixed up with a manipulator like All for One. “When did you become suspicious?”

“The original younger brother had a very rare form of cellular degeneration only seen in the first generation of quirk-users. It took me a year just to create even a twisted clone from his damaged DNA. It took me even longer to successfully edit an embryo’s genes to remove the disease. All for One was so impressed with my work that he started asking for my advice on his Nomu project.”

Tsukauchi took down a note to later send a scientific expert to question her more closely on that subject.

Inko continued, “I didn’t know he was creating undead minions. He probed me subtly at first, always with justifications. Over time, he hinted at offering me another job. I started to realize his illegal activities went deeper than one cloning project. I tried not to see it.” Inko closed her eyes. “Then Izuku came along. The very first healthy, disease-free infant.” A note of wistfulness entered her voice. “I loved him from the moment I held him in my arms. In that moment, I became a mother, and a mother couldn’t afford to be blind to threats to her child.”

“You thought All for One would hurt him?”

“Yes.” Inko’s jaw clenched. “I knew all along that creating a clone to replace a dead relative was twisted and suggested an unhealthy level of obsession. Blinded by money, I convinced myself that All for One only wanted a child to love and he’d never hurt the baby. But there are more kinds of harm than physical. All for One asked me for advice on sunlamps and how much vitamin D to provide a child who would never go outdoors. He kept Izuku in an underground bunker and only let him leave for my medical checkups. I realized he planned to raise Izuku in captivity, never letting him see a single person besides himself.” A tear trickled down her cheek. “Imagine my sweet Izuku, locked away from the sun for his entire life.”

Tsukauchi offered her a handkerchief.

“Thank you.” Inko blew her nose. “So I faked both our deaths in a lab explosion, destroyed all my research so All for One could never inflict such a fate on another child, and ran away to raise Izuku as my own.”

She spoke so matter-of-factly of thwarting Japan’s greatest villain. Tsukauchi almost couldn’t stop himself from laughing, although that would be most inappropriate at the moment. He asked, “Why didn’t you go to the authorities for help?”

Inko snorted. “By that time, I’d investigated All for One enough to know that you couldn’t protect me.”

Tsukauchi wanted to protest. But given that Izuku Midoriya was currently missing despite the best efforts of the police and Hero Society, it was hard to deny her words.

Inko said, “I tried so hard to disguise us and keep a low profile. I discouraged Izuku from becoming a hero because I was afraid it would draw attention to him. But he wanted it so badly, I gave in. All for One had faded from the criminal world for so long, I thought he must be dead.” More tears fell from her eyes. “I was wrong. I should have stopped Izuku even if it meant crushing his dreams. All for One will crush him far worse.”

“We’ll find him,” Tsukauchi said, wishing he could offer more reliable reassurance. He twisted his hands. He didn’t think that Inko was any sort of threat to society, but it wasn’t his role to judge, only collect information. So he couldn’t reassure her there, either. Instead, he said, “I truly wish you the best of luck with your trial. I’m sure your circumstances will be taken into account.”

“I don’t care what happens to me.” Inko stared at him with bloodshot eyes. “Just find my Izuku. Please.”

As Tsukauchi left, a team of doctors and nurses passed him in the hallway. The x-ray results must have returned. They were coming to prep Inko for emergency surgery to remove the bomb in her stomach.

Izuku had fully expected to be transported straight to a prison. Probably a bank vault like the creepy one that the authorities had confiscated. Instead, he seemed to be outdoors. Grass squished underneath his red sneakers. A row of pine trees lined an oval pool. A glass table with black metal chairs sat outside the doorway of a stone cottage. The sky overhead was bright blue with clouds.

His first clue was the tree. Instead of having a treetop, it penetrated the sky like a support pillar. On a closer look, the so-called sky was a very realistic paint job on the ceiling.

Izuku reached out and touched the closest tree trunk. The bark felt plasticky. “It’s fake,” he said.

“It’s made to look completely indistinguishable from the real thing.” All for One stood before him. Now he wore his usual black face mask and a dark grey suit. He spoke in a slightly hopeful tone. “There’s everything you need here, Yoichi. Food, a library, a gaming system, a pool.”

It infuriated Izuku beyond measure, for his mother’s tormentor to act hopeful that he would like his prison. How. Dare. He.

His temper snapped. He snarled, “I’m not your original little brother. Clones aren’t the same people, they’re the biological equivalent of identical twins. You ought to know full well that brothers don’t turn out the same, given that yours rejected anything to do with you and started a legacy dedicated to killing you.”

He’d intended those words to hurt—likely a foolish choice—and from the slight intake of breath, he’d succeeded. Then All for One shot forward in a flash, wrapping Izuku into a hug.

Izuku tried to struggle, but he felt it again, that same pressure in the air as when All for One had fought All Might at Kamino. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t move. All he could do was tremble.

All for One whispered into his ear, “I know that clones aren’t interchangeable. If I didn’t, then I’d kill you here and now, then take a sample of your healthy DNA to start over with a new one. A baby who would only love me from birth and not give me this much trouble. But you can’t be replaced, right? Little brother.” He squeezed, just slightly.

Izuku understood quite clearly the implied threat behind those words. He knew what the smart thing to do would be—to play along with the evil supervillain’s delusions while waiting for rescue or a chance at escape. He had nothing to gain from antagonizing his captor. Without any sign of a door in this enclosed location, he couldn’t yet try to run.

But his white-hot rage at the picture of his mother’s severed finger made acting smart close to impossible. Sarcasm and spite itched in his throat, begging to be let out.

Back when Katsuki had been captured by the League of Villains, Izuku had privately thought his childhood friend would have been smarter to play along, pretend to join them, and escape rather than gnaw at his chains in his usual demented fashion. Izuku had always held a streak of competitiveness toward Katsuki—he just did a better job of hiding it than his long-time rival. Now he channeled that rivalry into self-control. What would Kacchan do in this situation? Probably attack All for One, then run around like a headless chicken trying to figure out how to get out of a doorless underground bunker. Be smart. Don’t be like Kacchan.

“I understand,” Izuku said, his voice muffled by the embrace forcing him into All for One’s chest. “I can’t do anything as long as you have Mom hostage.” He believed if he waited a reasonable amount of time than Yamada would pass along the word to remove the bomb, but he still couldn’t risk an escape without certainty of his mother’s safety. “I won’t try to leave.”

All for One’s grip tightened. Somehow, he’d said the wrong thing again. The villain growled, “Don’t call that woman your mother. She has no blood relation to you.”

Izuku should have realized that would be a trigger. Worse, he might have increased All for One’s anger toward his mother. “I’m sorry.”

“Call me big brother.”

Izuku flinched. Did he even have to go that far? Yes, he did. Anything to cool that rage lest it end up directed at Inko Midoriya. “I’m sorry, big brother.” His cheeks flushed with humiliation.

All for One tilted back his chin, forcing him to stare up at his captor. “It’s all right,” the villain crooned. “You’re doing well, for your first day.”

Izuku shivered to think of how many other days he might be here. The horror of his situation was only starting to dawn on him.

All for One took his hand (as if he was a small child.) “I’ll give you a tour. Then we can get you into better clothes.”

Izuku let himself be guided over to the pool. All for One lead him up the stairs to a rock ledge with a lounge chair. “Here’s where you can take in sunlight. It’s important for your health.” He pointed at the round lamp on the ceiling, shaped like a sun.

The wall of the bunker had been painted to look like a forest. It was so real, Izuku could imagine him accidentally walking into it. But he saw no door.

Still holding his hand, All for One walked him down the stairs and around the cottage. “Here’s the garden. I included all your favorite flowers.”

Or rather, the original brother’s favorite flowers, Izuku assumed. A sweet scent drifted off a mixture of roses, tulips, and lilies. These plants were real. So were the row of bushes. At least he wouldn’t suffocate from lack of oxygen.

A pattering of water came from a white fountain. There was also a table, a jukebox for playing music, and several more panels imitating suns.

All for One guided him through a white archway covered in ivy and up a stone path to white double-doors. Izuku noted the cottage doors had no lock. They opened into a richly decorated living room. Two sofas surrounded a glass table supported by four bronze elephant statues. The fake fireplace contained no wood. Real diamonds gleamed from the picture frames on the wall. The extravagance irritated Izuku—this money could have been spent on charity instead of his prison.

The neighboring room had both a modern gaming system and a wall lined with old jukeboxes. The adjacent family room had a TV large enough to fill a wall. The library took Izuku’s breath away, stuffed with old comics that must be worth a fortune.

When a small gasp escaped his lips, All for One chuckled smugly. Izuku clamped his lips shut.

The dining room had yellow flower wallpaper and an oak table for two. A floor-to-ceiling glass window showed the fake outdoors. The cabinet held hand painted China.

Pushing open a door, All for One said, “I can’t let you have a stove or a microwave. It could be a fire hazard.” He gestured at the gleaming white kitchen. “I’ve stocked the fridge and cabinets with foods that can be eaten cold. I’ll bring hot meals for dinner every evening.”

It would take a great deal more than warm food to make Izuku appreciate All for One’s company, but once again he stopped himself from saying anything sarcastic.

The bedroom was enormous, with space for a desktop computer and several more bookshelves. Izuku would check for internet access later but he already knew that would be a lost cause. A king-sized cream bed had been piled high with pillows and stuffed animals. Potted plants stood in each corner.

All for One gestured at the desk. “I’ve provided you with blank notebooks.”

Izuku didn’t know if his analysis was a hobby he had in common with his genetic twin or if All for One had researched him. Since he didn’t quite have the will to fake gratitude, he only nodded.

All for One pushed open an attached door. “This is your bathroom.” The immaculate marble room had both a shower decorated to resemble a waterfall and a giant bathtub surrounded by four pillars. Everything gleamed, from the golden towel hangers to the white candelabra.

Returning to the bedroom, All for One opened the wardrobe. “Pick the outfit you’d like.”

Izuku stared. The shirts had been decorated with Batman, Spiderman, and Superman logos—extremely rare in the modern era and priceless to a collector like himself. The slightly musty smell only confirmed they’d been preserved for centuries. He’d never seen something like this outside a museum. “Whoa.”

All for One smiled. “I kept all your favorites.”

Izuku’s heart dropped to his feet. This had all belonged to the original little brother. He was expected to wear a dead man’s clothing.

He gripped his sleeve. “I’m more comfortable in my uniform.”

As if taking to himself, All for One observed, “Do you think that there has been time to remove the bomb from Inko Midoriya yet?”

Izuku doubted it. Gritting his teeth, he grabbed a random T-shirt and pair of jeans. All for One politely turned away as he changed. Izuku was struck by a burning desire to punch the villain’s back. His hands shook. The clothes fit perfectly. It made his skin crawl.

All for One went to the bathroom and brought back a washcloth. He wiped the fake freckles off Izuku’s cheeks. “Does the hair dye wash out?”

“Not the kind that I use,” Izuku said honestly.

All for One grunted. “Then I’ll have risk dyeing it twice.” He spoke as if this was a deliberate spite to him.

Izuku didn’t resist as All for One guided him to a chair in the bathroom. Putting on plastic gloves, All for One mixed the dye in a bowl, then massaged it into Izuku’s roots. Afterward, he blow-dried Izuku’s hair straight.

Putting his hands on Izuku’s shoulders, All for One maneuvered him in front of the mirror. “Good,” he said with a rumbling of deep satisfaction. The villain stared as if entranced. “Once your hair grows out a little longer, it will be perfect.”

 Staring at his image with straight white hair, Izuku saw even more clearly the resemblance to the corpse in the vault. It gave him shivers. Technically, this was the appearance he’d been born with, but after so long with green hair he felt like a stranger stared back at him. He wished All for One would let go of his shoulders.

After entirely too long, his wish was granted. All for One said, “I’ll return shortly with a meal.”

Izuku nodded, hoping he could follow the villain to see where to find the exit. It would be good to know for future reference.

Instead, All for One warped away.

There was no door. He’d been buried underground in a completely sealed-off metal box.

Chapter Text

Dinner in his prison was painfully awkward.

For the third time, All for One asked, “How do you like it?”

For the third time, Izuku poked his katsudon and grunted.

“Would like more rice, little brother?”

Izuku grunted again.

“Yoichi Shigaraki, you’re being rude,” All for One said with a touch of sternness.

Izuku gritted his teeth. He wanted to say something snarky, but logically he knew he should pick his battles. What would Kacchan not do? He’d probably throw this plate at All for One’s face. Therefore I should be more strategic. Izuku said, “It’s delicious, big brother.” In fact, he could barely taste anything through his worry over his mother. Had the doctors found the bomb yet? “I’m just too full to eat.” That at least was true. He felt like he might throw up.

All for One smiled. “Aw, but you need to save room for dessert.”

“I guess I shouldn’t eat anymore.” Izuku pushed away his plate with relief.

All for One vanished into the kitchen, during which time Izuku longed to run but knew better. The villain returned carrying a chocolate chip cookie cake with Welcome Home written in blue frosting.

It was on the top of Izuku’s tongue to ask if that was intended to be an insult. But he already knew the answer: he was in the hands of a madman who believed his own delusions.

“You can have as large a slice as you’d like.” All for One pulled out a plastic knife.

There had been nothing but plastic utensils at dinner, too. The house had been weapon-proofed. Even the mirror in his bathroom had been made of something reflective but much harder to break than glass. “Just a small slice,” Izuku said. “I’m not hungry.”

“Then there will be plenty of leftover for you later.” All for One cut a sliver.

Izuku ate as fast as possible, determined to finally be done with this interminable meal.

All for One laughed. “You liked that, didn’t you?” He reached across the table and wiped Izuku’s mouth with a napkin.

Izuku stood up. “Thank you for the meal.” Hopefully now he could return to his room and explore the computer.

All for One said, “I have a movie marathon planned for us.”

Of course he did. Izuku bit back a groan. “I’m a little tired…”

“I’m sure you are, baby brother, after such a busy day.” All for One grabbed Izuku’s wrist. There was a small flash of light, then Izuku fell forward, all strength in his limbs gone. All for One caught him. “I’ll be happy to carry you to the family room.”

Izuku’s head spun. He knew a quirk had been used on him and he reacted by instinct, punching the villain trying to pick him up.

All for One grabbed his fist. His voice hardened. “Should I trigger the bomb in Noriyuki—I mean, Inko Midoriya?”

So his mother’s real name was Noriyuki? Not that it mattered to Izuku. No matter her name, no matter if they were biologically related or not, she’d always be his mom. He had to protect her. He went limp. “Sorry,” he mumbled. “It was a combat reflex. Big brother.”

“You’re forgiven, little brother.” All for One scooped Izuku up close to his chest like an adult cradling a baby. The villain was strong—supernaturally so, as Izuku had known already. Whatever he’d done had left Izuku’s limbs weak and tingly. Izuku could do nothing except sag as he was carried and placed down on a couch before the wide-screen TV.

All for One started playing some old-fashioned science fiction movie about a farmboy who wanted to become a pilot and a captured princess. Then he sat down on the couch and put his arm around Izuku’s shoulder.

The villain had a lot of nerve. The grip felt tight and suffocating. All for One played with Izuku’s hair with one hand. Izuku felt like he’d been turned into a toy and it did nothing to improve his foul mood.

Izuku tried to keep his eyes open, because he still wanted to investigate more as soon as All for One left. But they kept drifting shut. He stifled yet another yawn. His head lolled sideways. He didn’t want to lean on All for One so he tried to fall in the other direction, only to be tugged into the villain’s lap. He would have protested if his tongue didn’t feel too heavy.

He’d already drifted partly off to sleep when he felt his body lifted in the air again. He tried to move, but his arms weren’t working. He was carried to the bedroom. When his shirt was lifted over his head, he moaned in protest, but he still couldn’t move. He could only let his clothes be changed to soft cotton pajamas.

All for One placed him down on the bed and tucked him tightly into the covers like a cocoon. A stuffed rabbit was tucked in with him. Izuku had expected (hoped) All for One would leave then. But instead, a hand brushed his bangs from his forehead.

Izuku tried his hardest to outlast that hand, but he slipped away into unconsciousness first.

When Izuku woke up, his arm felt sore. No, both his arms felt sore. He looked down to see bandages inside both of his elbows.

Someone had drawn his blood while he’d slept. Almost certainly so that All for One could replace Izuku with another disease-free clone. A helpless baby trapped in a supervillain’s clutches, all because Izuku had let himself be captured. Izuku’s heart raced. He told himself that All for One would never do such a thing as long as he had Izuku. That thought wasn’t exactly comforting. Somehow, he had to destroy those DNA samples or arrest All for One when he escaped.

A hysterical giggle escaped Izuku. How could he when he didn’t have the slightest idea how to escape at all? Rage filled him. He wanted to storm around this room destroying everything in sight.

What would Kacchan not do? He wouldn’t calmly go to the computer and investigate if it had internet.

Izuku sat down in front of the computer desk. The computer was loaded with books and games. But it didn’t even have a network center to connect. Oh well, Izuku had known that would be a long shot.

The striped print on Izuku’s pajamas seemed naggingly familiar. He finally realized he’d seen pajamas just like these in the background of the photograph of the corpse in the vault. His skin crawled. He knew full well that all the clothing in here had belonged to his predecessor, but he still picked a fresh T-shirt and quickly changed.

Izuku’s search of the house for weapons proved frustrating. All materials were either soft or unbreakable. Even the unused outlets had been taped over.

A desperate desire to do something, anything, itched under his skin. He found an empty space in the living room and started doing pushups. At the least, he could keep up his strength training.

The exercise made him feel better. Afterward, he showered, then headed to the kitchen for food.

He found All for One standing at the counter making a sandwich. The villain even wore an apron. Izuku stared.

All for One turned around. “I cleared my schedule to eat lunch with you.”

“Thank you, big brother,” Izuku said in numb voice.

“Unfortunately, while reviewing the camera footage, I saw that you’d broken a rule. I won’t blame you this time, since you didn’t know.” All for One’s attempted smile looked grotesque on his scarred lips. “You’re not allowed to exercise. Your days of foolish and dangerous heroics are over.”

“You have cameras.” Izuku took a step backward. Of course there were cameras. He should have known—he’d probably been trying not to think about it. Especially since he had to change and shower in this place. “Are they in the bathroom, too?”

All for One sighed. “Little brother, we both know that if I gave you a camera blind spot, you’d exploit it to do something foolish. I promise that no one except me will ever see the bathroom footage.”

Izuku took another step backward. “Take them out.” His voice wavered between a threat and a plea. “I’m never showering again until you take the cameras out.”

All for One said, “You’re breaking another rule. Never, ever walk away from me.”

Izuku’s feet slid back involuntarily.

All for One sighed. “The bomb has already been removed from that disgusting woman.”

“Why would you tell me that?” Izuku whispered.

“Because you said something interesting to me yesterday. You said that any random person off the street could be used as a hostage against you. The heroes have been working hard to protect the students at U.A. and their families. But they can’t protect all of Japan.” All for One held out his phone. A video played of a middle-aged woman sleeping on a street corner barely protected by a cardboard box. “Her name is Doi Horie. She suffers from severe schizophrenia and can’t afford medical treatment. She has no family. No one will notice if she goes missing tomorrow. Only you will know what happened to her.”

“Please,” Izuku gasped out. He ran back toward All for One. “I’ll do anything.” He’d been completely trapped, and he knew it. “Do you want a hug? Here.” He spread his arms wide.

An odd looked crossed All for One’s face, a mixture of nostalgia and regret. He murmured, “If only I’d realized sooner the best way to control you. Then I never would have needed to lose you.” He accepted the offered hug.

Izuku went rigid, then forced his body to relax. He could no longer afford to be anything except than the perfect little replacement, not now he knew lives other than his own were at stake.

All for One petted his hair. “The rules are as follows: you will do nothing to harm yourself or me. You will not try to escape. This includes rather obvious searches for weapons like the one you did this morning, little brother.”

Izuku flushed and nodded.

“You will never, ever reject my touch or walk away from me. You will listen when I talk and engage in conversation without childish insults. You will only respond to the name Yoichi or little brother. You will always call me big brother. You will eat at every meal and yes, you’ll shower or take a bath at least once a day. You will not sulk in your room or overstrain your weak body with exercising.” All for One’s voice turned strangely gentle. “You don’t need to fight any longer, little brother. Instead, please enjoy the many entertainments I’ve provided you. I’ve created a little paradise, all for you, Yoichi. In time, you’ll come to enjoy it.”

If Izuku said what he thought of that, then someone innocent would die. No insults allowed. He mumbled, “I understand, big brother.”

All for One mussed up his hair. “We’ll let this one mistake go.”

“Thank you, big brother.” Izuku closed his eyes and wished for the strength to get through this ordeal.

Needless to say, the sandwich also had no taste. Izuku wanted to collapse, but instead he had to pretend to make small talk with All for One. The villain asked him about how the house temperature suited him, which had to be one step away from talking about the weather.

Afterward, All for One took Izuku to the library, handing him a stack of books that were “his” (Yoichi’s) favorites, and more-or-less demanded that he read them. Then the villain finally departed.

Izuku started reading the first book on the stack. It wasn’t bad. A standard hero’s journey story—normally he liked those. But he couldn’t enjoy himself when his nerves were stretched out like a rubber band in a slingshot.

Over dinner, All for One quizzed Izuku about what he’d read. He pretended to have loved the book. It felt like the world’s most high stakes book report—if he didn’t express adequate praise of the story’s virtues then All for One might murder an innocent.

“Thank you so much for the book, big brother,” Izuku chirped. His fake smile felt like a white-hot brand across his face. He desperately wanted this to be over.

All for One beamed. “Anything for you, little brother.”

Izuku longed to leap across the table and at least try to stab the villain in the ear with a plastic fork. His muscles tensed. What would Kacchan not do? Definitely not remain calm and in control no matter the humiliation! Be like the opposite of Kacchan!

“I can’t wait to read the other books,” Izuku said, impressed with how non-sarcastic he sounded.

Days blurred into an interminable week. With cameras everywhere, Izuku was forced to read the books or play the games that All for One assigned to him. Sometimes All for One showed him old family photo albums “to jog his memories” and expected Izuku to pretend to have once been the white-haired boy in the pictures. Izuku couldn’t tell if All for One genuinely thought he was Yoichi reborn or if he was just enjoying the fantasy. The isolation wore on Izuku’s nerves, although not quite enough to make him wish for All for One’s daily presence at dinner. Not when every visit resulted in hugs and head-patting.

Izuku had been carefully marking off each day inside a notebook. The one week mark hit him like ton of bricks. It was getting harder and harder to believe that anyone was coming to save him. He would have given a shot at saving himself if it had only been his own life at stake, but he remembered that homeless woman and endured.

One night over dinner, All for One asked, “How was your day?”

Seven times in a row, Izuku had lied and said he was fine, but this time he blurted out, “I’m bored.” Then he flinched, fearing retribution.

All for One only smiled understandingly. “I’ll take tomorrow off to spend time with you. We can go swimming and play board games. How does that sound?”

It sounded dreadful, but Izuku had regained control over his tongue. “Thank you, big brother.”

All for One carried him to bed after dinner, which he’d gotten depressingly used to.

The next morning, Izuku woke up to someone tickling his ribs. He giggled involuntarily.

Scarred lips pressed a kiss against his forehead. All for One’s face loomed so close it jolted Izuku awake faster than a shot of expresso. Gasping, he shot backward, knocking his skull on the headboard.

Fortunately, All for One only chuckled instead of getting offended. “I’m sorry for startling you, baby brother.”

“It’s fine,” Izuku said, rubbing his head.

“I brought breakfast.” All for One held up a bowl of scrambled eggs. “Say ahhhh!”

Izuku opened his mouth. It wasn’t the first time All for One had wanted to feed him, unfortunately.

Afterward, All for One wiped off this face with a napkin and laid out three sets of swimming trunks. “Which would you like to wear?”

Izuku could care less. He grabbed a blue pair by random.

All for One cleared his throat. “Did you not notice these?” He pointed at the black swimming trunks decorated with Spiderman masks.

Izuku froze. All for One had pulled such tricks before—he would offer Izuku several options, then get upset if Izuku didn’t pick the same thing that his original younger brother would have. If Izuku had been paying more attention, then he would have realized that two plain options and one hero pattern was obvious bait. If he didn’t act fast, then All for One would start the veiled threats toward innocent civilians. Izuku babbled, “No, I didn’t notice! I can’t believe you found one with my favorite superhero, big brother. Thank you so much.”

All for One smiled. “I remember giving you those on your birthday.”

Great, more dead man’s clothing. There was a subtle intensity behind the words. Izuku knew he’d be expected to remember that this particular pair of swimming trunks had been a birthday present for the real Yoichi and incorporate it into his act. There might be a pop quiz later.

Izuku changed and let himself be carried outside.

All for One set him down on the stones next to the outdoor pool. “It even has hot tub jets.” He flicked them on.

Izuku, who had never before seen a hot tub the size of a pool, couldn’t help but be a little impressed. He dipped his legs in the heated water and wondered what he should do now.

“Want to see a trick?” Without waiting for an answer, All for One snapped his fingers. A rainbow appeared over the pool.

“Oh, that’s fascinating.” Izuku started muttering instinctively. “Is that an illusion quirk or light manipulation?” He slid into the pool and took a closer look. “You’re just moving the water droplets into the light at the right angle to create a rainbow, aren’t you?”

“Clever,” All for One praised. “You guessed correctly. The quirk moves water.” He caused the frothing water to rise up into the shape of a swan, then a cat’s face.

Izuku smiled, his first real smile since his captivity.

“Would you like to guess another one?” All for One extended his hand, flashing red.

They went through half a dozen quirks. Even though Izuku knew he shouldn’t be having fun when these quirks had probably all been stolen from innocent victims, this was the first real enjoyment he’d had in a weak. He justified that he was studying All for One’s capabilities.

After his skin had gotten wrinkly, All for One lifted him out of the pool. “Let’s play a board game next.” He started toweling Izuku off.

Izuku squirmed. “I can do that myself,” he said half-heartedly, knowing it wouldn’t make a difference.

“Hold still, Izuku,” All for One ordered.

Izuku stopped without thinking.

In a deadly voice, All for One said, “You just broke a rule, Yoichi. I told you not to respond to that name.”

Izuku flinched. “But—” He wanted to scream that it wasn’t fair. All for One had deliberately made him let his guard down, then tricked him. Of course he’d instinctually react to his own name! It was a habit engrained since birth! He’d been set up! But he feared protesting would only make the punishment worse.

All for One seemed to understand without him speaking. “I went easy on you for your first week. Now I’m going to get stricter.”

That had been easy? Izuku shuddered.

“I won’t kill anyone for your first offense.” All for One typed a message into his phone.

Izuku’s hand twitched. He nearly jumped on the villain and tried to smash the phone, but he knew he’d lose. “Please don’t, big brother.” His voice shook. The fear wasn’t fake.

All for One turned his phone, showing Izuku a video. A group of men in suits approached an encampment of homeless. They started ripping down the makeshift shelters as their victims cried out in shock and protest.

“Stop,” Izuku whispered. “I’m sorry. I’ll never do it again.” This was all his fault. Innocent people would pay the price for his carelessness. What kind of hero was he?

“The next time you do, someone breaks a bone. Then, a death,” All for One said coolly.

Tears trickled down Izuku’s cheeks.

“There, there.” All for One forced him into a hug. “I know you’ll be good for me, so I won’t have to do that. Right, little brother?”

His shoulders shaking with sobs, Izuku nodded.

He woke up slowly, without an alarm. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and rubbed his eyes. (He didn’t dare refer to himself as Izuku, not even inside the privacy of his own head. That might cause him to slip up again. Sometimes he tried to call himself Yoichi, no matter how unnatural it felt. Protecting innocent people was more important than a name.)

His limbs felt shaky. In the bathroom, he looked at himself in the mirror. A scrawny, pale boy stared back at him. His muscles were all gone. Although he’d lost track of time, he still suspected that had happened too fast. His weakness could be the result of a quirk or possibly something slipped into his food.

As he brushed his hair, his breath felt short. He’d constantly felt tired lately, on the verge of being sick.

Perhaps some artificial sunshine would do him good. He got dressed and went outside.

Staring up at the ceiling sunlamp exuding white light, he couldn’t tell if it was helping or giving him a headache. He leaned against a tree.

The plastic bark dug into his hand. “It’s fake,” he said out loud. “Everything is fake.” The painted sky spun. He thought he might be laughing. Tears streamed down his cheeks.

He staggered back inside, lay down in bed, and pulled the covers over his head.

He might have slept. He might have just stared at the wall for hours.

When the lights came on, he blinked groggily. All for One walked over and laid a hand on his forehead.

If All for One threatened him, then he’d have to get up. He didn’t know if he could. But a hero wouldn’t let innocent people die just because he’d had a stupid breakdown. His muscles tensed.

Instead, All for One only pulled him into his lap and cuddled him. “My poor baby brother.” He brushed away a sweaty lock of hair. “Do you think you can eat some soup?”

His stomach rumbled. He hadn’t eaten all day. He nodded.

All for One carried him downstairs and heated up a bowl of Italian wedding soup. Seating his prisoner in his lap again, he blew on each spoonful before offering it.

He ate everything rapidly. Then, with his hunger satiated, his mind shut down again. He sagged backward and knew no more.

The next day, he didn’t get out of bed either. He went where he was carried and ate what was fed to him. This time, All for One came by three times to feed him each meal so he didn’t get as hungry. All for One did the same on the third day and the fourth day.

On the fifth day, All for One brought a pet carrier. “I have a present for you, little brother.”

He cracked an eye open, but didn’t move.

All for One opened the door and a white kitten with copper eyes crawled out. “The breeder called her Yuki, but you can change that.”

He shrugged. He didn’t care. He didn’t want a cat. He wanted out of this box where he’d been buried alive. But if he said so, then innocents would suffer. “Thank you, big brother.”

The kitten nuzzled him. It barely registered.

All for One said, “You’re in charge of feeding her and looking after her. I’ve added the necessary supplies. If you don’t get up every morning to look after her, then I’ll have her put down.”

The villain spoke so casually that it took a moment for the horrible words to register. He recoiled. “Why? Please don’t do that!”

“Her purpose is to keep you company and make you feel better. If she can’t do that, then there’s no more reason for her to keep living.” The threat was unmistakable and less than subtle.

He wet his lips and looked down at the tiny soft being crawling into his lap. “No. I’ll look after her. I like her. It’s a wonderful gift, big brother. Please don’t take her away.”

All for One patted his head. “I knew you would like it.”

Futilely, desperately, he hated.

Yoichi sat up and rubbed his eyes. His hair had grown shoulder-length, and he pushed it off his face. A large part of himself wanted to bury back under the covers forever. Not for the first time, the walls around him seemed to constrict. Breathing became harder. He felt like the box around him was shrinking, about to crush him.

He forced himself to swing his legs over his bed and stand up. He had to go feed Yuki. She needed him. She was the only reason he got out of bed every morning.

After filling Yuki’s bowl, Yoichi poured himself some cereal. They ate simultaneously. Afterward, Yoichi got out a remote control mouse and played with Yuki a bit. He didn’t enjoy it, exactly. There was nothing he enjoyed these days. But Yuki needed entertainment. They only had each other in this prison.

Yoichi kept an eye on the clock all day, counting off the seconds. Finally, a familiar portal appeared in the air. “Big brother!” he cried, running forward with his arms outstretched. His legs shook. He had trouble moving fast.

His brother caught him before he fell and swept him into a hug. “I brought ramen for dinner today. With an extra egg, just how you like it.”

“Thank you.” Yoichi clung to his brother tightly, enjoying the sensation of human contact. A part of him knew this was wrong. This man was his jailor. It was all his fault that he’d been left alone and isolated for so long. But Yoichi craved the warmth of another person so badly, he didn’t care.

Besides, by this point he knew that no one was coming to save him.

Big brother sat them both down in an armchair and fed him ramen. Yoichi clung to him, happy for each second that he wasn’t all alone. It was so nice to have someone who listened when he talked about his day. Sometimes Yoichi talked to Yuki, but that wasn’t the same.

After dinner, his brother fetched a box. “Would you like to play Candyland?”

“Of course.” Yoichi beamed. It was easier when he just said yes to everything. It hurt less that way. “Thank you, big brother.”

The closer they got to the end of the game, the more anxious Yoichi became. When he finally lost, a tear formed in the corner of his eye. He looked up from under his bangs at his older brother. “Do you have to go right away? Can’t you please stay a little longer?” Sometimes, if he begged, his brother would stay the night. When he was alone in his bed, he had panic attacks.

Big brother smiled. “I’m not too busy tonight. I’ll stay a bit longer.” He carried Yoichi to the sofa and tucked his head under his chin. He sang a lullaby. Yoichi tried to keep his eyes open, because as soon as he fell asleep, big brother would leave and he’d be all alone again.

A wrenching sound of metal pierced the air.

Both Yoichi and his big brother froze.

They’d both recognized the sound of someone breaking into the vault.

Chapter Text

A muscle clenched in his big brother’s jaw. He said, “Yoichi, go to your room immediately. Barricade the door.”

“Yes, big brother,” Yoichi said automatically. He turned and walked to the hallway.

Then he stopped. He waited until he heard his older brother leave the house. Then he went back to the living room and crouched down, peering out the window. His heart raced. His palms sweated. He knew he’d be in serious trouble if he was caught. Yuki might even be taken away from him. That would break his heart.

But Izuku Yoichi knew this was his last chance to escape.

Peeking out from under the curtain, he saw the hole ripped through the painted landscape on the wall. A blur shot forward: a giant man with yellow hair tufts. His heart clenched. All Might. He remembered All Might. A cheerful grin and an extended hand telling him that he could be a hero.

All Might would save him. No, All Might would die. Big brother was too strong. His hands trembled on the windowsill. He thought he might pass out. But he did not. He kept watching.

All Might bellowed, “Where is he?” Tears gleamed in the corners of his eyes, but his mouth twisted into a hard line of determination.

Not bothering to respond, All for One swelled up his arm and punched.

Two fists collided. The impact ripped through the air and sent a fake tree flying. The window broke. Yoichi ducked down and put his hands over his head to protect himself. Glass bit into his bare arms. He clenched his jaw shut to prevent himself from crying out.

When he finally dared poke his head out, he saw a devastated lawn full of ripped apart foliage. The archway lay fallen. All Might and All for One gripped each other’s fists, their muscles straining as they pushed against each other.

All for One’s mouth twisted. His oversized arm had started to shrink. He’d clearly overused his quirks. But he didn’t look quite as poorly-off as his opponent.

Sweat dripped down All Might’s face. Slowly, he was being pushed back. Steam rose off him. Yoichi had seen the signs before that All Might was on the verge of deflating to his skinny form. It was over. He wasn’t going to be rescued. All Might was going to die.

No.

What would Izuku do?

Izuku stood up. He jumped through the broken window, headless of the shards cutting him. Summoning One for All, he swung a fist at All for One’s back.

Even before his arm reached, his bones were already breaking. His frail body couldn’t handle his quirk. His arm broke in two places. He finished his punch anyway. As his fist struck the suited back, he heard three more cracks.

His world turned into a blurry haze of pain. Yet through teary eyes, he saw All for One fall to the ground. And his heart blazed with triumph.

All for One sightlessly stared up at him. A surge of fear went through Izuku. He wanted to drop to his knees and apologize. To beg and take it back. Embarrassingly, he probably would have if he’d been able to move.

Yet instead of threatening, All for One actually smiled. A bubble of blood blossomed on his lips. “Did you finally get your dream of beating me, Yoichi? I wouldn’t hate it if it was you. After all, you’re my brother.”

All Might silenced whatever else the villain might have said with a blow to his neck. He quickly slapped on stun cuffs. Then he scooped up Izuku into his arms. “Young Midoriya! I’ll take you to Recovery Girl.”

Izuku tried to grab his hero with his one good arm. “Yuki…”

“Yuki? There’s someone else here?”

“My cat…big brother, he’ll kill her, he promised he would if I defied him…”

A sharp intake of breath came from All Might. It took Izuku a moment to realize that he’d referred to All for One as his brother, and his cheeks flushed.

But All Might didn’t mention it. He only said, “We’ll retrieve the cat, I promise. All for One can’t hurt anyone any longer.”

All Might picked up Izuku and started to run. Izuku cried. “Wait! He stole samples of my DNA.”

“It’s okay. We found the laboratory. All for One’s spy turned against him and told us where to find you. I’ll give you the full story later.”

Izuku finally passed out.

“Hey. I saw you move, bastard. Are you awake?”

The voice was rough and abrasive, completely unlike All for One’s constant gentleness even when dolling out punishments. Frankly, Izuku found that a welcome change of pace. He shifted on the bed. Pain lanced through his entire body, especially his right arm. He groaned.

“Stay still.” A blonde boy with red eyes stood over him with his arms crossed. “You broke your bones in so many places even Recovery Girl couldn’t heal you in one shot. You’ve set some kind of record for bone-breaking, nerd.” His forehead pinched. “You’ve been asleep for nearly a week. We’ve been taking turns visiting you. I can’t wait to the brag to the others that you woke up for me first!”

Izuku blinked. Memory dimly returned. “You’re Kacchan. You’re an idiot. Don’t do what Kacchan would do.”

“Huh?” Katsuki raised his fist. Then he snorted and lowered it. “I swear, you specialize in driving me insane, Deku.”

Izuku asked, “How is everyone in Class 1-A? Are they safe?”

“All for One didn’t target any of us, if that’s what you’re asking. Either our precautions were too strong or he didn’t care. He pretty much completely stopped his criminal activity after he nabbed you. Went into villainous retirement.” Katsuki’s sneer made it clear what he thought of that. “Everyone has been worried sick about you. Round Face, Four Eyes, and Icy Hot have been overtraining themselves thinking they could take on All for One for your sake or something. They collapsed so often Aizawa nearly expelled them. Idiots.”

Judging from the bandages all over Katsuki’s arms, Izuku wondered if Tenya, Ochaco, and Shouto were the only ones who’d been putting in long hours training. He didn’t pick another fight by pointing it out. “Mom?”

Katsuki flinched.

All color drained from Izuku’s face. He struggled to sit up despite the brace suspending his arm. “Did he go after Mom again? What happened?”

“No, no, calm down before you break another bone, you shitty nerd.” Katsuki scowled. “She’s in jail awaiting her appeal. It’s absolute bullshit. Auntie Inko wouldn’t hurt a fly!”

“Oh.” Izuku’s head spun. “Why would Mom be in jail?”

“Shit. I don’t know how to tell you this.” Katsuki rubbed his head. “Her taking you and living under a fake ID wasn’t exactly legal. Who can blame her from wanting to save you from that crazy bastard, though?” He paced the room. “U.A. provided her with legal support. The hag is hoping they’ll let Auntie Inko out on house arrest.”

This had all happened because of him. Izuku’s hands shook. His breathing came out ragged. A bead of sweat rolled down his chin.

Katsuki peered closer at him. “You want me to get a doctor?”

Izuku refused to cry. Then Katsuki would think he was still a crybaby and he’d lose the fragile respect he’d started to build up since attending U.A. “N-no, I’m fine.” The tremble in his voice rendered this claim implausible.

Katsuki grimaced. “You’re safe. Relax. Fucking All for One is in Tartarus.”

Izuku flinched. That look on his face. He knows how weak I am.

Katsuki continued, “There are two heroes outside guarding you at all times. All Might called them in before the Hero Public Safety Commission dragged him off.”

“Before the Hero Public Safety Commission what?”

Katsuki flinched. “Shit.”

“Tell me,” Izuku growled. His anger made his shaking momentarily stop.

Katsuki rubbed his forehead. “Look, after we found out where you were…the Hero Public Safety Commission…they ordered everyone not to rescue you. Because All for One had stopped causing trouble as long as he had you, and they thought that was a good trade. Assholes. All Might went after you anyway.”

And now All Might was in trouble as a result. It was all his fault. Izuku’s vision blurred. He seriously couldn’t breathe. He clutched his chest. The world faded in and out. He might be about to break down. He couldn’t let Kacchan see him break down. “Where’s Yuki? My cat?”

“Huh? How the hell would I know?” Katsuki stared at him. His eyes widened. “I’ll go find out.”

He left the room before Izuku started crying. Katsuki had always known him better than anyone. He knew that Izuku didn’t want him to watch.

As soon as Izuku entered the classroom, everyone stopped talking. He flinched and tugged on a lock of green hair. He’d dyed it back as soon as he’d gotten out of the hospital.

The other students of Class 1-A resumed their conversations, but with an artificialness making it obvious they were still watching him. After so long alone, it felt uncomfortable to have so many eyes on him. Izuku petted Yuki, nestled in his arms. That helped calm him down.

Aizawa cleared his throat. “Midoriya has been granted special permission to take his cat to class with him because she’s adorable. Don’t the rest of you fools get ideas about bringing animals in here. I only let cats into my classroom. Welcome back, Midoriya.”

Izuku appreciated the joking tone Aizawa had adopted, trying to make it seem like the cat had been the teacher’s idea. In reality, Izuku couldn’t be more than a few hours away from Yuki without having a panic attack. It made him feel pathetic. How was he going to become a hero when he had to carry a cat around everywhere? He wondered if U.A. had only taken him back out of pity.

Aizawa’s declaration unleashed the flood. The entire class crowded around him, crying, “Welcome back, Izuku!”

Izuku flinched at the sound of his name. One hand went up over his ears, but he was still holding Yuki so he couldn’t move his other arm. He’d responded. He’d responded to his name, and now someone innocent would die for it, All for One would kill people…

“Give him some space,” Ochaco shouted. With murmurs, the other students moved backward.

Izuku’s cheeks flushed with humiliation. He mumbled, “Can you all call me Midoriya?”

Shouto asked, “Have we done something to upset you? Is this because we failed to rescue you?”

“Of course not!” Izuku couldn’t meet anyone’s eyes. “It’s…it’s fine…call me what you want…”

Katsuki put up his feet on the desk. “Ha, just call him Deku like me. Everyone in the class should go by my awesome nicknames.”

Izuku gave Katsuki an A for effort, but he knew he had to explain, or his friends’ feelings would be hurt. “I used to get punished for responding to my name. Calling me Deku is a good idea, actually.” He looked away from the shocked and horrified looks directed at him.

“I’m sorry,” Shouto said quietly. “Deku.”

Aizawa cleared his throat. “Back to your seats, everyone.”

As the lecture began, Tenya whispered, “I took notes for you on what you missed.” He handed them to Izuku.

Tenya had filled an entire notebook with class notes for every single day that Izuku had been gone. Izuku’s eyes blurred. “Thank you,” he whispered back.

“You have to keep up your grades, of course,” Tenya said. Izuku decided not to tell his friend that he’d already been exempted from exams. It might cause Tenya’s brain to explode.

After class, Izuku observed as all his friends went into huddle, then drew straws. Momo and Ochaco won the first right to approach him. It made him smile, that they were trying so hard to be considerate, even though he felt pathetic for not being able to talk to everyone at once. Ochaco and Momo didn’t ask him any questions, just filled him in with funny stories about what the class had been doing since he’d been gone. It was nice.

Izuku glimpsed yellow hair passing through the open door and shot to his feet. “I’m sorry, I need to go talk to All Might. Can you two please watch Yuki?”

Running down the hallway, he caught up with his mentor. “The Hero Public Safety Commission finally let you go? What did they decide?” No, that wasn’t the first thing he should say. “I’m sorry you got in trouble for saving me.”

The usual bags under All Might’s eyes had gotten even heavier. “You have nothing to be sorry for, my boy. I apologize for letting you get kidnapped.”

“That wasn’t your fault!”

“And nothing the Hero Public Safety Commission can do to me would be your fault.”

“Point taken.” Izuku snorted. “I should have said thank you. Thank you for rescuing me.”

All Might smiled. “Thank you for saving me from All for One.”

“I didn’t…”

“You most certainly did. I would have died, if not for you. You lived up to the legacy of One for All.”

Izuku flushed. When All Might said that, he could almost believe it.

All Might asked, “Can I hug you?”

Izuku considered the odds of him freaking out. “Sure. Maybe a quick hug.” Hugs had some bad connotations for him.

But when All Might hugged him, he didn’t mind it. Maybe because he’d been asked first. Izuku hugged back. He remembered to ask, “What happened with the Hero Public Safety Commission?”

Breezily, All Might said, “Oh, they formally revoked my hero license, but I was planning to retire anyway, so it makes no difference. Nothing they can do to me now, eh, my boy?” He winked.

“Oh,” Izuku croaked. He could read between the lines. If All Might had planned to quit, then this had probably been a deliberate revenge to taint his legacy. All because of Izuku.

All Might patted him on the back. “The One for All holders have a long history of being at odds with the government. I bet they’d be proud of me getting tossed out. I’ll tell you some stories later.”

There would be a later. Izuku was no longer trapped alone in a box. That made him feel a bit better. For All Might’s sake, he managed to smile and say, “Sounds like fun.”

As Izuku walked away, Katsuki jogged up to him. “Yeah, the Hero Public Safety Commission sucks.”

Izuku shrugged, not wanting to talk about it.

Katsuki said, “Look at the bright side, Deku. Now we can be the downfall of All Might together!”

Izuku snorted. It turned into a laugh. “Kacchan, why are you such an asshole?” He couldn’t stop laughing.

“Regular fucking hero-destroying team, the two of us,” Katsuki said. “Do you think every time we get kidnapped, we can make one of the top ten retire? Want to try to take down Endeavor next? Icy Hot might want in on that one.”

Izuku doubled-over laughing.

Izuku had been doing so well. He’d gone a week without a panic attack. He’d started leaving Yuki in his room. Then it happened.

He’d been out with Shouto sampling a new soba food stand. As the two of them walked past a potted plant on the sidewalk, a branch tickled Izuku’s arm. It was plastic. The plant was fake.

Everything was fake. Izuku was back inside the vault. It had all been an elaborate test, probably, and he’d failed, and All for One was going to punish him.

When awareness returned to him, Izuku lay on a bench. A jacket covered him. Shouto stood over him with his phone out. “Should I call an ambulance?”

“No,” Izuku gasped out. He tried to sit up, but he was too dizzy. “Yuki…”

“She’s back in your dorm,” Shouto said with increasing panic. “Uh…I have this cat-shaped charm on my backpack?” He held it out.

Izuku asked, “Can you hold my hand?”

“Okay! I can do that.” Shouto dropped to his knees and held out his hand. His brow furrowed with concentration as if he was taking part in the hand-holding Olympics.

Izuku took the offered hand and breathed deeply until his heart rate slowed down. “Sorry.” He felt like he should offer an explanation. “There was a fake plant.” That sounded pathetic. “I’m pathetic.”

“You’re not,” Shouto said, mouth twisting with distress.

Izuku chuckled in an unhumorous way. “I can’t be a hero if I’m scared of plastic plants. I might as well quit now.”

Shouto asked, “Was I pathetic when I couldn’t use my fire side during my last battle at the Sports Festival against Katsuki?”

“No, of course not!” Izuku sat up straighter.

“Even though you’d just helped me unlock the other half of my power? Don’t you think it was pathetic of me to waste all your efforts?”

“You can’t just erase all your trauma after one conversation!”

“Exactly.” Shouto squeezed his hand. “It takes time to recover. Please be as kind to yourself as you’ve always been to me.”

Wordless, Izuku nodded. He felt like a weight had been lifted off his chest.

Izuku liked training with Ochaco. She never held back against him, whereas some of the others treated him like he was fragile. She understood. He didn’t want any special treatment. He needed strong opponents to train against.

As Ochaco swung a kick at his face, he ducked low. He was still building his muscle back, but his combat reflexes remained.

Izuku tried to grab her arm and throw her to the matt, but she slipped free. They circled each other. Then Ochaco lunged at him.

He sidestepped and kicked her legs out from under her. With a squawk, she fell.

Izuku grabbed her before her face could impact with the matt. “Good match.”

“It was.” Ochaco laughed. “This is the reverse of the first time we met, when I saved you from falling.”

“Not as big a fall.” Izuku helped her stand up.

Ochaco dusted off her knees. “Take the compliment, Izuku.” Her smile froze. “I’m sorry. It just slipped out.”

“It’s fine,” Izuku said. To his surprise, he meant it. For once, hearing his own name hadn’t made him panic. He was getting better.

He was going to be just fine.

On the day Inko Midoriya was released on parole, she requested to visit All for One.

Inko stared at the supervillain from behind bulletproof glass. He’d been strapped to a bed with an IV attached to his arm and brainwave monitors on his head. They’d added additional security since his last escape: his life support equipment had been rigged to explode if he moved.

Exhaling, Inko turned to leave. In truth, she’d only wanted to confirm he’d been safely contained.

Although he shouldn’t be able to detect anything through the one-way glass, much less know it was her, All for One spoke. “How is he?”

Inko’s shoulders stiffened. “Completely recovered from what you did to him.” Or so Izuku’s letters claimed, though Inko suspected him of lying to comfort her.

All for One said, “I’ll break out of here again.” The confidence in his voice was unnerving and compelling.

Unfortunately, no one had yet found Tomura Shigaraki or the mad doctor. For this reason, Inko struggled to deny it. Instead, she said, “If you do, Izuku will beat you again. My son will be the one to defeat you for once and for all. He’s far stronger than you are.”

Then she turned and walked away. That was the advantage of being the one not in jail: she could walk away and get the last word.

Izuku met his mother on the street outside. His face paled slightly upon taking in her missing finger and the scars on her face. But he forced himself to smile. “Let’s go home, Mom.”

She pulled him into a hug. She was crying too hard to speak. But as his arms went up around her, she thought he understood.