Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Katsuki sucked in a breath, sweat dripping down his brow, mixing in with the blood smeared across his face, fresh from the open wounds patched along his arms and back. He felt the air behind him sharpen, and he stiffened, preparing for the next blow. CRACK. Cold, smooth metal met his bare skin and for a split second Katsuki was seeing stars. The immediate pain ruptured under his spine as a direct impact was hit again and again and again and again…

“Sixteen,” said a voice behind him, devoid of any kind of warmth or emotion. He spoke as if he was simply delivering his lunch order. “Number sixteen please.” Katsuki could imagine the man saying in his head. In his empty, monotone voice that matched the empty monotone voices of every employee in this god forsaken place. Katsuki held strong and blinked away from the murkiness at the edge of his vision. Only sixteen. He would not fall to sixteen whimsy hits. Even if they were the exact opposite of whimsy. The pure force from the bar hurt like hell, and the bruises made his back appear to be a walking illustration of an Impressionism painting: fuzzy colors and an uncanny representation of something almost human but not quite. After a few moments to wallow in the current misery, the air behind him sharpened once more and another ear splitting BANG echoed across the room as Katsuki was struck once more.

“Seventeen.” Katsuki stumbled forward slightly, or as far as his restraints would allow him. He never could walk very far from the totem pole he was chained to. The leather was splitting into his skin and causing infected rings to form around his wrist and itchy splotches to crawl up his forearms. It couldn’t scratch himself to relieve the itching either, it was a constant torture, not worse than what he was currently experiencing however.

“Did you wind up that time or something?” Katsuki snapped out, in between inhales of agony. His brain kept shouting at him to run, to get away, to stop whoever was doing this to him but the leather binding his wrists together and keeping him within 3 feet of the concrete pole at all times was a slight obstacle his brain didn’t seem to comprehend. In response to his question Katsuki got socked in the back of his knee which actually did send him straight down, face first. A nasty nose bleed would’ve occured if his forearms hadn't been braced for impact. The instant pain that flared within his arms was unbearable, though he only had been thrown forward onto a rough path of dirt, the ground was still hard and rocky and tiny sharp pebbles were stabbed into his skin. Within a split second dozens of tiny droplets of blood dotted his arms and from a distance someone could confuse his condition with hives, only up close could someone tell the gruesome conditions he was being put through.“No, not that time. But I can this time if you’d like,” the man said, without even a hint of emotion. How someone could casually speak those words as if they were an average conversation starter was beyond Katsuki’s understanding.

He was leaning forward, his hands clenching and unclenching over and over again, trying to distract himself from the dozens of points of pain currently spazzing all over his body. If you don’t think about it they can’t bother you. Ignore them and they will go away. Don’t give in. DO NOT give in. He mentally repeated the lines over and over. If he willed it long enough it might have a chance at becoming. His thoughts were interrupted with another CRACK and this time, completely unprepared, he did crumple forward. His head dipped low in between his knees as he kneeled in the same manner a child might kneel for forgiveness. His vision went dark for a few seconds and he couldn’t contain the blood and congestion that coughed its way out of his chest. How long would they keep this up? He held his arms close to his chest as if he hugged them close he could figure out how to grab on and hold onto the last bit of consciousness he had in him. He could feel himself slipping away and he didn’t know how to stop it. How can your own mind be your worst enemy?

There was a huff of impatience behind him before the voice said, “Sit up.” Katsuki didn’t move. Even if he wanted to, he didn’t know if he could. All he could do was clutch his tethered arms close as he leaned forward into the ground. Stray threads of grass tickled his leg as he prayed his hands chose not to let him go too soon. How was grass already growing back? Katsuki thought it was cruel that life as small and meaningless as grass could find a way to grow and live amongst the ashes of lost lives that were far greater. Another great crack split the air as the man aimed and swung directly at the metal pole in front of him, and Katsuki flinched hard. He never flinched, never showed fear, or never let the enemy see him weak. How could he willingly start now? His body began convulsing without warning. He was shaking all over and he hurt so badly but he couldn’t give in. He had already shown them his fear, he couldn’t let them have anything else. He couldn’t let go, not yet. “I said sit up.” Katsuki showed no sign of a response and that seemed to be a sufficient response in itself. An irritated grumble and ruffling of clothes was heard as the man roughly grabbed Katsuki by the hair, yanking him back up in a kneeling position. “Do you not know how to listen, boy?” It felt as if every individual strand was being yanked from his scalp as the man turned Katsuki’s head to the side to make eye contact. For what reason? The man had no idea… perhaps a dominating one?

“I can listen… I just choose not to,” Katsuki spit out, his voice cracking and husky from continuous spouts of blood he was coughing up. How did he always manage to say the wrong thing at the wrong time? Even though he sounded half dead, he looked twice as bad. His lids were drowsy and only partially raised and his face was puffy and swollen from previous beatings. Blood was smeared all over his cheeks and even knotted in some parts of his spiky, blonde hair and fresh lines of it ran down his chin, dripping onto equally bruised and bloody chest. Somewhere during the past days’ events, he had obtained a four inch scratch along his left temple and a similar scratch beginning at his left cheekbone and ending at his jaw. Once the man laid eyes on the face of his victim, he had to muffle a gasp of shock at the boy’s state. For the first time he appeared to show the most subtle signs of grief and almost regret. Katuski’s eyelids lifted ever so slightly, they felt as if they each were carrying ten tons of concrete. His crimson red eyes were hazy and absent, as if Katsuki’s body was here but his soul was somewhere else entirely. It seems the man had actually beat the life out of him. But a flicker of recognition seemed to enlighten something in his brain because a moment later Katsuki’s eyes widened slightly and a gasp escaped his bloody, cracked lips.

Katuski found he recognized the man. He couldn’t quite place where, but he knew he had seen this face before. Not recently, that’s for sure. But at some point in his life, before the hero work and the fear of All for One, Katsuki had seen his face. He even began to recognize the voice. This man, he had spoken with him somewhere. Yet, he couldn’t place where. His eyes flicked back and forth between the man’s horrified brown eyes as if someone, deep in the murkiness of his pupils he would find a reflection of himself long ago and be able to render his memory. It was no use, he found nothing.

The man dropped whatever he was holding in his other hand and it clattered against the ground and clearly he hadn’t been expecting it because he slightly jumped. Despite the weapon gone from the man’s hold Katsuki didn’t feel a sliver of relief, he knew something else, something worse, would come sooner or later. But the man stood frozen, his terrified gaze looking upon Katsuki as if he was looking down at the depths of hell. But the look of terror lasted only for a moment before the man closed his eyes and tossed Katsuki against the pole as if he were a limp ragdoll that was easy to dispose of. In his current condition, Katuski could see the resemblance. He slowly, and painstakingly, crawled into a sitting position, leaning his aching back against the pole, he kept his eyes on the man. His back reaped in pain and he gritted his teeth to keep from calling out, but to turn another direction would be to expose his back to the unknowns of the campsite around him. That was a risk he couldn’t afford to take.

The man stepped forward as his shadow, from the lanterns lining the wired fence a few yards behind him, slowly overtook Katsuki until he was entirely encased in the darkness of the man’s figure. And as much as he wanted to, he didn’t open his mouth, even Katsuki knew when not to taunt a man with a cane. (the key word there was when; sometimes taunting is necessary) Katuski narrowed his vision down the man’s eyes and hands. As long as he didn't reach for the weapon he should be safe, but the man’s eyes told another story. The man swept his eyes over Katsuki’s broken fever and closed his eyes with a shaky breath before crouching low and clasping his hands together as if he was about to break some heart heavy news to the boy. As if anything he said could be worse than what he had experienced the past twenty-four hours. Flashes of ocean, green hair, and screaming suddenly filled his mind and Katsuki about lost his shit before realizing, never mind, there was something the man could tell him that was worse than everything had gone through at the will of All for One.

“You know, I was told to continue the beatings until you were no longer conscious,” the man spoke with his usual stoic tone. Katsuki would’ve raised an eyebrow at that statement if he had any strength to do so, but it was taking everything in him not to collapse on his side.

“Do you not know the meaning of the word or… am I missing something? Are you going to do a grand.. finale swing.. or something?” Katsuki choked out in between coughs and laughs. Not because the situation was humorous, but because it was so fucking ridiculous. How did he end up here? How could they have lost this badly? How could things have gone this wrong?

“No, I’m just not going too.” Katsuki fought the urge to cackle.

“Thank you, I guess? You expect me to get on my knees and praise you?” His voice was full of laughter and irony, but he could barely find it in himself to lift the corners of his mouth without feeling as if his skin was being torn in half at the seams. He wondered if his face matched the stoicness of the man before him. The empty gleam in the man’s eyes. The straight line formed by his lips and the serious shape formed by his brows. He hoped his face was an exact representation of the man’s so at least he would go out with one last ounce of rebellion within him. This man was going to end things here, he knew it. He could almost hear the words about to spill from his mouth, I was told to knock you unconscious but I don’t see why we should have to deal with you becoming conscious again. Goodbye! No, this was it. He wanted so badly to be wrong, but you didn’t just come into the main headquarters for All For One’s army and make it out alive. Not if you were fighting for the opposite side of the war. And now that the war is over….

“No, but I expect you to fucking listen.” That snagged Katsuki’s attention, the snap of the tone and the sudden darkness that seemed to befall the man’s facial features. “All For One will be meeting with you later and he wants you to be ‘taken care of’ if you can get the just.” Katsuki understood. All For One expected him to be confused, weary, and weak. Katsuki would be none of those things for him. He could be on the verge of death, bleeding out and standing on broken bones, but he would stand before All For One until he is permanently laid on his deathbed. He is willing to go down whilst standing but he will not be killed while already down. The man had been staring at Katsuki for a few seconds, but Katsuki didn’t speak. He just returned the heavy glare. He didn’t trust the man fully, because why would someone working for All For One be handing his plans out freely to prisoners? The man sighed and then added, “I don’t know why I’m telling you this so don’t ask but…” He hesitated a moment more.

“They gave me a recommended number.” Katsuki must’ve made a face of confusion because the man quickly added, “You know, of hits.” Katsuki’s eyes widened slightly at the news. How many more were they supposed to be? Was he just telling him this because they made it throw the hit count? Katsuki was honored that All For One felt he was strong enough to receive double digit beatings, which probably wasn’t the thoughts he should be having, but he suddenly felt uneasy that he might not be finished yet. The man could be telling the truth and he could just as easily be lying. Trying to get Katsuki to lower his guard before he punches him straight in the gut, or his face, or wherever else is a position of weakness.

“The number was 48.” Katuski’s breath hitched. That couldn’t be true. He wouldn’t have just been knocked unconscious, he would’ve been killed. He knew All For One was batshit crazy but he didn’t expect him to outright kill a prisoner that could still have useful information. 48 blows. He felt as if he was going to pass out at.. what number had he even got too? “You made it to 20.” Oh. He would’ve been dead by 30. The man would’ve been beating a mutilated corpse by the time he reached 40. As if suddenly on edge that the man was going to reach out and try to start beating him again, Katsuki tucked his knees against his chest and nestled bonded arms tightly between them. The man wasn’t really looking at Katsuki right now, however, he was staring down at his hands. Picking at his nails absentmindedly as he turned thoughts over in his brain. Katsuki didn’t want to provoke the man, who seemed for the moment, almost trying to warn him, which couldn’t be right. This man can’t be trying to help him can he? Suddenly the man raised his head and stared straight into Katsuki’s eyes. The man was debating, he could see the gears shifting. He was thinking of what could possibly happen if he told Katsuki this and Katsuki was slowly becoming very intrigued.

“It was a hit for each hero killed on the battlefield.” That was all the man said and the little blood Katsuki had left drained from his face. No no no no no no. He had to be lying. Forty-eight? It couldn’t be true. No, the man had to be bluffing. Had to be trying to distract him. Wasn’t he? But if he was telling the truth… were they students and adults alike or just adults? Oh, it didn’t matter. A death is a death and that was someone’s life. Gone. Just like that. In the blink of an eye it’s as if they were never there to begin with. And these deaths, these would be people Katsuki knew. Not some random trying to take Katsuki’s light, not these would be his allies, maybe even his friends. Maybe even…. oh God please no. Katsuki couldn’t bear the thoughts and suddenly the last bit of strength he had seemed to leave his body. He slumped forward into his knees for support, and the man crouched there watching him struggle silently.

He sealed his eyes tightly shut and tried to block out of the tears beckoning to flow free. He held his forehead in his bound hands and grabbed clumps of his blonde hair and began pulling it as if he pulled hard enough it would trigger some reaction and he would wake up in his bed back at UA and everything would be the way it should be. He wouldn’t be imprisoned by All For One, the heroes wouldn’t have lost not only the war but also in numbers, and he would be preparing for another lesson with his class. What he would give to terrorize them all one more time. But he wasn’t dreaming and he knew the only thing he would open his eyes to would be the puddles of his own blood at his feet, his raggy clothes, and butchered skin. Without his consent, a vision of Allmight flashed without his mind. Whatever you do, you keep him safe. He’s our last chance Katsuki and you’re in charge of keeping him alive. Katsuki’s eyes flared open in horror and he shook his head, tearing his hands away from his face as if he was on fire. He looked down and saw blood was now all over his hands and knees but he didn’t care. He couldn’t bear the sight of his greatest hero, knowing he had failed him.

“Why would you tell me this?” Katsuki didn’t care if he had already been told not to ask, the man invoked his worst fears. This hurt so much worse than the bar had. He would’ve rather been forced to endure the fourth-eight hits and maybe lived to see the light of day if only he meant he hadn’t had to deal with Allmight and.. Katsuki couldn’t even admit it to himself. Couldn’t believe it to be real. He chose to block it out instead and stuff all those emotions back down, he couldn’t show weakness, not here, not with this man, and certainly not near All For One.

“As I said earlier, All For One is going to see you later. I would say act like you’ve been broken, but I don’t think you have to do much acting.” Katsuki watched the man stand up and grab the bar and he instinctively curled into himself, tucking himself as close to the bar as he could. But he simply pulled a rag out of the pockets of his navy uniform and began to wipe the metal clean before he turned and walked towards the fence. Katsuki stared the entire walk and watched him intently as the man pulled a set of keys out of his pocket and unlocked the latch to the gate. The man opened the gate and stepped out before locking the gate back and pressing a button on a metal box beside the fence’s entrance. A heavy hum sounded across the enclosed yard before the lights flickered slightly and shut off, leaving Katsuki alone with his thoughts. The shadows were his only form of company and now they too had been chased away by the darkness. The yard itself was too dark to make out anything more than a few feet away from him. Perhaps the darkness behind his eyelids was better than the darkness in front of him so he closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the pole, letting out a heavy sigh.

The pain was so immense he couldn’t help but feel his muscles quiver all over and for the first time he felt safe enough to let out a raw sob that was so rough it felt as if it was scraping his throat. The tears came without warning and he barely recognized he had been crying until the stickiness on his face became so overwhelming he had to wipe his arm against it, the salty tears instantly stinging all the cuts from the pebbles. He finally was able to brush the pebbles off against his leg but the stinging was so much worse without the tiny rocks there to clog the flow of blood. He was a mess, he looked straight out of a horror movie and no matter how bad he looked he knew it felt a 1000 times worse. He didn’t think he had ever been put through such excruciating raw pain, not when he had been captured by the League, not when he literally died before being brought back, and yeah, that sucked. And this was probably minor compared to what they would do once they deemed him no longer useful. As long as he kept his lips sealed he would live. That’s all that mattered. He just had to live. It didn’t even have to be a lush living, he just had to survive. Just survive. Make it out alive and don’t fail more people than he already had. That was the goal. And Katsuki would die trying before giving up on a goal.

He cried until he didn’t have any tears left in him, to be honest he didn’t know if he had any more liquids in his body. His blood was basically everywhere but inside him by this point and what was left of the little water he had drank that day just came out in the broken sobs of his mourning. Not for the hero’s necessarily, it was a shock, but it was also expected. It hurt to hear the number, but it wasn’t surprising. If they were still here they would’ve come for him by now. He was alone. He was alone in this camp and he was alone in the world. He had lost everything and everyone that had mattered and he had nothing left except his will to live and his promise to Allmight and he hoped that would be enough to get him out of here. Eventually. For now though, he needed to focus on the present. Stay alive. Stay alive. 

He knew he might be having issues when he had to focus on breathing. In out. In out. In out. Just live. Just fucking live. Don’t die. Don’t die. It wasn’t long before that pattern of thinking sent him into a weary state of conscience where he wasn’t really asleep but he wasn’t really awake either. He was alive, but barely and it took everything in him not to heave up the remains of his intestines which felt as if they were being eaten alive inside of him. Internal bleeding. This was not good. But Katsuki wasn’t exactly in the state of mind to worry too much about it. He was only capable of thinking about one thing at a time and right now that was making sure he didn’t run out of oxygen. In out. In out. In… out… It wasn’t long before he finally shifted consciousness and drifted into a pitiful sleep.

~~~

When Izuku finally drifted into a consciousness that allowed him to concentrate on more things than the feel of the warm sun against his bruised and beaten skin, it was as if a light switch was powered on inside his head. He flew open his eyes and was met with green, a green that was a much lighter shade than his dark, earthy hair, and he flung himself into a sitting position. With his arms stretched out behind him he pulled his knees upwards, and prepared himself to stand. But before he could continue that idea he felt the dryness of his mouth and instantly craved a sip of water. He tried to dampen his lamps and mouth with his saliva but it wasn’t doing much good for him. No, he needed water and fast. After roasting in the sun all day he was bound to be dehydrated. But as he looked around to find a reasonable water source all he was met with was disappointment. In its great expanse that lay before him was the pacific ocean but that was almost cruel. All this water and he couldn’t drink a drop without becoming sicker than he already was.

Izuku sighed and began looking around again. As he studied the woods slowly became aware he had no idea how he got here. He noticed he was nestled in a bed of leaves, sheltered by the canopy of dozens of tall trees surrounding him, making him impossible to spot from the air. That kind of sucked because if rescue teams happened to fly by, they never would have seen him. And there had to be rescue teams out there right? After…

Yesterday’s events suddenly flooded his head and Izuku crumpled onto his side, curling into a ball, and trying to pry the memories out of his mind. He didn’t remember well but what he remembered he didn’t care to see. Blood, fires, burning bodies, and the smell. Oh, the smell had been wretched. At the thought of blood he suddenly thought to check himself, he can’t be that bad all things considering otherwise he would probably be dead. Either by his own wounds or an animal from the woods surrounding him.

He didn’t want to think of those negative thoughts, he didn’t want to think of the possibility that they actually lost… No, they couldn't, after all the training, all the planning, all the missions. They couldn’t just fail. Not like this and most certainly not when they were so close. If Izuku believed in anything it was his team. All Might, the other heroes, his classmates… Kacchan. He knew them better than he knew himself at times and he knew they would never allow All For One to succeed, whether Izuku had been at the final battle or not they would find a way to win. In fact, Izuku was entirely sure of the fact they had succeeded and were probably looking for him, he just needed to get back to civilization and out of the muggy jungles of the pacific coast.

If he used his float mixed with gearshift he would be back to UA in no time, or at least reach a Medical Station before then where he could speak with someone and let his team know he was okay. He would need to fly towards Shizuoka but in all honesty, he had no idea where he was, so maybe immediately breaking into flight was out of the question. Well, he would need a new idea quickly. He didn’t want to stay on this stranded coast any longer than he had too. With a sigh Izuku steadily climbed to his feet, he could at least use float to quickly find a water source. He began to dust himself off, brushing the leaves and twigs out of his clothes and hair. He was going to begin walking towards the open sandy beach where he would have an easier time taking flight without obstacles, but when his hand came back coated in blood he froze. This can’t be good. His eyes widened at the blood stained on his right hand. He lifted his left elbow and found about an 8 inch scrap running from his shoulder blade down to his elbow. Izuku began to mentally panic. Oh goodness. It’s going to be infected and I’m going to die out here and no one is going to find me and my mom will not know what to do and she will be looking for me but I’ll probably be eaten by then and… He mentally panicked for a good five minutes.

Finally, he came to his senses and decided to rip off a tear of his suit, or what was left of it. He still had most of the clothing pieces, but all his gear was gone and his red cape had been ripped off at some point. His red belt was gone and his clothes were next to useless. The sleeves had been ripped off which was weird because not even he could think of a valuable reason for a villain to rip off his sleeves. If that was part of a villain’s grand plan, to rip his clothes seemed a little kinky, but they were villains after all so who really knew the thought process behind it. But the suit was downright useless at this point anyways and it was severely hot in the muggy forests so Izuku decided he probably didn’t need it anyways. He always wore underclothes, as most of the guys in baggier suits did, and he had on a plain white t-shirt (well maybe not plain because it says Shirt. in big black letters, but it is one of his personal favorites) with red athletic shorts. He kept his shoes though, because there wasn’t really a spare pair of those. After stepping out of that mangy suit he instantly felt 100x better and he tore the remaining pieces of fabric into long strips before he began wrapping his upper arm. It didn’t take too long and thankfully the cut wasn’t that deep nor painful. He was soon ready to begin his search for fresh water, he was beginning to feel the effects of dehydration.

Izuku walked across the sandy beaches, kicking clumps of sand as he moseyed along. The beach was by no means an elegant beach you might see in magazines and on vacation websites, nor the kind you wait all year for to spend a week during summer vacation. It had a dreary vibe and a salty, cool breeze. The sand was darker grains, like walking on brown sugar, and twigs and limbs were scattered in every direction. He stopped walking once he was halfway to the ocean, and when he turned back he noticed the beach was almost shaped like a circle. A giant wall of elegant Red and Black Pines, stretching their lush, green branches high into the clear, afternoon skies, formed part of the arc. Maybe it was more of a semi circle because the rest of the beach was just open sand and rock formations.

Turning his attention back to the task at hand, he readied himself for flight, preparing to take off kneeled to the ground, gave his lower body a few moments to loosen up, then propelled his quirk! Confused as to why his feet were still firmly planted on the ground, Izuku glanced around as if maybe there was some mysterious force holding on down against his will. A mysterious force he couldn’t see, feel, or sense for that matter. “That’s strange,” he muttered under his breath, and attempted to take flight again. After a second trial and error, he began to grow concerned. He mentally processed how to use Float again. Picture a balloon. Picture a bird. Picture yourself walking on clouds. He had done all of that, and he wasn’t only closer to a bird or a cloud unless the clouds included fog, which had begun to drift over the seas as the day reached its breaking point and dusk was drawing near. “What is going on?” He asked, bewildered that he had forgotten how to use float. It had become muscle memory at this point so he normally didn’t even have to think about it but now he couldn’t even attempt the power even with thinking about it. Float was one of the easiest quirks, besides All Might’s, to operate. There's no way he couldn’t use a step-by-step technique to figure it out.

Maybe he just needed to go back to the basics, he might’ve taken a hit to the head or something and his memory was muffled. His head didn’t really hurt but you can never be too cautious. First, he took a deep breath and released tension in his muscles. Then, he steadily bent his knees ever so slightly forward, pushing his weight into the balls of his feet, bouncing slightly on his toes, and now was the most complicated part of it all. He had to reach down deep into his inner core and find the power within- “OW,” shrieked Izuku as a sudden sharp whiplash shot straight through his brain. A bright light flashed across his vision, momentarily stunning him, and he stumbled backwards, landing flat on his black. He was clutching his head with hands trying to pry the horrible pain out of his brain. It was burning and scratching and thrashing and wouldn’t stop and he was going to go insane as his heart rate started pounding in his chest and he couldn’t breathe steadily, to be honest he didn’t know if he was breathing at all. He was shrieking in agony and he just knew he looked like a maniac but he didn’t care right now, all he wanted was the pest in his head to be gone. He twisted and withered on the ground and sand was flung in every direction from his violent kicking as he curled over on his side, begging and pleading, for his head to get a grip and shut off whatever this was. Then, as suddenly as it came on, the pain was over.

Izuku still held his head between his hands for a few moments to relieve the pressure of his skull that felt as if it had been tossed in a washing machine and tossed around for a few loads, or even worse, a edge of a cliff right before a major earthquake and he was thrown over the ledge only to pound against the side of the mountain over and over and over. An earthquake rated 10 on the Richter Scale. His body was feeling the tremors of aftershock as he laid there panting, wondering what could have possibly just happened. The right side of his face was pressed against the sand and was relatively cool but the other half of his face was burning with heat. He blinked slowly, listening to his own heartbeat that was still pounding against his chest. He was scared to move from his fetal position, afraid that even moving a muscle would spark another attack. But the pain was gone for now and he prayed it wouldn’t return. What could have caused something like that? He knew hydration caused headaches but he didn’t think it led to brain seizures. 

As he laid there, he began to count his breaths. Just to make sure he was breathing because after that, it didn’t feel like he was living. How could he experience a feeling so great and so powerful only for it to dissipate instantly? He didn’t know and he didn’t know how to avoid the scenario from repeating itself. Maybe he really was in need of some water, what if he had hallucinated the whole thing? That would be a reasonable explanation. Is this just the body’s personal response to not receiving enough water? Izuku was very dedicated to drinking 8 ounces of water a day at least, so he had never bore witness to the horrors of dehydration. Perhaps this was just a symptom. Still, he made no motion to go find water. He didn’t make any motions at all, he just laid there and watched the fog slowly roll in over the crashing waves.

Izuku didn’t get up for a while actually. Instead he solemnly watched the robin-egg-blue skies fade into dusty violet. He saw the shadow’s from the tree’s extend across the beach and open waters until they too vanished into the night. He watched gulls fly down from their posts in the trees and hop around the ground, picking at tiny crabs and insects scurrying around the ocean’s edge. Then he watched as the gull’s returned to their posts to tuck themselves in for the night. The fog quickly grew heavy and soon coated the entire coastline in a hazy mist. If he turned his head, Izuku couldn’t see more than 10 feet out in the water which made him feel a little uneasy. He liked to be able to sense danger coming his way and while danger sense was very useful, it was also nice to have some sense of where danger might pop up without his quirk. In other words, he liked to have a solid awareness of his surroundings. It’s nice to not only know that you’re going to be facing up against something or someone dangerous, but it’s also nice to be able to SEE what you're going to be facing. Still Izuku couldn’t find the strength in him to get up. The strike against his mind had somehow exhausted the energy in his whole body and he couldn’t find it in himself to move. It took everything he had to flex his fingertips, forget standing up and walking around a forest or attempting to float once more.

The longer Izuku laid there the more he felt like he had been in this exact spot before, or something similar to it. He couldn’t entirely place what had happened or had any recognition of when it had happened. But after a while of wallowing in his feelings, trying to kickstart his memory, words appeared in his head. They kept replaying over and over as if a broken record was on repeat. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back.” I’ll be back. I’ll be back. I’ll be back. Who will be back? He didn’t know what sparked the words or why they wouldn’t stop. And who had SAID the words was an even better question. Was it himself, telling someone else that he would return to them. Or had someone told him? Had he diverted from a teammate at some point during the battle, or on a past mission that he had apparently forgotten about, and told them this. Or, even more likely, had he been abandoned on this random beach and was supposed to be waiting on someone? There were a thousand scenarios that those words could’ve been a result of and Izuku had no idea how to narrow down his thoughts. All this processing was beginning to hurt his head and he resigned to going back to staring out to the inky black sea, seeking comfort from the blanket of fog wrapping him in a misty hug.

His eyes began to grow heavy and as hard as Izuku fought sleep, he didn’t have a lot of strength left in him to fight with after all the thrashing in his head. He promised himself he would just rest his eyes but the steady rhythm of the waves gently crashing against the shore mixed with the cool breeze, ruffling his shaggy curls and kissing his burning skin, still hot from earlier, soon broke that promise as he drifted off into the world of dreams.

~~~

Katsuki slowly stirred awake to the feel of someone lightly brushing his cheek and as even as his eyes fluttered open it took his vision a second to clear. Tilting his head back slightly he instantly recognized he was in a new environment and a blurry figure was standing above him, caressing his cheek. Katsuki blinked a few times, adjusting the dimly lit setting and once his eyesight finally clicked into focus his brain meekly registered the man standing at his bedside. At first, Katsuki assumed the man was an elder, due to his white hair and foggy grey eyes. But the light twinkling inside them marked the man young and full of spirits and that smile… that wicked smile that could deceive even the greatest of detectives.. Once Katsuki registered who was before him he went to slap the man’s arm away only to find he couldn’t move his arms. Glancing down he saw both wrists were firmly tied to the bars beside his bed. It took all of half a second for him to freak out. Using all his might he threw himself back against the bed frame, trying to pull out of the ropes trapping him.

“Let me go, you fucking old ass creep!” Katsuki shouted as he fought, All For One didn’t even blink. He just stared as Katsuki went berserk and patiently held his hand out in the same place it had been when he brushed Katsuki’s cheek. He didn’t force Katsuki to be still, he just waited for the little temper tantrum. He knew Katsuki was weak as it was and wouldn’t last long pouting and kicking. The nasty slur of cuss words soon followed Katsuki’s previous statement as he fought physically and verbally against All For One’s presence. After a minute or so, Katsuki seemed to feel satisfied he was pushed as far back against the bed frame as he could be and All For One couldn’t immediately touch him without at least taking a step forward first, he sat still as a statue, knees tucked against his chest, and panting heavily. His eyes were wide and burning with a rage so intense, if looks could kill he would be able to take out an entire army in a single glance.

“I swear, it’s as if you try to make things harder on yourself,” said All For One with a humorous tone as he lowered his hand to his side and took a step back from the bed. Katsuki didn’t speak, he didn’t move, he just watched the man intently as he had watched his abuser prior to this. “You’re normally so cocky. A stick of dynamite, literally, your name suits you very well.” complimented All For One as he crossed his arms and began strolling around the… tent? Katsuki couldn’t determine what exact type of shelter this could be classified as. There were tables set up around the room, all cluttered with papers and maps. Most likely plans from past attacks. Katsuki’s eyes were glued to All For One as he tenderly toyed with the trinkets displayed on the tables. All For One chuckled once more before asking, “Where’s all that fire now, hm?” The man glanced over his shoulder as he spoke, his voice sweet like honey, despite the venom dripping from his tone. Katsuki narrowed his glare. The man sighed, not bothered by Katsuki’s lack of communication.

“I would ask if you’ve enjoyed your stay so far, but by the looks of it, I can guess how it’s been going.” All For One smiled while speaking, and Kastsuki wanted to tear that stupid smile off his face. This man has done so much irreparable damage, and will pay nothing for it. It wasn’t fair. How could he go on living freely, living lavishly as a king, with the blood of a nation staining his pristine hands. Katsuki could be sick just looking at him. He was a murderer. He killed people with a smile, and he was probably going to end Katsuki in the same manner, with that same stupid crooked smile, just as he had everyone else. “Come on, I’m trying to spark conversation here in case you can’t tell.” Katsuki rolled his eyes as the man turned his body to face him and leaned nonchalantly against the side of the table. He was calm. So very calm. And Katsuki hated him even more for it. He hated that the guilt didn’t eat him away every second of the rest of his miserable life. He hated that he could stand so comfortably knowing what he had done, that he was proud of what he had done. Katsuki knew he would do it over again if given the chance, all while wearing the same stupid smile.

“I don’t speak to strangers,” he said gruffly from the bed. His voice cracked and throat burned from a combination of lack of use and desperation for water. All For One’s lips curled upwards at the remark as he pushed himself off the table and walked back over to the bedside.

“Oh Bakugo, don’t belittle me for such disgrace. How can you call us strangers after all we’ve been through?” All For One was coming close, too close. Katsuki bared his teeth at the man, he was determined not to, but if it came down to it he might blow this place to bits. He knew it would cause chaos and he would have no backup. But it sounded like a better alternative than being near this psychopath for even another minute. “Aren’t I your most fearsome enemy? Enemies would’ve been a better term than strangers. That’s just degrading. Maybe I could even call us friends?” Katsuki’s eyes blazed at the man’s taunting.

“You’re a fucking pest who doesn’t seem to shut up,” Katsuki growled out, his fists clenched as he tried to remain calm. His body was aching from all his shuffling around under the covers and his recent injuries were beginning to flare up. For the first time, he noticed all the bandages wrapped around him. Was he actually being treated? Did these imbeciles actually have knowledge of human care? All For One’s face didn’t falter but he did stop walking when he reached the foot of the bed and he laced his fingers together behind his back to study as he studied the defensive boy before him.

“I’m going to ignore that comment for your betterment. And why can’t we be friends… I did see you through your worst after all.” Katsuki had no idea what the man was talking about until it hit him like a train wreck and his face fell. He couldn’t be bringing it up already. He isn’t going to hold it over my head? The man smiled at Katsuki’s reaction, his eyes brightening with laughter that begged to be released. Katsuki’s eyes dulled with a familiar sadness. “What a day it was,” the man said while shaking his head in reminiscence. “I would say it’s a shame things turned out that way… but I don’t feel shameful about it at all.” All For One began walking around the same again, clearly not good at focusing for over a minute. A large contrast with his ability to focus on plans for years. Katsuki wondered how long it took him to plan the most recent battle. The one that cost him everything.

“You’re a monster,” Katuski spoke softly, suddenly not as alive and alert as before. He wanted to cry again, he wanted to mourn the loss of his friends, and he wanted to go back to sleep in a world where he could forget that they were gone.

“So they say,” said All For One, used to the derogatory names by now. Heroes had been calling him much worse for years. “They’re not wrong.” As he sifted through papers on the desk, Katsuki’s mind began to drift back to the war. To the gore and the bloodshed and every awful thing that occurred because of the man before him. This man had stood in front of Allmight and survived both his kill attacks,in the end even managing to best Allmight. Was Allmight dead? Katsuki had no idea. But if he wasn’t, Katsuki didn’t doubt that would be one of the first people All For One was going to send his dogs after. As of right now though, All For One, evil given form, was standing before him. And he was alone and helpless. And for the first time, he couldn’t help but admit he was a little bit afraid. “But they're dead now. So I don’t see why it matters.”

Katsuki froze. It was one thing hearing about the death toll, it was another hearing it from the lips of the man who was the cause of it. “Don’t say that,” Katsuki spoke without thinking. He was in too much shock, his brain was running on auto-pilot. He couldn’t handle being reminded every five minutes how many people he let down. How many people died because he wasn’t strong enough.

“Why not? Does the truth scare you Bakugo?” All For One asked smoothly. “Does it make you shiver, do you wish to hide from it?” He asked as he left the papers alone and walked over the bedside stool he had been sitting in for a little while before Katsuki awoke. He took a seat and clasped his hands neatly in his lap, staring straight into the empty eyes of Bakugo Katsuki. Katsuki couldn’t think, couldn’t move, and his breathing was almost entirely manual.

“Shut up,” he said with absolutely no bite. He might as well have been saying please or thank you or any other words that could be muttered with extreme care. However his words weren’t tender, they weren’t anything. They were devoid of all emotion just as the man earlier had been. Had he gone through this as well? This shock that shook him so hard he wasn’t able to recover?

“I was like that once,” the man carried on as if Katsuki’s words were never uttered. “I used to cower before the truth.” Katsuki began shaking his head, not wanting to hear anymore. He wanted to be left alone, he didn’t want to be stuck in this bed, in this room, with this evil man.

“Shut up. Shut up. Shut up,” he kept repeating, trying to get the man to be quiet for at least a moment. He knew All For One was about to tell him something horrible and he wanted no part of it.

“The truth was my brother.” Katsuki began trembling with irritation that this man couldn’t take a hint and tears started to swell up in his eyes. “And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t face him. So I hid. I cowered in fear, and fear kept me safe.” The longer the man talked, the less fight Katsuki had in him, so after a few tears silently ran down his cheeks, Katsuki turned the face of the man who had been solemnly staring at him. His grey eyes were as dead as ever. Not even the remembrance of his brother could bring a hint of life into them. The man was truly a monster. “But one day I realized that hiding was doing nothing more than prolonging the inevitable, and one day I was going to have to face the truth, or it was going to destroy me.” The man paused and Katsuki swore his face darkened before he continued.

“So I chose the second option, and I killed my brother.” Katsuki knew this story, Allmight had told it more than once, but hearing it from All For One was an entirely new experience Katsuki could have lived without. How can he admit to such evil with a straight face? Katsuki knew the man wasn’t done speaking and whatever was next was most likely only going to be worse than the last so he mentally braced himself as he continued to stare across his blankets, a devilish smirk etched across the man’s face. “And that wasn’t enough. There were still people aiming to overcome me and my power, trying to take my rightful place in this world. So I killed them too.” Katsuki sucked in a deep breath. Don’t show emotion. Don’t show emotion. Don’t show emotion. Don’t give him what he wants. “Would you like to take a guess at who I’m talking about?” Katsuki immediately shook his head. No, he didn’t want names. He was fine with the anonymity. Because if there were names and All For One said one in particular… No, Katsuki couldn’t live with himself. He wouldn’t be able to live, he would have failed his mission, failed Allmight. He didn’t want names because he still wanted to have hope that the world wasn’t completely doomed.“Oh come on.. don’t be a bore. Here let me name some right now.”

“NO!” Katsuki shouted, a burst of anger shot through him without reprimandation. All For One raised a brow, clearly unimpressed with the outburst.

“Let’s not act like animals, Bakugo. Inside voices are appreciated.” Katsuki felt that familiar hum in his veins, that rage calling him. The fire simmered against his bones, longing for a release. Just once, that’s all it would take to do the job. He could aim at All For One, the blast might take off his own legs in the process but it would be worth it right? To have such a scumbag disintegrated off the face of the earth would do everyone a major favor, a few missing limbs would be a worthy sacrifice. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” All For One spoke sternly, for once his voice lacked its lighthearted tone. 

Katsuki glared at the man and bared his teeth once more. “Bakugo, you are all too predictable. These restraints weren’t made to keep your power under control, but they were made to keep you under control.” Katsuki turned his attention down the ties around his wrist. They looked like regular leather to him. “Shall I demonstrate?” Katsuki shook his head, whatever there was to demonstrate was most certainly the exact opposite of what Katsuki wanted right now.

The man ignored Katsuki and picked up a small remote on the bedside table. The man waved it in front of Katsuki a couple times as if he were a dog being shown a new toy. “See this?” Katsuki wanted to disappear, he could already sense what was able to happen.

“Do you expect me to be afraid of a little button?” Katsuki internally slapped himself. What was up with him and his out of control tongue? Why can’t he keep his mouth shut for once?

“What do you think this little button does?” Katsuki looked around as if searching for an answer in the walls of the green tent.

“I’m not sure and I don’t care to find out,” he eventually grinded out. Katsuki was his own worst enemy at times. The man raised a brow again and held the remote up before pressing down once. A riveting shock immediately tazed both wrists and the instant recoil he felt was immense. The shock was electrifying (in the worst way possible) and excruciatingly painful, as if he was being struck by lightning ten times in a row. He wanted to scream but wasn’t able to form any coherent thoughts or ideas, instead he simply sat there shaking in the aftershock of the taze. It had lasted no more than three seconds but was one of the worst pains he had felt in his life. The voltage on those things had to be at least 200. How he was not dead? Well, it was painful but not deadly and Katsuki had a feeling he could be shocked as many times as All For One liked, and no matter how much it fucking terrorized him, he wouldn’t have the strength to kill him.

“Hopefully I don’t need to use this again.” All For One said as he laid the remote back on the table, allowing Bakugo to shiver in silence. He wanted to rub his wrist free of the burn from the shock, they were still in rough shape from the beatings earlier and he knew this wouldn’t aid their healing. Katsuki stared wide eyed, trying to remain collected but feared he wouldn’t be able to much longer. The faint tremors of shocks echoed in his bones but he tried to maintain a stoic face, he couldn’t quite erase the faded look of sadness of his face though, no matter how hard he tried.

All For One suddenly broke into a wide smile as he looked at Katsuki. “Why, it's uncanny, you look exactly as they did…” his straightened posture became too much for him to maintain and he reverted back to leaning forward on his knees, “.. before I killed them.” Katsuki contained the look of pure horror that threatened to pass across his features. He felt his insides churning and imagined in a few seconds the little bit of remains in his stomach would all come up. This was sick. This whole situation was sick. He was going to be sick.

“Now I ask again, would you like me to name them?” Name them. As if they were objects waiting for a label. As if they weren’t mothers and fathers and sons and daughters. Katsuki couldn’t bear to listen anymore and he wanted to plug his ears and shout at the top of his lungs I CAN’T HEAR YOU! But he didn’t have that luxury. He didn’t give a response, silently hoping that if All For One ever chose a single moment to have some human compassion it would be now and he would shut his mouth and leave. Of course, All For One wasn’t capable of human emotions and he began to speak. “You’re going to know one day anyways, why postpone. Why hide from the truth? Why not face it here in the safety of solitude?” Katsuki didn’t feel safe at all, not when All For One was sitting no more than a foot away from his bed. All For One watched him intently and Katsuki wanted to sink into the bed, wrap the blankets around his body, and shield himself from his terrifying gaze. It felt as if a predator was sizing up his prey and Katsuki wanted no part of that, not when he was incapable of defending himself.

“Well, let’s start with the important ones.” Katsuki’s body stiffened automatically, “Hm… there was that yellow bulldozer looking thing. Forgive me for not knowing their names, I never really cared to be honest with you.” All For One took a break to chuckle at his honesty before continuing, “There was that astronaut, and the cowboy with a gun. I know these names are silly, the only names I bothered to learn are well… yours and your class. But let’s save the best for last.” Katsuki sat rigid and eyes wide, taking in all the information and trying to show as little reaction as possible. If that was even possible. “The cement block and Ectoplasm.. that name I did learn.. I thought he looked like one of my Nomu at first, isn’t that funny! I can’t kill one of my own after all, well, that’s a lie. Of course I can, everyone is replaceable.” Katsuki didn’t dare breathe too loud, after that any sudden movement would trigger his mind to break down mode, and he would lose any and all composure. All For One kept listing name, after name, after name, and Katsuki’s heart broke a tiny piece off with every fallen hero. They died because he failed. “They are dead because of me.” And then he began listing names that Katsuki couldn’t quite believe.

“There was Froppy, the little green haired girl. Thank god, she was such a BUGkill. Get it… she had a frog ability.. No?” Katsuki stared dumbfounded. Did he just make a joke about one of his kills…? One of his classmates? “Then there was the critter kid, Koda I believe, and Sato, the guy one cupcake away from diabetes. I didn’t even bother taking their quirks, they were so useless, I mean come on… you're telling me you're going to defeat me with the call of the wild? I think not.” Katsuki was trembling again, but this time, not entirely from fear. This time it was from a feeling he was no stranger too. His fiery, hot rage.

“There was the earphone girl, Jiro. Now, here quirk was interesting. I did take that one before I bashed her skull in. I felt it would’ve been a waste of a useful quirk. There was the bird, I guess I didn’t learn all the names because I don’t know his. But he had those evil shadow powers. Those were fucking cool. Yes, I took those as well because I strangled him with his own ability. Tragic way to go out, but at least he died a hero. As they all did. What else can you ask for?” All For One kept talking but Katsuki had stopped listening. What else can you ask for? Not only was this man the most arrogant bastard to ever walk the earth, he was also the most hate driven evil to ever exist. Katsuki wanted to kill him with his bare hands. Katsuki wanted to bash his skull in. He wanted to strangle All For One and then toss him over a building into the fiery flames made by his friends. He didn’t want his death to be quick, no he wanted it slow and torturous. And Katsuki wanted to deliver it to him himself, but all the deaths sunk in and Katsuki realized how small he was in comparison not only strength and height, but also power size, and realized he stood no chance. Not alone. But that was exactly what he was. And that filled him with even more raw rage knowing he would never get the chance to deliver justice.

“Don’t speak my classmates’ names again,” Katsuki said, with no hesitation and no stutter. He spoke coldly and defiantly and All For One simply ignored him.
“Don’t interrupt, we’re almost to the best part.” Katsuki sucked in a breath and prepared for the final blow. “About your green haired friend… Izuku Midoriya.” Katsuki about blew up the building… consequences be damned. Without meaning to, sparks crackled off his fingertips and All For One suddenly looked very pleased. “Oh, touchy subject huh.” All For One said after glancing at Katsuki’s face and seeing the look of pure vengeance. His red eyes were burning and his interests were suddenly very peaked. He would mourn his classmates, and when he was able he would give them a proper goodbye, but this was the name he had been terrified to hear since the beginning. As long as that damn nerd was still alive society had a chance at survival. Allmight had said as much, and he had promised Allmight he would keep Izuku alive. Whatever it took, whatever sacrifices had to be made, he would keep Izuku safe. And currently he was failing because he had no idea where Izuku was. He had an idea of where he might be, but he had no way of getting there.

“Is he dead?” Katsuki asked. As long as he said no Katsuki would be alright. That’s all he needed to hear. All For One narrowed his gaze for a second, studying the boy intently before responding.

“Not yet.” Katsuki released a sigh he didn’t realize he had been holding. Oh thank God. He was about to immediately relax his muscles at the news. Not yet. He was still out there, there was still a chance. “But not for much longer.” Katsuki tensed up once more and shot his head up, staring daggers at All For One. He was filled with a new energy. If Izuku was out there, he was going to get to him, and he was not going to be stopped. He just needed the right time. Izuku was not going to be killed unless Katsuki happened to already be buried six feet under. And even then, they were going to have to fight off his ghost.

“That’s why I’m here Bakugo. I need your help to find him.” Katsuki almost broke into a laugh.

“Are you fucking stupid? I will die before I help you get to him.” All For One smiled softly and stood up, clasping his hands behind his back before he began another lap around the cozy room.

“Trust me, you’re going to wish you had,” he said sharply. All humor was erased from his tone like how he had erased the lives of everyone Katsuki cared about, everyone except for one. “Your stay here so far has not been pleasant and it’s only going to grow worse.” Katsuki had expected this. He knew this was going to happen. “But, you can make things so much easier on yourself. If you just decide to help us.” Katsuki shook his head firmly and spit at the man at the foot of bed, the man who held all the power in Japan, would soon hold all the power in the world, except one person stood in his way. But one person stood in his way. Izuku Midoriya. And the nerd most likely had no idea. But that’s alright because Katsuki was standing in All For One’s way to get to Midoryia, and he would not be moved.

“I’ve got a better idea, how about you go fuck yourself.” Katsuki said, with a hint of a smile. All For One chuckled but his eyes displayed a different emotion. He wasn’t used to being defied by his prisoners.

“You know, I would’ve killed you by now. But I guess you’re in luck that you’re valuable in not one but two assets.” All For One began and Katsuki fought an eye roll that was threatening to come over him. This man just loved hearing himself speak.
“I’m truly honored, but is there any way to pass such a prestigious blessing to someone who cared a little bit more?” At that All For One lost his composure. His eyes went bleak and his smile faded and he swiftly walked around the bed before delivering a single hard slap right across Katsuki’s face.

“You fucking little bitch. No wonder the League was begging for your membership, you just don’t know how to behave.” The slap stung but Katsuki just grinned, it felt good to get under his skin for a change. “I don’t think you understand what’s about to happen.” Katsuki rolled his eyes for real this time.

”Oh please enlighten me, great and honorable one,” okay maybe great and honorable one was out of pocket but Katsuki didn’t see a better time to use it than now. All For One was not pleased however as he reached down and roughly gripped Katsuki’s chin, tugging his face up until they were inches away. He furrowed his brow and spoke roughly, no longer putting up his unbothered front.

“I’m not sure you're ready for it you insufferable brat, but here it is.” He tightened his grip and Katsuki realized he was quickly losing his ability to breathe. “You’re going to drop this little heroine act and you’re going to wrap your brain around the fact that the moment I feel you're no longer useful I will kill you.” Katsuki’s face didn’t twitch. “And then you’re going to go back to that pen and take a few more hits, because I think you can take a few more with this new found fire in you.” All For One’s spiteful scowl slowly split into a grin as he continued, “And then when I’m ready for you you are going to come meet with my new Council and you are going to show the world how much you love us and our rules and once they see how much we’ve changed you they will realize how much we can do for them. And when you're out there parading your new ideals and life philosophies, Izuku Midoryia is going to see.” Katsuki wanted to bite the devil out of this man for even daring to utter the nerd’s name around him. But he suddenly became fearful of his plans to lure in Izuku. 

“Because he is never far from you, and when he sees you he won't care about the risks, he’s going to come for you because that’s exactly the self-sacrificing idiot he is and we’re going to be waiting on him.” The man was smiling fiercely by now, and his warm breath was flocking Katsuki’s face, but all Izuku could focus on was that All For One wasn’t wrong.

“And he should recognize the failure in his risks but he won’t be able to because he’ll be too blinded by the fact that his last ally, his last friend, is alive and in the hands of the individual who has slaughtered everyone else that mattered to him. He is going to come for you, Bakugo. And when he arrives… I’m going to kill him.” All For One slowed his words down and gripped Katuski’s jaw so tightly to the point it felt it would snap in half, “And you’re going to watch.” Katsuki’s eyes widened and his heart rate spiked. “And then I’m going to kill you. And the world is going to hear the story of how you were murdered by your best friend…their great and powerful symbol of peace… all because he couldn’t accept you for your new ways. They are going to finally see the monsters you so-called heros truly are.” On that note, he released Katsuki’s chin and Katsuki had never flung himself back so fast, he was hyperventilating as All For One glared down at him with pure hatred swimming in his eyes. “How does that sound, Bakugo?”

Katsuki was sucking in breaths, he had to breathe. He couldn’t think straight if he couldn’t revive oxygen. Everything will be okay. He will find a way out by then. He will reach Izuku before Izuku reaches him. Katsuki wouldn’t make eye contact, he couldn’t even look in the man’s direction anymore without his mind flooding with a newfound fear. And the man feeds off fear.

Izuku can never know he’s here. He has to get out: he wasn’t sure how or when he would be able to, but at some point, he would have to find an exit.

“Well, I can see you’ve been given some heavy subjects to consider. So I guess I’ll leave you to your thoughts.” Katsuki would have rather thought about anything else but he couldn’t help but turn over the fact in his head that Izuku was alive. By some miracle, they hadn't found him. He also hoped there were a few miracles left in the universe to help aid his escape so he wouldn’t draw Izuku to the last place in the world he needs to be. All For One mosied over to the far corner of the tent, on the right side of the tent’s flaps. There was a clay pitcher in the corner hidden behind throw pillows and bamboo chairs. All For One leisurely poured the water into a glass that had been stored in a crate laid beside the pitcher. Katsuki intended on watching him carefully but was interrupted by the sound of running footsteps outside.

Heavy shouts were coming from directly in front of the tent and All For One snapped his head up, his gaze narrowing. He finished up with the water before hurrying over the night stand. “You might want this,” he said, not really asking or suggesting. Katsuki didn’t expect the oncoming attack as All For One snatched the back of his head and before he could react shoved the glass against his lips, “Drink it, fast.” Katsuki planned on spewing the water in All For One’s face as a reaction but the nails of bony fingers digging into the skin of his neck was warning enough to not fight this fight and just drink the water. Katsuki relented and downed the glass, and as soon as the last drop was emptied All For One let him go. He fell back against the bed frame, unsure what to make of what just happened. “Get some rest, you’re going to need it,” muttered All For One as he laid the glass back on the night stand and then hurried towards the door and ran outside, not even bothering to fully close the tent. 

Could this be his opportunity? There was clearly a large distraction outside. Katsuki dared believe it might even be the hero’s and the entire story about 48 deaths had been a lie to frighten him into surrendering. True or not, that door was open and Katsuki had the chance at freedom, if he could remove the binds on his arms. He tried tugging in every direction but none seemed to loosen the binds and after about thirty seconds of attempted concentration it didn’t matter anyway. His thoughts were becoming fuzzy and his vision was fading in and out. Katsuki realized too late that it hadn't been ordinary water and black spots began flickering in the corner of his eyes.

No no no no, how could he have been so stupid? He supposed he hadn’t really had a choice, down the water himself, or choke on the water and still feel the effects either way. But he had to reach Izuku… He just had too… He couldn’t lose sight of… As his thoughts became incoherent and almost gibberish he sluggishly nestled into the pillows and blankets of his bed as best he could with his arms tethered to either side. Just wait a little longer… please…. He prayed that somehow Izuku felt his message and his pleas before his body gave into the drug and he fell into darkness.

~~~

Falling, falling, falling. He had been flying, and now he was falling. Had he even been flying? He was in the air was he not? He supposed it didn’t matter now, he had hit the ground anyway. And hit the ground hard. Pain. Pain. Pain. It was all he felt. In his arms, his legs, his feet, his hands, his face, everywhere. He was burning inside, a colorful agonizing sensation was set aflame in his bones and he spread to his blood and would soon spread to hsi muscle, blazing everything in its bath. And it hurt him so badly. It hurt so bad he didn’t know if he would be alive to see the defusing of the fire, he didn’t know if he would be able to last. But as quickly as the flames came on, they began to die down until all that was left was that feeling of ash. The internal knowledge that a part of him had been permanently scorched away, and all that remained was the ash and dust.

Izuku seemed to lose all strength in that moment, he was awake but not really, and he lost his ability to think rationally. All he could think about was the fire and burning and ash. So much ash, he even saw it if he opened his eyes and really studied and looked around. They were everywhere, the tiny particles being the only clue to the destruction of what once was. Nothing would ever be as it was before, Izuku wouldn’t be the same either. Not after what he just felt, he didn’t know if he would ever be considered alive after that ethereal feeling of pure, raw pain.

“Izuku!” Someone had shouted and maybe that was what brought him back. At least, partially back. He opened his eyes once more and saw the crimson red that had stained his bones and burned his flesh from the inside out. The same red that matched the flames that ate up his strength and his consciousness. Could he even trust the red? Something told him he could and he gave in and let the red consume him. From that point on his vision got hazy. There were strong arms, blonde air, a salty breeze, shouting, screaming, blood, so much blood. There was running. There was flying. There was open skies and there was sand. Everything happened in a blur and it didn’t help that almost everything occurred under a red haze. A rose colored lense. “Don’t worry. I’ll be back.” Don’t worry, I’ll be back. Don’t worry, I’ll be back…

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back,” Izuku muttered into the sand. When he accidentally managed to slip some sand into his mouth his brain began to recognize he was in a dream and he needed to wake up. He had been catching up on much needed rest, still in the same position he had passed out in last night, and was basking in the morning sun. His body soaking in the warm rays after a chilly night. Almost instantly Izuku came too and when he did, confusion no longer wracked his brain. From the moment his brain clicked on he flew his eyes and flung himself upright, his mind racing at a hundred miles per hour, sudden réalisation overcame him full force. 

“It was Kacchan!” He exclaimed eagerly, and the pieces began falling in place as his memory slowly crawled back to him.

Chapter Text

There had never been a more defining moment in Katsuki’s life than this one. Standing fiercely, on a solid slab of concrete that was encased in the middle giant pile of rubble that had once been UA, dust was clouding the air and coughing could be heard every few seconds from a poor victim getting the particles trapped in their lungs. Katsuki didn’t inhale too deeply, and the dust was nothing more than a distraction which he promptly chose to ignore. He was staring straight ahead, vision narrowed, fingers curled and palms profusely sweating, he was about to mop the floor with these villains. His crimson eyes gleamed with perseverance. 

Yes, something had gone wrong. Katuski wasn’t entirely sure what yet but the plans were changed. People were moving in all directions, hero’s flying and shouting in every direction. There was fighting all around as intense combat battles had begun. It didn't take Katsuki long to recognize they were no longer fighting according to a set of guidelines. No, they were too far gone for those obligations. They were in the heart and war. And there were no rules. 

As Katsuki set his focus on the center of the battlefield, he was currently out of the line of sight of villains and he was waiting for the perfect moment to attack. The fire beneath his skin ignited and his fingers twitched with anticipation. It wouldn’t be much longer before he himself was forced to come out, he could sense the tide was turning. But he was waiting on a particular target, he had survived the fateful hit to his chest, and he now had a score to settle. 

His brow was sweating from the humidity and the dust cloud was trapping the heat down on ground level, making it very rough fighting conditions for most heroes. This was excellent for Katsuki however, the more heat meant the more sweat and that meant more explosions. He couldn’t have asked for better conditions, but he was also still a bloody mess and terribly weak from literally resurrecting, so he patiently awaited at his post for the one person he was willing to combat. 

But it seemed the entire time he was staring in the wrong direction. Behind him loads of gravel and trees suddenly erupted from the remaining forests. Birds shot out of the trees, singing their warning songs, as branches and limbs were falling from the sky. Katsuki turned his attention to the forest set aflame and he watched in horror at flames licking at the trunks of trees before slithering up the bark and engulfing the rich, green leaves in a dark, nightmarish smoke. Katsuki’s eyes widened and he stumbled backwards, catching himself before he tripped off the ledge of his stone. His held his arms out to steady him, eyes not moving from the wicked sight of wild red, oranges, and yellows dancing freely, and smothering everything insight. “Who the fuck set the forest on fire? What kind of idiot?!” Katsuki swore under his breath, how could someone be so stupid? He had turned his attention away for too long however because moments later another blast sounded and the wall of rubble he had been standing on instantly exploded and Katsuki was launched into the air along with the hundreds of crushed rocks he had called a temporary base. 

When he landed, everything went fuzzy. He had landed directly on his stomach and it was not an easy landing. He made a direct impact with the course dirt  and his spine began curling inwards as the pain palpitations began thumping within his body. He was aching again. He was always aching these days, but he fought the voice in his head telling him to rest for a minute as he raised up on his forearms to get a glimpse of the battlefield before him. He pried open his left eye cautiously, he feared he had a concussion because the light instantly stung his retina, causing a flaring headache to spear his frontal lobe, the right eye had been temporarily sealed with dry blood however so he was forced to rely on partial vision. He saw Shigaraki laughing. He saw Izuku standing before him, arms raised, black whip wrapping his body like a serpent and he knew Izuku was prepared to strike. 

At this point in the dream Katsuki’s brain got glitchy. He saw Shigaraki smirking, his white hair floating in all directions and his eyes were laced and glossy as if in a euphoria. There was Izuku, and then there wasn’t. That was weird. Izuku was hit by impact, he couldn’t tell what had hit him but he was on the ground. Katsuki didn’t remember moving, but he had because he was now standing above Izuku. There were words exchanged, the voices too muffled to understand what had been spoken, and then the scene was open skies and blue waters. Then back to blood and knives and pain and the piercing of skin. And once again sand and trees and sun and green hair and green eyes that once glistened with promises of peace and hope, the eyes were shut. Katsuki was afraid in his dream. Very afraid. Once he noticed this fear he also found it hard to breathe and suddenly he was shoved under water and the tide was pulling him out and there were vines wrapped around his ankles and his neck and they were tugging him down down down… into the depths of the ocean. His vision was getting dark and his chest was going to explode and he needed air. He tried to fight the seaweed but the vines seemed to tighten with every thrash and so he struggled in an attempt to be free only to tether him further to a painful fate. Was this the end? Would he die? But in a moment, he was at ease. 

In the heat of his panic, he caught a glimpse of the green of the seaweed, that tethered him to this endless drowning, flash before his eyes and he knew he had seen that green before… somewhere far away from here. His body was flooded with a sudden sense of comfort more powerful than that of the surrounding waters and he just knew… he was going to live. He was going to live… he was able to convince himself of this for a few peaceful seconds before the seaweed was shoved out of his perception by the ever evading tide. Immediately he went back into his state of endless fear, only to be violently drug once more down into the murky depths of the darkness-

Katsuki awoke abruptly and in a coughing spit.  “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you,” said a gruff voice from Katsuki’s right. Katsuki shook his head to gather his bearings and become accustomed to the light streaming in through the open flap of the tent. He reflexively reached to rub his eyes to screen out the blinding light but was prevented by a forceful resistance from his arm only to look down and be filled with the reminder that he was a prisoner of war. And that intrigued him to take in the presence of the man in the room sitting at the desk farthest from his bed. The man was baked in a warm glow radiating from the wicker candle planted on the desk and he was studying a file of some sort. Katsuki couldn’t see over the man’s hunched figure and even if he could, he doubted he’d be able to read the fine print. Katsuki had the eyes of a hawk, but even he couldn’t read size ten font from ten feet away. 

The man was dressed in a white lab coat and his gray hair was sticking out of all directions. There were goggles resting atop the man’s head that shoved back some of the chaotic strands of stringy hair and gave the image of being somewhat put together. The man still looked psychotic and Katsuki instantly got a weird vibe from the man. He had the same sick feeling he had felt around All For One. It was probably the knowledge that this man worked for All For One, and anyone who worked for that wicked abomination would not take Katsuki’s visitation lightly. In other words, they would do every cruel thing they could think of him, except grant him death. Then again, maybe death would be too merciful. 

 The man abruptly dropped his pen and wheeled around in his chair, studying Katsuki intrusively. “You’re a lot quieter than the Master warned me about. He spoke as if you were a R rated movie, spewing explicites every five seconds.” The man chuckled as he spoke before lazily standing and stretching his arms behind his head. Katsuki’s muscles envied the movement, they were stiff and aching from lack of motion. He tried to speak but his throat was hoarse. After a few attempts he finally managed to get his words out. 

“I just don’t like wasting my breath.” Katsuki met the man’s gaze from across the room and he instantly noted these were the first eye’s he saw here that didn’t appear empty. In fact, he was almost taken aback by the amount of emotion seen in them. Almost sympathy, but not quite. Katsuki couldn’t quite determine what emotion what displayed across the man’s face, but it quickly faded and was replaced with a look of smugness. Smugness for what? Katsuki couldn’t determine. Perhaps for the plain power the man had over Katsuki, but what did this man gain from anything? When it came down to it, this man would be forced to bow before All For One just the same as every other citizen now under his control. He couldn’t be proud of that could he? 

“You should speak while you still have time. Your clock is ticking much faster than it was before.” Katsuki shook his head slowly, dropping the man’s gaze. What was up with everyone warning him about death. It was inevitable for everyone. He’d even experienced it once before. Yeah, he’d been given a second chance and he didn’t want to waste it. But being taken to All For One’s main base was a death sentence itself. Katsuki had come here knowing that, it didn’t take a genius to recognize, but maybe it did take a hero too. 

The average citizen didn’t recognize the ruthlessness of All For One, how he was an evil given form. They simply didn’t know how, nor would they have the ability. Heroes were pros at telling the citizens everyone would work out and no matter how bad things looked, with hope there would always be a chance. And if they happened to be captured by All For One, they would be too overcome by fear to have any stable thoughts. They would rely on the hero’s and their advice to keep themselves sane at the very least. Threats of death would terrify them and they would cling to each day as if it was their last. That was the person All For One’s agents expected. That was the type of person they were trained to work with, trained to frighten, trained to break. Katsuki was not that person and Katsuki would not be frightened by the idea of death. The man before him did not recognize this. Or maybe he did, and he just didn’t care. Katsuki couldn’t tell by the bored expression his face had morphed into. 

“You sound like a damn moron, you know?” Katsuki eventually said, trying to make his voice sound as unbothered as every other human being he’d spoken to in the past few, however long he’d been here. The man smirked at Katsuki’s word choice. 

“So there is some fire left in you? I’m glad they didn’t smolder all of it,” he said before turning around to grab a glass from the crate beside the pitcher in the corner beside the desk, the same one All For One had used prior to Katsuki’s slumber. Katsuki was shut up at those words. Did he just say… he’s glad Katsuki hadn’t lost his spark? What could that even mean? Was it glad for a good or bad reason? Should Katsuki be worried about what the man meant by this? Was he misunderstanding the words? He had to be, he was being too optimistic. Without thinking, Katsuki spoke. 

“What do you mean?” The man simply hummed quietly to himself, a song Katsuki didn’t recognize, if it was even a song at all, and didn’t show any sign he was going to give a response. He looked down at the blankets on his bed in silent determination to get something out of the man. It wasn’t long before Katsuki thought of a new question. “Who are you again?” The man turned the water spout and filled the glass half way and even shut the water off before bothering to answer. He spun around with half-hearted enthusiasm and strolled over to Katsuki, laying the glass on the table beside him before reaching back behind his neck and pulling a chain necklace out from under his shirt, a small key attached to it. 

“My apologies for forgetting introductions,” he said as he unclipped the necklace and slid the key off the chain. He leaned down into Katsuki’s space and the smell of herbs and green tea wafted around him. Instinctively Katsuki shuffled back against the bed frame, not sure what the man was planning on doing. “Calm down, I’m only freeing you.” Katsuki didn’t believe the man for a second and went to deliver a hearty kick with the foot on the opposing side of his body that man stood beside before the man firmly planted his hand on Katsuki’s knee, driving it against the bed. Without hesitation Katsuki used his other knee to deliver a hefty blow to the man’s stomach and he bent over wheezing from impact. 

“Don’t touch me,” Katsuki snarled from the safety of the bed as the man stepped back a couple steps while clutching his stomach to catch his breath. The man raised one of his arms and waved off Katsuki’s words. 

“Do you fight freedom or something?” He asked as he slowly rose to face Katsuki, a single arm still wrapped around his abdomen. That got Katsuki’s attention he dropped his snarl before intently at the man with the key. Could he actually be telling the truth? THe man began his mission again to uncuff Katsuki and Katsuki, silently bewildered, didn’t bother fighting him this time. When both his hands were undone he had never leapt off a bed so fast in his life. He didn’t know where he found this renewed energy but he relished it as he backed as far as he could against the tent wall on the opposite side of the room from the man.  “Oh come on, don’t act like that.” The man held up the glass of water. “I have you a drink, I know you need one.” 

Katsuki narrowed his eyes as he rubbed his raw wrists, looking down at them he saw there were dark red gashes from where the tight bonds had been secured against his skin. They were tender to touch and he massaged them lightly while maintaining eye contact with the slender scientist across the room from him. Katsuki noticed then how wide his eyes were, taking in everything around him, studying everything about Katsuki and he knew somehow he was reading him like a book. Katsuki wasn’t easy to read, he wasn’t open about any parts of his life, not even to his closest friends. He displayed no signs of emotion, except a very few rare times he had let his guard down, and that would never happen here. No one would ever look at him and know what he’s thinking but standing here, in the dim light of the wicker candles decorating the room, Katsuki felt every secret, every fear, every story of his life he kept hidden behind closed doors was visible to the knowing brown eyes of the man. He hated the feeling that every thought that had ever crossed his mind was now in the mind of the man before him so he refocused his gaze slightly above the man’s crazed gray hair, as if the eyes were the peep hole to his memory and if he didn’t allow the man access he wouldn’t have to worry about the intrusions of this stranger. 

“Please just come sit back down, if All For One were to see you right now… well you know what would happen.” Katsuki turned his trembling gaze back down and saw the man had turned his head away from him, he was looking towards the door as if at any moment All For One was going to sense Katsuki’s newfound freedom of being granted permission to stand and burst through to do something about it. That could only mean the man was defying direct orders to not allow Katsuki to do such a thing, and Katsuki couldn’t imagine a world in which workers for All For One would even listen to All For One if he asked them to allow him a bit of freedom now and then. Considering no matter how awful All For One is, to work for him would make you worse. To be able to witness what he was doing and freely support his evil doings, knowing you could be the chance to stop it, to Katsuki that was even worse than doing the deed itself. But this man was doing the opposite. And Katsuki almost had half a heart to listen, because the man truly did seem slightly more nervous than he had been before. The man turned back towards Katsuki and once again Katsuki felt those large eyes sucking all the life out of him. 

“Who are you?” Katsuki asked, his voice much more hushed than it had been before. As if the two were exchanging elementary school secrets and not conversing about the dangers of what the man had just allowed to happen. The man looked at him a moment longer before sighing. 

“Call me Ash. I’m not supposed to give you personal information , but what harm can it do?” Ash shrugged and laid the water back on the night stand before walking back towards his desk. Katsuki’s eyes followed Ash’s trail until Ash took a seat where he had been sitting before and went back to work. Katsuki hesitated for a moment longer, debating whether it was actually safe to move from his secure spot against the wall. He came to the conclusion that if it was a trap it would’ve been kind of pointless letting him free only to give him water to trap him again. It would be cruel, and would probably be the kind of torture All For One would enjoy, but it was worth the risk. Katsuki cautiously shuffled back towards the bed, not taking his eyes away from the sitting figure who was once again jotting down something. “If you have a question you can ask,” said Ash, “If you’re going to ask them, I would suggest asking me out of all people here.” Katsuki, who had been climbing back onto the bed to reach over and grab the water glass, paused his actions and shot a look at the mysterious man. 

“… hah?” He sputtered out as confusion warped his mind. The man kept writing. Katsuki quickly grabbed the jar and practically inhaled the drink before turning his attention back to Ash. He scooted to the end of the bed, letting his legs dangle off the edge and he sat in his usual laid back position, arms stretched out behind him holding him up.  “What do you mean by that?” He asked, a little more aggressively than he intended. 

“I mean what I said,” said the man simply, “I would dumb it down more for you, but I don’t think I can,” Katsuki grimaced at the sarcasm as his brain searched for a valid reason to explain why All For One’s minion could be trying to help him. Or make him feel reassured, or whatever kind thing Ash was trying to do. What was Ash doing? Was this some kind of mind game? Did All For One want Katsuki to think he was safe and surrounded by people who might care, just so they can betray him and All For One can hurt him a little bit more than he already had. Katsuki wouldn’t fall for it. He couldn’t allow himself too. 

“Do you not work for All For One? I highly doubt he would approve of this.” Katsuki mentioned, hoping Ash would get the hint to drop the act and go back to acting normally. Katsuki knew sooner or later he would be back to the beatings and back to the restraints so why not go ahead and cool it with the temptation of freedom. Ash crumpled the paper of whatever he had been writing and threw it in the trash can beside the desk before looking over his shoulder at the distrusting blonde, he still looked awful. Ash knew Katsuki probably wasn’t aware that the blood had been wiped from his face and the scratches were still healing, there was a large chance they would permanently scar, but his right eye was still swollen and a deep shade of red while a patch of skin near his left ear was a deep yellow and purple. If he tried to eat anything it would be severely painful. It was probably bothering him right now but he refused to show signs of weakness and Ash didn’t dare bother asking him about it. 

“Oh, he would probably kill me if he found out,” Ash said without a hint of fear, as if he was almost daring All For One to find out what Ash was doing, “But he is only my Master. I am still my own man. And as of right now, the only power he has over me is when he is in my proximity.” Katsuki tilted his head, still slightly suspicious of the man’s behavior. But very intrigued by what Ash was saying. He was out right admitting to defying All For One, even though he worked for him. 

“Then why are you willing to tell me?” Katsuki needed this one truth, before he decided to give in and question everything around him he needed a straightforward answer that would reassure him he wouldn’t be severely wounded for even thinking there might be a slight chance of hope despite the place he was in. Ash lowered his gaze for a second, his eyes betraying an emotion of almost guilt, Katsuki wasn’t sure what for. The man seemed almost lost in a daydream, his lower lip twitched as if he was trying to control his face from revealing anything besides the sliver of hurt in his eyes. Ash lifted his eyes back up to Katsuki’s narrowed gaze, his crimson red eyes bent to slits as he focused in on the man at the desk.

The man took a deep breath before giving a single nod and firmly stating, “Because I believe you’re one of our last chances to stop All For One, permanently.” Katsuki’s eyes widened and he leaned back almost as if the shock of the words had hit him with a driving force, shoving him against his will. He would remain strong…. He wouldn’t listen to lies… He wouldn’t… but.. what if it wasn’t a lie? No. There’s now way someone who was working this closely with All For One was also trying to tear him down. Unless,  there were multiple people out there doing what Hawks had done? Multiple imposters tediously work to gather as much information as possible from the inside in order to send the information back to the hero’s. Could the hero’s still be working despite their heavy loss? 

No, there’s no way they would take such risks. After the League found out about Hawks they almost killed him and his wings were almost permanently damaged, they never did fully recover. It would go against ethical guidelines to allow those stunts to be committed again and Endeavor paid hefty for allowing it once, Katsuki could only imagine the repercussions if they had allowed such behaviors to be repeated. Ash was lying. That was the only conclusion that made any sense. And if any more evidence was necessary, why would people depend on him to stop All For One? He had been killed the first time around when he fought him. Yes, his quirk had amplified but not enough to beat him one vs one a second round. He had died with at least ten other Pro Hero’s around him. He wouldn’t last five seconds against him by himself. Katsuki wasn’t one to admit weakness or to admit defeat, but he wasn’t stupid either. And going out against All For One by yourself was just plain stupid.  

“You’re lying,” said Katsuki accusingly. There wasn’t a world out there where he couldn’t be lying about this. Ash’s shoulders sank and he let out a heavy sigh and for a second Katsuki’s mind automatically replaced the gray haired man with a green haired boy. The look of defeat, the posture, the terrible posture were all very Izuku like qualities but Katsuki quickly shook his head and refocused. 

“Bakugo, I know what I’m saying sounds crazy. And I know you’re skeptical because why wouldn’t you be right now? But you have to believe me when I say I want to help you,” Ash stood up from his seat again and ran his hands roughly through his hair, yanking the goggles off his head and tossing them on the desk. He walked over to where Katsuki was sitting and Katsuki did his best to move away from the bed and back over to his corner in the wall, which now that he thought about it was a bad idea because he could easily be cornered. He could also blow the place up if necessary. It might be an idiotic choice of action but it might come down to his only choice and he was prepared to take the risk. He clenched and unclenched his hands, gathering sweat in his palms in case he needed to launch an attack.  “Please, listen to me,” Ash said as he noticed Katsuki’s defensive stance and he immediately stopped walking and stood patiently on the rug in the center of the room instead. He held up his hands in surrender, trying to show Katsuki he didn’t want to hurt him. 

“I don’t care. I’m not falling for your stupid ass tricks so stop trying,” he said with a frown and malicious gaze. His eyes burning into the man standing before him, if only he could use his quirk to actually burn the man. Then he would actually be turned to ash. Katsuki internally smirked at his joke but kept his face hardened. Ash glanced around the room as if trying to come up with an idea to persuade Katsuki that he wasn’t lying. Ash was good with words, that was his whole thing, it’s why All For One kept him around, so why weren’t they working right now. 

“Katsuki, I understand you’re afraid,” Ash began sullenly, “You’re in All For One’s domain and you think I’m trying to somehow manipulate you into being more broken than you already are.” It sickened Katsuki that the man somehow guessed exactly what he was triggering. “But you need to listen to me carefully. I know what you’re planning. I know your goal and I know exactly what you intend to do. And I’m here to tell you it won’t work.” Katsuki’s eyes slitted as he stared down the man. What could he possibly know about him? Katsuki hadn’t said anything, unless they somehow had done tests he didn’t remember. Had he already blocked out horrible memories of his time here? It couldn’t have been that long had it? 

“I already told you I don’t care, why are you still speaking?” Katsuki said, hoping to send the man away at the very least. He wanted to shut the conversation down. He didn’t care if he would be alone, he never minded being alone. He could be alone and suffer in silence. He just didn’t want to be lied to. He didn’t want to be tricked or manipulated or broken down. He wanted to go home, if he even still had a home to go to. He wanted to leave and find Izuku and somehow put a stop to this all. He wanted to be anywhere but here. 

“Because if you care anything about Izuku Midoriya you’re going to want to listen,” said Ash, quietly but sternly. Katsuki’s ears perked open real fast. He couldn’t actually have guessed Katsuki’s goal. Then again, maybe it was an obvious goal. All For One made it clear on the battlefield that he and Izuku were close right before he obliterated the life out of him. Was that common knowledge? Oh god, Katsuki hoped not. If he ever got free, he and Izuku would both become major targets if only to lure out the other one. And he knew it would work, because even though Katsuki knew the motive he would still go if it meant a chance of meeting Izuku along the way. Katsuki mentally debated whether or not Ash was actually on his side. Mentioning Izuku had been All For One’s personal tactic, had he passed it down to his employees? Did he believe a less imposing face would somehow allow Katsuki to give in? 

 “What about Midoriya?” Katsuki was immediately left with a strange feeling and he instantly recognized why. That name felt weird on his tongue. He couldn’t remember the last time he said Deku’s last name. It was always Deku and sometimes, very rarely, he was referred to as Izuku. Midoryia just wasn’t a term Katsuki utilized. Even when speaking with Izuku’s mom he always said Auntie Inko or Auntie for short. But he didn’t feel comfortable sharing such an intimate piece of Izuku with this stranger so he referred to Izuku by his last name. Ash didn’t seem to notice Katsuki’s disgust with himself as he cleared his throat. 

“Well, if I’m not mistaken, he has survived the war and is out there somewhere. You and I both know he’s humanity’s last chance at surviving the reign of All For One.” Ash spoke with such clarity, as if he truly believed what he was saying. As if he didn’t only believe in its truth but he also supported it and was willing it to happen. Could Katsuki’s judgement of the man have been wrong after all? “And you, Bakugo.” The man grew tired of avoiding eye contact and stared Katsuki dead in the eyes, “You are the only one able to keep him alive to do so.” Katsuki’s eyes darted back and forth, searching both Ash’s eyes for the slightest hint of a lie. There was no sign of deception but the best liars are the ones who know not only to keep their words clipped. Katsuki dropped his gaze to the floor and pursed his lips, deep in thought. If Ash was telling the truth, it could change everything. If he was working against All For One, he wouldn’t be so entirely alone. There would be someone to aid him  and possibly, when the time is right, help him escape. If he also understood the need to get to Izuku as quickly as possible then he might even help him escape this very moment. 

The longer Katsuki pondered the more he came to the realization there was absolutely no reason not to trust the man. If he was lying, what would Katsuki lose? Absolutely nothing. He had nothing left. He lost his friends, his teacher, and his pride. If he was telling the truth, if he was willing to aid Katsuki, then he had everything to gain. Katsuki knew deep down, the period of safety attempts was over. That was a comfort taken for granted, and they had lost everything because of it. No, he could no longer play his cards carefully, All For One now had the upper hand and there was no long way to surpass him. There wouldn’t be a single path towards victory that didn’t involve All For One. The only way to defeat him would be to go head on and that meant taking every possible advantage, no matter the risk. Nothing was worth more than the reward. Katsuki accepted this hard truth as he lifted his head back to the man and slowly nodded. 

“You swear you’re telling the truth?” 

“I wouldn’t risk my life for a lie,” Ash said with a small smile. And Katsuki gave in. If he was lying, it’s not like he wouldn’t go through the same tortue anyway. And if he was telling the truth, he was risking everything by doing so. The least Katsuki could do was believe him. But, where did he come from? Who was he working for? He couldn’t possibly be working for one of Japan’s agencies. Through UA, Katsuki’s as familiar with most employees from most agencies. Unless there was a certified group of strictly undercover heros, Katsuki didn’t know who this man could be working under. There’s no way he was an independent hero trying to stop All For One on his own. 

“Who do you work for?” Katsuki eventually gathered the courage to ask. Ash opened his mouth then changed his mind and snapped it shut. 

“I can’t give you that information.” Katsuki’s guard went back up and Ash quickly waved his hands in front of him, trying to undo what he had said.  “I mean, I can’t give it to you yet. There will be a time and place where I tell you everything. But I can’t risk it yet. Not while you're still here under the watch of All For One.” Katsuki didn’t understand the reasoning behind this, did Ash think Katsuki was going to share his secrets just for a chance at mercy. Katsuki would die before assisting the villain, and his secrets would follow him to the grave. 

“But you’re working here. You’re under his watch as well,” Katsuki pointed out and Ash shook his head in disagreement. 

“I’ve been in his circle for many years so I’m no longer being watched like you are. Or, I guess I should say it will be.” Katsuki angled his head and raised a brow as he crossed his arms. The fear was slowly dissipating from his body as he began to move more freely and less stiffly. 

“Will be?” He questioned, as Ash nodded as he crossed his arms as well before spinning around and walking back over to his desk. 

“Yes, the plans aren’t finished yet,” he explained as he walked, “but All For One has major blueprints for systems and policies that are going to be put in as soon as he declares his reign over Japan.” Katsuki’s curiosity now overshadowed his fear as he dropped his arms and crossed the room, coming to stand a few feet away from Ash’s desk. Ash pulled out a drawer of the dark wooden desk and sifted through the folders before pulling out a red one labelled Project 1984 in large black letters printed on the front flap situated in front of a giant blue oval. Katsuki’s eyes passed over the hundreds of colorful folders, the labels all printed too small for Katsuki to make out what they could possibly be named. Ash slammed the drawer shut and threw the folder down on the table. “This is what All For One has been planning for the past century.” Katsuki’s eyes lit up at the sight and he couldn’t be happier than the fact he decided to trust this man. 

“Can I see the files?” Katsuki asked as he stepped forward and reached his hand out expectantly. The folder was thick and stuffed to the brim and Katsuki thought it was in its last life. Ash picked it up and handed it to him. 

“Inside you find all the finalized plans. I don’t know how we ended up so lucky to have you staying in here, since this is supposed to be my tent, but All For One had you transferred for “recovery purposes”, which really means he wanted to give you a shot for quick healing and butter you up so you’d listen to him… but I’m not going to argue with what he did.” Katsuki laughed lightly as Ash rolled his eyes. Katsuki held the folder in his hands and he couldn’t help but smile. This held all the answers he needed. As he studied the folder closer he noticed the blue oval wasn’t simply an oval after all but rather an eye. All for One will be watching you. Katsuki shuddered as he stared into the eye on the paper, it was empty and clearly fake but Katsuki couldn’t help but believe that it symbolized something far darker than the black unblinking pupil. 

“There’s a lot here,” Katsuki noted as he quickly opened the folder and the uneasy feeling in his stomach subsided once he lost sight of the eye. Ash nodded and glanced behind him towards the door. Katsuki was suddenly hyper aware that anyone could walk in and see him freely moving and the uneasy feeling was replaced with a sickening anxiety. Now that Katsuki had an ally well as leverage, he was less willing to be reckless about his actions. Ash noticed his uneasiness almost immediately. 

“Don’t worry, I was just double checking the flaps were closed. Everyone has been summoned for a meeting with All For One to talk about last minute planning for… well this.” Ash motioned to the folder in Katsuki’s hands, “That’s why I was eager to meet with you now, I feared it would be my only chance to talk to you with no chance of interruption.” Katsuki raised a brow. 

“Why aren’t you at the meeting?” Ash shuffled through some papers on the desk before picking one up to read. 

“I successfully pointed out I would be of no use at the meeting and needed to spend my time finalizing the nation’s new anthem. That’s why I’m here, I’m his writer and normally his correspondent. But he believed my skills would be of use here so he dragged me into the war and is having me prepare his song of victory,” Ash rolled his eyes with a heavy sigh, “It’s terribly boring but it’s not a task I can refuse or put half effort in. I have to at least pretend I support him,” Ash chuckled to himself and Katsuki smiled sympathetically. The man really was nothing like he was expectating and he felt awful for judging him so wrongly. Katsuki thought he had been in a tough situation but at least he could freely express his hatred for All For One. Ash was forced to assist the man if only for the greater good, he was sacrificing people’s perception of him in order to save them. 

“Well, have you finished it?” Katsuki asked, glancing at the crisp sheet of paper in the man’s hands. Half of it had unrecognizable words scribbled down and the other half was blank. Ash shook his head. 

“Not even close. It’s supposed to be eerie, malicious, frightening, and pretty much put fear into the hearts of people. Not exactly what I would look for when making an anthem for a nation. I want people to stand behind, but I guess that’s why I’m not in charge,” Ash shrugged before setting the paper back down and turning back towards Katsuki. “I’ll get to it, and I’m going to go ahead and apologize in advance for it. That way you don’t suddenly get a different vibe from me now that you know it will be me who wrote it,” The man laughed and Katsuki cracked a small smile. 

“I think the song will be the least of my problems if All For One’s makes it far enough in his ruling to have an anthem.” Ash nodded in agreement and pointed towards the folder. 

“Now, flip through quickly and I’ll give you a brief rundown of what you’re looking at. You’re most likely going to hear about these plans directly from All For One sometime in the next few days and I want to prepare you for them, because they are a little… unsettling.” Katsuki turned his attention and looked at the first page. He immediately was met with three large printed phrases. 

War is Peace 

Freedom is Slavery 

Ignorance is Strength 

Katsuki didn’t know what to make of the odd parallels. He didn’t even know what he was looking at. War was never peaceful and he felt no freedom while he was imprisoned for All For One. He never say stupidity as a strength so what could these phrases mean because they couldn’t be taken literally? 

“Those are the three basic principles of All For One’s new society,” Ash said, “If you flip a few pages you will see the explanation behind each. All For One will most likely not describe them to you, it will give you an understanding and defy the third principle, and I also agree it’s not vital you understand them right now. So flip to page two.” Katsuki didn’t like secrets, and he didn’t like being in the dark about the hidden meaning to the phrases but he had the knowledge in his hands and he knew Ash would allow him to read it at some point so he didn’t fight Ash’s request as he flipped to the next page. 

Table of Contents: 

1. The Ministries 
2. Thought Police 
3. Newspeak 
4. Technology 
5. Oligarchy and Hierarchy 
6. Doublethink and The Motto
7. Socialism
8. Other Important Principles and Information

“What do half of these mean?” Katsuki didn’t recognize some words like Newspeak and Doublethink. The Ministries and the Thought Police were also foreign ideas he had no knowledge of. Ash seemed to guess what he was struggling with understanding. 

“Some of the words are made up by  All For One. He wants to implement entirely new ideas into this new society. Basically he wants to erase everything that has happened in the past 120 years,” Katsuki couldn’t believe the complexity of it all. He had understood All For One wanted the hero’s out of the way but he believed it was only because he had a bone to pick with being an outcast in society, he never would have imagined it had been so much deeper, so much darker, than that and he had a feeling the pro hero’s didn’t expect it either. Otherwise they wouldn’t have been so cautious in their means of battling him. They would have done everything in their power not to lose, even if it meant sacrificing parts of society. It was better than losing society as a whole as they had done. 

“What do they even mean?” Katsuki flipped to the Ministries page as Ash prepared his explanation. Before he could begin however, faint voices echoed from outside the tent. Ash whipped his head around, eyes practically popping out of his head. 

“Shit,” he cursed softly but spitefully, “They weren’t supposed to finish this early.” He turned back around to rip the folder out of Katsuki’s hands which instinctively clutched onto the folder, his only means of knowledge in this place. He was terrified and his heart was pounding out of his chest, but he needed this folder more than he needed his life at the moment. “Bakugo, let go,” Ash said with a slight bite. Bakugo was staring down at the red folder, he had absentmindedly shut it and was clutching onto it for dear life, he was clenching it so tightly his fingers were growing red from loss of blood. The red eye was staring into his soul, reading his every thought and fear, and even though it lay unblinking, Katsuki had an odd feeling that it was somehow alive. Watching him. Studying him. Learning him. But Katsuki wanted to learn about the eye as well and he couldn’t find it in himself to let go. 

Ash was internally screaming, Katsuki needed to move and now, “Bakugo, if you want any chance at living, you have to let go.” Katsuki wouldn’t budge. The knowledge was right there. He would die holding the knowledge. “If you want Midoryia to live, you have to let go.” Katsuki let go so fast a bystander would have thought the paper burst into flames. It almost did, a quick thought of explosions and fire passed through his mind at the idea of Izuku being killed. Ash leaned over and stuffed the folder back in the drawer before standing and shoving Katsuki towards the bed. “You gotta get back in,” Katsuki hadn’t thought about that. He would have to go back to the restraints because no one could know what they were doing. He would have to willingly give up his freedom. Nothing pained him more, except the idea of failing Allmight and losing his one chance at getting back to Izuku. So he spun around and shut down all the negative thoughts tearing at him to run away, to blow this place up, to leave and never return. Wait… why couldn’t he leave? 

“No, I can go. I can get out now,” he said, stumbling back, fighting off Ash’s pushy behavior. Ash shook his head. 

“Not if you want that,” he gestured behind him towards the drawer where the folder had been not so carefully secured. Katsuki wearily eyed the desk, his gaze flicking back and forth between the drawer and the door. He wanted the folder but he also wanted his freedom. The voices gradually grew louder and while none of them had the familiar, precise venomous tone of All For One, he wasn’t their only enemy here. Anyone else who happened to walk in and find out Ash was letting the prisoner walk freely around the room would deliver a unfathomable punishment enough but if they also happened to find out he had given valuable information to the prisoner, Ash would be killed and Katsuki’s hopes would be killed along with him. After a severe struggle with his own brain, he turned and hurried back to the bed. He hesitantly crawled back on to it, not looking forward to being tied down for who knows how long. He didn’t even know how long he had been laying here before. How long had it been since his beating, long enough for his body not to feel the pains he supposed. How long had it been since the beatings? Since the war? Since he left…? Katsuki dropped the thought as Ash grabbed his wrist and began securing one of the metal cuffs around his wrist.

 “How long ago was the war?” Katsuki asked quietly, almost not wanting to know the answer. He was terrified that too much time had passed and he wouldn’t like the answer. Ash paused, almost as if he was questioning how to answer the question. 

“The War ended five days ago. You’ve been asleep for three days…” He opened his mouth, shut it, and as the lock clicked for the first wrist he began working on the second one. “The actual date is March 17th, 2104. According to the press and All For One, the date is March 17th, 1984.” Katsuki furrowed his brows as he watched the second cuff click in place. He tugged on them, silently praying they were broken and would fall apart if he yanked too hard. They held firmly and Katsuki’s heart sank ever so slightly, but he shook the feeling off as his head bogged down with the new date: March 17th, 1984. Project 1984? And the year was now 1984? What was the significance or correlation to that particular year? 

“Why 1984? Why’s it so important?” Ash was already rushing away from the bedside side, the empty glass in his hand. He stopped at his desk and opened the top drawer before reaching in to pull out a tiny white packet resembling a sugar packet that are often at restaurant tables and coffee stations. 

“You don’t know what happened in 1984?” Ash asked, his voice sounded startled almost as if he couldn’t believe that Katsuki didn’t know this bewildering fact. He made it sound as if it was common knowledge. Katsuki groaned at the awakening that there had been another secret he had been kept in the dark from. But as Katsuki processed what Ash said and he searched his brain for useless history information from his school days he realized he was aware of what had happened in 1984. In fact, it was so obvious he couldn’t believe his brain hadn’t acknowledged the correlation sooner. 1984 was the year the first quirk appeared. The year was even known as the Year of the Glowing Baby. That year was very important for today’s society as it was the beginning of it, still, that didn’t really explain why All For One wanted to revert back to 1984. 

“Yeah, I know what happened, but what does that have to do with anything?” Katsuki queued as Ash poured the white packet into the glass, a crystallized white powder began piling at the bottom of the glass. 

“Because that was the year everything fell apart,” said Ash snippily before he stopped speaking entirely. When it was empty Ash threw the packet in the trash, swept off any crumbs from the powder and went to fill the glass with water, moving at a relatively fast pace. The voices were much louder now, not so loud they were directly outside the tent but they were too close for comfort and it was evident Ash was nervous, his demeanor was much stiffer and his movements jerkier. He almost tripped over the rug on his way back over to the bed. 

“What do you mean fell apart?” Ash shook his head and he put the glass up to Katsuki’s lips. 

“I don’t have time to explain, I need you to drink this.” Katsuki tipped his head back and downed the water. He knew the effects it would lead to and he prayed they wouldn’t hit him as quickly as they had before. Perhaps his exhaustion the first time around allowed the desired effects of the powder to hit him faster. 

“Please, just give me something,” Katsuki pleaded as Ash sat the glass back in its place on the nightstand. Ash glanced at the door, as if determining how far the voices were and the likelihood of getting caught before he turned back to Katsuki and looked down at him with a heavy expression. 

“When you read the folder,” Katsuki opened his mouth to point out he couldn’t do that but Ash held up his hand to warn him to say anything, “It will give you all the answers you are looking for. Some take too long for me to explain now. But I’m going to tell you this.” Katsuki stared expectantly, not yet feeling the effects of the powder, “In three days, All For One is going to declare his official rule over Japan. That is when you are going to escape,” Katsuki felt his breath hitch. He knew working with Ash would give him a chance at escape but he had never expected a chance to arise so soon. Three days. He will be free in three days. “I can’t give all the details yet, there’s not enough time. But just survive three more days and then you will be free. I can’t promise forever, but I will make sure you get a chance at it,” said Ash solemnly. He looked at Katsuki one last time and Katsuki stared at him, every emotion freely radiating off his face. Then Ash wandered back over to his desk and took out that paper he had been working on when Katsuki woke up barely twenty minutes ago. How much has changed since then? 

He realized Ash was trying to go back to the way things had been before their alliance so Katsuki obliged and decided not to speak any more. Instead, he laid his head back against the pillows and stared up at the green ceiling, warm blotches of sunlight glittered across the fabric sheltering them from outside forces. Katsuki closed his eyes and began to imagine the green sheet wasn’t there and he actually was out in the sun. He wasn’t sure what he was doing, maybe he was riding his bike down the sidewalks of his childhood neighborhood or he was jogging the forest path he knew by heart that led straight to the creek he and Izuku used to play at when they were young. The sunlight was splotchy there just as it was now, but there it was due to the barrier of the leafy green trees decorating the peaceful forest. He liked that splotchy sunlight a lot more than this one. 

He saw himself sprawled out on the grass by the river bank and he smelled the sweet aroma of wild flowers that danced in the wind. He heard the river splashing near his feet and  the birds happy songs from above as they flapped their wings and flew from tree to tree. And if he focused hard enough he could feel the presence of Izuku beside him, lying there with him, keeping him company in the midst of his fear. He couldn’t quite see him, but he knew he was there, and that was enough. As he did his best to replicate the feeling now he knew he would never feel as at peace as he had on those days. Childhood peace is something that cannot be remade. It’s something that you grow out of as you grow up and when your imagination meets its limits with the forces of reality, the forces of nature never will call to you as they once did. Katsuki is filled with sudden longing and remensince to go back to the way things once were. 

What he would give to go run through that creek one more time. If only little Katsuki could see him now, what would he think? He’d probably hate himself for his middle school behavior, for outcasting his closest and most cherished friend, and Katsuki understood because he also hated himself every day he woke up and remembered there was a time in his life he was an absolute asshole. He apologized and Izuku forgave him but Katsuki had never really given up the guilt eating at him day after day as he tried to make it up to Izuku for everything he had put him through. He knew no matter what he did it would never be enough but he hoped one day it would come very close and he would be able to face Izuku without also facing his past. As Katsuki laid there the effects became more evident and his eyes began shutting against his will. He felt his head growing foggy and his body slowly wearing down as he began to lose movement to his muscles. In the middle of his grogginess however, he heard a voice that sparked a little fight inside him to stay awake a little longer. 

A zipper slid open and the sound of shuffling fabric was heard near the front of the tent. “Good afternoon, Dr. Ash,” said a gruff voice, “I’m just popping in to hear what you have so far. We need to start preparing the instrumentals.” There was the sound of ruffling paper and then Ash’s voice spoke. 

“Why, good afternoon, I hope the meeting went well. I only have the first half done. I don’t know if it’s any good or not.” The voices faded in and out as Katsuki’s consciousness did the same. Katsuki fought sleep with every cell in his body but the drug was beginning to overpower his conscience and he wasn't sure how much longer he would hold out. 

“You’re an excellent writer, you shape the beliefs of an entire society simply with your words. No actions, no evidence. Just your words. I’m sure it’s great.” Someone was clearly an admirer. “All For One wouldn’t have you write it if you weren’t worthy.” There was a period of silence in which Katsuki assumed his senses had simply shut off as a symptom of the powder but a few moments later Ash’s solemn voice filled the overwhelming stiff air of the green tent. 

“Seven. Six. Eleven. Five. Nine and twenty miles a day. Four. Eleven. Thirty-two. The day before. Boots. Boots. Boots. Boots. Moving up and down again.” The anthem was empty. It was exactly what Katsuki would imagine for All For One. But as Ash began repeating the word boots a very unsettling feeling dropped in Katsuki’s stomach and he was suddenly very grateful he was drifting off to a world where the uneasiness of the poem wouldn’t reach him. Ash continued speaking, “There’s no discharge in a war.

”Don’t. Don’t. Don’t. Don’t. Look at what’s in front of you. Boots. Boots Boots. Boots. Boots. Moving up and down again.

”Men. Men. Men. Men. Men go mad while watching them. There’s no discharge in the war. 

“Keep. Your. Eyes. Drop. They will get atop of you. Boots. Boots. Boots. Boots. Moving up and down again.

”There’s no discharge in a war,” Katsuki heard a break in the voice and he thought it was finally over. He felt sick, no wonder Ash had apologized to him. This was horrid. The reminders of the war, the eyes, the boots. Echoed over and over again. Katsuki practically begged the drug to take him now so he didn’t have to risk hearing it again. But he realized it wasn’t yet finished as Ash began speaking this time, in a louder, more dramatic way almost as if he was crying out in fear of the boots, and the eyes, and the men, and the war. 

 “Try. Try. Try. Try. To think of something different. Oh. My. God. Keep me from going lunatic. Boots. Boots. Boots. Boots. Moving up and down again. There’s no discharge in a war.” There was more silence. And Katsuki waited, his eyes sealed shut, sheltering him from revealing his wavering fear that most certainly would’ve been evident in his red irises. The cruelty with which Ash spoke the words almost made him believe he had in fact chosen to trust someone who would ultimately betray him. He felt someone would betray him. He knew it. He could feel the warning cries of be careful who you trust radiate throughout his bones. He prayed he wasn’t feeling the warning too late. He prayed it wasn’t Ash.

He prayed as he heard the pounding of boots in his mind and the cries of men, and the terrible remnants of war repeated in his mind. Playing over and over. The deaths, the blood, the shouts, the destruction. The smoke clogged his lungs. The dust stinging his eyes. The red splattered everywhere. It’s all he could see. The red that also happened to be the precise color of his eyes. And he suddenly was filled with hatred for his eyes. A constant reminder of what he had seemed that fateful day. A small part of him that he had no control over just as he had had no control over the war and the evils of the world, but he had been forced to carry the burden anyway. The smell of burning flesh that he knew wasn’t from the opposing side. This anthem was… horrible… and exactly what All For One would be looking for. Katsuki knew it would be approved. And it would get a chorus. And it would be played on every speaker, in every household, for all to hear. And he began to grow mad just thinking about it. 

But before the damage of the poem could be irreversible the drug fully kicked in and Katsuki was knocked into a deep sleep as the second voice kicked in, “It’s finished. It’s perfect. I’ll take it to All For One now for final review, but this is it. Nice work, Dr. Ash, we all knew you could do it.” The voice faded from existence just as Katsuki faded from consciousness. 

———— 

The sun had risen and set three times before Izuku decided Katsuki was most likely not coming back. It was unsettling, and lonely, and filled Izuku with anticipation as he sat on the sandy ocean shore and stared out into the vast blue ocean, willing the fiery blasts of the blonde to begin booming in the distance, marking the return of Katsuki. However, he did not give up hope and persistently reminded himself he could never give up on Katsuki because Katsuki would never give up on him. Katsuki would also never break a promise. Well, except for one. But that can’t really count. Personal childhood dilemmas could never be a valid comparison for the aftermath of war. No matter how painful they both may be. 

What mattered was that Katsuki would come back. He always returned to Izuku, and Izuku didn’t know why or how that was even possible but at every point in his life when he had needed Katsuki most, he had been there. And he knew in his heart Katsuki would do everything in his power to get back to him. And what kind of friend would be if he just left? The panic that would engulf Katsuki would not be worth the raging fiery fit he would throw when he finally found Izuku, whether Izuku was safe or not, he would most certainly get a long drawn out speech about how his actions were reckless and he should’ve never committed such foolish behavior. Izuku would take all the shouting and yelling with a smile because he knew Katsuki was only doing it out of care and expressing his worry and relief in the only way he knew how. In anger. 

So he wouldn’t have usually minded leaving the beach to go find Katsuki himself, if only he knew where the beach was and had a compass or a map or literally any sign pointing him towards civilization. He wasn’t exactly comfortable going out to explore the wild wilderness of Japan with no gear and his powers weren’t exactly functioning clearly right now. The first time he had attempted to use them he had been so thoroughly exhausted he had laid on the beach the rest of the day. The second time he attempted to use them he had almost split his brain in half by the terrible migraine that occurred simultaneously with him activating his power as well as the pure burning fire that sizzled in his blood. He hasn’t attempted to use One For All since. He figured since he was currently quirkless and practically helpless he was safest on the beach where he had a clear view of the ocean and the sky and could flag down any passing ships or planes. 

He wasn’t entirely sure of the state of Japan right now so he wasn’t trying to draw attention to himself by making an S.O.S sign out of coconuts or anything. He didn’t want to flag down foes instead of friends and he was sure he would get an earful from Katsuki about what a moron he is to purposefully share his location with anyone who flew overhead. But he waited patiently, with his knees tucked up against his chest, his hair rustling in the salty breeze. He had got a deep tan in the past few days of sprawling out in the sun. It was a surprisingly warm March and almost all of my body had healed up from the minor bruises. A few bigger ones were still a yellowish green but they were no longer a deep purple. Except for the bandage wrapped around his left shoulder, there were no obvious injuries on him. He hadn’t dared open the bandage, his arm was achy and sore to the touch so he tried to leave it alone the best he could. There was no other material to wrap it up with and nothing to cleanse it with out there so he kept it wrapped up to keep out the dirt, sand, and all other natural materials that could lead to infection. 

Every now and then he would leave his spot by the bank and walk back towards the mounds of rocks. Behind them, on the opposite side to the ocean, he found a small running creek a couple days ago and hoped and prayed the water was clean enough to drink from. He didn’t want to contract any diseases through the water but he also had been running a severe risk of death of dehydration and he had to take the risk in this case. So far, he hadn’t hadn’t any issues with the water and hoped to keep it that way. He didn’t drink any more than necessary to keep his thirst levels down. He was getting severely hungry but the human body could go without food for two weeks. He didn’t try to move much, the cramping from his stomach would attack him every time he stood up but at least he wasn’t thirsty anymore and any time he felt like he needed a hardy meal he went and took a long gulp of fresh water. It wasn’t exactly  satisfying but it was sustaining and it would have to work.

He didn’t dare wander too far off. In case Katsuki came back he had to be ready and he needed to be present. Katsuki would most likely already be panicked that he had taken so long to return and he therefore be very irritated and easy to set off, it would be best to where he could easily find him. And Izuku had diligently sat at his post for three days and three nights. Well, he actually slept at night. But made sure to only sleep on the same bed Katsuki had left him on during the war. Katsuki would remember where he had left him and if he happened to arrive at night and didn’t immediately see Izuku, he would visit this spot first and Izuku needed to be there. 

Izuku was not normally an early riser, but with not much to do on the sandy shores besides take a quick dip in the ocean, bask in the sun, and watch the seagulls hop around on ground, catching grubs and exercising their God given right to freedom and flying, Izuku found himself going to bed directly at sunset and waking up before the sun. In the shadows of the moonlight, under the gaze of the stars, Izuku often found this is when he was most agonized about life’s recent events. Izuku very much missed One For All. He would be able to leave much sooner, find his friends, find Katsuki and tell him he’s alright. The first time he woke up before the sun, three days ago, he found he didn't have a lot of motivation to get up. He felt heavy, as if an invisible weight were pressing down on his chest and no matter how hard he pushed he just wasn’t strong enough to push it off. He eventually relieved the pressure by sobbing rivers and telling himself everything was alright and he would be reunited with his friends soon (this was before his second attempt at One For All.) 

The soft glow from the moon seemed to illuminate the dark parts stored inside his memory that the sun so often seemed to brighten. As long as the sun was shining the horrible dark memories weren’t so dark, there was a light shone on them that made them bearable, not good memories, but they didn’t thrash and fight his feelings so easily as they did in the early hours of morning. That’s why Izuku fell asleep so fast, he didn’t like dealing with the horrible judgement the darkness brought. Without the vibrant, bright guidance of the fiery light, he was entirely lost. And when he felt lost, he became afraid. Afraid of everything. Afraid of the unknown, afraid of the future, and deathly afraid of his past. Afraid it would somehow catch up with him, despite him doing nothing wrong, but he would somehow turn into the small scared boy that he once was. As if it happened dark for too long his body would somehow morph permanently into his old, pathetic self and he would be no better than he was two years ago in Middle School. 

That’s why he had always slept with a nightlight in his bedroom back at UA. The first time his friends found out about it they made jokes about it, him being afraid of the boogie monster and all, but they got over it quickly and seemed to forget. Katsuki never found out because Katsuki avoided his room at all costs, and thanked the Lord for that, because Izuku could only imagine what Katsuki would’ve come up with for his dependence on the night light. 

When he awoke in the mornings before the sun he found himself sick to his stomach, the fear that something had gone extremely wrong, the feeling that something was happening way out of his control, but he still could’ve stopped it if only he had been stronger. That he had never actually grown from that skinny, weak boy he was before One For All. Normally when he had these thoughts he would activate his ability and watch his hands glow that majestic sparkling red glow, before he would settle back to sleep, now comfortable in his body that he had been ashamed of for years. His quirk brought him comfort, it brought him security, and worth. But stuck on a beach under the watchful eyes of the stars and shadows, unable to activate his quirk without pure pain and restraint, he was once again back in that middle school body. And he was no longer laying on a patch of underbrush on a wild shoreside, he would find himself in his childhood bedroom, tucked in his Allmight sheets, staring up at the sliver of a crack in his flaking white ceiling and listening to the soft hum of ceiling fan. Wondering what he had done wrong to be the one child in his school, in his town, to not get a quirk. Sometimes he would cry. Sometimes he would just lay there in silence, humming along with the fan, praying the doctors were wrong and his quirk would just be late. 

Laying in the underbrush now, he felt the same saddening feeling he had felt all those years prior. Instead of staring up at a crack in his ceiling however, he was staring up at the cracks in leaves that opened up for the stars as he felt the world as he knew it split in two. What if something severe had happened to his quirk? He still didn’t remember the entire battle, or most of it for that matter, and he barely remembered Katsuki taking him to the island. What if something terrible had happened that permanently disabled his quirk and he would never get it back. Izuku did everything in his power to avoid those thoughts, once he got on a long train of critical thinking it was hard for him to hop off. He had a hard time spiraling into fits of panic or fear. His doctor had told his mom it was just a side effect of his anxiety but Izuku had a feeling it was a little more serious than that. Maybe it only was that though, he never had these problems when he was a kid. 

Most people didn’t know about his severe anxiety. He was always so positive and sunshiny, no one ever thought twice that he might have a negative bone in his body. But he did, he had a lot actually, which is why he always worked twice as hard to be positive. It was exhausting, he had to admit, to always be happy for others simply because they couldn’t handle being happy enough on their own. But his own failure to bring himself pure happiness didn’t mean he had the right to tamper with anyone else’s, so he fought his negativity every day to be the happiness everyone sought in their lives. Everyone deserves a right to happiness, and Izuku might not be able to grant his own but he would give everything he had to grant everyone else’s. These were most of the thoughts that consumed Izuku’s head before the sun broke over the horizon and its rays splayed across the water, reflecting a lavender haze over the crisp blue waters of the Pacific ocean. 

By the time the sun had fully risen over the water, marking the beginning of his fourth full day, Izuku knew something was wrong. He was standing atop the mound of white rocks resting a few dozen yards away from the ocean’s edge, staring out into the ocean, eyes narrowed into slits, looking for any signs of life or the hothead blonde. The only life he saw was that of the seagulls, squawking their good mornings out to one another. A terrible feeling settled in the pit of his stomach, much worse than his hunger cramps had ever been. It settled and it buried itself and it grew as the lavender sky dissipated to a soft indigo blue. Izuku scanned the open waters and when he was certain no one was coming he scurried down off the rocks and began pacing the beach. 

Something had happened. Something urgent. Something terrible. Yes, Izuku had more faith in his friends than anything else in the world but that also meant he trusted they would come find him once things were safe. After looking at this situation from every perspective he could gather he came down to two plausible conclusions. Either the war was not over, and they were not able to leave yet. Or the war was over… and they were never going to come get him. Either way, meant Izuku was stranded. Either way ended with Izuku dying alone in the middle of a beautiful beach surrounded by the clear blue waters and basking under the bright, radiant sun. It sounded like a terribly tragic way to die and Izuku was not one for tragedy, he also wasn’t fond of the idea of death so young. And he knew his friends wouldn’t allow him to remain here if they knew, and he knew Katsuki wasn’t so cruel as to leave him out here to fend for himself. Yes, they’ve had their differences and there had been incidents in the past, which Izuku has long forgiven him for, but he would never be driven to leave him. In fact, Izuku couldn’t think of a time in which Katsuki hadn’t shown up when Izuku needed someone. He had always been there. In the good and the bad. The one constant in the chaos of his life was chaos given form. So where was he now? 

As the day grew, the dread in his stomach became ever more painful and ever more prominent as Izuku began to assess the horrible thought that the war might be over… and they had lost. That Katsuki wasn’t here because… no it wasn’t possible. Katsuki wouldn’t lose. He wouldn’t let himself. And Uraraka? Iida? Todoroki? Allmight? Aizawa? There were hundreds of people fighting for the greater good. Working together to show All For One he stood no chance against the empowerment of humanity. No, they wouldn’t give in to such evil, they would fight, and they would give it their all. And the only reason they wouldn’t come out on top is because their all wasn’t enough… and what if it hadn’t been? No no no no no. “Don’t think like that. Everything is alright. Everyone is okay. Everyone made it out. Kacchan is coming.” Izuku repeated to himself, redirecting his train of thought away from the horribly, dreadful ones that he knew would keep him up at night if he allowed them too. “Kacchan is coming…” 

“Kacchan is coming,” he repeated to himself throughout the day as he did laps around the beach. 

“Kacchan is coming,” he repeated to himself as he swam in the ocean, it was cold and froze him to the core, but was a much more pleasant pain than that awaited him in the silence of mind. 

“Kacchan is coming,” he repeated to himself as he hiked to the tiny stream to drink water. 

“Kacchan is coming,” he repeated to himself as he laid down on the burning sand and let the sun rays soak up the chill that had nestled in his bones from the frigid waters of the Pacific. His warmed him and it brightened his mind and enhanced his attitude and he was grateful for the momentary peace as he closed his eyes and smiled softly, listening to the sounds of the gulls and the crashing waves. “Kacchan is coming.” 

But Katsuki didn’t come. Katsuki didn’t come that day. Nor the next day. And Izuku was a mess by the 6th day of being stranded on the island. It was becoming a challenge for him to move, he was so hungry and he found it was hard for him to concentrate on anything other than food, water, and the slight hope that Katsuki would be coming to get him. By now though, Izuku knew something had happened. The plans had gone wrong. Katsuki was still out there, he knew that much, he just felt in his bones he was out there somewhere, but something was keeping him from coming. And Izuku was getting to the point where he was going to have to leave on his own, or he would never leave this beach. But as he laid in the same dent of sand he had been laying in for six days now, he couldn’t find the strength inside himself to even stand. He only rose now for water breaks, or to take himself to his disheveled bed. 

Right now Izuku was not required to complete either of those tasks so he wallowed in at the hunger devouring his stomach and listened to the soft song of the gulls as their feet pattered around him. The gulls seemed to be used to his presence by now and no longer stirred when they caught him moving. They would run around him, chasing one another and fighting for dominance over the beach, and sometimes even nip at his feet. He would giggle and kick his legs, triggering the gull’s fight or flight response (they always chose flight.) He liked to imagine one day he would fly again like the gulls. One day his quirk would return to him and he would feel its energy flowing through his blood, a second nature to him that he had become so reliant on he now felt foreign in his own body, like a part of him missing. Perhaps that was why he lacked the motivation for survival. He didn’t feel wholly like himself and in doing so he wasn’t able to fully register the dangers of what he was doing. Lying on the beach instead of searching for a path to one of the cities or at the very least a small town. 

However it would be in this moment that would spark Izuku’s sudden ability to move, and to move as if he had never moved before. Laying in the sand, feeling the blissful heat kiss his cheeks, he heard a faint buzzing in his ear and he was certain it was another mosquito trying to make it’s next meal out of him, but as he swatted the side of his head, he realized the sound was echoing in both ears and he flew open his eyes to a glorious sight. In the vaste distance, there was a plane. In spite of the pure pain it took him to stand, he stumbled to his feet and stared in awe at the sky in the distance. The plane was flying high overhead but would be flying over him, and low enough to the ground to see him… How wonderful! But the more Izuku thought about it…. how wonderfully coincidental. Suddenly, Izuku felt Katsuki’s bickering presence shouting at him to use his brain for once and go hide and he felt his legs move without thinking towards the shelter of the trees. The plane flew closer, flying so close to the ground now Izuku knew it was going to land on the island. The buzzing became so loud it was almost unbearable but he couldn’t take the time to cover his ears. He had to get out of sight because Izuku had a dreadful feeling this plane wasn’t here with help. 

By the time it came within clear view for Izuku to make out details he could tell it was a gray, battle jet. It was clearly a Japanese jet and Izuku tilted his head in confusion on why Japan would send its air force to a random island off the mainland. Or maybe he was on the mainland. He wasn’t sure to be honest. He was very sure though of the fact that the plane was bad news. Izuku quickly scampered back, deep into the thicket of the underbrush of the forest. He squatted down in between bushes and did his best to camouflage with his surroundings, thankfully his green hair was very similar to the shade of green of the plants and he wasn’t wearing bright colors… never mind that was a lie. He had one of those cherry red shorts. He wanted to mentally slap himself and if Katsuki was here he knew he would take the honor and slap him for him. Izuku sat crouched, ready to move at a moment's notice and the plane came in for a speedy but smooth landing. It wasn’t long before the doors opened and four men ran down the ramp, each heavily packed down with gear and strapped down with guns. Izuku’s stomach dropped as he studied the men. 

They began shouting in sync, and Izuku was far enough away he couldn’t clearly make out what they were saying. But he saw the stiffness of their movements and their strides full of purpose and he knew they had come with a clear mission. He really hoped that mission didn’t involve him. It was alright, he could avoid them. He just needed to stay silent, don’t move, don’t draw attention, and he will be fine. And the second they leave, the island will be marked clear and he will probably be safer here than anywhere else. Besides like, at UA surrounded by all his friends and teachers. Or maybe literally anywhere else than on an island with no backup and no weapons and no quirk, but he didn’t find it reassuring to look at it like that so he chose to find a bright side (there wasn’t one.) 

The four men each went in a different direction. One went up the beach, a second went down the beach and the other two began walking towards the walks before splitting it in half and searching different segments. Izuku kept his eyes peeled and watched the men with such anticipation he feared he would explode. The men didn’t make any quick movements, they took their time and were precise in their search. They peeked in rock openings, they searched up trees, and under bushes and Izuku was suddenly hyper aware it was only a matter of time before one of the woodsmen reached him. His heart was pounding in his chest and his breathing quickened and he felt himself losing control of his body as his mind began racing through every horrible thing that was going to happen once they caught him. They would gun him down and force him to go with them and they would chain him up and take him before whoever was in charge of them and there’s no way that person was good because Izuku could feel the presence of evil wandering the woods now that the men had arrived. The eeriness crawled up his arms and slivered down his back as he patiently watched from behind his cluster of bushes. 

Suddenly one of the men shouted in alarm and Izuku wasn’t sure what language they were speaking. It must be a certain military code, that was the only solution Izuku could come up with because it didn’t sound like any language he had ever heard. But Izuku got just what the man was referring to when he held up his tattered green suit that had been abandoned near his brush bed. Izuku didn’t even need imaginary Katsuki to slap him, he mentally slapped himself because how could he have been so stupid to leave evidence of himself behind. The men’s voices filled with clear excitement as the chase suddenly became real and Izuku knew what they were excited for. They were close to finding him. Izuku was suddenly aware of every breath he took, every hair standing up on the back of his neck, and every droplet of sweat that dripped from his brow. He felt sick, he was going to be sick. The closer the men got, the worse Izuku felt. His senses were hyper aware and his world was vibrant, every sense working double time to keep up with the actions and voices of the two men closest to him. 

After a few of the worst minutes of his life, one of the men arrived at a tree barely fifteen feet away and Izuku had never felt such fear. Being with these men with a quirk was one thing, being with men without a quirk was an entirely different thing. Izuku felt himself on an edge. He was about to fall off face first and he just prayed someone would be there to catch him. He closed his eyes and prayed to anyone listening to protect him, to make him invisible, to make him untouchable. Something. Anything. Whatever these men were a part of he wanted nothing to do with it. However the sound of footsteps set him straight over the edge and his ears registered danger and before his mind could take over his quirk decided to do something about the impending doom. Without no control danger sense activated and Izuku was thrown back into that state of being split in two, his body burning inside out and his mind being ripped from his skull and his poor quirk only did it’s job to keep him out of danger, while unknowingly throwing him straight in it. The pain was so immense no amount of rationality would contain him as he clutched his head and cried out from the straight pure agony, as he rose to his feet and bent over, his fingers prying into his skull the entire time. He felt his bones cracking and his blood boiling and his skin being ripped from him before it ended with a zap and Izuku was left a hysterical mess. 

His heart was pounding and breathing unevenly and tears flooded the brim of his eyes as he stared straight ahead and met the startled look of a young Japanese soldier boy. He froze. He felt every cell in his body simultaneously stop moving as he stood in the center of his bushes, gazing into the eyes of the confused boy. Izuku’s face fell and he began shaking his head begging the boy to remain quiet. To not say anything. He clasped his hands pleadingly as the tears streamed down his face and his nose began dripping blood from the massive tremor his body had gone through. Izuku probably looked terrifying, he was aware, but he was also a famously known hero from UA and maybe this boy even admired hero’s. Maybe there was a chance he would spare him. But if he was on this mission, with people who looked anything but friendly, he knew his chances were slim. 

The boy looked over his shoulder towards his comrade who hadn’t noticed Izuku’s attack, before looking back at Izuku. Hiz eyes appeared bright and curious, almost sympathetic to what had happened to Izuku. Almost sorry that he couldn’t help aid him from this pain. And right as Izuku was going to thank the boy he realized all too late the apology glistening in those blue, crystal eyes was for a different reason. ”HE’S HERE!” The boy shouted and immediately drew the attention of the other man who began relaying the message to the men on the beach. Izuku stared in disbelief, stunned for a split second at the boy’s actions, before turning and running. 

He had no idea where he was running, he just knew he was running. He didn’t know these woods, he hadn’t explored them, hadn’t bothered too. He was regretting that decision now as he leapt over logs and dodged trees and sprinted over the course ground of the forest. Twigs and stones and sharp blades of grass were everywhere and every step was sharper than the last and Izuku’s feet were crying in pain but he didn’t stop. He ran so fast through the forest, if he closed his eyes he might be able to pretend he was flying. But closing his eyes for the imagination was a blessing he was no longer granted as he cut through every corner he could find trying to outmaneuver the soldiers running after him, guns in hand and loaded. Ready for fire at any given notice. Izuku was terrified. Truly terrified. He had felt fear before but never this vividly. He had had a chance, he had odds. Here, he had nothing. He had become nothing. He was going to die in these woods knowing he hadn’t contributed anything useful to this world and the universe had been right not to waste a silly quirk on him. 

As he kept running and passing trees and more creeks he eventually realized he had been running straight to a dead end. A giant wall of stone was coming up ahead in the distance and Izuku couldn’t believe his luck. There had to be some way out of this. Some secret path that led to some new patch of land where he could continue this chase up until his legs fell off and he could run no more. But there was no other path, Izuku had run directly to a wall of stone and was forced to stop before it, turning his gaze up at its towering height before spinning around and facing the soldiers. His eyes widened frantically and he did another glance around the entire glade he had gotten himself stuck in. There had to be an open spot somewhere… if only he could find it. The sound of the boots from the men stomping was so rhythmic and perfectly synced. Izuku hated how it was because the sound matched the beating of his heart as he listened to its final beats. Could this actually be the end for him? Stranded on a random island, abandoned by his classmates? Lost to the knowledge of his friends? No, it wasn’t fair. He couldn’t die yet. He wasn’t right, it couldn’t already be his time. Izuku held his hands up in fair surrender as the four men approached. 

“Look, I’m sorry for whatever I did, I don’t want any harm, okay! Please don’t shoot, I’m not ready to die, okay…” Izuku kept muttering and mumbling as a sign of his anxiousness, he could feel death on the loom, he could feel its long fingers tracing his skin, and ticking his sensitive spine as it lured him closer. The soldiers formed a semi circle and cornered Izuku further into the glade, revoking all hope of possible escape. Izuku’s hopeful heart cracked just a little more than it already had as he glanced at each face and saw nothing but pure disgust at him. Izuku wasn’t sure what he had done to these men but he didn’t think whatever it was deserved this kind of treatment. ”Please listen to me, I want no trouble. I just want to go home to my friends.” Izuku cried out as his eyes began watering. The men all exchanged bored glances before one cleared his throat and stared Izuku down with a smug look on his face.

“We are under direct orders to deliver you back to our Master,” the man spoke boastfully, proud to be working for such a well-deserving man. Izuku had no idea who he could be referring to. 

“Who-?” He asked, very confused. All the other men seemed to be on board, is it that hard to add a little bit of context? But all at once, he began to understand. Their master, clearly the war must be over if these jets are fighting, and Izuku was beginning to gather a pretty good idea of who must have won. And as he slowly came to recognition his hope began to dissipate until it had vanished entirely just as the lavender sky from only that morning. 

“Why, All For One, of course. Who else?” snickered a younger man, and one of the older men sent him a threatening look which immediately shut him up. 

“It doesn’t matter, all that matters is that you’re coming with us,” and with that the men walked forward towards Izuku, who was entirely panicked and out of it after his mind went haywire earlier, and had no idea of how to fight off the men. Two men seized his arms and one took positioning in the front and the other took position in the back and they slowly began the trek back to the fighter jet. Izuku didn’t speak, he was too flustered. The men didn’t speak either, they were given orders not to interact with the prisoner unless necessary. 

Izuku didn’t have the strength to fight them off, nor entirely the will. He was barely able to keep up with their brisk pace and it took heavy concentration to match their steps. His stomach was cramping again and his legs were aching from lack of use and lack of food. He was suddenly very thirsty and his mouth was dry. His face was sticky from sweat and tears combined and even two straight, thin lines of blood from his nostrils down his chin. His eyes were dropping and his vision was blurring and he knew he would be at the mercy of All For One sooner rather than later if these men were speaking the truth and All For One truly was in power. But that could only mean…. 

No… Izuku had suspected this had happened but he hadn’t dared believe it to be true. And now that these men were claiming it so… these men who were going to take him straight to the eye of the storm. Where were his friends? Were they alive? His teachers? The other heros? Kacchan? We’re they okay? We’re they even alive? Izuku highly doubted they were alive and if they happened to be they were most likely in critical condition. They were probably being broken and beaten and bruised all for his sake because All For One’s entire mission had been to get One For All. And even after all this destruction he still didn’t acquire the quirk.  And the more he thought about it the more he realized he couldn’t give up so easily. He couldn’t go straight to the place where All For One was waiting for him on his wicked throne, he couldn’t give in easily. He had no strength, but he wasn’t quirkless. And if it took everything in him to activate the quirk there was still one means of escape. It would be his only means and his only hope of surviving. He had one shot at freedom, one shot at escape, and he would take. If not for himself, but for his friends. They needed him alive, they needed him well, and they needed him free. 

So Izuku took a deep breath and closed his eyes, keeping his pace in match with those around him. He knew the pain was going to be extreme but it would be worth it. He braced himself for the pure affliction that was going to rip across his body like a tsunami before gently calling forth One For All. The familiar thrum echoed through his blood, he felt his body heat up, the soldiers didn’t seem to notice anything amiss yet and by the time they did it would be too late. In a moment’s notice Izuku Midoryia activated One For All and the fiery red strike erupted from his arms in the same moment the searing hot fire raced through his blood. However Izuku ignored the pain the best he could as he felt the energy release itself, as if the flood gates had been opened and all the raw pouring power was flowing out directly into the bodies surrounding him. They had stopped walking and Izuku no longer felt human contact on his arms. He couldn’t feel anything besides the tearing of skin, the splitting of his skull, the shattering of his bones, the stabbing in his stomach, and the fire inside, outside, everywhere. He felt burning and itching and scratching and pain pain pain. He needed to stop it and he attempted to shove the ability back down in his veins as best he could, but he found he could no longer control the power. It had been stored up for too long and needed to be released and Izuku was no more than a pawn in One For All’s arsenal as it flowed into the bodies surrounding Izuku and burnt them alive. The vibrant display of red flashed viciously over and over again. Creating a spectral be in the hidden forest that could’ve been beautiful if not for the intense suffering that was the cause of it. The sounds of screaming echoed across the glade but no other life forms were near to hear the tortuous calls for help and it didn’t take much longer for loud thumps to loudly thump against the ground as the screaming ceased.

Eventually the channeled energy seemed to run, after what felt like a lifetime the raw red sparkling ability was able to stop itself on its own and with it’s end, came the end of the agonizing torture Izuku was now forced to succumb too when he willed his ability. But this pain had been much worse than the last, lasted much longer, and required much more strength to carry it for so long. It had taken almost all the strength he had left inside to deal such a heavy blow of power as well as deal with the consequences of using his attack. He had had very little energy before wielding his work. Now, he had next to nothing left. His body was unable to handle it and he felt himself seize up into as hundreds of tremors traveled across his body. Without warning his eyes rolled back in his head, his vision went dark, and he collapsed with a loud thud against the mossy ground.