Chapter 2: Secret Roulette
"O-ok, hold on, let me get this straight!" Midoriya Izuku paces and rubs at his scalp as he tries to think. "S-So your quirk can be passed down, and I'm going to get it, but I need to train like hell to handle it. I-I get that, I really do!" He wheels around to face All Might again. "But you've already seen how my quirk interacts with yours! I-it's just not stable!"
"For now, you're right. But we can change that. Actually, your quirk's functionality makes this a bit easier." He rubs his chin. "The fact that you were able to copy One for All at all with your quirk is nothing short of a miracle. I believe, in some manner, the consent-cognizant part of One for All is recognizing you as a potential successor. But it would be nice to be certain my quirk hasn't accidentally passed on because of the genetic transfer. So…" He sighs deeply. "As dangerous as this may be, I want you to try and channel the power you felt when you borrowed mine, and see if anything happens."
After a few moments of debate, Deku hunches and tenses every muscle in his body, but eventually huffs and sulks. "Nothing. I guess it didn't transfer. I guess that makes sense, since I got your blood into my bloodstream instead of ingesting it."
"That's good, though."
Izuku looks back up and tilts his head. "Huh?"
"You see, if you had taken my power now, as untrained as you are, your body wouldn't be able to take it. It would surely destroy you from the inside. So, our goal now is to prepare your body for what's to come." He circles Izuku for a few moments, taking in details. "I think I have a training strategy in mind, but I'll need a day to plan it." He pulls out his phone and taps a few times. "Give me your number, and come tomorrow afternoon, I'll have instructions for you to meet me for your first training session."
Izuku's eyes slowly light up as the reality of this moment sinks in. Until now, it's felt like a fantasy, but… now, it feels unabashedly real. The training was the clincher. This is the start of his new future, not just a dream he could wake from any moment. "Y… Y-Yes sir!" He takes his idol's phone and enters his number right away, and jogs in place to burn off the adrenaline kick he gets from receiving the confirmation text a moment later. "I-I can't wait! O-Oh, um..." He pauses. "I… doubt you want this getting out, so what should I do about your name in my contacts?"
"Hmm… a fair point, Modoriya-shonen. Well, I suppose you'll learn eventually, so you can enter my true name. Yagi Toshinori."
Izuku's jaw drops as he's gifted with the knowledge of his idol- now mentor's- full name. He giddily enters it into his phone. "A-Alright! I'll be ready the moment you are… Y-Yagi-sensei!"
"GAH-" All Might almost spit up blood out of pure shock. "W-Well, I suppose that will be helpful to say during training! C-Can't have anyone overhearing you calling me by my title when I'm in this form, can we?" He huffs and shakes his head. "Well, I suppose that's all that must be said for now. Do you have any other pressing questions?"
"U-Um…" Izuku bites his lip as he considers his options. He looks himself over, assessing his injuries from the battle. It feels mostly like a serious workout, with a few bruises on his knuckles and his knees feel a little raw from the jumps he took earlier. "Not in the best shape now, but... if I'm gonna have to get used to your power, can I… m-maybe get another sample for my trip home?"
"Hmmm…" All Might scratches his chin. "Well, that's a decent idea, but at the same time, it's also risky for you to be using your quirk in public without a license or a consenting hero escort. I suppose I could fill that role, but that would mean coming home with you." He scratches his head. "What would your parents think of that?"
"O-Oh, um…" Izuku hangs his head slightly. "M-My dad hasn't been in the picture for a v-very long time. My mother on the other hand… W-Well, she's almost as much of a fan of you as I am, but she worries easily. Actually, she might panic a bit when it comes to me running off to train every day…"
"Well, if that's the case…" He stretches and cracks his back. "I should come home with you regardless to let her know I'll be training you. If she knows I'm guarding you through it, she shouldn't have as much of an issue, correct?"
"True, but…" He looks his sensei over, and casts his eyes to the spots of blood on the ground. "Are you sure you're ok to use your power now to escort me and meet her? You said you were already past your time limit."
He shrugs. "As long as I'm not performing any strenuous actions, my limit is extended. Escorting you and speaking with your mother should be fine. Besides, this conversation lasted long enough for me to recover and be at a decent baseline for a bit."
Izuku nods eagerly. "A-Alright, then! I'm ready if you are! J-Just um... need that s-sample first!"
Toshinori rolls his eyes. "Of course… Well, couldn't hurt." He plucks a hair off his head. "Not my blood this time, though. Getting this in contact with a light wound should do the trick, right? As for making this easier, I think I'll be asking my friend Power Loader for some equipment for safe and clean plasma injections to get the job done with less risk. I've known Vlad King for years, and quirks involving blood almost always require some support tech to make proper use of them without risking your health. Blood quirk users tend to also be more resistant to disease and infection, but that's not guaranteed."
Izuku nods as he thinks that over. "The faster I can get it to my heart, the better. So maybe design it to inject into a vein in my shoulder?" He bites his lip enough to draw a little blood, ripping up some of the skin to get blood flowing. "Never considered not using blood before, but I guess any genetic sample works. It's just easier with blood due to being fluid and getting into my own blood stream faster. But a raw diluted DNA fluid shouldn't he hard to synthesize from willing donors with UA's medical tech, right?" He places the hair to his wound and lets it sit for a moment, proving solid samples are indeed more difficult to work with.
"Probably. I'll have Power Loader and Recovery Girl look into that. For now…" He grins and bulks back up, and Izuku takes that as his cue, just as he feels his power building. He sighs as he drops the hair.
"O-Ok, smaller sample and less exposure. Let's see if that make a difference." He clenches his fists and flexes everything at once. Suddenly, his skin bursts open painlessly and surrounds him in the same suit he'd been wearing just an hour ago, but it starts off more compact this time, and releases far less steam when it shrinks to fit him. The prismatic brilliance in its angular veins settles into a bluish green. "This… feels a lot better, actually." He tests a few basic motions, just some punches and kicks, a couple light jumps that slowly grow higher. "Yeah… yeah, I think I can work with this! It's probably only about two percent of your power, but the shock absorption in the suit is keeping it from hurting this time. It'll still be a bit tiring, but my mom's cooking and a good night's sleep should fix me right up!"
Toshinori gives him an eager thumbs-up. "Wonderful form, Midoriya-shonen! Now, let's get moving, shall we? Lead the way!"
"Right!" He crouches and steels himself for his first sprint with this power, taking off at what he has to guess is three times his former top running speed. He can't help but be stunned at how easy it is to move this fast now, and with so little of All Might's power! Not his power just yet… but he'll make it his. He swears to earn it, and every moment of his trek home hardens his resolve even further. Alleys become blurs in his peripherals, but his vision is drawn to his left for a moment at the sight of his idol running alongside him. He grins widely enough for All Might to swear he can see it through his protégé's helmet.
Despite the distance, it takes Izuku only three minutes to get All Might to his front door, leaping up onto the railing of the third floor and pulling himself over it. He stumbles a bit on the landing, but barely feels the exertion of the act. All Might manages it far more gracefully and crosses his arms. As he waits for his student's instructions.
"O-Ok…" He pushes his right hand through one of the steam tears in his suit to get his keys out of his pocket. "Stay out here for a moment while I warm her up to having a guest. I'm sure you'll hear your cue to come in. Alright?"
"Making a show of it, hm?" He reaches out for a high-five. "I approve! I'll be right here waiting."
Izuku nods and unlocks the door, stepping through can calling out as he shuts the door. "Mom, I'm home! You wouldn't believe the day I've had, but one look at me might tell you!"
"Oh dear, what did you get up to-" Inko steps around the corner and freezes at the sight of her son. She hasn't seen this suit in years, and not quite so tall and proud. It even had a tail last time. She almost frightened until her son rips his helmet off with a leathery snap as the suit's neck rips open. Finding her boy's bright smile behind it soothes her heart instantly. "O-Oh, my boy…" She tears up with pride and rushes to hug him. "You're finally using your quirk! But w-why?" She pulls back and grabs his shoulders. "And whose power did you copy to get this suit?"
"Well, ya see…" He chuckles nervously. "Kacchan and I kinda got attacked by the same slime villain today, but I happened to meet someone whose powers came in real handy once I got to using them to help save him."
"YOU WERE ATTACKED BY A VILLAIN?!" Inko blanches and frantically searches her son's body, only to find how foolish an act that is when she realizes she can't see any of it through the suit. "W-What did he do to you?!"
"Mom, I'm fine! T-There's footage online by now, I-I can show you soon! But I have someone waiting outside to show you just how safe I was."
She stops in her tracks and stares in confusion, but as her son open the door, her eyes track up slowly to the grinning face of All Might towering over her. "Ah- Oh, my! I don't know how I didn't see the resemblance sooner! Inko, how have you been?" He crouches a but to get to her level and through the door.
"A... A-All Might?!" She bows frantically. "W-Welcome to my home! Oh, dear, I must look such a mess, i-if I'd known you'd be coming I would have-"
All Might wags a finger at her. "Please, none of that now! You and I both know I've seen you on worse days, and you're positively glowing tonight!"
Izuku looks between his mother and his hero with his jaw slacked open. "W-Wait, you already know each other!?"
"O-Oh, it was years ago, dear. Shortly after you were born. Some monstrous villain had tried to kidnap me for god knows what reasons, and All Might happened to be there to stop him." She sighs, a faint blush across her face. "I actually miss the suit you wore back then. Your silver age costume's cape was wonderful."
All Might breaks into uproarious laughter. "Well, I've been considering breaking that one out for a second run recently! I quite miss that cape as well, at times."
She giggles softly. "I'd be so happy if you did! But I'm far happier knowing you managed to save my son and Katsuki today. I can't thank you enough, All Mi- Oh! Wait, I know exactly how to thank you!" She claps her hands together and her eyes light up as she leans in towards him. "You absolutely must stay for dinner! I was just about to start, and considering today's events, we'll have to celebrate with some katsudon!"
"Mrs. Midoriya, I would be delighted!"
"Wonderful!" She claps in excitement, almost bouncing in place, before looking to her son. "Izu, how about you go wash up quick before we have dinner?"
"O-Oh, right! Sure!" He starts jogging away just as his suit degrades and steams away. "I-I'll be back shortly!"
Once he's gone, silence falls as the Symbol of Peace and the mother look to one another much more somberly. She sighs and hangs her head. "… Has he been doing well on Tartarus?"
All Might nods. "Hizashi remains compliant, and at times, even seems quite remorseful now. The destruction he caused still cannot be overlooked, but… there's some considering offering him parole with quirk-dampening equipment sometime within the next few years."
She nods faintly and brushes her hair out of her face. "Well, that's something at least…"
All Might turns his gaze towards the door Izuku left through. "… Does he know?"
"I…" She pinches the bridge of her nose. "I haven't told him… but he's a smart boy. I think he may already have figured it out on his own."
"That honestly doesn't surprise me. Your son's proven to be quite the brilliant boy."
"All Might…" She slowly looks up and dead into his eyes. "Please tell me you didn't start following my son because of his father."
"Inko… of course not." He kneels to put himself just a bit below her. "I wasn't even sure he was your son until I saw you a minute ago. Either way, I have no intention to judge him for his father's disposition and actions. In fact, I'm quite proud of him." He grins just a bit wider. Barely perceptible, but bright as the sun. "Your son is sure to become a wonderful hero, Inko. And I intend to personally make sure of it. If you would allow it, I would like to train your son to prepare him for U.A."
Inko's jaw drops and she stammers silently. "You… y-you really think he can do it? You want to be his personal trainer?!"
That shriek is what Izuku returns to, chuckling nervously. "I-I'm still having trouble wrapping my head around that offer too. But… please, mom." He bows to her. "Please allow All Might to train me! It's the greatest route I could possible ask for towards my dream of being a hero!"
She can't help but stare at her son for several moments of pregnant silence. Eventually, she reaches down to her son's cheek and gently raises his head. "My brave little boy…" Izuku's stunned into silence by his mother's tearful eyes. "I could never say no to such a thing. Even when you were afraid of your own quirk, I've supported your dream, no matter how scared I am of losing you to it. To see you given an opportunity like this… to see that you earned it from none other than your idol and the number-one hero…" She steps up and wraps her arms around him. "I couldn't possibly be prouder of you."
After a few moments, Izuku can't resist tearing up again as he buries his face into her shoulder. "… t-thank you, Mom… for everything."
All Might stands by in silence, watching his protegee reach yet another life-changing catharsis for the night. Moments like these, seeing how his actions and words can change lives for the better, is truly the most rewarding part of the job. "Mrs. Midoriya, I cannot thank you enough for accepting. Now… I believe there's been more than enough tears for today, joyous or not. Let's look to the future, and have a wonderful meal!" He uprights himself. "So, how can I help in the kitchen? Blades may not be among my hero skills, but give me some ingredients to cut and I'll make shorter work of it than you've ever seen!"
Inko giggles a bit as releases her son. "O-Of course! Well, wash your hand quickly, and I'll get it all ready for you."
That meal turns out to be one of the best of Izuku's life, and when it's all over and exhaustion overtakes him, Izuku turns in for the night with one last bow to his idol. Once he's gone, he and Inko remain on the couch together for some time. "He really is something, Inko. You've raised him well." He sighs deeply. "… I'm sorry you've had to do so alone."
She shakes her head, sipping some of her tea to give herself a moment to think over her response. "… It's been… hard, at times… but I wouldn't have had it any other way. I'm proud of my son, and who he's grown to be. I'm proud of myself for managing to care for him alone… and knowing who his father turned out to be, I'm glad he wasn't around."
"But…" All Might hunches over a bit. "… Someone should have been around, Inko. I… If I had known, then maybe… maybe I would have." He shakes his head a bit. "I'd forgotten so long ago, how it felt to have dinner with a family. I've missed it more than I thought." He shakes his head and pushes himself up from his seat. "Well… I best be going." He stretches and turns his back. "I'll need tomorrow to plan your son's training, but I'll have messaged him with the details tomorrow night, and we'll start the next morning. I'll be sure to stop in after most sessions to keep you updated, of course." He peeks back to her over his shoulder. "And again, I cannot thank you enough for accepting, Inko."
She slowly stands and bows. "Of course I accepted. How could I not? Thank you, All Might…" She uprights herself and grins ear to ear. "For taking such good care of my boy."
He smiles a bit wider and gives her a mighty thumbs-up, before heading out and leaping down to the street. He makes his way to an alley and, once he's certain it's empty, huffs and deflates. "Oooh boy… well, this is a fine mess. I may have to show her this form eventually, if she's that eager to have me around. Then again…" He cracks his back and starts walking out the other end of the alley to head home. "Inko's quite the woman…"
Back in his room, Izuku finds that although he's physically exhausted, his mind is still racing. There's clearly something bigger going on between his parents. His mother's also accidentally left search windows open regarding Tartarus and a villain incident only months after he was born. That topped off by the total lack of photos of his father around the house, and it all comes together with shocking clarity.
But that clarity only hardens his resolve. If his father was really that big of a villain, and All Might knows, but still trusts him to be his successor, then he'll become one hell of a successor. It's only a matter of time and training.
His final thoughts before drifting off are of what to call himself. He'll need a hero name one day, won't he? Ah, but for all his analytical skills, creativity is far from his strong suit…
.
.
Deep in the Tartarus, although he remains shackled, drugged, and monitored at all times, one of their top inmates is still permitted to view the news, and a few other channels, mostly to keep him remotely entertained and from constantly complaining, as many do in their isolation here. Best to be a bit humane to keep them from acting violently in containment.
But a pair of emerald eyes hone in on the screen as a report airs involving a slime villain attack in Tatooin. They narrow at the sight of the child rushing into battle and unleashing a unique, armor-inducing quirk.
After several minutes, his scowl grows into a fanged grin. "About time, kid. Keep it up. I hope to see a lot more of you on here soon."
Chapter 3: Roaring Muscles, Mastered Mind
Dagobah Municipal Beach Park. All Might can remember when this place had been gorgeous. Clear waters, stunning white sands, wide open space to truly embrace the ocean and be at peace.
Now, it's a junk-laden waste piled to the brim with all manner of garbage and old appliances. A good number of trashed cars has been left here as well, some of which All Might swore he could recall a few fights he's been in that resulted in their damages. Now they sit abandoned among refrigerators, ovens, desks, TVs, and even busted power tools like belt sanders and buzz saws. There was even an entire CNC machine tucked in here, likely from a nearby garage.
And now, All Might stands amongst the wreckage watching his new protegee hefting tires and lugging them about. The pile atop the steps just off the beach is growing steadily, but not very fast just yet. This first morning has already proven a few of his theories, though.
For one, the physical nature of Midoriya's quirk makes him adapt and heal faster than average. The damage he received in his fight with the slime villain was already recovered, despite considerable bruises on his knees that should have taken at least two more days. On the adaptation side, he unconsciously adapted to the proper positions and methods for hefting various objects with the least strain. No direction was required, and Midoriya still managed to figure them out in seconds and take the most efficient method. Unconscious effects of quirks are a dime a dozen, but the flexibility of this one in particular strikes him as something incredibly abusable- especially paired with the rest of his quirk. That adaptation paired with the need to learn to utilize borrowed quirks on the fly streamlines the process to ensure successful adaptation even with abilities of unfamiliar types. At least, that's his running theory, but he has a few plans on how to test it.
A few weeks into his training on a quiet Sunday afternoon, the first test comes in the form of a surprise guest to his training regimen. Among All Might's many contacts includes a wide range of heroes with various talents and quirks, many of whom already know his condition thanks to his upcoming position at UA. As such, he chose to bring one whose unique talent would be marvelous to see Izuku adapt to.
"O-Oh my god, I can't believe you're actually here!" He bows until his forehead is nearly in the sand to thank the cloaked and hat-clad hero known as Snipe.
"No need to thank me, lad. When All Might told me he was training a unique up-and-comer like yourself, I just knew I had to get a look at you." He peers around the beach to the plethora of trash surrounding him, and the decent clearing that's been made in it by the young man before him. "Quite the dent you've made so far. No wonder Power Loader's been in such a good mood, getting all of this scrap to tinker with." He tilts his head and returns his gaze to Izuku. "So, you've already gotten a decent workout. How about you show me how that quirk works, and we give you a decent test?" He reaches into a pouch on his left hip and pulls out a fluid vial with an attached hypodermic needle, much like an EpiPen.
Izuku barely manages to catch it, but after a few moments, he grins and pops the cap off. "So Power Loader's already working on my support gear?"
"Yessir." He tips his hat upwards with his pistol, then flips it around to hand over to the young man. "Since that sample's mine, you'll need this. While I've had you distracted, All Might's been sticking targets all over this junk yard for you to home in on." Izuku looks up and around the scrapyard, seeing a few spots of red and white scattered about, tucked into difficult locations. A few grab his attention of only being viewable through broken mirrors and car windows. "So, give if your best shot."
After a few moments, he grins and raises the capsule to inject himself. "Right… I've studied your quirk more than enough to know exactly what to do with it!" He pops the cap off with his pinkie and jabs it into his right bicep. After it sinks into his bloodstream for a second, he tosses the capsule back at Snipe and braces himself. "SUIT UP!"
His skin splits as the suit begins to form, snapping into place around him with a burst of steam. The horns atop his helmet part and aim sideways before forming a brim and capping his crown off with a mimicry of Snipe's hat. The brim and front of the hat glow with a rust-like energy, channeling the psychokinetic functions of his quirk in place of modifying Izuku's brain. "Snipe Mode." He twirls the gun he was handed on one finger before aiming towards the nearest target to his right. Although his aim was off-center, Snipe's homing quirk got a bullseye regardless. He then reaches behind his head and fires it upside-down, getting one to his left that's half hidden by a junk car's hood. She starts to turn and take multiple shots at once. Secondary shots end up missing their mark. Having more than one homing bullet flying at once proves difficult for him. He'd seen Snipe do it countless times, but he's too much of a fledgling with this quirk. He hums and slows his pace, testing versatility by trying to aim in the opposite direction and still home in. This proves successful, including with one of the targets only visible around a corner through a mirror.
In a matter of a minute, he's torn through twenty-five targets with perfect accuracy, and five stray bullets puncturing random appliances when he'd attempted too many shots at once. For the last one, he tries something unconventional and kicks up a pebble, then throws it and produces the same homing effect to strike a target blocked by windows. "Huh… always wondered if your quirk worked with other projectiles."
"Yeah, but bullets are faster and can manage shortcuts through windows in most cases, and the larger the projectile is, the less effective my quirk is." He reaches out for his gun and Izuku gladly passes it back. "You learn fast, kid. Your quirk's adaptability is sure to be critical to your success. Although you're not as strong as the quirks you copy and can't use them for long, versatility is one of the most important skills of any hero, and you've got it in spades as long as you can keep a decent stock of samples on hand."
"R-Right!" Izuku loses loses an inch in height as his suit sublimates to steam and fades away. "Keeping samples might take a while to manage, b-but I was hoping to meet with some other heroes through All Might to ask them to donate samples. Just a hair or two would work!"
"Certainly." Snipe nods. "For the sample you just used, they apparently only needed one hair off my head and it took only an eighth of it to make a large enough sample to give you a five minute dose. You just ask donors to collect hair any time they cut it, and you can get all the samples you'll ever need to use their quirks four or five times a day for a month."
"Well, your hair is a decent length, so I can see that being an issue with some people's quirks." He grumbles and crosses his arms. "Especially quirks that keep them from growing hair, in which case I'll need skin or blood samples instead."
All Might steps up with a box full of shattered target parts. "A fair assessment. I can think of a few who'd be willing to donate more samples, if you're up for it. But you should use them sparingly, and only use quirks you already understand."
Izuku nods and clenches his fists. "Any you wanna test me with, I'm ready for!"
"Well…" All Might rubs his chin. "If that's the case, I have another who can be here to test you in about three weeks. Until then, we keep up our normal plan." Now." He slaps the car next to him. "Work on dismantling this and getting the parts up off the beach."
The next few weeks were uneventful save for the occasional slip-up with finding wild animals living in some of the garbage and one chest freezer that apparently had a lot of rotted food in it. Those days were particularly bad.
But soon before the second guest, All Might's dropping Izuku off after another training session when Inko decides to really interrogate the man.
It has just started to rain particularly hard on the way home, and neither of them had been prepared, being soaked to the bone by the time they arrived at the Kidoriya household. Just after her son steps past to dry off and wash up before dinner, Inko turns and jabs at All Might's left side. She stops before making contact, but reaching there to begin with startles the man into flinching away, causing her eyes to narrow further. "So what's the story here, then?"
He stares for a few moments, his hero persona's constant smile slowly fading. "I don't suppose you're willing to let this slide without an answer, are you?"
She shakes her head. "I spent five years as a nurse before my boy was born. I know a life-changing injury when I see one." She sighs deeply as her eyes lock onto it. "… Is that why you're so eager to train my son? Because you'll need to retire soon?"
Moments of silence pass before he can manage so drop his guard and nod. "I was looking for a successor, yes… and your son has proven the heart and strength of will to be worthy of it."
Inko takes a deep, shaky breath to calm herself. "… How much has that injury weakened you?" She peeks up into his shrouded eyes. "How long do you have left?"
All Might can only stare for a few moments, but soon closes his eyes and tilts his head back in thought before shrugging noncommittally. "Well… I suppose I see no reason not to trust you with this." He shakes his head and starts to steam. "Please try to keep calm regarding what you're about to see. Very few people know, your son included." Inko steps back as the steam builds, and a sudden burst of it leaves her blinded for just a moment. As it fades, the true form of All Might stands slouched and rain-soaked, a wet kitten with a shaggy lion's mane.
Inko stammers aimlessly at the sight of the hero fallen from his former grace. Her thoughts are cut short by the sound of her son gasping from the end of the hall.
"A-All Might! Oh god, d-did you run out of time?!" He rushes up to check on him, looking about for potential spatters of blood.
He sighs and hangs his head. "No, not at all, young man. Your mother simply happened to spot my injury through my soaked shirt, and I decided I had no reason to hide this from her." His eyes meet hers. "You've already been gracious and careful enough to not let it slip that I've been training your son this past two months. I feel you're more than trustworthy enough to reveal my condition."
Inko stares for a few moments, slowly steeling herself as she soaks in what she's heard and seen. It then become clear where Izuku got his attention to detail. "My son said something about a time limit. You can't use your quirk for too long now because of that injury, can you?"
He nods. "I see you're as perceptive as your son. Yes, ever since that battle and repeated surgeries that followed, my time limit tends to be about three hours a day. It's flexible depending on how much power I'm actively using and the severity of combat, but that's where it tends to average out before I start hurting myself by maintaining that form."
Silence falls as she starts running through evidence in her head, biting her thumb as her eyes dart about. She eventually lets go and looks him in the eyes again. "You're training my son because you know you don't have long as the #1 Hero. You're looking for a successor."
After a few moments, he nods and bows to her. "If you would allow me to continue training him, even knowing this, I'd be forever in your debt. Your son has the most heroic spirit I've ever seen. I trust him to take up the mantle one day to become a far greater hero than even I have been."
She takes a few deep breaths, watching the world's greatest hero prostrate himself to a single mother for the sake of her son. His weakness in this moment, the honesty and heart in every word, shakes her to her core, then sets it ablaze. She slowly reaches down and lifts him back up by his shoulder. "All Might… I'm honored that you see my son as someone so great. As someone worthy of taking your place." She slowly develops a wide and tearful smile. "I could never say no to such a request. My son is yours to train however you see fit. I know you'll help make his dream a reality, and I know he won't let you down."
His sunken eyes lock onto hers, and as hopeful as her words make him, he can't help but instantly pump up into his muscle form as he uprights himself. "YES! Just as you son had done! No hesitance, no regrets! Inko, you incredible woman, I could kiss y-" He deflates in another burst of steam and sputters a bit of blood. "Ugh… Ok, I was kinda close to my limit."
"O-Oh dear, hold on!" Inko rushes to get something to clean his blood with, while Izuku leads him into the dining room.
The remainder of the night is rather peaceful. All Might's comfortable in his weakened form, in this home at least. No need to hide, no need to fake anything. Just himself, his protegee, and his incredible mother. Her cooking is fantastic as always, but somehow it just tastes better when he's not trying to maintain his hero form.
The rain slows to a stop around nine, at which point, he's nearly exhausted himself purely through the conversation that followed dinner. Details of Izuku's training, some hilarious incidents stemming from it, some of All Might's more embarrassing moments on the job that're just a riot in hindsight, and a few of Inko's tales of meeting other heroes throughout her life, usually resulting in All Might having a story or two about them himself.
When all is said and done, Izuku turns in for the night and gives his mentor one last passing high-five on the way to his room, leaving his mentor and mother alone for a bit. All Might turns to her with a gentle smile. "You're truly raised and incredible young man, Inko. You should be proud of yourself."
"O-oh, no, Izuku's just a great kid." She fiddles with the hem of her dress. "A-Actually… I've always felt I'm not that great of a mother…" She sighs and hands her head in shame. "You… you gave him hope. You have him his dream. But me?... I supported him, yes, but I've always been too scared to really push him. Especially after the first time he used his quirk became so… traumatic." Tears start to flow. Within seconds, All Might can see exactly where the boy got his waterworks from. "I was terrified the first time he used it. I couldn't see my boy anymore! All I saw was him bleeding, and then… some scorpion monster that took his place! And when the suit fell apart… oh god, he never stopped bleeding inside it." She stumbles backwards and collapses into one of the dining chairs. "There was so much when it came off. I've never been able to get that out of my head, All Might. I…" She looks to her trembling hands and buries her face into them. "I can't stand the thought of seeing my boy like that again. I don't think I'm strong enough."
All through her confession, All Might walks at a gentle pace and in silent steps, until he's kneeling before her and gently taking her hand. "Inko… as he's an aspiring hero, I can't tell you that won't happen. We're always risking our lives for others." He looks down to himself, and the injury hidden beneath his shirt. "You've seen tonight just what that can mean, even for the best of us." He sighs and hangs his head. "But your son is the kind of person who would do this regardless of training or not. No matter what either of us does, being a hero is his future. He's too determined to allow anything else. He's too determined to save lives and be everything he admired as a child. But most importantly…" He raises his head and gently lifts her chin to look her in the eyes. "Your son is strong, and I know he'll be an even greater hero than myself one day. And I'll give everything I have to ensure it."
Inko's tears slow to a stop as her eyes lock onto his. Moments of comfortable silence pass as she's overcome with a smile that All Might feels dwarfs even his. It's softer, toothless, but so genuine you can't help but feel appreciation rolling off her. "Thank you, All Might. I know you'll take good care of my son."
He shakes his head. "We both will. And please… just call me Toshinori. It'd be nice to hear someone call me by my actual name who isn't my old mentor or Recovery Girl." He chuckles softly.
Inko sighs and nods. "Very well… Toshinori. So, what will you be doing now?"
He hums and thinks it over for a moment. "Well, it is a bit late, and frankly that amazing meal is weighing me down a bit. I'll be training with Izuku regardless tomorrow morning, so it's best I get some sleep myself as soon as possible." He sighs. "But before I bulk up and sprint home, I think it's best you know that in another month, I'll be disappearing for a week on a research expedition with a friend of mine on the police force. During that week, I'll have a different hero meeting with him at the beach every day. Some upcomers that he's already got some experience with, two right out of UA's own staff, and a few more professionals with impeccable records that owe me some favors."
"Really?" Inko can't help but get a bit giddy. "Oh my, I might have to go out to watch some of his training that week to meet some of them myself." She jumps and almost squeaks. "Oh I can't wait! I know my boy is biggest hero fanboy you'll ever meet, but he got it from somewhere!"
All Might can't help but laugh. "You're more than welcome to come out to our training sessions! Just be careful not to interfere, alright? It might look like it's too much, but I put a lot of care into balancing his regimen to be safe and healthy, though certainly taxing."
"Dear, I've already seen the results, if you can make my boy as strong as he is now without exhausting him to death, I can manage to sit by and watch."
He bulks up and presents and eager thumbs-up. "Just what I want to hear! Now, I best be off. Have a wonderful night Inko, and I'll be sure to bring a few ingredients for dinner next time!"
"Tomorrow then, seafood night. I need some calamari to fry up!"
"Wow, I don't think I've ever wanted a time travel quirk more." His grin somehow manages to get wider on his way out the door and onto the apartment complex walkway. "Tomorrow night then. Goodnight, Inko."
She flashes one last ear-to-ear grin. Damn, he's found a smile that can overthrow his own. "Goodnight, Toshinori."
Chapter 4: Matters of Blood
Izuku tightens the last strap and rolls his left shoulder to test his flexibility with this new equipment. Apparently, Power Loader's been eager to see this one tested. His shoulder is now equipped with a tight yet flexible black pauldron, armored with carbon microfiber mesh and a dense polymer, lightweight but bulletproof. The one weak point though is also the most critical part of the design: A pad in the front designed to safely inject genetic samples into the axillary vein for quick indirect access to his heart, hastening the activation of his quirk.
He takes in his reflection with this new prototype in place, through the cracked sideview mirror of a car abandoned on this ruined beach. It looks…
…like it just belongs there.
He barely notices Power Loader standing behind him in his reflection, a gentle grin across his face. He's seen that look so many times. The moment a kid gets the tool that makes them feel like they're really on track to being a hero. Something that feels like it's as much a part of them as their quirk is. He's seen it time and time again, and it never gets old. "Well, how about it? You gonna give this thing a try?" He holds up a belt with slots containing a few vials with samples for him to use.
Vlad King huffs off to the side. "Try it, but don't forget that any power that requires putting anything in your body isn't to be used lightly." He shrugs the shoulder his own blood-accessing gear is plugged into. "It can be pretty damn distracting, having something plugged into you like that long-term, especially right into a vessel. In my case, there's no risk if it's ripped out, since I control my blood well enough to not have to worry about losing it unless I lose consciousness. You aren't exactly leaving a vessel wide open, but your blood pressure and pulse are faster than most, so injecting when you're in danger and jostling the needle could leave you bleeding pretty badly." He drags a finger across his throat. "And a wound like that can spell disaster in a good number of fights, especially if your opponent has a quick that takes advantage of wounds and blood. There's some villains I've had to steer clear of because my blood quirk was more of a detriment than a boost."
Izuku nods. "Like when you had to withdraw from a fight with The Miasmaniac because he gave you blood poisoning when you withdrew the supply you weaponized."
He grumbles and looks away. "Damnit, I hate just recalling that fight. Gives me chills just thinking about how it felt accidentally pulling that slop back into me."
Power Loader shakes his head. "A wonderful point, but I think the kid's more than smart enough to get that." He pulls a sheet of paper from his left pocket. "This kid practically designed this device himself, already knew which vein to target and everything." He lowers the diagram and eyes up Izuku. "So come on kid, take the belt and show us what you've got."
Izuku's eyes lock onto the vials and the determination in his eyes is barely matched by his toothy grin. Power Loader is almost taken aback by that look. It's reminds him so much of young All Might, when he was just starting, but had all the same energy and enthusiasm. Maybe even more so.
And that comparison only grows soon after Izuku's locked the belt into place. He picks out a familiar sample, one he just knows he has to use first, in honor of who got him this far. The capsule is a striking blend of red, blue, and gold, with a gold M emblazoned on the front. A quick press on the top with his thumb activates and agitates the solution, and a thrust into the pad in his left shoulder injects it. He barely has time to brace himself for the results with the more efficient intake.
His organic suit bursts from his skin and envelops him near instantly, with only the shoulder pad and belt remaining outside it. His helmet seals into place last, and his blood boils. Plasma flows through the veins of the suit, bringing a prismatic shine where the suit's own arteries have developed.
Power Loader takes note of this plasma flow for his own next prototype.
Finally, the horns on his helmet grow taller, taking the distinct shape of All Might's iconic rising locks, as lightning sparks between them. The muscle mass of the suit bulks up, and he flexes his artificial muscles. They compact down and shine a bit less as steam pours from rips in the suit, but he's soon got it under control.
Vlad sits up to take a better look. "Well I'll be damned. Now you look like a real hero, kid!"
Izuku pauses for a moment, then without a word, he hefts two steel lockers over his shoulders. "Well, I best get used to working with this new gear on, right?" He takes off in a jog to drop off his payload, leaving the two professionals to discuss Izuku.
"Kid's got drive." Vlad hums. "And brains. Have yet to see skill, but that's what schooling's for. Seems promising though, if he can manage to get enough volunteer samples to work with."
Power Loader pulls out his phone and taps through a few menus. "Well, I've already got a few options down. Some people who wanna come here to see what the kid's got for themselves, since All Might was rambling about him for hours."
"Kid's got something if All Might's got that much energy over him, in his shape." Vlad crosses his arms. "I'm not the only one feelin like I'm lookin at the icon of the next generation, am I?"
"Far from it." Loader puts his phone away as Izuku returns and starts hefting a boiler towards the stairs. "Things are looking promising. I'm sure you've looked over the kids who got in on recommendation already. And the mock test students. Not to mention some prominent families getting their kids into the business now too."
"Speaking of, you see Tensei recently? He say anything about his brother comin our way?"
"Yeah, only comment he had for me was the kid takes professionalism a bit too seriously."
Vlad huffs. "Great, so another Night Eye."
"Eh, he'll loosen up."
"You kidding?" Vlad raises an eyebrow at Loader. "You forget because you're locked up in that lab all day. I swear heroes are more eccentric than the villains we fight half the time."
.
.
All Might wanders through the sterile halls of Tartarus, hero form active, with Tsukauchi by his side. As he passes some rooms, cries of rage and indignation ring out, and he has to resist chuckling to himself as he recalls the villains attached to each voice, and how he personally put them here. At one point he swears he hears Toxic Chainsaw growling like he's trying to rev up.
But, soon, they come to a stop in a small indoor recreational area where some of the more mild-mannered detainees are gathered. Some of them back away the moment the door opens to show the Symbol of Peace, clearly wanting nothing to do with fighting the man who already beat them thoroughly enough to end up here.
One in particular doesn't move an inch, though. A man wearing a series of black bands on his arms and legs meant to suppress various kinds of quirks, with overgrown green hair and stubble. His smile is sharp and fanged, but inviting. He's been in a wonderful mood for weeks now, more compliant than ever according to the staff. "All Might! Wonderful to see you. Come right in, take a seat."
"I gladly would, Hisashi," He sighs. "but we need you in one of the more secure rooms for this discussion."
"That so? Well, alright." He pushes himself up and stretches his back, getting a few loud pops. "So, how's my boy doing?" He follows the pair out with a smile. "Also, good to see you again, Tsukauchi. Hope the beat's not been too tough on you lately."
Tsukauchi shrugs. "It's about the same as always. This case is more interesting, though."
All Might chuckles and shakes his head. "Interesting is an understatement. As for Izuku, he's doing wonderfully. The boy's flourishing right now, I'll have to see if I can get permission to bring you some footage next time." He opens the door to a small interrogation room and shuts the door behind them all. A series of heavy magnetic locks and the hissing of a hydraulic seal follow, and the room is completely soundproofed. "Your son is going to be a remarkable hero, Hisashi."
Hisashi grins ear to ear and leans across the table. "You already chose him, didn't you?"
All Might pauses and slowly peeks back over his shoulder. "… I have indeed. But if you already know about that, then…"
He sighs and sits back. "Yeah, yeah. I'm sure after seeing my son's quirk in action, you already suspect it. My old man's exactly who ya think he is."
Tsukauchi huffs and shakes his head. "To think that man would have a child and remotely raise them… and find a woman crazy enough."
"Oh, yeah, that's the kicker." He snaps his fingers and points. "I don't like talking about family much, but I've brought her up in these interviews before. I'm sure you guys don't have much evidence of her actually existing yet."
All Might takes his seat finally and drums his fingers on the table. "… Echydna. So she's really out there, and it was her quirk's influence that resulted in your Monster Mash quirk?"
He nods and slumps a bit. "And my quirk running amok in public the day you brought me in. Why else do ya think I'm happy in here? Spent my whole life running from the two of them. Moment she found me living a happy life without her, she just had to get back at me by making me public enemy numero uno."
Tsukauchi hunches over the table, fingers laced together and propping his head up. "I see… There's a been a few other prisoners reporting someone with a quirk causing those with monstrous heteromorphic and transformative quirks to lose control of themselves. But nobody's ever been able to prove it, so that was brushed under as falsified. But knowing one of your supposed parents most definitely exists…"
"Then suffice to say the other does too, and there's a good number of innocent prisoners scared shitless of someone nobody's ever been able to pin down."
All Might sighs and runs his fingers through his hair. "Well, this is a whole new headache, but certainly good to know. And explains your son's power quite well."
Hisashi nods, and his smile widens again. "So, that slime incident really convinced you he's worthy?"
After a few moments of silence, the room brightens with All Might's smile. "Hisashi, your son is the most worthy person I've ever met. He'll be the greatest hero the world has ever seen."
.
.
Izuku finishes with his notes for the day and starts packing everything away to head home, as the usual rabble of classmates rings in his ears. Just as he's about to stand, Katsuki slams a hand on his desk. When Izuku looks up, Katuski's not looking back. His gaze is towards the door and into empty space. "Five minutes. Rooftop." He walks off without another word, leaving Izuku to question his old friend's motives. He's been quiet for weeks, light on berating him, and even setting off his usual explosions to shut others up when they start talking down about him. Ever since the slime incident, he's been almost completely different, and Izuku still can't figure it out.
Five minutes later, Izuku's waiting on the roof when Katsuki arrives alone. "Um… h-hey, Kacchan. Why the five minutes? I-It only took one to get up here…"
"I had to piss, why else?" He huffs and walks towards the ledge as Izuku facepalms. "… Your quirk… you said you almost died when you first used it. What happened?"
Izuku's stunned for a moment. He never expected Katsuki to be so curious about it. He walks over to the ledge and leans on it, peering out over the street. "… We were out shopping. It was just a bag snatcher, but he had one hell of a temper. He had no problems taking hostages for something as petty as that." He huffs. "He must have been desperate. He was about to stab mom with his scorpion tail, and… I just jumped in the way. It was a curved hit, and his stinger popped back out on my side instead of staying in me. So I thankfully got the minimal amount of poison, and my quirk's blood focus helped burn what I did get poisoned with away. He… He slapped my mom with that tail after. I've never been so mad, before or since."
Katsuki growls. "If I ever meet the bastard who slapped auntie Inko I swear to god I'm gonna blow them the fuck up."
"For once, I agree." He sighs. "… Moments later, I got my first Suit Up. I got his tail and everything, and I got a lucky shot in while he was looking the other way and confused. That stalled him long enough for some heroes to show up, and get me to the hospital before my suit wore off and the hole he punched in me opened back up."
Katsuki grumbles and closes his eyes. "… So you just need samples to copy to make that quirk work?"
"U-Um…" He pauses as he considers All Might's theory. Will he be able to use a suit without samples once he gets One for All? "W-Well, um… I'm training a lot right now and I think eventually I might be able to bring out a basic suit with some extra defensive and shock-absorbent properties without a sample, but that's about all."
"Still something, though. Well…" He shocked his hands deep in his pockets and starts wandering towards the stairwell. "Just don't slack and make an ass of yourself. If you're still gonna do this shit, do it right. And when you're ready…" He glares over his shoulder, but it's a softer glare than usual. "I'll be there to destroy you and prove you're still nothing compared to me."
As Katsuki disappears down the stairs, Izuku slowly smiles and finds himself… determined. Of course Kacchan would keep looking down on him, but he sees him as an actual threat now instead of a joke or a target. He still insists he'll be the best, and that'll never change, but Izuku's almost giddy at the thought of being recognized as a potential hero. Finally, even Katsuki doesn't see him as Deku. He's someone now, and he'll be someone huge someday.
He rushes to the stairs and calls down. "I'll be there! The moment I'm ready, let's spar and show exactly what we're made of!"
Katsuki was only one flight down, still in view and now side-eying Izuku from below. After a few moments, he leans sideways, blasts towards the floor, and vaults up to land on the railing beside Deku and hunch over him with wild eyes and a rabid grin. "All you'll be showing me is how to become a stain in my path! Now get back to your fucking training!" He jumps back to where he'd been and continues his descent, grumbling incoherently.
Chapter 5: Ghosts
"Hey, Deku." Izuku jumps to attention from his notes, as usual lost in his own thoughts at the back of the class, already knowing the day's lessons in this dreary middle school, so enrapt by his own analysis that he barely heard the final bell. As expected, he finds Bakugou standing over him, but without his usual scowl. "That training you're doing. It a big enough stomping ground get away with using my quirk?"
"H-Huh?" Izuku covers his mouth and mumbles to himself as he considers it. "I… I suppose, but it also depends on my trainer and who he's sending to substitute today while he's away. I'll need to test him to be sure it's alright for you to join us. E-Even I don't know who's subbing for him today." He sits back. "A few days ago, it was Vlad King and Power Loader, to hand off my new support equipment and make sure I know all the risks of blood-based quirks."
He raises an eyebrow. "Damn, you met Vlad King? Lucky bastard. Still, if that's the grade of people you're getting as subs…" He trails off for a moment, really thinkin about whether to address that. He decides against it and shakes his head. Not here, it'd cause the kind of scene even he doesn't wanna deal with. "Just call him and check, so I know what the hell I'm doing next. It's either that, or the arcade."
"Got it!" He pulls his phone out and sorts through to one of his latest calls, redialing All Might.
He responds in his usual deflated and gentler tone. "Midoriya, this is quite early. Aren't you just getting out of class?"
"Yes sir, but I had a quick question for you. You see, Kacchan is looking to join in on my training today, and I wanted to be sure you thought it was an alright idea, and that your substitute today would be alright with it."
"Well, thank you for calling that in. Hmm, let's see… ah, yes, I recall who's subbing today. Now, you said young Bakugou was also looking to get into UA, right?"
"Driven beyond all reason, sir."
All Might breaks into laughter. "Good, good! Well, I'm sure my replacement today will be eager to meet another upcoming student. He may seem rather stoic, but he puts a lot of faith in his students, and always looks forward to meeting new prospects and testing them. Bakugou seems to be quite the intense young man, so I'm sure he'll handle it just fine, even thrive. I'll give him a call and a warning, and he'll be ready for you both by the time you get there."
"Thanks! Good luck with the rest of your trip, can't wait for you to get back and see my progress!"
"Thank you, Midoriya. And tell your mother I said hello!"
"Of course! And thanks again!" Izuku hangs up and starts packing his bag. "Alright Kacchan, you're cleared to come with! We're headed to Dagobah's beach park."
Katsuki raises an eyebrow. "Dagobah? The one with all the trash?"
Izuku nods. "Part of my training is cleaning the whole place. Everything up off the beach, into the lot, and driven off to be recycled." He finishes packing and slings his bag onto his shoulders. "Works out every muscle due to the variety there, great weight training, endurance, and it's the kind of charity work heroes were founded on. Honestly…" He nervously chuckles. "The first few weeks were kinda hellish, since I was working out a lot of muscles I didn't even know I had."
Katsuki snorts and shakes his head. "Alright, whatever. The training's lame, but I'll get to work with a pro on it, I guess it's something." He pushes himself off the desk he'd been sitting on and marches out. "Let's get moving. Sooner we're there, the better."
.
.
All Might sighs as he pockets his phone and keeps sorting through police records. The desk in front of him is piled high with similar reports, all filed away as useless, inconclusive conjecture. But there's simply too much, transferred from departments all over Japan, some even imported from other countries. A few appearances in Italy and Greece, more in America- largely on the west coast- scattered all over Europe, largely in prime upper-class vacation areas, and many more produced similar reports. It all comes down to the image of one wealthy and powerful person subtly causing havoc with their quirk, then leaving others to take the blame.
He pushes himself back from his desk and sighs deeply, dragging his withered hands over his face. "…. Tsukauichi, we need to compile a full report on this and get it to the Public Safety Commission immediately. Have them spread it to all relevant countries' own governments and have every case involved studied more closely. These men need to be freed."
Tsukauchi raises his head from his own file and snaps it shut. "That's quite a large list of detainees. Won't be quick and easy, and I'm not quite sure how many of them will feel about it. Not to mention, if word about a quirk like that gets out, it could cause panic and a bit of a blame game. We'd need to sign NDAs and set a lot of them into witness protection programs, give them whole new identities, until we can corner Echidna or find some way to test whether someone's really need controlled by her or not."
All Might scratches his chin. "Well, a good deal of these files mention a sense of euphoria when their powers were activated against their will, like a powerful drug trip, followed by a bout of depression. Likely some sort of biochemical effect of her quirk. If we can have departments keep an eye out for anyone new who may have been manipulated by her, we can have a full range of tests done on the next case or two to see if we can isolate a physical trace of the quirk's aftereffects."
Tsukauichi chuckles as he sets his file down. "Sometimes, I forget there's actually a brain beneath all that hair. Dave must have rubbed off on you."
All Might snorts. "Of course he did, the man was my partner for half my career. Now, let's get these names and departments down so we can get these victims slated for testing and release."
.
.
Izuku rolls his shoulder to subtly adjust his freshly-strapped support gear, which Katsuki side-eyes with some apprehension. "That thing seriously stabs you in that vital of a spot every time you use your quirk?"
He nods and shrugs it off. "I mean, it's no different than Vlad King's gear being plugged into his arteries for easy access. And my vessels don't scar easily. Skin does, but my circulatory system heals shut cleanly every time."
"Really? Damn, that's actually kinda sick." He snorts and chuckles softly. "Well, who do ya think will be down here for your training?"
"No idea, honestly." Izuku shrugs. "But we'll find out in a moment." He jogs down the steps and through the mess of garbage as Katsuki paces behind and side-eyes the mess.
"Who the fuck dumps an entire car on a beach?"
"Not sure, young man." His attention is drawn ahead to Izuku silently squealing as he stand before a tall, dark figure in a trench coat, sporting a custom navy and gold helmet baring only his iconic oversized teeth. A U. A. teacher and professional hero known as Ectoplasm. "Quite the conundrum, but for now, at least serves the purpose of adequate weight training, does it not?"
Bakugou develops a feral grin as he steps up. "Well I'll be damned. You of all people are invested enough in this loser to help train him? I thought you'd be up at U.A. teaching the third-years right now."
"Ah, no, I actually don't have any classes today. As for Midoriya, I've heard nothing but good things from Vlad, Power Loader, and Snipe."
He turns glares at Izuku. "Ya never mentioned Snipe."
Izuku throws his hands up defensively. "I-I'm just trying to keep this under wraps and not draw too much attention while I'm training! W-We wouldn't want paparazzi coming here and making a mess of it, r-right?"
He stares for a few moments, but huffs and shrugs it off. "Yeah, anything to keep the vultures away."
"Well…" Ectoplasm clears his throat. "I suppose going into your careers with that state of mind is helpful, not seeking the attention and fame. Eventually, we all learn to hate them that much, unless you're just full of yourself. Learn to treat them well and keep up a good reputation, but avoid them when you can and try not to let them too close to your personal life."
Izuku shudders. "Y-Yeah, my mom would have a heart attack if she opened our front door to find it swamped with reporters."
Katsuki snorts. "Literally. And mine would just tell them to fuck off and slam the door in their faces." He stretches and sets off a few sparks in his hands. "So, Ectoplasm. If you're here to train us, how do ya feel about combat training? Your clones would be pretty good for that, right?"
While Izuku gives Katsuki a horrified stare, Ectoplasm hums and hangs his head as he thinks. "Well, that's quite the proposal. My lack of strength enhancing abilities means I can't significantly harm you so long as I hold back, but my clones make for a wonderful simulation of the pack tactics employed by most villains. An excellent idea, young man. If Izuku agrees, then I whole-heartedly endorse it. I just warn that I won't quite go easy on you. I won't cause any real harm, but you're sure to be sore afterwards, and perhaps a bit humiliated."
"Not if we roast your ass first!" Katsuki grins wildly and crouches into a battle stance and peeks over to Izuku. "Pick a quirk and get your ass in gear! And make it a good one, I don't want you holding me back!"
Izuku pauses in shock, but slowly steels himself and nods, looking to his belt to determine the optimal combination with Katsuki's quirk. Dealing with multiple opponents in terrain like this and avoiding an ally is sure to be a complex endeavor, so he'll need something strong, but flexible. His options are still limited, only six vials on his belt at all. All Might is out of the question for this situation, and he needs to work on more variety in his experience. Vlad is a bit dangerous in this unclean of an environment- his eyes widen as he homes in on a particular sample. He was told never to use it for weight training here because it would defeat the purpose, but for this, it's perfect. He reaches for a blue and tan sample and quickly injects himself. "Suit Up!" As it sinks in, his suit bursts form his skin and seals in place, the colors shifting to have a bit of navy amidst the green, including a blend of those colors in it's glowing veins. His horns, rather than growing from his forehead, burst from the sides of his mouth into an exaggerated, W-shaped moustache.
Ectoplasm's eyes widen as realization kicks in. "Oh dear god, they got you a Snatch sample."
Katsuki's jaw drops, but then he slowly starts to laugh, hands sparking as he turns to stare down Ectoplasm. "Oh you are so fucked!" He leaps forth and sets off a blast at the ground to vault overhead and bring pain from the sky.
Ectoplasm immediately spits out a glowing mass that splits in four directions. One launches up to block Katsuki, while two form atop nearby large garbage piles, and the fourth generates beneath him to attempt to block the incoming wave of sand Izuku generated. He backflips onto a beached car and produces another five, three of which move to intercept Katsuki as he maintains his aerial approach, and two remain at his sides.
He looks to Izuku and finds that unlike Snatch, only the upper and outer layers of his suit is becoming sand, while a thin, slightly alien-looking membrane remains attached and his helmet remains entirely intact. Untrained, that quirk seems unable to produce much sand, but what little he has at his disposal is a threat in these conditions. Blending in with the ground, seeping through thin spaces between the garbage, all undetectable.
As he and his clones dance and weave around the two children, always kept on the move by their dual tactics, he can't help but admire the synergy and strategy of it all. Katsuki can run wild with his quirk without risking harm to his ally, while the ally provides the perfect distractions and traps to keep the target from gaining the upper hand, dividing his attention as widely as possible. The land and sky are both accounted for, and little can be done to deter them. At this moment, Ectoplasm is certain that both these children can grow to be impeccable heroes.
Not that they can win. There's only so much even talented children can do to deal with an experienced hero. In the short matter of half an hour that Izuku's chosen quirk lasts, Katsuki has been tricked into running into a total of five fridges, two cars, and a set of lockers, and then locked in an ice chest for a moment. Being able to produce enough clones to convince a bull-headed opponent to charge into something they can't see through the wall of bodies is always useful. He was certainly impressed that the majority of them were only glancing blows, diverted from full collisions by well-timed blasts. The ice chest required him to actually hook the young man with his leg and sling him in. Izuku on the other hand was having trouble manipulating the sand and his body at once, leaving him open to be captured, but he was cognizant of that weakness- enough so to keep enough sand on his person to repel his would-be captors with a ring-shaped blast. That gave him enough time to retreat and be promptly rescued by Katsuki's overhead approach moments later.
They're soon both seated on the steps down to the beach, getting a short rest form that spar before cleaning the beach, hunched and winded, but satisfied. Katsuki's uncharacteristically quiet for a few moments. "… Hey, Deku. Why'd you agree to bring me out here?"
"Hm?" He raises his head and stares. "What do you mean? You're my oldest friend. Why wouldn't I?"
"Cuz I'm an asshole, obviously." He huffs. "Think I didn't realize that? Why else do you think I've gone easier on you the last year?"
Izuku's taken aback, but he slowly looks out over the beach. "Yeah… yeah, I guess you're right. But what convinced you to be so much better? I mean... you're still… kind of cruel sometimes, but I know you mean well."
"Yeah, well, most of that goes to keeping others in line." He grumbles and takes an aggressive bite out of a protein bar. "… Last year, I saw a few others going… too far."
Izuku flinches as he recalls that day. Some upperclassmen came along to kick him around, insisting they could have his "quirkless ass" framed and his mother's life ruined if he didn't step up and finish their work for them, if he was such a "brainy little shit". Either he had to do their work for them, or leap off the roof if he wanted his mother to live peacefully.
He went on to write their essays for them, but all three students were expelled without explanation shortly after, and ever since-
He looks up to Katsuki in shock. "You reported them. You… saved me from them?"
Katsuki hunches over and glares at the ground. "I saw those assholes and realized… that's the direction I was going in. But I also realized they were villains. Genuine little villains, whether they were using their quirks or not. So dealt with them, and decided I would never become that."
Izuku remains stunned into silence for a few moments, but slowly smiles and sits back, staring up into the sky. "I know you won't. You're better than that. You're gonna be one of the best heroes in the world."
"Hey!" He snaps and sets off small blasts. "I'm gonna be number one, damnit!"
"That's if you get through me." He smirks. "Also, 'number one', you just blew up your snack bar."
"FUCK!"