Chapter Text
Somehow, he managed to convince Hitoshi and Tsuyu to run far away. They had been seen by the man covered in severed hands, and by the looks of it, he seemed to be the ringleader. The other villain was standing off to the side, motionless and quiet. Something about that villain triggered a sudden urge to throw up, likely due to the abnormally large brain the villain had exposed and the way the villain seemed more like a black mass of a monster than a human.
As expected, both protested his plan to have them run away while he stayed behind. It wasn’t until he raised his voice and made up a lie that he raised himself in the streets over a decade and got himself into plenty of fights before being adopted by the Shinsou family.
Hitoshi knew it was a lie, but Tsuyu seemed to buy it. She will expect answers from him. Izuku knows this, but that is a problem that can be addressed in the future. He may reveal snippets to her if she’s trustworthy or continue to build upon the lie if she's not.
“Remember, run and don’t come back,” Izuku stated, hiking a leg up to take a knife out of his boot. “I need you to tell someone that Eraserhead is at the plaza and needs medical aid.”
Quickly, he ran to where Eraserhead was. He doesn’t know how long or how many villains Eraserhead dealt with, only that the pro was put at a massive disadvantage from the start. No matter how skilled one person is, one can only stand alone for so long before taking severe damage and growing sloppy from exhaustion.
Getting closer, Izuku can begin to hear more of what’s going on between the villain and the pro. The villain was laughing, clutching his stomach with his arms as if he had heard the funniest thing in the world. Aizawa was frozen in place, mouthing something he couldn’t hear, but whatever the man said, it only made the villain grin.
Why wasn’t Aizawa moving? What makes his teacher freeze and look at him with wide, shocked eyes? Doesn’t he know there is a creature that towers over everyone in USJ? What did the villain do that made Sensei act so uncharacteristically unfocused and shocked? He’s so used to seeing his teacher so calm and logical that the situation was beginning to scare him.
“By the way, Aizawa,” the villain teased, raising his volume so the greenette could hear him. “I am not the final boss.”
Oh. Oh no. The villain must be referring to the black mass on standby because that’s the most intimidating thing nearby. He could have sworn he saw the towering monster twitch and the villain’s grin growing wider.
Witnessing all of this, Izuku noted that Aizawa wasn’t moving. Izuku momentarily made direct eye contact with the pro and saw regret flash in the man’s eyes, which confused him. The pro had a pained expression on his face, looking at him as if he was struggling to comprehend something.
“Aizawa,” Izuku screamed, attempting to snap Sensei out of his thoughts. “Behind you!”
Aizawa appeared to snap from whatever that was, but it seemed too late. The villain took several steps back to give the creature room to settle behind the pro at breakneck speed. By the time Aizawa turned to look at what was behind him, the beast had grasped around the man’s chest and arms.
“I can’t have you be killed,” the villain mentioned, chuckling in amusement when the creature squeezed the man tightly. “But unharmed? Sensei never said I couldn’t roughen you up. Maybe All Might will come if I beat you to the verge of death and kill all of his precious students.”
Sensei, Sensei, Sensei. There is something hauntingly familiar with the word that sends shivers up Izuku’s spine, but what? It’s at the tip of his tongue, but before he can give too much thought to that word, the voices of the past users are shouting at him to pay attention and that there is no time to worry.
So many voices speak at once, but their words can be summed up as telling him to run away. The previous users claimed he was outmatched, and if he weren’t in a life-and-death situation, Izuku would have picked up the evident worry in their voices.
But he couldn’t run away or tear his attention away as the creature repeatedly slammed Aizawa down, treating the man like he was nothing more than a rag doll to play with. He already felt a staggering amount of guilt over leaving the pro at the world’s mercy that rainy night. If he were to stop running toward the creature and leave Aizawa’s life to be decided by chance once more, he doesn’t know if he could ever look Yagi in the eyes. He would have to go to sleep knowing that the last memory of the pro is seeing the man be brutally beaten as the horrifying sounds of bones cracking haunt him.
Gripping onto his knife tightly, Izuku used a percentage of his quirk to launch himself off the ground and fly toward the creature, aiming his knife at the exposed brain. If he could land this hit, he could kill the creature before it had a chance to demonstrate more of its destructive power.
“Not so fast, Midoryia Izuku,” the villain called out, looking between the teacher and student. “Don’t you think I forgot about the side quest?”
Shocked to hear that name come out of the villain’s mouth, Izuku momentarily froze mid-air. A strangled noise escaped him, accompanied by an all-too-familiar fear, which began crawling up his throat. He knew this fear; he was painfully acquainted with it all too well.
It was the fear of hearing his door creak in his near-empty room as the atmosphere would become exponentially thick and tense. The type of fear that made him curl up in his blanket at the furthest corner of the room, pointlessly buying time to avoid looking at the menacing presence entering his room. A fear that made him brace himself for another red mark on his skin, another trial of warmth streaking his skin and tainting the cement with a pool of scarlet.
And it was the fear that left him defenseless and gasping for air, all while you looked at the incarnation of evil.
“He has been looking for his prized possession,” the villain revealed, and at that moment, Izuku's heart sank. “To think little Midoryia would be here playing hero.”
A voice in the greenette’s mind, Fifth’s voice, called out to him. “Ninth! Snap out of it!”
Shaking his head, Izuku swallowed the lump in his throat, and while his fears lingered, the feeling no longer consumed or distracted him. The lapse in focus had cost him his chance to strike the creature’s head. He saw how it shifted his attention from Aizawa to him, dropping the teacher with an audible thud and swinging a meaty fist. He’ll have to find another opportunity to destroy the brain or formulate a different plan to defeat the creature. But for now, he tucked his knife back into his boot and raised his arm as lightning crackled across his skin.
He aimed to deliver a blow, hoping that a percentage of the quirk would be enough to send the creature flying somewhere far away from him. Their fists collided, and the creature's ridiculous strength was enough to knock him back several meters.
The creature didn’t even flinch, looking unaffected by the attack. Meanwhile, Izuku barely landed on his feet, though it was rough. He felt a few finger bones snap, and he suddenly felt stupid for forgetting that there were parts of his body that were prone to injuries due to repeated abuse (from All for One and from how many times he had broken specific bones). Didn’t help that it felt like he was punching cement and that he wasn’t proficient in using his fists.
“You met the Nomu,” the villain said snidely. “It’s bio-engineered to end All Might, just like how you’re bio-engineered to support Sensei.”
“How do you know me?” Izuku asked, desperate to get some answers and distract the villain. “Is Midoryia Izuku really my name?”
In those rare moments when he got faint flashes of what he assumed were his memories, he only heard a voice refer to him as Izuku. Even if his memories cannot be trusted, other evidence suggests his first name is Izuku. All for One had only referred to him as Jester in his later years and as Deku in his earlier years. However, when speaking to the doctor, the villain occasionally calls him Izuku. Combining that with Riku’s and Usagi’s discovery of files bearing Midoriya Izuku's name is evidence that the name must be significant. It could be a name or not, but it’s an identity that may be a clue to his past.
“It is,” the villain confirmed, malice laced in his voice. “You are Midoryia Izuku, the boy who was so unloved that your parent erased you from existence.”
Aizawa grunted from where he was lying and lifted his head to stare at the greenette several meters away from him. The pro opened his mouth moments later, looking like he wanted to argue against something. The pro was on the verge of speaking, but the villain ordered the Nomu to silence him. It lifted the pro by the head and squeezed it as if it were a stress ball. Before his eyes, Aizawa’s goggles shattered, and pieces flew everywhere. Blood dripped off the hero’s head, and the sight of his injured teacher almost made Izuku use his quirk. He wants to sing and heal the injuries, but can’t do so with the Nomu and the villain nearby.
The Nomu slammed his teacher around again, repeatedly smashing the pro’s head against the ground. Fueled by anger, guilt, and fear, Izuku quickly hiked his leg up, pulled out a knife, and hurled it toward the villain’s forehead. In hindsight, it wasn’t the brightest idea to throw a knife toward a villain when that villain was looking at him, but it was a momentary lapse of judgment on his part. He didn’t expect the Nomu, who seemed mindless, to block the knife from hitting the villain and stop its brutal attack on Aizawa.
“You should behave yourself,” the villain stated, amused by the teen’s action. “You don’t want Eraserhead to experience the consequences of your actions, Jester?”
Izuku's heart pounded, and he trembled just from being near someone who knew his past, but he forced a brave face. He needed to act like he wasn’t terrified, so he held his head up with false bravado and stared at the villain's face.
“You said you can’t have Eraserhead killed,” Izuku mentioned, tightening his fist to ground himself. “What's so special about Eraserhead? Without his quirk, he’s basically quirkless.”
He wanted to curl up as he saw how the villain’s attention was solely on him. This was the intended outcome when he asked the question, hoping to divert the villain’s focus onto him. If the villain focuses on him, that would mean the man couldn’t give commands to the other villains, and the man wouldn’t realize that Izuku was buying time for help to arrive. Iida should be back with reinforcements, and someone will come to provide Eraserhead treatment.
Still, he didn’t like how the man looked at him, even less when he began to chuckle.
“He belongs to Sensei,” the villain answered, gaining satisfaction when Izuku’s eyes widened. “You, him, the brats, and the mother belong to Sensei.”
That doesn’t make sense. Who is this Sensei? Izuku had never heard of someone called Sensei during his time with All for One or on the streets. So, for someone Izuku had never met, why does this person seem to know about Jester? Why does this person know everything about him, even more than those who paid All for One to use him for selfish purposes?
Without realizing it, Izuku spoke his thoughts aloud as everything clicked. “Sensei is All for One.”
“The Jester figured it out,” the villain mockingly said, noting the teen’s fear. “So, what will the Jester do? Will he be willing to return to where he belongs, or will he continue to be so disobedient?”
No. Izuku refused to go back. He tasted freedom, and it became something he treasures. All the riches and luxuries in the world won’t come close to the value of having freedom and free will. If he were to go back, he knows All for One would do anything to recondition him back to the broken, hopeless child he was years ago. He may forget about the Shinsou and Bakugos. Spending all those late-night discussions, dinners, vigilantism, and domestic moments would become nothing more than distant memories.
But what can he do to get the upper hand? What could he do to buy more time without risking Aizawa’s well-being?
“This Jester’s question was never answered,” Izuku spoke, a glint of metal catching his eye. The knife wasn’t his, but it was a few feet away. Must belong to one of the villains. “What does the one-trick pony have that All for One wants?”
He internally begged the man to take the bait. Let the villain get all cocky so he wouldn’t expect anything. Then Izuku slowly walks toward the knife and…
“You’re going to slit your throat,” First shouted in the teen's mind, incredulous. “Are you insane?”
“You are aware there’s a risk of death,” Fourth warned, and Izuku would dare say Fourth was worried for him. “You are overestimating your ability to target your vocal cords accurately.”
“Your successor picked an interesting character,” Sixth mentioned, speaking to Seventh. “He has worse self-preservation skills than Eighth.”
“Now is not the time to talk about my choices,” Izuku internally scolded at the vestiges. “I need to focus!”
Using a knife to self-inflict a neck injury was drastic, but the situation demanded it. Izuku spent years being degraded, insulted, demoralized, and abused. He was told he was worthless, unlovable, and unimportant. All for One told him he should be grateful for pitying an abandoned, stupid, forgotten child like him.
However, the one thing Izuku knows for sure is that his voice is priceless. There was a good reason why All for One put a high bounty, and it was all because the supervillain wanted his voice. A voice that could produce melodies to heal one’s body and amplify one’s quirk.
So, the villain wouldn’t risk the chance of calling his bluff, right?
“You haven’t figured it out,” the villain taunted, entertained by the teen’s naivety. “How stupid are you?”
Painfully, Izuku slowly took a few steps forward. He made himself as non-threatening as possible, hoping all he needed to do was look like a stupid deku. The villain already thinks low of him, so it shouldn’t be too hard.
“Figure out what?” Izuku repeated, taking another few steps forward. He glanced at his teacher, hoping it would help his act. “That he’s one of the few underground heroes who was a threat to All for One?”
Another three steps forward, and the knife’s handle is now behind his heel. All he needs to do is continue pushing down his fear and quickly find an opportunity to act on his plan.
“What’s the point of telling you?” the villain responded, enjoying the situation. “You’re going to return to where you belong.”
Not wasting the opportunity, Izuku kicked the knife's handle behind him and twirled to grab the knife. Before the villain could do anything, Izuku pointed the tip of the blade at where he assumed his vocal cords were.
“Dare to do anything toward Aizawa, and I’ll destroy my voice box,” Izuku announced, staring directly at the villain. He’s terrified, yet he keeps a brave face. “Because one thing I know for sure is that All for One wants me alive, all because of my voice.”
Izuku pressed the tip of the knife to his throat to the point it drew blood, all while maintaining eye contact. He wanted the man to believe he was serious about carrying out his threat. If he had to press harder, he would. He owed Aizawa for kidnapping the twins, causing unnecessary emotional pain, and almost killing him all those years ago.
And if Izuku did have to follow through with his bluff, then he would. His original quirk is more trouble than it’s worth,
“You wouldn’t,” the villain said as if it were a fact.
“I would,” Izuku remarked, sliding down the tip of his neck. Blood trickled down his throat, but he kept his composure.“And All for One wouldn’t be too happy to know his Jester had destroyed his voice.”
Purple mist swirled behind the villain, and the mist man who warped everyone manifested. The figure leaned to whisper something to the shorter man’s ears, making the villain frustrated.
“Kurogiri, you would be dust if you weren’t our ticket out of here,” the shorter man complained, scratching his neck. “We’re leaving. We won’t stand a chance against dozens of pros.”
Ah, someone escaped from the main building. In minutes, the area will be surrounded by pros, which wouldn’t do much when the mist figure can warp itself out of the plaza. However, that doesn’t mean that he’s safe. Izuku knows the shorter villain would still try to drag him and Aizawa back with them. It’s only a matter of time before the shorter villain does something drastic.
“But before that, I think we should do some damage here,” the villain stated as Izuku’s heart dropped. “We can hurt All Might’s pride by leaving some dead kids behind, but first, the Jester needs to be retrieved.”
Izuku sprinted, knowing what the shorter villain was planning to do. He didn’t quite hear the command given to the Nomu, but it’s not hard to imagine what it was. They wanted him alive and believed he would follow through with his bluff, so they are sending the bio-engineered creature after him.
For what felt like eternity, this mess-up version of cat and mouse followed a pattern. Izuku put some distance between himself and the Nomu, leaping to avoid meaty hands from grabbing him when the distance inevitably lessens. An arm would be raised after several failed attempts, and Izuku would narrowly avoid being hit in the stomach by ducking between its legs or sidestepping.
It would continue to go in circles, both figuratively and literally, since Izuku is running in circles. He’s afraid that if he were to leave the vicinity, either the shorter villain or the mist villain would do something towards Aizawa. After all, the group's ringleader had said All for One wanted Aizawa alive.
But the ringleader eventually grew desperate if the sudden appearance of misty portals was any indication. He’s not only dodging the nomu, but also purple portals that abruptly appeared in front of him. On occasion, violet hands would reach out of the portal and attempt to grab Izuku.
“You’re like a stupid rabbit,” the shorter villain complained. If this were any other situation, Izuku would have taken it as a compliment. “Stop running and accept your place!”
No. Izuku will not. He’s getting tired, but he can’t afford to stop. The ringleader’s attention is entirely on him and less on his classmates. No one will have to die, and there won’t be more bodies to add to his death count.
“No,” Izuku declared, sidestepping to avoid running to another portal. “I’m nobody’s Jester. I am Izuku, and I will not be forced to do-”
Boom.
There’s an explosion at the entrance, followed by the shouts that made Izuku think that everything would be okay.
“Have no fear, students. I am here.”
All Might’s voice projected from the entrance, which caused the shorter villain to focus his attention on All Might. Now that the hero is here, the shorter villain commands the Nomu to attack the hero. The warped villain also lost interest in him and Aizawa, making it easier for Izuku to sneak toward Eraserhead’s side.
He crouched down, placing two fingers on Aizawa’s neck to see if he could feel a pulse. Feeling the faintest of a dying heartbeat, Izuku looked over his shoulder to survey his surroundings. The ringlerader, warped villain, and Nomu were far away and out of hearing distance. All Might was focused on the Nomu, leaving Izuku alone with the hero’s stepson. If he were to sing quietly, Aizawa could heal a little.
But first…
“I’m sorry,” Izuku apologized, rolling Aizawa over so the man was lying on his back. “You got hurt, and I couldn’t do anything.”
He doesn’t know what he’s apologizing for, especially when he doesn’t know if his teacher is unconscious or tiptoeing between consciousness and unconsciousness. Was it because of how Aizawa looked like he was on the verge of death? Was it for almost getting the underground hero killed for the second time?
“And you got yourself involved in my mess,” Izuku continued, resting his palm on his teacher’s forehead. “You know too much, and for that, you must forget.”
For a moment, he thought his teacher twitched, but that must be exhaustion talking. He quietly sang for thirty seconds, knowing that he didn’t have a lot of time to do more than that. It wasn’t a lot, but Aizawa’s chance of survival should have significantly increased.
“Everything will be okay,” Izuku promised, activating his quirk Blockout. “All for One will be stopped, and we won’t have to worry about becoming his tools.”
After using his quirk, Izuku got up as a few of the villains who weren’t deterred by All Might or unconscious approached him. Taking a deep breath, Izuku raised his arms and fought.
As long as he can move, he can fight, and if he can fight, he can protect.