Chapter Text
All my life I have wanted to exist with meaning.
I guess that that was something I was never predestined for.
So here I stand, waiting for my fall.
When I was four, I was diagnosed as quirkless. Later that year Dad left because he could not live with a quirkless son. Who could blame him?In that same year, Kacchan became one of my greatest tormentors, because he did not want a useless friend. Who could blame him?
But despite all the pain, I still had my loving mother. She encouraged me, she cared for me, she loved me.
She died when I was nine.
People said that it was my fault that she died. Because she would not have been killed if she had not protected me.
The only reason that I was still alive was ripped away from me- I had no one. I have no one.
Still, time went on. The earth continued to spin. The clocks were still ticking, even if my world came into a stop. So life went on.
To, how could one put it... to add insult to injury? Well, it did not matter...
His estranged father died the following year, leaving the boy with a small inheritance. Even though his father left him, the boy could not help but mourn the man, who, even though he could not live with a quirkless son, cared enough to sent them money, the occasional toy and sometimes the shortest of phone calls and mentioned him to be the sole inheritor in his will.
So the boy lived on in the empty house.
The house was much too big for one person, it was too silent, too cold.
The system let a ten-year old stay alone, because a quirkless child was just too unnoticeable and plainly, too troublesome. So the child just went off the grid. To this day, the boy does not know if it was a curse, or a kindness by whomever let him live alone. He knew at the tender age of four that quirkless people are not treated kindly. They were ostracised by society. Everyone. Living as a quirkless foster child or orphan could have been much, much worse...
So the boy kept on living because he had made a promise.
And time continued to tick. Hour after hour. Day after Day.
"If you want a quirk so bad, you useless Deku, than take a swan dive off the roof, and maybe then you'll get lucky enough and be reborn with a quirk"
The words rang in his head as he fished out his soaking wet Analysis book. Sometimes he wondered why he still kept up with these useless notes. Maybe to just delude himself that things have not changed. That time and fate had not forsaken him.
He aimlessly walked home, taking a detour, like any other day. It's not as if someone was waiting for him anyway.
Today he decided to take the way which led under a bridge. It was just his luck, being attacked by a mutated villain. As the villain wrapped himself around the boy to possess him, a hand hastily went up and stabbed the sludge monster in the eye.
The creature screeched in anger and pain, but before it could retaliate a distant whizzing sound was heard. The boy's eyes widened at the sight. His childhood hero just smashed that thing into a bunch of puddles.
"Everything is ok kid. And do you know why?", the number one hero said, while striking his signature pose and smile.
"Because I am here!"
The boy could not help but feel something buzzing in his chest. Was it admiration? Excitement? A mixture of both? It had been a long time in which he felt anything other than sadness, fear or emptiness.
"A-All Might, c-could you please sign m-my notebook?", the small voice stammered, voice scratchy due to disuse. Still, he watched in awe as his childhood hero furiously scribbled his name on a double page.
Something stirred inside the young man. He remembered his promise.
"A-All might?", he tried.
The number one hero looked really apologetic.
"Kid, I am sorry but I really got to go..." He made himself ready to dash off, knowing that he was reaching his time limit. But before he could take off, a surprisingly strong hand gripped his wrist.
"Sir, please. I really need confirmation." Desperate green eyes met equally desperate blue eyes. Both for different reasons. One of which, which would decide on their future existence.
All Might sighed internally but stayed and looked at the kid. "Alright kid. Shoot."
A hopeful look flickered in the teens eyes. Or maybe it was just a reflection of light.
The young teen took a deep breath, gathering all his courage and hope.
"Could-... Could someone quirkless like me save people?", fists were clenched tightly at the boy's sides.
All Might regarded him for a short while, before he carefully laid his large hand on the small boy's shoulder.
"Kid, I think while it is very commendable of you to want to save people, I think that it wouldn't be very realistic. It's alright to dream- but it should also be obtainable. I am sorry kid. I really have to go. Take care, child."
And with those crushing words his childhood hero took off.
The boy stood there unmoving for what seemed like an eternity. But then, he gave a humourless chuckle. Not that he expected anything else. It was all a lie. He could kick himself. Why did he start to hope again?
"And look where that got you. Stupid."
The only thing that remained was the long trek home. He pocketed his hands and started to walk.
Explosions were getting him out of his reverie. His apathetic gaze trailed to the source of the horrible noise. His eyes widened at the sight. Why could the universe not give him a break? He truly was cursed.
He started to walk away. There were enough heroes to save Bakugou. No need to play hero. He snorted mentally at his dark thoughts.
Before he could even get a decent distance away from the commotion, the teen noticed the lack of action. Why didn't any of the heroes move? Come to think of that, where was All Might? He looked at his tormentor. The blondes eyes widened in horror, mouth opened in soundless screams. Their gazes met. He saw the boy's lips moving. Help.
And so he did.