Chapter Text
Izuku Midoriya was five years old the day he first saw a curse.
That was a little bit of a lie, because when Izuku was three he had once seen a tiny curse attached to his dad. Since it had disappeared the very next day, he hadn’t thought much of it, just a small creation of his young mind.
When Izuku was five years old, he was diagnosed as quirkless. In that very same room, a curse had wedged itself into the corner, warily watching the doctor shuffle back and forth. The paperwork in his hands spelt Izuku’s doom, but all that he could care about was the little creature beneath the table.
He had extended a hand, pointing at it, “Mama,” his voice broke through his mother’s focus, “there’s something under the table.” Jolting a little, his mother tottled to her feet, now looking beneath the examination table. For her, however, the sight was just the silent shadows beneath. She pursed her lips, releasing a confused sound, “Izuku, darling, there’s nothing under there.” With that, the doctor had re-entered the room, removing the discussion as though there was a vacuum just outside the door.
The next words he spoke broke Izuku’s spirit, his cries joining his mother’s as the world crashed around him. By the end of the appointment, another curse had joined the small one beneath the table, watching as Izuku left the room cradled in his mother’s arms.
For years he saw the creatures whether that be in the corner of his eye or just watching from the shadows. They followed him, trailing his misfortune and he never truly bat an eye at them. Sure they were there, but they had done nothing to him other than whisper and cackle. His mind had slotted them elsewhere, just something the world had created to remind him of what he was. Someone who was wrong and would never achieve anything. A Deku.
He kept his tongue about curses, for no one believed him when he spouted off about them. For years he thought he was haunted, possessed or affected by some lingering quirk to hallucinate monsters that whispered his worst fears. Then, as if it were just another day, someone else had seen them.
It wasn’t even a nearly monumental moment. Izuku had accidentally stayed too long at a fight scene. The heroes were long gone, the media following soon after. For a few moments it was just the boy and the cold autumn breeze. Then the people blazing with a different kind of energy appeared. He watched with baited breath as for once the remnants of the scene were completely removed. No more curses remained underneath the flames and other various techniques of whatever energy they were manipulating.
Something within Izuku connected with them, and it was like he was breathing for the first time. If these people, who could see these stains upon the world that Izuku could, had methods to destroying them then could he? His hope was quick to diminish however, the flames snuffed by the cold winter of self-doubt. He couldn’t amount to anything, not anymore at least. There was no hope for a useless Deku like him to get anywhere, so why should he try?
With a bowed head, Izuku walked away that day, ignorant to the world that he could’ve once joined, if only he had just stayed a little longer. After that his life stayed the same, verbal abuse from his peers, watching hero fights to try and analyze quirks, and now, staying just a little too long to see the clean up crew that was like him. Everytime they arrived he stayed silent, leaving just before they had finished with a flustered flourish. Everytime he just made it home in time for his mother to complete dinner and for her to give him a flustered once over.
For two more years his life stayed the same, the monotony slowly overtaking his brain. If his life was going to be like this forever, then why tolerate it? Once those thoughts had begun to appear he was quick to stamp them out. He was determined to not become another statistic, not yet. Often he bit his tongue, glaring at the curses who parroted those exact thoughts right back at him. They were the worst of the worst, the ones who laid by his headboard, whispering and croning words into his ears late into the night. He didn’t understand why they found it so amusing.
Luckily for him, everything changed the day he met All Might. The curses cowered away from the man, his presence almost like a light inside a tunnel. Yet, when Izuku thought he could find community with the Number One Hero, the man had told him he had never seen the malicious creatures a day in his life. Go figure, Izuku can gain a quirk but he can’t gain a partner in the solitude of malice. After that day he kept his tongue about the curses, even as the ones that flocked around the boy began to grow a little too used to All Might’s presence.
The day that Gojo Satoru stepped into Class 1-A, Izuku could already tell he was different. He reeked of the energy that those clean up crew members did.
Gojo provided answers that Izuku had sought out for nearly half of his life, but he also gave the harsh truth. There was an entire community of people like him that he had almost intentionally ignored. Those glasses sitting on his face mocked him, providing a window he had held his entire life. It was almost a relief when he was able to turn them in. When Gojo looked at him during it, it was like an entire bucket of ice water was poured down his back. There was so much to that simple glance, as if his entire history was being viewed in one moment.
Now Izuku sat amongst the reeds, dirtied by the mud underneath his knees. Before him writhed the creatures that haunted his entire life, that whispered the cruel words of those ignorant amongst humanity, and finally he had a solution. A way to beat them.
There was only so long until his fists became ignited in those ghostly flames, but honestly, Izuku wished they had arrived sooner.
-=+=-
The entire USJ had descended into chaos and Yuuji thought that was putting it nicely. Heaving Megumi up from where he had slumped over, he began making his way towards the center. They had to make sure everyone was okay, or else Yuuji didn’t know what he would do with himself. His feet sounded like thunder as they collided with the stone beneath them, but he didn’t care. There was no need for stealth amongst the chaos.
From elsewhere, a shout arose, someone begging for something. The muffled words spurred Yuuji onwards, his thunderous footsteps now sounding like sirens. He had to make sure no one got too gravely injured. Some grumbling came from Megumi, cluing Yuuji into the fact that he would be back in play soon. Just as the other teen began to thrash a little, obviously upset at being tugged somewhere, the center of the facility came into view.
Releasing Megumi with a thud, Yuuji sucked his teeth. There was carnage everywhere with decaying curses, what looked suspiciously like some students carrying the teacher of Class 1-A (was that the man who had grabbed them earlier mauling curses as well?), and oh my god All Might was engaging in fisticuffs with some random creature. Nudging Megumi to his feet, the boys lunged into the fray. From behind the two of them a cold wind blew, so Yuuji ducked towards his right, pulling Megumi with him.
Where they once stood a road of ice curved towards the center. Riding atop it was the boy from Class 1-A with two-toned hair. Maybe after all of this was over, Yuuji could ask if the boy dyed it, or if it was natural like Yuuji’s own hair was. Keeping his tongue, and biting it a tiny bit, Yuuji kept pace towards the center. Newly born curses began to surge towards All Might, obviously being made from the feelings of the ringmaster in the center.
Though his nerves screamed for him to go for the pale-haired man, Yuuji stayed on track. His fists ignited with cursed energy as he slammed a couple away from the other teenager. Megumi shouted something and the divine dogs began running alongside them. It was all so sickeningly familiar, the entire process. Distantly he heard Kugisaki yelling something but he intentionally ignored it. If she was trying to keep him from dying, she was a little too late.
Lunging again, Yuuji knocked away a few more low grade curses. Landing harshly, the pink-haired boy stumbled briefly until he hopped once, finding his balance. Everyone was glancing around, so Yuuji took the time to survey his new comrades. Through the entire journey, the split-haired boy was still there, standing in a rather uncomfy looking hero suit. Just ahead of the boy was the green haired one, Midoriya. Ahead of Midoriya, on the podium atop the mist-looking dude, were two others that Yuuji couldn’t remember the names of.
All Might moved, something Yuuji only caught as the dust settled, catching the grotesque monster’s fist and moving two of the students. Once the number one hero moved, so did the curses avoiding him. Gearing himself up for a kick, he launched into the air. Nue’s talons dug into his arm, carrying him towards where Midoriya was now floundering.
With an explosive aura, the two teenagers released cursed energy at the same time. Trying to ignore the fact that Midoriya was using cursed energy , Yuuji kept doing what he did best. Beating curses down until they could no longer get up. The fight wasn’t long, even though the curses might’ve looked rather strong they were all bark and no bite. Before Yuuji could even get a word out to his green-haired ally, All Might was speaking, “All of you need to get out of here, this is not a fight for teenagers!”
Grunting, Yuuji slapped a hand onto Midoriya’s arm. The boy seemed determined to get to All Might, but it wouldn’t help him if they got in the line of fire. Just as he was turning around, and dragging a now surprised Midoriya, a loud sound emitted from behind him. Looking to where All Might stood alone, Yuuji felt elation run it’s course through him. This was the best outcome, All Might was winning!
Smoke began to release from the man, swirling around the area and giving it a rather spooky tone. Keeping his tongue, Yuuji stepped back a little, watching as Megumi followed. From the podium, the crusty-looking villain spoke, “I was lied to! You’re not strong at all! And yet…” Crimson eyes struck through Yuuji and he gulped loudly, that was not a good look. “Maybe…” the villain rasped, hand darting to scratch at his neck, “...we can get a one-up.”
Movement crossed Yuuji’s vision as Megumi shifted to jump in front of him as the villain struck. One of the dogs launched at the man, gripping onto his arm with a howl. The villain yelped, swerving away from the two teens as a gunshot filtered through the air. Twisting his gaze towards the entrance, Yuuji felt his chest break down at the sight of the other pro heroes. They were going to be okay. He pointedly ignored the burning in the other side of his chest, and the liminal whispers of Sukuna.
Someone’s hand gripped his arm, tugging him with them. His eyes met Megumi, who looked rather relieved, and he let himself be pulled along. It was all over now, and everyone was still okay. Soon enough the two of them reunited with Kugisaki who made to tackle them with a hug. All three of them held onto to each other, though Megumi was rather reluctant with it. Tucking his head into Kugisaki’s shoulder, he listened to her cry, “I thought you were going to die again, and then it would just be me and Megumi left wondering if you were gonna prank us again.”
That got a snot-filled chuckle out of Yuuji, the memory of the day flooding back. Though it wasn’t funny then, it was kind of funny to look back on it now. Megumi said nothing, only clutching the two a little harder. Raising his head, and getting a glare from Kugisaki, Yuuji gave them a bright grin, “Don’t worry, I won’t be dying anytime soon.” The silence from his friends spoke enough words between them.
A hand landed on his shoulder, so he turned to look at Gojo. Their teacher was still as cheery as usual, giving them a rather lax grin, “Well done kiddos! Come on, the paramedics wanna see you three. Shoko would get on my case if I let you get hurt on my watch.” Giggling to themselves, the three of them followed after him.
From within the sky, a curses eyes followed their movements. Startling blue met endless black as Gojo frowned. Trying to dismiss the uneasy feeling in his chest, and the familiar smell coming down, the man focused on his students. There would be no need to think of him now, not when Toji got away and is now confirmed still alive. The bitter taste of bile rose on his tongue as he remembered the first time he had seen the man, and what it had all eventually led to.
-=+=-
Hands gripping her hips, the teenager glowered towards the man wearing the blindfold, “You seriously want us to consider going to this hero school?”
Gojo shrugged, his hand resting on his neck, “I mean, you could think of it as a rebellion against your family! They were rather pissed that I let Megumi go, imagine if I let a full-blown Zenin member go.” He kept his tongue about Toji; none of them needed to worry about him yet. Maki seemed rather convinced, eyes brightening a little at the idea. Something must’ve come to her as her face rapidly dimmed, “Will Yuta be coming too?”
Wincing a little, Gojo grunted. He had to admit, he forgot that Yuta still wasn’t back from Africa. He’d have to give the teen a call to check when he’d be returning and then plan around that. Chewing the inside of his cheek, Gojo shrugged, “I’ll give him a call and check when he’s coming back. Then we can decide when you’ll sit in with Class 1-B.”
That seemed to convince Maki as she leaned back, placing her feet up onto her desk, “Fine. I’ll inform Toge and Panda then- Wait, who’ll be teaching us?” Gojo grinned, eyes glinting beneath his blindfold, “Why my very good friend, Nanamin!”
Maki nodded, “Alright, I can do being taught by Nanami. Shouldn’t you be getting back to the apartments before Itadori and Kugisaki burn them down?” Pouting a little, Gojo sighed, “You’re right. I’ll update you when I call Yuta. Tell Inumaki and Panda I said hi!”
With that the strongest sorcerer was gone, leaving Maki to kiss her teeth and sigh. Figures he’d spring this kind of thing on them.
-=+=-
“So the League of Villains and Curses was a failure…” the man in the robes leaned back, placing his head onto his chin. With a rather dramatic shrug, Getou sighed, “Go figure. Creatures like them with no sort of direction always fail in the end.” Pushing himself to his feet, he felt his steps grow muffled against the floor, “No matter. Their failure will not stop me, in fact it gives me a rather sick sense of glee.”
His walk through the halls was rather quiet as he stared out the window, the sun beginning to dip below the horizon. It had been hours since he called his surveillance curse back, and yet he wondered distantly if Satoru was looking at the same sun he was. As the windows grew smaller, and the distance shorter, Getou dismissed the thoughts. There was no place for the past in the future he was making. Everyone would understand once the world was perfected.
The final door he needed opened, revealing his ever so thoughtful family. A serene smile spread across his face as he ignored the emptiness of the room (Miguel wouldn’t want him to be upset, he thought distantly), “Nanako! Mimiko!” Two heads turned to look at him, the girls nearly beaming at the sight of him, “Mister Getou/Getou!” He felt himself be pushed a little as the two wrapped him in rather warm hugs. Giving them each a squeeze in return, Getou kneeled before them, “I have a request to make of you two.”
Nanako hopped in place, adjusting her grip on her phone, “If it’s not too outrageous we can totally fulfill it.” Nodding to himself, Getou placed his hands on his knees, “Well it’s more two requests, but they’re a little connected. For the first; is there any way all of can view the U.A Sports Festival?” There were a few muted gasps from around the room, but Nanako nodded with certainty, “I mean sure, we’d just have to get a TV in here and I could probably figure it out. Can you get us a TV?” Rubbing Nanako’s head, Getou nodded, “Of course I can, all you had to do was ask. Now for the second request; I need you to find as much info as you can on the Hero Killer.”
Now Mimiko was looking at him, eyebrows drawn in confusion, “The Hero Killer? Are we starting to eliminate non-sorcerers again?” Placing his hand across his mouth, Getou laughed, “While I admire the tenacity, we cannot. There is too much focus on crime due to those stupid creatures in the League. Attacking U.A, an idiots dream.” Taking a soothing breath, Getou shook his head, “No, I wish to speak with him. His methods are quite…”
A dark smile spread across his face, the others in the room slowly catching on as they smiled as well, “...admirable.”